Of all the players I have looked at Gabriel Obertan is the least likely to shine next season but that isn’t to say he won’t.
Whilst there are openings at right back in central midfield and up front for Rafael, Gibson and Macheda respectively, Obertan is very much on the outside looking in with Nani, Antonio Valencia and perhaps even Park Ji Sung blocking his route into the first team.
Last season was very much hit and miss for the French winger and after a poor performance against Leeds and a so-so showing against Everton he didn’t appear for the first team again until April against Man City where his role in Paul Scholes’ goal goes massively unnoticed. He timed his pass to Evra to perfection affording Evra the time and space to put such a ball into Scholes.
Even in his absence from the first team, Obertan put in some solid performances for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reserve team and scored a spectacular goal that effectively won the reserve title for United in a 1-0 win over Liverpool.
Obertan excited many United fans when he first appeared and his cameos won him much praise especially against the likes of Blackburn and Wolfsburg. His pace and trickery on the wings made him exciting to watch and although at times he dwelt on the ball, misplaced the ball or looked nonthreatening in front of goal at his age and stage of development these are things that can be worked on.
Obertan was singled out for praise by United legend Bryan Robson who claimed, whilst talking about next season,
“The player I really think will come through is Gabriel Obertan. He’s been used mainly wide, but I think his best position might be through the middle.”
and the fact that he picked Obertan out of all the young players on the fringes of the first team, shows how skilled and highly rated he is.
Expectations are high after just 13 appearances but with both Nani and Valencia doing so well I don’t expect to see him used as anything more than second fiddle to either. If Nani or Valencia get injured then Obertan could step in to the role vacated as well as against playing against lesser teams and in the Carling Cup.
As he is young there is no need to rush his development, we can all see that he has the skills to succeed, it’s just a case or honing them.
After a promising start, he has indeed tailed off with bursts and starts .. but then again, he, like Nani, will possibly start peaking at around 22 or 23 … So, next year, we may nt actually see the best of him …
Agree wholeheartedly with the view of the author of the post,Gabriel looked good and confident initially.He looks on watching the reserves on MUTV a cut above most other players.
A crticism of him i have, unlike Nani and Antonio he is not as capable at tracking back to support the defence.
Laurent Blanc, said on United signing him,”I dont understand what they see in him”
Some said the same on Ronaldo on his arrival,give the lad a chance.
Of all the players in this feature thus far, I’ve seen least of Obertan. I can’t say much, other than he reminds me of Nani(pre 2010)a lot of potential, but really lacking on finishing. But that is to be expected for a young player, so we’ll just have to see. Seeing as we paid so little for him, it was still a good gamble whatever the outcome.
Though I’ve never seen it rumoured, I don’t think it would be a bad idea sending him on loan to another PL club for at least 6 months. Unless he matures leaps and bounds this summer, he’ll likely be in the same position in August, so why not loan him to give him better experience than reserve play?
Wiki says he can also play CM, but his skill set seems tailored for the wings – tough I’d be happy if he proved me wrong.
Damn, we have so many wingers, and you didn’t even mention Tosic! Now there’s a player I need to see more of…