I think it was probably because we suddenly couldn't buy a win. That was because with nothing to fight for the first-teamers had no motivation, but I think Fergie planned to put Januzaj on in games we were winning, and that didn't really happen much.
Adnan Januzaj
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) and Imran (@Annihilate Now!) are here to discuss three 1-1 draws.
The first got us knocked out of the FA Cup, the next puts us in a good position in our Round of 16 Europa League game, and the latest was an actual decent performance against Arsenal at Old Trafford.
All hopes for the season now rest on the Europa League - does Amorim have the squad to win it?
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I think it was probably because we suddenly couldn't buy a win. That was because with nothing to fight for the first-teamers had no motivation, but I think Fergie planned to put Januzaj on in games we were winning, and that didn't really happen much.
He's proven he can hold his own in amongst the big guns. I think he'll be more or less used in every domestic cup game possible.
Januzaj looks faster and more willing to put himself about than Kagawa. I reckon he'd be more positionally versatile, if not necessarily as good.
Januzaj's best position isn't #10, it's as a wide playmaker. He's good central, but better with that bit more room to work in.
I agree he won't get 20 appearances, however. He might get 10 though.
It's one theory, but surely giving him a taste of first team, PL action, playing with the champions, would make him want to work hard over summer anyway to keep his place in a 'work hard and you could be doing this week in week out' sort of way. No better time to give him experience imo esp as we played against a couple of teams with something to play for.
I only say this because I think it'll be harder for Moyes when the pressure is on in his maiden season here, although he does seem committed to continuing our tradition of giving youth a chance.
Yeah, but I doubt he'll make twenty appearances this season.
I echo Jake's sentiments, I think he'll get 15+ appearances. I know people probably think I overrate Januzaj, but I'm seriously more excited about him than I was with Pogba and I was excited with Pogba. The thing that sets him apart the most from Pogba is his attitude.
He's got everything in his locker to succeed. He's got the determination and hunger, you can see that just by watching the u21s matches. He's got skills as you've all seen this pre seasons, and he doesn't try to use them unnecessarily, he uses them when he sees an opening and knows when to play it simple. Which brings me to my next point, he's got maturity beyond his years and the type of maturity that I can't ever remember personally seeing from any 18 year old in the club.
At 18, you could argue that he's already too good for the reserves, he's the youngest in the team and the best by far IMO and I think he's too good to go out on loan as well. He'll do better just being part of the squad, training and getting matches when he can. It's not going to be an easy ride of course, and I wouldn't expect him to just walk into the first team, but he doesn't seem like someone not prepared to fight for it.
You can argue that he's played against weak opposition in this tour. But nevertheless, he hasn't just looked like he's fit in, he's actually stood out which is all you can ask for any youngster trying to impress.
He's got everything in his locker to succeed. He's got the determination and hunger, you can see that just by watching the u21s matches. He's got skills as you've all seen this pre seasons, and he doesn't try to use them unnecessarily, he uses them when he sees an opening and knows when to play it simple. Which brings me to my next point, he's got maturity beyond his years and the type of maturity that I can't ever remember personally seeing from any 18 year old in the club.
At 18, you could argue that he's already too good for the reserves, he's the youngest in the team and the best by far IMO and I think he's too good to go out on loan as well. He'll do better just being part of the squad, training and getting matches when he can. It's not going to be an easy ride of course, and I wouldn't expect him to just walk into the first team, but he doesn't seem like someone not prepared to fight for it.
You can argue that he's played against weak opposition in this tour. But nevertheless, he hasn't just looked like he's fit in, he's actually stood out which is all you can ask for any youngster trying to impress.
Definitely, he's just so tidy and plays such neat passes, combined with a fair bit of silk. He'll have taken a lot of confidence from this tour and hopefully carries that into next season.
Excellent post, agree on all fronts. I don't think you can predict how many appearances he'll get, because you don't always get the games that your performances deserve at this level. But I'd love it if he got loads.
Yeah, I mean we can guess how many appearances he gets. Nothing is set in stone of course, I should rephrase and say I won't be surprised if he gets 15-20+ appearances. If he can put in the performances he's been putting in and take it up a level to deal with tougher opposition than he's got as good a chance as any youngster around.
We can't really speculate how well he will do in the PL until he plays there, but he's shown that he's ready for the opportunity.
He'll not get 15 appearances, he won't get 10.
If he gets 5 run outs he should be delighted. We've had kids impressing in a very high degree on tour before, real football is a different animal. He's a very promising talent, but that's all he is right now. Let's just keep calm and let him develop.
If he gets 5 run outs he should be delighted. We've had kids impressing in a very high degree on tour before, real football is a different animal. He's a very promising talent, but that's all he is right now. Let's just keep calm and let him develop.
The boy is a sensational talent. We have to find a way to make this work, my friends.
I'll quote you on that, and you can quote me on this. He will be getting more than 5 appearances. It's nothing to do with me not keeping calm, but for those of us that see him every week tear it up in the reserves and see him step it up at first team level on tour, we have the right to be excited.
You probably would have said the same about Pogba, and he went on to have 30+ appearances for Juve, and Januzaj is at a higher level IMO than what Pogba was when he was 18. Not necessarily talent wise alone, but determination and everything else included, he'd got the full package for what you'd expect of an up and coming youngster.
So yeah, if Pogba can go and get that many appearances, I don't see why Januzaj can't go and get 15 or more for us this season. Of course he will have to work hard for it, it won't be handed to him on a plate, but I can guarantee you that he will work hard for it.
You probably would have said the same about Pogba, and he went on to have 30+ appearances for Juve, and Januzaj is at a higher level IMO than what Pogba was when he was 18. Not necessarily talent wise alone, but determination and everything else included, he'd got the full package for what you'd expect of an up and coming youngster.
So yeah, if Pogba can go and get that many appearances, I don't see why Januzaj can't go and get 15 or more for us this season. Of course he will have to work hard for it, it won't be handed to him on a plate, but I can guarantee you that he will work hard for it.
The least that Woodward can do is get him on a new contract
We'll know more when we get back to Europe and Rooney and Nani join the squad. If Moyes continues to build his teams around Januzaj, it could point to how important we see Adnan's integration into he first team set up.
What's impressed me about Januzaj is not just his vision and technique, it's the immediacy with which he sees things and pulls them off. It's a level above the likes of Lingard atm, and it's what makes me more excited about him than I ever was over Welbeck or Cleverley. I feel the same way about Zaha, incidentally. I've watched all our preseason games for several years now and this is the first time I've been properly expectant over a fresh and unproven player. And, just our luck, two have come along at once.
What's impressed me about Januzaj is not just his vision and technique, it's the immediacy with which he sees things and pulls them off. It's a level above the likes of Lingard atm, and it's what makes me more excited about him than I ever was over Welbeck or Cleverley. I feel the same way about Zaha, incidentally. I've watched all our preseason games for several years now and this is the first time I've been properly expectant over a fresh and unproven player. And, just our luck, two have come along at once.
Big difference between Adnan and Pogba seems to be that Pogba seemed to want to go anywhere that would give him first team football whereas Adnan seems to want to make it specifically at United. Time will tell I suppose.
One could argue we hold our kids a little too back, we play them in meaningless cup games but never let them taste just how tough first team football really is and against quality players. The likes of Rooney and Ronaldo were thrust into first team football and adapted with ease, thrilling us along the way.
This kid is a talent and I don't think holding him back for just 5 run outs is the way to go if we want to nurture him into a top talent. I'd rather see him play and be given the chance to make it and if he struggles then take him out and play him less, but if he's good enough.... he needs to play, the best players in the world excelled at a young age... not saying he's a Ronaldo/Messi level talent but he's a talent in his own right and imo he'd not be served well by playing in a lower league, going out on loan and making a few sub appearances next season... he needs to be given responsibility but at the same time held back if he gets too cocky and stops working as hard.
I think physically it's a bit to soon to throw him in at the deep end. Ronaldo got by on sheer ability and raw pace, and was always a tough bastard anyway, while Rooney was a manchild. Not comparable.
He's got the head for it, but I just think he's not quite there as to keep players like Nani, Valencia, Kagawa etc out of the team in games that matters. I'm all for giving him run outs though and would be delighted if he proved me wrong.
I agree with what Raees said.
I'm not saying he'd be in my first choice lineup, but what I'm saying is that for example if Rooney was to leave... and say Kagawa was having a poor time playing behind RVP, then I'd have no hesitation to test Janzuaj out to see if he has the mettle to handle first team football, likewise for example if the wingers weren't going through a good patch. If he was to come in and excel, then taking into account burnout, I'd let him stay in the side as long as his form merited it.
One of the issues with the Pogba situation was that our midfield was not very good and he deserved a chance imo to at least be given a chance to play some games, who knows if he excelled... he might have cemented a spot, like he's done for Juventus... but he never got a fair shot, hence why he decided to leave. With talented youngsters, you have to ensure they feel that their age isn't counting against them but rather the merit of their performances.
No point holding them back for holding backs sake. Physically he seems a pretty big lad, there's been much smaller players of that age that have managed to make an impact in first team football.
He lacks the pace and strength at this moment is what I mean by the physical side. One or the other (or both) will improve with time.
As for the Pogba situation, aye, I found it strange that he were given so few opportunities. We didn't have many options really in CM, and not many very good ones, but I just feel in Januzaj's case there are too many talented footballers ahead in the queue for him to get that many opportunities this coming season.
I agree with all of that.
Not too worried about strength... but agreed on the pace issue, that'll be the real indicator of what level of player he can become. If he can glide past players at the highest level and leave them behind with just enough pace, then with his other attributes he'll be a fine player.
He's certainly got the skill and awareness to leave players for dead.
I'll be very surprised if he starts a single Premier League game next season.
I don't think you have to be the fastest as long as the technique and speed of mind is there which it looks like it is. I think it is easy for young players to sometimes stand out playing against weaker opposition but I usually think of it in a more physical/dribbling way. I think that's where young players can look good without it really saying much for how they can do against better trained/physical players. With Januzaj though what's stood out is his comfort moving anywhere across the attack, his speed of thought and comfort on the ball and his choice of play. Those are aspects of his game which aren't contingent on the opposition, he just has them.On top of that he's shown the workrate the you need to really break through.
I think 15 games would be pushing it because unless he really makes a big impact when he gets his chance as I've said before atm there are a lot of players competing for the front 4 spots, so just making the bench is gonna be hard. But I'd be disappointed if with the FA cup/League cup and the odd league/CL game he couldn't get 10 appearances. I guess it will all depend on how his first taste of proper first team action goes. He'll get a chance as otherwise there'd have been no point taking him on tour and if he does well in it no reason to think he can't get more.
I think 15 games would be pushing it because unless he really makes a big impact when he gets his chance as I've said before atm there are a lot of players competing for the front 4 spots, so just making the bench is gonna be hard. But I'd be disappointed if with the FA cup/League cup and the odd league/CL game he couldn't get 10 appearances. I guess it will all depend on how his first taste of proper first team action goes. He'll get a chance as otherwise there'd have been no point taking him on tour and if he does well in it no reason to think he can't get more.
Yes. He's very young and we have plenty of players in his position, it'll take him 2-3 more years before he's given a proper chance IMO. We've had players who were given plenty of time in pre-season which didn't amount to much in the real season at all.
Different teams, with different standards.
Also, young Rooney was well ahead of young Januzaj in development.
I don't think so, if we wait 2-3 years with him then he'll end up leaving. He's good enough now to be playing first team football IMO. Not every youngster needs to be wrapped in cotton wool, when we get one talented enough we just need to give them the chances.
I think it's very hard to predict what Moyes is going to do with our young players. We have a huge squad and without a spate of injuries we might see very little of Januzaj in the EPL as he's behind Nani, Valencia, Young, Welbeck and Zaha for time on the wing.
Fergie took players on a case by case basis, and I expect Moyes to do the same. It will be up to Januzaj to push for playing time. I'm certainly curious to see how many games he gets.
However, I have no doubt he'll see less minutes than Zaha, who looks ready to explode.
Fergie took players on a case by case basis, and I expect Moyes to do the same. It will be up to Januzaj to push for playing time. I'm certainly curious to see how many games he gets.
However, I have no doubt he'll see less minutes than Zaha, who looks ready to explode.
yes, crazy... from this point of view, 15 games are not happening. lets hope for 5 at least.
Spot on and this is why there is no chance we will wait that long. I've said for ages now that I think Januzaj could translate this form to the first team here or somewhere else. For example, Bernard is currently being talked about for Porto, Arsenal etc and having seen him play, I think Januzaj would at least be as handy in the PL this season if given the chance.
Some are jumping the gun with Januzaj if they expect him to make twenty or so appearances next season, I think anyway.
It's difficult to assess right now if he's ready to jump into the Premier League as a regular.
It's difficult to assess right now if he's ready to jump into the Premier League as a regular.
I'm reminded of the people who were saying that Macheda would score 10+ goals in 09/10.
He looks good so far, he'll probably feature in the Charity Shield and get Cup starts and the odd League sub appearance.
He looks good so far, he'll probably feature in the Charity Shield and get Cup starts and the odd League sub appearance.
I'm slowly falling in love with his style of play, so graceful on the ball and clever in tight situations. I hope we manage him in a sensible way, cos it's obvious he has all it takes to make it at the top level.
Can't believe he's only 18, bloody hell.
Can't believe he's only 18, bloody hell.
Who needs Fabregas 
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