Some people seem to have already made their mind up about Manchester United’s new defender.
Victor Lindelof has just joined United from Benfica for £31m, and looks set to partner Eric Bailly in the heart of the defence.
Jose Mourinho didn’t seem impressed with either Phil Jones or Chris Smalling last season, and Lindelof would offer him a defender with more composure on the ball.
The Swede has also only just turned 23, so Mourinho has plenty of time to mould his game and help him reach his potential.
Regardless of who United sign, they're still managed by Mourinho | @RobRedmond10 https://t.co/IJIBGJx7eC
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) July 22, 2017
However, Lindelof’s United career has got off to a bumpy start.
The defender looked shaky in the club’s pre-season games in the United States and gave away a penalty with a rash challenge against Real Madrid on Sunday.
https://twitter.com/AnfieldNation/status/889256757129859072
Despite it only being a pre-season game, quite a few people seem to have already made their mind up about the Swedish defender, or are at least worried after watching his performances in America.
People saying Lindelof isn't any better than what Manchester United already has & it's four games into a preseason tour. Take a day off x
— Adam (@AdamJoseph____) July 23, 2017
Lindelof lad you gotta sort out your timing. Might work in benfica but in the EPL they'll give you red cards like its valentines day
— kenna (@kennagq) July 23, 2017
Lindelof lad you gotta sort out your timing. Might work in benfica but in the EPL they'll give you red cards like its valentines day
— kenna (@kennagq) July 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/UnitedStandMUFC/status/889252422543175680
Not sure y some idiots are mocking lindelof on basis of a pre season game.The same were mocking bailey last yr.we all know how it turned out
— Abe Saaale (@bills_sk) July 25, 2017
https://twitter.com/LethalRLukaku9/status/889253439645110274
Utd fans telling other Utd fans to stoop slating Lindelof based on preseason, the same fans who say Ederson is crap after one game 😁😁😁
— Author Pete (@Inuisibilem) July 24, 2017
Lindelof's a world beater 😂😂😂😂😂😂 so crap.
— Jordan (@jordbevan) July 23, 2017
Lindelof already showing signs of spending-too-much-time-with-Phil-Jones syndrome.
— Thomas Coast (@thcoast) July 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/CW_2901/status/889252386170179585
Lindelof hasn't done much so far in the US to suggest he is much of an upgrade on Jones or Smalling..
— Mark Ogden (@MarkOgden_) July 21, 2017
But, it’s only pre-season, he’s just arrived at the club, and plenty of players take time to settle at new clubs.
United greats such as Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic both had difficult starts at Old Trafford. Evra was substituted at half-time of United’s 3-1 defeat to Manchester City back in January 2006, but went on to be a key player as the club won almost every trophy possible.
It took Patrice Evra & Nemanja Vidic 6 months to fully settle, so maybe you should take a day off instead of whining about Lindelof. Sooks.
— Adam (@AdamJoseph____) July 23, 2017
I seem to remember Vidic and Evra and even Pallister making a few howlers in their early days…they all did ok…let's give Lindelof time
— The MUFC Academy 🥇🔴⚪️⚫️🐝🍷 (@mrmujac) July 23, 2017
Lindelof might also need a few months to settle, or maybe he’s getting his mistakes out of the way early, or maybe he’ll flop and it won’t work out at Old Trafford.
Or maybe it’s too soon to make any judgement on the player, and there’s no way of gauging how his United career will develop based on a performance in a game where Ronald McDonald led the teams out.
To be a regular in Mourinho’s team, all Lindelof has to do is be better than Jones and Smalling, and United already have a strong defence, conceding only 29 goals last season. Given time, it should work out fine for him.
