Man Utd: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer names his six-a-side team
Manchester United were, in the end, disappointed with their 1-1 draw with Tottenham. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side recovered from a shaky start to finish the game with a flourish, looking the likelier of the two teams to find a winner. And if they had Jadon Sancho instead of Daniel James, they may have picked up all three points.
James has enjoyed a solid, if unspectacular, first season at Manchester United following his summer switch from Swansea.
The Wales international was signed by Solskjaer after the Norwegian gave up on Jadon Sancho, knowing the club’s failure to secure Champions League football had prevented them from landing the Borussia Dortmund star.
And James, for the most part, has been a shrewd acquisition.
However, before the coronavirus crisis brought football to a crashing halt, the 22-year-old was showing signs of tiring.
And, against Tottenham on Friday night, the Wales international was a weak link.
On more than one occasion James got in behind the Tottenham defence but, unfortunately, his end product was left wanting.
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One such example was in the first half where, having made space for himself, he floated the ball towards Marcus Rashford.
The delivery was left wanting, though, with the England international unable to take the ball down and smash it into the net.
And James’ inconsistent and erratic performance shows exactly why United must do everything in their power to bring Sancho to Old Trafford.
The Borussia Dortmund star has been in sensational form throughout the campaign, establishing himself as one of the finest attackers German football has to offer.
In the Bundesliga alone he’s found the net 17 times - meaning he’s scored more league goals than all of United’s forwards, Marcus Rashford aside.
And, impressively, the 20-year-old has also registered 17 assists from 30 league games.
He’s the upgrade United have been looking for. And not since Cristiano Ronaldo have they had a player with the ability to thrive on the right wing week in, week out.
They thought Adnan Januzaj would be the answer when the Belgian flourished under David Moyes in 2013, only for his star to diminish.
That was when United spent big on Angel Di Maria but the Argentine only lasted a year before jumping ship to France with Ligue 1 giants PSG.
And, in the years since, Alexis Sanchez and Memphis Depay have also toiled.
James is deserving of his place at United but the club won’t win the Premier League title while the Welshman starts week in, week out.