"THE more I watch Brandon Williams, the more I like what I see,” tweeted Gary Lineker after Manchester United finally overcame a tough Wolves team to advance to the FA Cup 4th round. “Another exciting English talent.”
Williams was expected to be up against the fleet-heeled Adama Traore but Wolves initially switched their forward and so he marked Neto for most of the game instead. He contained him, though at one point they appeared to be ready to sumo wrestle rather play against each other.
Gary Neville was equally positive: “I like Brandon Williams. What I like about him specifically is he has the look in his eye of someone who would eat his opponent’s nose to win a match. Keep going kid! Oh, he can play football too which is a bonus. Take him a long time to eat your nose,” read one of the first tweets in reply, but the point stands from both former players".
I like Brandon Williams. What I like about him specifically is he has that look in his eye of someone that would eat his opponents nose to win the match. Keep going kid! Oh he can play football to which is always a bonus
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) January 16, 2020
In an up and down season for United, Williams has been one of the main positives. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to bring in the the Mancunian gradually and he’s been able to do that with Ashley Young around, but now Young is joining United’s Italian exodus to go to Inter after being offered a two-year contract. He’s 35 in July and wouldn’t have got two straight years at United.
Solskjaer wanted Williams to play in the Europa League where standards are lower than in the Premier League. He’s done this with success, particularly in Belgrade in a tough environment where he created the game’s decisive moment with a driving run. His attacking instinct is admired at the club.
I spoke to Sergio Romero after that match and he told me: “Brandon is a boy who works so hard. He trains well. He doesn’t give presents to any other player. Every time he had the ball he wanted to move forward and he won the penalty which helped us win the game. The older players have to help the younger ones but Brandon has the quality to play for United. It takes time to adapt – a young player cannot be expected to play at a high level every week.”
United didn’t concede a goal in the three European games Williams’ played, with his full debut the only highlight of a dreary draw at AZ in September. In fact, United haven’t conceded in six of the last seven games he’s played, the exception being the home defeat to Manchester City. Luke Shaw is back and took over at left back in a fruitful December, but Williams played in the league at Norwich last Saturday and his case to be the first choice in growing. United won the last two league games he started at Burnley and Norwich. Shaw started at Arsenal and struggled against Nicholas Pepe.
After United beat Brighton in November and Williams won man of the match, I spoke to former United left-back Lee Martin who scored the winning goal in the 1990 FA Cup final about Williams. “He’s good on the ball, he gets up and down well. He’s enthusiastic, he’s a team player. He needs a run in the team because every young player needs experience. If you get a run of ten games then you get used to first team football. It’s harder when you are in and out. It’s also good for Luke Shaw to have someone pushing him; it’s great to see another young lad coming through.”
Brandon Williams' last 7 appearances in all competitions:
• 0 goals conceded
• 0 goals conceded
• 0 goals conceded
• 0 goals conceded
• 3 goals conceded
• 0 goals conceded
• 0 goals conceded6/7 clean sheets. pic.twitter.com/HzD6EpDt4k
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) January 15, 2020
Comfortable on the ball, quick, and competitive, Williams keeps things simple, and with new United captain Harry Maguire to his side, he can learn from and get encouragement from an experienced pro. Young players need that as well as enough regular minutes. Williams is a hard lad from Harpurhey, a tough inner city part of Manchester close to where United legends Brian Kidd and Nobby Stiles grew up.
His cousin is Zelfa Barrett, an English and Commonwealth Champion boxer at super featherweight. United fans from the area are intrigued as to whether the number 53 shirt he wears is in honour of the number 53 bus, the only direct link between Harpurhey and Old Trafford.
Williams isn’t shy in training – he’s been too aggressive and keen at times – and he’s protected by a close family network off the field. At the training ground, he’s known for his politeness to staff. After switching sides at under 16 level at the suggestion of coach Kieran McKenna because Williams had the highly rated Ethan Laird ahead of him at right back, he’s become a right-footed left back as was former United and Irish international full back Denis Irwin.
Fans thought Shaw would be the long term left-back when he signed, but that was almost six years ago with injury and mediocre form stopping him being a mainstay. Shaw, 24, was the player of the year last season, though. Two months ago, Solskjaer said that Williams was making it hard to leave him out. That continues to be the case. Solskjaer has given debuts to four teenagers since he took charge with Williams and Mason Greenwood the best of those, two future stars from the club’s academy.
He’s done so well since but it’s still less than four months since his first team debut. That said, there would be few qualms if he started at Anfield on Sunday. That’s how well he’s done. At the very least, there’s now genuine competition for left back which will be good for both United’s contenders for that slot.
