Ten Hag hits nail on head with Antony as latest desperate gamble speaks volumes

29 February 2024 , 05:00

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Antony's performance against Nottingham Forest was typical of what we've come to expect of the winger (Image: ProSports/REX/Shutterstock)

Erik ten Hag is clearly desperate for his gamble on Antony to pay off.

More anxious, it seems, than the 24-year-old himself. The words of encouragement from Manchester United’s boss ahead of this tie were supposed to provoke a response from the Brazilian.

The Dutchman called for a fightback, resilience, determination to prove he belongs, that he can produce more than just glimpses of ability. In fairness to the former Ajax man, he’s not always been given a real run of games to nail that one way or the other.

This start, was only his second in nine, following a start in south Wales against Newport County. Whether that was a punishment, done to elicit a response or just a desperate plea for a man who cost £82m to show his worth, only Ten Hag knows.

But it was as if his boss hit the nail squarely on the head at the City Ground. This wasn’t a bad showing. It had moments of real quality. For instance, the Brazilian could have scored within four minutes.

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A neatly-worked routine from a corner saw Bruno Fernandes fire a ball across the 18-yard box. Antony steam onto it, clattering a left-foot shot into the crossbar. You could almost hear the mental cogs whirring on the visitors’ bench: If only that had been a few inches lower.

He did try. A little. Forest full-back Harry Toffolo raced down the left a couple of times. He passed Antony too, only for the Manchester United man to wake up and make good the ground.

He fed Scott McTominay in dangerous areas. But equally, he waited for the ball to come to him. He wasn’t over-troubled in going looking for anything. Ten Hag’s words may have been worthy. They didn’t exactly fall on deaf ears. But then, they weren’t acted upon, either.

He was substituted with the verdict of Forest's fans ringing around the City Ground. "What a waste of money," came the chant. Harsh, maybe, but then equally at this stage, not without merit, either.

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Neil Moxley