Adnan Januzaj

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Well he looks better than a lot of comparable players at 18 (as in when they were 18). All about taking the talent through his career and developing it so he can not only open games up, but have significant effects with goals and setting up goals.

The self confidence isn't lacking and we've been desperate for that player since Ronaldo left. With some fine tuning he can be the guy who steps up and fills those boots and be an elite player. Management from Moyes and application from Januzaj will be critically assessed either way in 2 or 3 years. He could easily stagnate and believe in his own hype or he can aspire to be the best and become the best.
 
It's like Moyes is egging him on to keep going for those goals, as much as he misses. Otherwise why would he keep playing him? Frustrating as it is when he takes those long shots and misses, it's only going to help him improve in the long run. It's as though he's told to go out there and be cocky, I like that. He doesn't seem so have the arrogance of young Ronaldo, though, instead he seems like a more modest version of him.

The way he plays you'd think he's lavished with experience, the way he graces the ball reminds me of Giggs, his composure is remarkable, he never seems phased by the occasion. Appears to be a bright lad, too. I get excited every time I see him.

/ramble
 
Also, like Giggs, he's just slotted into the first team as if it's nothing and the senior players trust in him on the pitch is brilliant.

Usually you'd see a case of high profile players like Rooney or Carrick be hesitant to give an inexperienced youngster much of the ball, but the amount of times they pick him out really tells you everything.
 
Twigg said:
It's like Moyes is egging him on to keep going for those goals, as much as he misses. Otherwise why would he keep playing him? Frustrating as it is when he takes those long shots and misses, it's only going to help him improve in the long run. It's as though he's told to go out there and be cocky, I like that. He doesn't seem so have the arrogance of young Ronaldo, though, instead he seems like a more modest version of him.

The way he plays you'd think he's lavished with experience, the way he graces the ball reminds me of Giggs, his composure is remarkable, he never seems phased by the occasion. Appears to be a bright lad, too. I get excited every time I see him.

/ramble
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He offers a LOT more to the team than just shooting and missing :lol:

Sure he has a few wayward shots, but who doesn't?. At the end of the day if you don't shoot you don't score. It will all benefit him in the long run anyway, to have the confidence to shoot and miss, then shoot again straight after is good.
 
He's incredibly accomplished on the ball... and always looks comfortable and in-control of what he's doing.

He's basically the anti-Jones
 
Adam-Utd said:
He offers a LOT more to the team than just shooting and missing :lol:

Sure he has a few wayward shots, but who doesn't?. At the end of the day if you don't shoot you don't score. It will all benefit him in the long run anyway, to have the confidence to shoot and miss, then shoot again straight after is good.
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Woah, I wasn't implying that. Sorry, I'm shit with words. All I meant was that it seems as though he is being encouraged to keep on going for these shots even though he rarely hits the target. His overall game is fantastic.
 
As for his shooting, it's better than Ronaldo's shooting at 18. I can't really remember him starting to blast them in before he was 20 or something.

Remember his thunderbolt at Sunderland? No, not he goal. The 'keeper made a great save, in the first half.

Shooting: Check.
 
Twigg said:
Woah, I wasn't implying that. Sorry, I'm shit with words. All I meant was that it seems as though he is being encouraged to keep on going for these shots even though he rarely hits the target. His overall game is fantastic.
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Ah ok, well yes for sure Moyes will not be pissed off with a player going for goal, especially as he knows Januzaj has that ability. He generally does seem to look for the pass first though, but if no options are available he is not scared to have a pop - which is good in my eyes.
 
Every time he gets the ball you expect something to happen. Haven't felt that since Ronaldo.

At one point Ashley Young faked a cross, then faked it again, then again and was in exactly the same position as when he started. He then rolled the ball to Adnan who showed him how to do it and glided into the box past about 3 players and had a shot.
 
Sphaero said:
Januzaj has immense potential and talent. That is plain to see for everyone with a little knowledge about this sport. It is also understandable and completely fine to get excited as a supporter about such a shining prospect. Some put the bar very high already, though. On the last pages he was compared to Cruyff, Best or Ronaldo and named him as a potential Ball d´or winner. Predictions like that come too early IMO.
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Yeah the 'potential Ballon d'Or' comment was me... and I stick by it. I know fair well that it's early days, that hundreds of things could come along and hamper his development or he could just fade away like other players filled with potential. But there's something about this kid that made me post that comment and not feel it was too outlandish. There's an aura about him and a self belief that pushes me to believe that whatever the circumstances, Januzaj is going to make it to the very top.

So yes, reasonable thinking and being prudent would mean I shouldn't make such comments. But to be honest, I don't care.
 
Adam-Utd said:
Ah ok, well yes for sure Moyes will not be pissed off with a player going for goal, especially as he knows Januzaj has that ability. He generally does seem to look for the pass first though, but if no options are available he is not scared to have a pop - which is good in my eyes.
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:lol:

Every time I try and be positive about something it always comes out cynical. Must be my pessimistic subconscious.
 
Sphaero said:
To be fair, that is simply too soon to say, because until now he has not played against a real top class defense. Formations, which have the ability to put enourmous amounts of pressure on single players. There are for example several systems which are build to immediatly double dangerous players, the most obvious being high movement and pressing systems (e.g. Barcelona, Bayern, Dortmund). He has also yet to show that his ability to glide past opposition works against high calibre defenders, who have better anticipation, positioning and tackling abilities than the ones he faced so far.

Januzaj has immense potential and talent. That is plain to see for everyone with a little knowledge about this sport. It is also understandable and completely fine to get excited as a supporter about such a shining prospect. Some put the bar very high already, though. On the last pages he was compared to Cruyff, Best or Ronaldo and named him as a potential Ball d´or winner. Predictions like that come too early IMO.

It would probably be wise to wait at least until the end of the season. By then, we will know way more about him, because he will hopefully have gotten the chance to test his skills vs. the top competition in the EPL and perhaps even in the CL. He will also have had the opportunity to show consistence over a longer time span and how he handles things when not everything runs smoothly for him.
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This. And more of this. Too often talented youngsters go astray so can we get through a season with him first? Also, he was great last night but there are elements of his game that can improve. His decision making is not always the best as he took shots at goal when there was a better option available. Don't mind it though since it shows how confident he is in his own ability which is always a positive sign. I just hope he grows from strength to strength.
 
I don't understand. We've been crying out for more goals from midfield for a long time and people are complaining about Januzaj taking a pop at goal from time to time?

We need more players that do exactly that.
 
Shark22 said:
I don't understand. We've been crying out for more goals from midfield for a long time and people are complaining about Januzaj taking a pop at goal from time to time?

We need more players that do exactly that.
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Why is it then that Nani gets booed when he does that and gets taken apart on here for taking unnecessary shots? My issues not him taking shots, I simply said he needs to learn when to do it. There were about 2 shots he took last night which were down right selfish and there were better options available. Of course, at 1-0 up vs Norwich at OT you can get away with it when you being a bit 'wasteful' but my point still stands. More about his development as a 'perfect nr 10' than saying he shouldn't shoot, he should, it's a matter of knowing when to which I'm confident will come with time.
 
Jinn said:
Zidane, there i said it
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Flashes of the great man, that ease with which he beats people and the way he controls the ball at times. Will be great watching his growth as a player.
 
Stretch said:
Why is it then that Nani gets booed when he does that and gets taken apart on here for taking unnecessary shots? My issues not him taking shots, I simply said he needs to learn when to do it. There were about 2 shots he took last night which were down right selfish and there were better options available. Of course, at 1-0 up vs Norwich at OT you can get away with it when you being a bit 'wasteful' but my point still stands. More about his development as a 'perfect nr 10' than saying he shouldn't shoot, he should, it's a matter of knowing when to which I'm confident will come with time.
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I'm not one of those who thought Nani was the worst ever on Saturday but some of his shots were absolutely atrocious and from the most ridiculous positions.

Januzaj seems to already have the timing and decision making in his game. He goes past players at such ease and I'd be more pissed off if he elected not to shoot from the good positions he gets himself into. Nani certainly needs to get a monkey off his back and score a goal or two to gain a bit of confidence but his decision making can be rather erratic and I'm sure most level headed people will agree than Januzaj looks far from erratic.
 
ISSYNAZAR said:
I'm not one of those who thought Nani was the worst ever on Saturday but some of his shots were absolutely atrocious and from the most ridiculous positions.

Januzaj seems to already have the timing and decision making in his game. He goes past players at such ease and I'd be more pissed off if he elected not to shoot from the good positions he gets himself into. Nani certainly needs to get a monkey off his back and score a goal or two to gain a bit of confidence but his decision making can be rather erratic and I'm sure most level headed people will agree than Januzaj looks far from erratic.
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It's more perception i.e. it's what you want to see. Nani had only 2 oUtrageous shots against Stoke, but he has the ability to put those types of shots away.

I'm delighted for Januzaj. He deserves a starting spot in all our league cup games, and he deserves at least a bench spot in the league and in Europe.
 
#07 said:
I was thinking Cruyff :p:lol:

Seriously speaking though, Januzaj has exploded onto the scene. If he carries on like this he'll be on the shortlist for PFA young player of the year come the end of the season, no doubt about it.
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Shortlist? He's going to win it this year if he carries on this way. He'll win the main one next season.
 
Colin129 said:
So, are we gong to give him the vacant No 7 shirt?

Can he handle it? Seems like he's the right type of player to get it.
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Yes he can. He is talented and fearless, he has game changing factor and the look too, I say let him have the no.7 jersey.
 
Rossa said:
Probably will, and I'm a fan of quick players, but I'm not sure that he needs it. He has that uncanny ability to just glide past players without having to use much pace, unlike Ronaldo or Giggs who is/was about blasting past opponents.
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Agreed. If he stayed as fast as he is now (not lightning-quick but certainly faster than your average player), I'd be very happy. I'd rather he didn't bulk up much, as he's already plenty strong enough on the ball and he'll lose that willowy dribbling style if he puts too much muscle on.
 
What a boost Januzaj has been to the club this season. Suddenly we can start dreaming again. Fair play to Moyes for playing him.
I think since the Pogba debacle the club is realizing that it is going to have to make bigger efforts to hang onto talent coming through the ranks that could become world class.....so good to see that there has perhaps been a change of strategy there.........it's not like the olden days when young players like Giggs and Scholes didn't have other major clubs in Europe trying to offer them multimillion pound contracts in the hope of poaching him..things have changed and theres a lot more massive spending clubs these days sniffing around other clubs academys
 
Brightonian said:
Agreed. If he stayed as fast as he is now (not lightning-quick but certainly faster than your average player), I'd be very happy. I'd rather he didn't bulk up much, as he's already plenty strong enough on the ball and he'll lose that willowy dribbling style if he puts too much muscle on.
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True. But he's only 18 and I guess still has a fair amount of growing to do. What I mean to say is that he's bound to grow even if it's potentially detrimental in a way.
 
Brightonian said:
Agreed. If he stayed as fast as he is now (not lightning-quick but certainly faster than your average player), I'd be very happy. I'd rather he didn't bulk up much, as he's already plenty strong enough on the ball and he'll lose that willowy dribbling style if he puts too much muscle on.
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Seems about right. He's more the Özil type of player than the Giggs type, and he'll be no worse for that. You don't lose pace by bulking up - most people get faster, but as you pointed out, you can lose some of that willowy style and agility that makes him stand out at the moment.
 
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