Is Sancho a bust? And, is Antony headed the same way too?

[Kush]

Before getting the pitchforks ready, hear me out.

Sancho was a marquee signing who was supposed to be the next superstar for not only us, but the Premier League. Being labelled as best player in the Bundesliga, and one of the (if not the) best young players in the world the expectations were high. It is fair to say, he flattered to deceive in his first season. Struggling to keep up with the pace and intensity of the Premier League. Most of us wrote off last season because of the big mess that was created by Ole/Rangnick. However, ten Hags arrival was supposed to spring Sancho into life, with a more modern and progressive method of football. Sancho has somehow got even worse in limited time he has got, being hooked at hour mark multiple times before picking up and injury, and then taking a lengthy break to gather himself mentally. Considering the high pressure stakes at basically ever game we play, do we see this break doing him good? Or taking into consideration his £72m fee, we can brand him a flop already?

Antony is more worrisome because he came off just one stellar season and in a relatively poor league compared to Bundesliga. He showed promise early on, but he has also struggled badly with the pace and intensity of the league. Recently being one of our worst performers at a time where team is in dire need of more productivity and quality. A bigger cause of concern with Antony is his failure to create space or chances from right side of the pitch, which we had been crying out for years. £86m record fee is no doubt weighing him down, but is he headed the same way as Sancho? Eager to hear thoughts from the rest.

 

[DJ_21]

If sancho gets back to form then he takes Antony’s spot straight away. At least sancho was showing glimpses at the start of the season and started taking people on. Don’t think Antony has took anyone on yet.

 

[ROFLUTION]

Now where did I put my pitchfork

 

[Skills]

So far yeah, but I genuinely think Sancho's got enough talent to make it work. The type of productivity he put up in the Bundesliga doesn't happen by a fluke - Haaland has shown, that it's not too hard to transfer it over to the PL and even outperform it here.

Antony, I just don't see it. I just can't find any redeeming feature. Productivity was lacking in a very weak Eridivisie, and he just doesn't pass the eye test. I just don't think he's got enough talent to work with to ever make it work at this sort of level.

 

[Gordon S]

Both are 22, we just need some patience, talent is there

 

[Samid]

It's the money that is the issue. Sancho was max a 50m player, Antony max 30m.

Only absolute dead certs should cost 80m+. How we managed to throw that kind of cash at someone from the Dutch league I'll never understand.

 

[el3mel]

Both have been a flop so far.

I'll take Sancho over Antony though, because Sancho at least showed some talent here and there.

 

[fallengt]

Jaylingz better than both. I don't know if we should laugh or cry

 

[Dr. Dwayne]

Pitchfork out.

 

[BlueHaze]

Sancho should have ended his first season with over 10 assists in the league minimum not his fault so many of his teammates including ronaldo blew those wonderful passes and crosses to hell. Go watch his higlight videos of that season and see for yourself.

Large section of our fans have written him off but I am 100% sure he is going to silence all of you if Erik gived him a proper chance to build his confidence up.

For me however it seems Erik is dead set on Antony..

 

[littlepeasoup]

Rashford was a flop, until he wasn’t. Dalot was a flop, until he wasn’t.

Either both these players you’ve mentioned will come good, or they’ll end up leaving, at which point you can brand them a flop all you like.

 

[Red Shorts]

Both are 22, we just need some patience, talent is there

Was just about to post this. They are technically still kids in the football world, and to write them off at this age is beyond premature, especially a player who has been here not even half a year.

 

[jm99]

I do understand the concern but Antony came late in the window, and the season has been interrupted by the world cup, remember how maligned vidic and evra were after their first 6 months, or to look at others modric was voted worst la liga signing his first year at Madrid. Judging players after less than a season with us is too soon

 

[bosnian_red]

Think Dembele is a good example, but hopefully it doesn't take as long for both. He went a full 5 year contract until he found his feet this season essentially. Pressures of a big fee, playing for United are not easy. They have time on their side and they'll get chances, we won't get any wingers in until summer 2024 at the earliest if they both flop next season essentially.

 

[Red Shorts]

It's the money that is the issue. Sancho was max a 50m player, Antony max 30m.

Only absolute dead certs should cost 80m+. How we managed to throw that kind of cash at someone from the Dutch league I'll never understand.

Where have you got those estimations from? We aren't in 00's football times anymore

 

[GaryLifo]

I trust this manager to get the best from them. I'd be tempted to try Antony from the left at some point. Maybe reading in the cup have him left with Garnacho on the right and Weghorst in the middle

 

[Acquire Me]

Both are 22, we just need some patience, talent is there

Same old story on the Caf. Too fast to make judgments on players coming in. Some will be a instant success, some will take more time and some will not quite make it.

 

[Judas]

I’m not worried about either yet, I’m certain Sancho will come good. Far too early to write off Antony yet, but he’s got a lot to learn and improve.

 

[BlueHaze]

To anyone who read my first post..

 

[Red Shorts]

I trust this manager to get the best from them. I'd be tempted to try Antony from the left at some point. Maybe reading in the cup have him left with Garnacho on the right and Weghorst in the middle

I would be too, so long as I saw Antony focus mostly on bursting to the line and whipping it in rather than cutting back. It will make him virtually ineffective as a goal threat, but at least we could see if he has the pace and crossing to be a more effective winger.

 

[Di Maria's angel]

Give them a chance!

 

[kundalini]

On the balance of probabilities, both will turn out to be unsuccessful transfers.

Paul Tomkins, Graeme Riley and Gary Fulcher did a detailed research study into transfers that features in their book Pay As You Play. They found that 50% of transfers are a success and when they looked specifically at high priced transfers, the success rate was the same 50%.

Of course within the successful 50% are some players who had difficult first seasons at their new club. It is possible but becomes increasingly unlikely.

Having seen both players in action in the PL, it would take a significant change for either to adapt.

I would imagine that Ten Hag will give Antony lots of playing time since he persuaded the club to pay such a high fee. Sancho has been given plenty of opportunities and may struggle to get the playing time he would expect.

 

[Counterfactual]

Hopefully when they're both fit and available they'll be competition for each other.

 

[jm99]

I trust this manager to get the best from them. I'd be tempted to try Antony from the left at some point. Maybe reading in the cup have him left with Garnacho on the right and Weghorst in the middle

I don't know about that, left wing seems to be a position we end up playing all of our attackers in, sancho was supposed to be a right winger then played left, rashford supposed to be striker then became a left winger. I really think we need to try and persevere with playing him as a right winger

 

[Zoo]

Is Rashford a bust?

 

[Red Shorts]

To anyone who read my first post..

God does this highlight how shit we were last year. I am totally on your side with Sancho too, the number of delicate passes he made that should have been slotted. Put him in this current squad with the sam confidence and it could have been a different story.

 

[Sarni]

Antony has been slightly better than Sancho but still quite bad and awful for the money we paid.

Many people are now overhyping Sancho as it’s easy to forget just how diabolical he’s been here when he hasn’t played for 3 months, we have done that as a fan base several times where our perception of a player changed considerably during the time he wasn’t playing. Very few players in this league have been as pointless and contributing as little as he has while playing significant minutes.

 

[UnofficialDevil]

Now where did I put my pitchfork

Antony could be. I think Sancho will come good.

 

[Murder on Zidane's Floor]

Antony doesn't seem like he has any actual skills or tricks which for a winger without pace is a concern.

Also as one footed as he is, it should be a doddle for him to go on the outside as all defenders are overcompensating.

Sancho also seems very lacking in either pace and tricks as well which is concerning.

 

[GaryLifo]

14 appearances in a new league which were punctuated by injury and a world Cup break and he's a bust. Okay then.

 

[mu4c_20le]

We've seen what Jadon can do albeit in a slower league. I'm just not sure about Antony's ceiling.

 

[dove]

I still have some hope for Sancho, think he is someone who can contribute in a well functioning team which we are slowly becoming one. Meanwhile Antony just looks hopeless, I see absolutely nothing in him.

 

[MrBest]

I think sancho has been shocking since he came, Antony has offered a bit more in terms of end product but not much in general play.



Saying that, I think both are massively talented and could make it and become world class forwards for us. Sancho has to start doing something soon which I think he will, Antony needs time to bed in, talent is clear, he needs to build upper body strength but his pace could be deadly and technical ability is strong.

Both are 22, both came with big fees, we need to judge them on output and progression not on what they cost.

 

[BluesJr]

Pace is the most important factor in this league for forwards. Both lack it. Poor planning.

 

[Big Andy]

If you look at the Sancho youtube compilations he's an all action, dribbling winger with mad skills and pace. He's not really been that sort of player at all for us. Antony is too one footed so it's easy to read what he's going to do. He'll probably score 5-10 goals cutting in and curling one, and one can only hope he'll end up like Robben in that he's a one trick pony, but that trick works 90% of the time.

They both have the chance to make that ring spot their own, and it all depends on who has the stones to take it.

 

[Raoul]

Too early for the negativity. If both are healthy and playing, they will be important parts of the bigger picture of winning trophies.

 

[zaafi]

Antony has been slightly better than Sancho but still quite bad and awful for the money we paid.

Many people are now overhyping Sancho as it’s easy to forget just how diabolical he’s been here when he hasn’t played for 3 months, we have done that as a fan base several times where our perception of a player changed considerably during the time he wasn’t playing. Very few players in this league have been as pointless and contributing as little as he has while playing significant minutes.

You can't possibly be serious. Other than having scored goals, Antony has done absolutely nothing so far. Sancho also scored occasionally, but he created a decent amount of chances for the team, which Antony has been unable to do so far. Sancho also has way better technique and it is absolutely laughable to say he can't take players on.

 

[CallyRed]

Not a bust yet. He needs to do alot more to get to Ronaldos level of bust

 

[Red in STL]

It's the money that is the issue. Sancho was max a 50m player, Antony max 30m.

Only absolute dead certs should cost 80m+. How we managed to throw that kind of cash at someone from the Dutch league I'll never understand.

There is no such thing as a dead cert in football transfers, don't confuse transfer fees or wages with probability of success

 

[Shakesy]

£158m on two players who have looked underwhelming... And now they're vying for one position.