This summer was a transfer window for so many strikers’ movements, and Manchester United was heavily involved in it.
Alexander Isaac was at the heart of his spat with Newcastle United, but eventually joined Liverpool, including Liverpool, Joa Pedro, Hugo Echicchique, Joane Wissa, Nico Urtemade, Victor Gyoker and Benjamin Sesco.
Often of those names, they began an impressive life with their new club.
With three goals in four games, Gyoker is already the second goal scorer in the division behind Airling Haaland, while Pedro and Ekitique have recorded two offenses in the Premier League. Woltemade won Toon’s top flight debut on Saturday afternoon.
But for Sesco, it was a problematic start. Perhaps the writing was on the wall when he was listed as United’s 10th penalty taker in a shootout loss to Grimsbytown a few weeks ago.
His first start, which he rewarded in the Manchester Derby on Sunday, was also not very glorious.
Sesko starts the first start of Man United with numbers
When United signed Rasmus Hoilund, he was listed as a project striker. When Joshua Girudgie signed Old Trafford, he was also listed as a project striker.
So, what Reuben Amorim needed this season was a proven guy, someone like Ollie Watkins who was there and did it in the Premier League.
What did they do? Well, they jumped out £74 million at Sesco’s Slovenian forward. The big centre forward, obtained from RB Leipzig, is already said to be the “new Erling Haaland,” and it’s easy to see why.
He has strong shots on him, has long progress, and more than anything, he has rich powers.
The problem is that he is still very raw and his 13 Bundesliga goals are finally well summed.
Since moving to United, it has been a tragic story for Slovenians who have never seen races. Although he is a formidable opposition, his exhibition for the city showed it.
The Manchester Evening News pointed out how the younger attackers were “quiet” in the second half, and had United’s only attempt at goal in the first half, but he was eventually substituted in 80 minutes, managing a predicted goal tally of just 0.03.
Sesko only had one shot and was only 54% of his pass completed.
To summarise his anguish, he had fewer touches (19) than goalkeeper Altai Bayindeal (37), a statistic that slams his boring day at Etihad’s office (19).
Sesco vs. Man City | |
|---|---|
I played a few minutes | 80 |
touch | 19 |
The exact path | 7/13 (54%) |
shot | 1 |
Key Pass | 0 |
dribble | 0 |
The ground duel won | 0/1 |
A duel won | 3/8 |
Statistics via Sofascore. | |
However, he was rather hunger for service, and it was not his own fault.
The two Man United players were to blame Sesco for his performance.
This season, the United team’s two bright sparks are new signatures by Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.
Cunha has yet to find the net since trading Wolverhampton with Manchester, but Mbeumo has acquired it and beat Burnley before an international break.
Mbeumo again looked like one of the very few bright sparks on Amorim’s side on Sunday, but he and Sesco were undoubtedly disappointed by the lack of service.
Certainly, this semester meant an unusual start for Amado in the Premier League with more advanced roles, as Mason Mount and Cunya were not injured.
Ivorian has been featured more frequently on the right-wing back this season. However, it is unlikely that he will introduce the offensive role to too many occasions, as Mbeumo has signed a signature, a player with similar characteristics and tendencies.
However, Cunha was away and gave the 23-year-old the opportunity to show off his skills in the final third. Sadly, he didn’t show them very well. When Mbeumo and Amad reached the same wing in the second half, they were listed as left wingers on the team sheet.
Even when the former Sunderland lender was on the left, he failed to make anything for Sesco. Full time, he failed both dribbling attempts, did not complete an exact cross, providing only two key passes.
Behind him, wingback Patrick Dorg did little to help the new striker who had been waiting enthusiastically in the area.
Dolg offered three important passes, but in the words of the man Samuel Luckhurst, “He had a chance to serve Sesco, but his crossing was terrible.”
The goal will flow for a big buck signing at some stage, but he will definitely need a better supply line than was given by Amado and Dorgu on Saturday.
Sesco is poor, but it wasn’t his own fault. The truth is that the whole United side is said to be disappointed by the Amorim system. But that’s another day.
