Teamwork makes the dream work

Man Utd could remorse dropping “magic” PL star who’s now outperforming Fernandes

8


To say it has been a wild season for Manchester United this yr could be a colossal understatement.

Regardless of being simply 12 video games into the Premier League season, the Crimson Devils are already onto their third supervisor, with Erik ten Hag being sacked final month, Ruud van Nistelrooy stepping in to regular the ship, and now Ruben Amorim, who’s right here to guide the membership forwards.

Whereas the Portuguese supervisor’s first sport in command of the membership did not precisely go to plan, there’s an simple sense of optimism round his appointment that he could be the person to lastly take United again to the highest of English and European soccer.

He is actually acquired his work minimize out, however he additionally has a plethora of extraordinarily gifted gamers at his disposal, together with membership captain Bruno Fernandes, though he is presently being outperformed within the Premier League by a former academy gem who left the membership in 2014.

Fernandes’ season up to now

So, very similar to the staff as an entire, it could be correct to explain Fernandes’ league marketing campaign as a bit up and down up to now.

Fernandes

For instance, underneath Ten Hag, the previous Sporting CP star put in arguably a few of his worst performances so far in a United shirt, and produced simply two assists in 9 league appearances whereas additionally selecting up a purple card towards Tottenham Hotspur in an embarrassing 3-0 loss at Previous Trafford.

Nonetheless, for the reason that Dutchman’s sacking, issues have began to enhance, and in his final three video games alone, the 30-year-old midfielder has scored twice and supplied one help, on high of simply wanting usually extra harmful as nicely.

Sadly, he could not produce a purpose involvement in Amorim’s first sport, however issues are beginning to look higher for the Maia-born ace, though a former United academy gem is outperforming him within the league.

The previous academy gem outperforming Bruno

So, to chop straight to the purpose, the previous academy gem in query is Everton star Dwight McNeil, who’s been having fun with a stellar Premier League marketing campaign this yr.

Dwight McNeil for Everton

The 25-year-old was part of the Crimson Devils youth set-up for a number of years earlier than being launched in 2014 at simply 14 years outdated, and whereas that might have been the top for some, the Rochdale-born ace later described it as “character-building.”

He’d go on to affix Burnley, the place he scored seven objectives and supplied 17 assists in 147 appearances earlier than incomes a £20m transfer to Everton in 2022.

McNeil’s senior profession

Competitors

PL

FA Cup

EFL Cup

UEL Qaulifying

Appearances

216

9

13

2

Targets

20

0

1

0

Assists

29

0

1

0

Purpose Involvements*

0.22

0.00

0.15

0.00

All Stats through Transfermarkt (*Per Match)

Life on Merseyside hasn’t essentially been simple for the previous Crimson Satan, as seasons of battling relegation have certainly taken their toll. But, up to now this yr, the dynamic midfielder has seemed unburdened by the strain of survival and is doubtlessly enjoying his greatest soccer ever.

For instance, in simply 11 league appearances, the “magic” maestro, as dubbed by soccer journalist Joe Thomas, has scored three objectives and supplied three assists, that means he is already beating Fernandes’ output by one purpose.

Dwight McNeil vs Bruno Fernandes

Nonetheless, that is not the place his superiority over the Portuguese ace ends this season, as in response to FBref, he additionally has him beat for shot-creating actions, key passes, passes into the penalty space, goal-creating actions and take-ons, all per 90.

Now, with all of that mentioned, for those who had been to ask followers who they’d favor to have of their groups, the bulk would possible say Fernandes, and for good causes.

Nonetheless, for this season a minimum of, McNeil is comfortably outperforming the previous Sporting CP star, and whereas it won’t stay that method for your entire marketing campaign, we might actually have an interest to see how he’d get on in a extra harmful staff, like United.

Associated


Ten Hag’s Man Utd flop is now outscoring Zirkzee & Hojlund after leaving

The previous Manchester United participant has recaptured his type away from Previous Trafford.