Patrick Dorgu. Patrick Motherfuckin Dorgu.
☝ That's what he should change his middle name to.
I must admit, in the year he's been at Old Trafford, I haven't been sold on him. I didn't think he had what it takes to wear the famous red shirt. There was nothing about him that I found special as he appeared as another busted flush to me.
However, he is proving me wrong.
And I am happy to admit that 🤝.
To be honest, these reservations I had of him were as a left-back/left wing-back, not as a winger. I didn't even know he was good enough to play down the left (or right) flank as well as he's been doing.
But there's something about him that is different and almost freeing for the player in this more attacking sense as he looks a completely different footballer from the one that I was concerned about.
Dorgu looks to be playing like a man without fear. He's constantly up and down the pitch, he's an outlet out wide, and as we saw from his goal, can invert into midfield to give us the extra man and score absolute screamers from 25-yards.
We gotta look at this strike again:
👌😤🤯.
I didn't know he had ball-striking ability like that. This also isn't the first time he's scored a banger. Dorgu only has 3 goals this season but two of them have been worldies. This against Arsenal and the volley against Newcastle.
Brotha is coming for that Puskas award!
We've heard people talk about him doing extra training to try and improve his overall game and particularly going forward. We've even seen the clips of it.
And that is paying off.
His entire attacking game is a lot better as the quality of delivery at times has been Giggs-esque, his decision-making has been improved and as per his goals, the striking ability has been next level.
I like the fact that he's also not someone who just sticks to the touchline all game as him moving into midfield or even the box to give us an extra man in those areas is something else that has been improved upon with his game.
The third goal he scored was in the Derby and that was from him running from behind the defender off the left wing and scoring from near the penalty spot.
He wasn't doing these things playing as a LB or LWB.
This new-found freedom really has seen a new player emerge.
Dorgu was used by Ruben Amorim down the right on a couple of occasions both as a right wing-back and right-winger. He played well enough on the right-wing that I was hoping we could see more of him in that position.
That wasn't to be.
Amorim was then sacked and Darren Fletcher took over for a couple of games. In which time at Burnley and against Brighton in the FA Cup, he utilized the Dane as a left-winger.
It was one of the things that I admired about what Fletcher did. Using a left-footer on the left-wing was a throwback to the old days of football. This also helped the 21-year-old as he no longer had the urge to cut in onto his stronger left-foot when playing on the right. Being on his stronger side, Dorgu is more confident which results in earlier and better crosses which help the team just like his assist for Sesko in the draw at Burnley.
I have to say that he has been so good down the left that he is now undroppable.
Upon returning from the AFCON, we all knew that Amad and Mbeumo had to come straight back into the team as we were seriously missing them. Dorgu was still performing well in their absence and after the sacking of Amorim and change of formation, it of course meant moving Bruno to his best position of no 10.
What to do with Cunha?
Benched. Simple but harsh answer.
The Brazilian was improving slightly but nowhere near the level we expect from a player of his quality even though we know he can be that game-changer that we miss.
This meant Dorgu stayed out wide, Amad and Mbeumo started, and the skipper was the attacking midfielder.
I didn't think that Carrick will go with Mbeumo as striker in these two games but to be honest, him as no 9, Dorgu down the left and Cunha being benched has actually worked out for all parties.
Our Dane really is starting to become like Gareth Bale, Mbeumo has been great up front scoring in both these games against City and Arsenal, and Cunha coming off the bench seems to have re-invigorated him to the point where he's gotten a goal and assist in his last two. He is also looking a lot happier and more like the player we signed from Wolves. Perhaps playing more centrally has helped him.
You know what, it's worth a look at his goal as well because, why not?
Two worldies in one game. And it had to come against Arsenal 🤣.
And people were talking about this current side being able to compete with '08 United. Get outta here 👋.
Update 25/05 - after the end of the season
This original post was done before he picked up his hamstring injury that ruled him out for 6 weeks. A pity that it came at that time because he really was such an important player for us.
However, from his latest performance, it seems that being sidelined for that long has made no different to his level of quality on the left.
Another game where he started in that position, and another where he's produced output. A goal and assist against Brighton - the goal also helped Bruno make Premier League history with his record-breaking 21st assist.
A pretty memorable goal indeed, even if it wasn't a banger like we're used to with Patrick 🤣.
But considering how well he's done on either flank, Dorgu might literally be a solution to the left-wing problems.
It might also mean that Cunha's spot is safe because should an actual left-winger come in, what do we do with the Brazilian?
Why Dorgu could help out here is because firstly, he isn't a starter. Shaw seems to be Carrick's main LB with a potential for a new signing in that position. As Dorgu isn't a proper left-winger, that would suggest he's more a player who can do a job in that position.
A very good job by the looks of it as well.
Looking at his output, the 21-year-old, whenever he's started as a LW has gotten 4 goals and assists in four games. Strikes against City, Arsenal and Brighton along with his assist for the skipper in yesterday's 3-0 win.
And it's more than just output with the Dane.
What he brings down the left - or right - is a player who ticks almost all the boxes for what is required of a left-winger:
- Directness
- Keeping the width
- Balance - left-footer on the left
- Natural crossing ability -which would help Sesko
- Genuine pace
That last one is one that really surprised me as I didn't realize how quick he was ⚡.
This trait is perfect for when we do want to play on the counter or in transitions and you require real speed.
Despite all these attributes, I don't think he'll bench Cunha.
Nor should he.
The Brazilian brings too much to the table in terms of quality and experience, he also cost a lot and was signed as a starter.
Nor do we really want to see him benched.
So his place should be safe.
However, should United sign a left-winger, that could make us worse.
A proper LW would mean they would have to start. But if we want to use Cunha, he would have to move more centrally because that's the only place where he could fit in. This would result in either playing as the false 9 and Sesko being dropped, or as the no 10 over Bruno.
As a false 9, Cunha can do a job but like LW, doesn't get the best out of him. Sesko has also proven that we are a better team with him - an actual striker - than not. He too was too expensive to bench.
And forget about dropping Bruno. That isn't going to happen.
That's why using Dorgu as that makeshift winger can be a solution.
The two of them can rotate whenever necessary or depending on the opponent and approach from Carrick. Both proved different types of left-wingers as well which could albeit unintentionally, add a bit of variety to the attack.
In this way, both players remain key to the squad rather than one is always selected over the other.
The new left-winger would come in and want to start. They would also cost a hefty fee meaning you cannot bench them simply because of their price tag.
On top of this, I don't think the LW market is even that amazing. Some good players yes, but nothing too unbelievable.
That reported price of £80-100m for a winger can and should be used elsewhere.
I believe that with Cunha and Dorgu, United might just have enough to get by next season.
This isn't me saying that Dorgu is now the LW solution long-term, but he certainly has allowed us to believe he could be. And if a top player becomes available for a good price, then by all means, sign him.
But whoever's idea it was to try Dorgu on the wing, fair play to them. This 4-2-3-1 requires a player of quality down the flanks and we might just have a solution to our left-winger problems.
And also fair play to Dorgu. He really is sitting me down and long may that continue. I've given my MOTM award in both the last two matches showing just how good I think he's been lately.
What about you? How were you feeling about Patrick Dorgu earlier in his time at United? How are you feeling about him now? And do you think he can genuinely be a solution to our left-wing problem?
Patrick Dorgu scores screamer in Man Utd's 3-2 win at Arsenal | Patrick Dorgu: Image via Manchester United official X (@ManUtd)