ReDArmy

Manchester United FC Supporters Club Website

Antony was truly balling for Man Utd as he whipped out the smoothest of skills vs Everton

Antony scored his fourth goal for Manchester United on Friday evening.

Sliding in at the back post to tap in Marcus Rashford‘s cross after just four minutes, Antony was able to set the wheels in motion for a 3-1 win over Everton in the FA Cup third round.

It’s the second time that Antony has found the back of the net against the Toffees in his hitherto short career with the Red Devils, also notching goals past Arsenal and Manchester City.

The tricky winger has been the subject of great attention since his move to Old Trafford with many commentators left stunned by the £86 million that United paid to wrestle him away from Ajax.

While there’s no denying that Antony is a thoroughly talented forward, there have nevertheless been question marks raised about his efficiency and output at the very highest level of the game.

There have been, for example, suggestions that Antony could well become a ‘luxury player’ within the United squad, who might be easy on the eye but doesn’t actually deliver the cold, hard stats.

Why was the ‘Antony spin’ criticised?

And it’s a perception that was only amplified on the back of the controversy surrounding his showboating during the Europa League group stage clash with Sheriff Tiraspol back in October.

Antony’s decision to whip out his trademark ‘spin’ didn’t go down well with everybody as Paul Scholes even went so far as to call the Brazilian a ‘clown’ for his actions at Old Trafford.

But alas, Scholes will hopefully have been glad to see that Antony was spinning in far more useful style during his goal-scoring performance against Everton three months later.

Man Utd's Antony on the ball vs Sheriff Tiraspol.

What skill did Antony produce vs Everton?

That’s because the ex-Ajax baller put on a real show for the United fans in attendance on Friday night with a sublime piece of skill that certainly couldn’t be dismissed as arbitrary or showboating.

Having already left Vitaliy Mykolenko clinging onto his back and dropped onto the turf, Antony turned on the style against Frank Lampard‘s men by whipping out the smoothest of roulettes.

Just as Abdoulaye Doucouré moved into sweep up where Mykolenko had failed, the Everton man was left grasping at thin air as Antony mystified him with the silkiest flash of footwork.

Video: Antony drops silky roulette in Man Utd vs Everton

How did football fans react?

A fan delights in having seen Antony's skill live.
A fan gets excited about Man Utd's rebuild.
A fan applauds Antony's talent.
A fan encourages Antony to keep spinning.
A fan mocks claims that Antony isn't worth €90m.
Man Utd fan tells people to wake up to Antony's quality.

It might have been completely dissimilar to his Sheriff Tiraspol skill in just how functional it was, but there was certainly a similarity in the nonchalant style of the turn. You love to see it.

While, yes, certain pundits might throw a hissy fit at the sight of most every skill move, let’s not get away from the fact that entertaining moments like that form a big part of why fans love the sport.

It’s no wonder so many Brazilian players are idolised around the world when ballers like Antony channel the nation’s proud tradition of playing the beautiful game in an entertaining manner.

You may also like...