One of the benefits of buying a right winger was to provide a more equal threat on both sides.We relied a lot in Shaw and an unfit Rashford last season down the left. Carried less threat from the right. Excuses were made for Wan Bissaka saying he had no one permanent out right to build an understanding With. With Varane as a more secure option at right centre half, we could start seeing moreof Wan Bissaka going forward and combining with Sancho.
So far this season, Sancho being out left, Shaw has been very poor going forward and not really given Sancho any quality, consistent option. I believe a good understanding with both full backs playing higher up will be central to getting the best out of Sancho.
The risk is that as a team we are just not a great fit for less powerful, more intricate attackers.It was clear from his time at Dortmund that Sancho was a wide forward, comfortable on both flanks in a system which allowed him to cut inside and have options or have an overlapping full back more often than not to play combinations with. Like VDB and Mata and Kagawa and Mhikitaryn and Gomes...he needs movement around him to see the best of his game. None of these players flourished at Man Utd. While Greenwood has movement, control in tight spaces And the ability to interchange positionally, he is also dynamic and capable of driving at players- it is this aspect of Greenwood we see more often than not as being his central quality for Utd-along with his finishing.
I can’t help but feel like we shouldn’t be expecting him to replicate his types of performances/contributions in Dortmund in our team. But that’s not to say he won’t become effective for us in our style of play. I also fear he does not have the game changing ability of Bruno/Ronaldo/Greenwood/Rashford that will make him immediately recognisable as being good value for money. This one might be a slow burner.