Van Gaal was spot on about him. He said even though Di Maria set up the goals and scored one himself, he could do a lot better than this because he gave the ball away far too much. That will come with more practice and familiarity with the team.
7
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- Appearances
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- Goals
- 4
- Assists
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- Yellow cards
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- Red cards
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Van Gaal was spot on about him. He said even though Di Maria set up the goals and scored one himself, he could do a lot better than this because he gave the ball away far too much. That will come with more practice and familiarity with the team.
Yep, you can see the class is there. Once he has settled, those losses of possession will drop right down
So was that a shot or a cross? I kinda remember Di Maria lifting his head up and having a glance at Mata before hitting the ball. It could have been him trying to trick the goalie and he also used his laces instead of side footing the ball which is indicative of a shot most of the time.
However, he seems to heavily prefer using his laces more often than not when it comes to crosses and deliveries. A low drilled ball also looked more suitable than a side footed one in that scenario. Also think Herrera asked him during the goal celebration if he meant it or not, to which Di Maria nodded.
Meh, at the end of the day, it's irrelevant and I am just delighted we have a gem of a player.
However, he seems to heavily prefer using his laces more often than not when it comes to crosses and deliveries. A low drilled ball also looked more suitable than a side footed one in that scenario. Also think Herrera asked him during the goal celebration if he meant it or not, to which Di Maria nodded.
Meh, at the end of the day, it's irrelevant and I am just delighted we have a gem of a player.
Definitely believe it was a pass, just drilled it to Mata quickly. When he looked up, Mata was calling for it, too.
Perez is a goddamn lunatic for letting Di Maria go.
What an amazing player.
What an amazing player.
That outfoot pass to Van Persie was sex, his vision and unpredictability will make us difficult to defend against.
Good point. We have unpredictability again. A point highlighted even more when Valencia came on (fact he doesn't have it) and rio's comments on Moyes (he didn't have if tactically).
Still can't believe PSG missed out on this guy because they'd spent £50 million on David Luiz 
Pretty funny but untrue....he wanted to come hereStill can't believe PSG missed out on this guy because they'd spent £50 million on David Luiz
James Rodriguez having a fantastic tournament was the best thing that could have happened to United over the summer.
Does anyone else just stop themselves during the day and think 'holy crap we have Di Maria playing for us'? Out of all our signings he excites me most. Love him.
So, we've this world class centre midfield player now...
Yes. Great point.
I remember we were heavily linked with him the summer of his Benfica exit. As I recall most people on here didn't want United to sign him. Has he just improved immensely during his time at Real, or was he always made out to be a top class player at Benfica?
Can't believe the commentator (Dixon?) said that his assist to Mata was "absolutely, no doubt" a shot.
You this he's that bad at shooting? Just happened to turn into a top shelf pass?
Small world in that guys mind, where Argentinean is different from Spanish.
You this he's that bad at shooting? Just happened to turn into a top shelf pass?
Small world in that guys mind, where Argentinean is different from Spanish.
I want to know what United supporter doesn't love him, he's sensational.
All match yesterday I felt like, holy hell this isn't real is it?
I still don't quite see him as our player yet, more like someone we've just borrowed for a bit.
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His body shape would suggest it was a shot, he was laughing about it after with Herrera and Mata.
Me too, in just two matches he's already our best player.
I disagree. For one he clearly takes a look at Mata just before playing it, and secondly from the position he was in a shot makes very little sense. It never looked like a shot in a million years to me. Jenas called it right on motd, it was intended to be a cross. However it ended up being more like a pin point pass and that's what they were laughing about afterwards.
It was 100% a shot, it's not in doubt. Nobody passes the ball in that way.
Guys. I still can't believe we have Di Maria in our team.
Mata also took to twitter to have a laugh about it after, it was a shot.
Fair enough. Absolutely shocking attempt in that case! Genuinely thought it must have been a mishit cross.
It was a shot. Every one looking at the game with me (6 of us) acknowledged that when we watched the replay. Jenas is talking nonsense.
How long until our rivals start saying we're a one man team?
Thats the thing about Madrid, they have amazing offensive players, who are forced to play in roles which limit their skills, due to the next big galactico coming in
I mean if you had ronaldo, bale, rodriguez, isco etc, all in different teams, where the team is built around those players, thats when those players truly shine, at madrid most flair players are wasted
Guys, that was a pass, no doubt in my mind!
Even when he completely mishits a shot from a ridiculous area, it still goes on to become a perfect assist. He was that good. He always has these typical moments in matches, few crazy deliveries, dazzling runs, lovely work ethic. I just keep remembering that first half against barca last season when he ripped apart barca's right.
Where would people rank Di Maria in relation to the best players in the world, top10?
Think it's fair to say he's behind Bale and possibly Neymar, id say he's ahead of James Rodriguez though.
Think it's fair to say he's behind Bale and possibly Neymar, id say he's ahead of James Rodriguez though.
I'd say on current/recent form only behind the big 2 and on par with the likes of Neymar, Silva, Aguero, Bale
I'd place Bale ahead of him, but yeah that's pretty fair as things stand. He's certainly above his replacement, James.
It was a dangerous ball, whipped in at pace and directed towards goal with the design that any flick from an attacker would likely beat the goalkeeper. The fact it went in without a touch was due to him intentionally aiming it at the goal and the goalkeeper having to position himself mindfully of any touch changing it's course. So while it wasn't a shot as such, it was still more than just a cross.
Going off of last season, I'd say he is better than Bale. Same with Neymar, the two just a little behind. In and around that level below Ronaldo and Messi - as 'just below' the big 2 is Suarez.
Ronaldo/Messi>Suarez>Robben>Zlatan/di Maria/Falcao/Aguero/Silva etc...
A Di Maria in the form of his life as well. Still shocks me that Madrid let him go, no matter how much they got from him.
Well yes, but James is a great player and he might reach Di Maria's level in a couple of years. He is also (much) younger than all the other players mentioned above, bar Neymar. Ofc RM made a mistake to let Di Maria go, but let's not pretend James is some kind of average player.
I'm still getting over seeing Juan Mata playing for us.
I never said he was.
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