NO BUTTS, Big Blurb in here I’M GOING
NICKY Butt has left his role as United’s head of first-team development for a ‘new challenge’.
The Treble winner has spent nine years at the club in coaching and development roles, as well as spending 12 seasons in the first-team squad at Old Trafford.
Butt has played a part in developing Marcus Rashford, Scott McTominay, Axel Tuanzebe, Dean Henderson and Mason Greenwood.
But he feels the time is right to cut ties with United and take on a new role elsewhere. He said: “Having come through the Academy myself to play almost 400 games for Manchester United, it has been an absolute privilege to come back and work with a new generation of talent making that same journey.
“I’m proud of the role everyone on the staff plays in giving our young footballers the best possible chance of fulfilling their potential, and the results are clear to see in the increased number of homegrown players reaching the first team.
“I already know from my playing days how difficult it is to leave Manchester United, but it feels like the right moment for a new professional challenge and I look forward to exploring opportunities that build on the great experiences I’ve had here over the past nine years.”
Reds manager and former team-mate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer added: “Nicky will always be a legend of Manchester United as a six-time Premier League winner and, of course, an integral part of our Treble-winning team.
“That pedigree has made him a great source of guidance and inspiration to our Academy players since he returned to the club.”
THE most surprising aspect of Luke Shaw’s finest season yet as a United player has been his transformation as an attacking threat.
He has created more chances than any other defender in the Premier League this season and he’s in the top 10 for players in any position. Only Bruno Fernandes creates more chances for the Reds than the rejuvenated left-back.
There have been five assists for Shaw in 25 Premier League games this season, having produced seven in his previous 156 games in the competition.
It’s been an incredible transformation.
When United signed Alex Telles from Porto last summer the theory was the Brazilian could be the attacking threat needed from full-back, while Shaw can provide the defensive steel needed in the biggest games.
Instead, Shaw has excelled in both roles and Telles has barely had a look in.
United certainly needed more at full-back. The reliance on Fernandes to create is a well-versed problem at Old Trafford, but in the modern game full-backs are judged on attacking returns as often as defensive ability and it was clear Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side weren’t getting enough in the final third from Shaw and Aaron WanBissaka.
Last season there were four Premier League assists from full-back at United, unusually all of them from Wan-Bissaka.
This season already there have been nine, with Wan-Bissaka and Telles claiming two apiece.
Wan-Bissaka’s record of six assists in 62 Premier League games for United is perfectly respectable, if some way short of Shaw’s contribution this season, but it still feels like his attacking threat is a work in progress. He’s a sporadic threat rather than a consistent nuisance to opposition defences.
That is where Shaw has improved so much this season. His attacking charges from left-back are now relentless and his confidence is clear to see, which has improved his decision making in the final third.
That’s where Wan-Bissaka can still take his game up a notch. He has started to play further forward and commit to runs into the final third more, while some of his deliveries have been much better this season, but his consistency can still improve and his link-up play in the final third, and runs in behind defences, can still get better. That is what is holding him back for now, his output in the final third and quality on the ball. His defensive ability is in no doubt.
When he was left out of the England squad last week there was some gnashing of teeth from some United fans, but the fact is it seems Wan-Bissaka is some way short of Three Lions selection, in what is the most competitive area of Gareth Southgate’s squad.
You only need to look at the discussion around right-backs to see how far Wan-Bissaka is from breaking through. With Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier and Reece James in the squad, Southgate talked about the omission of Trent AlexanderArnold and also named Leeds’s Luke Ayling and Matty Cash, of
The fact is it seems Wan-Bissaka is some way short of Three Lions selection Tyrone Marshall
Aston Villa, as players pushing hard. That’s six right-backs mentioned as being in contention and WanBissaka wasn’t one of them, despite being a better defender than all of them.
That makes it clear where he needs to improve, but he can use Shaw as an example of how quickly that development can come with a little confidence and momentum.
Wan-Bissaka has chipped in with assists at United, but if he added the final touches to a more complete attacking game then he can follow Shaw’s path and emerge as one of the best full-backs in the league.
That would certainly enhance United’s chances of success as well. They still need more creativity in this side and players who take the burden off Fernandes, as well as giving the Portuguese more freedom. He is too easy to mark out of a game if there isn’t much concern caused in other areas of the pitch.
If United can become as dangerous from the right as Shaw has made them from the left, then stopping Fernandes will only get harder.
It’s also clear Wan-Bissaka needs more competition in this squad. He’s started 20 successive games in all competitions and there is nobody to rival him. Just as Telles has helped to raise Shaw’s game, perhaps Wan-Bissaka will benefit from a real rival for his own place.
The 23-year-old has made strides as an attacking full-back this season, but to become the player United really need he has to follow Shaw’s lead and target a breakthrough campaign next term.