Pundit claims Man Utd, Chelsea loanees ‘have gone backwards’ since joining Norwich

Toby Bowles
Williams Gilmour Norwich

Former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino believes Billy Gilmour and Brandon Williams have regressed since their loan moves to Norwich City last summer.

Norwich’s relegation to the Championship was confirmed on Saturday following a 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa, their 23rd loss of the campaign.

In a side that has struggled to adapt to the quality of the Premier League following promotion, Chelsea’s Gilmour and Manchester United’s Williams have done little to impress their parent clubs, with Cascarino even going so far as to say that they have “gone backwards”.


Five ways for Man Utd to salvage what’s left of this wretched season


“The lad Gilmour that came to Norwich, didn’t do particularly well at the club, and the fans turned on him at the start season,” he told talkSPORT.

“He’s a terrific young footballer but, somehow, he’s not grown.

“We talk all the time about young lads going elsewhere and improving – the lad Williams as well from Man United – but they’ve gone backwards this year.

“Two players have gone there from big clubs and have gone backwards at Norwich.”

 

 

Ralf Rangnick, though, still sees a future for Williams at United. According to The Sun, he spoke to the player after United’s 1-0 win at Norwich in December, with a source telling the publication: “Brandon couldn’t play when United took on Norwich in December because of the loan deal agreement.

“He watched the game and was saying hello to some of the United players he is mates with when Rangnick made a beeline for him.

“He said he was aware of him, that he rated him and that he definitely wanted him back at United when the loan deal ends.

“So the message was ‘keep working hard and enjoying playing and you have a big future ahead of you at United’.

“Brandon was impressed because the manager had only been in charge for a couple of games and had a lot on his plate, but took time out to speak to him.

“The manager likes his speed and versatility as he can play in both full back positions.”

Rangnick will take up a consultancy role at United at the end of the season, when his job as interim manager is over.