Was good overall but had several of his frustrating moments that you know he's going to have every time we play a Portuguese team where he tries to beat the whole team twice before he even thinks about having a shot or pass. One time in particular he dribbled straight into about 4 defenders on the edge of the box.
Nani
- Thread starter Kaush949
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
i had him MOTM as i thought his directness is what dragged us back into it after our sluggish start. that first run in particular seemed to shock benfica into being less adventurous. an encouraging display from Nani after an indifferent couple of games
My only wish with Nani is that he'd just put the ball in first time every now and again, i dont mind him fannying about as much as some do but sometimes i'd like him to put a quick cross into the middle instead of always slowing to a standstill and looking to jink around the fullback, it makes it very difficult for the strikers to time their runs
My only wish with Nani is that he'd just put the ball in first time every now and again, i dont mind him fannying about as much as some do but sometimes i'd like him to put a quick cross into the middle instead of always slowing to a standstill and looking to jink around the fullback, it makes it very difficult for the strikers to time their runs
He does do that now and again. Did it a few times last night.
It sounds like you want him to do it "more often than not", rather than "now and again".
i thought his work rate today was outstanding. He tracked back constantly. In fairness it is something he has been improving on a lot but today it was very noticable.
He was fairly unselfish today. Some of his and Rooney's interplay was delightful. Such a treat to watch.
Good points, Randy & KM. Completely agree.
He was on a different planet technically today, when he's on form he's a joy to watch.
He wins the ball back for us so many times for a winger. And for someone who is primarily one of our most dangerous offensive outlets that is very impressive. Easily one of our most important players.
His technique is just brilliant and whatever he wants to do, it just works off when on form. Been our best player recently
He's very good when it comes to tracking back, but he has a tendency to play square hospital passes to our defenders instead of hoofing it forward or making a simple pass back to Evra.
the way he had barton on the floor was just a treat. delightful player to watch and glad he's finally on form. totally a different team when he's at the races
He has become irresistible of late
Looking back to his best, he may not have scored or got an assist today but in this free role he tormented their back 4 today.
He's simply incredible at beating players. The twists, turns and sleight of foot must be a nightmare to defend against
I said a while back in this thread that I think only Messi is his equal when it comes to beating players one on one. It doesn't matter if the defender manages to slow him down, he'll still skin the defender for fun.
Fantastic to watch!
Unbelievable, he just kept on beating them. I love the way he has cut all that pointless crap out of his game. He uses a sleight of foot, classy touch, quick change of direction or raw pace to beat a man. He can even mix all those together! Terrifying for an opponent.
The 1-2s he was involved in 
You go through the history of all of our players and there are very few that are better than Nani on a technical level. Absolutely glorious.
He was this good last season.
Loved it when he put Barton on his backside
He is magic 1v1, such skill and balance
I remeber when Brwned cliamed Obertan was better than Nani 
Happens to the best of us. I once claimed that Phil Jones would flop when he was at Blackburn.
Everybody gets their fair share wrong.
Everybody gets their fair share wrong.
I remeber when Brwned cliamed Obertan was better than Nani
Its cruel to bring up posters' "wtf"-moments like that but:
Its cruel to bring up posters' "wtf"-moments like that but:
Saying Obertan is a bit mad alright.
But 2 years ago many supporters including myself felt he had no future at the club
I think Fergie was losing patience with him at the time too
To be honest, I'm better when I have 2 on me.
Iniesta is the second best dribbler and can beat a man from a sta nding (sitting, sleeping) position at will.
Nani's definitely in the top five though.
Happens to the best of us. I once claimed that Phil Jones would flop when he was at Blackburn.
Everybody gets their fair share wrong.
And I said Giggsy was past it in 07 and should retire.
Everyone has their calamities!
So. We've all watched Nani endure a longish slump in form playing on the right wing.
In the last two games he's switched back to the left - opposite Valencia - and been outstanding.
Kind of fecks with that whole theory about needing to play him on the right to get the best out of him, doesn't it?
In the last two games he's switched back to the left - opposite Valencia - and been outstanding.
Kind of fecks with that whole theory about needing to play him on the right to get the best out of him, doesn't it?
Fair point. I was firmly in the "Nani needs to play on the right" camp. These last few games have also proved he's a great option to have up front.
Never understood that theory!
He's good on either side to be honest because he's good at football. The type of player he is he's more than likely to have dips in form and drift in and out of games. However, he's a match winner so you play him regardless for me.
Always capable of creating or scoring out of nothing. No matter which side of the pitch he's playing on.
It's a theory that was thrown around because he started to turn into the player he is now when SAF started playing him on the right instead of the left, like in that mammoth game against Arsenal where he pushed Valencia out of the team.
But if we remember back to games like against Bayern where he was absolutely immense on the left it's obvious he can play there without problems.
The main reason he was being used on the right so much is because of Valencias injury and lack of fitness at times. They're our 2 best wingers and when they're on form like this Young won't get near the first team except when they're being rested.
Him and Rooney are just on an entirely different planet to our other attackers, when they're at their best (which hopefully will be for quite a while) then most teams are fecked.
But if we remember back to games like against Bayern where he was absolutely immense on the left it's obvious he can play there without problems.
The main reason he was being used on the right so much is because of Valencias injury and lack of fitness at times. They're our 2 best wingers and when they're on form like this Young won't get near the first team except when they're being rested.
Him and Rooney are just on an entirely different planet to our other attackers, when they're at their best (which hopefully will be for quite a while) then most teams are fecked.
I don't think that's fair on our other attackers, especially coming after a game where Valencia actually created more clear-cut chances than Nani did - despite Nani being very close to his best.
For various different (and obvious) reasons, Valencia has endured a long period of being well below his best. If he can achieve and maintain the form he showed when he linked up brilliantly with Rooney in Rooney's most prolific ever season then we'll be a hell of a lot less reliant on Nani than we have been this last season and a half.
He was very good yesterday but when it came to his final ball he either chose the wrong option or played it poorly.... most of the time.
Still a good performance from him though. He always looks so dangerous.
Still a good performance from him though. He always looks so dangerous.
I'm not denying the latter part Pogue, like I said, Valencia back on form is a great boost, we know how good him and Rooney link up together and when he's on form he's one of our most consistent and important players, so yeah it certainly does take the pressure off Nani. My part in bold was in relation to how good they are,
I think Nani and Rooney are our best attacking players by a good distance, that's no slight on the importance of players like Valencia, Hernandez, even Danny Welbeck who really does look the part, but in terms of pure ability they're a fair old bit ahead of the pack.
I think Nani and Rooney are our best attacking players by a good distance, that's no slight on the importance of players like Valencia, Hernandez, even Danny Welbeck who really does look the part, but in terms of pure ability they're a fair old bit ahead of the pack.
Disagree with this, I think the occasions you are thinking of were after the nut-meg, and that was just good defending. The other 2 occasions were after putting Barton on his ass but he had nothing on, and also when he pulled the ball back for Giggs, although Giggs was at fault there for not moving into that space and admitted as much directly after by giving Nani the thumbs up.
Nani gets spotted out on his missed balls/shots more than others because of his old reputation as a player.
Look at Rooney and his mental fecking chips at times though, and his through balls can be wayward (not yesterday though, wow). Valencia too very much struggles to beat his man at times and ends up smacking his cross into them.
But attacking players generally have to have those moments at times because they are required to produce the end game for the team, and they won't do that by playing it safe all the time.
Look at Rooney and his mental fecking chips at times though, and his through balls can be wayward (not yesterday though, wow). Valencia too very much struggles to beat his man at times and ends up smacking his cross into them.
But attacking players generally have to have those moments at times because they are required to produce the end game for the team, and they won't do that by playing it safe all the time.
That was a perfect placed ball.
It's not the most controversial thing in the world to point out that Nani's final ball was a bit lacking yesterday. or at least it shouldn't be.
One great pull back to Rooney aside (and the cross to Giggs, which was debatably Giggs' fault) I'm sure Nani himself would admit he should have made better use of the great positions he got into yesterday.
On a side note, it was quite funny to see him giving Rooney a dose of his own medicine when he gave him both barrels for ignoring him and hitting a tame shot instead, late on in the game. If you're gonna give it, you have to take it too!
One great pull back to Rooney aside (and the cross to Giggs, which was debatably Giggs' fault) I'm sure Nani himself would admit he should have made better use of the great positions he got into yesterday.
On a side note, it was quite funny to see him giving Rooney a dose of his own medicine when he gave him both barrels for ignoring him and hitting a tame shot instead, late on in the game. If you're gonna give it, you have to take it too!