It seems that criticism follows Danny Welbeck wherever he goes.
Whether he is representing England or Manchester United Welbeck consistently has a host of detractors who shun any notion that the forward offers his sides an invaluable and unique set of attributes.
While the criticism of the striker is common and widespread it also ill-informed and ludicrous.
The Manchester United forward has struggled for club appearances this season, starting just half of their league games.
This is despite the fact that he has netted three goals this campaign – making him the third highest scorer behind Rooney and Van Persie.
It is his lack of goal-scoring which results in the volume of criticism he receives. However, this criticism ignores the many other attributes Welbeck, 22, possesses.
The Manchester born forward burst onto the scene at Old Trafford in the 2008-2009 season, scoring on his debut – his only Premiership appearance that season.
His 30-yard strike suggested great things for the young player but he struggled to kick on and establish himself at United.
He started just one Premier League game the following season and was loaned out to Preston where he again failed to make an impact.
The season of 2010-11 was the key for Welbeck’s career. A loan spell at Sunderland was an overwhelming success, seeing the forward start 21 league games and score six goals.
On his return to Manchester United, he was a different player to the one that had left for the North East.
Welbeck returned stronger, fitter, faster and with far more cutting edge to his play.
He led the line for Manchester United in the 2011-12 season, starting 23 times in the Premier League and scoring nine goals as United narrowly missed out on the title to neighbours Manchester City.
The arrival of Robin van Persie last season forced Welbeck to be moved into wider areas, generally cutting in from the left hand side.
This move took away the goal threat from Welbeck’s game and his finishing has significantly worsened.
He scored just once in the league last season and, as a result, has come under severe criticism for both club and country.
His international goal-scoring record though is good. Welbeck has earned 20 England caps and scored eight goals, including three this season.
Yet still he is often singled out as a weak link in the team for United and England.
It has to be acknowledged that Welbeck is not a natural finisher. Far from it. He misses catalogues of chances and so often fluffs his lines in front of goal.
That weakness was evident in the recent World Cup Qualifier against Poland where Welbeck missed a host of opportunities to give his country a commanding lead.
It should not be forgotten that he was a centre forward who has now been moved to play from the left wing.
It is not his natural position and there are elements of it that he struggles with.
He is not the best when it comes to delivering the final ball. Certainly he needs to produce a better and more consistent end product if he is to develop as a player.
From wide areas, crossing is a key skill and one which is currently missing from Welbeck’s game.
These weaknesses should not detract from his all-round contribution as a player for Manchester United and England.
He offers pace and energy that few others do, making him a valuable asset to David Moyes and Roy Hodgson when it comes to setting up their team.
Welbeck provides a high work-rate, performing his defensive duties as well as offering a counter-attacking threat.
Tactically he is a managers dream, especially away from home, where hitting the opposition on the break is a key component to the attack.
A prime example of this is the disciplined and tactically mature performance he produced at Old Trafford last season when United took on Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Playing in the no.10 role that has been dominated by Wayne Rooney this season, Welbeck showed that, playing in an attacking role is not all about offence.
Welbeck was ordered to shut-down the immensely effective deep-lying playmaker Xai Alonso and nullify the Spaniard’s ability to dictate the tempo of the match.
To put it bluntly, United’s dominance in the first hour of that game was down to the tactical discipline of Welbeck.
It was, therefore, no surprise that, after Nani was sent off and Welbeck forced to fill in from a wide position, Alonso took control of the game and Madrid ran out winners.
As well as his pace and energy, Welbeck possesses supreme ball control and fantastic footwork in tight areas.
He offers a strong link-up play with other forwards due to his ability to emerge with the ball from tight situations and his intricate lay-offs.
While his goal threat must improve, for a player who is just 22, the fierce criticism of Danny Welbeck is unjustified.
He offers a different option to both his club and international managers with his pace, enthusiasm and work-rate contributing to a counter-attacking threat.
With time on his side Welbeck will only get better, as he learns to develop his game, become more clinical and improve his final ball.
At present he is far from the finished article but is still a highly valuable asset for Manchester United and England.
He is sure to play a key part in United’s stuttering attempts to retain their title and is a certainty, barring injury, to be in England’s World Cup squad.
Criticism of Welbeck will more than likely continue. Every time he misses a good opportunity, people will question his place in the team or at the club.
Those views are far too narrow and neglect to consider both the other attributes Welbeck brings to the team now plus the potential he has for improvement.
Image courtesy of soccerbible via YouTube, with thanks
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