Alejandro Garnacho image 17

Alejandro Garnacho Argentina flag

2024-25 Performances

View full 2024-25 profile

5.5 Season Average Rating
Appearances
48
Goals
9
Assists
8
Yellow cards
2
Gandalf Greyhame said:
He made spectacularly poor choices as he often does - ignoring overlaps or cutbacks, shooting from impossible angles, lacking guile and composure and blindly taking shots while ignoring better placed teammates/passes. It was extremely frustrating to see him waste attack after attack.

All that said, I wouldn't write him off at all. With Zirkzee being slow, Bruno pulling the strings, and Dalot being poor - he was effectively our only outlet, and it was clear the pressure was weighing heavily on his mind - he probably blamed himself for the goal the whole game and was trying to correct his wrongs. The stupid yellow where he kicked it away was pure pressure. He's trying so hard to force things, expecting unrealistically high things of himself and spiralling into more frustration when things didn't work out. The ignoring of overlaps was because he was tunnel visioned in this pressure today and reverted back to baser instincts developed in a United career where he usually never has that option. There were previous games where he was more composed and less hot-headed - he can find those cutbacks and quick movements if he wants to. He has the skill to be a better team player (though the finishing still remains a question).

I think performances like these are growing pains, he needs Amorim to calm him down and coach him, and he needs to learn from such games. Trying so hard to force things is often counter-productive, the positive is that he never stopped trying, and he definitely didn't do a Rashford/Sancho and shirk away from responsibility or disappear in the game. If you saw him fail all the time, it was because he was trying all the time. I think there's still hope there. If he's in a mental space where he's confident and enjoying his game rather than succumbing to the pressure, we might see a much more exciting player (we have seen glimpses already).

Or maybe it falls apart instead, and he gets only worse from here if he refuses to change and loses faith in the process or starts blaming others. I don't envy Amorim's position right now - but good coaching might polish this frustrating raw talent into something very valuable.
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Dalot wasn't great (nobody was) but he was the only player, who probably had the most consistent game. Delivered a great cross for Bruno, few other decent balls in the first and second half, had a header hit the crossbar, got out of tight situations and progressed it with regularity; all things Garnacho can't really say he did himself.

As for the rest of the paragraph, I'd say it's quite generous with the benefit of the doubt. Everything he's shown today isn't really a case of 'he's putting too much pressure on himself', rather it's consistently what we've seen of his game for the past 3 years. He has talent and with better coaching, he could definitely harness that to become a better player but it would take significant improvement to become the player that he's trying to play as right now. One that is frequently ignoring team mates, having loose touches, is incredibly selfish, doesn't do build up play well, runs into players when not giving space, has very little progressive passes etc etc.

I know you acknowledge it may as well just go pear shape in your last point but I think your optimism is born more of hope than any 'objective' assessment.

I would love to keep him as a squad player but if our finances are that bad, then his value for us regarding FFP is probably worth way more.
 
This guys end product is about as bad as I’ve ever seen from a United player. Utterly atrocious.
And there’s no excuse for these ridiculous offsides he’s getting caught for either, when he can see perfectly across the line, it’s pure laziness.
It’s unbelievable that so many fans see this guy as a potential world beater.
Anything over £50mil and we should sell him this summer. Played over 130 games for us now and he’s regressing.
 
Hopefully sticking him on the right will stop him from shooting as much
 
I’ve said it before, I’ll happily sell him in the summer. His greed sometimes is permanently switched on in some games.

I think with the money we get for him, we can get a player who may not be as exciting but can damn sure fit the team’s style better.
 
At any other club he’s taken in and out of the first 11. Because of how bad our attackers are and lack of options he’s expected to play every game. Most young players lack consistency but when he’s playing bad we have no other options. Fans are now turning on a 20 year old kid. I hope he goes and can get managed properly. This club is a poisoned chalice.
 
Hernandez - BFA said:
I’ve said it before, I’ll happily sell him in the summer. His greed sometimes is permanently switched on in some games.

I think with the money we get for him, we can get a player who may not be as exciting but can damn sure fit the team’s style better.
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The excitement is less and less frequent with him.
 
Drainy said:
Young wide players tend to be frustrating and inconsistent. It's far more unusual to be reliable.
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Exactly, the minimum age of starters in our attack should 23, unless they are truly exceptional, and right now there isn't a player that fits that description at this club.
 
He's too careless with the ball, that was an incredibly bad performance.

I get young wingers can be inconsistent and make the wrong decision but with Garnacho sometimes it's just the simple basics that lets him down.
 
I think we should sell while the stock is high.
 
I’ll never understand any manager who elects to play him on the left. His mentality is completely different in terms of teamwork in possession. How one dimensional he becomes on that side is remarkable.
 
Out of interest given the (minor) debate in the Amorim thread about Elanga vs Garnacho (I maintain Elanga has developed more away from United and is turning into a decent player, better than I believe Garnacho will develop into), I went to look at their development and looked at:

Appearances (PL & Europe)/of which more than 45 mins/Goals/Assists/:

Age 19
Garnacho: 42 / 32 / 8 / 4
Elanga: 24 / 16 (3 in CL) / 3 (1 in CL) / 2

Age 20
Garnacho: 39 / 26 / 5 / 4
Elanga: 29 / 5 / 0 / 1

Age 21
Elanga: 36 / 27 / 5 / 9

Age 22
Elanga: 30 / 25 / 6 / 8

A simple conclusion I am going to make from this is that Elanga severely lacked minutes at United, minutes which Garnacho is getting, in my opinion, undeservedly (although we lack options unfortunately). In short, I don't think Elanga was given the chance he deserved. You can argue all you like about pressure of playing at United etc, but Elanga is showing that he is a decent pacy player, a type we currently really miss. Garnacho is currently showing that he is a limited player, who has acceleration only over the first 5-10 meters, but then cannot outrun any pacy full back, so very rarely passing them and getting a clean chance at a cross (most of his assists seem to be when he stops - making the right decision - realising he won't get past the FB and cuts the ball back).

Thanks Erik.
 
Shame that his application is getting better, but decision making worse every game. He's still 20 which gives him a realistic chance to improve heaps with his workrate, but he was given too much responsibility in the first team too soon. Which makes him too eager to impress.

He should be a squad player next season. Hopefully we get someone like Cunha, more senior, clinical, better dribbler, he can build the game around him then. Kinda similar players.
 
TMDaines said:
I’ll never understand any manager who elects to play him on the left. His mentality is completely different in terms of teamwork in possession. How one dimensional he becomes on that side is remarkable.
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I think a bit too much is made of what side he plays on.

If you play him on the right he still cuts in and shoots a lot. Just with his weaker left foot. There's maybe a marginal shift to him putting a few more crosses in from the right.

You could play Garnacho anywhere, he'll still always look for that coming inside, top corner curler. It's what he thinks football is.

That's my concern with him. His head isn't right, he doesn't understand being part of a team or how the game really works. He's only concerned with the Garnacho show. It's why we see a lad whose scoring 1 in 20 trying to force a signature celebration.

That and physically he still looks like a kid playing mens football.
 
Dans said:
Out of interest given the (minor) debate in the Amorim thread about Elanga vs Garnacho (I maintain Elanga has developed more away from United and is turning into a decent player, better than I believe Garnacho will develop into), I went to look at their development and looked at:

Appearances (PL & Europe)/of which more than 45 mins/Goals/Assists/:

Age 19
Garnacho: 42 / 32 / 8 / 4
Elanga: 24 / 16 (3 in CL) / 3 (1 in CL) / 2

Age 20
Garnacho: 39 / 26 / 5 / 4
Elanga: 29 / 5 / 0 / 1

Age 21
Elanga: 36 / 27 / 5 / 9

Age 22
Elanga: 30 / 25 / 6 / 8

A simple conclusion I am going to make from this is that Elanga severely lacked minutes at United, minutes which Garnacho is getting, in my opinion, undeservedly (although we lack options unfortunately). In short, I don't think Elanga was given the chance he deserved. You can argue all you like about pressure of playing at United etc, but Elanga is showing that he is a decent pacy player, a type we currently really miss. Garnacho is currently showing that he is a limited player, who has acceleration only over the first 5-10 meters, but then cannot outrun any pacy full back, so very rarely passing them and getting a clean chance at a cross (most of his assists seem to be when he stops - making the right decision - realising he won't get past the FB and cuts the ball back).

Thanks Erik.
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Elanga is two years older, Garnacho, can improve massively the next couple of seasons. It's when his body starts to full transform into man. Elanga just looks more athletic and fit this season then ever before and putting in the numbers in Forrest freak season.

Maybe he should have gotten more chances, but it wasn't like he got zero. and in those he didn't perform, wehere as Garnacho showed in the little he had more impact, while younger, hence judged as potentially higher quality player. don't think it was all that unfair. And Elanga can be bitter about it as much as he wants. There is much less pressure there for him now.
 
Awful squad planning and the injury to Diallo means that he's playing a lot more minutes than he should be. One can only hope the penny will drop and he will become a good player - remains to be seen though.
 
Garna is never going to be better than he is now. I dont see ho and in which area he can improve. Selfish, head down, looking at the ground, cant cross, cant shoot etc.
Any winger in the PL would do a better job than him. Luckily he'll be sold in the summer.
 
A bit like everyone he was frustrating me so much last night but then when Maguire came on and did more in five minutes than our actual strikers it became blatantly obvious what the issue actually is. He clearly feels he has to go alone given the lack of position and strikers instinct of our two forwards.
 
VP89 said:
I think we should sell while the stock is high.
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100%. I can't see him being near the starting 11 next season. Not with the improvement of Zirkzee in the number 10 roll, Bruno, a fit Mount and Amad.
 
Marwood said:
I think a bit too much is made of what side he plays on.

If you play him on the right he still cuts in and shoots a lot. Just with his weaker left foot. There's maybe a marginal shift to him putting a few more crosses in from the right.

You could play Garnacho anywhere, he'll still always look for that coming inside, top corner curler. It's what he thinks football is.

That's my concern with him. His head isn't right, he doesn't understand being part of a team or how the game really works. He's only concerned with the Garnacho show. It's why we see a lad whose scoring 1 in 20 trying to force a signature celebration.

That and physically he still looks like a kid playing mens football.
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He's been way better on the right, as he's more uncomfortable with coming inside, which is a move that hardly ever works.
I know our centre forwards lack some movement, but when wingers cut in every single time, what are they supposed to do. When was the last time someone got to the byline and put in a decent cross that was tapped in?
 
Devil81 said:
A bit like everyone he was frustrating me so much last night but then when Maguire came on and did more in five minutes than our actual strikers it became blatantly obvious what the issue actually is. He clearly feels he has to go alone given the lack of position and strikers instinct of our two forwards.
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I’m unsure why going alone would be seen as a better alternative, given how ineffective he is at doing so.
 
Seems to be public enemy number one at the moment. Although close run thing between him and Hojlund. I guess we always need our scapegoats.

It wasn't a good performance and his decision making and shooting has gone to shite for most of this season. Which is a concern. I'm pleased with how hard he's working though. He puts in a monster shift most games, ever since he got dropped when Amorim took over. I find it hard to hate on an attacking player who worked as hard as Garnacho did last night. Here's hoping he finds his mojo in the final third.
 
Posh Red said:
I’m unsure why going alone would be seen as a better alternative, given how ineffective he is at doing so.
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If you go back to my post and read it again I mention the position of our forwards, I get he frustrates but you can't put a ball into someone who isn't putting themselves into a position to pass or cross to.

It works both ways though, there was a break in the second half where Hojlund clearly ignored the run and space Garnacho was in.
 
Dans said:
Out of interest given the (minor) debate in the Amorim thread about Elanga vs Garnacho (I maintain Elanga has developed more away from United and is turning into a decent player, better than I believe Garnacho will develop into), I went to look at their development and looked at:

Appearances (PL & Europe)/of which more than 45 mins/Goals/Assists/:

Age 19
Garnacho: 42 / 32 / 8 / 4
Elanga: 24 / 16 (3 in CL) / 3 (1 in CL) / 2

Age 20
Garnacho: 39 / 26 / 5 / 4
Elanga: 29 / 5 / 0 / 1

Age 21
Elanga: 36 / 27 / 5 / 9

Age 22
Elanga: 30 / 25 / 6 / 8

A simple conclusion I am going to make from this is that Elanga severely lacked minutes at United, minutes which Garnacho is getting, in my opinion, undeservedly (although we lack options unfortunately). In short, I don't think Elanga was given the chance he deserved. You can argue all you like about pressure of playing at United etc, but Elanga is showing that he is a decent pacy player, a type we currently really miss. Garnacho is currently showing that he is a limited player, who has acceleration only over the first 5-10 meters, but then cannot outrun any pacy full back, so very rarely passing them and getting a clean chance at a cross (most of his assists seem to be when he stops - making the right decision - realising he won't get past the FB and cuts the ball back).

Thanks Erik.
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To me those stats just show that Garnacho is on track to be a much better player, who is having a tough season in a team that is desperately lacking players who can put the ball in the net. Be interesting to see how his productivity stats compares to Elanga if/when he finds himself in a team in the top four places coming to the end of the season, aged 22. I'd be amazed if they're not significantly higher.
 
The Purley King said:
He's been way better on the right, as he's more uncomfortable with coming inside, which is a move that hardly ever works.
I know our centre forwards lack some movement, but when wingers cut in every single time, what are they supposed to do. When was the last time someone got to the byline and put in a decent cross that was tapped in?
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It's a marginal difference really. He's never way better on the right.

We had this last season for a spell where we thought he was a lot better on the right but it didn't stick.
 
He's very average. Shouldn't be anywhere near the starting lineup in this form but we have no options. I wouldn't be angry if we sold him in the Summer, as VP said, sell him while his stock is still high.
 
Devil81 said:
If you go back to my post and read it again I mention the position of our forwards, I get he frustrates but you can't put a ball into someone who isn't putting themselves into a position to pass or cross to.

It works both ways though, there was a break in the second half where Hojlund clearly ignored the run and space Garnacho was in.
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I’ve consistently seen him ignore more sensible options on a regular basis when he decides to try and go alone.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
To me those stats just show that Garnacho is on track to be a much better player, who is having a tough season in a team that is desperately lacking players who can put the ball in the net. Be interesting to see how his productivity stats compares to Elanga if/when he finds himself in a team in the top four places coming to the end of the season, aged 22. I'd be amazed if they're not significantly higher.
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I'm afraid I would be amazed. I think those stats simply show that Elanga got no minutes to prove himself whereas Garnacho has got those minutes and isn't showing any progression at all.
 
Posh Red said:
I’ve consistently seen him ignore more sensible options on a regular basis when he decides to try and go alone.
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I agree he needs to be less selfish but lets not put the whole blame on him. This pair of forwards are the worst we've had during my life time supporting the club.
 
We're too reliant on him which shows our lack of squad depth. In an ideal scenario he'd only be starting half the games he does right now. He would be a back up which would be better for his development.

For me he's no where near ready, his decision making is poor and he's too greedy right now.
 
OverratedOpinion said:
He constantly ignores overlaps running into space.
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To be fair, he's been playing with Dalot behind him cutting in most of the season and he's just now learning to play with Dorgu.

It's not great, but I think that aspect could get better.
 
Would snap anyone's arm off for 70 million pure profit from a player whose only above average attribute is pace. Simply not good enough and I can't see what anyone sees that thinks he will be one day. Also, he has a piss poor attitude.

And anyone comparing him to Cristiano is utterly mad. Yes, CR7 lacked end product the first few years BUT he was a CONSTANT threat. He beat players over and over. He got you out of your seat dozens of times per match. The end ball wasn't always there, passing or shooting, but he mostly made the correct decision. Nothing about Garnacho suggests he's got what it takes to be a top player at a top club in England.

I remember when he was coming up through the academy there were regular watchers of those teams whose opinions I trust saying it would be very difficult for him to become a top player at the top level due to limitations that weren't exposed at academy level. I'm still seeing what they saw three or four years ago.
 
Obviously Garnacho is not near level the talent Ronaldo was, but a question for those who remember - how does Garnacho (2022-2025) compare to Ronaldo from 2003-2006? We know Ronaldo was inconsistent and frustrating but that potential was clear as well. Again, don't think Garnacho's ability and potential is near Ronaldo's but he can still turn into a very good player. Not sure that'll be at Amorim's United but we'll see.
 
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