He didn't have the armband but Giggs was playing a great captain's role last night, really leading the team and that was great to watch. It would have been a mistake to take him off; we needed solidity and leadership in those last twenty minutes and Kagawa just doesn't provide that.
Shinji Kagawa
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He didn't have the armband but Giggs was playing a great captain's role last night, really leading the team and that was great to watch. It would have been a mistake to take him off; we needed solidity and leadership in those last twenty minutes and Kagawa just doesn't provide that.
Kagawa has something different. he always looks dangerous in the final third. we need to get him fit and playing regularly. some of the play he and nani produced last night was more like the real united. much more fluid and threatening.
Yes, I remember at one point Rooney was on the right, Nani left and Kagawa in behind a very mobile Hernandez. He just needs games in all honesty, even if it's on the left. Give him games and we will see the real Shinji. We need a player of his ilk, someone that can give that killer pass.
Moyes comments were weird last night. I'm sure it was just phrased badly but he made it sound like he hadn't a clue what sort of footballer he is.
What did he say?
Me neither, FWIW. I didn't see him in Germany so for me he's just a nothing player. So far.
He's made a few comments like that alright, as if he doesn't know some of the players yet even though he'd have seen plenty of them over the last couple of years. Maybe he's just trying to reassure the likes of Kagawa and Hernandez by making it sound like they'll get picked more once he gets to know them? "I don't know them yet" is better than "I fancied other players for this run of big games".
You could clearly see Kagawa was labouring. Carrick coming on gave Giggs a lot more freedom to play a free role.
I seriously want Kagawa to have more game time. With our wingers (young and valencia) delivering nothing to our forwards. This could be the best option to get them more service.
Moyes on his performance.
Fair IMO.
Fair IMO.
Aye, I'd say that's fair. People have underplayed the match fitness issue.
To preempt the inevitable response of "how will he get match fit, if Moyes doesn't give him matches?" that's two starts he's had now, which is a step in the right direction. I'm assuming his fitness was even worse beforehand, so playing him wasn't an option. Hopefully onwards and upwards from here.
Yeah he was clearly lacking match fitness against Leverkusen as well, after a promising first half he really dipped and no surprise he got taken off.
Strange because it worked the other way around against Pool, as he improved hugely in the second
Strange because it worked the other way around against Pool, as he improved hugely in the second
I'm a huge fan of Kagawa, but in the first half against Liverpool at times he was really quite poor.
He did recover though and started playing some nice stuff, notably the nutmeg on Gerrard and that stonking left footed strike.
It's not a surprise really that his best moments of the game came when he was inside the pitch.
His average pace really does not help him when he is stuck out wide, he is so much better inside.
He did recover though and started playing some nice stuff, notably the nutmeg on Gerrard and that stonking left footed strike.
It's not a surprise really that his best moments of the game came when he was inside the pitch.
His average pace really does not help him when he is stuck out wide, he is so much better inside.
Good half. Displayed some great touches, passes, and awareness. I think he'll have a great season. This isn't to degrade Rooney's ability, but Kagawa's touch and agility would be more useful in behind Van Persie IMO.
I think that's madness. If Kagawa is going to play he needs to be able to perform from the left. He's doing well there today.
I feel he just needs that something to fall for him. Maybe that shot against Liverpool that hit the bar, just something special to boost his confidence. Just something to get his name in the papers. It's not far away but he does need something to kick start him.
It's annoying because I really don't think Rooney would suffer at all if you put him out 'wide' on the team sheet. He could just do what Kagawa's done all day and go wherever the feck he pleases. Meanwhile Kagawa could focus on what he's actually good at, being a specialised #10.
Liverpool's fitness suffered in the second half, which was probably why Kagawa found it easier to perform.
Nah not for me, Rooney is much better player than Kagawa in almost every aspect of the game. Kagawa has been ridiculously overrated on the caf since his arrival. If he wants that spot, he'll earn it with his performances because he's still got everything to prove at Utd.
Played well. I far prefer Kagawa/Nani to Valencia/Young.
Yah.. too much yellow fever going on here.
Ok. You're gone.
Are people really using that half of football as justification for Kagawa taking Rooney's position?
My stream buy it's felt like I was watching a different game reading here.
I don'y understand how that's madness. Rooney is the better player, but Kagawa is the better #10. His touch and vision are better. In no way do I want Rooney to play on the left because then it wouldn't make sense for us to play him, but there are aspects of Kagawa's game that would help us down the middle. Not that I'm complaining.
Off at HT. Injured?
Taken off at half-time? Didn't look injured to me?
Hasn't had the breaks at all!
Hasn't had the breaks at all!
I really don't think he is. If you don't want Rooney on the left then where do you want him? On the bench? I don't doubt that Kagawa would perform better in the centre than on the left but it's not better for the team overall.
Rooney is a better player than Kagawa in any position.
But that's the thing, you've misread my post. I said it would be better for Kagawa to play as a #10, but I never said he "should play there". Personally, I think Kagawa is a better play-maker. For Borussia Dortmund, he was excellent. There's a massive difference between our system and theirs, but to pull of the passes, touches, and movement he displayed is enough of a demonstration that he does excel at certain aspects. Again, Rooney is the better player and should play there, but it doesn't mean he's better at creating chances and so on.
Hauled off at HT. Are people still gunna try and tell me he's not fit?
Moyes just doesn't fancy him.
Moyes just doesn't fancy him.
He clearly is not fit enough as evidenced from the two games he played before this.
He better have picked up a knock cos I just cannot figure out why he went off
Abysmal decision to take him off.
Moyes' treatment of Kagawa is only one of a catalogue of errors he's made since he's taken over back in the summer.
Really, really uninspiring choice for manager it has to be said. The 'Top Reds' will condemn anyone who dares criticise anything related to the club, but a blind man could see that this "safe" option was always a huge gamble. People will say that the players didn't cover themselves in glory last week nor this - and that's true - but Moyes' interpretation of his best XI, and thus, who he decides to rotate, has been bizarre at best this season.
Really, really uninspiring choice for manager it has to be said. The 'Top Reds' will condemn anyone who dares criticise anything related to the club, but a blind man could see that this "safe" option was always a huge gamble. People will say that the players didn't cover themselves in glory last week nor this - and that's true - but Moyes' interpretation of his best XI, and thus, who he decides to rotate, has been bizarre at best this season.
Kagawa did well despite not getting the ball. To take him off was stupid but indicative of Moyes' ideas about football.
This could well be case, though it's equally likely he just doesn't know what to do with a player like Kagawa. I think he's more comfortable with players that fit a get-ball-wide/cross-ball philosophy.
Doesn't make any sense unless he had a knock, or Moyes is acnumber9. He looked like he felt a bit of a twinge in that challenge that saw the West Brom player go off, but that was 10 minutes in.
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