People with technical ability call it good ball retention skills or means to get by a player. The rest who only rely on athleticism and physical presence to get a game call it showboating.
Shinji Kagawa
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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.
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People with technical ability call it good ball retention skills or means to get by a player. The rest who only rely on athleticism and physical presence to get a game call it showboating.
Don't think anyone will argue that United were using tactics from the darker side of football in that game. Mourinho would have been proud.
Sir Alex wasn't going to let you get to 50 unbeaten at Old Trafford knowing the kind of football that Arsenal team could play and set up to get the result.
How was Nani being a dickhead? He tore lumps out of you, so you all decided to break him up.
Meh, Nani taught Arsenal a lesson that day. He was brilliant as well.
To go back to the original point, if you're trying to say that a bunch of professional, Premiership footballers in an FA Cup game against one of their greatest historic rivals in context of not having won anything for ages weren't actually that arsed, then there's more wrong with Arsenal than we all previously thought.
It doesn't say much about your players, club or manager if that wasn't a competitive game.
What I took from his comment was, that United spend more time training with the ball, probably with an emphasis on passing and less time doing ball winning drills, perhaps Barca and other teams like Dortmund have a different balance of drills than us…..
If by 'being a dickhead' you mean 'making your lot look like a complete shower of cnuts' then yes.
Yes he was.
I think he's very soon going to be one of my favorite United players. He's just the sort of creativity that we've missed in midfield in forever. Nani was the only one who seemed to be on his wavelength today and it was really a huge plus to see him combining so well with our wide men , considering most of our play traditionally goes through our wingers.
I'm not sure how to judge him. He mainly just seems to highlight how pathetic our movement in the middle third of the pitch has become...by being the only player in our squad who actually has any.
Looks quality. Nani will absolutely relish playing with him. So will the likes of Welbeck and Valencia.
Fits in excactly as I thought he would basically. A quality player who'll bring us a creative spark and a goalthreat from central areas, which we sometimes lack in tight matches.
Fits in excactly as I thought he would basically. A quality player who'll bring us a creative spark and a goalthreat from central areas, which we sometimes lack in tight matches.
He looks absolutely class. His movement is excellent, he's always finding space and as he's equally great on the ball he'll give our attack a new dimension.
He spells the end of Rooney behind the front man on a regular basis, surely? I know that's not exactly how a squad works, but it's vast how much of a difference it makes having someone outside that centre circle who can consistently control the ball and maintain possession in dangerous areas.
Linked up with Nani brilliantly today. Can't wait to see what he can do with Cleverley, Welbeck and Rooney together with Nani.
5:20
I've said for awhile that Rooney can be a bit of liability in that role despite scoring loads of goals from there. His touch and ball-manipulation in tight spaces lets us down far too often. And people will see the difference when Kagawa plays behind him and he still gets the same or more number of goals due to focusing all his attention on goals.
This means Rooney must be top form, Kagawa is pressing hard for his position, this can only get better for us.
Welbeck was very good in this game too apart from his finishing.
Welbeck was very good in this game too apart from his finishing.
It means Rooney will be pushed forward into a role he is much better in. The onus will be on Welbeck and Hernandez. It's funny really, we were certain Rooney would be more effective deeper when he was younger and really felt that he'd drop deeper and deeper with age but it's the opposite, he's far more effective further forward.
Kagawa has awesome movement and is great at the give and go. Good to see him playing an advanced role also
Now wait, so all of a sudden Rooney moves further forward because that's his best position as Kagawa comes in ?
Your moving a bit too fast here mate, when was Rooney poor behind the striker ? Most of his best games have come there...
Kagwa will be our OZIL
Rooney is too hit or miss to be played behind the striker. His touch and short passing lets him down too many times.
Gets goals but not the best at manipulating the ball in tight spaces, which hampers us. Move him forward infront of Kagawa and you hopefully get the same or more goals but also Kagawa's ball retention skills and touch in linking play. Win-win.
Rooney behind the striker had a lot of promise this time last year but for the 2nd half of last season he was much more effective up front. His overall play during the 2nd half of the season was frustrating and way too inconsistent, but his goalscoring was excellent. His passing is perfect for that position as is his creativity, but his ability to take on a man isn't there, while his touch is way too inconsistent.
I'd like to hope that Rooney still has a future playing in behind the striker but it seems unlikely now if Kagawa is better there and can improve the flow of our play.
From what i ve seen, i think kagawa is a better player. My only concern is if he can adapt or not to the physical side of the epl.
I think Rooney's best position was once as the deeper striker but as others have mentioned his game can be to hot and cold and in that area you can't afford to have that sort of player. I think he would be better off as the main striker where his ability to play others in and interchange etc is a bonus to the team rather than a necessity.
Think Rooney is being a bit underrated in the number 10 role here. Let's not forget his performances in the second half of 10/11 where he was easily one of the best in the world in that position, excellent in big CL knockout games etc.
Kagawa has done well in pre season and I'm sure he'll do great for us but I think Rooney is being underrated here in that role. Scoring 35 goals behind the striker is a bit special as well, even if his general play wasn't to the consistent levels we expect.
Kagawa has done well in pre season and I'm sure he'll do great for us but I think Rooney is being underrated here in that role. Scoring 35 goals behind the striker is a bit special as well, even if his general play wasn't to the consistent levels we expect.
But I don't really think he played that deep last year, certainly not as deep as an attacking mid in the vein of Kagawa. There were times where he got quite deep but in general it wasn't that often, he seemed to be just behind Welbeck/Hernandez rather than there being an obvious distinction between them. He can be quality there, on his day no doubt but I think he has too many days where he's questionable there and I don't think you can afford to have that, in that role. As the main striker you can get away with that because you can play poorly and bag a goal, something Rooney has become good at, but in that deeper role which is the key creative role, having bad games in the manner Rooney has, is detrimental to the whole team/performance.
Kagawa > Hazard yet?
I said in another thread the few times Rooney did play lone/forward/line he was fecking dire. I mean really fecking dire.
I hope he sorts it out if and when we do see Kagawa playing behind the front striker(s) unless we play without wingers or with three deeper playmakers who drift wide but I can't see that tbh.
It's actually easy to judge him. By using your eyes.
He looks class. Feck knows how Fergie will fit him, Rooney and Welbeck into the same team but I hope he finds a way.
Kagawa reminds me of scholes from around 2003, he could easily play in a 2 man mid IMO
He scored 35 odd goals a few seasons back playing right up top. Not exactly dire.
Not sure about that at all. Depends who you are playing I guess but the guy is a number 10!
Kagawa looks great as he did in the German Cup final for Dortmund. I keep getting told by City fans that they 'have never seen a ***** that is a good footballer'. Quite depressing to hear such things on a few levels but they will be proven wrong in due course.
Really excited by him. He has the same work rate as Park, but more overall skill.....well....he doesn't fall over anyway.....!!
Why do you feel the need to include park in the same sentence? They are nothing alike in playing terms. Sick of hearing that "comparison"
First time seeing him in the United shirt yesterday and I thought he did well. I think he's going to fight his way into the team as a starter sooner rather than later.
Can't wait to see him in a competitive match with players are sharper and in form etc.
Can't wait to see him in a competitive match with players are sharper and in form etc.
is the word Asian Jimy?
....because I want to and therefore can...
I think the comparisons to Park are exactly the same, and as bad, as the people who say "i don't want Moura because Kleberson and Anderson never worked out" or "not an Argentinian. Remember Tevez, Veron and Heinze". A player should be judged on their own merit but unfortunately there seems to be a prejudiced misconception that players from the same country or region must have common traits
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