Danny Welbeck: the difference Darren’s hamstring made (updated)

 

Even before his two-goal exploits against Everton last night – and how frustrating that he couldn’t quite make it three and secure the win – Danny Welbeck was transforming himself from underperforming, out-of-position passenger into exciting, goalhungry potential matchwinner.

Scott the Red, our pal at the Republik of Mancunia site*, had asked a few days before the game how we thought Welbeck, on loan from Scott’s beloved Manchester United, was getting on with us. Rather better, was the gist of Pete Sixsmith‘s reply, given without knowing Danny would grab another two goals last night, than some of us were willing to give him credit for. What a tragedy, then, that his exceptional recent displays, at Spurs and Chelsea and against Everton, may make it all the less likely that Sir Alex will let him come permanently – or that he may even demand Welbeck’s recall to Old Trafford.

Or will the player, as has already been suggested here, become part of the haggling if/when SAF comes calling for Jordan Henderson? This was Pete’s view, as expressed pre-Everton, to the United fan site. …

We have had some very favourable loan deals with Manchester United recently. Jonny Evans played a major part in our promotion under Roy Keane and came back a year later to give us some stability as we secured our Premier League position.

Danny Simpson had a good loan in the Championship, but then lost all credibility when he decided that those on the dark side of the River Tyne were a better club than the one on the sunlit uplands of Wearside.

Add to that two well thought of permanent signings in Kieran Richardson and Frazier Campbell, plus a couple of decent managers in Keane and Steve Bruce and an American owner, and we appear to have close links with the Old Trafford mega club.

The Danny Welbeck loan was seen as a move forward; we get a good young player for a year, United get a good opportunity to evaluate him and we may get the chance to sign him permanently if things go well. It has to be said that 10 games into the season, Danny had been a wee bit underwhelming.

Much of this was not of his making; he had been employed as a wide midfielder on the left in a rather unadventurous 4-5-1 formation. He looked good on the ball and tried to get forward, but he didn’t look anything special. At the Sports Direct @SJP humiliation, he looked timid and frightened by the hostile atmosphere and the likes of Barton, Nolan and Tiote.

I thought it was time to test SAF’s hold over Steve Bruce and drop him. Bruce may well have thought the same.

Then, lo and behold, Darren Bent pulls a hamstring, Asamoah Gyan starts up front and the management team, having taken on Stoke City with one up front, change it for the second half at Spurs, push Welbeck up front and we cause ‘appy ‘arry and his mates all kinds of problems.

Five days later, we go to Stamford Bridge and play Gyan and Welbeck from the start. You know what happened next. He had his best game in our red and white shirt, scored his first goal and showed what a good player he can be.

Now he has to do it on a regular basis starting with Everton at home. Expectations will be high and fans will be looking for a repeat of last Sunday.

He probably won’t find Jagielka and Distan as accommodating as Ferreira and Ivanovic, but he is up and running and seems full of confidence.

Danny seems a pleasant young man and we hope he continues to impress – but not enough for SAF to re call him.

* To see the full Republik of Mancunia article on Manchester United players out on loan: click here

4 thoughts on “Danny Welbeck: the difference Darren’s hamstring made (updated)”

  1. I don’t see much point in playing Danny.Welbeck because we are not going to be able to sign him permanently and are only keeping him warm for Fergie. Far better to play one of our own men and develop him for US.

  2. As much as I hate to admit it, it seems our Jordan will be out the door within months rather than years. Brucie is already cryptically preparing us with his stories of SAF’s only ever similar approach being the one for Antonio Valecia. Couple that with Hendo’s admission that he was a fervent Man U supporter and you don’t have to be well-endowed in the grey matter department to figure out the outcome. If that were the case, my guess is that Brucie will “box clever” and seek to retain Danny on a permanent transfer, by trading England’s “most exciting young player”. The same could be said of Diego if the sand magnates come-a-calling. .

    It pee’s me off that the Premiership is becoming more and more like the oh-so-predictable Scottish League, where all the best players migrate to the perceived big four. I hope that we can break the trend and keep Jordan and then buy Nedum and Danny, but I doubt it!

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