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From the beginning of time, as far as I can remember, EPL has produced vast numbers of GREAT men, but getting to like an opposition player is something capable of raising hair, because the more they play well for their team, the better chance they get to hurt the team you support, so that alone gives you little chance of liking them. Although it happens, even if it's once in a blue moon, even with the reality of trophy rivalry, one can still argue that a Chelsea fan can admire a Manchester United player (OK, let's pretend it's possible), but admitting it is something some of us can't deal with.
I will have to admit I'm a staunch Chelsea fan for years now, I grew up watching every minute of Jose Mourinho's first reign to the many numbers of other managers, then to his (Mourinho) second reign, down to this moment of Frank Lampard's stewardship. I've witnessed the highs and the lows, the most significant moment of recent years, and the hardest times with this Royal blue club situated at SW6, Fulham Road in London. A club that has since 1905 trusted its luck to be played at a ground called Stamford Bridge.
So, being a Chelsea fan, with those sweet-sour experiences, I hate that this boy from the red part of Manchester somehow caught my attention, and I'm growing so much in love with his progress. I know it comes as a surprise to many to see me writing in praise of an opposition player, especially, Manchester United, in which I'd rather wish their first eleven all had injuries from the start of any campaign to the end of it, leaving just their manager and the officials to play for them, especially, whenever they come to Stamford Bridge, or we visit them at Old Trashford. (Yes! Old Trashford, I still hate them, come on).
Nevertheless, there's a boy who has changed my perspective a little bit about this club and makes me even wait in anticipation to want to watch us two play with great excitement. I once had this distinctive likeness for Martial, I love seeing that lad on the pitch still, but another guy has pushed him a bit down the pecking order in my all-time favorite opposition players list. (Not that I have many people on the list unless you go down the memory lane with Blackburn's Pedersen Gamst, Bayern's Schweinsteiger, Liverpool's Gerrard, and Portsmouth's Benjamin Nwariwari. The latter for his hilarious goals celebration).
We all know there are two Masons right now troubling the brains of every other human in the EPL, causing chaos and giving defenders no choice but to unwillingly stretch their wary legs to the brim of their laps yet in vain. The gloves of many different goalkeepers have wandered horribly to no genuine catch of whatever comes from the feet of these superhuman kids and giving us fans no chance to guess their next action in the course of the match-sharpshooters, strong, fast, agile, and still not in their peaks.
On your permit list, kindly grant me the gesture to talk mainly on one (rather than the two) of the Masons, and the rise to prominence of Greenwood. The boy who's dubbed by many as the new Van Persie (that's if he wants to be compared to anyone at all).
Born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, Greenwood was raised in the Wibsey area of the city. Becoming a professional footballer is something mostly expected of him as he was raised in a family with some history in sports, as his sister, Ashton, is also a track Athlete.
And being at the club as a child, since under-7s, and then working his ways through the phases to the under-23s and finally the first team at such a young age in a club with a stature of Manchester United is worth all the admiration, and he should be applauded for a job well done.
Greenwood signed his professional contract with his club just a day after he turned 17 in 2018. The now 18-year-old boy was quick to tell the world in his first interview at the club famous AON Training Complex about his ambitions, hunger, and he claimed he has the nerves and the type of rare confidence needed to be a United player. One would say he's a left-footer, yeah, right, but then, as a unique breed he is, he takes penalties and free kicks with his right foot, which is something rare and nerve-wracking for goalkeepers.
In May 2018, during an interview, former Manchester United player Clayton Blackmore said of Greenwood, “He's great on the ball and very good with both feet. He's the first person I've seen who takes penalties and free-kicks with his wrong foot. I've never come across anyone like that!"
The boy himself even talked us through why he now prefers his right foot in taking penalties and freekicks, citing the change to a match in the youth phase during the under-13s against his club's fierce rival, Manchester City.
He said, “Actually, it happened when I was in the Under-13s. I missed with my left foot against [Manchester] City when I was struggling in a game, and, ever since, I’ve just gone with the right foot. Ever since then, really.”
Although he started as a midfielder, he gradually evolved into a center-forward. He can play across the front three or as a number 10, but often plays on the right flank, then move centrally to occupy as a second striker as the game grows on in minutes. Even though he's known to be good with both feet, he's mostly seen dropping a shoulder or chopping the ball to get it on his left foot before scoring. Like most of Messi's goals, Greenwood also often reverses his shot by targeting low for the near post from the right of the box, making it difficult for most keepers to stop him from scoring. His current manager and all-time admirer, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, even praised him during their pre-season tour, saying, “He can play all of the front-three positions, or across the front four, as he can play number 10, number seven, number 11 and number nine. He’s a natural footballer with his left foot, coming in, but he’s got two leg and can play anywhere along the front. He’s just a natural. When he takes a penalty with his right, then takes a penalty with his left, free-kicks with his left, free-kicks with his right. He is almost what you’d call 50:50, maybe 51:49 left-footed."
Although there are names who had come into limelight over the past years from the academy that are nowhere to be found now, with the likes of Eagle, Macheda, Gibson, and a certain James Wilson, who even scored twice on his debut under Giggs, there's no need to panic as Greenwood has to compete with just Rashford and maybe Martial, compare to those battling with Rooney, Ronaldo, Saha, Tevez and so on. Thus, it became so hard breaking into the team with the presence of those established players, and that was enough to dwindle their confidence level.
But for Mason Greenwood, the future looks bright, and he comes into prominent just about the right time when his club needs him the most, and he certainly looks ready to deliver whenever he's called upon.
Although, I wish him an excellent blistering career for the sake of love borne out of nature unless it's against Chelsea.
Go, Glow, And Grow.
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