psychdelicblues
Full Member
The Ashley Young paradox can represent a sizeable fly in the ointment of attempts to comtextualise Kagawa's absence from the team though.
If he continues to be overlooked either as a starter or sub it is also going to be seen as symptomatic of other uncertainties surrounding Moyes at this monent, negativity in the big games for one.
Wee Fergie the one responsible for these decisions he would have the fact of the player being his signing to his credit, as well as a seemingly increasing confidence in the player toward the end of last season. As it is that progress is being stunted and people would rather this wasn't the case, understandable enough instead of cause for the lazy labelling of posters with the "drama queen" tag.
Young, starting against Liverpool away, with Kagawa not even in the squad should not be used as a bench mark in how Moyes values Kagawa as a player 3 games in. United have been poor away at Liverpool for as long as I can remember. Last year at Anfield, Kagawa started in his prefered position and hardly had any impact in the game despte Liverpool being down to 10 men for the majority of the match.
The fact that Kagawa was a Fergie signing may have given Fergie some credit in the bank, but even he did not escape the criticism of how Kagawa was used and his non- selection of Kagawa in some games after he came back from injury last season. Kagawa not being the new manager's signing, means Moyes is not really under pressure to be compelled to start him whether he is match fit or not. So if he was never an integral player under Fergie last season why should he be under Moyes?
As for his progress being stunted at United with 3 games gone, I'd say that's maybe due to an unfortunate set of circumstances to do with a disrupted preseason, a tough start to the PL, and a new manger wanting to give everyone a clean slate. At least the international break has given Kagawa some much needed match time.
To be honest we are really in the unknown in how Kagawa fits into the plans of Moyes in the context of how he wants the team to set up, tactically and technically. Does Moyes know himself? Didn't he say that it would take him 18 months before he imprints his personality on the team?
We know for certain that when everyone's fit, the spine of the 4 attacking positions will be Van Persie and Rooney.
Is Kagawa going to be an integral part of one of the 2 attacking position's left? Or is he going to be rotated with Welbeck, Nani, Young, Giggs, Zaha and just be cover for Rooney if he is injured/rested? Last year Kagawa started 5 of the first 6 PL games in his preferred position due in most part to Rooney's gash injury. Although he was not poor, he was not outstanding either(apart from Everton away) . Whether this was due to adapting to a new league or United's style of play is another matter.
Moyes see's Kagawa in training, will know his strengths and weaknesses. He will know what he done at Dortmund. He will also know that he was subbed in a lot of games he started last season. The important thing for for Kagawa, is to take his oppunities when he does get starts so he can earn the right for Moyes to give him a run of games.