In Defence of Jesse Lingard

[Paul the Wolf]

Yeah, imagine what we could accomplish if the club only supported some of our players.

While he is still a United player he will be supported but we need better otherwise I may have another 26 year wait for our next title. His performances that are not poor are too irregular.
He played better in the last game but people go overboard because he ran with the ball totally unchallenged to score against Middlesbrough which somehow makes him an extraordinary player and forgives all the matches where he was totally ineffective.

 

[Raoul]

While he is still a United player he will be supported but we need better otherwise I may have another 26 year wait for our next title. His performances that are not poor are too irregular.
He played better in the last game but people go overboard because he ran with the ball totally unchallenged to score against Middlesbrough which somehow makes him an extraordinary player and forgives all the matches where he was totally ineffective.

Except that he wasn't totally ineffective in other other matches. Its a perceptual illusion where some are just hell bent on criticizing him because its the thing to do at the moment. The same ones who criticize him are conspicuously silent on Martial and Rashford's lack of contribution this year. Its all nonsense.

 

[Tapori]

Won't have a bad word said against the lad.
Intelligence, pace and ability; You don't have to be a young Messi to make it as a top tier intelligent footballer.

I think young kids forget figures like Sheringham etc.

Every match being streamed and the change in football has made people more impatient and made them forget vital squad players who give a solid base to a battle on 4 fronts. The O'Shea's, Browns, Parks, Nevilles etc.
Lingard is better than many give him credit for because he is constantly finding space and makes the right movements off the ball.
His better decision making and finishing on the ball will improve; We can see how much he has fought.
From being another Manchester Academy player going on to have a very good career elsewhere, he has shown an ability to carry on growing and mark my words he will be a vital player for us in the next few seasons if he continues.

I do not want a team stocked of shiny-shiny mercenary imports that have a flashy show-reel, put in a few good performances and then flounce off if they are not 1st 11 picks; Jesse will give us the same ability + relative loyalty as a squad player at the highest level.

 

[top1whoisman]

Won't have a bad word said against the lad.
Intelligence, pace and ability; You don't have to be a young Messi to make it as a top tier intelligent footballer.

I think young kids forget figures like Sheringham etc.

Every match being streamed and the change in football has made people more impatient and made them forget vital squad players who give a solid base to a battle on 4 fronts. The O'Shea's, Browns, Parks, Nevilles etc.
Lingard is better than many give him credit for because he is constantly finding space and makes the right movements off the ball.
His better decision making and finishing on the ball will improve; We can see how much he has fought.
From being another Manchester Academy player going on to have a very good career elsewhere, he has shown an ability to carry on growing and mark my words he will be a vital player for us in the next few seasons if he continues.

I do not want a team stocked of shiny-shiny mercenary imports that have a flashy show-reel, put in a few good performances and then flounce off if they are not 1st 11 picks; Jesse will give us the same ability + relative loyalty as a squad player at the highest level.

Amen.

 

[Paul the Wolf]

Except that he wasn't totally ineffective in other other matches. Its a perceptual illusion where some are just hell bent on criticizing him because its the thing to do at the moment. The same ones who criticize him are conspicuously silent on Martial and Rashford's lack of contribution this year. Its all nonsense.

If you think Lingard is a better player than Rashford (19) and Martial (21) I'm not quite sure where the perceptual illusion is but although both have not been as good as last season they are still better than Lingard has been this season and even more so last season. If Lingard was 18 he might, just might have the scope to become as good as either of them but he's 24.

 

[Raoul]

If you think Lingard is a better player than Rashford (19) and Martial (21) I'm not quite sure where the perceptual illusion is but although both have not been as good as last season they are still better than Lingard has been this season and even more so last season. If Lingard was 18 he might, just might have the scope to become as good as either of them but he's 24.

They've both underperformed by last year's standards. Lingard has been comparably effective. The slight age disparity is irrelevant here.

 

[SirScholes]

They've both underperformed by last year's standards. Lingard has been comparably effective. The slight age disparity is irrelevant here.

It's not slight and it's not irrelevant

 

[Paul the Wolf]

They've both underperformed by last year's standards. Lingard has been comparably effective. The slight age disparity is irrelevant here.

They have not been as good as last year, no, but still better over the season than Lingard who has a reasonable to good game very rarely - we cannot rely on him, you never know what you going to get and more often than not it's nothing.
The age differential is important , he has much less scope to improve and 3 years is not slight and 5 is a lot.
When will Lingard perform next, don't tell me we get to the final of EL and he scores a goal - in between ?

 

[Raoul]

It's not slight and it's not irrelevant

Yeah sort of like Januzaj at 19 vs Januzaj of today. He's so much better isn't he.

 

[Raoul]

They have not been as good as last year, no, but still better over the season than Lingard who has a reasonable to good game very rarely - we cannot rely on him, you never know what you going to get and more often than not it's nothing.
The age differential is important , he has much less scope to improve and 3 years is not slight and 5 is a lot.
When will Lingard perform next, don't tell me we get to the final of EL and he scores a goal - in between ?

This misses the broader point. Our performances have been a result of the squad as a whole not playing up to their ability, especially in the final third. We desperately needed more goals out of the starting XI supporting cast who surround Zlatan, but sadly only Mata has really stepped up and delivered. And yet, we're somehow blaming a young squad player for what is a comprehensive lack of squad confidence in the final third.

 

[Paul the Wolf]

This misses the broader point. Our performances have been a result of the squad as a whole not playing up to their ability, especially in the final third. We desperately needed more goals out of the starting XI supporting cast who surround Zlatan, but sadly only Mata has really stepped up and delivered. And yet, we're somehow blaming a young squad player for what is a comprehensive lack of squad confidence in the final third.

It is the broader point that concerns me, we look poorer when Lingard is in the team. Middlesbrough were one of the few teams that allowed space at the back. Against tight defences Lingard doesn't have the skill to construct something. Remember that both Martial and Rashford have been involved in far more goals than Lingard despite playing less well than last season.

Looking to the future one would normally expect Martial and Rashford to improve further but don't see Lingard improving much. It's almost a certainty that at least one good or better player will be bought for the forward roles in the summer. Unless three or four of the forwards are unavailable how does Lingard even get in the squad next season.

The whole team must improve putting chances away for sure and I'm not solely blaming Lingard for that but he's not so young anymore.

 

[ForeverRoma93]

Not the biggest fan of Lingard but can be a handy squad player but certainly not the calibre of player United should be consistently starting.

 

[JoaquinJoaquin]

They've both underperformed by last year's standards. Lingard has been comparably effective. The slight age disparity is irrelevant here.

All 3 have underperformed this season. Lingard was excellent in the second half against Boro but he has also been poor in around 80% of the games he has played in this season. Not going to lie I have my worries about Rashford and Martial though.

 

[Robbie Boy]

Overall, I feel Lingard looks worse this season than he did last season. He's had some good moments alright but overall he's been quite poor.

 

[Dobbs]

He's suffering from being played out of position. Like Fletcher, Smalling and Jones before him, these guys are used incorrectly and get slated for not performing. It's then really difficult to shift that perception. They might not be good enough wherever they play but you have to give them the best possible chance of making it.

He is never a right winger. He'll never be able to regularly beat a fullback on the outside. Being quite one footed you also reduce his ability to cut inside. So you end up with a winger who can't really do either.

Play him in the left or in one of the central positions and you allow him to use his abilities. Frustrates the balls off me that we've continually done this to players over the last five years.

 

[Adebesi]

Ive got a lot of time for Lingard. He links up well and seems to bring out the best of players around him, especially Rashford. Agree with what @Tapori said.

 

[Paul the Wolf]

He's suffering from being played out of position. Like Fletcher, Smalling and Jones before him, these guys are used incorrectly and get slated for not performing. It's then really difficult to shift that perception. They might not be good enough wherever they play but you have to give them the best possible chance of making it.

He is never a right winger. He'll never be able to regularly beat a fullback on the outside. Being quite one footed you also reduce his ability to cut inside. So you end up with a winger who can't really do either.

Play him in the left or in one of the central positions and you allow him to use his abilities. Frustrates the balls off me that we've continually done this to players over the last five years.

Please show me a heat map of his positioning this season - the only time he has been in a right wing position was when he crossed for Zlatan v WBA - the main gripe with him is that he keeps coming into the central position and clogging up the play, Middlesbrough left loads of space which helped him.

It's always the same, when he's criticised for playing badly on the left, he's supposedly better on the right or in the centre, if he's criticised for playing badly in the centre, he's supposedly better on the right or the left and when he's criticised for playing badly on the right he's supposedly better on the left or the centre.
Maybe we should try him in goal where he could excel.

 

[SirScholes]

Yeah sort of like Januzaj at 19 vs Januzaj of today. He's so much better isn't he.

Picking a bad example to prove your point? Slow hand clap
Would be like me saying Ronaldo at 19 vs Ronaldo at 24.

 

[Drz]

Yeah, don't get the criticism. He isn't a starter for us, and he shouldn't be, based on his talent, but he already proved his worth many times and is a great back up choice, with his movement and work ethics. Plus he has that match-winning bit about him, quite surprisingly

He has the right attitude towards the sport and is dedicated to our club. He is a good example of the education provided by our acadamy. Such players are important in a squad if you don't want a merc culture to settle in.

 

[Raoul]

Picking a bad example to prove your point? Slow hand clap
Would be like me saying Ronaldo at 19 vs Ronaldo at 24.

The point being players don't don't necessarily develop as expected. They don't always blossom from their breakout performances and become the players everyone thinks. Lingard is doing just fine on his development path.

 

[Raoul]

All 3 have underperformed this season. Lingard was excellent in the second half against Boro but he has also been poor in around 80% of the games he has played in this season. Not going to lie I have my worries about Rashford and Martial though.

The latter two are also victims of fan hype. They are both promising young players whose expectations have been irrationally elevated because of their breakout performances.

 

[Stacks]

Spot on, especially your Martial / Lingard comparison.

If only one can take Lingard's attitude and work rate and transfer them to Martial, Martial would be right up there with the world's best.

steady on. The worlds best seem to be there on talent as opposed to work rate

 

[SirScholes]

The point being players don't don't necessarily develop as expected. They don't always blossom from their breakout performances and become the players everyone thinks. Lingard is doing just fine on his development path.

Right but if you have a teenage star you give him chances to continue that break out season rather than a squad player who rarely puts in good performances?

 

[Raoul]

Right but if you have a teenage star you give him chances to continue that break out season rather than a squad player who rarely puts in good performances?

They've both had their chances this year.

 

[top1whoisman]

5 goals and 3 assists in 1284 minutes this season. A goal or an assist every 160 minutes.

Rashford: 7+3 / 2072 = 207 min
Mata: 10+6 / 2417 = 151 min
Martial: 7+6 / 1778 = 137 min
Mkhitaryan: 7+5 / 1642 = 137 min

And no, I'm not saying he's better or as good as the other 4 he's competing with. But in his defence, he's delivered goals and assists at a decent level. If he's happy to keep fighting for those spots and develops further, I'd be more than happy to keep him.

 

[Dobbs]

Please show me a heat map of his positioning this season - the only time he has been in a right wing position was when he crossed for Zlatan v WBA - the main gripe with him is that he keeps coming into the central position and clogging up the play, Middlesbrough left loads of space which helped him.

It's always the same, when he's criticised for playing badly on the left, he's supposedly better on the right or in the centre, if he's criticised for playing badly in the centre, he's supposedly better on the right or the left and when he's criticised for playing badly on the right he's supposedly better on the left or the centre.
Maybe we should try him in goal where he could excel.

Nope that argument doesn't exist. Anybody whose watched Lingard come through can tell you he's not a right winger. Anybody who watches him right now could tell you he's not either.

I haven't got a heatmap but I don't think anybody needs one to know he's started most of his games on the right.

Yeah Middlesborough were poor but we've faced plenty of poor teams this year and I don't think any other player has carried the ball through the center and drove us up the pitch like Lingard did.

That doesn't mean he's good enough in the long term but it still warrants praise as an individual performance.

 

[villain]

5 goals and 3 assists in 1284 minutes this season. A goal or an assist every 160 minutes.

Rashford: 7+3 / 2072 = 207 min
Mata: 10+6 / 2417 = 151 min
Martial: 7+6 / 1778 = 137 min
Mkhitaryan: 7+5 / 1642 = 137 min

And no, I'm not saying he's better or as good as the other 4 he's competing with. But in his defence, he's delivered goals and assists at a decent level. If he's happy to keep fighting for those spots and develops further, I'd be more than happy to keep him.

He's played considerably less minutes than all those players, which would confirm his status as a squad player, and he's contributing a similar return too.

I don't see what the problem with that is.

People just love to moan & whine.

 

[Drz]

He's played considerably less minutes than all those players, which would confirm his status as a squad player, and he's contributing a similar return too.

I don't see what the problem with that is.

People just love to moan & whine.

True in general, but I fear the issue is also down to fans tilting towards famous names for glamor/bragging rights or a lack of appreciation for the hard-workers that can keep the cogs in motion without a "princess" attitude. It feels like for some, the squad of 23/25 should consist of only superstars (which for me is unfeasable on a management perspective).

 

[villain]

True in general, but I fear the issue is also down to fans tilting towards famous names for glamor/bragging rights or a lack of appreciation for the hard-workers that can keep the cogs in motion without a "princess" attitude. It feels like for some, the squad of 23/25 should consist of only superstars (which for me is unfeasable on a management perspective).

I agree that there's unrealistic expectations of what squad players should look like, sure we should aim to constantly improve our squad - but the likes of Lingard isn't the reason why we're not winning titles currently.

 

[Web of Bissaka]

I suppose I can understand why a lot of fans seem to hate Lingard, although unjustified and irrelevant.

It's because of his social media antics (which I dislike either), him seemingly taking more gaming times from more talented players eg. Martial (not his fault), him doesn't strike as a world class player hence not man utd player standard aka not good enough, and himself with his name not being good as a brand (lacking star power), etc.

Lingard is quality, as a good squad player, who is very productive (for a squad player) in goals, assists and team play tactic. Best of all, what he have is the many qualities mentioned by other posts. One thing for sure, this season, he have performed better in many games, better than the many superstars eg. Martial (poor in few games), or even Depay in earlier games. It's nice Mourinho rewards these kind of players with deserving gaming times.

Sure, he may not be able to perform world class moments like the superb dribbles done by Martial, yet Lingard've produce quality moments in helping us to win games. That, and him being one of our successful academy graduates, I don't see the need to made him a scapegoat, or object of hatred. He's good enough.

This reminds me a lot of the likes of Oshea or Fletcher, it takes a lot of seasons for fans as a collective to finally appreciate these kind of players so I'm not worried. The whole fans will appreciates Lingard for sureA Red in the mud.

 

[Paul the Wolf]

Nope that argument doesn't exist. Anybody whose watched Lingard come through can tell you he's not a right winger. Anybody who watches him right now could tell you he's not either.

I haven't got a heatmap but I don't think anybody needs one to know he's started most of his games on the right.

Yeah Middlesborough were poor but we've faced plenty of poor teams this year and I don't think any other player has carried the ball through the center and drove us up the pitch like Lingard did.

That doesn't mean he's good enough in the long term but it still warrants praise as an individual performance.

That argument does exist and there are examples in the Lingard thread, at this moment I can't be bothered or have the time to search through it but if forced to I will.
Theoretically he was supposed to start a number of games on the right but rarely did one see him play on the right.
I said he had one of his better performances against Boro and was one of our better players - long time since he did, and yes I know he scored in the ECF.

He doesn't carry the ball very often and in crowded spaces the majority of the time he passes backwards.
Regarding his goals and assists, two of his goals were the 4th goals in wins which we long dead rubbers.

Yet again that is not the reason I don't like him in the team, it's his all round play.
He scores a goal (unchallenged) against Boro and comments come out like 'He's developing into a really good player' and then there'll be dead quiet when he has six anonymous games and 'his speed was unbelievable' when Mata of all people with electric pace was sprinting away from him giving him space ahead of him.

Then we get those that think that those of us who criticise him only want superstars to replace him - none of us ever said that, we just want a minimum of good players who contribute regularly, not once in a blue moon. Then we get comparisons with Park, O'Shea, Fletcher who didn't play in the same position but were much better than him in the positions they did play.

Then we get people who continually say he's a young kid, he is not a young kid physically. Some people are bothered by his off-field antics , what matters to me is his on field display.

Then we had the comparison with Richardson and Cleverley, both left because they were not good enough.

Then we have those that insist he is a squad player and then those of us who moan when he keeps starting games.

We are not aspiring to be a mid-table team , hopefully next season we will aspire to be challenging seriously for the title and our squad players need to be better than a squad player of a mid-table team, that doesn't mean that our squad players have to be Messi standard.

I'm supposed to be a hater because I don't rate him

 

[Dobbs]

That argument does exist and there are examples in the Lingard thread, at this moment I can't be bothered or have the time to search through it but if forced to I will.
Theoretically he was supposed to start a number of games on the right but rarely did one see him play on the right.
I said he had one of his better performances against Boro and was one of our better players - long time since he did, and yes I know he scored in the ECF.

He doesn't carry the ball very often and in crowded spaces the majority of the time he passes backwards.
Regarding his goals and assists, two of his goals were the 4th goals in wins which we long dead rubbers.

Yet again that is not the reason I don't like him in the team, it's his all round play.
He scores a goal (unchallenged) against Boro and comments come out like 'He's developing into a really good player' and then there'll be dead quiet when he has six anonymous games and 'his speed was unbelievable' when Mata of all people with electric pace was sprinting away from him giving him space ahead of him.

Then we get those that think that those of us who criticise him only want superstars to replace him - none of us ever said that, we just want a minimum of good players who contribute regularly, not once in a blue moon. Then we get comparisons with Park, O'Shea, Fletcher who didn't play in the same position but were much better than him in the positions they did play.

Then we get people who continually say he's a young kid, he is not a young kid physically. Some people are bothered by his off-field antics , what matters to me is his on field display.

Then we had the comparison with Richardson and Cleverley, both left because they were not good enough.

Then we have those that insist he is a squad player and then those of us who moan when he keeps starting games.

We are not aspiring to be a mid-table team , hopefully next season we will aspire to be challenging seriously for the title and our squad players need to be better than a squad player of a mid-table team, that doesn't mean that our squad players have to be Messi standard.

I'm supposed to be a hater because I don't rate him

I can't be doing with the hater tag so that's not something I'd accuse you of.

What you've summed up above is a typical player thread. Lots of differing opinions but then there are lots of different posters so it's to be expected.

The positional thing isn't an excuse though. You've got to ask why does he drift in when played on the right? It's because he's not comfortable out there. Same goes for Mata. In the Rooney thread a few posters did use position as an excuse, here though there's just a genuine differing of opinion.

I think most have doubts he's good enough long term but as I said initially, if he's in the squad give him the best chance possible and play him in the positions that suit him best.

 

[villain]

That argument does exist and there are examples in the Lingard thread, at this moment I can't be bothered or have the time to search through it but if forced to I will.
Theoretically he was supposed to start a number of games on the right but rarely did one see him play on the right.
I said he had one of his better performances against Boro and was one of our better players - long time since he did, and yes I know he scored in the ECF.

He doesn't carry the ball very often and in crowded spaces the majority of the time he passes backwards.
Regarding his goals and assists, two of his goals were the 4th goals in wins which we long dead rubbers.

Yet again that is not the reason I don't like him in the team, it's his all round play.
He scores a goal (unchallenged) against Boro and comments come out like 'He's developing into a really good player' and then there'll be dead quiet when he has six anonymous games and 'his speed was unbelievable' when Mata of all people with electric pace was sprinting away from him giving him space ahead of him.

Then we get those that think that those of us who criticise him only want superstars to replace him - none of us ever said that, we just want a minimum of good players who contribute regularly, not once in a blue moon. Then we get comparisons with Park, O'Shea, Fletcher who didn't play in the same position but were much better than him in the positions they did play.

Then we get people who continually say he's a young kid, he is not a young kid physically. Some people are bothered by his off-field antics , what matters to me is his on field display.

Then we had the comparison with Richardson and Cleverley, both left because they were not good enough.

Then we have those that insist he is a squad player and then those of us who moan when he keeps starting games.

We are not aspiring to be a mid-table team , hopefully next season we will aspire to be challenging seriously for the title and our squad players need to be better than a squad player of a mid-table team, that doesn't mean that our squad players have to be Messi standard.

I'm supposed to be a hater because I don't rate him

To be honest, the only reason I think you'd be accused of being a hater is because you spend a large amount of time in thread's relating to Lingard continuing to tell everyone how he's not good enough, he needs to be sold, quoting everyone who has a different opinion to you etc.

We all have our opinions that's the point of the forum, but I just don't see the point in spending so much time and energy going into multiple threads that involve a player which you clearly don't like.
It's like seeing his name enrages you to the point where you need to tell everyone that he's shite and not good enough - and anyone who thinks he has usefulness is wrong and needs to be told.

I don't rate Darmian at all but I don't feel the need to harp on about it every time I see his name.

 

[Paul the Wolf]

To be honest, the only reason I think you'd be accused of being a hater is because you spend a large amount of time in thread's relating to Lingard continuing to tell everyone how he's not good enough, he needs to be sold, quoting everyone who has a different opinion to you etc.

We all have our opinions that's the point of the forum, but I just don't see the point in spending so much time and energy going into multiple threads that involve a player which you clearly don't like.
It's like seeing his name enrages you to the point where you need to tell everyone that he's shite and not good enough - and anyone who thinks he has usefulness is wrong and needs to be told.

I don't rate Darmian at all but I don't feel the need to harp on about it every time I see his name.

I spend no more time in his thread than those who keep on saying how good he is and people keep quoting me as well. But everyone of us who don't rate him is accused of being a hater.
I don't rate Darmian very highly either so at least one point we agree on

 

[top1whoisman]

Just checked Lingard's performance thread. Out of the top 7 posters only one could be considered as a poster that rates him. And there's a big gap after the first four. Someone said in this thread that Jesse doesn't need defending, I couldn't disagree more.

 

[Paul the Wolf]

Just checked Lingard's performance thread. Out of the top 7 posters only one could be considered as a poster that rates him. And there's a big gap after the first four. Someone said in this thread that Jesse doesn't need defending, I couldn't disagree more.

Out of the top 6 in this thread 3 of them do rate him

 

[AndyJ1985]

Just checked Lingard's performance thread. Out of the top 7 posters only one could be considered as a poster that rates him. And there's a big gap after the first four. Someone said in this thread that Jesse doesn't need defending, I couldn't disagree more.

Why does he "need defending"? Let people have their opinion whether positive or negative. If you think he's good enough then that's fine. But running to his rescue to defend him comes across as something a teenage girl would do on a One Direction forum, don't you think? It's a bit soft. There's no need to take criticism personally on behalf of a grown man you've never met. At the end of the day there's a reason so many people don't rate him highly, you may as well accept it.

Also all this "hater" nonsense that's become commonplace in player performance threads is ruining sensible discussion.

 

[villain]

I spend no more time in his thread than those who keep on saying how good he is and people keep quoting me as well. But everyone of us who don't rate him is accused of being a hater.
I don't rate Darmian very highly either so at least one point we agree on

If a hater is seen as someone who is unnecessarily negative or critical then yes I'd agree you are one.
Once more, i'm not here to tell you what your opinion of Lingard or any other player is, we all have them and like I said that's the point of the forum.

For example, I just had a look now in his performance thread after our last game - you managed to say something nice about him, followed by "notice all his fans are out in force now, my opinion hasn't changed" and it just seems unnecessary.
After that nobody quoted you but presumably his performance thread was still on the front page so you came back to quote someone else - and how their opinion is possibly the worst thing you've ever seen somebody say on this forum, and that just spiralled into you going back and forth with a number of people telling them that he's shite, and he's crap, and one good game doesn't change that etc.
That to me is what I'd describe as a hater, because it was unnecessary.

He scored a good goal, had a good game and people are happy about it, especially since it was part of the reason we won - are people not allowed to say nice things about him? Should his thread just be filled with posts similar to yours? Why does it bother you?

I personally just don't see the point of spending as much time in the thread of a player who you quite clearly don't like, as those who do like him.
What do you get out of writing out how shite he is every time you see his name?
It would just depress me if I felt the need to insult Darmian or Fellaini or whoever every week.

 

[Paul the Wolf]

If a hater is seen as someone who is unnecessarily negative or critical then yes I'd agree you are one.
Once more, i'm not here to tell you what your opinion of Lingard or any other player is, we all have them and like I said that's the point of the forum.

For example, I just had a look now in his performance thread after our last game - you managed to say something nice about him, followed by "notice all his fans are out in force now, my opinion hasn't changed" and it just seems unnecessary.
After that nobody quoted you but presumably his performance thread was still on the front page so you came back to quote someone else - and how their opinion is possibly the worst thing you've ever seen somebody say on this forum, and that just spiralled into you going back and forth with a number of people telling them that he's shite, and he's crap, and one good game doesn't change that etc.
That to me is what I'd describe as a hater, because it was unnecessary.

He scored a good goal, had a good game and people are happy about it, especially since it was part of the reason we won - are people not allowed to say nice things about him? Should his thread just be filled with posts similar to yours? Why does it bother you?

I personally just don't see the point of spending as much time in the thread of a player who you quite clearly don't like, as those who do like him.
What do you get out of writing out how shite he is every time you see his name?
It would just depress me if I felt the need to insult Darmian or Fellaini or whoever every week.

Because one reasonably good game doesn't change my opinion - I don't hate him, I just don't want him playing and especially playing in front of better players.

 

[top1whoisman]

Why does he "need defending"? Let people have their opinion whether positive or negative. If you think he's good enough then that's fine. But running to his rescue to defend him comes across as something a teenage girl would do on a One Direction forum, don't you think? It's a bit soft. There's no need to take criticism personally on behalf of a grown man you've never met. At the end of the day there's a reason so many people don't rate him highly, you may as well accept it.

Also all this "hater" nonsense that's become commonplace in player performance threads is ruining sensible discussion.

This forum would be a boring place if everyone just stated their opinion which no-one would question or reply to. Can’t see anyone doing the bolded part, just people simply defending an academy player they rate.