Manchester United: Paul Pogba leads big summer spree
By Adam Jackson
With Paul Pogba’s return to Manchester United, the spotlight will be shifted to the recent acquisitions of the Red Devils.
With these moves undoubtedly bolstering a lack luster returning squad , the additions will not only add quality and technique to a young and less than dazzling side, but also will serve to benefit returning players and hopefully allow better production from those returning pieces. Winger Memphis Depay, midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, and the handful of first team youths including Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial will certainly have the opportunity to display better form with a more technical side as a whole.
The foremost beneficiary of recent acquisitions must be considered the mercurial midfielder Memphis Depay. Following a positive international introduction in the 2014 World Cup, the Dutch winger was signed at a considerable rate.
However, his inaugural standing at Old Trafford was most well described as sporadic. At times Memphis proved to be the creative spark plug that Van Gaal desired, yet at other times he seemed to disappear along the flanks and become uninvolved with the game. After a £25 million transfer, new marshal Jose Mourinho will seek to gain a better return on investment from the 22-year-old winger.
With just six goals and no assists, Depay was only awarded 16 starts in his span under Van Gaal. The additions of Pogba and Ibrahimovic will allow Depay to roam the flanks at a more dangerous level with superb passing from Pogba and a legitimate in the box target in Ibrahimovic. Without a genuine cross finisher in the run of play, Fellaini being regarded as a set piece target, the flank speed of Depay was less than useful in the 2015/16 campaign.
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Similarly, Mourinho will look for more contribution from the recent international retiree Bastian Schweinsteiger. In a previously injury riddled season, the tactical midfielder participated only in 21 games for the club. The addition of the attack minded Paul Pogba should allow for a positional expert like Schweinsteiger to control a deeper position and defend the pockets of space that Depay and Pogba may leave open due to their forward approach.
Likewise, goals and assists in general should increase for the Red Devils. No member was inside of the top 20 in assists and the top 12 in individual goals scored.
Although the best statistical defense in the league, only allowing .92 goals per game, Manchester United fell to a pedestrian 10th best offense averaging a mere 1.29 goals per game.
With a focus now on the summer signings, supplementary players should also be able to increase performance due to shifting defenses and new space to operate. The surprising development of a young Rashford should further expand through the increased team technical ability. Even the likes of club legend Wayne Rooney will see advanced performance from the hold-up play of the top class Swedish striker and facility of the French midfielder.
The additions of superstar pieces and an accredited managerial change has shaped the Manchester United summer into one of great accomplishment with a bright future for holistic squad growth. With a league best home winning streak (6) and a solid defense, both major signees should add offensive prowess to a team lacking flare and precision.
The hope not only that Ibrahimovic and Pogba will perform at high levels, but also that current pieces will establish a higher level of play is in mind for fans, followers, and participants of all things Red Devils.