Really hope these Fabinho rumours are true. 6"2, good at penalties, quality in both attack & defence; I'd pick him over Darmian any day.
As for Memphis, apart from the sitter I don't think he played badly yesterday. He needs to improve, but the idea that he should be sold just because Martial at present is better, is ridiculous. There's no guarantee Martial won't suffer a dip in form, or pick up a major injury.
Memphis was really bad. Id wasnt just the sitter. Like i said, when Mkhitaryan played him in, he could have either played it first time across goal, or get the ball under control (like he did) and play it to the runner at the edge of the box. He did neither. He ****** about on the ball, allowing the Wigan players to get back for a start, then was eventually closed down and lost the ball. And this was against Wigan. What more of a confidence boost do you need? Let the ball run to your left foot and its a tapa in into an open net. Uses his right and ***** it up. Gets played in behind and does neither of the 2 correct options he had and loses the ball. Thats without all the other times he had the ball and did **** all.
As it stands, id rather have Young on the left. For the last 2 years he's done absolutely nothing wrong. 2 seasons ago he was our best player by a mile. Last season he played left and right wing, and left and right wing back. Never really had a bad game. He did his job. Even as a defender where he didnt really have any experience. But for the last 4 years people have been saying sell Young. I was one of those myself 3 or 4 years ago, But the last 2 years he's been one of your best players consistantly, in any position he's played.
Im all for giving Memphis another year. He's obviously got the talent if he gets the confidence, but if he cant do the simplest of things against Wigan in a friendly, what chance has he got in a proper game? Young was even brought on as a striker a couple of times and scored a goal, and generally played well. Memphis strikes me as a Nani mk2. Obvious talent, but is so inconsistent its unbelievable. Seeing Nani in the Euro's, and how his game has matured being away from us, I'd have been happy taking a punt on him again. While with us it was like he thought he was Ronaldo. But at the Euro's he basically carried Portugal. He stepped up and did the simple things rather than think he's Ronaldo and his game has improved massively just by doing the simple thing.
The best players in the world do the right thing at the right time. Yesterday Mata got that ball and he played it across to Keane. It was the right thing to do and got the team a goal. I'm 99% certain if that was Memphis in that situation, he would have blasted it a goal looking to score and got **** all. Thats the difference. I really hope Memphis pulls his head out of his **** and does well. But he needs to stop trying too hard and forcing it, and just do the simple things.