He's an asset for players like Ronaldo beacuse he can provide the pass for players to run and shoot.
Angel Di Maria | Performances | Wife: "He only joined United for money. The food was disgusting. The women look like porcelain"
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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.
He is doing much better now. A hat trick of assists last night in the big victory (5-1) against Lyon.
He had no desire to play for us. Came here halfheartedly and forced a move when things became difficult. And yes Young was more productive than Di Maria last season. Of course he is talented and is showing it with the team which is miles ahead of any other in the country.
Who's man is it that's job is to motivate the players and get them to perform.
... But he isn't good enough for United. Ashley Young is better!
A motivated Young was better than an unmotivated Di Maria. It really was that simple.
you cant motivate a player who doesnt want to be motivated.
Yeah, because he clearly came here wanting to do badly.
We might not of been his first choice club, but he's hardly going to come and sulk from the off. If you remember he was absolutely flying when he first came.
There were no problems with motivation when he started for us. Then he got injured, then benched and it all started going south. You cannot teach an old horse new tricks. You cannot expect players like him to come here and fit into your philosophy; you have to adjust your philosophy to get the best out of them.
Then things changed (the break-in, his family hating Manchester, himself wanting to go Paris all along), there is only so much a manager can do.
Yeah, can't see him wanting to leave had fergie been in charge. Lvg falls out with everyone it seems.
Ozil loads of assists = best player in the league.
Di Maria loads of assists = get rid.
Di Maria loads of assists = get rid.
Well yeah as clearly it was a lot more nuanced than that.
Chris Brunt got 2 less assists than Di Maria in his year here, shall we sign him as a replacement?
Did Brunt spend half the season injured? I don't know, it's a genuine question.
Why does a player like ADM lose motivation to play for club like United but motivated to play for PSG? It's not lile United were paying less wages. So, it's obviously not related to money.
How can a player not be motivated to play for United in his 1st season?
Does a top player really have to be motivated?
Di Maria first club target was PSG before Manchester United. He said back then when he signed for us and said it again when he signed for PSG. He went to Man United because PSG didn't have enough money to buy him (FFP restrictions). I believe he gave it a fair go the first few months but then loss of form, motivation, things happening outside the field and PSG's constant interest all season along were enough reasons for him to play half motivated.
Of course they do. Why do you think managers say it is much harder to retain a title than it is to win it the first time.
Everyone needs motivation. If that wasn't the case, anyone would be able to manage a team of superstars.
Let's look at the chain of events:
- He wanted to stay at Madrid, but apparently he got too ugly in his time there.
- PSG were his first choice but couldn't buy him due to FFP restrictions.
- Our manager name dropped him and said he is exactly the kind of player we are looking for.
- Woody got into dick swinging mode and got a player who Madrid wanted to sell for 60m.
- He started very well, getting goals and assists for us. Fans declared him the best player in the league. At this stage di Maria >> Sanchez.
- Leicester happened. Our manager was no longer sure of his "philosophy" or di Maria's "best" position.
- He was played everywhere in attack. One week here, two weeks there. Play starting getting worse.
- Got injured.
- Ashley Young (currently in dog house) became philosophy ready and was preferred to him. di Maria was swiftly relegated to the bench. Losing the ball became a sin in the post Leicester world.
- Still produced from the bench, but his play started deteriorating further.
- We won 3 games playing quality football against our top rivals. feck U Angel! We don't need you. At this stage Young >>> di Maria.
- His play meanwhile got worse and worse. The player looked disinterested. Somewhere in the middle his house got burgled.
- Season ended. Manchester United finished 4th. Yippee!!
- In the summer: Manager wasn't sure of the player, player wasn't sure of the manager.
- PSG to the rescue.
- Good riddance, you spineless coward.
You cannot clap with one hand, so I wouldn't free di Maria of the blame. He should have tried harder to alter his game to the philosophy. I wouldn't let VG go blame free either as you cannot ask a 27 year old superstar to completely alter his game.
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philosophy ready 
good post
Great post.
If there was ever a player not suitable to Louis or his philosophy, we found him. The thing turned out to be unlucky and ugly, but not that surprised in hindsight.
at least we can put to rest that he's a poor player.
But it just didnt work out here, I think he just didnt fit LvG's philosophy and his heart wasnt in it. Imo, keeping him would have been a mistake.
But it just didnt work out here, I think he just didnt fit LvG's philosophy and his heart wasnt in it. Imo, keeping him would have been a mistake.
Anyone who gets as many assist as Chris Brunt got last season (8?) in the toughest league ever is a great player.
You forgot the bit about DiMaria acting like a massive tw@t, getting himself sent off and putting his team in a massive hole for no reason.
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Not sure your chain is accurate. I don't think Di Maria was really relegated to the bench before his suspension, so he couldn't have been producing from the bench either. He was a regular, he didn't play well despite the odd assist, he got sent off, and right away we went on an impressive winning streak which didn't allow him to play much.
He played well initially but he sulked after he came back from injury and that coincided with his poor form. He probably expected that he would be given preferential treatment
I used to blame Di Maria solely for his failure at United however the more I see of LVG's managing the more I see it is down to more factors.
Di Maria is capable of being world class as we all know. He isn't an average player in the slightest. There may be questions regarding his hunger in the time he spent at United but he was limited to play how he does best. Lvg didn't give him freedom. Players like Di Maria just don't work under Van Gaal.
Di Maria is capable of being world class as we all know. He isn't an average player in the slightest. There may be questions regarding his hunger in the time he spent at United but he was limited to play how he does best. Lvg didn't give him freedom. Players like Di Maria just don't work under Van Gaal.
He was benched before the suspension.
He was really, really shit before he was benched.
There were stories about Giggs being incredibly annoyed at Di Maria's attitude in training and having various talks with him to try and improve it but he just wasn't interested.
United wasn't in Europe, couldn't mount a title challenge, his family didn't settle in and he fell out with the manager. Seems pretty uninspiring for any player but even more for one of Di Maria's class used to challenge for major honors every year.
Anyway I don't see players being more motivated to play for Utd than for any other club.
He spent both halves of the season playing for West Brom.
Don't join then. Simple.
Seems like he didn't play much in December, and came on from the bench a couple of times. I assume he was injured for most of this time. However, from January until his sending off he was a regular.
Maybe he or his family really needed a more southern / latin environment to thrive in. It could be that simple. Some players are really sensitive that way.
Didn't say he wasn't
It wasn't really his decision. Madrid wanted to sell him.