[Chaky_Best]

I'm not sure why people keep saying this (and I've heard it numerous times). Di Maria is a far better and more effective player in the middle of the park than he ever was as a winger. When he was a winger he was basically a slightly superior version of Nani. Talented and capable of producing moments of magic but incredibly frustrating and inconsistent in his performances. He is far, far better utilized in a central position.

I just say that because when he's higher on the pitch he can be as good as Ronaldo as destroying defense, as we saw in WC this summer, or when he plays for Argentina as a winger. At Madrid, he played in midfield, but when Ronaldo was in the box, Di Maria played left and it was a sort of 4-4-2 in attack

I just say that regarding our lack of pace and energy we need a forward like this. Our 3 number 9 (bar Wazza) are box players so that's why I say that

If you play Di Maria with one or two static forward then you waste his pace and movments

 

[Massive Spanner]

I just say that because when he's higher on the pitch he can be as good as Ronaldo as destroying defense, as we saw in WC this summer, or when he plays for Argentina as a winger. At Madrid, he played in midfield, but when Ronaldo was in the box, Di Maria played left and it was a sort of 4-4-2 in attack

I just say that regarding our lack of pace and energy we need a forward like this. Our 3 number 9 (bar Wazza) are box players so that's why I say that

If you play Di Maria with one or two static forward then you waste his pace and movments

Erm, he rarely plays for them as a winger. He played midfield in the WC.

We'd be mad to use him as a winger now, clearly he's a much better midfielder, what would be the point in moving our best player out of his best position?

 

[JPRouve]

Erm, he rarely plays for them as a winger. He played midfield in the WC.

We'd be mad to use him as a winger now, clearly he's a much better midfielder, what would be the point in moving our best player out of his best position?

He played winger before the World Cup and played winger/inside forward after the World Cup.

And he is a great winger, it's easier to use all his qualities when he is a CM but if we sign very good midfielders, our midfield will be more balanced with Di Maria on the wings.

 

[Massive Spanner]

He played winger before the World Cup and played winger/inside forward after the World Cup.

And he is a great winger, it's easier to use all his qualities when he is a CM but if we sign very good midfielders, our midfield will be more balanced with Di Maria on the wings.

he plays as a winger at times to suit their formation because they're overloaded with attackers, but generally in the big games (i.e. the WC) they use him in midfield, his best position.

He's a great winger sometimes but he's an amazing midfielder most of the time. That's the difference. If we want to strengthen our wings, we should just buy wingers, not move him to the wing and buy midfielders who likely aren't as good as him.

 

[Eric'sCollar]

He is the main man for us. Putting him out on the wing is going to limit his impact on the game, something that would be stupid to do.

 

[Sarni]

I'm not sure why people keep saying this (and I've heard it numerous times). Di Maria is a far better and more effective player in the middle of the park than he ever was as a winger. When he was a winger he was basically a slightly superior version of Nani. Talented and capable of producing moments of magic but incredibly frustrating and inconsistent in his performances. He is far, far better utilized in a central position.

Indeed. I wanted him on the wing initially but he is much better off in midfield where he can make use of all of his best attributes.

 

[DWelbz19]

I think it's quite clear he's best utilised centrally. In the case of Ronaldo, he was, and is, a player who is best played out wide and drifting infield. Di Maria is the opposite - he seeks to start central and find pockets of width. He is also able to take the ball forward with far more freedom; he has no fullback trying to mark him touch-tight, he has the ability to go anywhere he pleases. It's also far easier for him to run through midfields than it is to run past fullbacks. Not to mention, his passing and shooting are a lot better than I expected - you can't just waste it as a typical winger. But, that said, the form he is in right now he could probably wreck havoc out on the wing too.

 

[Empire]

If he were to be a winger I would say LW because his crossing is much better than his cutting in shot.

But that is a discussion for when 4-1-2-1-2 stops working.

 

[Trizy]

The talk of moving him to the wing is a bit daft because of how perfect he is for a midfield diamond, it would be easier to buy a winger nearly as good as him (as a winger) than replace him in the midfield.

Only problem I can see a problem with needing wingers is when we play our diamond and our fullbacks are injured.

 

[krazyrobus]

ADM should play midfield because he brings something to midfield that is gold dust, the ability to dribble like a winger through the middle. Best example of that is Iniesta, it's something really difficult to contain. FB are better equipped to deal with this game than DM's and CB's so when a player like an ADM or an Iniesta comes along it throws a spanner in the works of the central players.

You can get good wingers , not as good as ADM sure but certainly who can do a good/great job, but you certainly can't get that other kind of AM, I can't think of any beyond Iniesta and Giggs who marry the art of winger and the art of CM play so well.

 

[JPRouve]

The talk of moving him to the wing is a bit daft because of how perfect he is for a midfield diamond, it would be easier to buy a winger nearly as good as him (as a winger) than replace him in the midfield.

Only problem I can see a problem with needing wingers is when we play our diamond and our fullbacks are injured.

It's not daft at all, the reason we are "struggling" at the moment, is because we can't control a game with Herrera and Di Maria in the midfield, they are punchers they don't really care about field control they search to KO the opponents each and every time.

And at some point we will have to take care of that problem by either creating the best back 5 (back 4 + the holding midfielder) in the world or creating the most lethal attack in the world (and expect tennis-like scores every time) or we can try to balance the all team by signing one or two midfielders who will help us becoming a more mature team (if we want to win the CL), who can control a game, at all time.

 

[Adnan]

 

[Speak]

The talk of moving him to the wing is a bit daft because of how perfect he is for a midfield diamond, it would be easier to buy a winger nearly as good as him (as a winger) than replace him in the midfield.

Only problem I can see a problem with needing wingers is when we play our diamond and our fullbacks are injured.

ADM should play midfield because he brings something to midfield that is gold dust, the ability to dribble like a winger through the middle. Best example of that is Iniesta, it's something really difficult to contain. FB are better equipped to deal with this game than DM's and CB's so when a player like an ADM or an Iniesta comes along it throws a spanner in the works of the central players.

You can get good wingers , not as good as ADM sure but certainly who can do a good/great job, but you certainly can't get that other kind of AM, I can't think of any beyond Iniesta and Giggs who marry the art of winger and the art of CM play so well.

Absolutely agree with both - especially the bits in bold.

You can buy a couple of wingers who can dribble out wide and assist almost as well as Di Maria.
But look at all of the top teams in Europe.. How many have a player who can not only dribble past two/three men through the middle, but dribble past two/three men through the middle from a standstill? That's without mentioning his work rate and everything else he brings to the table.

It's a unique weapon that we should be making the most of.
If we're going 4-3-3, I'd rather get two wingers in than get in Strootman (for example) and put Di Maria out wide.
If anything, that just increases the reliance on getting the ball out wide.
And it's not like playing him in midfield comes at the cost of work rate or defensive ability, as he's good in this regard.

 

[saivet]

I was happy when we signed him, I rated him highly but I honestly didn't think he was this good. To tell you the truth, before last season I didn't even rate him that highly.

 

[Adnan]

I said during the transfer window that i'd take Di Maria over Vidal any day of the week. Good to see he's proving me right.

 

[DWelbz19]

While Blackett has been happy to admire Di Maria’s skills, he does believe he can challenge when it comes to free kicks.

“Hopefully further on into the season, you’ll get to see me take one,” he told BBC Match of the Day magazine.

“I’d certainly be happy to if the opportunity came up.

“For now though, Angel’s the expert so I’m just looking up to him.”

Easy there, Blackett.

 

[Shark]

I said during the transfer window that i'd take Di Maria over Vidal any day of the week. Good to see he's proving me right.

Me too. Had we signed Vidal instead, I doubt he'd be making the impact Di Maria currently is and will continue to do so. Vidal is possibly the best in his position, but Di Maria is up there with the top four players on the planet.

 

[PvsNP]

While Blackett has been happy to admire Di Maria’s skills, he does believe he can challenge when it comes to free kicks.

“Hopefully further on into the season, you’ll get to see me take one,” he told BBC Match of the Day magazine.

“I’d certainly be happy to if the opportunity came up.

“For now though, Angel’s the expert so I’m just looking up to him.”

Easy there, Blackett.

To be fair, he's got quite a lefty. Wouldn't be surprised if he scored some screamers in the future once he gains more confidence.

 

[goin4glory]

Would be a good laugh to read over the transfer thread at all the posters who compared him to Nani because apparently he loses the ball a lot and is inconsistent. Pretty sure I got laughed at my multiple posters for saying he was Madrid'd 2nd best player last season as well.

 

[KiD MoYeS]

Anytime I'd seen di Maria as a winger, he'd been inconsistent and frustrating. He's been a revelation since moving centrally.

 

[Stookie]

Awesome player, I remember my brother saying a couple of years ago that he'd love to see him in a United shirt. Didn't think it would actually happen mind. In fact I still can't believe that RM let him goand he is actually here! It also means that we are more attractive to future players with players like him in the side.

 

[Catt]

I said during the transfer window that i'd take Di Maria over Vidal any day of the week. Good to see he's proving me right.

I remember you did and half the caf thought you were bonkers.

 

[Aussie_Red_Devil]

Im absolutely gutted he's out 3 months with a broken ankle in my FIFA manager mode. He plays like a video game character in real life, that's how good he is.

Lol don't do that again man haha my guy dropped after ur first line hahaha

 

[Catt]

I was happy when we signed him, I rated him highly but I honestly didn't think he was this good. To tell you the truth, before last season I didn't even rate him that highly.

Tbh I was the same. I watched Madrid quite a bit last season and was very impressed, before that I was under the impression he was very inconsistent.

 

[Adnan]

I remember you did and half the caf thought you were bonkers.

 

[DWelbz19]

I said during the transfer window that i'd take Di Maria over Vidal any day of the week. Good to see he's proving me right.

Yup, pure vindication.

 

[KeninDC]

Nice feature on ADM in this month's Four Four Two. One of his Argentina team mates (Biglia) is quoted saying that ADM and Ronaldo are co-equal #2 players in the world behind Messi. Also highlights ADM's versalitity. Good read.

 

[gasmanc]

He's paved the way, dragged us up a level, playing around him has seen our other players stand up and be counted, even Valencia had a good game at the weekend, his impact on the attack has been utterly astonishing.

 

[Utd7]

Lol don't do that again man haha my guy dropped after ur first line hahaha

 

[NK86]

Would be a good laugh to read over the transfer thread at all the posters who compared him to Nani because apparently he loses the ball a lot and is inconsistent. Pretty sure I got laughed at my multiple posters for saying he was Madrid'd 2nd best player last season as well.

I doubt there were any who wpupe have disagreed that he was Madrid's best player (he can also stake a claim to have been their most important player) last season.

As for comparisons between Nani and him. Nani in his best form was as good as, if not better, than di Maria before last season. It was only when Ancelotti moved him centrally that he actually took his game up several notches. It's funny how people bring up discussions they might have had once to try and vindicate that they were right all along even though at that point in time these comparisons might have been actually true.

 

[NK86]

Must have been Rooney asking AdM how he manages to stay so thin and also still has a head full of hair.

 

[NK86]

It's not daft at all, the reason we are "struggling" at the moment, is because we can't control a game with Herrera and Di Maria in the midfield, they are punchers they don't really care about field control they search to KO the opponents each and every time.

And at some point we will have to take care of that problem by either creating the best back 5 (back 4 + the holding midfielder) in the world or creating the most lethal attack in the world (and expect tennis-like scores every time) or we can try to balance the all team by signing one or two midfielders who will help us becoming a more mature team (if we want to win the CL), who can control a game, at all time.

Hererra and Blind are perfect for controlling a game from midfield. We need more depth in Herrera's position. We have controlled almost every game we have played so far after we bought di Maria. We only go to shit towards the end of the match and that could well be due to nerves.

 

[LeftyBlaster]

Hererra and Blind are perfect for controlling a game from midfield. We need more depth in Herrera's position. We have controlled almost every game we have played so far after we bought di Maria. We only go to shit towards the end of the match and that could well be due to nerves.

This. Herrera and Blind are an excellent pair to have. What is deeply troubling is our massive drop in quality if they become unavailable. We need at least one really solid midfield signing. Some like Modric and Ramsey.

 

[Isotope]

This. Herrera and Blind are an excellent pair to have. What is deeply troubling is our massive drop in quality if they become unavailable. We need at least one really solid midfield signing. Some like Modric and Ramsey.

Modric or Ramsey to provide 'depth' in our squad? They'll demand as starter if they move in here. And rightly so, imho.

 

[LeftyBlaster]

Modric or Ramsey to provide 'depth' in our squad? They'll demand as starter if they move in here. And rightly so, imho.

I didn't mean Ramsey and Modric literally. I meant players in their mould, which are admittedly hard to find.

 

[Bwuk]

di Maria would be wasted out wide. He needs to be kept in the middle, where he can run from deep.

 

[The Azzurri]

Will he be playing for Argentina this week?

 

[ivaldo]

di Maria would be wasted out wide. He needs to be kept in the middle, where he can run from deep.

Eventually he'll be moved into the #10 role I think with Mata being moved out and RVP dropping to back up striker.

 

[The Azzurri]

Will he be one of the players shortlisted for this yr balon dor?

 

[Adam-Utd]

Eventually he'll be moved into the #10 role I think with Mata being moved out and RVP dropping to back up striker.

I don't think he will be as effective there. He is better with space to run into, rather than having a defender stuck to him tight. Once he is turned and running is where he is best iMO.