Di Maria's angel
Captain of Moanchester United
We look much better with him on the pitch. That last 30 minute team is a much better side.
That's the type of midfield options we have now. Great isn't it? Even bringing subs on doesn't weaken us. In fact it enhances us.Needs to play every match, daft that he doesn't.
Stronger, more athletic and more dynamic than anyone else we have tried in the role so far, yet it seems he's destined to be used as the sub.
"I like a second striker in that position more than a third midfielder. That is why, for example, Herrera is not playing but is always coming in because he is more of a controlling midfielder there." van Gaal after tonight
Yep. It leaps off the screen. The front 2 should be him + another for the next game, I think. Give him time in the role and he'll figure out how to change what he needs to in order to be more effective, but having mobility and the ability to turn away from an opponent with a first touch puts him one up on Rooney right now.
Writing that, there's also a case for Pereira getting a shot if we continue to look toothless. He'll give the ball away but he can come to the ball and then beat his marker at times, which would help.
I think people need to take a cold shower. Herrera did almost exactly nothing in the entire time he was on the pitch. The play didn't improve in anyway, he didn't create any chances. It was a nothing performance and didn't demonstrate any reason why he should kick a different player out of the team.
That exactly what I've seen (the play did improve but Bastian had a bigger impact for me) but seems the caf has made up their mind that he should start every game.
Herrera should look to compete for the number 8 role instead of 10 IMO.Bastian-Herrera would be interesting to try out (did well together in the first game of pre-season).
I don't rate him as a no.10. I would like to see him more as a B2B, such a complete player should be playing there.
But the problem is that we don't really play with a box to box these days and he might be down the picking order for the 2 DM positions, I wouldn't be surprised to see that Fellaini will also be ahead of him when he returns for those 2 positions.
"I like a second striker in that position more than a third midfielder. That is why, for example, Herrera is not playing but is always coming in because he is more of a controlling midfielder there." van Gaal after tonight
I don't rate him as a no.10. I would like to see him more as a B2B, such a complete player should be playing there.
But the problem is that we don't really play with a box to box these days and he might be down the picking order for the 2 DM positions, I wouldn't be surprised to see that Fellaini will also be ahead of him when he returns for those 2 positions.
Hererra wasn't incredible, but he did have 32 touches in only half-an-hour which is really good for a #10. It shows how well he made himself available for a pass.
The effect he had was to give his teammates an out-ball at all times, whilst raising the tempo with the speed of his passing. It may have been a bit of a 'vanilla' performance, but he's the type of player we've been missing sorely for much of the opening games. If we aspire to be a possession team, we need someone like that high up the pitch. Without that, the ball moves around too slowly for us to even contemplate opening teams up. If he'd started the match, I'm confident we'd have created a lot more chances.
BTW, I've not made my mind up about anything. I was keen to see Memphis in the hole at the start of the season. But looking at the way things have gone, I leaning more towards Herrera right now. Our lack of tempo is what's holding us back and Herrera is our best fix for it.
Stronger, more athletic and more dynamic than anyone else we have tried in the role so far, yet it seems he's destined to be used as the sub.
Hm. I'm not sure he's more athletic than Depay. Or stronger. Or more dynamic. I'm not sure any of those are key attributes for a number 10 anyway. More attributes of a "number 8", where Schneiderlin seems to be excelling at present.
Personally i'd have Mata playing in the middle with Schmidfield behind him. He proved again last night how good he is at making killer passes and creating chances and he did that on the rare occasions he drifted inside. Imagine depay and pedro running off the flanks with Mata threading balls through. He offers more of a goal threat than Herrera as well.
That midfield three would offer plenty of resistance, strength and creativity.
That said, its a long season and whilst Herrera is a sub in my preferred line up, he will start plenty of games when we need to rotate and keep players fresh. He may start on Tuesday with Schmidfield.
I actually think Memphis would be better if he got rid of some of the leg muscle.He's more agile than Memphis and has shown just as much strength on the ball, I also think his superior technique makes him more dynamic when turning quickly to try and initiate attacks. I'd also say these things are important in the role in the PL as the ball is pressed relentlessly and while we saw Mata make a couple of nice passes last night we also saw how he can't protect the ball and is easily hustled off it as he's so slow and weak.
When Herrara first came I was in awe of his defense splitting passes. I feel with Van gaal he has been over coached about the point of possession, it has strained his creativity and you could notice it in the past couple games. Against Villa when he came on, he received the ball in the hole and he immediately started looking to his sides and behind him for retention. He missed every run that our wingers were making inside, and really if he's not going to attempt those passes, what's the point in having him as a #10? It's a shame.
I actually think Memphis would be better if he got rid of some of the leg muscle.
Which is fine if you are just running fast in a straight line, but he isn't he's a footballer.That's an interesting point, he is built like a 100M sprinter.
lol if you couldn't see the difference then you should really watch the game again. It wasn't the best performance but his presence on the pitch means we looked much better in possession and in transition to attack, he's always available and his great movement and ability to tirelessly press players. The difference was obvious.I think people need to take a cold shower. Herrera did almost exactly nothing in the entire time he was on the pitch. The play didn't improve in anyway, he didn't create any chances. It was a nothing performance and didn't demonstrate any reason why he should kick a different player out of the team.