Forgive me if we’ve seemed like a load of grumpy gits over here pointing out the faults and problems with United and the team but today I come bearing good news, the news of star.
Previously when I spoke of him it was more a case of potentially but now I have no doubts in my mind that Kiko Macheda WILL be a star.
From the moment he burst onto the scene at United, firing in that late winner against Aston Villa there was always a buzz around Kiko. It helped that he repeated his heroics straight after against Sunderland but beyond this there is something about the boy that screams star quality.
On Wednesday when he came there was a buzz of excitement, there always is as Macheda has something in him that means at the tender age of 19 when he called on for the big occasions he always has a go and more often than not there is a result. During the summer he looked quality especially in the All Star game and on Wednesday night he showed he can perform against a higher level of opponent. His physicality was something different to Berbatov’s languid style and it proved to be a handful for Valencia with Cesar especially getting flustered by it.
At his age, intelligence isn’t the first thing that springs to mind when thinking of footballers. We are usually lauding them for physical attributes such as strength or speed but in Macheda we have a player showing signs of an extremely competent footballing brain already. Look at the runs he makes or how and when he drops to pick up the ball and you will see what I mean.
But if you are looking for a specific example look at our goal.
In that position many players in his boots will have only say the headlines and probably have gone for goal, nothing majorly wrong with that as he was entitled to but he realised Hernandez would likely have a better chance of scoring so played the ball across to his strike partner. Many will say he could have scored himself but the composure he showed to pick out Hernandez and how he did so was just as impressive. The ball meant Hernandez didn’t have to break stride and his first touch took him past the first defender leaving him to fire past Cesar.
As well as letting the nation know in some colourful terms after the final whistle, Darren Fletcher praised him for this in his post game interview too.
Add to his footballing ability, his now infamous self confidence and all the ingredients are there. The confidence is a necessity but in Macheda it isn’t an arrogance. When asked about concerns over cementing his place in the team by a Swedish TV channel he replied:
“No, because I know that the players ahead of me are much more experienced than me.”
A refreshing answer as he could easily get big headed with his achievements.
Macheda is getting a lot of playing time for a striker so young, more so than any in recent memory and it serves to show how highly he is thought of at the club. He is constantly improving yet is already so good at just 19.
Like I said it’s now more a case of when rather than if with Macheda.
I remember fergie saying he thought he’d have a similar impact to Ronnie over the
next few seasons. Here’s hoping…
What I love about this kid is that he never gets flustered..Be it what opponent he faces and be it whichever player he’s playing with, the occasion never intimidates him..There is a certain measure of arrogance in him that really separates the best from the rest..He’s actually one player who has come up in leaps and bounds as from just a lethal finisher now he has now vastly improved his link up play..This lay off to chico, last weeks perfectly weigted pass for owen and the pass he made for nani to chip over gomez last season are instant examples..A highly promising talent and i sincerely hope that he goes the distance..
There is no doubt he will be a star. In fact, I think he is further along than people expect, but because of people ahead of him, he may have to wait a bit. He and Chicharito could be an interesting foil, but we’ll have to wait and see.
I’m curious as to how long the Italian national team will delay in bringing him in the fold. He’d probably have to score 25 in a season to be considered as he’s not in their own sacred domestic league. But being an ethnic Italian than say, being born in Ghana, will improve his case in their eyes.
The kid has a swagger of arrogances about him and thats why he will be a big player for us.
He is off on loan in Jan 2011 to Lazio.
Dont believe paper mate, its typical italian press desperately linking our kiko to serie a after the great form he shown…every1 knows their desperate for a slice of the cake before he cements a utd place, its a none-story.
Over rated, big ego ,and back to lazio in january.Good riddence his behaviour towards owen today was a disgrace.For a player that calls musolini his idol.Good luck.
I called my son Macheda (middle name) on the back of the goal against Villa – United legend in the making!!