Next Season’s Stars: Gabriel Obertan

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.