Big Ben Foster
Correctly predicted Portugal to win Euro 2016
Looking more and more like this was a suspension in all but name
Fair enoughNothing. It was a police report filed over 12 months ago and subsequently withdrawn relating to a fight in the back of his car between two other women whilst he was driving.
Why do you say that? He’s missed ONE matchLooking more and more like this was a suspension in all but name
That's not how anything works, do you think a police officer can just investigate whatever they want for as long as they want? You think police officers are the ones running things and making the decisions?And the club should've stood firm on this one, given that Antony, unlike Greenwood, hasn't been charged with a crime or arrested. There are other players arrested for more serious crimes who aren't being sent on "mutually agreed leave" by their club. Media could report on international reports, just like they've done in the Antony case when his accuser made an interview in Brazil, but they haven't done so. So I stand by my original comment that the club is forced to sideline Antony by the media, and he will only be allowed back once media allows him back.
It inevitably leads to the question of whether the club can bring him back at any point before the police investigation has concluded? Imagine there's a lazy police officer back in Brazil who doesn't like the cut of Antony's jib (wouldn't blame him...) who takes three years investigating the case before deciding to not press charges. Are the club supposed to pay his wages for that duration without him kicking a ball for the club?
For me the main thing I found fishy was the presence of the PFA representative at the club's offices the night before the announcement on mutual leave was made. It signaled to me that the club intended to suspend him but couldn't officially call it that since he hadn't formally been charged or arrested.Why do you say that? He’s missed ONE match
Or they may have sought advice before reaching the decision to give him time offFor me the main thing I found fishy was the presence of the PFA representative at the club's offices the night before the announcement on mutual leave was made. It signaled to me that the club intended to suspend him but couldn't officially call it that since he hadn't formally been charged or arrested.
Possibly, we'll see. Would be nice to hear some updates especially given the developments that have occurred since the announcement. Feels like it's been ages but really it's only been two weeks.Or they may have sought advice before reaching the decision to give him time off
I don't disagree at all, but given that this is currently a "he said, she said" situation, we can't even conclusively say either party did anything wrong.We’re always quick to say the club did something wrong, how about we look at the players taking personal responsibility for a change
No he isn't. Be serious please.From a footballing point of view he's a massive miss. He's the only player than can keep thr ball to allow us to get out of trouble.
His defensive work is missed as well.
You don't think he's missed on the pitch?No he isn't. Be serious please.
Oh I’m sorry I don’t know how the legal system in Brazil works. Way to miss the point though.That's not how anything works, do you think a police officer can just investigate whatever they want for as long as they want? You think police officers are the ones running things and making the decisions?
Agreed. He’s a very good player - just because end product is currently mostly lacking people are ignoring all the good parts of his game.From a footballing point of view he's a massive miss. He's the only player than can keep thr ball to allow us to get out of trouble.
His defensive work is missed as well.
Not really. No.You don't think he's missed on the pitch?
He’s a huge miss.You don't think he's missed on the pitch?
Not sure what you've been watching the last few games then.Not really. No.
Agreed. He’s a very good player - just because end product is currently mostly lacking people are ignoring all the good parts of his game.
Completely agree.He’s a huge miss.
Not a hyperbole...Come on, hyperbole. He’s missed one match and has been given time off.
As a winger, production or at least chance creation is like 80%-85% of the job so if 80%-85% of his job leaves a lot to be desired, then he's not a big miss. In addition to that, he's a buildup and counter attack killer which is a disaster for the transition game Ten Hag is supposedly trying to implement as he cannot beat a man, even in a foot race, to save his life. Being slightly better than Pellistri is hardly a ringing endorsement of your abilities as an £80m winger. You might be able to excuse his 78% passing accruacy if he carried a major threat going forward but he simply does not. He has almost identical passing accuracy to Rashford yet does not carry even 1/10th of the same threat.Not sure what you've been watching the last few games then.
His end product leaves at lot to be desired but the rest of his game is instrumental in our play imo.
I called hyperbole on the fact that you said that his “career had stalled” after he’s missed one United matchNot a hyperbole...
He has been dropped of the Brazil squad, missed those games, and who knows when he gets back in.
On the ground, there is no end in sight so who knows when he actually gets back.
Off the ground, he has been tainted. It's like once you win an Oscar, you are always intriduced as 'Acadamy award winner'.
Now even if some time in the future his name does get clearly, there will always be an Asterix..
Had been stopped by the National team already.I called hyperbole on the fact that you said that his “career had stalled” after he’s missed one United match
Sure but that's because we haven't prepared for the RW properly for years. Ideally we'd have a quality backup already in the squad but poor squad building got us into this situation. Also it's more than his end product that is a problem. He's a solid RW but he's not lighting up any top leagues with his weaknessesHis end product leaves a lot to be desired but you cannot question his work rate or the fact that the side looks better balanced when he is in it
Don’t get me wrong, not my favorite player. I’m a traditional, line hugging winger type of fanSure but that's because we haven't prepared for the RW properly for years. Ideally we'd have a quality backup already in the squad but poor squad building got us into this situation. Also it's more than his end product that is a problem. He's a solid RW but he's not lighting up any top leagues with his weaknesses
Our we could get Neto in January and people will realize what a proper right winger can offer. Of course we miss Antony if the alternative is Pellistri.Hopefully now we've seen how much we struggle down the right without him people will get off his back.
Who was the last “pure attacking” winger United had? Gordon Hill?Don’t get me wrong, not my favorite player. I’m a traditional, line hugging winger type of fan
Mason Mount and Kobbie Mainoo have been away longer than Antony. Have their careers stalled?Had been stopped by the National team already.
But yeah, couldn't be termed hyperbole then.
Seems much less so now though.
Probably blomquist, sharpe, Gillespie, young giggsWho was the last “pure attacking” winger United had? Gordon Hill?
Most of them (Coppell, Beckham, Nani) haven’t been shy of grafting to win the ball back.
How are the two even similar cases to compare?Mason Mount and Kobbie Mainoo have been away longer than Antony. Have their careers stalled?
Good shouts! Giggs changed his ways though, and if he hadn’t he wouldn’t have enjoyed such a glorious career.Probably blomquist, sharpe, Gillespie, young giggs
You think a player who scored against Arsenal, City, Barca, who the entire fanbase can agree is one of the few players in the squad capable of keeping the ball when pressed, carrying it up the field whilst also providing work ethic and doing his responsibilities, that in a time where we practically have 0 right wingers, where the forward line especially on the left seems to constantly lose the ball....that he isn't missed? InterestingNo he isn't. Be serious please.
Giggs? Kanchelskis?Who was the last “pure attacking” winger United had? Gordon Hill?
Most of them (Coppell, Beckham, Nani) haven’t been shy of grafting to win the ball back.