Patience is the key for Memphis Depay to shine bright at Manchester United
When Memphis Depay made the move to Manchester United in May, expectations for the Dutchman were set extremely high, as he was soon hailed the next Cristiano Ronaldo at Old Trafford. Just like the Portuguese superstar found out upon arrival in Manchester, patience is key in order to reap the rewards in the future.
It took CR7 until November of his debut season to register a goal for the club, which Depay has already done – albeit not in the league. The ex-PSV star will also be hoping to score more than Ronaldo managed in his first season, with just 4 to beat. It will no doubt take time for him to settle in and find the form that made him so highly regarded back in his homeland.
Although Depay’s teammate and fellow new signing Anthony Martial has had a slightly more instant impact on proceedings, it’s Memphis who United fans hold high hopes for. This expectation largely comes from his exceptional season for PSV last term, in which he notched over 20 times. To expect the same from him this year would be ludicrous, and it looks like it’s going to take a few months at least for the Netherlands international to bed in.
Manager Louis Van Gaal took the winger off at half-time against Liverpool, later stating that the substitution was not due to injury and that he’s in fact struggling to settle into the English game. Whilst this might make for worrying listening for many United fans, it has been evident to see so far in his United career that he hasn’t taken to the Premier League as well as he would have hoped.
He wasn’t a cheap acquisition either, joining the Mancunian’s for a reported fee of £25 Million. Whilst it is certainly a hefty fee for the 21 year old, he has shown all the attributes and signs to be a real hit in the Premier League. In his spell at PSV, it’s the pace he showed on the counter attack and out wide that made him such a bright prospect, with an especially unique skill of turning defence into attack in an instant.
As well as his impressive open play attributes, he’s built up a renowned reputation for his free kick and set piece expertise during his time in Holland – and Louis Van Gaal will be looking to use this to his advantage.
Depay is a typical Manchester United player, and over the last few seasons at least, the young up and coming flair that they have been world famous for bringing up has been relatively non-existent, and it has been a hole waiting to be filled. It is so refreshing that Louis Van Gaal has gone for a player like this, and the player is only willing to work for the coach he has known for such a long time whilst with the National team.
All this hype is starting to sound rather familiar. Back in 2003, amongst the urges of Sir Alex Ferguson’s own players, the Scotsman went and bought Sporting Lisbon’s Cristiano Ronaldo because of his incredible speed and shooting ability. He didn’t set the world alight in his first season in Manchester, and that hardly ruined his career.
Depay will come good. Just replicating the form he has produced in previous stints whilst playing in the Eredivisie is clearly the recipe for success, and he has shown already in his opening with United that he can find the goal. He has shown glimpses of the hype that he stepped off the plane with, and goals in Europe will only do good for the Dutchman.
The criticism that he is receiving is perhaps a tad unfair, although Depay hasn’t done what would have been expected of him, he obviously has the potential, and just like any foreign player – it takes time to settle into the Premier League.
Manchester United fans have to be patient, it isn’t going to happen straight away. In a couple of months, when Depay grows to get used to the Premier League, he will prove to the country just what he is about. Confidence growing in European goals is only going to help the cause, and his clear ability will inevitably shine bright.
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