Antony has shown some improvement at Man Utd in the last week and that’s come about because he’s being found in better positions.
Casemiro salutes Antony after scoring United’s first goal against Reading
It was a moment of Samba solidarity at Old Trafford, Casemiro wrapping his left hand around Antony and pointing to him with his right, demanding Manchester United fans salute the creator as well as the goalscorer.
“On my first goal, Antony’s pass was incredible,” Casemiro explained after the game. “I know that people focus on who scored, but I wanted to give him a bit of love as the pass was magic. He’s an important player for us.”
It was a wonderful pass from one Brazilian to another, Antony spotting Casemiro’s forward run and finding the geometry to thread a perfect pass into him that simply needed scooping over Joe Lumley.
Casemiro’s words of praise were also interesting. Antony has perhaps been in need of a “bit of love” recently, having struggled to adapt in his first season in the Premier League and the scrutiny has been on his performances in recent weeks.
It’s fair to say the £85million winger has struggled to look like the kind of player that normally comes with that price tag so far. United will be adamant this is a long-term investment, but they also ended up overpaying for a 22-year-old who they could have got for less had they committed to a deal with Ajax earlier in the summer.
But this week has been one of promise, even if the standard of opposition, in Nottingham Forest and Reading, needs to be taken into account.
Antony’s week began with a resilient message on social media, just hours after his form had been raised in the embargoed section of Erik ten Hag’s press conference to preview the Carabao Cup semi-final. “Seeking to evolve to give my best to the team,” Antony wrote, and he’s been true to his mantra this week.
He was much brighter against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, taking the shot from which Wout Weghorst scored and causing the opposition defence a problem with his quick feet. He should have scored himself, only to be denied by Wayne Hennessey. It was a similar story against Reading, going close in the first half before creating the opener just after the break.
Key to Antony’s improved performances this week has been receiving the ball in higher positions, where he is already in an area where he can hurt the opposition. For all of United’s improvements under Ten Hag this season they have remained, for the most part, a counter-attacking team.
That doesn’t suit Antony and when he picks the ball up around the halfway line on the break he has a couple of issues. Firstly, he doesn’t have the pace to maintain those surges and usually likes to slow the game down, putting his studs on top of the ball to assess his options and draw defenders to him.
Secondly, it’s pretty clear he has little inclination to use his right foot, but when dribbling he also often uses the in-step of his left foot. When trying to break this usually means he continues to push himself towards the touchline until he has nowhere to go but back, an action which usually irritates supporters and teammates.
Contrast that with Marcus Rashford at the City Ground in midweek. He received a pass from Casemiro near the touchline but used the outside of his right foot to continue nudging the ball infield during his run, eventually bursting into the area to score.
The reality is that has never been Antony’s game and in his two seasons for Ajax in the Eredivisie, he would usually receive possession in the final third, using skills to beat defenders and either create chances or find room to shoot.
Against Forest and Reading, United have turned in more dominant performances and that has benefitted Antony. They’ve had the midfield controlling games and that has meant passes are going into the front three in the final third, rather than closer to the halfway line. When that happens, Antony usually collects possession facing the penalty area ready to try and drive forwards.
It feels like that is the key to keeping his momentum going and for all the progress this week, his manager knows there is plenty more to come.
“I have more experience with him,” said Ten Hag. “We have to challenge him and if you challenge him he can adapt and adjust his game.
“He has to be more variable, more dynamic. He needs his teammates around him, but also how to use his teammates. He has to work on it. I think there is still room for improvement.”
The assignments will certainly become tougher for Antony in the coming weeks, but the last couple of games have been a sign of how United can get the best out of him.
Source: dailylifeworld.com
