Nani

esmufc09 said:
The reason I think we will sell him this season if he doesn't improve is because our midfield is starting to look rather weak.
Click to expand...

I disagree. In theory, having two of our important central midfielders pushing the bad side of 35 is not great, but in practice their performances recently have improved from last season. This is an era where all our players have been emplored by the fans to "step up" after the loss of a special player, and two of the players that are stepping it up the most happen to be two of our longest employees. As for them both retiring within 2 years, I think this is taken as a given now.

Park is just Park, you get what you pay for. There's no point in critiscising Hargreaves when he can't even respond, when he is fully fit I think he could be an extremely important part of the team towards the latter stages of this season, especially in Europe.

Carrick has been off-form recently and not playing anywhere near as well as we know he can (and has done) previously, so it's just a matter of time for him to regain that confidence he had and sort himself out.

Fletcher has come on leaps and bounds in the last few seasons, he certainly has the makings of a midfield general. He's gone from being a solid reliable squad player to an extremely talented first teamer, and any midfield containing him can't go far wrong.

Is our midfield looking weak? Each to their own if you think so. Of course there is always room for improvement, but any team in the world would kill for the midfielders we have. This really is a championship winning midfield.
 
It's worrying that Nani's decision making and awareness of his team mates positions haven't progressed at all since he came to the club. As already mentioned, it's extremely frustrating as he has all the necessary physical and technical ability to be a top class winger.

I agree with Elvis in that this is make-or-break for him now. If he doesn't show some real improvement and a run of form lasting more than a game or two then I can see him being sold in the summer.

I'm confident that Valencia will prove to be a good player for us when he finds his feet.
 
AlwynP said:
I disagree. In theory, having two of our important central midfielders pushing the bad side of 35 is not great, but in practice their performances recently have improved from last season. This is an era where all our players have been emplored by the fans to "step up" after the loss of a special player, and two of the players that are stepping it up the most happen to be two of our longest employees. As for them both retiring within 2 years, I think this is taken as a given now.

Park is just Park, you get what you pay for. There's no point in critiscising Hargreaves when he can't even respond, when he is fully fit I think he could be an extremely important part of the team towards the latter stages of this season, especially in Europe.

Carrick has been off-form recently and not playing anywhere near as well as we know he can (and has done) previously, so it's just a matter of time for him to regain that confidence he had and sort himself out.

Fletcher has come on leaps and bounds in the last few seasons, he certainly has the makings of a midfield general. He's gone from being a solid reliable squad player to an extremely talented first teamer, and any midfield containing him can't go far wrong.

Is our midfield looking weak? Each to their own if you think so. Of course there is always room for improvement, but any team in the world would kill for the midfielders we have. This really is a championship winning midfield.
Click to expand...

And Anderson seems to have realised that there are other passes to play than the killer pass, and pings it and then runs for it a bit more now. If he can keep his form, when played central, up, then we may see some good performances from him too.

Not to mention the quality on either side of the midfield. Foster looking, mostly, good, an incredible defence, bar more damages on the right hand side, and a nice blend of strikers, and I think I trust Welbeck to do some damage when he comes on, no matter who against.

We really are spoilt ;P
 
AlwynP said:
I disagree. In theory, having two of our important central midfielders pushing the bad side of 35 is not great, but in practice their performances recently have improved from last season. This is an era where all our players have been emplored by the fans to "step up" after the loss of a special player, and two of the players that are stepping it up the most happen to be two of our longest employees. As for them both retiring within 2 years, I think this is taken as a given now.
Click to expand...

I know they have stepped up; they've both been brilliant this season and Scholes yesterday was superb, it was great watching him control the midfield like that. Same with Giggs in the second half against City. But we just don't seem to have anybody coming through for when they do retire. Tosic and Llajic have been bought but haven't really been given much of a chance, which is quite concerning.

Park is just Park, you get what you pay for. There's no point in critiscising Hargreaves when he can't even respond, when he is fully fit I think he could be an extremely important part of the team towards the latter stages of this season, especially in Europe.
Click to expand...

Oh I am a fan of Hargreaves; I think he is a great player when fit and I thought he was a very important part of our '08 double winning squad, but he is constantly injured so he can't really be relied upon. Same with Saha, he was perfect for our team and our system but he was never fit. He's now managed to get himself fit at Everton and is having a run of games and doing very well; which I don't think surprises anybody.

Carrick has been off-form recently and not playing anywhere near as well as we know he can (and has done) previously, so it's just a matter of time for him to regain that confidence he had and sort himself out.
Click to expand...

Very true, I have faith in Carrick to come through. Not been a good few months for the lad but he is still one of the best midfielders there is when he is on form.

Fletcher has come on leaps and bounds in the last few seasons, he certainly has the makings of a midfield general. He's gone from being a solid reliable squad player to an extremely talented first teamer, and any midfield containing him can't go far wrong.
Click to expand...

Fletcher I didn't mention because I didn't think I needed to. These past 18 months or so he has come on leaps and bounds like you say. Definitely one of our most important players now and if he had a spanish name like Iniesta or Xavi than he would be talked about more than he is.

Is our midfield looking weak? Each to their own if you think so. Of course there is always room for improvement, but any team in the world would kill for the midfielders we have. This really is a championship winning midfield.
Click to expand...

Perhaps I shouldn't have said midfield; I was more referring to the wide players we have available; that of Nani, Park and Valencia. Our central midfield when all fully fit and on form is actually strong and there are plenty of combinations that can be had for different systems, but it's out-wide where my concerns lie. We saw it in the final against Barcelona, we put Ronaldo up front but he got no service because we had no quality wingers.
 
I should say I'm not judging Valencia, I think he will come good over the course of the season once he starts to settle, once he gets a run of games and once his confidence starts to build. But Park is never going to be a world beater and Nani is Nani.
 
esmufc09 said:
But we just don't seem to have anybody coming through for when they do retire. Tosic and Llajic have been bought but haven't really been given much of a chance, which is quite concerning.
Click to expand...

I take it you have extremely little knowledge of the reserves and youth then given that we have the most exciting crop of youngsters we've had since the Scholes/Beckham/Neville/Butt era and Llajic isn't even joining up with the squad until January.
 
I'm not talking about Youth, they are many years away from coming through. I'm talking about players who are going to come into the first team in the next couple of seasons to replace, or start to replace, the likes of Giggs and Scholes.
 
Eriku said:
And Anderson seems to have realised that there are other passes to play than the killer pass, and pings it and then runs for it a bit more now. If he can keep his form, when played central, up, then we may see some good performances from him too
Click to expand...

Exactly. Anderson's football brain seems to have developed a lot, his decision making is much better than it was and he looks to be becoming a good player. Last year like Nani he was disappointing but he's started this season well and I'm confident he'll come through.

Nani on the other hand doesn't seem to have developed his football brain or decision making at all. He's still making the simple errors he was in his first season.
 
datura said:
Well post something stupid..

We have a very talented pool of attackers and midfielders between the ages of 16-20, who may be able to replace the players in the timescale you stated.
Click to expand...

I didn't mention attackers, I'm talking about midfielders.

datura said:
It wasn't a discussion, Mr Spam was spewing his normal ignorance and not thinking about what he's posting.
Click to expand...

The thread is getting side-tracked. Let's get back onto Nani.
 
We get the Serb boy in January and there's high hopes for him. We also have the French lad and Tosic is coming along. We have options, at the moment however we're in no place to play them and risk losing points.

If we go for anyone I think Silva is the only one. There are very few wingers out there that are worth a go. Robben would of been and he's been quite good this season.
 
esmufc09 said:
I know they have stepped up; they've both been brilliant this season and Scholes yesterday was superb, it was great watching him control the midfield like that. Same with Giggs in the second half against City. But we just don't seem to have anybody coming through for when they do retire. Tosic and Llajic have been bought but haven't really been given much of a chance, which is quite concerning.
Click to expand...

What the feck?

You're aware Llajic is 17 years old and still in Serbia, right?

Besides, it goes without saying that Tosic and Llajic are by no means the two players in our squad most likely to replace Scholes/Giggs. Really bizarre to imply that they might be.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
What the feck?

You're aware Llajic is 17 years old and still in Serbia, right?

Besides, it goes without saying that Tosic and Llajic are by no means the two players in our squad most likely to replace Scholes/Giggs. Really bizarre to imply that they might be.
Click to expand...

I'd forgotten about the Llajic situation, my apologies.

My original point however, was with regards to why we can't afford to give Nani any more time beyond this season, which still stands. He needs to step up and if he doesn't he'll be shipped out.
 
esmufc09 said:
I'd forgotten about the Llajic situation, my apologies.

My original point however, was with regards to why we can't afford to give Nani any more time beyond this season, which still stands. He needs to step up and if he doesn't he'll be shipped out.
Click to expand...

I'm inclined to agree this is Nani's last season to step up or get shipped out, if no other reason than he'll have had three seasons to make his mark and he'll be 24 next autumn (why do people keep saying he's 21? he turns 23 in a couple of months time) At the moment, he doesn't look to have developed much from his debut season, which is a worry.

I disagree that this has anything to do with Giggs and (especially) Scholes. We've loads of options in central midfield and Giggs only rarely plays on the wing anyway.
 
I clarified the point about the midfield in a response to Alwyn, the thread then got slightly side-tracked.

It'll be interesting to see which games Nani plays in over the coming month. Home to Sunderland, Bolton and Blackburn, away to Liverpool and a game against Wolfsburg on Wednesday. All games (Liverpool aside) in which you think he would be able make a substantial impact on the game. It's an important month for him.
 
I think he'd have fun against Johnson at Anfield.
 
I think we've already established that this would be his make or break season, same for Berbatov. Although I think that, bar some extraordinary situation where we are offered the opportunity to sign another quality striker, Berba will probably stay for the next few years.

The thing about Nani is that when he's good, he's really good. He still has at least 8 months to prove himself so we'll see.
 
anything about now said:
I think we've already established that this would be his make or break season, same for Berbatov. Although I think that, bar some extraordinary situation where we are offered the opportunity to sign another quality striker, Berba will probably stay for the next few years.

The thing about Nani is that when he's good, he's really good. He still has at least 8 months to prove himself so we'll see.
Click to expand...

In other words, it's make or break season for Nani, but not for Berbatov.
 
anything about now said:
I think we've already established that this would be his make or break season, same for Berbatov. Although I think that, bar some extraordinary situation where we are offered the opportunity to sign another quality striker, Berba will probably stay for the next few years.

The thing about Nani is that when he's good, he's really good. He still has at least 8 months to prove himself so we'll see.
Click to expand...

Berbatov has started this season very, very well and if he had chipped in with a couple more goals he'd be talked about more a lot more than he currently is.

Look at him when he plays and when he doesn't play.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Jesus, there's some bollox talked in this thread but that takes the biscuit. You're actually basing your opinion on Obertan on YouTube aren't you? Either that or a couple of U-21 games. Either way, that's a ridiculous claim to make.

Let's wait until AFTER Obertan is voted one of the best young players in WC 2010 before saying he's gonna make Valencia seem a waste of money, shall we?
Click to expand...

Ha why wait?? If you believe something you believe something.. It's opened to proven wrong or right isn't it!! So say for instance what I say happens to come in place... what do you say then?! Obviously i have to base an opinion from watching him don't I!! It's the same as people prodicting Ronaldo would turn out to be the best player in the world one day from watching him a couple times obviously things don't always go as planned... but what are you saying i can't make a valid prediction or am i not intitled to know a bit about a player because a few others don't? Tell me what it is?

I'll wait tell he's been voted one of the best young players in WC 2010(which most likely wont happen) then post what i said again... Just for you!!
 
Mainoldo said:
Ha why wait?? If you believe something you believe something.. It's opened to proven wrong or right isn't it!! So say for instance what I say happens to come in place... what do you say then?! Obviously i have to base an opinion from watching him don't I!! It's the same as people prodicting Ronaldo would turn out to be the best player in the world one day from watching him a couple times obviously things don't always go as planned... but what are you saying i can't make a valid prediction or am i not intitled to know a bit about a player because a few others don't? Tell me what it is?

I'll wait tell he's been voted one of the best young players in WC 2010 (which most likely wont happen) then post what i said again... Just for you!!
Click to expand...

You do that.

For the record, Valencia has already been voted as one of the best young players, at the last World Cup.

Waste of money, you say?
 
I cant remember a United player frustrating me as much as Nani does. The talent is there.

I have said it before, but i think he is always far too eager to impress. He needs to just do the basics well and build from there.
 
gaffs said:
I cant remember a United player frustrating me as much as Nani does. The talent is there.

I have said it before, but i think he is always far too eager to impress. He needs to just do the basics well and build from there.
Click to expand...

It is just the intelligence and SAF I think took a pop at Nani by saying Yesterday that Ryan's intelligence was the key to us winning the game.
 
championo said:
It is just the intelligence and SAF I think took a pop at Nani by saying Yesterday that Ryan's intelligence was the key to us winning the game.
Click to expand...

gaffs said:
I noticed that.
Click to expand...

I have to say that I didn't actually notice that. If there was any attribute of Giggsy's that you could transfer to Nani it would have to be the intelligence, withoot a doot.

His technical and physical attributes are there for all to see, but what use is a big engine and flashy spoiler if the onboard computer is wank?

Decision making [or indecisiveness thereof] is his big flaw.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
You do that.

For the record, Valencia has already been voted as one of the best young players, at the last World Cup.

Waste of money, you say?
Click to expand...

Oppsss I'll take it back!! Can't right him off with that logic.. would be like righting off Karel Poborsky knowing how good he was in Euro 96!!

You brought up that ridiculous point which is a pretty usless one when we all know Obertan wont be playing in next years world cup.
 
Mainoldo said:
Oppsss I'll take it back!! Can't right him off with that logic.. would be like righting off Karel Poborsky knowing how good he was in Euro 96!!

You brought up that ridiculous point which is a pretty usless one when we all know Obertan wont be playing in next years world cup.
Click to expand...

What?

This player who's so good he'll make Valencia seem like a waste of money (your words) isn't even good enough to play in the World Cup, at the same age that Valencia was voted one of the best young players in the previous tournament?

In other words, you were talking out your arse.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
What?

This player who's so good he'll make Valencia seem like a waste of money (your words) isn't even good enough to play in the World Cup, at the same age that Valencia was voted one of the best young players in the previous tournament?

In other words, you were talking out your arse.
Click to expand...

Your acting like he was the best young player of the tournment... like you said its given out to a few people.. really means nothing though can't remember Zidane been voted one of the best young players neither David Beckham? Paul Scholes?? World cup comes round ever four years you cnut.. as a player it also has to come around for you at the right time too. Yeah he might not be participating in this one but i'm sure he'll be around in the next won..

Never actually said he was going to make him look like a waste of money 'this season' did I!!!
 
Mainoldo said:
Your acting like he was the best young player of the tournment... like you said its given out to a few people.. really means nothing though can't remember Zidane been voted one of the best young players neither David Beckham? Paul Scholes?? World cup comes round ever four years you cnut.. as a player it also has to come around for you at the right time too. Yeah he might not be participating in this one but i'm sure he'll be around in the next won..

Never actually said he was going to make him look like a waste of money 'this season' did I!!!
Click to expand...

No shit, you cnut.

As for timing, Obertan will be the same age in 2010 as Valencia was in 2006.
 
Mainoldo said:
Ha why wait?? If you believe something you believe something.. It's opened to proven wrong or right isn't it!! So say for instance what I say happens to come in place... what do you say then?! Obviously i have to base an opinion from watching him don't I!! It's the same as people prodicting Ronaldo would turn out to be the best player in the world one day from watching him a couple times obviously things don't always go as planned... but what are you saying i can't make a valid prediction or am i not intitled to know a bit about a player because a few others don't? Tell me what it is?

I'll wait tell he's been voted one of the best young players in WC 2010(which most likely wont happen) then post what i said again... Just for you!!
Click to expand...

No, you can't make a valid prediction based off of about 200 minutes of seeing him play, if even. You can take a guess though, but then anyone can do that, so it's a bit pointless if it's a baseless guess.

If you're right, you took a wild guess based on very little and got lucky.
 
Brwned said:
No, you can't make a valid prediction based off of about 200 minutes of seeing him play, if even. You can take a guess though, but then anyone can do that, so it's a bit pointless if it's a baseless guess.

If you're right, you took a wild guess based on very little and got lucky.
Click to expand...

Chances are it's made on less than 20 minutes of youtube footage.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
No shit, you cnut.

As for timing, Obertan will be the same age in 2010 as Valencia was in 2006.
Click to expand...

But what does that have to do with anything...? Your just going off subject?! Plus Valencia plays for friggin Ecuador.. Dela Cruz is hardly Frank Ribery!!

But its okay i'm sure Valencia will turn out to be a better player than Obertan in the long run... 'He was voted the best young talents of the tournment you know!!' can't argue with that Paul Scholes hasn't got that on his C.V. Most be good.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.