I honestly think he's overplayed which is leading to these very inconsistent and frustrating performances.
Garnacho has been hot and cold for quite some time causing this division in the fan base of whether he is actually good enough to play for our club.
I find that there is a lot of people that are overly praising of him despite his hit-and-miss performances, whereas the others are overly toxic towards him.
The problem is probably more in the middle.
I don't think any of us should be constantly praising him and not fairly criticizing him nor do I think there should be a lot of hate and name calling towards him.
He is only 20-years-old. He isn't even in his prime. He's not even close to that. People act like he needs to be performing like prime Ronaldinho or something. For those who have this unrealistic expectation of him at such a young age is ridiculous.
Garnacho has been playing nonstop for United over last season and this. He has become one of our main players and one that we can rely on to be ever present as the star boy is almost always available, which is a skill in itself.
However, if we're not careful, we'll lead him down the path of Marcus Rashford, one where he was overplayed to a point where he hasn't been quite himself for many years. This isn't giving Rashford an excuse for regular poor performances but I do believe it had an effect.
When the doctor broke into the team in the 15/16 season at age 19, ever since, he has been kind of a regular, so much so that he has been given the number 10 shirt and is one of the highest earners at the club.
His downfall is an example of how not to treat young players early in their career in terms of this overplaying.
Even Kobbie Mainoo seems to have suffered this same fate, to some extent.
He hasn't performed well all season and did pick up an injury in the defeat to Spurs at the end of September which he hasn't fully recovered from. The 19-year-old has also missed the last five games and will be out for the next two before the international break.
Much like Garnacho, Mainoo has been in the first team most of the past season and a bit. Overplaying these young players helps them no end in the long run even if they do want to play as much as possible.
That is where management needs to come into things as I don't think playing them all the time was a good thing from Erik ten Hag. The odd break was needed. I understand that last season we had all the injury problems and needed them to play yet even still, taking them off in games would've helped as well.
So while I do believe that people should take it easy on Garnacho, I'm not saying do not criticize him. He has been poor for a while and that is unacceptable.
His performance against Chelsea was arguably his worst for the club in a while which is saying something because he hasn't played well in a long time.
There were several instances during the game where his decision-making was terrible. The best example is the chance at the end of the game.
United get a break away down the left with Garnacho. He has Amad running in front of him in acres of space. All Garnacho needs to do is play the pass. Even if it's over hit, there is enough space for Amad to get onto it and make things happen.
Instead Garnacho keeps his head down, doesn't play the pass and that chance is gone.
However, while he held onto the ball too long, Mazraoui then makes a great overlapping run only for Garnacho to ignore him as well with the chance completely disappearing. That could have been the difference between winning and drawing.
He then gives the ball away to Pedro Neto after a lazy pass. The Chelsea man runs down the wing only for Casemiro to track and then foul him just past the halfway line.
The Brazilian then proceeds to rip into Garnacho for his all round play in that passage.
Even the 20-year-old's finishing wasn't good enough as he had a couple of good chances to at least give Robert Sanchez in Chelsea's goal some work to do. Instead, on one occasion, he fluffed his lines after a cutback from Bruno Fernandes found Garnacho in time and space. The shot was even on his favored right-foot yet still, he managed to make a meal of it.
The overall work rate from Garnacho was also not at the level required. Throughout the game, he didn't put in enough effort when it came to doing the 'dirty work' of tracking back and working hard.
This could be a problem for him in the future as with new manager Ruben Amorim coming in, his style uses wing-backs who work extremely hard. If Garnacho wants to make it into his team, he will definitely have to be working a lot harder.
As well as improve his decision-making, passing, remove the selfishness, improve his basics, have a better attitude and score the chances.
Yeah.
These type of things happen too often with Garnacho. They've been happening ever since he made his way into the first team and while I said that he is still young and raw, these type of football basics shouldn't be occurring even at his young age. He has also had enough time to improve these deficiencies.
Garnacho is more than good enough to have smoothed out some of the rough edges of his game.
More than this lack of work rate, poor decision-making and flopping of shots in the box, his attitude at times was worryingly, very poor.
Whilst out on the right-wing in the first half, Garnacho was seen throwing his arms in the air whenever he didn't receive the ball or the pass to him was shite. That is understandable but it is kind of what he does to his team-mates a little too often as well.
Getting a taste of his own medicine there.
But even if you're not receiving the ball, you still have to give it your all. Even if you're not in your favorite position, you still work hard. Even when you lose possession, track back and try to win the ball.
Noussair Mazraoui displayed this excellent attitude.
He too was out of his preferred position at left-back but gave a man of the match performance. His work on and off the ball was brilliant and his ability to get up and down the pitch was immense. Mazraoui gave it everything he had all game.
That is the type of mindset and attitude we need from a lot of our players a lot of the time. Young players like Garnacho can learn from that type of performance by Mazraoui.
This attitude thing of Garnacho's needs to be sorted out because we don't want that to become a habit.
All of this criticism and I guess dislike towards him stems from a good place, as odd as that sounds. It is because we all have such high expectations of him because we know the potential he has.
But that is ultimately it with Garnacho: he is potential.
As I said earlier, people think him to be the finished article and should be performing at 8 or 9/10 every game. None of our players do that or have done that in like, ever.
At just 20-years-old, there is still soooooooo much time for him to develop and grow. People need to calm down on him.
He is also one of a handful of players that actually makes something happen when he plays.
Whenever Garnacho gets the ball, I feel as though something is going to happen. I get that 'edge of my seat' feeling with him. Not many have that ability. To be able to do that at such a young age is a pretty incredible thing.
He also has 11 goal involvements this season, the most out of any player making him our biggest threat going forward. This gives people more of a reason to stay calm about his situation.
I think he needs to learn to keep things a lot more simple and not try to overdo things. The Argentine tries a little too hard almost as if he HAS to score that perfect goal every time in order to prove that he has what it takes. Everyone would appreciate his game a lot more if he would mix things up a little.
Try the selfish Hollywood goals while also keeping it simple and finding his team-mates.
I also think he would benefit from sitting on the bench for a period both to give him a rest and for a kick up the arse. Constantly playing him would make him believe that his place in the side is guaranteed and doesn't invoke that healthy competition, which is what you want.
But I still have faith in Garnacho. I believe he will come good. With the right guidance and some discipline he could be one hell of a player. Hopefully Ruben Amorim can be the manager who sorts Garnacho out.
What do you think about Alejandro Garnacho, our star boy?
Background Image: Alejandro Garnacho against Chelsea | Creator: Carl Recine | Credit: Getty Images Copyright: 2024 Getty Images Goal