Marcus Rashford: What is going wrong?
A shadow of his former self
To be honest, this is actually a very hard one to explain. After what was his best season in a United in which he grabbed 41 g/a last year, one would naturally think that a player would look to kick on.
This too was after he had a terrible season in 21/22. Many fans were calling for him to leave the club and there were rumors to suggest that that was true.
So why has things gone to shit once again?
Last season v this season (at the same stage)
Here’s a look at how he began last season compared to how things have gone so far in this.
While the assists are the same, there has been quite a difference in terms of goals, the aspect of his game where he’s judged most. He’s even played more minutes this season. Rashford also had a muscle injury at the start of the Europa League campaign that kept him out of the first two matches last year.
His positions haven’t changed at all either. Last season and this season, Rashford has played at both left-wing and centre-forward with that spot on the left being his more used position.
Even looking at his form from the Carabao Cup final to now, it has taken a drastic drop.
Marcus got a total of 6 goals and 5 assists in 28 games post that final win in which he also got a goal. Prior to that game though, Rashy was on fire.
In 37 matches, the United winger scored 24 goals and gotten 9 assists. That is a total of 33 goals and assists in 37 games which is basically a goal or assist every game.
His haul of 11 g/a in 28 matches post the Carabao Cup final win is a goal or assist every 2.5 games.
Something has obviously happened to him to cause this massive drop-off. What it could be is anybody’s guess.
Mentality and body language
This season, we’ve noticed that there has been a significant change in his body language compared to last season.
The major difference was that Rashford played with a smile on his face whereas now he appears very glum and moody.
In 22/23, he could do no wrong. Everything he hit found the back of the net or a teammate for an assist. He improved in his forward play as he started to better his form as a centre-forward as we saw a development in his hold up play and heading ability having grabbed a couple of those last year.
Looking at him this season though, he’s been throwing up his arms in annoyance more than influencing the game. His head is down a lot more, he doesn’t challenge for 50/50s as much and his work rate is almost non-existent.
There hasn’t been radical changes in his strengths from this season to last season as he still runs with his head down, prefers to cut in and shoot, and is very selfish, but a year ago, he was scoring so the selfishness wasn’t an issue. In 10 games so far, it ain’t going in and he’s looking like a Championship player.
The decision-making is a serious worry as like the manager said, he does get into good positions, but that final choice lets him down. He passes when he needs to shoot and shoots when he needs to pass.
Is missing Luke Shaw a big issue for him? The two of them had a great partnership in the past couple of seasons and with Shaw being out for most of this season, maybe that is playing a part for his poor form so far. Still doesn’t explain the dropoff at the end of last season though as Shaw was playing and playing well.
Is it something off the field? It could really be anything tbh.
Final Thoughts
I like Rashford. He’s a player I’ve always liked but the biggest issue for me with him is that despite him being a Manchester lad born and bred, a supporter of this club his whole life, joining the academy at a very young age, scoring on basically all of his debuts, coming up with some big performances, winning a few trophies, being our best player on a couple of occasions and doing all the amazing work off the field that he has done, it is on it where he fails.
He’s so inconsistent that if he were to leave, many (including myself), wouldn’t be too sad at that. That in itself is sad. Considering all that he has done, not being sad at his departure isn’t something I want to feel.
For someone like him who’s done all that he’s done, we should never want him to leave.
It seems as though he’s losing the fans. Lose an enormous fanbase like ours and it will be very hard for you to come back.
We are quite harsh on him because we know the quality he possesses. I strongly believe that if he tightens up the screws and starts doing the simple things well, he can be world class.
I know, that sounds very stupid of me, but often he gets compared to Kylian Mbappe, so there muct be a good reason for that.
Both have a lot of similar attributes.
Both are super fast, skillful, can take a couple players on, go down the line and whip in a cross, can assist and can of course, score. The difference is that Mbappe is more consistent and he is more of a team player when watching him play.
Mbappe’s decision-making is also more on point than Rashford’s. He knows when to pass and shoot whereas Rashford is too selfish too often.
It seems as though Marcus is desperate to score and/or assist every time he plays and that is the only thing that will make him happy. But as a fan, if he doesn’t do either of those things but plays an overall great game, I’d be happy.
Look at Garnacho for example. He doesn’t score or assist every game but more often than not, he does something that gets us on the edge of our seat while still doing the basics really well. In a way, that’s kind of what I’d like from Rashford too. A forward can still have a great game even without a goal or assist.
The ability and quality is there. It really is about how much he wants it that will determine whether he can reach the heights we know he can.
I hope he turns it around.
Why do you think his form has fallen off so much? Do you think Rashford can turn things around?
#ERIKTENHAG #RASHFORD #MUFC #GGMU #GLAZERSOUT
