Tuesday , 19 March 2024

Antony Gamble Paying Off for Manchester United

Many eyebrows were raised when Manchester United signed striker Antony towards the end of the summer transfer window. The Brazilian international forward had shown promise in his time with Ajax, but was he really worth a reported transfer fee of £82 million?

Very few players have been able to replicate their Eredivisie form in the English Premier League, but early signs have been promising. At that size of fee, it has to be said that Antony represented a gamble but it’s one that appears to be paying off.

Making the Transition

Former Manchester United player Ruud van Nistelrooy is one of a handful of strikers whose form was maintained when he crossed from the Netherlands to an English club. During his three years with PSV Eindhoven, the player averaged close to a goal a game in the league.

Van Nistelrooy couldn’t quite keep up that ratio at Old Trafford, but 150 goals in 219 games helped his club to claim three domestic trophies.

But, for every Ruud van Nistelrooy, there are a number of forwards who fail to make an impact after switching from the Eredivisie into the Premier League. Vincent Janssen at Spurs is one example, but can Antony go against this trend?

Three goals in his first three league games suggest that he’s on the right track, but can those goals allow Manchester United to hit their targets by the end of the season?

Red Devils Back on Target

After losing their first two games of the 2022/23 season, Manchester United may have already lost out on a genuine title challenge, but they will be hopeful of breaking into the top four and securing a Champions League place for next term.

After the first eight matches of the current campaign, the Red Devils sat in fifth place but there isn’t a lot of encouragement for fans hoping to see their team break into those Champions League slots.

According to the best football betting sites as sourced by SBO.net, United are sixth favourites in the top four market. Ahead of the club are Manchester City, Liverpool, Spurs, Chelsea and Arsenal.

With so much football to be played between now and the end of the season, there is time for Manchester United to find more consistency. Their odds can shorten and, if there are any updates, SBO will publish the new figures on the website.

While taking in any changes, there will be additional information including blog posts and breaking news stories. Betting guides and sportsbook reviews are also here and, if anyone wants to consider a bet, that’s possible too.

Each bookmaker on the recommended panel is prepared to take on new players. The registration process is fast and safe and it’s likely that a welcome promotion is waiting on the other side.

A qualifying bet will be required and there is a range of funding providers that can help with this. Efficient customer help options are on standby while other potential benefits may include ongoing promotions, mobile betting via an app and the possibility of live streaming top class sport.

It’s certainly a useful site in terms of monitoring Manchester United’s progress, but can Antony drive the team on to that vital top four finish?

Is Antony the Answer?

The fact that Antony played under Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag while at Ajax, would have helped him secure such a lucrative transfer. Ten Hag clearly knew what the player could bring to Old Trafford and it never hurts for a new coach to have a familiar face in the ranks.

While playing in the Netherlands, Antony’s scoring record was a relatively modest one. During three seasons at the Johan Cruyff Arena, the Brazilian international scored 25 goals in 82 games across all competitions.

The fact that he’s started his Manchester United career with three goals in as many games has got fans excited about his future. While Antony has been off target in his first three Europa League matches, the signs are still encouraging.

It should be remembered that Antony is still only 22. It would be wrong to see him as a lone saviour but, just maybe, Manchester United’s long search for an out-and-out striker is over.

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