Ashley Young - 2015/16 season review

Ashley Young played a vital role in last Saturday's win at home to Swansea, providing Martial with the assist for our all important opener - our first goal in four games - while constantly causing problems for the Swansea defence with his excellent crossing in the second half.



For any readers of my blog you should know by know that I am a massive Young fan, especially impressed with his remarkable turnaround from the terrible 2013/14 season when many thought his time was up. To prove my love of the winger I was asked to put together some thoughts on how he's performed so far this season by fellow United blogger the Republik of Mancunia. Agree/disagree? Feel free to comment below...

Given how well he performed last season, this has been a strangely underwhelming season for Ashley Young. Our most impressive outfield player in the second half of the 2014-15 campaign, Young has found his opportunities in midfield limited due to the arrival of Memphis and Martial, while the signings of Schneiderlin and Schweinsteiger signalled a new reliance on the holding midfield system that naturally reduces the need for a wide player. Even though he’s playing regularly in the side at the moment this has been as defensive cover and therefore we’ve only seen glimpses of the rejuvenated Young we enjoyed so much from March to April of this year. Quality players playing out of position and having their creativity suppressed? Pretty much sums up United under Van Gaal! For me he is still the most naturally gifted winger at United, which I suppose has worked against him given the rigid system Van Gaal plays. However, unfortunately, you still fear that he is just as able to commit yet another ludicrous dive for his embarrassing collection as he is to whip in a peach of a ball. 

All in all, I’m happy to see the lad still demanding a place in the side amongst the big money signings that have been brought in over the last 18 months. His miraculous turnaround – from scapegoat during the David Moyes era, to outplaying and displacing £59.7million Angel di Maria while securing a £120k a week contract at the start of the season – certainly deserves to be rewarded. Unfortunately, given the restrictions presented by the current system, his chances of impressing again as he did last season are massively reduced and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him go at the end of this season.

Check out RoM's other reviews here:

• Manchester United 2015 review – The defence


• Manchester United 2015 review – The midfield


• Manchester United 2015 review – The attack