He's talented no doubt, but I'm not sure how anyone can claim that he's been messed around with, particularly when our best run of form coincided with his being out of the team (for which he had no one to blame but himself.)
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Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 32
- Goals
- 4
- Assists
- 13
- Yellow cards
- 3
- Red cards
- 1
- Status
I think it's worth starting him again, just for the jolt to the system that it would provide more than anything else. That being said, it's completely up to him to raise his level of play (and by that, I mean more than just one or two telling passes in a game.)
Yup. Agree with all of that.
In hindsight, it was just a stupid vanity signing. And a colusal waste of money on a player that isn't right for the style of play LVG is trying to implement.
That doesn't excuse some of his performances though.
That doesn't excuse some of his performances though.
I keep getting that feeling too.
But then again, he was electric in the early days, i hope its just a confidence thing.
Yeah, indeed. Messed around my foot.
Wouldn't surprise me if he went to PSG this summer. He's been burgled, injured, sent off, and now he's on the bench. He isn't a great fit for Van Gaal's style of play and, more to the point, the guy does not look like a happy camper. If we sign Depay, and maybe Bale, Di Maria will be gone.
I'd be disappointed, as I'd hope that he had a bit more about him to deal with adversity. That being said, if he clearly isn't a good fit, then it might be best for all parties to move him along. Personally, I think he should be given another season.
I hope he starts instead of Young and plays a role / position he can bring the best out
He will be much better next season.
No, that would be Falcao. Di Maria on form last year was arguably in the top 6-7 players in the world, let alone his position. These are the types of players that we should be seeking to get if we want to compete with the giants like Barca, Real and Bayern. No matter what LVG tries with his system, he will never ever get to those levels with average players adhering to a rigid system. This "possession game" needs tweaking because its been found out and we have to integrate Di Maria into the team no matter what (unless he literally doesn't want to be here).
AdM will come good. Not everyone can hit the ground running in the PL.
Y'day, he should have come on for Young a lot sooner, or even start the game.
Y'day, he should have come on for Young a lot sooner, or even start the game.
I know its not up to me but I'm really torn between giving him another chance or selling him. It's harsh to judge a player on one season but also if he fails again in the second season then his value will decrease a lot more.
I feel like I keep saying this, But what makes you say he doesn't look happy? or even that PSG would still want him this Summer for that matter?
Since he has been on the bench he jumps up and celebrates every goal, plus he just had the number 7 tattooed on his arm last week. He is fine. I think if people and the press keep making an issue saying he is unhappy that it would send him that way regardless no matter how happy he currently is.
Seriously?I understand LvG wants us to dominate possession, and not play risky passes.
However, di Maria is our most creative player and needs to start. Him not playing is mind boggling. People will go on about cameos off the bench, but you need to play him from the start.
However, di Maria is our most creative player and needs to start. Him not playing is mind boggling. People will go on about cameos off the bench, but you need to play him from the start.
Im going to say the same thing that I said in the Falcao thread - if instead of Di Maria it was Nani putting in these performances, would peoples opinion be the same?
As with Falcao, I think Di Maria's reputation has bought him a lot of slack from the fans. If it was Nani, Young or the likes then there would be far more anger and criticism I reckon.
As with Falcao, I think Di Maria's reputation has bought him a lot of slack from the fans. If it was Nani, Young or the likes then there would be far more anger and criticism I reckon.
With Di Maria you get posts like - he makes things happen. Although he more often makes things happen like loosing a ball, misplacing a pass or shooting from some wierd angles or for the sake of it.
I think he should start next game maybe, Young has been ineffective but ADM has been totally out of form for a while despite the fact he hasnt started in a while now.
If we sign Memphis or a like-minded winger, does anyone think this could mean di Maria going back into a midfield three?
di Maria was absolute class for the first month or two, but then the formation got played with, he lost his position and struggled since.
di Maria was absolute class for the first month or two, but then the formation got played with, he lost his position and struggled since.
Yeah, my point was that when Nani was putting in similar performances - poor decision making, giving the ball away but looking like he might create something (and frankly that is generous to Di Maria) - he was lambasted for it.
That's true. As you said its a metter of rep, last year he was briliant so people arent on his back like they should be cause other than 3 first games he has been very poor. As for Nani he was at faulf by deafult every time, he was even booed at OT ffs..
I really hope so. He'd have the pace of Shaw and Depay on the left side of him, the three of them running down that side of the pitch is too much for majority of sides.
Even the media haven't criticised him as much as they did Ozil, the only place he seems to be getting the most stick is his thread and every single poster that criticises Di Maria may or may not have an agenda.
His golden season at Madrid,expectations from the fans and his personal troubles have granted him a pass this season (the New league,new country excuse is crap imo, he is a grown man), I expect him to do exceptionally well next season.
I agree with you though, Nani never got the respect he deserved as the 22nd best player in the world.
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I was certainly in the "He will be one of our most important players" camp when he signed. I thought we overpaid admittedly, but that we were getting a world class player undoubtedly.
I think this has been a good season to really get a measure of his character and attitude (although I am still not sure). It is one of those sink or swim situations, to see if he can cope with some of the stressful situations he has been in. That said, I dont think we will see the answer to those questions until next season. Fellaini and Young have shown a fighting attitude to earn their way back into the team, Di Maria must now do the same.
That's just ridiculous. Since when does being a "grown man" mean footballers instantly adapt to a new league/team? Surely you don't need examples of the many other "grown men" who only looked settled in their second and subsequent PL seasons?
I agree, but i also think the task ahead is greater than the one Fellaini and Young had this season, we didnt expect Young and Fellaini to play like world class players when we signed them, they just had to be really good and they have shown that this season, Di Maria on the other hand was signed as a World Class player and if he fails to showcase his world class talent next season then he should be the first one out the door.
He is 27 years old, at that age you should expect him to be able to perform in any country imo. How many players actually flopped because they had to play in a new league? and not some other reason?
I might need those examples
Hes already shown he can perform in this country (all beit not consistently), his settling seems to be more with the team than the league itself (formation and positional changes, as well as being asked to adapt his game by the manager).
*flicks "new league" excuse out the window*
I don't think settling into the league has even been a problem for him, as he demonstrated earlier on in the season. The physicality or pace never seemed to be an issue for him. However, his biggest problem generates from the burglary incident, in my opinion. The period following the incident saw him struggle quite a bit, understandably as his mind never seemed to be focused on the game.
He's also been asked to play in far too many positions - RW, LW, AM, SS, CM. Haven't people realised what good consistency can do for both players and the team? Look no further than Rooney, Herrera, Young, Mata and Fellaini, if you want examples.
Lol CH, i like how you always try to promote your "consistency theory" in every comment - you even do it better than the politicians, whilst i agree with you on the whole consistency thing, i should also note that we aren't exactly in a position to experiment right now with 4 games to save our season.
Yes, Di Maria and RVP have to start against West Brom.
So infuriating seeing him trying to have a pop at goal from a ridiculous range. Sure, he has it in his locker - but how many times has he done it for us to no avail? He broke away yesterday, plenty of space to attack just outside the box - could have brought it closer to goal or make a killer pass - but instead goes for a stupid shot that was blocked by a player who wasn't even in the box.
I understand that he may not be playing in his best position - but he's playing like an absolute lemon. His decision making is atrocious at the moment. T'was a lovely pass to Falcao though, the only good thing he did.
I understand that he may not be playing in his best position - but he's playing like an absolute lemon. His decision making is atrocious at the moment. T'was a lovely pass to Falcao though, the only good thing he did.
Di Maria has always been a player who blew hot and cold. Not only on game to game basis but within the same game. One minute he will pull a magical dribble followed by a great pinpoint cross, the next he'll do something completely brainless like shooting from 50 yards or forcing the issue with a bunch of Hollywood passes. That's nothing new. Ancelotti had found the perfect role for him though in his 4-3-3/4-4-2 hybrid system. Without the ball he offered the hustle and speed to defend the left flank for Cristiano. With the ball he could tuck into central midfield and support Alonso and Modric as well as overload the left flank with Marcelo and Cristiano. However he is not the man to dictate play from the middle (that was what Alonso and Modric did) nor the main attacking star who decides games on his own consistently. He was part of the puzzle. An important one but he's victim of his own hype right now. 75 million Euros was really outrageous for him. He will never be able to justify that.
I don't know how we're going to fit him in next season. I didn't want to believe it at first but I've come around to the idea that this was a Woodward signing. If we get a good offer I'd sell him.
Shots against QPR, Everton and Leicester were bent as sh*t but led to goals; surely it was worth a try, given how we hardly took a risk all game?
There won't be a better time. We've lost two in a row, and some of the players never seemed up to it, yesterday. At home to West Brom is more than ideal to put di Maria back into the side; it's not as if he's an unknown, youth product.
With regards to the shots, desparate times call for desperate measures.
Do you then take him out of the team if he fails to perform ?
As some posters mentioned earlier, AdM is at his best when used centrally. That is why, I believe we will sign only one central mid, who can play as both #6 and #8. Nani, Januzaj, Depay and Mata will be on wings.
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