Why Getting Back to His PSV Basics Can Help Memphis Depay at Manchester United

Memphis Depay's Manchester United career received a much-needed shot in the arm on Saturday against Watford, just in time for PSV Eindhoven's visit to Old Trafford on Wednesday.

The timing could not have been better. Memphis, under considerable pressure because of his previous poor form, made a telling contribution for the injury-hit Red Devils' attack.

Indeed, it was his best performance in a United shirt since his last visit to PSV in the first Champions League clash between the two sides this season.

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He scored in that game, too. The most pronounced contribution Memphis made during his time at PSV, particularly during their Eredivisie-winning 2014/15 season, was his goals. When discussing the basics of his game, his eye for a goal is probably his stand-out attribute.

Jonathan Fadugba profiled the Netherlands international for Four Four Two back in May 2015, saying:

"

Depay is a fearsome striker of the ball with a powerful right foot.

If you give him space to turn and shoot from distance he’s likely to punish you, as exceptional hits against Zulte-Waregem and Chernomorets Odessa in European action for PSV will tell you.

"

Fadubga also quoted PSV technical manager Marcel Brands' 2012 comments about the youngster.

Brands said: "Memphis is one of the greatest talents of the Netherlands, a very passionate and ambitious guy too. If he continues his development in this way, the club is going to have a lot of fun with him around."

Fadugba also referenced a comment made by the forward's former PSV team-mate Stijn Schaars to Helden Online. Schaars said: "He’s doing everything to reach the top. He has a body of a true athlete, power and flair. I’m not afraid of him losing his head. His drive is huge. I like him a lot."

Memphis' numbers in his final season at PSV were impressive, In the league, he scored 22 goals and provided five assists. His goals came from taking a lot of shots—5.7 per 90 minutes of football on average, of which 2.2 were on target—the rest were either off target, against the post or blocked.

That has dropped to 3.8 attempts per 90 minutes on average this season in league football, of which 1.3 have been on target. He is getting off fewer shots, and a smaller percentage of them are on target.

The 21-year-old already has five goals for United, in spite of what has been widely perceived to be a slow start, demonstrating that his eye for finding the back of the net is still working. Two of those came against Club Brugge, one against his old club PSV and the other two in the Premier League.

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However, his all-round game has been where he has struggled. For PSV last season, he averaged 2.1 key passes per 90 minutes in the league. This season that is down to 0.7 per 90 league minutes.

One of the criticisms levelled at Memphis, particularly earlier in the season, was his tendency to want to do too much with the ball before finding the killer pass, or getting the shot away. Whether through an anxiety to prove himself or poor decision-making, he often seemed to want more time on the ball than Premier League defences would allow.

However, he has reduced his average number of dribbles per 90 minutes of league football significantly—down from 5.2 attempts to 3.3 this season. His percentage of success has dipped slightly, but he still succeeds in beating his man roughly half the time he attempts a dribble.

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In spite of that, he is giving away possession a great deal more than he did at PSV, indicating that his decision-making has not adapted to his new environment as well as it should have done.

In the Eredivisie last season, he was dispossessed an average of 2.6 times per 90 minutes. This season, he is losing possession for his team 4.8 times per 90 minutes.

The difference between those two numbers might be the single-best illustration of how the challenge of stepping up to Premier League football has effected Memphis. It is that last-moment decision-making which decides whether an attacking possession will lead to an opportunity or fizzle out, and the Dutchman has often taken the wrong option.

This is especially significant in terms of the effect on the crowd. Louis van Gaal's patient possession football relies on moments of sharp incision to be effected. Generally, when United's attacks break down, they do so after long periods of possession—this is not universally the case, but it is a good rule of thumb.

When they do break down after a long period of possession, the crowd become more frustrated than they would do if a quick, dynamic attack ended fruitless. Of course, that is not Memphis' fault, but the pressure on him to provide immediate output is greater.

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Ultimately, those who know him best believe he has the tools to grow into his United role and succeed.

Van Gaal, who managed Memphis for the Dutch national team before bringing him to United, told BT Sport after the Watford game (h/t ESPNFC), "In the first half he was superb. I think the role is the best role for him—I knew he could do this."

Van Gaal had previously described Memphis as "the greatest talent of his age," per Sky Sports.

While he conceded he wanted more from his young charge, he declared himself satisfied with his compatriot's response to spending some time on the bench.

Per Sky Sports, Van Gaal said: "Now he has to fight back and he does it, so I am satisfied [with him]."

"Basics" is, perhaps, the wrong word for a player whose set of skills is so exciting and dynamic, but getting the things he does well—shooting, dribbling and creating chances for team-mates—right is exactly what Memphis needs.

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Getting used to the glare of the Manchester United spotlight is no mean feat. His assured centre-forward performance against Watford doesn't mean that particular tough nut has been cracked, but it was a good start.

PSV are the perfect opponents for Memphis to face next. He proved in Eindhoven that he could be effective against them, and United's current injury situation means he will almost certainly play.

As his United career progresses, he will look to do for the Red Devils what he did for PSV—using his ability and goalscoring nous to help fire them to the title.

With a few tweaks—particularly around his decision-making—that should be well within the realm of possibility.

All advanced statistics per WhoScored.com.