I'm glad Moyes finally 'saw the real Kagawa'. He is our most intelligent player, get him going already. Sadly, this means warming the bench for RvP.
Shinji Kagawa
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I still think Nani, Rooney and Kagawa behind RVP can work. That's a belting front 4. All 4 will pitch in and track back aswell, so I don't think it leaves us too open either.
If we can devise a system to accommodate Rooney, Kagawa and Van Persie, we're golden.
I don't even think it's a predicament to get the big 3 going. I just think it needs time and games together. The system/tactics is probably over-played. These are great technically gifted players, no excuses really. Just time and belief in them from Moyes.
It's certainly true of Rooney. Form has always been much more important to his game that position or tactics. When he's playing well, he'll play well from any position. But I don't think the same is true of Kagawa. He's a very specialised player, and to get the best out of him you have to get your strategy right.
I actually don't mind Kagawa playing on the left wing. My problem is more to do with him not getting a prolonged period of game time really. No good playing him in one game then dropping him the next. Its hardly productive for the player or the team. Much rather see him in a central as that is really where he excels but overall I just want him to be given more game time. The weekend will be really really interesting. After his MotM performance yesterday he really deserves to start, guess we'll see.
I'd argue we carry 2-3 too many to be honest.
I'd say for everyone to get adequate games we need to be 1 striker lighter and 1 or 2 attacking players lighter.
That'd leave us with 3 players fighting for the striker role and 5-6 players fighting for the 3 behind.
Who knows, we could see Giggs retire, Young/Valencia sold and Rooney not sign a new deal and leave in the Summer.
That'd certainly make a player like Kagawa central to our team.
I think you're largely right about that. In all the recent groaning about our lack of fluidity and all the rest of it, there is one factor which is always overlooked - namely that we have been largely off the boil, both individual players and the team as such. Yesterday we played with some fire - it makes one hell of a difference.
Personally, I think we can get something very good going even if we retain Rooney in his now infamous "not a proper No10" role. Our wingers have been shite for ages. Yesterday they were not. We look a sight better instantly, even though our even more infamous CM situation remains largely the same.
If Kagawa keeps delivering like he did yesterday, in a free role of sorts to the left, the Kagawa conundrum may be solved. Play him to the left, play Nani (or Valencia, or Adnan) to the right. There are still question marks over how well RVP and Rooney combines, of course. But we'll just have to cross that bridge when we get there. One really brilliant performance from the two of them, at the same time, could change everything. It would in itself be enough to scare the shit out of most defenses in the Premier League, by the way.
Carrick Cleverley
Nani Rooney Kagawa
RvP
Hopefully our line up vs Stoke.
Nani Rooney Kagawa
RvP
Hopefully our line up vs Stoke.
I would rather see us play with a proper wide player and with either RVP or Rooney but not both. The two haven't clicked up front for us because they keep making the same runs. Adnan or even Valencia for one of the wings please. That said, I have a feeling we will be subjected to another slumbering appearance by The Fellaini, just by virtue of his height and us playing Stoke.
Why should it? We really should be able to play Nani, Kagawa and Rooney in a floating 3 behind RVP.
Neither Rooney nor Kagawa is efficient on the flank, Rooney in particular would be pissed off - again.
--------------Rooney-----------
Welbeck------Kagawa-------Nani
This is our best front 4 on current form in my opinion.
If he's fully fit there's absolutely zero chance Van Persie wouldn't make the side. I still think Rooney behind Van Persie and Kagawa left, Nani right is out strongest side. Valencia could start ahead of Nani and Januzaj/Young are good options from the bench. Given time under Moyes' system they'll work wonders.
They don't have to play the flank as wide players who are going to stick to the line. Kagawa had plenty of license to roam last game and ther'es no reason that needs to change. As long as the left back provides width the main point is the players themselves getting their movement right which they're all smart enough to do. I'd say the bigger problem is still cm, where fellaini has neither brought added defensive strength not any creativity. If we address than then I think it will help RVP, Rooney, Nani and Kagawa play a more attacking system where they can float.
I agree with Kagawa and Rooney in terms of playing on the flank, but Kagawa can and should be given a free role from the left. He only needs to hold that position during defensive play but sadly Rooney is far more adapt in that role. Ideally though I don't think Rooney would be too disappointed playing from the left given a more free role to roam. I'd have Kagawa central where he really affects the game and Nani or Valencia right with Adnan coming in where required. I'd put Young on the burger van in the car park.
How is Welbeck ahead of Januzaj on current form? Or probably Kagawa for that matter.
We're relying too much on our wide players to continually produce crosses, and they're just not doing it consistently enough. Rooney and RvP can play in the same side and its daft to assume they can't just because of a couple of poor collective displays. Rooney is better in 'the hole' and he knows it, or rather he should know it. He's got time and space there and he can dictate play, arrive late in the box thus providing different options for us in there for the full-backs to pick out or Nani and Kagawa to pass through to, and we know Nani can cross. We need variation in our play and we're better when we can move the ball fast and accurately like in patches last night.
Januzaj is better atm and probably Valencia as well. If RVP is fit, he will play. Do you really think we should play Welbeck on the cost of RVP?
Januzaj has only played a couple of games, it's hard to tell if that is form or just a one-off. His quality is there for all to see but whether he is ready to do that regularly is another question. Besides, I think Welbeck looked lively over the internationals.
I don't think that, I just stated my opinion. It kinda depends on how you define form, in my books, one game does not constitute form.
To be completely fair, januzaj's few great games he had on the left is better then anything welbeck has ever shown from the wing. Welbeck shouldn't be in our starting lineup if we're basing stuff on current form. Nowhere near, because for united at least, he's been pretty poor apart from the opening game.
With a roating fowardline they would harldy ever be stuck out on the flank. Remember our Tevez, Rooney, Ronaldo forwardline. They were free to go where they pleased. I see no reason why we can't employ the same system with the 3 behind RVP. We did so in 2003 with Solskjaer, Scholes and Giggs behind Ruud to great effect. All that matters is that when we lose the ball who ever is on the flank helps to track back.
Are you taking into account International form? If not then Danny is never in that four on form.Adnan will be on the left but otherwise you're spot on!
I'd say that attacking formation above is the best one, so far. Rooney and Welbeck works well with England NT at that setup, Kagawa on central position and actually shone on team surrounded with pacey players, and Nani is a decent crosser and also comfortable switching positions. Then they all offer different goal threats also.
Who cares if Rooney is pissed off?
If it suited the team to play him wide, he'd have to lump it. Fortunately we have better wide options, if he's not playing centrally he probably shouldnt be picked
If it suited the team to play him wide, he'd have to lump it. Fortunately we have better wide options, if he's not playing centrally he probably shouldnt be picked
DDG
Rafael Jones Evans Evra
Carrick Anderson
Nani Kagawa Januzaj
Rooney
This is the way I feel tbh. He's a brilliant player but for me we have better specialist players in every position. RVP is a better number 9, Kagawa a better number 10 and a whole host of players are better out wide.
Good team with the exception of Anderson.I would prefer Cleverley yet i think we should give Fellaini games at home and allow him further opportunities to find his feet.I am all for resting Robin and easing him back in and most wanna see Kagawa and Rooney again after weds!
It would make perfect sense to have Rooney play to the left of Robin with Kagawa playing the nbr 10 role.Yet, him playing left would mean Januzaj would not start in his (we think) favoured position and i don't think Rooney on the right works.You could have Adnan,Kagawa and Rooney moving and swapping in these three areas behind Robin yet I would prefer Nani to the right or Valencia.It does seem to leave us with the Rooney or Shinji competing for the position in the hole problem whenever RvP starts but after his performance Wednesday I think he should play tomorrow with Rooney.It's no real issue for him to play on the left from time to time either.I just think we have a better threat when he plays.He gives us good options and we need to utilise him more.
The thing about kagawa is I just love the type of player he is. The little flicks and turns, the balls he plays, when it comes off like it did on Wednesday he is my favourite type of player to watch. I guess that is why Im always getting behind him in a way some people might say his performances havent always justified - because when it does come off I love it, and I want to see our attacking play develop in that direction - for my own entertainment.
One thing I thought has gone mostly unnoticed is that he actually defended well against Sociedad. He's very good at pressing up front, leaving the opposition little time to start their attacks, but now he was also down in defence doing real tackling and stuff.
All this "current form" stuff, we're only 8 games into the season and RvP is our top scorer. Surely he is one of our in form players?
Doesn't really tell the whole story though. Four of his goals were in the first 2 games and he also has a penalty or 2 to his name. He's definitely been out of form, by his standards, it's just that a great striker will always score a few goals regardless.
He's missed some absolute sitters this season too, more than ever before.
It's the way Berbatov was our top scorer throughout 2010/11. A lot of people appreciated that but also noted that 11 of his 21 goals came in 3 out of 35-40 appearances.
I still wonder why he didn't shoot the ball when he had that chance.
Exactly. Van Persie has had a bit of a dip in form lately, good thing about him is he doesn't need to be at his best to score goals. I wouldn't drop him because he's still our best player IMO. Kagawa can easily adjust to cutting from the flank and he'd swap positions with Rooney anyway I think.
He was really good at doing this for Borussia Dortmund.
Lack of confidence.
At the end of the day, his first-touch and technique is much better than his finishing. If there's space, he'll therefore try to stop the ball first, unless the pass is struck perfectly. Trying to convert a fairly hard pass into a shot on goal, is hard and risky if you're not 100% confident in your finishing.
I've noticed that this is a thing with Japanese players, and also part of the reason for why they're not scoring as many goals as they should. They'd rather have 3 clear-cut chances where everything is perfectly set up for a goal, than 10 half-chances. It's not necessarily a bad thing(look at Spain), but it does require certain mentality as well as superior play. You have to be confident that the chances are gonna come as long as you dominate the game.
I'm a bit on the fence on this one. On one hand, I can't stand all these hopeful shots that have a 5% chance of ending up in the net. We're likely to lose possession and have to start all over again. But on the other hand, it's pretty damn annoying to see a brilliant passing game, followed by indecisiveness and lack of goals. That's what I like so much about Dortmund. They've managed to find the perfect middle-ground, while also playing entertaining football. They're pretty unique in that sense.
Anyways, Kagawa needs more confidence. At United, we want him to take these shots. He needs to know that, and he's probably already been told so.
Solskjær said it best:
The way he presses the CBs really sets the tone for the rest of the team. We need someone like him to bring up the pace of our football.
I agree. I've heard lots of people say that Nani doesn't track back. He actually does and works pretty damn hard for such a skillful player. Sure he's not James Milner but he puts in work defensively as does Rooney and Kagawa. RVP can pressure from the front and is actually very good at intercepting passes and stealing the ball.
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