A BBC pundit has bizarrely criticised Ander Herrera’s performance during Manchester United’s terrific 3-0 victory over Everton at the weekend.
Garth Crooks, who had a brief loan spell with the Reds during the mid 1980s, and is now better known for conjuring up some ridiculous formations for the BBC in his team of the week column, had some very harsh words for Herrera, who was in Crooks’ team of the week.
“Herrera is very fortunate to have such an accommodating captain as Wayne Rooney, who has waited patiently for him and other new arrivals to come to terms with Louis van Gaal’s new system, often to Rooney’s detriment,” Crooks said in this week’s column.
Herrera has been mostly solid when he’s played this season. Three goals and two assists in six starts this season (11 goals in 27 United starts overall) shows that the Spaniard has fully adapted to van Gaal’s system long ago, and really should be starting week in, week out.
Meanwhile, Rooney – who has been heavily criticised by the media and United fans alike – hasn’t really found form, and his goal at Goodison Park (assisted by Herrera) was his first away strike in 1,550 minutes.
I’d even argue that Rooney playing in the number ten role that is Herrera’s best position is to the Spaniard’s detriment, although the victory at Goodison Park showed that both players can be played on the pitch at the same time. Herrera played in centre midfield alongside Morgan Schneiderlin, which allowed him to dictate the play while Schneiderlin did the engine room work.
Meanwhile, Rooney was deployed up top, while Anthony Martial was moved out to the left, and it was a good tactical move from United manager Louis van Gaal as the Reds took all three points.
