Rooney on the bench makes me laugh a bit.
Kagawa will leave in the summer
Kagawa will leave in the summer
Shinji Kagawa
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Whatever way you look at it he's been a flop. Say what you want about being played out of position, Mata has played out of position and created more in 2-3 games than Kagawa has done in the entire season so far.
He's also not shown anything at all to suggest he'd be a better No.10 than Rooney, who has been one of the few highlights of the season, in that position. Good little player who looks to me to have peaked at Dortmund. I'm sure he'll go on to have a great career but, much like Veron, for whatever reason the PL doesn't suit him.
He's also not shown anything at all to suggest he'd be a better No.10 than Rooney, who has been one of the few highlights of the season, in that position. Good little player who looks to me to have peaked at Dortmund. I'm sure he'll go on to have a great career but, much like Veron, for whatever reason the PL doesn't suit him.
Some players just can't adjust to playing for a club with such expectation.
The parallels with Berbatov are striking. An undoubtedly talented player who just couldn't adjust to playing for a team like United. These type of players seem to thrive when they are one of the main players for an "underdog" club.
Some players instantly embrace it and flourish off the pressure (Ronaldo, Januzaj, Cantona), others become shrinking violets and go into their shell. Unfortunately Kagawa wouldn't be the first player with the talent but not the mentality.
Kagawa has himself to blame for his performances (and I'd argue the system), but he's a better #10 than Rooney easily. The thing is, Rooney hasn't been playing as a #10 for most of the season, he's been playing as a second striker. Our best games this season IMO have been with Kagawa as a #10. We have been more fluid. I know the game plan is to pass it wide, get players in the box, and cross it in, and that suits Rooney, but our team dynamic changes when Kagawa plays behind the striker. The two best examples of this: against Swansea when he wanted Valencia to make a run in behind and against Bayer Leverkusen when instead of passing it straight to the wing, he executed a turn and looked centrally.
Rooney is a better player than Kagawa in any position.
Kagawa has to be the most overrated player in the entire squad.
Kagawa has to be the most overrated player in the entire squad.
Mata is clearly a different level - he's unquestionably world class whereas Kagawa at his best is a level below. I still think he has a place in the squad but only if he's prepared to be a squad player until he really stands out.
Hes created no more than kagawa has. The difference is Mata has something to play for. He needs to do all he can to get into the spain squad. Kagawa is playing for a manager who has no faith in him.
I fully believe we would be a better team with kagawa or mata in 10
Kagawa has proved plenty to be an important part of our team by now. Fergie rated him, and by the end of last season the left wing was his. And when Rooney or RVP was out, the AM position was his. This alone is a strong argument in favor of Kagawa.
You might point to his performances this season and think this makes a strong argument against Kagawa, but when you think about it, most of our best football has come with Kagawa on the field, usually with him playing an important role, often in the AM position. Leverkusen away, Sociedad at home and the second half vs Swansea at home. These are our best performances so far this season imo, and Kagawa was great/brilliant in all of them. I'd also argue that our first half against WBA at home was really good, except we didn't score. In that half, both Nani and Kagawa ruled the game.
So it's not that Kagawa hasn't proved anything. It's just that Moyes doesn't rate him. It's as simple as that. Kagawa will often not be rewarded for his efforts, and if he plays one mediocre game, then he's off. Hell, he's even been taken off when he's our best man. Valencia and Young has not suffered that sort of treatment. Thus, it's fair to say that Moyes rates them, unlike Kagawa.
And that's just one of the many differences between Fergie and Moyes. You can call Kagawa a flop, but the stats from his first season were good. Moreover, Fergie rated him, tried to implement a style that better fits him, and quite clearly had him in his first XI. If you don't think this makes all the difference in the world for Kagawa's performances, then you simply don't understand football.
You might point to his performances this season and think this makes a strong argument against Kagawa, but when you think about it, most of our best football has come with Kagawa on the field, usually with him playing an important role, often in the AM position. Leverkusen away, Sociedad at home and the second half vs Swansea at home. These are our best performances so far this season imo, and Kagawa was great/brilliant in all of them. I'd also argue that our first half against WBA at home was really good, except we didn't score. In that half, both Nani and Kagawa ruled the game.
So it's not that Kagawa hasn't proved anything. It's just that Moyes doesn't rate him. It's as simple as that. Kagawa will often not be rewarded for his efforts, and if he plays one mediocre game, then he's off. Hell, he's even been taken off when he's our best man. Valencia and Young has not suffered that sort of treatment. Thus, it's fair to say that Moyes rates them, unlike Kagawa.
And that's just one of the many differences between Fergie and Moyes. You can call Kagawa a flop, but the stats from his first season were good. Moreover, Fergie rated him, tried to implement a style that better fits him, and quite clearly had him in his first XI. If you don't think this makes all the difference in the world for Kagawa's performances, then you simply don't understand football.
Maybe he should turn up for training wearing a kilt and singing Scotland the Brave.
Maybe he could just, you know, stop stinking up the pitch when he plays.
Firstly I think that Kagawa has underperformed and needs to do more in games, that said I do think he's not been given the easiest chance to show what he can do and certainly not been given the same patience as say Valencia who is constantly played in his favored position and underwhelmed.
I think the thing with Rooney and kagawa and maybe Mata as well (although I expect him to be able to play better from wide than Kagawa) is that Rooney is the better player (more debatable with mata), and certainly puts up better numbers but Kagawa/Mata off RVP might let us get more out of players like mata/Kagawa, januzaj and Nani, not to mention RVP.
So far this season it has felt that has Rooney playing quite close to RVP rather than as the link player, whether this is a tactical decision by Moyes or an issue with both wanting to play up top is I think most would say we look better both defensively and offensively when Rooney links, if we look at Rooney as a link player his style is very different to that of most other players in similar teams.
Rooney plays it thinking as a striker, he wants to spread it wide and he wants to run in the box. That suits players like Valencia (although not currently due to his complete loss of form) and Young, players who want to stick wide, or those players who can pick it up wide and the drive inside like Nani.
For players like Kagawa/Mata and going forward Januzaj as well as Nani who can fit that system, they don't want to be isolated out wide, and certainly you're not gonna get the best out of them like that. They want to come inside, work little passes, find diagonal runners. To do that they need someone in the middle who will bring them in and work openings with them and players on the flanks who will also come inside.
I'm not saying that we're telling those guys to stay wide, clearly not, but I don't think they've been able to link up from wide coming centrally as well as they could have at other teams because the player there, primarily Rooney or Welbeck, is either too high, wants to play a different style or in Welbecks case isn't really that sort of player.
So for me, Rooney might put up better numbers and have more about him but right not that might not be ideal for us. I think RVP might benefit from someone who is more likely to bring him and others in to play in a different way to how Rooney has been and I think are the players I've mentioned would also benefit from it. Individually Rooney may well be the better player, as Mata most likely was in comparison to Willian/Oscar, but in terms of what we need to get the best out of the whole maybe he's not ideal.
That said I'm not saying we should discard him. He's been easily one of our better performers and RVP hasn't covered himself in glory this season, he and Rooney could certainly battle it out to lead the line and although I've mentioned Rooney's approach is to more spread it wide, its not to say he couldn't play it a different way. That's something we should certainly try, as I mentioned earlier though its hard to know how much of him playing often quite near to RVP and looking to knock it wide being down to his choice of Moyes.
As it currently is I think Rooney playing more as a striker with RVP is definitely a problem, and the way he has generally played as a deeper player doesn't and won't get the most out of the talent we have there which has knock on affects for the whole attack. Kagawa/Mata may well give that though (assuming we're not playing with Valencia). That said I don't think this will change any time soon. I think Kagawa will go, but we've got a better player in Mata where the argument for him playing off a striker is stronger.
With Kagawa like I said he has underperformed but I don't think we've made the most of him and I think there are a fair few other PL teams he could have gone to and shown he could adapt to the PL. He's not as good as Rooney but maybe he could help to bring more out of the rest of the attackers than Rooney does. It's not a knock on Rooney, he's as much a top class striker as RVP is, but he's not perhaps the sort of deeper player we need with the attacking talent we've got.
Hopefully though I'm wrong though and we'll get to see mata/januzaj next week either side of Rooney and it'll be great.
I think the thing with Rooney and kagawa and maybe Mata as well (although I expect him to be able to play better from wide than Kagawa) is that Rooney is the better player (more debatable with mata), and certainly puts up better numbers but Kagawa/Mata off RVP might let us get more out of players like mata/Kagawa, januzaj and Nani, not to mention RVP.
So far this season it has felt that has Rooney playing quite close to RVP rather than as the link player, whether this is a tactical decision by Moyes or an issue with both wanting to play up top is I think most would say we look better both defensively and offensively when Rooney links, if we look at Rooney as a link player his style is very different to that of most other players in similar teams.
Rooney plays it thinking as a striker, he wants to spread it wide and he wants to run in the box. That suits players like Valencia (although not currently due to his complete loss of form) and Young, players who want to stick wide, or those players who can pick it up wide and the drive inside like Nani.
For players like Kagawa/Mata and going forward Januzaj as well as Nani who can fit that system, they don't want to be isolated out wide, and certainly you're not gonna get the best out of them like that. They want to come inside, work little passes, find diagonal runners. To do that they need someone in the middle who will bring them in and work openings with them and players on the flanks who will also come inside.
I'm not saying that we're telling those guys to stay wide, clearly not, but I don't think they've been able to link up from wide coming centrally as well as they could have at other teams because the player there, primarily Rooney or Welbeck, is either too high, wants to play a different style or in Welbecks case isn't really that sort of player.
So for me, Rooney might put up better numbers and have more about him but right not that might not be ideal for us. I think RVP might benefit from someone who is more likely to bring him and others in to play in a different way to how Rooney has been and I think are the players I've mentioned would also benefit from it. Individually Rooney may well be the better player, as Mata most likely was in comparison to Willian/Oscar, but in terms of what we need to get the best out of the whole maybe he's not ideal.
That said I'm not saying we should discard him. He's been easily one of our better performers and RVP hasn't covered himself in glory this season, he and Rooney could certainly battle it out to lead the line and although I've mentioned Rooney's approach is to more spread it wide, its not to say he couldn't play it a different way. That's something we should certainly try, as I mentioned earlier though its hard to know how much of him playing often quite near to RVP and looking to knock it wide being down to his choice of Moyes.
As it currently is I think Rooney playing more as a striker with RVP is definitely a problem, and the way he has generally played as a deeper player doesn't and won't get the most out of the talent we have there which has knock on affects for the whole attack. Kagawa/Mata may well give that though (assuming we're not playing with Valencia). That said I don't think this will change any time soon. I think Kagawa will go, but we've got a better player in Mata where the argument for him playing off a striker is stronger.
With Kagawa like I said he has underperformed but I don't think we've made the most of him and I think there are a fair few other PL teams he could have gone to and shown he could adapt to the PL. He's not as good as Rooney but maybe he could help to bring more out of the rest of the attackers than Rooney does. It's not a knock on Rooney, he's as much a top class striker as RVP is, but he's not perhaps the sort of deeper player we need with the attacking talent we've got.
Hopefully though I'm wrong though and we'll get to see mata/januzaj next week either side of Rooney and it'll be great.
I was never a big fan of Berbatov, but that's a bit harsh on him IMO. He wasn't nearly as big a flop as Kagawa currently is.
I agree with you about Berbatov which speaks volumes about how underwhelming Shinji has been...
Could be a very good player for a team who don't have superior players (like Rooney, Mata and sooner rather than later Januzaj) in his best position
If we could spend 15 million plus Kagawa for Reus I'd be delighted
I think it's harsh on Kagawa too. Dortmund won the title by 7 points or more in back to back seasons - they couldn't be classed as underdogs.
Uh, what? How much do you think Kagawa is worth right now? Reus has a release clause of 35 Mil € for 2015. He won´t leave in the summer unless some club makes a ridiculous offer(60+ Mil. €) and I don´t see Kagawa wasting another year of his career at United.
If the Japanese leaves in the summer, which seems more and more likely, you will be lucky to get back the amount of money (around 18 Mil €) you spend for him in 2012. It will be more likely between 10 to 15 Mil. €.
Kagawa really divides opinion on here like few other players. I won't dispute the facts he's had poor games; what player hasn't? But he has never been given the good run of games in the side that promotes consistency. Kagawa's weak spot seems to be his stamina and the transfer to a more robust league where the emphasis is on physical fitness has perhaps been difficult for him. You cannot deny his skill but it does look like he'll be gone come summer; back to Germany where he's appreciated.
"Flop" is such a childish term. It completely eliminates any kind of rationality to the debate. Sadly, with Kagawa, people are always far too interested in making bold, exaggerated points even though the answer lies somewhere in the middle. Kid talk.
That describes this forum in general.
The argument that annoys me the most is, 'so and so and has done better on the wing in a few games than Kagawa has since he came last season.' - I don't care if it's Mata, Welbeck, or Lindegaard - it's such a ridiculous argument.
Jones has done more in central midfield than Rio ever did - does that mean he's a better centre back, or that Rio isn't(wasn't) a good centre-back?
I understand if you want to talk about whether he should be getting played for us on the wing, but most are using it against him as a reason to label him as a flop, or to say he's not good enough etc.etc.
I still think it's the system we play. Mata may have got 3 assists in 5 games - all 3 we have seen Kagawa do when playing on the wing though. Anyway, apart from the odd moment, we can see our system/style of player/players seem to limit Mata and put a ceiling on his creativity. I still believe that for almost any other top Premier League side that Kagawa would be effective even when deployed in a wide position.
I would really like to see Mata and Kagawa in the same team. I can't see it happening though.
Jones has done more in central midfield than Rio ever did - does that mean he's a better centre back, or that Rio isn't(wasn't) a good centre-back?
I understand if you want to talk about whether he should be getting played for us on the wing, but most are using it against him as a reason to label him as a flop, or to say he's not good enough etc.etc.
I still think it's the system we play. Mata may have got 3 assists in 5 games - all 3 we have seen Kagawa do when playing on the wing though. Anyway, apart from the odd moment, we can see our system/style of player/players seem to limit Mata and put a ceiling on his creativity. I still believe that for almost any other top Premier League side that Kagawa would be effective even when deployed in a wide position.
I would really like to see Mata and Kagawa in the same team. I can't see it happening though.
That's really not true, see the video posted on the previous page. He's laying on a sitter near enough every game he's playing, they're just not being taken. Mata just happens to be at the stage where people are willing to make excuses for him, which is a luxury not afforded to Kagawa.
I'm not one to bash one of our best and most important players in Rooney in order to hype Kagawa, I'm a big fan of both of them.
The question should be how we can sign one of the Budesliga's top performers, and not give him a run of games for 2 whole years? It's just criminal. There isn't another top club in Europe who'd have got less out of Kagawa than we've managed. Why have we made so little effort to get the best out of one of our biggest talents? For those who think his performances don't warrant him the game time that may be needed for him to gain some form, how the hell do you explain Young and Valencia? What exactly are they doing to earn a consistent run of games in the team? Why whenever he plays well, or shows any promising signs of coming into form, does he find himself out the team for weeks afterwards?
I'm not absolving him of any blame, but we've managed to ruin 2 undeniable talents in Nani and Kagawa through the exact same mismanagement - failing to recognise their superior talent to the alternatives in the squad, thus failing to give them a run of games, failing to reward good performances with a consistent first team spot, thus resulting in a loss of confidence when they are given a chance in the team, thus resulting in a mediocre performance which will be met with weeks on the sidelines.
I thought last season about how Kagawa and Van Persie don't seem to work particularly well together which is surprising. Maybe I missed it but I don't think that any of those chances in that video were for Van Persie.
Admittedly, they haven't played much together this year, perhaps it's just that.
Admittedly, they haven't played much together this year, perhaps it's just that.
He is certainly worth more to Klopp and Dortmund than to us....
Despite not being anywhere near his best I think, particularly at International level, Kagawa's reputation is very good and a number of top European clubs would be interested
Discounting deals for guys like Fellaini, Downing and Carroll in recent years - looking at Cabaye - I'd be confident of getting 18- 20 million for Kagawa in a World Cup year - 22/23 if Levy was Chief Executive
We got him for a bargain and given our track record we'll probably sell for the same amount
Are we talking about Pounds or Euro here? 20 Mil € would be the maximum you might get out of this if you can sell him to a rich club, who likes to overpay like Paris. Outside of the Russian Clubs I don´t see much of them having really the place for Kagawa, though. A strong World Cup might boost his price, but the signs for that could be hardly worse for him due to his limited game time.
If we look at him objectively, we have a player who excelled only in one system and has failed to make a significant impact in the EPL.
Logically the team, where he peaked, was linked with him the most. The other club that was frequently named was Atletico Madrid, but they just got themselves a similar player type in the winter with Diego.
It is not like that we would not like to have him back, but several people overrate the lengths we would be willing to go for that, much like how his importance and role with us is overrated by some in the first place.
We certainly won´t go above 15 Mil € for him, alone for the facts that the area he plays in don´t need much investments and that there is no guarantee that he would recapture his former form quickly here.
For the latter, I just need to look at former Bundesliga player of the season 2010/2011 Nuri Sahin for that. He was more influential and important for Dortmund´s´success in that year than Kagawa ever was. After that he had a similar story as the Japanese: transfered to a European giant, did not make the cut there because of injuries and competition, was later played outside his position and received little faith from his manager.
After returning to us, it took Klopp six months to rebuild Sahin´s confidence and general level enough so he could become a real contribution to the team. It took additional three months and a complete pre season so he would be a reasonable shout for a starter spot again. Now, after more than a year he is still not back to his absolute top level, but still more than good enough to keep him.
There is very little chance that Kagawa will become an instant key player for us again or walk right back in the starting XI. The level of competition in the offensive midfield has risen since his departure and while he could in theory play well on the flanks for us because of the different set up, the players we have for that are all better suited than him. In his old position now plays a player, who is overall not only superior but also looks more and more like our show runner after finishing his adaption process.
So, we will gladly take him back, because he offers an extra dimension to our play, but only under the right conditions. Conditions that will probably be below what some people on here might hope for.
It really is a sad state of affairs when such a technically gifted player such as Kagawa is as good as gone, whilst shit houses like Valencia and Young are not only going to stay, but are actually first teamers ahead of Kagawa and given chance after chance after chance. Actually, its not sad, its utterly utterly depressing.
This whole 'Works hard' 'puts in a shift' 'PL proven' mentality needs to be fecked of as soon as possible. Its a shame we'll never see the likes of Kagawa, Mata, Januazj, Rooney and RVP all in the team together, as I reckon a manager like Kloop or Guardiola et el would get those lot playing some beautiful football. But hey, they just don't work hard enough I guess, and you couldnt possibly be a good team without solid defensive wingers who put in a shift *Looks enviously over at Bayern. Barca, City*
This whole 'Works hard' 'puts in a shift' 'PL proven' mentality needs to be fecked of as soon as possible. Its a shame we'll never see the likes of Kagawa, Mata, Januazj, Rooney and RVP all in the team together, as I reckon a manager like Kloop or Guardiola et el would get those lot playing some beautiful football. But hey, they just don't work hard enough I guess, and you couldnt possibly be a good team without solid defensive wingers who put in a shift *Looks enviously over at Bayern. Barca, City*
It really is a sad state of affairs when such a technically gifted player such as Kagawa is as good as gone, whilst shit houses like Valencia and Young are not only going to stay, but are actually first teamers ahead of Kagawa and given chance after chance after chance. Actually, its not sad, its utterly utterly depressing.
This whole 'Works hard' 'puts in a shift' 'PL proven' mentality needs to be fecked of as soon as possible. Its a shame we'll never see the likes of Kagawa, Mata, Januazj, Rooney and RVP all in the team together, as I reckon a manager like Kloop or Guardiola et el would get those lot playing some beautiful football. But hey, they just don't work hard enough I guess, and you couldnt possibly be a good team without solid defensive wingers who put in a shift *Looks enviously over at Bayern. Barca, City*
I don't think there is a single team in the world that plays with the equivalent of all the attacking players you mentioned at once. You just can't do that for balance sake.The team with the perfect balance is currently Bayern and their attacking players are more versatile and generally hard working offensively and defensively than ours. We just can't play all of them at once.
I don't think Berbatov was a complete flop. It is obvious however that he did not become the player everyone thought he could be. It's also obvious by his subsequent move to Fulham for a pittance that his pedigree wasn't huge by the time he left.
Dortmund are massive underdogs. Their two league titles were a huge achievement and an absolute credit to Klopp and the team he built. It's very rare a club with half the wage budget and a fraction of the transfer budget come out on top. It'd be like Spurs finishing above City.
Matas performances for us are hugely overrated on here
People were raving about how RvP and Kagawa were the best combination we could have out of our attacking options last season? I can't remember which game it was, but at home they played and racked up nearly all the goals and assists between them and it looked like a potential duo for the rest of the season (if someone could help me out with that game, would be much appreciated.)
Rooney is the worst amongst the three. His statistics are skewed because they are mainly from setplays. I will play Kagawa or Mata in the hole everyday of the week before Rooney.
Kagawa has created many chances that his teammates simply failed to utilise - particularly Wayne Rooney. I can show few examples to put this matter to bed once & for all that Kagawa is being marginalised by a player that is not on his level.
Yep hes not produced anything but a moment here and there. Definitely nothing more than Kagawa has shown although mata has only played a 3 matches so we'll see. You have to remember Mata has his own agenda in that he needs to perform to get in the Spain squad. He has some much to play for. Whereas Kagawa is playing with 0 confidence and for a manager who no faith in him.
I didn't mean together as in all on the pitch at once, rather combinations of those players. Reading my post back it wasn't worded very well, and does come across like I meant all at once.
That's my stance also. Kagawa could show more than he has, that's undeniable. But the main issue lies deeper than simply saying 'player x' isn't playing well enough.
He has a relatively good season in his debut season playing under a far better manager and with a superior coaching staff. Like this season, the football was poor, but not to the extent of what we've seen under Moyes. We didn't place complete emphasis on wingplay even though our football was still archaic and we were importantly winning.
That's what it's down to - style. Not necessarily his position. He's excelled when deployed on the left for Japan, but if we aren't capable of implementing an expressive style with fluency and great off-the-ball movement, we are never going to see the best out of him.
Juan Mata may have been impressive statistically since joining, but that doesn't depict his true ability and show what he is really capable. If that becomes the norm for Mata here, then that is testament to the fact we can do a lot more to accommodate Kagawa and perform at his optimum.
Mata is a naturally more talented player than Kagawa and more adaptable in terms of football being played, be it direct or slow paced and also in terms of position, but technical players will never really flourish as well as they can under our quality and style of football.
I'm pretty sure Mata was trying to shoot for his assist against Fulham (maybe he was just putting it back in there), and his assist to Young in the Cardiff game was just a simple pass with no chance created, Young created the goal out of nothing.
Still, he's getting assists but I definitely think that the stats are more favourable to him than perhaps they ought to be.
I definitely agree with the post above. And so what if Mata is better or has done more? That doesn't mean that Kagawa hasn't got the potential to be good for us, even if he never manages to do as much as Mata.
A different manager could definitely get Kagawa to be a very accomplished player for us, even from a wide position - I have no doubt about it. I don't think Moyes is that man though - it's a shame, because I think that's as much because he is intimidated by the role and rather than being his own man trying to be Fergie v2. 'United have always used the wing alot' etc.etc.
Still, he's getting assists but I definitely think that the stats are more favourable to him than perhaps they ought to be.
I definitely agree with the post above. And so what if Mata is better or has done more? That doesn't mean that Kagawa hasn't got the potential to be good for us, even if he never manages to do as much as Mata.
A different manager could definitely get Kagawa to be a very accomplished player for us, even from a wide position - I have no doubt about it. I don't think Moyes is that man though - it's a shame, because I think that's as much because he is intimidated by the role and rather than being his own man trying to be Fergie v2. 'United have always used the wing alot' etc.etc.
Rooney is the worst amongst the three. His statistics are skewed because they are mainly from setplays. I will play Kagawa or Mata in the hole everyday of the week before Rooney.
Kagawa has created many chances that his teammates simply failed to utilise - particularly Wayne Rooney. I can show few examples to put this matter to bed once & for all that Kagawa is being marginalised by a player that is not on his level.
OH WOW!
Man, those two examples certainly put the issue to bed ONCE AND FOR ALL!
God, how STUPID I was to think that Rooney was a far superior player to Kagawa.
I now see the error of my ways.
I have seen the light. I have awoken from my slumber. The erroneous myth has crumbled before my eyes to reveal the TRUTH.
I am truly converted.
Thank you.
For you have saved me from my waking sleep, stirred me from my unconscious zombie state and showed my the path to true SALVATION.
JOIN US PEOPLE. JOIN US. IT'S WARM AND SNUG HERE!
Notice how Hannibal says Kagawa should play in the hole and the examples he's provided of chances Kagawa's created have all come from out wide. Maybe Fergie and Moyes do know a bit about how to utilise Kagawa. The only problem is that it'd make Kagawa responsible for his performances, but most people don't want to hear that.
Based on his United performances I agree. He was twice the player for Dortmund though. He has a big reputation for a reason, but he hasnt settled at all in England
We could certainly pick 4 out of those 5 consistently though, instead of having to have either young or valencia play every match. Liverpool today had Suarez, Sturridge, Sterling and Coutinho as their front four; didn't stop them from having a good balance in their play.
Just once or twice I'd love to see some variation of
-----------RVP/Rooney----------
Kagawa------Mata------Januzaj
or
---------------RVP---------------
Kagawa------Rooney------Mata
That top 3 especially would basically be interchangeable and pretty exciting if you got them all passing and moving, it's just dependent on the rest of our team being solid enough defensively, which may be too much of an ask given how light we are in midfield.
Since Mata is cup-tied for the Champions League (he is, right?) I imagine we'll see Kagawa there. If we don't then he's probably as good as gone.
-----------RVP/Rooney----------
Kagawa------Mata------Januzaj
or
---------------RVP---------------
Kagawa------Rooney------Mata
That top 3 especially would basically be interchangeable and pretty exciting if you got them all passing and moving, it's just dependent on the rest of our team being solid enough defensively, which may be too much of an ask given how light we are in midfield.
Since Mata is cup-tied for the Champions League (he is, right?) I imagine we'll see Kagawa there. If we don't then he's probably as good as gone.
- Status