Adnan Januzaj

[Red Shorts]

Its a truly embarrassing stat. And for an 18 year old kid to score that amount on his first start, away and being 1-0 down says a lot both about the guy and about these three plonkers.

 

[Sir A1ex]

The sad thing with Adnan is that, with our general incompetence regarding transfers etc, and the way things went with Pogba and Morrison (which I know were very different, specific situations), I can't get past thinking he's bound to feck off on a free in the summer.

Hope I'm proved wrong and we get him signed up.

 

[Decotron]

The sad thing with Adnan is that, with our general incompetence regarding transfers etc, and the way things went with Pogba and Morrison (which I know were very different, specific situations), I can't get past thinking he's bound to feck off on a free in the summer.

Hope I'm proved wrong and we get him signed up.

Why even mention Morrison in your argument.

 

[ArmchairCritic]

If we lose Adnan too I might cry myself to sleep for a whole year.

 

[Mickeza]

I think he'll have signed a new contract by the time we play Southampton.

 

[charleysurf]

I think he'll have signed a new contract by the time we play Southampton.

a contract with who?


No, I hope you're right. But not in his agents interest to settle early.

 

[Ole's_toe_poke]

Adnan-cafe

 

[Proud_Lyon]

So if Rooney was born in Monrovia and had lived in Liberia for much of his life he'll be English just like George Weah is?

It all depends on his parents or even grandparents ancestry. Rooney could have played for Ireland after all. Rugby Union players do it all the time, especially those who are born in Australian or from New Zealand. If they don't make the grade then they claim on their ancestry i.e. Scottish.

 

[Mickeza]

I hope you're right. But not in his agents interest to settle early.

I don't think it's in Adnan's interests to leave. If he goes to a similar sized club there is no guarantee the manager is going to give him a chance, whilst here he has the trust and confidence of his manager. It's no risk staying with us. He's an 18 year old starting for the league champions, he has no reason to leave, and if his agents are reasonable people then that's how they'll be advising him.

 

[Sir A1ex]

Why even mention Morrison in your argument.

Because the way things went with him is a prime example of the sort of disappointing outcome that has left me expecting the worst, one way or another, with young talents.

 

[charleysurf]

I don't think it's in Adnan's interests to leave. If he goes to a similar sized club there is no guarantee the manager is going to give him a chance, whilst here he has the trust and confidence of his manager. It's no risk staying with us. He's an 18 year old starting for the league champions, he has no reason to leave, and if his agents are reasonable people then that's how they'll be advising him.

He's 18. He may put complete faith in what his parents and agent tell him. And the money may be all they may want.

And if a Barca comes in for him they may tell him he will have a guaranteed first team place. It would be bullshit. But enough to get him to sign.

He could very easily go elsewhere. That's football I'm afraid.

 

[Decotron]

Because the way things went with him is a prime example of the sort of disappointing outcome that has left me expecting the worst, one way or another, with young talents.

You don't know the full story if that's your opinion. His departure had nothing negative involving the club. If anything he was given a few chances by the club.

 

[a_devil_inside]

and if his agents are reasonable people

I suppose there's a first time for everything

 

[Mickeza]

I suppose there's a first time for everything

Aye, this is of course the danger. I'm sure his dad advises him though so hopefully we'll be okay. He picked us a few years ago over a lot of other top clubs, and he has even more reason to pick us now.

 

[Genius Me!]

It's so exciting to finally see one of our foreign academy imports break through to the first team. I know you have Rafael, but we didn't sign him for the academy so he doesn't count.

 

[devilish]

It all depends on his parents or even grandparents ancestry. Rooney could have played for Ireland after all. Rugby Union players do it all the time, especially those who are born in Australian or from New Zealand. If they don't make the grade then they claim on their ancestry i.e. Scottish.

Something is really bad in this world if your ancestry (ie grandparents) determines what and who you are.

 

[Goooose]

Talking to one of the mackems at work, he was massively impressed with Januzaj. I've heard a few people comparing him to a young Giggs as well, he just looks so composed on the ball. Was it against Aberdeen he made his first start for the first team? Even then, he looked beyond his years.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

So who do you guys reckon has more natural talent - Morrison or Januzaj?

Have to say, in terms of pure ability, I heard more hype about Morison when he was part of the youth setup.

 

[moses]

So who do you guys reckon has more natural talent - Morrison or Januzaj?

Have to say, in terms of pure ability, I heard more hype about Morison when he was part of the youth setup.

Morrison was English, at an English club. Not that he wasn't great, but this lad looks superb, and more importantly, was unphased playing with the big boys.

 

[Will Absolute]

Aye, this is of course the danger. I'm sure his dad advises him though so hopefully we'll be okay. He picked us a few years ago over a lot of other top clubs, and he has even more reason to pick us now.

That depends on what we offer him. From their performance in the transfer window, seems like bringing home the bacon is not a priority of Moyes/Woodward.

We should be strong favourites for his signature - top club; he already plays for us, and is getting opportunities for the first team; we've got money; a good record with kids etc. But we've dropped the ball so often in recent years, and particularly in recent months, that we may be reluctant to break our losing streak.

 

[Genius Me!]

Something is really bad in this world if your ancestry (ie grandparents) determines what and who you are.

I'm going to assume that you're a white English male. If you grew up in India, would you dismiss being English and class" yourself as Indian?

 

[Bestie07]

It's kind of being a hypocrite though. Most of the immigrants claim that they are not any less a citizen of the country they grew up in, but then kids like these wanting to represent the country of their parents is a kick in the nuts to that argument.

 

[Goooose]

So who do you guys reckon has more natural talent - Morrison or Januzaj?

Have to say, in terms of pure ability, I heard more hype about Morison when he was part of the youth setup.

Probably because he's English.

 

[Brightonian]

Morrison was more of a pure dribbler, which always encourages hype. I'd say they were similarly talented 16/17 year olds, but in quite different ways. Obviously Januzaj's behaviour, attitude and his progress since that age are all better.

It's worth noting that from a young age Januzaj has been massively hyped in Belgium.

 

[Sir A1ex]

You don't know the full story if that's your opinion. His departure had nothing negative involving the club. If anything he was given a few chances by the club.

I don't know the full story? Sorry, who exactly does know the full story of what hopes and expectations I had from Morrison and whether they were fulfilled?

You're not paying any attention to what I'm saying.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Probably because he's English.

Yep. Makes sense. Who would you say has more natural talent?

 

[moses]

Because the way things went with him is a prime example of the sort of disappointing outcome that has left me expecting the worst, one way or another, with young talents.

I don't think we as a club can really be blamed for his exit? If anything him leaving Manchester was his best chance.

 

[Genius Me!]

It's kind of being a hypocrite though. Most of the immigrants claim that they are not any less a citizen of the country they grew up in, but then kids like these wanting to represent the country of their parents is a kick in the nuts to that argument.

A kick in the nuts? Really? Why should we forget our heritage and not be proud of where we came from? Bit of an ignorant view IMO.

 

[Drainy]

I'd say the reason Morrison got more hype than Januzaj is that Morrison was clearly the best and most important player in a Youth Cup winning side. He nearly always raised his game just when it was needed and the only rival he had for the 'best player' was Pogba who was often passive and reliant on him during matches (although he did show his mettle at Stamford Bridge, in fairness).

Januzaj's generation was less successful, he was also less iconic within the side (IIRC, he was often played in the u-21s for league games and then dropped down for the cup) and hype for the 'next big thing' was split more evenly between him and Daehli- although Januzaj was far more influential in games that they both played in.

Januzaj is definitely as technically gifted as Morrison, although Morrison had more of a knack for nicking (lol) an important goal or creating something when it was needed. It's interesting to see that this last year Januzaj has increased his workrate in games, and raised the urgency of his play by a massive amount- he's definitely progressed, and clearly it's been recognised and rewarded.

 

[Bestie07]

A kick in the nuts? Really? Why should we forget our heritage and not be proud of where we came from? Bit of an ignorant view IMO.

I'm ignorant in this matter, so bear with me. The way I see it is that being proud of your heritage is one thing, but Belgium is where he got every resource to learn his trade, and he should be wanting to represent Belgium first and foremost. Doesn't give the argument much water that when kick comes to shove people like him would rather chose the country their parents are from rather than the one they have migrated to.

 

[Goooose]

Yep. Makes sense. Who would you say has more natural talent?

Difficult to say, I've only really seen Morrison on youtube or highlights videos.

 

[Brightonian]

I'd say the reason Morrison got more hype than Januzaj is that Morrison was clearly the best and most important player in a Youth Cup winning side.

The fact that Pogba and Morrison's side was successful in the cup had a lot to do with them being the last generation of U18s that we gave so much time to at that level. Our academy sides have been getting stronger and stronger (particularly in terms of the consistency of talent - there have always been standout stars, but the general quality is improving year on year). We seem to have actively shifted away from giving teams time to become 'mature' U18s sides before moving them up to the U21s. Now we worry less about winning the U18 competitions and try to push the talented kids up to U21 level as soon as they're ready. Januzaj, Daehli, Pereira, Pearson, Wilson etc are all good examples of this. Hell, Pereira was still sixteen when he got his first glimpse of U21 action.

Not actually arguing with your point here, btw, just throwing in an aside.

 

[bosnian_red]

Something is really bad in this world if your ancestry (ie grandparents) determines what and who you are.

Not really. It varies with different cultures, but my whole family is Bosnian but I was born in Canada, and grew up here because my family moved here during the war. Does that make me more Canadian then Bosnian? It all depends on how you were raised, but in general, people from that part of the world (Balkans, ex-yugo nations) will always feel more Balkan then whatever. Probably part of the reason why Januzaj isn't really committing between Albania and Belgium yet. Even though he was born and raised in Belgium, his family is from Kosovo and Albania and he was probably raised with Albania being his home country, but him being away from it in Belgium. If Albania had a half decent national team with any future chance of making a tournament, then I'm pretty sure he would have chosen them already. As it is though, he has to decide between a country that has no chance of making it, and one who has the potential to win it while he's in his prime.

An example of this would be Kolasinac. He was born and raised in Germany, came through Schalke's youth system and is breaking into the first team, represented Germany on almost all youth levels but has decided to play for Bosnia's national team because of his upbringing. Germany is obviously a better national team then Bosnia, but now that we actually have a good squad and are almost guaranteed to make it to the World cup, we'll have more players like Kolasinac choose their real home countries, instead of the ones they grew up in.

 

[Bestie07]

Probably a generation thing. The first and second generation immigrants may feel more attachment to their home country than the later generations.

 

[KiD MoYeS]

As an Irish man I say long live the granny rule.

 

[Sir A1ex]

I don't think we as a club can really be blamed for his exit? If anything him leaving Manchester was his best chance.

Who is blaming anybody? You sound like Decotron - I'm quite aware of how things panned out with Ravel.

I'm just saying that I'm getting very used to disappointment with our young talents, and can't help but steel myself for the same again.

 

[moses]

Who is blaming anybody? You sound like Decotron - I'm quite aware of how things panned out with Ravel.

I'm just saying that I'm getting very used to disappointment with our young talents, and can't help but steel myself for the same again.

Winter is coming, be brave sweet prince.

 

[Brightonian]

I'm just saying that I'm getting very used to disappointment with our young talents, and can't help but steel myself for the same again.

That's fair enough, but not particularly rational. The situations are very different - he has no behavioural or attitude problems like Morrison, and he is being given game time unlike Pogba.

 

[Sir A1ex]

That's fair enough, but not particularly rational. The situations are very different - he has no behavioural or attitude problems like Morrison, and he is being given game time unlike Pogba.

I guess the thing is, in the past we largely presumed that the very best kids, who were good enough to wear the shirt, would obviously stay to become United players. We had it so good with the kids from the 90s that it seemed to just be how things worked. But recently the reality has hit home that they won't always stay, and in the modern game, it's all too easy for them to be lured elsewhere.

 

[NotoriousISSY]

Don't forget, we have a new manager...Pogba and Morrison were handled by a different manager who many of you thought had lost his marbles at times.

Moyes does like to give young players chances. Off the top of my head he gave debuts to Rooney, Barkley, Rodwell, Anichebe, Vaughan and probably a few more in there from Everton, regardless of how successful they were. He's said he classes Januzaj as a special talent and it sounds like the offer is pretty much in Januzaj's hands now. I suppose it depends on how much he's bought into the club and the advice he's given.

To have the two only two professional managers you've known speak about you in high regard when they could be talking about van Persie, Rooney or others says a lot about how much they rate him.

On a side note, I'm bored of everyone saying he's got good balance. I've got eyes.