Ander Herrera image 21

Ander Herrera Spain flag

2014-15 Performances

View full 2014-15 profile

6.4 Season Average Rating
Appearances
31
Goals
8
Assists
5
Yellow cards
6
Status
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gormless said:
By somebody you mean Moyes don't you?
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Actually no. I meant a lot of posters on here. Namely Cider, who advocated the signing of Fellaini as he was proven in the Premier League and would provide steel in our midfield.

Herrera basically showed us what an actual midfielder's performance was.
 
Kyonn said:
Our midfield problems the last few years have nothing to do with the Glazer or SAF being stubborn and everything to do with bad luck.

We signed Hargreaves only for to turn out to be extremely injury prone - Should have reacted to that at some stage during the century of him not getting fit
We signed Anderson, he turned out to be a bust - again, should have seen the signs sooner
We had a fee accepted for Ramsey only for him to turn us down - someone doesn't come, find someone else
Fletcher comes to down with a career threatening illness - he was never a world beater, good player tho
We signed Pogba only for him to leave just before breaking into the first team - had a player needing games and confidence and chose to not show faith in him

That's just a good ol' fashion run of bad luck. Even if just two of those things went our way, say Ramsey signing and Pogba staying or Fletcher not getting sick and Pogba staying we would've been fine in midfield.
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Early days but Herrera looks like the midfielder we've needed forever. Exciting player with a great attitude. Fecking love him already! Gotta feeling he'll be a fan favorite at Old Trafford for many years.
 
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Nothing you wrote changes the fact that it was bad luck to have the 5 situation turn out they way they did.
 
Kyonn said:
Nothing you wrote changes the fact that it was bad luck to have the 5 situation turn out they way they did.
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OK :) I'm just implying that to have that go on for years is not learning from mistakes or reacting to the situation in the best manner. It can be blamed on luck, I wouldn't.
 
You get the feeling Herrera really wanted to come here, and that makes him far more valuable to the team than a player of equal talent who doesn't have a strong feeling towards the club.

Early days but so far so good.
 
Mockney said:
I go raving. I love a bit of raving. But this is mental 13 year old Japanese girl rave music. It's a loading screen from PES6 gone rogue. It's the musical embodiment of a Slush Puppie brain freeze. It's evil.
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:lol: you tell 'em gramps! I don't even listen to youtube football background music now..i kind of zone it out.
 
Loved that performance, really does bring some positives vibes about this season knowing we have this sort of player in our midfield now. His touch was excellent, in the way he would take the ball from behind him and spin it forward effortlessly in one motion, the through balls were very encouraging and his attitude was absolutely top notch on his first outing for us. It really showed the guy wants to impress, and by Jove did he do so. I was buzzing to see the rest of his game as soon as he took that long range shot early on.
 
Just managed to watch the full game. He looked great, completely unflustered on the ball. Definitely a big step up from our current crop but can't help feeling that we need a few more like him to get back to the top. I'm looking forward to seeing him against some of the better teams we have in preseason.
 
Blue always red said:
I think Scholes would have a thing or two to say about that.
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Great shout. His first touch was probably overlooked over the hundred other qualities he exuded as a midfield titan.

Crashoutcassius said:
berb had the touch to kill the ball, but ander puts the ball exactly where he wants with the first touch, and shapes his body in such a way that it's really hard to predict where the ball will be going
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Hmm True. It's very interesting to watch him right before he calls and gets a ball, he's always looking around him. He's very positionally aware and that's why he can make quick turns. Cleverley once said that he watches a lot of Iniesta and tries to mimic him. Interestingly, Herrera's idol is Iniesta as well and he's modelled his link up play on him. So maybe Clevs can take a good look at Herrera.
 
The Red Thinker said:
Hmm True. It's very interesting to watch him right before he calls and gets a ball, he's always looking around him. He's very positionally aware and that's why he can make quick turns. Cleverley once said that he watches a lot of Iniesta and tries to mimic him. Interestingly, Herrera's idol is Iniesta as well and he's modelled his link up play on him. So maybe Clevs can take a good look at Herrera.
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Yes exactly what I mean. Stood out a lot of me, how he backs into space and looks around, trying to just get an extra few inches for himself. Very like iniesta.
 
I think he's going to be quality for us. Really impressed with his vision on the ball and desire to get on it. I think if we can get another proper center midfielder to assist him we will be in business. Fletcher and Cleverley just won't cut it against the top teams. It was strange to see one of our midfielders shoot well early in a game. He seems to have a great understanding with Mata. We can't get to carried away obviously, LA Galaxy were dirt last night but you can only beat what's in front of you. I think we have a special player though and he will improve our play.
 
Ander Herrera claimed 3 assists in Man United's 7-0 win. More than Carrick, Fellaini, Cleverley, Young and Fletcher combined last season.
 
He instantly became our best midfielder the day he signed, without even kicking a ball for us. Its telling that we still need a quality player to partner him.
 
KiD MoYeS said:
He instantly became our best midfielder the day he signed, without even kicking a ball for us. Its telling that we still need a quality player to partner him.
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Though I love Herrera and rate him highly, the fact that he's not a global superstar, or played for Spanish National Team, and still managed to walk into a team like Manchester United to instantly become the best midfielder... is quite frankly criminal. I blame Sir Alex for not taking care of the problem and David Moyes for signing someone who just doesn't fit the mould.

We need one more outstanding midfielder in our team. Vidal is the ultimate muppet's dream, but if not him then someone like Strootman would make our team so much better in an instant!
 
Zii said:
Ander Herrera claimed 3 assists in Man United's 7-0 win. More than Carrick, Fellaini, Cleverley, Young and Fletcher combined last season.
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I know where you are going, but lets be fair if Ander was here last season under "you know who", he would be playing the same ways as those you named there.
 
I wonder how much of the next match he'll play. He played a full 90 minutes and in under three days has to play again? I don't think so. It's too early into pre-season for that.

I think we'll see Fletch and Clevs take up the central role, with Herrera maybe coming in the second half.
 
The Red Thinker said:
I wonder how much of the next match he'll play. He played a full 90 minutes and in under three days has to play again? I don't think so. It's too early into pre-season for that.

I think we'll see Fletch and Clevs take up the central role, with Herrera maybe coming in the second half.
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Didn't Fletcher play ninety minutes too?
 
redevil2 said:
I know where you are going, but lets be fair if Ander was here last season under "you know who", he would be playing the same ways as those you named there.
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No he would have got stats under moyes, the same way rooney and mata managed to score even under moyes. Quality shows.
 
The Red Thinker said:
I wonder how much of the next match he'll play. He played a full 90 minutes and in under three days has to play again? I don't think so. It's too early into pre-season for that.

I think we'll see Fletch and Clevs take up the central role, with Herrera maybe coming in the second half.
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That's not normally how preseason works - it's meant to be about a very intense level of work, to force that fitness rapidly back to peak levels. Besides, he barely seemed to break a sweat in the Galaxy match.
 
Brightonian said:
That's not normally how preseason works - it's meant to be about a very intense level of work, to force that fitness rapidly back to peak levels. Besides, he barely seemed to break a sweat in the Galaxy match.
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True but you can overdo it as well. We'll be playing a top-class side as well next. Maybe Herrera will play the first half in the next one.

KiD MoYeS said:
Didn't Fletcher play ninety minutes too?
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Ahh yes he did. We definitely need reinforcements in that area and fast.
 
Zii said:
No he would have got stats under moyes, the same way rooney and mata managed to score even under moyes. Quality shows.
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Among those you named, the only one without much United quality is Fellaini (and arguably Young). Not sure what you were trying to prove.
 
redevil2 said:
Among those you named, the only one without much United quality is Fellaini (and arguably Young). Not sure what you were trying to prove.
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*Cough* Cleverley *cough* Yeah, young Tom did his usual 'hiding in plain sight' trick last night, even against opposition that had already given up playing. They basically just let us have the ball for 45 mins and he still managed to fail to make any sort of impact. If we are still considering him as a midfield option I'd be fairly disappointed. Unless the boss can get his hooks into him in the next few weeks and drag out the ability and confidence that is buried deep down there somewhere, then I'd say he should be one of the lads leaving.
 
The Red Thinker said:
Though I love Herrera and rate him highly, the fact that he's not a global superstar, or played for Spanish National Team, and still managed to walk into a team like Manchester United to instantly become the best midfielder... is quite frankly criminal. I blame Sir Alex for not taking care of the problem and David Moyes for signing someone who just doesn't fit the mould.

We need one more outstanding midfielder in our team. Vidal is the ultimate muppet's dream, but if not him then someone like Strootman would make our team so much better in an instant!
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Mexico's Miguel Herrera was pretty good in the world cup - like Vidal-lite. He'd also be cheap you figure. Had an impressive engine.
 
Dante said:
The way Galaxy were playing yesterday with their suicidally high line, I don't think you can read much into any through balls Ander played last night.

How often would you get a situation like the one above in the Premier League? Hardly ever.

Still a very good performance from AH, mind you.
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more than you think amigo. One main difference is you get less time on the ball in the PL.
 
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The Red Thinker said:
Great shout. His first touch was probably overlooked over the hundred other qualities he exuded as a midfield titan.



Hmm True. It's very interesting to watch him right before he calls and gets a ball, he's always looking around him. He's very positionally aware and that's why he can make quick turns. Cleverley once said that he watches a lot of Iniesta and tries to mimic him. Interestingly, Herrera's idol is Iniesta as well and he's modelled his link up play on him. So maybe Clevs can take a good look at Herrera.
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Crashoutcassius said:
Yes exactly what I mean. Stood out a lot of me, how he backs into space and looks around, trying to just get an extra few inches for himself. Very like iniesta.
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What do you two think of my Herrera assessment? I have bolded my observations on how he gets into space. Keep in mind, this was written before yesterday's game.
  • Defensive Attributes
    • Excellent presser – if van Gaal uses a pressing scheme with United, expect Herrera to play a key component.
    • Tackling – solid at both standing and sliding tackles. He may not seem like a physical player but the Spaniard definitely likes to get stuck in.
    • Tactically sound – Herrera was one of the key midfielders when Bielsa coached Athletic Bilbao. Under Bielsa and eventually Valverde, Herrera showcased his tactical nous through his positioning, reading of the game and anticipation which played a key part in him winning tackles. In 2013/14 season for Bilbao, out of 33 games, Herrera won 75 tackles. Good stats for a player who was initially out of favor due to the transfer saga that past summer.
  • Attacking Attributes
    • Very good spatial awareness – Herrera is akin to Fabregas in terms of floating into open spaces to receive the ball from teammates. However, Herrera likes to check into the space the defender is occupying before checking back into open space to receive the pass. His agility and quickness help execute the subtle movements to get some separation from his marker and is the main reason he seems so open when in possession of the ball.
    • Excels at linking play in transition - If Herrera wasn’t directly setting up his teammates for a potential scoring opportunity, he was opening the door for a teammate to do the same. Combined with his spatial awareness, Herrera’s more direct style of passing encourages his teammates ahead of him to make runs into more dangerous spaces to open up the opposition. More often than not, he will find them.
    • Speed of thought – Due to Bilbao’s pressing, it wasn’t uncommon to recover possession in higher areas. Herrera has a good eye for the pass but can also execute the idea quickly before the passing lane is closed. A facet of his game which plays a part in why he was good at initiating Bilbao’s attacks or keeping certain attacks alive.
 
gooDevil said:
I'm fine with a midfield of 3 Herreras.

Let's go find two more.
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I've just got to stage now where i just want to sign someone else better than what we have, doesn't even have to be Vidal, Carvalho or Khedira will do - 1 of those 2 and Herrera, i would have took that if someone said back in May that's who we are going to sign in that area, would make it no longer weak anymore and would give our midfield more a 'big club' looking midfield with Carrick there aswell fighting for his place.
 
Wonderful number 8. Now it's time to find the more defensively oriented CM to pair with him.
 
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