Recently I read article here about how Manchester United gave chance to young players like Giggs, Beckham, Scholes, Neville in the past and even won title with them. I think this love toward young fast players is not thing of the past. These days they introduced us new teenage wunderkind Mason Will John Greenwood. 17 year old, 181 cm high player who can play like attacking midfielder, winger, second striker and center forward impressed in preseason games.
After impressive performance and goals against Leeds United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said that he will give him chance in starting 11 in first game of new season against Chelsea. Youngster didn't stop against Leeds and he ruined Inter Milan too. After free kick deflection he took the ball with Inter player in front of him, he superbly moved the ball to his left foot and get rid of defender and then fired up master class shot in far away corner of goal between 3 Inter defenders who tried to block it! That was some lovely skill. Soon after he was unlucky because his first touch shoot from inside the box scratched the bar and went wide of goal. That was good escape from defender showing his pace and flair.
Last year he played in U18 league scored 31 goal from 30 games with 9 assistance which clearly shows that he overcame that level. In Premier League 2 he scored 3 goals from 6 games with 2 assistance. In UEFA youth league he scored 5 goals from 5 games. Portals describe him like mix of Cristiano Ronaldo and Robin van Persie.
His strengths are: pace, finishing, dribbling, off the ball movement, ambidexterity, technique, instinct and creativity. He can play with both legs, he even shot free kicks with wrong leg. Only weakness so far is playing with head where he need improvement. He is one complete forward who can play on every position in front of goal. Greenwood is also good in duel play and knows how to use his body to his advantage. Youngster likes to dribble. All of that is quite nice, but he has also the most important thing for strikers. That is fast acceleration from standing position. I am not sure if I picked up right word here what I meant is big speed when starting to run from standing. That makes him elusive for defenders. Mason has also powerful and accurate mid and log range shots which makes him complete attacker. It is not problem for him to find free space and to position good on the field. Hot prospect can also go deeper to take the ball and participate in building up of attack. We are talking about world class potential here.
Rushford and particularly Lukaku have every reason to be afraid for their place in the squad because young product of Manchester United academy will use every chance he get to show what he can do. I know they love giving chance to young players in that club and just wonder how far his career will go ? Are we really seeing new C. Ronaldo at beginning of his career ? I remember when we watched C.Ronaldo in Sporting here in UEFA Europa League game and lost 1:3 at home but progress after extra time because of 3:1 victory in Lisbon how my father and I joked with neighbor saying it's not easy they have got Ronaldo! (because other Ronaldo - Lima was on top at that time). Soon C.Ronaldo took the throne. It is not to hard for spectators to recognize good player and real talent and have no doubt Mason Will John Greenwood is just that.
What do you think about this hot talent ?