Jesse Lingard had a grand development for a number of seasons at Manchester United flourishing fantastically under the management of Jose Mourinho. Could it be that teaming up again with his former manager, now at Roma, would be a sensation of dimentions and also see him back in the top of European football.
If you look at the stats from Jose Mourinho’s time at Manchester United you will find key points about the players he used and how they also appeared during his tenure at Old Trafford. Jesse Lingard was one the players that had a grand development in those seasons. Looking at the stats from this season, Lingard has during the 2021/22 start up played 10 games. Three of those appearances in an England shirt. He has scored 4 goals, 2 for England and his only starts so far are two internationals v. Andorra, and the EFL Cup game v. West Ham.
The bench is a place Jesse Lingard knows a lot about. To again experience a life on the fringe after a great run on loan with West Ham last season, must be sad. Lingard is quality and the way he did get into the England setup a few years back, appearing regularly, and part of the starting eleven during the 2018 World Cup.
At the age of 28, turning 29 in December, you need to find out what your next step in football would become. To cement a place in the Man Utd starting eleven, with Lingard’s qualities best used in an offensive midfield position. Chances are limited and you are up against competition from Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes, that is not an easy competition.
Embed from Getty ImagesOGS do not rate Jesse Lingard above Pogba and Fernandes. To play Lingard wide would be difficult, with other options in Rashford, Greenwood and Sancho, all probably better in a wide flank position. Difficult for OGS to decide as the future of Lingard might be seen elsewhere.
Over the years we have seen grand examples of players axed or overlooked at Man Utd, with a certain Paul Pogba as a reminder. Moving to Juventus with just 3 league appareances in the bag at Man Utd. He later returned. Gerard Pique moving back to Barcelona and becoming one of their best defenders in history. Nicky Butt and Phil Neville are two others that had do move on to play first team football with moves to Newcastle and Everton.
Jesse Lingard would be a sensational player if he did sign for Roma and would probably fit into their set up straight away, but rumours today say Everton are the most likely alternative. Newcastle of course linked with every quality player in football at the moment and of course West Ham will be keen to get him back.
The big issue for OGS at the moment at Man Utd is to find a perfect blend for his team. Be able to set his jigsaw correctly as he juggles his players in and out of the first team line-up. OGS has not yet managed to get this blend correctly as the squad looks out of balance and key players are not able to rest correctly with storm of talk and rants about the future of OGS being a problem. That makes it impossible for OGS to leave out key players who are used probably more than they should, scared of the pressure and showing everyone that he do not trust his second best players.
Sir Alex Ferguson had his fans and media credit in the bank and was never seen as a possible sacking object after his number of titles had found the cabinet at Old Trafford. He also had a calm and knowledge which made him invinsible. This was earned by Sir Alex earned over years at this football club and a reason why it’s so difficult to come in and be judged on the same scale.
Jesse Lingard has not yet convinced OGS that he will be able to deliver at the highest shelf under him and why OGS did take him back and did not sell the midfielder in the summer is a bit of riddle. The use of the England international looks a bit strange and not really a planned activity, giving him mostly minutes coming in from the bench.
Embed from Getty ImagesOGS shows with his selections to different games that he is not trusting his squad 100%. He is not capable of fielding teams that he knows will be competitive when resting key players, instead probably getting more injuries and not really getting the best out of his fringe alternatives. That is the key problem and will be so for the long term future withouth stretching the use of the squad and build more self belief into the squad.
Watching Jesse Lingard drying up on the bench and again finding himself in the shadows of the heat is tragic. Lingard looks to have no future at Man Utd and the best for him is to move on. Roma would suit him and at this time the best alternative.
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