The kids technique is unreal. It's one thing seeing videos or matches on TV but live it was unbelievable. Everyone in the stadium could see it.
Adnan Januzaj
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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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Not really, Adnan is an attacking mid at this moment in his career and we want to buy Cesc as a centre-mid, so two different career paths. By the way I think its nice to see fans excited about a talent coming through our ranks, we're always really negative and after the Pogba situation.. its nice to just have some hope and think we've got a special talent on our hands even if we do overrate him a tad. He does look impressive though and yes it might be a friendly but when you see someone like Welbeck making it look like hard work (and he's a talent in himself) it is comforting to know Adnan seems to find it incredibly easy. He's definitely good enough to be a first team squad player for next season and thats a major positive in itself.
Welbeck didn't really make it look like hardwork to be fair. Not to derail the thread but the United players were at an absolute canter for most of the match and Welbeck was in disbelief that he didn't score more despite having to do very little. It probably looked like he was working because he actually broke into a sprint every now and then.
I'm not sure how Adnan is being overrated on here though. Calling him a special talent is overrating him. People are saying he has potential, not that he's the next Balon D'Or winner or the next Zidane or even that he's the best X in Y. He's rated highly and appropriately. If you want to read about a player that's overrated go look at RAWK or the Gerard Deulofeu threads.
I'm not sure how Adnan is being overrated on here though. Calling him a special talent is overrating him. People are saying he has potential, not that he's the next Balon D'Or winner or the next Zidane or even that he's the best X in Y. He's rated highly and appropriately. If you want to read about a player that's overrated go look at RAWK or the Gerard Deulofeu threads.
I hope we tie him up long term early on to avoid the same troubles we had with Pogba.
His confidence reminds me of the current Giggs. Quietly confident, but oozes class. He seems to state "give me the ball, I will make this team tick".
I've probably seen every game Januzaj has played here. Well done on missing my point though. Do you think that all of the top players through history were winning every award under the sun at 18, like Messi? Some came from more humble but promising beginnings like Januzaj. That was my point. His current level of talent and ability means that the sky is the limit on how good he could be. I'm not saying he's like peak Zidane at the age of 18.
Would people call Pogba a special talent? Januzaj is at least as promising as him.
If I remember correctly, 'special talent' was actually thrown around quite liberally to describe Januzaj before he'd even made his u-16s debut for us. Les Kershaw was talking about how highly rated the kid is, just from scouting reports and training. Not that it means much but Paddy Crerend was talking about him before he had his international clearance saying how the coaches rate him as 'special'.
So I don't think it's just a case of the fans getting carried away, he's extremely highly rated within the club.
So I don't think it's just a case of the fans getting carried away, he's extremely highly rated within the club.
Case closed.Let's not forget how all the players have been impressed with him on tour. Regardless of whether this is pre season or not, the facts remain, he hasn't just fitted in, he's stood out and to be able to do that isn't an easy task regardless of opposition.
No chance. He's not a CM
He could play the cm role though I reckon, he'd need to be next to a Carrick but I think he could. Although he's better being able to roam.
Apologies for cutting out a whole big wad of text but to me this is the key point. As usual, this whole debate could be entirely based on semantics. In my mind calling him a special talent implies that yes, he is absolutely destined for the first team and he'll be able to make a big impact. Otherwise I don't see how special is appropriate. If everyone was simply saying how he's a great talent with a great attitude and he's progressing really well then I'd have nothing to argue against - firstly I haven't seen enough to argue otherwise and secondly because it's entirely in keeping with what everyone involved in the club has said. Surely you can see how being a great talent and a special talent can be interpreted as being miles apart?
I'm not telling you you're wrong, I'm offering an opinion that people who know more about him are welcome to dismiss outright. If my opinion is so worthless because I've seen so much less then I find it a bit strange that you even pay attention to what I'm saying. I'm just offering my opinion on the limited evidence I've seen, if that's not worth listening to then the obvious solution is to ignore it.
I'm not sure how what Sir Alex said goes against what I've said, personally.
It seems to me he's said he's a player with a lot of potential that has the right character to make it. Lots of goods and very goods. Do people really equate that to saying he's special? I can't be the only one that thinks that is distinctly different to gushing praise like "there's no limit to how good he can be" and talking about him as being potentially as good as a Ballon d'Or winner.
What's his contract situation? I'd like to see him tied into a contract before clubs in Europe extend their interest!
I think Pogba showed greater ability, but they both have had the same sort of issue in terms of fully stamping themselves on a game. There's a lot of room for improvement for Januzaj even at reserve level yet on that front, just as there was when Pogba was here getting impatient about first team action.
This is obviously understandable given the respective ages of the two players.
According to Transfermarkt he his contract is running till 2015. Let's hope we don't let it run down till his final year of contract again.
He looks similar to Pogba in terms of promise. Very different footballers, obviously, but for the reserves they both had the same sense of being a cut above everyone else on the pitch. The difference for me is that once he'd hit that level, Pogba started coasting. He drifted in and out of games, didn't seem bothered about imposing his talent on them. Januzaj, on the other hand, seems to take his own ability as a challenge, and is always looking to be more influential. He never stands still, and always seems to be asking for the ball. That's why he has moved up from the U18s, through the U21s and into the tour squad so quickly, in the space of six months or so.
You can even see that desire to get more and more involved by comparing these first two tour games. In the first he was probably man of the match, very involved and impressive. He didn't try anything too ambitious, and he was pretty disciplined about staying in his position. In the second match, he only came on with 19 minutes to go, and you could see a more obvious hunger to get involved, get on the ball and make things happen asap. Almost his first involvement was to drop very deep, right in front of our CBs, to pick up the ball and fire an excellent long pass down the wing to Lingard. He was noticeably hungrier, more ambitious. It's that quality which sets him apart, for me.
You can even see that desire to get more and more involved by comparing these first two tour games. In the first he was probably man of the match, very involved and impressive. He didn't try anything too ambitious, and he was pretty disciplined about staying in his position. In the second match, he only came on with 19 minutes to go, and you could see a more obvious hunger to get involved, get on the ball and make things happen asap. Almost his first involvement was to drop very deep, right in front of our CBs, to pick up the ball and fire an excellent long pass down the wing to Lingard. He was noticeably hungrier, more ambitious. It's that quality which sets him apart, for me.
Agree with Brightonian, especially on the point of Pogba coasting and Januzaj continuing to improve and want to impress. That attitude from Pogba was one of the main things I had against him in his pursuit for first team football, you can't say that about Januzaj.
i hope the board sort out his contract as soon as possible.
anyway what a lovely player to watch this adnan boy is. he looks super elegant on the ball.
anyway what a lovely player to watch this adnan boy is. he looks super elegant on the ball.
Adnan is good. But Pogba much more 'holy shit, did he just do that?' moment.
People on here are so bitter about him leaving I don't trust half of what people say about Pogba's ability.
Still can't believe some of the things Pogba used to do. There was that moment he killed the ball with his back to goal 25 yards out with two players around him, only to absolutely embarrass both of them before smacking it into the top corner. It was a ridiculous goal.
Just want to remind everyone of this...
"Nick Powell and Adnan Januzaj were in the reserves on Monday and you say to yourself, ’These are definite Manchester United first-team players." - Alex Ferguson.
"Nick Powell and Adnan Januzaj were in the reserves on Monday and you say to yourself, ’These are definite Manchester United first-team players." - Alex Ferguson.
You haven't watched enough Januzaj. He has that just as much as Pogba did. The difference is that he continues to contribute in between those moments, whereas by the end of his time here Pogba would be wandering off with a 'that's my work for the day done' expression. He was class, but so is Adnan.
The key difference with Pogba is that the Frenchman plays a position we desperately need. Technical, smart attacking midfielder is in far less demand at the moment.
I'm not convinced he's quick enough to play like a United-style winger. Lovely player though, I'd try to convert him to centre mid if I were the coaches
I'm not convinced he's quick enough to play like a United-style winger. Lovely player though, I'd try to convert him to centre mid if I were the coaches
I think it is very difficult to split the two players on ability based on what they showed at the same age, at the same level. If anything, the case of Pogba should display that we hold back talents a bit longer, for various reasons, even though they would probably be making a big name for themselves if they played elsewhere.
The key difference with Pogba is that the Frenchman plays a position we desperately need. Technical, smart attacking midfielder is in far less demand at the moment.
I'm not convinced he's quick enough to play like a United-style winger. Lovely player though, I'd try to convert him to centre mid if I were the coaches
I think he'll be a CM too. It'll be a few years yet though, as he'll probably go through the same transition to the first team that players like Fletcher and others did where they play in various other positions first.
The key difference with Pogba is that the Frenchman plays a position we desperately need. Technical, smart attacking midfielder is in far less demand at the moment.
I'm not convinced he's quick enough to play like a United-style winger. Lovely player though, I'd try to convert him to centre mid if I were the coaches
Sigh. Like Nani, you mean? Or how Kagawa has been playing from the wing this season? Or Giggs for the past four or five seasons? Januzaj plays across any of the three AM positions in a 4231, and would fit in just fine in those positions in our team.
I agree about Pogba though. I think Januzaj is going to force his way right into first team contention this season, but Pogba shouldn't even have had to. He was what we needed. Although just to point out he's not an AM, he's a CM. He plays creatively but from deep. He often has two midfielders in front of him at Juve.
Yeah, Pogba did quite a few things like that. I remember one goal he scored for the academy against Man City where he pirouetted with the ball, beating a player or two in the process, then lashing it in from about 20 yards. It was unreal. I'm sure there's a video of it floating around.
Having said that, Pogba regularly drifted out of games for long periods & looked disinterested at times...particularly during his first season in the reserves. Central midfield is not a position to go drifting in and out of games. I think he stood out far more during our Youth Cup run in 2011, and I'm saying this as someone who doesn't bear any ill-will toward him when he moved to Juve.
As for Januzaj: he looks the bee's knees. Really excited by him.
Not this stuff again
Don't look directly at it, and hopefully it will go away.
He was fantastic against Spurs, who were supposed to be the best team in the league. To be honest though, Januzaj was perhaps the best player for the u21s after about a month of stepping up. He was playing as a lone striker half the time too.
It's the incredible pace at which he self-improves which always amazes me. Steps up to the U21s at the age of 18, and within a month he's the best player. Is required to play as a CF (and could do with adding goals to his game anyway) - within a month or so he scores all our goals at the Fifa Youth Cup and, playing as a striker, wins the Golden Ball for the tournament. Two games into the pre-season tour, and he already looks not just comfortable amongst the first team, but hungry to be constantly involved and influential.
'Convert him to CM' posts. They scare me.
Ah, I wasn't suggesting converting him to a CM. Was just saying I think he 'could' play there, not that I think he should as he's better in a more advanced position.
Ah, fair enough. I'm even skittish around the 'could' stuff, to be honest. After all, Phil Jones 'could' play in CM, and look where that got us!
He probably could play CM. I don't know how well but he's not afraid to work or track back, he can pass, he has good awareness. He has qualities that would allow him to play there but it would probably 'waste' other qualities.
Still when Januzaj took the ball from deep embarrassed the All Stars and then played a perfect longball to Lingard down the wing with consummate ease I erupted into applause. It seemed no one else in the stadium really appreciated the technique (well I did have one guy next to me who said "oh that's good" every time Lindegaard kicked one as far and as high as he could, even though it found no one, so it's no surprise)
Still when Januzaj took the ball from deep embarrassed the All Stars and then played a perfect longball to Lingard down the wing with consummate ease I erupted into applause. It seemed no one else in the stadium really appreciated the technique (well I did have one guy next to me who said "oh that's good" every time Lindegaard kicked one as far and as high as he could, even though it found no one, so it's no surprise)
That video makes him look how Kaka used to play
The kid needs more end product if he wants to be a top player.
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