Manchester United fans have hit out at club head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for failing to start academy star Mason Greenwood in Monday's Premier League clash with Chelsea. The 18-year-old Englishman was overlooked in favor of Daniel James in a rather interesting formation devised for the encounter.
Since earning his senior debut for United last year, Greenwood has rapidly become a popular figure among the Red Devils' supporters, winning the fans affection with a series of top performances. This season the striker, who has been sporadically used, has managed 10 goals in 32 appearances to affirm the reason for the hype around his talent. However, that was not enough to earn him a spot in the starting lineup to face Chelsea.
Instead, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer fielded Daniel James as the attacking partner for Anthony Martial although the former suffered a dip in form prior to the winter break. In what appears to be a 5-3-2 system, Ole made three changes to the team that drew against Wolves his side's most recent Premier League outing.
Eric Bailly replaced the ill Victor Lindelof for his first Manchester United start for the first time since April 2019 while Brandon Williams was deployed on the left. Nemanja Matic also returned to the fold after serving a ban to partner Fred while Bruno Fernandes was seen in his favored attacking midfielder role.
Meanwhile, new-boy Odion Ighalo was named on the bench for his potential debut. Below is how Manchester United lined up and the reactions of a few fans:
Here's your #MUFC XI for tonight's game at Stamford Bridge #CHEMUN
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 17, 2020
Don't mind that line up. Would have liked to seen Greenwood instead of James though.
— United Think Tank (@UtdThinkTank) February 17, 2020
James has been really poor since November and Greenwood could lead the line with Martial playing off him with Bruno as number 10.
Either way, let's go. Massive must win game!
James consistently playing ahead of Greenwood under a manager that plays youth! Someone's telling porkies! #wemove
— Rants (@rantsnbants) February 17, 2020
Ole needs to stop treating Mason Greenwood like any other prospect.
— ً (@utdrobbo) February 17, 2020
The kid is ready — start him.
Greenwood for James and that's not a bad line up on paper, too bad the coaching will let it down https://t.co/5tMoM6vbwS
— NINE AM (@Yaga_yawww) February 17, 2020
This XI is killing my confidence
— BiLLy (@BillyUtd_) February 17, 2020
Imaging having two strikers (Greenwood & Ighalo) on the bench just to play a left wing (James) in same position
Hope it's not true pic.twitter.com/WmDEtukQO4
Ole goes for the conservative, boring approach with a horrifically out of form Dan James instead of Greenwood. Clearly he sees it as a must-not-lose rather than a must-win. Shaw LCB experiment is painful. Only positive is Bruno gets to play further forward. #mufc
— Hesham Bilal-Hafiz (@hesham786) February 17, 2020
Interesting lineup. Think we'd have been stronger with Dalot at RWB, then AWB central with Bailly & Maguire. Would have had Greenwood instead of James, too. But we'll see! #MUFC https://t.co/r9AbS69Orz
— Kevin Levingston (@Lev_KT) February 17, 2020
