Clearly didnt enjoy the physical game and lack of space on a constricted playing field. Will come for him at some point 
Shinji Kagawa
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Terrible game. Not the best stage to continue your comeback to fitness. Upton Park is difficult at the best of times. Nevertheless, he showed a few touches of class and it's another step to fitness.
I like that he's being given matches because he clearly needs it. I know to expect much better than hes shown so far, but its only to be expected that hes below par for a few matches on his return from injury
He was very poor today, seem he doesn't like the physical aspect of the game and didn't get into the game at all.
We shouldn't play him from the start in away games, don't think he is up to it at this moment in time.
We shouldn't play him from the start in away games, don't think he is up to it at this moment in time.
He was quieter than we would like. You could also see his use of possession become sloppier in the second half. That's to be expected really. I've seen enough of his general play to know how effective he can be in our side. Let's give him a bit more time to adjust to the demands of English football. Facing a team managed by Big Sam is a baptism of fire for most players.
2nd game back from injury, not an easy game to come into.
No biggie.
No biggie.
Shocking performance as has been the norm this season
Feel he was wasted, showed some nice stuff in and around the box but spent most his time closer to scholes, the diamond for me just doesn't seem right. It allows the two tucked in wider midfielders more freedom to roam than the guy at the head. I think a central 3 would have been much better with kagawa at the tip fthat occasionally swapping with clev rather than him spending most his time deeper than clev/raf.
This.
That's more than a bit harsh considering how little of the season he's actually played.
He kept on getting kicked late as well.
Meh. He's coming back from a long term layoff. Him and Cleverley need to do more work together. Still feel like they are getting in each other's way by trying to do similar things occupying similar zones.
Agreed, I really don't understand why we play it like that. Galatasaray away is the only game I think we played it properly and Powell was in acres of space in that AM position with a lot of freedom.
Bar that game it has been exactly as you describe.
very poor today. hope he can improves performance wise as well as his fitness as the season goes on now.
Still feeling his way back in but really needs to force himself on the game more than he is doing.
Showed some really nice touches and was good in the first half, but in the second half he just seemed really tired and was kind of useless. Came back into the game late on. Needs to bulk up tough, seriously. So many times got outmuscled, but I wouldn't be worried about him at all. Give him some time and he'll come good, for sure. He's got too much ability on the ball and a great eye for a pass to fail here.
Also think for this season he'll be a lot more useful in the champions league than in the premier league.
Also think for this season he'll be a lot more useful in the champions league than in the premier league.
We don't use him right neither imo. He has never played so deep for Dortmund as he does for us. If we insist on a 4-4-2 then play him on the left. If we play the diamond then he has to be the furthes up from the midfield 3.
Agree with this, he was coming way too deep, this should never have to be the case.
Why not chuck him in the reserves to build his fitness levels instead
He had 90 minutes today...that is the only good thing I will say about him playing today.
clearly lacks fitness.
play him again v West Ham.
clearly lacks fitness.
play him again v West Ham.
Not really doesn't matter if he's played 2 games all season or 20 poor is poor
90 minutes today is in a way a sign that he won't start against Liverpool no ? I can see Giggs playing with Young on the right, RVP and Chicharito up front
Why not chuck him in the reserves to build his fitness levels instead
what so he can take the piss out of a few 19 year olds and hardly break a sweat? Better for him to get his sharpness the hard way, he's still got to adapt to the speed and physicality of the league so best get him some experience in it.
Even his first touch was off today.
Frustrating.
Frustrating.
Yep, he's not that type of player. His one touch football can kill teams closer to the box and that's where he should be.
Tbh, he was shocking today.
He was just back from injury though, so no need to worry.
He was just back from injury though, so no need to worry.
His first touch seems to be off more often than not, constantly is caught on his heels and beaten to the ball, I just dont think he's cut out to play where we're playing him. Stick him on the left wing and see how he does out there
Why not chuck him in the reserves to build his fitness levels instead
Well this way he can get used to the premier league and build his fitness up at the same time.
It was one of the worst teams for him to play against today: West Ham have a small pitch, they are physically imposing, they press and they pack the midfield. I think the greater concern is how to effectively fit him in the team longer term. I hope that he doesn't turn out to be another Berbatov or Veron.
A little disappointing today, but I imagine he needs to be at the top of his game to excel at this level. Coming back from a long layoff, his lack of sharpness makes his slim frame an easy target for physical challenges.
Cracking ball into Hernandez for the offside goal from Welbeck though. (Think it was that way around)
Not feeling him too much at the moment, certainly not in the wild euphoria that greeted his signing from many.
Hasn't played that many games for us, but in away games versus physical teams certainly doesn't excel.
However, still early days, and he'll get loads more chances.
Needs to play further forward than he was today.
Hasn't played that many games for us, but in away games versus physical teams certainly doesn't excel.
However, still early days, and he'll get loads more chances.
Needs to play further forward than he was today.
Not his fault there was 5 others taking up the gap between defence and midfield. Forcing him to play far too deep!
First touch was very poor, I hope it is not a case of the EPL not suiting his style of play.
He is a second striker who should play right behind the forwards or coming in off the line in a very advanced position. He isn't a Modric or even a Cazorla in my opinion. He is further advanced than that. I think he is more suited to how van der Vaart played at Spurs. Give him the ball 25 yards out and he will show his best.
I thought it was pretty clear he was playing at the tip of the diamond and we played a possession-based style to get the best out of him, Welbeck, Cleverley, Scholes and co. It was set up for him, he just got hounded off the ball most of the times it was played into him in the hole so he came deep to try and influence things. That's not the team's fault that's his fault and people shouldn't be making excuses for him. I'm sure he's surprised at the physical side of the game here hindering his play with his back to goal as much as it has.
That is how we set up but he didn't play like he was at the tip of the diamond. I thought the two CM's had too much freedom and were getting into positions he should have been roaming in.. It just got congested.
That's not true. I remember early in the season he was getting passes pinged at him and dealt with them with ease. His first touch was often sublime.
Textbook "you're only as good as your last game" in football.
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