I left to win things
Angel di Maria: I was played out of position at Man Utd
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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.
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Some rather harsh criticism being levied against Di María, IMO. The way it appeared was - Di María wanted to go to Paris Saint-Germain, yes. But United wasn't a step down as in if we had gotten our act together, we're as attractive a club to play for as them, if not moreso - given the relative gulf in historic stature of the duo. If say Fergie (or any quality man manager - Ancelotti to name one) was our manager instead of Louis, I have no doubt in my mind that he would've assimilated Di María into the squad, and made him feel as one of our own (Carlo did exactly that in Di María's last season at Real where he was incredibly unsettled to start with, but turned it around to become arguably their second most important player in La Decima in the midfield alongside Modrić and Alonso).
Lots of Iberian and South American players have a tough time adapting, but the key lies with how the manager handles that situation on an individual basis. De Gea has spoken about regretting the the decision to join United too (through the early weeks and months), but Fergie put an arm around the lad, his form improved - and now he seems relatively settled. With Di María, you get the sense that he didn't envisage a chance of success at United (he's been vindicated on that point, for now) and feel appreciated by the manager - who played him up and down in an unsettled starting XI, and likely didn't give him the confidence and backing he needed when things started to go tits up, and didn't devise a system to help him, somewhat.
Yes, he's a professional, and he should get over it - but there are different shades to each player, and when you have a manager like Louis who treats everyone in a monochrome fashion (apart from his select pets, that is), there's bound to be a fallout. Di María was a bit gutless yes, and even when he was given some individual freedom - he didn't really shine in a way that would justify the price-tag; but I'd allocate a nigh equal amount of blame with Louis, who seems really dense on an emotional level, despite harping about 'human qualities', and 'democracy', and other tripe - and probably burnt his bridges with the player, instead of trying to find common ground (bit similar to the Hernández episode).
Lots of Iberian and South American players have a tough time adapting, but the key lies with how the manager handles that situation on an individual basis. De Gea has spoken about regretting the the decision to join United too (through the early weeks and months), but Fergie put an arm around the lad, his form improved - and now he seems relatively settled. With Di María, you get the sense that he didn't envisage a chance of success at United (he's been vindicated on that point, for now) and feel appreciated by the manager - who played him up and down in an unsettled starting XI, and likely didn't give him the confidence and backing he needed when things started to go tits up, and didn't devise a system to help him, somewhat.
Yes, he's a professional, and he should get over it - but there are different shades to each player, and when you have a manager like Louis who treats everyone in a monochrome fashion (apart from his select pets, that is), there's bound to be a fallout. Di María was a bit gutless yes, and even when he was given some individual freedom - he didn't really shine in a way that would justify the price-tag; but I'd allocate a nigh equal amount of blame with Louis, who seems really dense on an emotional level, despite harping about 'human qualities', and 'democracy', and other tripe - and probably burnt his bridges with the player, instead of trying to find common ground (bit similar to the Hernández episode).
He started the season well in CM as part of a midfield five. We then moved him to left wing and he was the same inconsistent winger here was at Real and Benfica before coming here.
Yes I agree he probably gave up trying after a while but we all knew he had his best season for Real when playing more central.
This is just a theory but I reckon he was told he would be a CM by LVG when he moved here. He was then shunted to the LW for a while, got the hump and gave up somewhat
Yes I agree he probably gave up trying after a while but we all knew he had his best season for Real when playing more central.
This is just a theory but I reckon he was told he would be a CM by LVG when he moved here. He was then shunted to the LW for a while, got the hump and gave up somewhat
He's right. But he was also astoundingly bad after starting so well.
Who's Di Maria? I vaguely remember a skinny tatted bloke who started catching balls before they went out of play. His confidence was shot because he was put on the bench for playing really poorly. He got a lot of assists but he put in a lot of shocking performances too. Didn't he refuse to come to training after the summer? The less we talk of him, Falcao, Moyes, and very soon LvG...the better. Blips in United history.
He came to a league where there is more than one tough team to play a year and he didn't like it. So he jumped ship to go to a league where there are no tough games at all and he loves it. Soft twat had no balls and it was there for all to see.
In fairness he was their player of the year when they won the Champions League, and I'm sure he also won every domestic title in Spain during his time at Real Madrid.
http://ourmatch.net/videos/21-09-2014-leicester-city-5-3-manchester-united/
Just watched the 1st half of this game again, I remember how excited I was, Di Maria was unbelievable and scored the best goal we've scored in recent years, even Falcao looked dangerous. Really believed Van Gaal was building something, not sure he ever recovered after that, seemed to go into his shell and wouldn't trust any of our players anymore.
I obviously have some bitterness left towards Di Maria over us losing prob €15m-€20m on his transfer but I can understand that playing Fellaini ball didn't suit his style at all.
we (and by that i mean VanGaal) just didn't know how to use him. No wonder he played naff.
He didn't want to join us in the first place, his home got broken into and his manager didn't trust him. Id be bitter too
He didn't want to join us in the first place, his home got broken into and his manager didn't trust him. Id be bitter too
Ha, yeah he played about the distance between here and Paris out of position!
There does seem to be a case of buying him and then worrying what to do with him later. Saf did the same.
Ligue 1 is about equivalent to the League Cup in my book, so well done there Angel.
We were coming off the worst season many of our fans worldwide had ever experienced, we had Mendes offering us the chance to sign a world class player, and we prob had £200m budgeted for transfers that window.
It did keep us happy for a while but ultimately he couldn't work with LVG and if PSG weren't in trouble over FFP at the time he'd prob have chosen there instead.
This is a valid point. We had/have an annoying fetish for misusing our attacking players.
Rightly or wrongly, I always had the impression he was one of those players who would only perform if everything was to his liking.
Bullshit. He was a lily-livered coward who had no business playing in the Premier League. No guts, took the first and easiest way out he could. He can say what he likes, the robbery and being played out of position were merely excuses.
Would you ever see other top players complaining of being played out of position? I'm sure the likes of Ozil and Sanchez don't have a specified role in the Arsenal team but they just get on with it. Same could be said of Martial I suppose. The Premier League suits a player who is a grafter, that is willing to get stuck in and sacrifice himself for the team. These are all the qualities that Di Maria doesn't, and won't ever possess. The moment the shit hits the fan, he goes into hiding and is nowhere to be found.
He suits PSG completely: a mercenary playing for an overpowered team in a shit league.
Not bitter.
Would you ever see other top players complaining of being played out of position? I'm sure the likes of Ozil and Sanchez don't have a specified role in the Arsenal team but they just get on with it. Same could be said of Martial I suppose. The Premier League suits a player who is a grafter, that is willing to get stuck in and sacrifice himself for the team. These are all the qualities that Di Maria doesn't, and won't ever possess. The moment the shit hits the fan, he goes into hiding and is nowhere to be found.
He suits PSG completely: a mercenary playing for an overpowered team in a shit league.
Not bitter.
He was our most prolific attacker (goals + assists).
If he was shit, then our entire team is shit (last year and this year).
The main points he made in the interview:
1. his position was changed constantly
2. he was not to blame and also other players were not to blame, for the average performances last season (ie. the manager is to blame)
3. MUFC sucked last season and they are sucking this season (with or without Di Maria in the team). Out of Europe. Can't compete for the title.
4. now at PSG, he is competing for trophies, playing in a fixed starting position and doing well.
5. he did not mention anything about a robbery.
I would love to hear interviews about our other attackers who are currently playing for us, of how they feel about LVG and his tactics.
This is the first interview we have seen, from a player who has played for us and LVG. And he happens to blame the LVG system.
Lets look at some facts.
Martial is our most prolific attacker, with 7 league goals. For comparison, Kane is on 19.
Memphis is struggling.
Rooney's goal tally is low (as are all of our attackers).
The 1-0 and 1-1 score lines.
We are one of the most boring teams in Europe.
And before someone says that LVG is improving and we can move up the table (and win the FA Cup): we have won, 1 game from our last 5, scoring a total of 3 goals. Average: 0.6 goals/game.
How is LVG still in a job?
He didn't do great here but he's a very good player and Louis should have gotten much better performances out of him, like he should have with a few other players. Louis bought him, didn't get performances, and then sold him at a loss. Terrible business.
He's a good player and if you look at his performances this year and his teams position you have to admit he was right.
Playing him at striker was embarrassing, but he obviously wanted out about halfway through last year.
I'm not going to call him a twat but he's clearly not a chips down type player you'd want next to you in a tough situation. But he's clearly very talented.
Playing him at striker was embarrassing, but he obviously wanted out about halfway through last year.
I'm not going to call him a twat but he's clearly not a chips down type player you'd want next to you in a tough situation. But he's clearly very talented.
How many times did he even play up front in that 352? Don't recall it being that often.
He is a good player, but the French league is a joke.
I really don't understand this narrative that seems to have been created and widely accepted as fact with di Maria. Many seem to begrudge his decision to leave and question his commitment to the club when they don't know the whole story.
It was clear that van Gaal was neither getting the best out of the player, nor did he think too much of him. In that situation, is it not better we get a large chunk of the initial fee back and accept it hasn't worked? I think he could've left under much worse circumstances and it seems awfully small time to play the blame game over what is mostly speculation.
It was clear that van Gaal was neither getting the best out of the player, nor did he think too much of him. In that situation, is it not better we get a large chunk of the initial fee back and accept it hasn't worked? I think he could've left under much worse circumstances and it seems awfully small time to play the blame game over what is mostly speculation.
van Gaal is the joke.
an idiot who did not know how to use a great player.
can't wait to see the back of him.
an idiot who did not know how to use a great player.
can't wait to see the back of him.
how is it speculation when the player has said it?
I'm talking about the people claiming he's a mercenary or never wanted to be here.
I don't think he ever wanted to be here, but that doesn't change the fact under a different circumstances, I think he'd have been an absolute star for us.
Thriving in an environment where he doesn't have to man up so to speak. Yes, if LVG had a team where everyone else did the hard work, then a little flower like ADM would have looked really pretty. But, he did not have the character required to be one of the main players that got us winning last season and like a coward, refused to even turn up for pre-season.
LVG has not made it easy for everyone but, a 20 year old kid shows if you have heart and belief in yourself, you can still do well even in a shit situation.
LVG has not made it easy for everyone but, a 20 year old kid shows if you have heart and belief in yourself, you can still do well even in a shit situation.
How did Veron, Forlan and Kagawa reflect on SAFs ability to bring the best out of players?
Indeed.
1 CL after being dumped out year after year v the first side they face that are on the same level as them while only winning 1 (?) league title in his time at Madrid. It's a bit hard to believe his winners mentality when he simply isn't a serial winner.
He is a moany little pussy
But a world class player.
Very Badly mis-managed and has to go down as the worst transfer of all time
And how Woodward didn't even break even on the transfer fee would be hilarious if it wasn't the club I supported
But a world class player.
Very Badly mis-managed and has to go down as the worst transfer of all time
And how Woodward didn't even break even on the transfer fee would be hilarious if it wasn't the club I supported
I think they either won the Champions League or got to the semi final every season since Di Maria signed for them in 2010, maybe you know more
but if that's being "Dumped out year after year" then I'd definitely take us being dumped out of Europe like that anytime.I think he's won every League he's played in since moving to Europe apart from the Prem obviously.
He had such a good year in 2014 too, Man of the match in the champions league final, UEFA team of the year, Team of the World Cup after getting to the final, FIFA world team of the year, I can understand why his standards were set very high coming here.
If you look at Fergie's aggregate impact on all players at United during his tenure, he was very good at it. If you look at LvG's, no player spare perhaps Smalling has improved during his time here. In fact, most players have regressed, which speaks volumes really. And when you combine it with LvG's vaguely unstable personality (Valdes springs to mind) then the Di Maria situation begins to make a lot more sense. We squandered a great player because we have shit manager.
Doesn't he say something different every time?
His form pre and post United suggest otherwise. We fecked up. The sooner LvG fecks off into his drunken retirement in Portugal, the better.
yesterday would not be too soon.
Kagawa had a promising 1st season. He went to shit when he left under Moyes and lvg never gave him a chance. He has since returned to form
The fact veron went on to look equally as bad at Chelsea and never really looked the player he was would suggest he was on decline when we purchased him
Forlan, it was his first club in Europe and he struggled even though he gave his all. Toward the end we were beginning to see what a player he would become and he scored some vital goals for us. He has nothing but good things to say about his time under Ferguson and I'm sure he helped his career greatly
You say either or like it was a toss up between the two. Once. They won it once with 1 final appearance in his time there.I think they either won the Champions League or got to the semi final every season since Di Maria signed for them in 2010, maybe you know more
I think he's won every League he's played in since moving to Europe apart from the Prem obviously.
He had such a good year in 2014 too, Man of the match in the champions league final, UEFA team of the year, Team of the World Cup after getting to the final, FIFA world team of the year, I can understand why his standards were set very high coming here.
Once.
He lost his place in the team to Ashley Young. Say what you want about positions, but that should not be happening. He's more to blame than we are.
Not really surprising. A year on and LVG still has no idea what half his players best positions are.
Because Young adhered to the philosophy and was a safer bet.
di María has his fair share of problems, but his creativity couldn't be questioned. Even in a poor season for both him on a personal level and the club as a whole.
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