What The Future Holds for Memphis Depay

Memphis can be United's next Ronaldo, yet he could also become another Nani. It could go either way right now

When Man Utd announced the signing of Memphis from PSV, before the season had even ended, it pointed towards a pre-emptive move to get in front of PSG, and perhaps a few other sides, to capture one of the brightest talents in Europe. This blog felt the capture of Depay was somewhat under-valued by the media and fans alike, perhaps the early deal took away the gloss of it being a ‘summer’ signing, yet for me this was the signing of the summer window. Depay was one of the best young talents around, and at 21 years of age, in a similar way to when Eden Hazard joined Chelsea, wasn’t ‘too young’ in terms of needing to mature and gain experience. With the inevitable departure of Angel Di Maria United needed a new 'star', and being gifted the iconic No.7 shirt symbolised Depay’s apparent importance to this ‘new’ United team. I genuinely thought he would hit the ground running and thrive. However, it hasn’t been too easy a start for the young Dutchman.

A title winning season in which Depay was the league’s top scorer with 22 goals and was awarded the Eredivise young player of the season award confirmed that this was a burgeoning talent. Depay was electric for PSV and it was inevitable he would move to one of Europe’s top sides in the summer. The relationship he has with Louis van Gaal, with a sense of the Dutch coach being a father figure to Depay, whose actual father abandoned his son at an early age, a reason why Depay no longer wants to use his surname, and simply be referred to as Memphis. Van Gaal knows the player more than most and keenly aware of his personality and character. 

One therefore was of the assumption that van Gaal could and would nurture and push Depay to new levels. Yet so far it just hasn't clicked. Much was expected of him in his Premier League debut versus Spurs, where played as a central 10, different to his left forward role where he thrived at PSV. Van Gaal has done this with other players, playing them in different positions, perhaps testing their versatility or seeing in them skills which his system requires. However, that first game he struggled to impose himself and make an immediate impact. 

Against Villa he did some good things out wide showing his skills and dribbling skills, but didn’t produce a whole lot, and when he did get into a glorious scoring opportunity he squandered it wide. Against Newcastle he again got into good areas but couldn’t turn these chances into goals or assists and he was rather absent for most of the game vs Swansea. The frustration has been building and is showing. 

His two superb goals vs Club Brugge made many think that he got the duck off his back. Those goals highlighted his intelligence in terms of movement and positioning, his 1v1 skills and his ability to finish. It seemed he had overcome these and would now settle in to a run of form. However it seemed he could only perform in these European games. A fantastic assist for Rooney in the 2^nd leg vs Brugge along with a lovely goal against his former side pointed to a player who seemed more comfortable versus European opposition, or more truthfully, versus weaker defences.  

The Premier League was proving harder to crack. He was trying things but it just wasn’t working for him. In recent weeks it has only gotten worse for Depay. The game vs Liverpool highlighted the frustrations which his performance has brought. Notably from his teammates and interestingly from Ryan Giggs. There was a moment after Depay was wasteful for roughly the eighth time when entering the final third, where the camera went to the bench and Giggs was visibly angry and annoyed by Depay’s contribution. A man whose career was defined on that left wing he knows what it is expected, and while Depay is playing the ‘inverted’ role as opposed to the classic version Giggs played, there is the expectation to produce something. Tellingly Depay was replaced at half time by Ashley Young whose energy and directness changed the tempo of United’s attacks and made them more potent. 

This didn’t bode well for Depay, who was, despite the arrival of Martial late in the window, United’s marquee signing. He was to be their ‘new’ Ronaldo/Beckham etc. In fact it is Martial who has stolen the headlines and attention, and Juan Mata who has been United's key man so far this season. And while Depay did get his first Premier League goal in the game versus Sunderland, there is a still a sense that he is not at the level which is expected of him. The Arsenal game proved that. 3-0 down at half time, with Arsenal exploiting a weak left side of United, Depay was non-existent in an attacking yet importantly defensive role. His reluctance to help the team and track back was evident and he was once again subbed at half time. Now stories have emerged that Giggs has given him a 'dressing down' and told him to improve what he's doing off the field, as well as on it. It doesn't seem like Depay has impressed.

Lessons to learn from a young Ronaldo

Some will argue that it is far too early to judge Depay, that he needs to bed in and gets acclimatised to the league and the club. Many will posit that Ronaldo needed three seasons to become a great player at the club. However it is important to note that Ronaldo arrived as an 18 year old. He was young, naïve and needed several years to gain an understanding of himself, as well as the club and the league. And while Depay may still need the time to get to grips with United and the English league, there is a factor which defined Ronaldo’s progression and development; trust and faith. 

Not many players are given the freedom, licence and ‘time’ to develop like Ronaldo was. He was frustrating at times in those early years, showing his inexperience and selfishness in his play. He annoyed fellow players and fans alike. Until his breakthrough season there was a sense that although Ronaldo was clearly talented, he wasn’t the answer for United. And then it seemed all of a sudden he changed, grew up, matured and thrived. 

Memphis is at the same position Ronaldo was in, a skilful, confident (perceived by many as arrogance/cockiness) and seen as frustrating by some of his peers and fans. However, if he is to stand any hope of succeeding at United he needs to hope that Louis van Gaal learns from the decisions made with Ronaldo, and also the lessons of what happened to Nani and Anderson. 

Ferguson perservered with Ronaldo, gave him the time to develop, to make mistakes and yes to be frustrating, until he improved and became the best player in the world.  When Ruud van Nistelrooy complained that Ronaldo didn’t provide the service he wanted, it was the Dutchman who moved on, not Ronaldo. Ferguson put his faith behind this young talent, and his faith was vindicated. This situation looks similar to what has happened with the Dutch this past week and the issue between Depay and van Persie. While I don’t disagree with an experienced player like Robin van Persie criticising a 21 year old, there is a sense here of van Nistelrooy/Ronaldo again. Danny Blind would be smart to think that while RVP has a point, Memphis is the future, and with Holland not pa part of the Euro’s next year, it would make sense to move on from RVP and embrace Memphis.

If United don’t back Depay then they will have another Nani in the team. A skilful and talented player, yet one which never seemed to fulfil his potential  Nani always seemed in the shadow of Ronaldo and never given the trust which Ronaldo got. The truth is Ferguson never seemed fully sold on him and he never had the consistent runs games of trust that Ronaldo was given. Because of this inconsistency, Nani was inconsistent. 

Now of course each individual is different and there seems none more focused or professional than Ronaldo in terms of preparation and training. However, there’s no doubt for me that Ronaldo thrived because of the faith and belief shown in him from his manager. Memphis Depay needs to hope that van Gaal, and perhaps even more importantly Giggs, believe in him like Ferguson (and Queiroz) believed in Ronaldo. 

The jury seems out far too early for Depay and it does seem a little unfair, however the expectations on himself as well as from others is very high. And the truth is he has not yet got close to what has been expected of him. Depay proved how good he can be last season, and has been on an upward trend for a few years now. However, that PSV team revolved around him, he was ‘the man’ of the team, the key focal point, and as this blog has argued before, being ‘the man’ is a key requisite for football greatness. 

Not many players are given this role and freedom, which often results in a stable yet not great performance level. And under van Gaal this is often restricted even more. Angel Di Maria didn't enjoy his experience under van Gaal, a coach who believes in the team over the individuals. Memphis is clearly in the bracket of 'individual' and although the two have enjoyed a positive relationship, one wonders if Depay suits the van Gaal philosophy? 

United have a potential gem of a player in Memphis, I firmly believe this, however United’s coaching staff, fans and players need to accept that Memphis will frustrate in the coming 18-24 months. Yet he has such great upside and potential that this may be something to persevere with. 

Unfortunately it seems that opinion on Depay has already been made, his withdrawal at half time in games vs Liverpool and Arsenal, as well as a sense of him being dropped for the game versus Everton. Ashley Young may be a player who can help United now, yet Depay has more potential and United need to keep an eye on the future, as well as the present. Memphis is the closest thing to being United's 'new' Ronaldo, a player who left six years ago. United would be foolish to write off such a talent so soon. 

The Whitehouse Address @The_W_Address