Buttner's question marks are defensive, much like Rafael I guess.
He was always an aggressive attacking wing back style of player. Maybe thats what Ferguson wanted, knowing he could probably refine his defensive attributes and end up with a more complete player than Baines in a few years who was the first choice I believe.
I think he'll provide good competition to Evra which was the most important thing because i felt Evra had got to comfortable. I still believe Evra will be first choice for now but he watched yesterday and knows he has to up his game...
Easy match for United in the end and on top of that they got their first clean sheet of the season. Maybe this will give confidence to the defense to do better than the first games, at least until the injured ones get back.
quite bad in the first half, didnt close down at all. we're playing at home and we let wigan have the ball for too long.
second half we were doing the total opposite, closing down, pressing high up the pitch and winning the ball back quicker. buttner couldnt have asked for a better debut, an assist + a goal, same for powell great goal.
Nick Powell is an 18 year old from Crewe Alexandra who much like Oxlade Chamberlain, was playing well above his team's level! Crewe's academy has turned out some good players including several internationals, but this guy is tipped as the best ever.
He was their youngest ever debut player. In his second season as a 17 year old, his first full season, he won every award at Crewe's end of season awards ceremony including best goal, best young player and best player etc the first guy to do that for them.
He ended up top scorer for the club, and scored the goal to secure Crewe promotion in the playoff final, a stupendous turn and volley on his (supposedly) weaker left foot http://www.youtube.com/watc...
Obviously he is far too good for the lower leagues, but it is a massive step to come to Manchester United for him! He has managed it very young so he has years yet to exploit his potential.
Hes no Oxlade Chamberlain in terms of quality. The fact he scored a great goal on debut is now gonna put immense pressure on the lad especially at a big club like utd. A lot of players have cracked under that kind of pressure in the past.
In terms of quality you are right, Powell is probably even better at the same age (he is a year younger). He has more caps at just U17 level for England that Oxlade did for all the junior England setups...
Oxlade Chamberlain is great but the only reason he gets so many starts for Arsenal and now senior England are because neither of those sides has anything much better to field wide right...Oxlade wouldn't get close to a start for United with Valencia and Nani on the right and both of those would stroll into the England side we have now.
The difference is that Arsenal will rush Oxlade. Like they ALWAYS do. Sometimes it does work and they develop early but for the most part it is a mistake.
United have long learned that bringing in youngsters a bit slower to the first team so they are in their twenties is a better option. There are a few exceptions like Giggs, but even Scholes and Beckham etc didn't get into the side until they were early twenties.
This is to avoid the pressure you speak of, expecting too much from a player too young. Arsenal do that CONSTANTLY, United do not...
2 debuts 2 goals and both were crackers! Buttner played amazingly well, he will put up a good challenge for Evra's spot.
Easy match for United in the end and on top of that they got their first clean sheet of the season. Maybe this will give confidence to the defense to do better than the first games, at least until the injured ones get back.
Wellbeck's diving is getting ridiculous
quite bad in the first half, didnt close down at all. we're playing at home and we let wigan have the ball for too long.
second half we were doing the total opposite, closing down, pressing high up the pitch and winning the ball back quicker. buttner couldnt have asked for a better debut, an assist + a goal, same for powell great goal.
Proud to say, i went to the same school as Buttner :D
Played football with him when i was 12 xD