Luis Nani | 2012/13 Performances

[Ekeke]

Well he's Portuguese and not Ronaldo, that sets off a red flag for some people immediately. But I think the most understandable reason why there are some people who will always try to give Nani a hard time whenever they think they can get away with it (after a mediocre or poor performance) is because of the consistancy of his passing. In some games his linkup play is really good, but a lot of the time he'll make a few frustrating misplaced or mistimed passes and sometimes they were fairly easy ones to execute.

I've said before, this is likely to be something Nani always has in his game so you just need to get over it. For some people it seems impossible. But the upside to Nani's game far, far outweighs this one negative trait.

 

[Ekeke]

I find him a whinging fecker who rolls around too much and feigns injury. Then again I could say that about plenty of players I think are the dogs bollocks.

If he plays good football, scores goals and has a positive affect on the team...I love the fecker.

Too much is being made out of Monday night for me. We were all (are still) pissed off but natural order will be seen over the first 10 games.

We will not be the only top side to go there and struggle.

He's barely done that at all in the last couple of years. When was the last time you watched him play?

 

[londonredmaniac]

Well to answer in a non 'mardy cnut'-ish manner, no I don't think that was his only bad game, he's had plenty, but the thing about Nani is that even when he has bad games he can still produce moments of magic nobody else on the team is capable of. That's why he's so good.

Unfortunately against Everton, he failed to produce one of those moments and is therefore getting slated to shit and people are using the opportunity to profess their undying hatred of him.

Well now, that was easy, and more insightful then throwing around rollign eyes.

I agree. I think Nani is always going to have those sort of games. The things he tries in games come off and he looks quality, they don't and he looks poor. He's not one of those steady 7/10 players. He's a 4 or he's a 9. I think it takes all sorts in a squad. He is capable of the unreal. Which is why he's important.

Some folk look for any excuse to dig an individual. He's not the first and wont be the last. He'll turn it on, as will Rooney.

 

[londonredmaniac]

He's barely done that at all in the last couple of years. When was the last time you watched him play?

how can you even say that? and er...every week. Most of the time inside that big stadium.

 

[Cina]

I find him a whinging fecker who rolls around too much and feigns injury. Then again I could say that about plenty of players I think are the dogs bollocks.

He doesn't really do that anymore though, certainly not remotely close to the extent he used to. I remember back a few years ago when he got sent off in a match for pretending someone hit him in the face and falling to the ground, or something like that. I haven't seen anything even close to resembling that in the last 2 years.

 

[londonredmaniac]

He doesn't really do that anymore though, certainly not remotely close to the extent he used to. I remember back a few years ago when he got sent off in a match for pretending someone hit him in the face and falling to the ground, or something like that. I haven't seen anything even close to resembling that in the last 2 years.

He's done it several times not 10 feet from me. I've heard him let our cries that would shock a banshee.

I don't like that about his game. But then again if he smashes one in the top corner or plants one on Rooney's head...

I've said it several times...the lad is an important part of our side. I remember him against Milan at our place, and the first half against Bayern...he was just scary.

 

[UnitedRoadRed]

I think both him and Rooney (two players getting a fair bit of stick right now) are our massive game changers.

Nani is unplayable when he's on form. He frustrates living shite out of me...but he's a class act when on his game.

Two big players didn't perform Monday night so it's no wonder it didn't happen for us. When they are on form they'll be class.

Pretty much summed it up.

How often do we let him have a bad night in exchange for potential match winners? His (Nani's) free-kick stats must be awful too.

To call people Nani-haters because they slag someone for playing shit is ott. But expected from the Nani-lovers I guess. They're probably Sith and only deal in absolutes.

 

[I'm always right]

He frustrates living shite out of me...but he's a class act when on his game..

It's this "frustration" thing that confuses me, I'm not sure I have a player that I feel that way about. Rooney sometimes plays shite and I call him up on that, but he doesn't frustrate me as such. It seems to be a feeling many get with Nani and probably the reason I just don't understand why he isn't some people's cup of tea.

Maybe it's just because I love skill and flair and would take a prime Giggs any day over a prime Sharp? I don't know.

 

[londonredmaniac]

Nani whould never EVER be let anywhere near a direct free kick.

 

[Hernandez - BFA]

Nani whould never EVER be let anywhere near a direct free kick.

I may be totally foolish here, but the only freekick I remember Nani scoring was Wigan away. Berba scored, and Owen scored his first for us; if my memory serves.

But yes, I agree.

 

[KingMinger22]

Good player, capable of brilliance. Prone to bad form a bit too often.

Very overrated by a lot of our fans.

 

[I'm always right]

Very overrated by a lot of our fans.

Very underrated by a lot too.

Check out his assists/goals for the past few seasons, sensational stats for someone who is off-form too often.

 

[Cina]

Pretty much summed it up.

How often do we let him have a bad night in exchange for potential match winners? His (Nani's) free-kick stats must be awful too.

To call people Nani-hates because they slag someone for playing shit is ott. But expected from the Nani-lovers I guess. They're probably Sith and only deal in absolutes.

There are people on here flat out saying they don't like him, some even saying they do hate him. So don't post nonsense.

 

[I'm always right]

How often do we let him have a bad night in exchange for potential match winners? His (Nani's) free-kick stats must be awful too.

How often do we let Rooney? Valencia? Young? Hernandez? Welbeck? All of our forwards have bad nights, plenty of them actually, shit happens.

And I have no idea what the free-kick stats have to do with anything, bizarre.

 

[Ferguson]

It was interesting how many were willing to leave Nani out of their eleven in the team selection threads.

The only time I can think of Fergie leaving Nani out was against Barcelona in 2011 because we couldn't afford any defensive weakness or indiscipline. As it was Nani came on after we went down 2-1, and then he tried to play the ball in the defensive end and United gave up a third goal.

But against any team not Barcelona, any team that will give United possession and time on the ball, then Nani is a luxury you cannot afford not to play.

For me Rooney is the first name on the team selection sheet, and Nani is the second.

 

[UnitedRoadRed]

There are people on here flat out saying they don't like him, some even saying they do hate him. So don't post nonsense.

Why is it nonsense? I've not said I don't like him. So wind your neck in.

How often do we let Rooney? Valencia? Young? Hernandez? Welbeck? All of our forwards have bad nights, plenty of them actually, shit happens.

And I have no idea what the free-kick stats have to do with anything, bizarre.

Here we go, a Nani fanboy that doesn't get it. Brilliant.

 

[I'm always right]

Here we go, a Nani fanboy that doesn't get it. Brilliant.

Doesn't get what? That Rooney, Welbeck, Hernandez, Young and Nani all have off-days?

We let all of our potential match winners have off-days, because that's football, players have poor games.

or did you mean the bizarre free-kick comment?

 

[UnitedRoadRed]

That people can't have a go at the way Nani played without actually hating him.
Were we just spoiled with our previous two right-wingers?

Rooney was shocking as well but doesn't have nearly as many off days as Nani. Or Young.

 

[I'm always right]

That people can't have a go at the way Nani played without actually hating him.

I have a go at Rooney and don't hate him, so I have no fecking clue what you think "I don't get".

Were we just spoiled with our previous two right-wingers?

God yeah, 2 of the best players to ever play for the club.

Rooney was shocking as well but doesn't have nearly as many off days as Nani. Or Young.

Rooney does have as many off days as Nani.

 

[RedCanuck]

Nani was affected by that ridiculous yellow card the idiot ref gave him.

He's a game winner.

 

[bosnian_red]

He doesn't really do that anymore though, certainly not remotely close to the extent he used to. I remember back a few years ago when he got sent off in a match for pretending someone hit him in the face and falling to the ground, or something like that. I haven't seen anything even close to resembling that in the last 2 years.

Yeah he hardly does it anymore, he may go to ground a bit easily at times but he hardly ever dives these days.

And I think you are talking about the game against west ham in 07/08 when he head butted a guy and then fell to ground holding his face. He got sent off for the headbutt, not the dive.

 

[SecondFig]

Rooney does have as many off days as Nani.

I'd agree with that - both are great players whose form is typically patchy - you know they'll both have a month or so when they're at the top of their game, unplayable, and will win matches near single-handedly. Unfortunately, both are also guaranteed spells where nothing comes off, they consistently choose the wrong option, and they look like they'd rather be somewhere else.

 

[londonredmaniac]

Yeah he hardly does it anymore, he may go to ground a bit easily at times but he hardly ever dives these days.

And I think you are talking about the game against west ham in 07/08 when he head butted a guy and then fell to ground holding his face. He got sent off for the headbutt, not the dive.

No I wouldn't call it 'diving' in that there is no contact.

I'd call it going down like a soft cnut and looking like you're hurt when you clearly are not.

 

[Freak]

He should never be allowed to take corner kicks again. He's absolutely rubbish at it.

 

[KM]

Well truth to be told, he has been pretty average since the second half of the last season has begun. I know he was injured, but certainly he hasn't been at his best in that time.

It's particularly frustrating given we know what he's capable of.

 

[Amar__]

Some people just don't like him. Quite a few said so after the game. You'll never respect a player you don't like, and therefore will find it very hard to see past his bad qualities and how good he is.

That's pretty much of, most of these who don't like him would sell him for 20m.

 

[KM]

Some people just don't like him. Quite a few said so after the game. You'll never respect a player you don't like, and therefore will find it very hard to see past his bad qualities and how good he is.

That's just plain rubbish.

Many here don't like Henry but could see what a quality player he was. Ditto for Fernando Torres, Tevez etc.

 

[Cina]

Well truth to be told, he has been pretty average since the second half of the last season has begun. I know he was injured, but certainly he hasn't been at his best in that time.

It's particularly frustrating given we know what he's capable of.

Dunno, I recall him having a good spell before the Shitty game, which is why he got the nod over Valencia, he played rubbish in that and then was basically dropped for the remainder.

 

[KM]

Dunno, I recall him having a good spell before the Shitty game, which is why he got the nod over Valencia, he played rubbish in that and then was basically dropped for the remainder.

Nah, I just had a look at the Soccernet stats. Since 31st December He had a spell of 10 matches where he started every match and assisted only 1 goal and scored nothing. After that he was dropped for two matches and then got subsequently injured for one month. Played well against Villa and Everton, only to have a stinker at City.

 

[Ash_G]

http://www.eplindex.com/17188/real-number-7-step-nani-vs-valencia.html

Useful stats on Nani and Valencia from last season. Ultimately quite similar, Nani edges it in attack, Valencia defensively, so no big surprises. Guess it really comes down to your preference. Personally I think if given a bit more freedom Nani could produce a lot more for us and as he is now, whilst his style can be more frustrating it is also more likely to be the bit of magic we need in tough games.

 

[Orton]

Nani's crossing accuracy better than Valencia's, but I thought he couldn't cross to save himself? Oh what one bad game can do to cloud people's judgement.

 

[beergod]

Has Nani's inconsistency been any worse than Giggsy's when he used to be a winger ? They both could be highly frustrating to watch at times but over the course of the season they are likely to be productive than most others.

I think Ronaldo and Messi has pretty much fecked up the life for other wingers.

excellent post. most traditional wingers are inconsistent by nature.

Ronaldo's freakish consistency (and arguably Messi's) emerged as he started playing more as a wide forward and stopped being a traditional winger.

 

[paceme]

Nani was affected by that ridiculous yellow card the idiot ref gave him.

He's a game winner.

That doesn't make any sense, his attacking play i.e crosses, corners and passing was poor, the ref wasn't going to give him another yellow for putting a good corner in!

 

[paceme]

Dunno, I recall him having a good spell before the Shitty game, which is why he got the nod over Valencia, he played rubbish in that and then was basically dropped for the remainder.

Everyone was surprised when he started that game, he didn't have a good spell.

 

[Ash_G]

Yeah but none of the attackers had a good game nor did they have much of a chance with Park pretty much killing every first half attack and Giggs providing nothing on his flank. Made sense to play Nani in that game, just made no sense to drop Valencia for Giggs/Park.

 

[paceme]

Yeah but none of the attackers had a good game nor did they have much of a chance with Park pretty much killing every first half attack and Giggs providing nothing on his flank. Made sense to play Nani in that game, just made no sense to drop Valencia for Giggs/Park.

The point isn't that he didn't perform in that game, I was just responding to someone saying he had a good spell before that game.

 

[Ash_G]

The point isn't that he didn't perform in that game, I was just responding to someone saying he had a good spell before that game.

Ah right, I thought he was just coming back from an injury before that game?

 

[paceme]

Ah right, I thought he was just coming back from an injury before that game?

Maybe? I don't remember that but he was injured a fair amount last season.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

He actually wasn't injured all that much. 2 or 3 weeks out mid-season with something fairly minor iirc.

Could be wrong though?

 

[paceme]

I'm sure he kept getting niggles for a while.

I don't know what the opinion was on here but I found it funny in the newbs that before Monday everyone had him over Valencia in their first eleven as he was 'versatile' and 'had flair'.

Tuesday morning comes and he should be dropped and most wouldn't mind if he was sold for 20 odd million