When Manchester United released Brandon Williams in the summer it did not come as a surprise at all.
Brandon Williams’ release from Manchester United was an overdue mercy for club and player. A rash decision to hand him an expensive new contract after his first team breakthrough in 2020 became a millstone for all concerned.
Williams made only two appearances during his final three seasons at Manchester United, spending the majority of that time injured or out on loan.
It was in 2019/20 that Brandon Williams made his debut under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but after his new deal was awarded, his expected progress did not follow on.
Ed Woodward was confident on Brandon Williams
Brandon William’s fall from grace was as rapid as his surprise ascendancy into the first team.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did not take Williams on the pre-season tour in summer 2019, yet within weeks, he was in the first team squad.
According to The Athletic, Manchester United’s disastrous former CEO Ed Woodward got caught up in the excitement over Williams.
The report states: “Ed Woodward, United’s chief executive, was so impressed he told people on a Europa League trip to Astana in Kazakhstan that Williams had replaced Luke Shaw, an England international, as the club’s top left-back.
“But that was only two months after the teenager’s debut, and, on reflection, maybe it was just Woodward demonstrating that his knowledge of football was not perhaps as advanced as he liked to believe.”
Williams is currently a free agent after being released by Manchester United at the end of June, with clubs reluctant to take a chance on the 24-year-old.
Even at a time when Manchester United are crying out for a Luke Shaw replacement to step up, Williams was nowhere near, and the club had no qualms releasing him.
The fact he remains a free agent is a damning indictment of Williams’ fall from grace, and how badly Woodward got it.
Ed Woodward
Ed Woodward was a total disaster as Manchester United chief executive, and should have been fired after his first summer in charge in 2013.
Woodward oversaw some truly farcical moments during his time in charge, and Williams’ contract doesn’t come close to the top 10 list.
Yet it is curious to look back on. United handed Williams an expensive new deal in August 2020, and then signed Alex Telles as competition for Luke Shaw in October 2020, shunting the youngster down to third in the pecking order.
Neither player proved to be the answer – but why do both? It defines the lack of strategy at United at the time, and the way Woodward used to do business.
Woodward’s confidence in Williams being Shaw’s replacement typifies how wrong he got it, time and time again.
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