Absolutely shat on the best U21 team this season.
Adnan Januzaj
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Fergie said himself that they are the best two prospects at the club. I sometimes feel with Powell that he is a little lazy, too relaxed perhaps. In the second half of the U21's season Januzaj has looked a real determined worker too. I give Januzaj the edge at this point just because he plays like he is full of desire. I don't get that yet from Powell.
Wasn't he out of position as well? Played as the furthest man forward, and held the ball up superbly. Loved the way he effortlessly glided past players, almost Zidane-esque. Wasn't doing any fancy moves but excellent body faints to get past them.
Ah, thanks. Powell didn't seem like a work horse or anything in the little time he had for the first team, but he didn't seem lazy or anything. Relaxed is a good word for how he looked. Seemed classy on the ball, although he didn't seem to have a great touch or anything particular that stood out about him. Granted he was in the first team which is a gigantic step up from league 1 or 2 football that he was before, so there's plenty of time for him.
Looks like a young Kaka
very impressive tonight
very impressive tonight
Got a fantastic eye for a pass. His one to Lawrence that lead to Cole's winner was superb.
Still think this is the best illustrative comparison for those who haven't seen him. Like the young Kaka but without the explosive pace.
I hope we see some of this kid next season. I was disappointed that he didn't get any game time in our fixtures after the league was wrapped up but he was in the squad at least.
Do people think he'll stay with the club next season or will we look for a loan?
Do people think he'll stay with the club next season or will we look for a loan?
It is very hard to say as he is a very good talent but he is not going to be good enough as a winger so his only chance is the CM position.
Will he be good enough as a CM to get games ahead of Anderson/Cleverley? I think we would do well to sell Anderson and have Clev/Januzaj/Carrick rotating for our 2 CM slots. He would fill such a rotation role perfectly.
I'm a big believer in we won't know if he's good enough unless he plays. I'd like Moyes to give players like Powell and Januzaj a chance next season just to see where they are but a loan may work better.
I know Januzaj isn't really a winger but I feel he could be effective there in a 'low pressure' role rather than CM. A midfield three might work well though.
In any case, Januzaj's development will be interesting to see. As well, Moyes first season will be very interesting/exciting just because we don't know what he will do with all our players, young or old.
This! Hopefully they'll impress on the tour and will be given a chance.
He would have gotten a subs appearance against West Brom had our defence not feck things up.
Well hopefully Januzaj should be going on tour and a couple of matches there will give us an indication at what level he's at. He's becoming increasingly too good for the U21s and is still only 18.
He was skipping away from Zeki Fryers with ease, and he is pretty quick/strong from when i saw him before.
He has a natural tendancy to drift wide into the channels aswell. Could easily play a David Silva type role no problem.
Don't get me wrong I am all for testing the youth if it is done with real confidence. If we want to try a youth player, let him play in the first team together with our original team. Show some belief in him and don't put him in a league cup team full of "off form" players and other youths.
Everybody always looks way worse in those league cup games because of that. It is hard to answer any questions about the youth if that is the only chance they get to prove themselves. I agree with you that testing them then making an evaluation is the best way to do it. If they don't step up, loan them out to where they get first team experience and try again next year.
I am quite certain Januzaj has the ability to play on the wing just not in Uniteds first team. What we lack is dribblers and players who take runs behind the defense from the wings. Unfortunately for Januzaj he fits neither of those. If we had those abilities provided already from two strikers who loved taking runs out wide and who had the ability to dribble with ease - then he would be perfect for us.
As it is now I can't see Januzaj providing us with what we need as he is not good enough of a dribbler. I would love to see us change from a 4-2-3-1 which I think suits us horribly to a 4-5-1/4-3-3 which I think would suit us better. I think Cleverley, Adnan and Kagawa would do very well with Zaha and Nani on each side and RVP in front against the lower sides.
That way we could save Carrick and avoid him getting injured for the difficult matches and the later part of the season. I think RVP should play some less games than he did this season and it would benefit Chica a lot.
if he's a midfielder he won't have a chance at United.
Reminds me of Pastore! A more determined version....
Any highlights from yesterday's match featuring Januzaj?
The official site has match highlights
I don't agree that Janužaj lacks pace. When he plays for the Academy, on the right side, he runs and dribbles with an ease of best winger.
This is his first year in U21 level. He has grown a lot this year, he is still very skinny, and just not physically strong enough to win the hard duels. When he played on the right side yesterday in 2nd half, he did couple of great runs and dribbles.
I just think that, when he gets some muscles, he will be more productive dribbler on the wing.
This is his first year in U21 level. He has grown a lot this year, he is still very skinny, and just not physically strong enough to win the hard duels. When he played on the right side yesterday in 2nd half, he did couple of great runs and dribbles.
I just think that, when he gets some muscles, he will be more productive dribbler on the wing.
If he comes into the team it will probably be as a winger who likes to drift inside. That's how the likes of Ozil and Silva were integrated when they first came through and all things considered that will probably be his easiest route into the first team
How much have you seen of him? He's a very clever player, and often opts for the pass instead of holding on to the ball. But when he wants to, he can beat a man with ease. He's a superb dribbler.
I have seen maybe 15 games which is not a whole lot but even at a youth level he seems to be at a level slightly too low to beat men from standing still.
He is more like Welbeck/Kagawa, capable of dribbling but not capable enough to dribble as a winger. It is much harder as a winger which you can see whenever Kagawa is wide as he never gets past his opponent even though he does it with ease more centrally in the pitch. Adnan also gets past players with ease centrally by smart moves but not from the wing.
The only time they do get past is when they have the pace up and the opponent doesn't or when they take a run and get a pass which they can receive in a tricky way.
What you're noticing isn't really to do with an inability to dribble past players - I've watched pretty much all his football this season (any that was televised, that is), and he's done this quite a bit. The reason he'll never be a dribbler like, say, Nani, is because he doesn't have the other qualities of a winger. He's not lightning fast, he prefers passing to crossing, and he's more comfortable (and useful) in central areas. But as you've noted, he's more than capable of lovely mazy dribbles in the middle.
Not sure why I'm being such a pedant, sorry. It's really just semantics.
Sorry but that is just plain wrong.
To say he cannot take on a man is ridiculous, just yesterday he roasted a couple people down the line.
I didn't mean to sound negative comparing his dribbling to Kagawa and Welbeck as I think they are the 3rd and 4th best dribblers in our team behind Zaha and Nani.(Valencia was up there last year.)
Just that on the wing you need explosive acceleration, pace and incredible dribbling skill to make it work. This season only Nani has been good enough of a dribbler to be able to get past his marker on a consistent basis. So I am not saying Adnan can't dribble, he is good enough of a dribbler in every position except as a winger.
It is just about United currently lacking any player who can gets past players on the wing. If we had C.Ronaldo on one wing Adnan would have good enough dribbling to be on the other side. But right now we don't have a single starting player who can receive the ball and get past his wing-back which makes us very easy to predict and defend against.
Zaha hasn't kicked a ball for us yet and he's already the top 2 in dribbling in our team?
LOL good one
We'll let him go to Fiorentina or Juventus on a free and he'll be TBPITW in a few years time, whilst we bring Paul Scholes back out of retirement once again.
Its funny because its TRUE!
Exactly. There's a lot of nonsense about Januzaj on this page!
Looks like he'd sign a new contract soon
Lovely. Where you hear this?
LOL good one
We'll let him go to Fiorentina or Juventus on a free and he'll be TBPITW in a few years time, whilst we bring Paul Scholes back out of retirement once again.
Its funny because its TRUE!
Scary that this lad is nearly out of contract aswell.
DO NOT want another Pogba episode here, he has all the talent without the arrogance. He is a utd player if I have ever seen one - and would prefer we play him than buy big money replacements.
DO NOT want another Pogba episode here, he has all the talent without the arrogance. He is a utd player if I have ever seen one - and would prefer we play him than buy big money replacements.
Wasn't that bothered about Pogba, because the timing with him and the team never seemed quite right. But letting Januzaj go would be a fecking travesty. Incredibly talented, incredibly hard-working, and can play in a position (wings) where we suddenly seem to have room for an influx of talent.
Moyes needs to give him proper game-time in the proper first team.
Moyes needs to give him proper game-time in the proper first team.
Think the quotes suggest that we rate him very much and will offer him a new deal quickly. Also crucially the agent wants him to stay. I expect this one to be sorted quickly.
That's great news. Possibly another thing to take from that article is that I don't recognise the name of his agent, which can only be a good thing. We definitely don't want another Pogba situation with this one.
Still makes me nervous when agents make a point of publicly acknowledging interest from other teams, though. It always feels like it's directed at the current team, as a sort of threat.
well, it sucks, but I get it.
They want the best for their player because they want the best for themselves in turn, clubs know agents play a huge part in the player's decisions so they have to "play ball" with them in a way.
The whole player agent thing sucks, but it's how it is nowadays and it's only natural to assume they'll do what they think is right if it helps them land a better deal.
Urgh...I hate this shit. Glad it sounds like he'll be signing a new contract but it's frustrating hearing the agent mouthing off already about the interest of other clubs. That is never ever a good thing.
Indeed.
He is basically saying 'yeah Adnan wants to stay at United, so long as the offer is a good one'.
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