5 players Manchester United should scarcely use this season

It hasn’t gone as well for Manchester United post Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, as it was when the Scottish manager was in charge. We have seen David Moyes, Louis Van Gaal and now Jose Mourinho take over at Old Trafford, all three of them failing to win the title.

While Jose Mourinho still has the chance to redeem himself and United, the Portuguese manager will be a factor in a lot of changes tactically before United can look like a title-winning side. United did finish second last season, but it is safe to say that their performance was underwhelming for a side who finished as a runner-up.

To be fair to Jose, it is true that some of his players haven’t stepped up to the standard the club stands for. Some of them have been inherited from the management of Sir Alex and his successors, but it is time Jose makes a bold statement and makes wise use of the players he has at his disposal. We take a look at some of the players Jose should use less frequently and if possible only when desperately needed, to have a better chance of challenging for the title this season.

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#5 Chris Smalling

Smalling needs to be benched

There is no denial that Chris Smalling has been an asset from set-pieces, especially in the opposition box, but it is also true that his overall game hasn’t been up to the mark United would have wanted from their centre half. The tall English center back has been very shaky with his decision making and has been caught out of position far too often.

Smalling had a memorable time under Louis Van Gaal, but it was the only one season where he really looked a Manchester United centre back. He has looked too cautious at times, and has been very hesitant to go into tackles. To add, Smalling has never been a ball-playing centre back but in the past few years, his passing has been terrible.

He has always preferred to play it safe and as a result of that has opted for more backward and sideway passes. He made an incredible 241 backward passes last season in the 29 matches he played, which is the most by any United’s centre backs last season. His hesitancy has cost United some important goals, and it is best Jose uses him when he looks sharp and confident in training.

#4 Phil Jones

Phil Jones has the tendency to get very clumsy

The former Blackburn centre back is quite an injury prone defender. Jones has a lot of potential but somehow every season he is sidelined with an injury. This has not only hampered his international career, but has been a big hurdle in his development as an individual.

Jones is fearless while going into tackles and duels but with lack of game time and experience, he always struggles with his decision making. Last season, along with Smalling, he too made 241 backward passes in just 23 games. In recent times, Jones has preferred to play it safe, may be to always be in the good books of his manager but it is pretty obvious that no manager or fan would prefer a United player playing it safe more than often.

It is necessary that Jones is back to full fitness first and only then can Jose think of giving him some regular football because as we saw last season, the United team struggled to have an experienced defender due to too many rotations made. It is only advisable that Eric Bailly, Victor Lindelof and may be if one of Toby Alderweireld or Harry Maguire if one of them is signed, play regularly for United at the back.

#3 Marouane Fellaini

Fellaini cannot start regularly

The Belgian midfielder has signed a new contract recently with the Red Devils, which does indicate that Jose Mourinho trusts him with the job in midfield. Not many fans would still agree upon that, which is understandable. Fellaini can never be a part of Jose Mourinho’s Plan A at United.

Fellaini, with his physical structure and presence, adds a different dimension to the game especially while chasing the game, but it is not at all effective when the opposition are organized well at the back and when they maintain a good shape. The presence of Fellaini was nullified when Belgium faced France in the 2018 World Cup semi-final, and it is the best example to prove why Fellaini should always be utilized from the bench.

He can be an impact sub in some cases, like he was when Belgium faced Japan in the round of 16 of the World Cup, but starting him can be a very big risk especially when Jose has the options of Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic, Fred, Ander Herrera and Andreas Pereira with him.

#2 Ashley Young

Young is not a natural fullback

The 33-year old Englishman has been a very good servant for United. Young was signed as a winger by Sir Alex but with age, the former Aston Villa man had to give up that place and play at the full back or the wing back position. He is a utility player for Mourinho, as we have seen him play as a left-back for United last season.

He was also used as a right back at times but most of the season he was seen on the left, starting ahead of Matteo Darmian and Luke Shaw. While Young did pretty well last season, you couldn’t help but notice what United lack with the Englishman on the left. Young does not have the pace he once had as he severely struggled to backtrack at times.

His lack of pace takes away the sharpness and threat a natural full back would provide. United have the option to sign a left back this summer, but with not much time left in the transfer window, it only gets difficult from here. Luke Shaw will be the next choice for Jose Mourinho and the young Englishman has everything to prove after a forgetful last season.

If Jose wants his team to look more threatening, he needs to use Shaw more and prefer Young in the cup games and only if there’s not many options left. This will not only make the left side more dynamic but will add more unpredictability to it while going forward.

#1 Antonio Valencia

Valencia is reaching the end of his career

With Diogo Dalot signed, it is likely that we may not Antonio Valencia as much as we saw last season. The 32-year-old Ecuadorian has been a faithful servant to United all these years. The Manchester United captain is ageing and has lost some significant amount of energy in him.

Valencia was once a dangerous threat going forward, and although he tries his very best to be that now, it has to be agreed that there is a predictability of Valencia’s attack that reduces his threat. The former Wigan man seldom tries to use his left foot while crossing and that is where he becomes most predictable.

Also, he has struggled to link up with players on the right, and with United not having a natural right winger, it only makes the scenario difficult for Valencia. Dalot has done well for a player of his age and he can only blossom under the guidance of Mourinho.

Valencia’s experience and quality have to be used wisely but if United are to replace him gradually, this is the season where Jose uses him carefully, giving more time to Dalot or possibly Tim Fosu-Mensah, and make sure United have an equally good amount of threat as they have on the left.