Danny Welbeck | 2011-14 Performances

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I don't think he got a lot of service today while he was playing up front, but he worked hard and played well. He was able to win us a penalty as well, and should have won us another one earlier in the match.
 
I was unhappy to see him come off. Ji's done a lot for United in his time but Welbs was giving us a lot of attacking thrust down the right as we worked our way into the game during the second half which we lost when Welbs got subbed. Ji just wasn't stretching them out wide like Welbs did and I reckon if he'd have stayed on he could've stretched them more and made an opening for another cross for Chico to put away. The combination of Wazza-Chico-Welbs has a lot to recommend it. We could do worse than trying it again.
 
Not happy about how he won the penalty. Adam Johnson's shenanigans let him off the hook to a certain extent but of course it's always worse for the general public/conspiracy theorists when our players do what other clubs' players do.

You just have to remember in the modern game that you're only ever cheating other cheats.
 
I'd give him the benefit of the doubt on the penalty. It's borderline whether he moves his leg deliberately to catch Ivanovic, but I definitely don't see how anybody can say for sure he dived. Johnson was much more clear cut.

No doubt that Ivanovic didn't deliberately trip him, but the commentators conveniently ignored the fact that that doesn't matter. If you try and win the ball and accidentally trip the man it's a foul, intent is irrelevant.
 
t is Tuesday afternoon in Manchester and Danny Welbeck is in a relaxed mood. The Manchester United striker has been talking for more than an hour, discussing everything from the adrenaline rush he experienced the first time he scored in front of the Stretford End to the difficulties of eating chicken wings at Nando's and the awkwardness he felt when he realised he had been allocated a locker next to Cristiano Ronaldo. "You're thinking: 'Am I a bit too much in his space?"

Welbeck breaks into laughter as he tells the last story, as he recalls what it was like to be a teenager mixing with players like Ryan Giggs, whom he idolised when he first started kicking a ball in Markfield Avenue, the same street in the district of Longsight where Wes Brown grew up. Born and raised in Manchester, Welbeck is United through and through, which helps to explain why his eyes light up when the conversation turns to the prospect of facing Liverpool at Old Trafford on Saturday.

His mind drifts back to the days when he was playing in United's junior teams, when the emphasis was on performances rather than results – apart from when Liverpool were the opposition. "It's just that rivalry between Manchester United and Liverpool, you can't lose," Welbeck says, grinning. "Even when we were little kids, through the age groups, it felt like you had to win. The coaches would still want us to play football but the main aim was to win."

With the enmity between the clubs so entrenched and the atmosphere when they face each other so poisonous, it seems hard to believe that the players can enjoy playing in these games, especially when they are the away team. Welbeck, however, insists that he has thrived on the intensity of the occasion this season.

"I think you have to relish the challenge and try and make a statement on the game," says the 21-year-old England international, who started the Premier League match at Anfield in October and the FA Cup fourth-round tie last month. "It is tough. The atmosphere is like a cauldron. But when it comes to the big games, you want to play in them. This will be my first United-Liverpool game at Old Trafford and I can't wait. Enough said."

Welbeck admits "there will be an edge to the game" because of the presence of Luis Suárez, although he would rather not discuss the eight-match ban the Liverpool forward received for racially abusing Patrice Evra. What he will say is that he was disappointed with the treatment Evra received from the crowd in the FA Cup tie at Anfield. "It was pretty much expected. But I totally disagree with it. I think anyone looking in from a neutral side of things, if you see someone who is not in the wrong getting victimised, I just think that is wrong."

The comment is carefully delivered in Welbeck's softly-spoken manner. He is a humble and courteous young man, brought up with strong values by religious and hard-working parents who emigrated from Ghana in the late 1970s and always stressed the importance of a good education, even when it became clear to Victor and Elizabeth that their third son was a football star in the making. Welbeck did not let them down and left school with nine GCSEs at C or above, including As in English literature and maths.

His football ability caught the eye from a young age, although it is interesting to learn that Manchester City allowed him to slip through their fingers. "I was trialling with City at the age of eight," says Welbeck. "But just before Christmas they told my dad: 'He's not good enough.' My dad didn't want to tell me because it was Christmas, so I was oblivious to the situation because dad just said there was going to be a break. I went for a tournament a week later, back with my local side, and that's where United saw me and I've never looked back."

With his mother's agreement, Sunday mornings at church were swapped for matches at United's training ground, where Welbeck made rapid progress. He played for England Under-16s at the age of 14 and started in the FA Youth Cup final while still at school, although it is typical of how modest Welbeck is, that a lot of the pupils were unaware of his life outside of the classroom. "There were plenty of people who didn't know that I played for United," Welbeck says. "I'm not one of those people that puts themselves out there. And I was never satisfied to be playing for United at 14 or 15; I wanted to play for Manchester United's senior team."

His chance may have come earlier but for problems with Osgood-Schlatter disease, a condition that causes pain beneath the knee cap and often afflicts teenagers who play a lot of sport and go through a growth spurt. His patience, however, was rewarded in November 2008, when he came off the bench against Stoke, nine days before his 18th birthday, and marked his Premier League debut with a wonderful goal.

Welbeck's face beams as he relives the moment. "I received the ball from [Dimitar] Berbatov and I played a one-two with Manucho and it was just sub-conscious ... the shot was sweet, into the top corner. When the ball went in, that feeling ... if that feeling was a drug I would be dead!" he says laughing. "I've never had that feeling again, not to that extent. It was surreal. I saw my brother, Chris, in the stand and he was virtually doing cartwheels down the stairs."

The following summer Sir Alex Ferguson spoke about Welbeck making the 2010 World Cup squad but by January of that year the centre-forward was on loan at Preston, where he picked up an injury that brought his season to an abrupt end. It was another loan spell, with Sunderland last season, that accelerated his development and also delivered a first England cap, against Ghana in March. "I got back from Sunderland and thought I was more like a man," the 21-year-old says. "I thought this was my year to step up and show everyone what I could do."

He has seized his opportunity and, judging by the profile of matches he has started this season, earned Ferguson's trust. Five goals arrived in his first seven appearances and although an injury briefly derailed his progress he has come back strongly, scoring four in his last eight matches. "I've played in quite a few big games and it's going to be tough – not everyone is going to score a hat-trick against Arsenal, Chelsea or City, so I'm pretty pleased with my goal return," says Welbeck.

He has 18 months remaining on his contract at Old Trafford and is keen to set the record straight following speculation that talks are at an impasse because of his demands. "There's been a lot of nonsense written about my contract situation. I've never asked or demanded a penny from United. Hopefully, I'll be signing a new deal within the coming months, but right now I'm just getting my head down and concentrating on being the best that I can be, and giving my all for the club I love."

One disappointment is that Ravel Morrison will not fulfil his potential alongside him. Morrison, who is a good friend, was sold to West Ham United on deadline day after Ferguson ran out of patience with the teenager's magnetic attraction to controversy. "It will be tough for him to ditch his reputation because everyone will have the natural instinct that 'Ravel has done this again', but he's a good kid at heart," says Welbeck.

"I really hope he can get in the Premier League and show everyone what he can do. I just wish it was at United. Saying that, United have got so many good young footballers. There was all this hype around Ravel but not everyone is seeing the likes of Larnell Cole, Jesse Lingard and Paul Pogba, who are just as good in different ways. Sometimes I train against Larnell and Jesse and think I'm playing against a little Iniesta and Xavi. I really hope they can make that step up."

For those that managed to breakthrough, the experience is life-changing both on and off the field, as Welbeck has discovered. "There is a lot of attention," he says, smiling. "Sometimes you go into Nando's and you want to tuck into the chicken wings with your fingers but you know someone is watching you, so you don't. I'm sat there thinking: 'If these chicken wings were at home, they would get demolished!' But I've got to use a knife and fork and you end up saying: 'Could I get a bag to take these home, please?'"

It is a small price to pay for stardom, especially at a time when Welbeck is chasing a place in the England squad for the European Championships and a first Premier League title with United. Listening to this affable Mancunian talk about the future with such burning ambition, it is easy to understand why Ferguson believes he will be a United striker for years to come. "I don't want to just settle for making it, I want to make it as big as possible," Welbeck says. "There is no limit. You just keep going and going."
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Danny Welbeck on debut goal: 'If that feeling was a drug I'd be dead' | Football | The Guardian

Excellent interview, really like that line about training with Lingard and Cole.
 
EdWeatherall said:
I'm not
If anything it highlighted how ridiculous the situation is if clubs are saying kids aren't good enough at 8
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Aye, I know you weren't, I was just highlighting your point. I understand clubs have a limited amount of spots for young players and they are always going to keep who they perceive to be the best but it does go to show just how pot luck it is with youngsters.

I wonder how many of that group Danny played with at City are even close to professional football right now.
 
I'm sure they could take any halfway talented 8yr old kid and turn him into a pro through 10years of training, I guess they just had a better forward (or two) at that stage that they were more confident in
 
Varun_Utd said:
Very very good read. has always come across as a real top lad.
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He really does. A proper red, confidence in abundance but not cockey and still humble with massive respect for the club.

He's in the mould of the class of 92.
 
Aww fantastic little interview. Sounds like a nice lad, and very ambitious! The comment about his debut goal and if it where a drug he'd be dead made me giggle!
 
Seems like a good lad and has his head screwed on. Some nice comments about a few of the more unsung youth lads as well. Didn't people dismiss him as cocky after his foray United goal? He seems anything but to be fair. Pity Morrison wasn't more like our Danny.
 
The guy has a special feel about him, it seems very appropriate he scored a goal, and a great goal, on his debut.

And who had the assist? Manucho. It's all part of Fergie's masterplan.
 
gooDevil said:
The guy has a special feel about him, it seems very appropriate he scored a goal, and a great goal, on his debut.

And who had the assist? Manucho. It's all part of Fergie's masterplan.
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And despite that debut goal, most of the hype was coming from macheda after his debut goal. Probably helped welbeck as it meant any pressure and media attention was diverted allowing him to flourish at his own rate.
 
Pexbo said:
He really does. A proper red, confidence in abundance but not cockey and still humble with massive respect for the club.
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Yet some posters told us he was an arrogant so-and-so due to how he celebrated his goals. I wish I could find the posts, but I couldn't.
 
"I don't want to just settle for making it, I want to make it as big as possible" Really impressed me here.
 
It was an odd debut goal to score. It's not really the type of goal you'd associate him with scoring.
 
Solius said:
It was an odd debut goal to score. It's not really the type of goal you'd associate him with scoring.
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True. I have been expecting him to rasp one into the top corner ever since but it just hasn't happened, hopefully he can do it tomorrow.

Great interview though, says all the right things and they appear to come from his heart too.
 
Laphroaig said:
Yet some posters told us he was an arrogant so-and-so due to how he celebrated his goals. I wish I could find the posts, but I couldn't.
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Don't forget his disgusting trait of answering questions in post-match interviews as well!

A player with fantastic ability and the attitude to match it, he's going to get better and better.
 
The thing with Welbeck is, he's got so many strings to his bow.

He revels in so many different kinds of situations, and that gives us real flexibility in the way we can play.

He's quick, he's strong on the ball, got a nice touch, good at quick, short passing, got an eye for a through ball, and is a good finisher. Also, he's a very good header of the ball, and his movement is great. He works hard off it, and tracks back a lot, he's got the right attitude and he's an accomplished dribbler.

From here on in, it's all about refining his skill and improving even more on what he's got. I think he could be an absolute beast of a striker for us, all the tools are there and it looks like he's mentally capable of living up to his potential.
 
Laphroaig said:
Yet some posters told us he was an arrogant so-and-so due to how he celebrated his goals. I wish I could find the posts, but I couldn't.
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Think it was Scholesy, during his justification for why he, and I quote, "hates" Welbeck.

Edit, maybe I'm doing Scholesy an injustice (though I'm sure he deserves it for other crap he's written)... looks like it was essentially Moultz and Phelan's Shorts.
 
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