Doesn't really look like a shrewd investment at the moment, and (I'll stick my neck out to say) it doesn't look like he ever will be.
16
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 26
- Clean sheets
- 8
- Goals
- 1
- Assists
- 0
- Yellow cards
- 6
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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.
Doesn't look convincing at times and can cause nervy moments for the entire defense. He looks assured, strong in the tackle before suddenly making a silly judgemental error. I think he has all the physical and raw defensive qualities but just needs a bit more awareness, consistency and concentration to become a very good CB, kind of like Jones if you think about it. It's not like he is a David Luiz and doesn't have the positioning, anticipation or intelligence, he has it but just needs to more consistent in these aspects and develop them further. What do you guys think about using him as a defensive midfielder? Has he played there for Sporting before @Sly ?
I just see a general lack of intelligence and awareness every time he plays.
Yeah 9 games is enough in a brand new team, country and lingo..out ta feck you go Rojo
Surprisingly poor in the air, given he's quite strong and good all around physically. Alright on the ball but takes too many risks at times. Has potential though, and defending on the ground he's quite good, just so far at least he's been found wanting with long balls.
some people on here are so critical, like they were promised a world class CB. Jones, Smalling and Evans are shite too and they had years to prove themselves, they cant even stay fit for 3 consecutive games. To jump this thread for every mistake he makes and to come to conclusions after some games when his partner changed every fecking game is unbelievable.
Agree with most of the comments in this thread on his performance today. He looked the most vulnerable defender in the back four and has a mistake in him.
Personally I would prefer any of the other centre backs to start over him. I hope Van Gaal's preference for a left footed centre back is not going to mean he's an automatic starter if fit by default.
Long-term obviously it's way to early to judge him but at the moment we need to get a run of results together and that's going to be optimised if we start looking more solid at the back.
Personally I would prefer any of the other centre backs to start over him. I hope Van Gaal's preference for a left footed centre back is not going to mean he's an automatic starter if fit by default.
Long-term obviously it's way to early to judge him but at the moment we need to get a run of results together and that's going to be optimised if we start looking more solid at the back.
Thought he did fine today. I've been fairly happy with him. Not sure what the fuss is about?
He hasn't even played 9 games because he wasn't with us at the start of the season. The jury's still out on him for me, but I'm willing to give him a lot more time as he obviously has at least some of the right attributes and is quite highly rated by some. Would be nice for him to play in a settled defence as well
He was giving away possession on the edge of the box carelessly and getting caught in possession on the ball thus putting the team under unnecessary pressure. I don't think it is overcritical for people to highlight this when the rest of the defence were generally very solid.
I think some people have slightly too high expectations of him because they are desperate for a world class centre back. Rojo was never that purchase to be honest, and considering modern prices we didn't really pay that much for him. He was more of a punt, because we weren't able to bring in someone like Benatia or Hummels. You can tell he is a decent footballer and seems to have some of the raw attributes that mean he might develop into a top class centre half, but he isn't one yet and I doubt he will be at least for a couple of years. What he hopefully will be is reasonably good and reliably fit. I imagine top of our summer shopping list will be the top class defender we are wanting.
He's worth sticking with in the starting 11 as you never know when Evans, Smalling or Jones will decide to turn up to a game and what we really need is some stability back there.
He's worth sticking with in the starting 11 as you never know when Evans, Smalling or Jones will decide to turn up to a game and what we really need is some stability back there.
Nah think people are being over critical. Playing best team in the league can't expect a perfect CB pairing with new players and injuries every week. I wasn't concerned at all for the majority of the game. Of course Chelsea will create chances just like we did because they are a good side. What are people expecting exactly?
Don't think he was too bad today and I see improvement since he has been here. I'm sure he will continue to get better.
I thought he was mostly good today, he's excellent in one on ones and was mindful of the ball over the top more today than he has been. It's very early days, I think he needs competition for his spot but I prefer him with Smalling than with Jones.
Still only 24 and still getting to know the league and the variety of players that will be his defensive partners, every couple of weeks...
Looks a bit dodgy but he is quick and tenacious and strong, pretty decent on the ball, he lacks decision making and some of his passing goes astray. He would probably do better with a competent CB partner. Not sure he will ever be world class and certainly no where near Rio standards at 24 years old and if we're honest those are the heights to which we must compare. He will improve but I don't think he is the long term solution. Better than the alternatives.
This was one of our better back 4 games this season.
Chelsea had their moments (like Hazzard walking through them), but the defence did well enough today as a group. More efforts like that the better off we'll be.
Happy to see Smalling back today, the lad did well
Chelsea had their moments (like Hazzard walking through them), but the defence did well enough today as a group. More efforts like that the better off we'll be.
Happy to see Smalling back today, the lad did well
Astonishing that some fans have such short memories. Perhaps Gary Pallister or Rio Ferdinand early United careers are too long ago for some to remember but even as recently as 2006, Evra and Vidic also took half a season before they found any sort of rhythm and authority.
Thats not to say that Rojo will go onto to make contributions like this group of club legends, but I think he he done well so far, given the flux of the team and our relative lack of competitiveness.
Personally, I have a feeling he still has plenty of potential to fulfil and will show us much much more after the new year. He needs time, encouragement and consistency around him. Am sure Van Gaal knows what he is doing.
Likewise, on evidence I have seen so far, Im also more than happy to give him a lot more time to prove his worth. Given his circumstances and the uncertainty in the first team, he has done OK so far.
There's definitely a very good defender in there somewhere, some of his careless passing scares me to death though.
Long term he's surely only going to be seen as Shaw's backup, did ok today though tbf.
I'm with you.
He'll only get better with continued play time. Thought he looked nervy at first today but grew into the game and had a good partnership with Smalling. That ball he gave away almost gave me a heart attack though!
I agree with that. He's probably around 4th in quality of our ranks of centre backs.
I think he looks very good on the ball and with his interceptions and when has to put in a tackle and is also a very good passer of the ball. However, he gets caught out every single time a long ball is played over the top. He just has no idea what to do with it and it's going to cost us one of these days. He also has a habit of playing really dangerous passes near our box.
This.Has got more involved each game. Good distribution. Getting used to the physical nature of the PL. People should try and remember what Vidic, Stam and co were like in their first few games. What's that his fourth game. Hardly, like he is the weak link and everything is going through him.
This last point is massively under appreciated on here. Look how Rio and Vidic were able to play as a partnership game in game out and build up an understanding. Our remarkable run of central defensive injuries (and the fullbacks!) has not allowed Rojo to do that.
So, when Evans is back fully fit, does Rojo retain his place at LCB?
Yes, mostly because Evans is right footed and Van Gaal wants left footers on the left side of defence.
Strange to understand why Rojo has tailed off so much in the last two matches. He was really good alongside McNair against West Ham and Everton, worked with the kid and really helped shepherd him through the games.
Today he looked, at times, like he'd lost his head. Maybe its the fact he's having to learn how to play with new centre halves every game...? Hope he sorts it out before next weekend.
Yes.
1) Because Evans isn't left footed so will never be considered competition to him by LVG.
2) He's been better than Evans this season.
Anyway, I wasn't convinced about the signing but he's growing on me. Still has adapting to do, but he's settling in well and a lot quicker than the supposedly world class Mangala from the same league.
Jury is still out about him, but I hope he'll pull through. Great on the ball and has a keen eye for the game, but takes a lot of risks and basically, needs to feck up really bad once to get a reality check I'm afraid. I hope he'll settle down as a centre back and LvG will take his reckless streak away (kicking & screaming if need be)
Still such early days, he is doing fine for the moment.
Give him time ffs. Some of the posters on here seem to make game to game decisions about every player. Some players don't hit the ground running, Evra and Vidic always came to mind on these subjects.
Evans is two-footed. He's certainly strong enough on his left to play on that side of the defence. Hence why he used to play left back for Northern Ireland as a youngster.
I reckon thats part of the settling process, things you'd get away with in Portugal get punished at this level. Once he gets used to that and becomes more confident under the high ball (and he can't not considering he has to deal with it 90 times a game) I think he'll be excellent.
Does some silly little errors atm and his passing needs to improve. But did put in some good interceptions. I keep saying it but we need to play the back four so they can gel, he would benefit hugely from not having to change center half partner nearly every game.
That was the main issue when i gave my opinion about Rojo. Like i predicted United fans will need some patience regarding Rojo. More demanding football league, the pressure of playing in a club of United's stature that is in a transitional period, lack of a stable defence, all this plays a part in Rojo's first season evolution.
He played once as DM in pre-season. The results weren't encouraging and we never tried playing him in that position again. I think it's a waste playing him as LB and trying him as DM makes no sense when you have more capable options. Enough inventions. Just stick him on defence. He needs a stable center back partnership and continued trust till he fully adapts to the club and the league. Of course if he doesn´t perform, he should be benched.
Two-faced performance from him I'd say. Some stupid, silly errors he's done today that thankfully didn't cost us because a) Smalling saved him b) he was fast enough to correct his own mistakes. He's done fine though with some good tackling, blocking and coping with Matić/Drogba's physicality as well as Hazard/Willian's dexterity. He's alright in the air when defending as well and that came in handy today. I like him on the ball as well, bar one or two misplaced passes he's far better at it than Chris and his atrocious hoofball.
I like him though, the only CB that's not constantly injured so far in and is putting rather good performances overall ( at the CB that is ). If we're to build some stability at the back then he's easily my first pick because rest are unreliable and constantly injured.
I like him though, the only CB that's not constantly injured so far in and is putting rather good performances overall ( at the CB that is ). If we're to build some stability at the back then he's easily my first pick because rest are unreliable and constantly injured.
He's a bit sloppy at times. Since Jones is prone to similar sloppy moments it helps Rojo to have Smalling with him I think because he is calm and composed. Not convinced by Rojo yet but I'll give him time.