Manchester United’s left-back position is one of their weakest. Their first-choice left-back, Luke Shaw, has not been the same lively player United bought since he broke his leg in 2015. He looks sloppy and slow, not able to keep up with the pace of the Premier League. The Red Devils, however, may have found a solution. They have been in need of a replacement since the Englishman’s tragic injury, and Brandon Williams has emerged from the youth academy as a viable alternative.
The 19-year-old has made 14 senior appearances and bagged himself a goal, sparking United’s comeback against Sheffield United. He has impressed every time he is called upon, and now that he’s played in all four competitions United are involved in this season, surely it is time to consider him a first-team player.
Brandon Williams Can Start for Manchester United
Defensive Ability
Brandon Williams has proven himself in both a defensive and attacking role, something which many high profile full-backs fail to do.
United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said that he is “brave as a lion”, and he has certainly shown that. Since his league debut, United have not kept a clean sheet in domestic football without him, and he has dealt with some of England’s top wingers, namely Adama Traoré of Wolverhampton Wanderers, where Williams’ most recent game was.
The former Barcelona man has already got himself four goals and four assists this season, and when you take into account his ridiculous strength and pace, Williams did extremely well to keep him quiet for 90 minutes. After having dealt with everything the Premier League has thrown at him extremely well defensively, it must be time for him to start starting more often in the top flight.
Attacking Skill
Not only is Brandon Williams good at defending, but he is also deadly going forward. He scored a beautiful goal at Bramall Lane which many forwards would have been proud of.
Williams also brings incredible pace on the counter-attack. Against Wolves, for example, he made runs up the left wing which gave United more options on the counter, and gave Wolves’ defence more to worry about. This is something he brings to a game which a lot of full-backs, including Shaw, do not. This is another way he has shown the quality he could bring to a struggling United side.
Should Brandon Williams Start?
United a have not lost a game in which Brandon Williams has played. That certainly says a lot about what he brings to the side. He has made very few mistakes and has experience in every major competition United are in this season. His ability to defend while also having quality going forward makes him endearing to any manager when selecting a team. It must be time for Brandon Williams to fill Manchester United’s weak left-back position.
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