I don't think that's going to be an issue. He's creative and his shown that through the youth set up. The other day he should have had an assist for that chipped through ball to Anderson, but Anderson fecked it up. On another day Zaha would have scored off that pass he played near the end of the last game. In 110 mins of preseason, he could have had a hand in a few goals already.
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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His end product is exemplary. He had the third highest number of assists for the U21s last season despite only moving up from the U18s with half a season to go. He scored all our goals at the Fifa Youth Cup.
If it's a WUM, it's a poor one.
Makes me laugh when people say stuff like 'needs more end product' (a term I hate anyway) or 'needs to improve his decision making' about players who are clearly nowhere near their peak. It's pretty much taken as read that they are not going to be as productive or efficient as 27/28 year olds, so compare to other players of the same age if you must.
I'd say Januzaj is very creative, he's always one of the more creative and imaginative players on the pitch but he in the year and a half of uninterrupted football we've seen from him he hasn't shown that he has a goalscoring touch, so I'd say he needs to improve in that area
Just gonna pop the gif of his assist against Burnley in the FA youth cup here
Eden Hazardesque vision and weight on the pass
I'd say Januzaj is very creative, he's always one of the more creative and imaginative players on the pitch but he in the year and a half of uninterrupted football we've seen from him he hasn't shown that he has a goalscoring touch, so I'd say he needs to improve in that area
Just gonna pop the gif of his assist against Burnley in the FA youth cup here
Eden Hazardesque vision and weight on the pass
He's already improved that dramatically. He had to play as a CF for much of the last month of the U21 season, and by the end he was pretty effective in that role. As I said above, he scored all four of our goals at the Fifa Youth Cup.
That is true, but I'm talking over the course of a season or two to get a sense of his overall level. From what we've seen overall he's not a goalscorer yet, but he's a good enough striker of the ball that he could improve drastically if it clicks for him like it seemed to do at that youth tournament .
Yep, for sure. He's very good at identifying the weaknesses in his game and solving them fast, so I have no doubt he'll be working hard on it. I'm a bit gutted that one that came off the post against the A-league XI didn't go in, it was such a lovely move.
Can he play in a 2 man midfield? 
Can he play in a 2 man midfield?
I'd say he could, if you were desperate. I think I remember him playing as the more attacking of the 2 midfielders in a 4-2-3-1 for the u-18s and doing a decent job at that level. He's improved his tracking back and positional discipline by a lot over the last year, but the lack of experience of playing that role over a period of time would make me worry.
He's got the attributes to be a central midfielder with his passing game and vision, he's also quite tenacious nowadays. However, I think he likes to take risks on the ball and he's good at it, for the moment at least he's far better higher up the pitch.
I love this photo. It looks like Adnan is some tycoon's playboy son and Rio is his 'minder'.
Better dresser than Rio at least. Knows to have one button done and the right kind of shoes that goes with a suit
I love this photo. It looks like Adnan is some tycoon's playboy son and Rio is his 'minder'.
A tycoon's playboy son wouldn't be carrying hand luggage though.
"It's funny because he thinks I'll probably be able to afford these but I can't yet."
As his bodyguard, Rio needs to keep his hands fairly free. He's carrying Adnan's shopping, but the young scion keeps his own expensive fashion-statement luggage.
People are bitter about Pogba, but worth remembering that Januzaj's already been more impressive at reserve/U21 level than Pogba arguably ever was, and whilst still an U18. He's also been elevated into the first team picture more quickly. People aren't just saying this stuff about him for effect or on a whim.
Exactly. There are some idiots who care too much one way or another about the Pogba stuff, but you don't have to be one of them to think that Januzaj has looked just as talented as and overall more impressive than Pogba at youth and reserve level.
Has anyone got his stats (goals / assists) from the U21's last season?
His appearances/goals might be somewhere in the youth/reserve forum. Don't think I've seen assists stats in there anywhere.
It's probably not worth the search, though. He was only in the U21s for half a season.
Ah right, cheers for that. Any idea on the kind of numbers he got during the whole season (between both the U18's and U21's)?
I think it's 2 goals 7 assists going from goo's stats thread https://www.redcafe.net/threads/reserves-statistics-2012-13.359329/ . He only started playing with the U21s around January though (I think) so it's only for half a season.
Cheers. Impressive figures considering he only made the step-up.
Yeah right - Have you seen his hand luggage, that Louis Vuitton case is over £2,000...
Probably Rio's bag to be fair, earn your stripes and all that.
20(4) games, 2 goals and 6 assists. The tables are a little hard to follow but that is how I read it. I still reiterate my point that I think that he needs more goals and assists if he is going to become the 'top' player that many in this thread seem to think he is nailed on to do. I sure that he will be aiming to get more goals and assists himself. I think that he is an excellent prospect but I am very cautious with youth players these days, especially the foreign ones.
As for his hand luggage. Macheda was rumoured to be on 100k a year when he first signed for us. I would expect Adnan to be on more than that. It is safe to say that he could afford those shades and that luggage.
As for his hand luggage. Macheda was rumoured to be on 100k a year when he first signed for us. I would expect Adnan to be on more than that. It is safe to say that he could afford those shades and that luggage.
I remember reading an article that he immediately became the top-paid academy player after he signed. We had to beat plenty of others for his signature, so that's no surprise.
There's a number of reasons why those stats don't really reflect his actual development. When he first came into the U21s he got sporadic game time as a substitute. Lots of those appearances are just half an hour here or there. Secondly, as we've said, the goals are something which he obviously worked on and had started to add by the end of the season. So it was indeed an area that needed work when he started in the U21s, but by the end, as I've mentioned, he was able to go to the Fifa Youth Cup and score 4 goals in 6 matches against top European opposition.
It still needs work, obviously. He's 18, so it's safe to say every area of his game still needs work. But it's by no means a weakness any more. If he continues to get game time on this tour, I'm confident he'll score at least one. He's very unlucky not to have done so already.
You're right to be cautious. The odds are always against youth prospects. But there's a reason why everyone who's watched this lad over the last couple of years is so excited about him. He's very special.
Same for every player his age
True that Ekeke.
I like Adnan very much, he is a very elegant player, he seems committed and confident too. The big question is if he can take the final step and translate his ability onto the big stage. I really hope that he does but I can't get on the hype train just yet. I would like to see him sign a new contract for one.
I like Adnan very much, he is a very elegant player, he seems committed and confident too. The big question is if he can take the final step and translate his ability onto the big stage. I really hope that he does but I can't get on the hype train just yet. I would like to see him sign a new contract for one.
His contract runs till 2015 anyway.
2 goals and 6 assists in 20(2) games for the U21s isn't bad going at all given those appearances mostly came in the second half of the season, where the team struggled going forward. 5 assists in 4 U18 games, 4 goals in 4 in the Blue Stars and 2 goals in 3 in the Dallas Cup... think it's verging on being deliberately contrary to try and pick out end product as a concern.
Looking at the way he plays, I think he can definitely make the step up. He's got the confidence in hid ability to do so.
I agree. One of the things I love most about Januzaj is his incisiveness and penetration in and around the box. He does it effortlessly.
Thank god he and the other youngsters are around to provide the to counter all the transfer bullshit right now.
to counter all the transfer bullshit right now.He seems to be settling well with the first team. Great to see they're taking him under their wing.
I really hope he can get a good run of games with us this season. He seems to be ready for some first team football.
Imo, Adnan is being a bit underestimated here. Reaching the Rooney or Ronaldo class is a big ask, but I'm confident he'll be a top player.
That seems to be the opinion, albeit cautious, of most in this thread. Now that Brwned has pissed off, anyway.
Brwned has an over-cautious streak. He challenged me in my opinion that Eikrem had a good chance at United, and look how that turned out.
Well .....
That was a bad example.
Well .....
That was a bad example.
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