What Now For Danny Welbeck

In an earlier article about the future surrounding Robin van Persie, I stated my belief that he would join Manchester United but also questioned if this would hinder the development of Danny Welbeck, who would undoubtedly get less game time as a result. I think I have also been justified in this respect; Welbeck has started much fewer matches and has scored fewer goals as a result.
Welbeck played in 39 games for Manchester United last season, fresh from a loan spell at Sunderland the season before where he played 28 games. It seemed to many that he had developed as a player and was now an integrated component of the United team; at the age of 21 the future looked bright. However United finished 2^nd in the league with Welbeck partnering Wayne Rooney, goal difference being the statistic that came back to hurt them.
In reality it wasn’t surprising that Sir Alex Ferguson set his sights on a new forward, with van Persie available for transfer and Welbeck scoring only 9 league goals last season it’s perfectly understandable why van Persie came in at the expense of the England forward.
As was expected, Ferguson is thoroughly justified in his decision to make a move for the aging Dutch forward. He has already scored 14 league goals this season, 5 more than Welbeck managed in the whole of last season. Welbeck has suffered as a result. United have played 20 games in the Premiership this season, Welbeck has started 7 of them. He seems to be going through a transition from being a regular in the first team to becoming a squad member. As he enters his early twenties, a crucial time for his development, he finds his game time restricted and must have a look at where his career is going. His England career is still going strong, he started games in the European Championships and has played in 5 games this season, scoring 3 times. If he wants to keep his place in the England team, something may have to change. Fast.
Something that Fabio Capello preached during his time as England manager was that if a player wants to be selected for their national team, they must first be a regular for their club team. It may be a different manager now, but Roy Hodgson must adopt the same principles; being a regular for your team gives you match fitness and an increased sharpness compared to bench-warmers. It is also part of the process of proving that you are good enough to play for your country.
Hodgson has definitely taken a liking to Welbeck and seems to rate him highly, but how long will this last? Especially when you consider how well Jermaine Defoe has been performing this season and how he has made his case for England selection, you must say that if England had a competitive match in a few weeks it would be Defoe that would start the game. Andy Carroll is also a first choice for West Ham, when he is fit, so a run of good performances from him would surely bring him back into contention. Welbeck is standing still right now, he needs to move forwards. What options does he have available to him right now in his career?

At the age of 29, van Persie is not getting younger. He may be at the peak of his career now but he can surely only continue in his current form for another 2 or 3 years at most. Welbeck could decide to spend this time to learn from him and gain an understanding with Rooney on the training ground, which will eventually transfer onto the Old Trafford pitch. It is an absurd idea in honesty, Ferguson will most likely also be gone by then and it’s not clear that the new manager would give him a place in the team. I make this point to stress that Welbeck has to do something with his career, there is no doubt that Rooney and van Persie is currently the preferred strike partnership and Javier Hernandez is the ‘super-sub’, leaving Welbeck as cover in case of an injury.

Ferguson has experimented with a ‘revolutionary’ diamond midfield already this season and may look to continue with it. This narrow formation, that excludes wingers, sees Rooney playing as the tip of the diamond behind a front 2 of, possibly, van Persie and Welbeck. United have already tried this formation in the league, winning 3-0 against Newcastle away from home and Welbeck did partner van Persie. It could be that Ferguson is choosing not to play this way currently because Shinji Kagawa is injured. Rooney was also deployed in central midfield at times last season; with a willingness to track back and a good eye for a long pass, it may be that Rooney is well suited to a midfield role. However it is uncertain if this is a new direction for Manchester United or merely a plan B. I wouldn’t encourage Welbeck to hang his hopes on this happening.

If United do not begin to play the diamond formation, it remains possible that Welbeck could play out wide. With Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young being the only wide players that are in favour at Old Trafford, Nani seems to be on his way out and Kagawa plays better centrally, there is a possible opportunity to get more games on the wing. However due to the way that United play, their midfielders are required to be able to cross the ball; I’m not sure that Welbeck has the ability to consistently deliver a good standard of cross from the wide area. I would also question if his skillset suits the wing. Strikers have moved out wide before but few have prospered, it seems to be difficult for them to ignore their predatory instinct that draws them to the penalty area.

Considering that the other options don’t look favourable, it may be that a transfer would be best for Welbeck’s career. His chances at Old Trafford look limited and first team football is what he would need to develop. Where would he go? I am not a big fan of his and doubt that he could play regular football at a top team in the Premiership; Everton may have a place for him in their team but I believe stronger sides have better options.
Ferguson said at the start of the season that he is happy with having 4 strikers, similarly to the strike force of 1999 that contained Dwight Yorke, Teddy Sheringham, Andy Cole and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. While Fergie may be happy, Welbeck shouldn’t be. For a player with a blossoming international career he should not be content with sitting on the United bench, waiting for a chance. In order to continue his growth, a move away looks to be the best option; although a loan could also suffice. It is important that he does something to keep himself in the England team, doing nothing and waiting for his current situation to change is only going to have a negative effect.
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