Ashley Young Renaissance at Manchester United a Sign of Louis Van Gaal's Nous
Ashley Young continued an impressive return to form under manager Louis van Gaal at Manchester United despite the side's failure to defeat Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. Young's renaissance is a testament to the manager's rare tactical nous.
Seemingly cast aside before Van Gaal's summer appointment, Young has now become a key player for the Red Devils.
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One of the most likely to breach the goal of Spurs' impressive Hugo Lloris on Sunday, Young displayed the form that has made him such a crucial component to Van Gaal.
It is a remarkable turnaround, and one that serves to underline Van Gaal's effect since joining the club in the summer.
Aston Villa, Early Form and a Slump at Old Trafford
Young arguably earned his move to a club of United's calibre after a sustained period of top form at Aston Villa.
In his last season with the club, in 2010/11, Young hit seven goals and made a further 10 assists in 34 Premier League games.
Villa boasted a remarkable four managers throughout that season, with a departing Martin O'Neill followed by caretaker Kevin MacDonald, while full-time successor Gerard Houllier was forced to step down with health problems, with assistant manager Gary McAllister taking charge in his stead.
That Young maintained a consistency throughout this trauma is a testament to his success at the club.
Young continued this form following his £20 million move to Old Trafford in 2011.
Hitting six goals and making seven assists in 25 games in his first season, Young was particularly outstanding in his contribution to United's 8-2 victory over Arsenal.
A pair of carbon-copy, curled strikes helped United on their way to a famous rout.
Young's form dropped significantly in the seasons to follow, however, and this peaked under the management of David Moyes in 2013/14.
The midfielder played just 20 games under Moyes, scoring two goals and making one assist.
David McDonnell of the Mirror claimed in December of 2013 that Young would join midfielder Anderson in a January clear-out under Moyes.
"United will look to offload the pair on permanent deals, but will consider loaning them out elsewhere if that is the only available option," McDonnell wrote, such was Moyes' reported desperation to see Young leave.
Moyes has since left the club, and Young endures. But how has the winger managed it?
America and the Left Wing-Back Role
Young's move and subsequent struggle mirrored that of a fellow former Villan, Stewart Downing, whose move from Villa to Liverpool in 2011 saw the Midlands side rake in a similar fee.
Downing floundered on Merseyside, with his inability to provide consistent delivery from wide areas seeing him marginalised under manager Brendan Rodgers.
He famously made no assists in his first campaign with the Reds and ended his spell at the club with three goals and five assists from 65 Premier League games.
A move to West Ham United beckoned in 2013, but Downing faced similar struggles in his first season.
This summer, however, a renovation at the Boleyn Ground has seen Sam Allardyce adopt a more attacking approach, one that features a new role for Downing as a No. 10.
The midfielder has since thrived, with four goals and six assists in 18 league games.
Young's renaissance takes its cues from a different stimulus but a similar overhaul.
The introduction of Van Gaal as United manager in the summer has prompted this change in fortunes, beginning with the club's pre-season tour of the USA.
Just as Downing has switched to a No. 10 role, Van Gaal opted to deploy Young as a left wing-back in his much-vaunted 3-5-2 system.
In games such as United's 3-1 victory over Real Madrid, Young scored twice against the La Liga giants.
As Bleacher Report's Graham Ruthven described after that game, "Young was tireless in his energy up and down the left wing, providing an attacking outlet whilst also tracking back to fulfill his defensive responsibilities."
It is this switch to a left wing-back role that has seen Young flourish in a United shirt this season, with his form making him an unlikely stalwart in an ever-changing side under Van Gaal.
2014/15: Young as Van Gaal's Trusted Left Outlet
As we hit the half-season mark, Young has made 12 appearances in the league.
Only five United players—David de Gea, Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie, Juan Mata and Antonio Valencia—have featured more times under Van Gaal so far.
That includes a recent run of eight consecutive starts, with United picking up 20 points during that period and staking their claim to the Premier League title.
Young was particularly excellent in United's 3-1 win over Newcastle United, with his crossing ability evident throughout, as MailOnline's Ian Ladyman testified.
Ladyman wrote, "Every cross—many of which came from the left foot of Young—seemed to cause a problem."
Another stand-out performance came in United's recent 2-1 victory away to Southampton.
Young's ability to defend and attack in equal measure, and with equal success, proved a consistent outlet for Van Gaal.
In Sunday's 0-0 draw with Spurs, Young was one of United's most dangerous players and would have proved the difference for Van Gaal's side if his excellent curling strike hadn't been stopped by an outstanding Lloris.
That effort had shades of Young's pair of exceptional finishes in the 8-2 victory over Arsenal in 2011, and this is indicative of his return to form.
"Save is great, footwork is even better. RT @KICKTV: Hey Lloris. Pretty pretty pretty good. https://t.co/hsJGfgH6FR #THFC
— Alexi Lalas (@AlexiLalas) December 28, 2014"
It is a surprising turn of events, but Van Gaal's managerial ability seems to have coaxed back to life the player that United plumped £20 million for in 2011.
Showing his nous by switching Young to left wing-back, Louis van Gaal may have saved Manchester United from another investment in January by inspiring the most unlikely of renaissances.
Statistics via WhoScored.com.
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