Man United's five worst and five best players so far this season - according to intriguing new stats
Man Utd have endured an up and down season so far but what players have delivered and what players have yet to turn up?
If Ruben Amorim had been offered the chance for Manchester United to be just three points behind Manchester City at this stage of the season, he probably would have taken it.
Unfortunately, City haven’t exactly been firing on all cylinders and only the derby result is the difference between the two sides. There is still a feeling under Amorim that it is one step forward and one step back with every positive result usually followed by a frustrating one. The Red Devils at least went into the international break on the back of strong performance against Sunderland with the debut of Senne Lammens something for fans to get excited about.
Man Utd’s best players this season
Statistically, Lammens is United’s best player in the Premier League this season according to WhoScored, however, the sample size of 90 minutes isn’t exactly the sort to prove an argument. What the data and analysis website does though is paint a picture of which United players are pulling up trees and which United players need to pull their socks up. Starting with the five best players – with 270 minutes played the minimum amount required – there are a couple of obvious names who should be setting the standard for others but who need a bit of help.
In top spot is Matthijs de Ligt who has played every minute for United and is the only player to do so. He is also the player closest to averaging a score of 7 across the seven games that have been played so far. With a score of 6.95, the former Ajax, Juventus and Bayern Munich centre-half is looking close to his best, although it hasn’t been enough for Ronald Koeman to call the 26-year old up to the Netherlands squad.
Second place goes to Bruno Fernandes with a score of 6.88. As with every season since moving from Sporting Lisbon to United, the skipper has been at the centre of everything good that the club has done. Amorim is currently persisting with the captain in a deeper role which doesn’t seem to be affecting the 31-year old’s performances, even if there is an acceptance that he would go up another level if he was moved further forwards.
A position that has been a constant source of debate has been the left wing-back role which, with 470 minutes so far this season in the league, Patrick Dorgu appears to have made his own. With an average score of 6.85, his performances have been solid if unspectacular with one assist across his five starts and one substitute appearance.
In fourth, and close behind with 6.81 is wing-back colleague Amad Diallo operating on the other side. As with Fernandes, Amad would probably prefer to play higher up the park, however, Amorim continues to prefer the 23-year old on the right-hand side of his midfield.
Summer signing Bryan Mbeumo props up the top five of Amorim’s best performances in the early stages of the season having played 596 minutes as one of United’s go-to men. With one goal and one assist, the £65m summer signing has yet to hit the heights expected of him but has shown glimpses of what he is capable and, at least, the right attitude.
Man Utd’s worst players this season
At the other end of the spectrum are the players who Amorim has trusted, but who have let him down including Diogo Dalot in fifth place out of those who need to do better. With a score of 6.52, the 26-year old has been consistent, consistently average. If anything, Dalot is a symbol of the current United squad and the one that Amorim inherited. He’s ok, but would he get in a matchday squad at the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal or City, never mind their starting XI? Until this balance is rectified, United won’t close the gap.
Leny Yoro has had a season to adapt to the Premier League and, at least, has been able to stay fit for the start of this campaign. Having featured in every game, a score of 6.47 highlights perfectly how the teenager has been playing. Neither a defensive rock, nor a weak link. For £52m though, Yoro should be making more of an impact by now.
There is a general acceptance that Casemiro is going to be at United until his contract ends which must be annoying for Amorim given how much of the wage bill the Brazilian’s salary takes up. With 6.43, the once dominant midfielder in European football is getting by with the bare minimum rather than what he is really capable of.
It’s been a while since Luke Shaw played so many consecutive games having featured in every league fixture for United in the left-sided centre-half role. The problem is, despite Amorim’s insistence, he isn’t a left-sided centre-half, he is a left-back, always has been, always will be, but his body simply isn’t capable of the workload that the United gaffer’s system demands. A score of 6.36 tells its own story and makes him the second worst player for United this season in terms of WhoScored’s player ratings.
And the worst player for United this season? Altay Bayindir. When the backup keeper has to play week in, week out, it leads to an uncertain defence and an average score of 6.13, a far cry from Lammens 7.36 on his Old Trafford debut.