Those stats are mental to the extent that I can't quite believe them.
It seemed to me that Wharton was hiding a bit at times. Where Anderson was showing for the ball constantly, it looked to me that Wharton was jogging alongside an Albanian counterpart at times, not really trying to find space in which to receive the ball. Possibly a victim of the Stones experiment as someone mentioned above, but I didn't feel he seized his chance.
It was me. That said, I don’t think he did seize his chance (not demanding the ball, not directing his teammates) but also the players interactions with Anderson were much more positive than with Wharton.
I find these sort of debates a bit pointless. If the World Cup started tomorrow, Anderson would start and Wharton would be the understudy and a very capable one at that. The World Cup starts in 8 months. This time last year, everyone was extolling the virtues of Mainoo and Gomez. Wharton was ahead of Anderson.
What annoys me is that the assessment of Anderson’s progress is due to the fact he was in the academy at Newcastle who had to sell him (Even though they were actively trying to offload him). We get very little credit. Compare that to Cole Palmer….
Mainoo isn't staying with Utd because he wantdd 400k a week. So he is running down his contract. Pretty sure he won't end up with us because we wouldn't even consider paying him even half that. Citeh are also interested in Anderson (shocker) so we will take a huge wedge and Nico O'reilly. Before you say? Hold on why would Citeh sell him. There was talk that we were going to sign Rico Lewis who then signed a new contract with the Mancs and then proceeded to give two goals away against the Spuds and now is under the patio. I have been a long term admirer of O'Reilly (Not Lewis) but there was talk of Pep considering him for sale last summer because he didn't like his improvisation when he wanted someone to stay in his tactics (see also Jack Grealish) So Pep basically has the capacity to fall out with anyone. So 100 million and O'Reilly and I will be happy.
Of course this is cloud cockoo land but one can dream.
....ooh, they are playing Luxembourg. Did I mention the almost complete absence of any real quality? (the lad up front for norniron has a good finish on him....and he's subbed).
Jamie "on loan at Mansfield" McDonnell started (his first international start), but has just been hooked.
By far our most successful loanee this season (the only one starting every week).