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2014-15 Performances

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5.7 Season Average Rating
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De Gea
Rafeal McNair Rojo Shaw
Blind Carrick
Herrera Rooney Di Maria
Falcao/RVP

I think if he played left of an attacking 3 with Herrera on the right and Rooney in the middle it could work. Not as a winger but ACM playing on the left side.

Blind and Carrick give you control of the game.
 
JPRouve said:
No, Herrera isn't, he is the player who should do Di Maria works in CM, accelerate the play through runs and passes, he is a direct player.
I need to precise that all that, only works if you except to control the game.
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Then Carrick and Blind are rythim controllers..

Dont understand exacltly what that is. Although Herrera is a direct player he can control the rythm of the game too.
 
Mali_Zeus said:
Than Carrick and Blind are rythim controllers..

Dont understand exacltly what that is. Although Herrera is a direct player he can control the rythm of the game too.
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He won't do it at the level required, if we want to be a top team. It's like Thiago or Rakitic they can do it, but it's not the best options. And if you decide to use him that way, help him with an other "controller" like Carrick or a box to box who is good at this like Strootman, not with Di Maria.
Just look at who played next to Di Maria last season Modric and Xabi Alonso.
 
JPRouve said:
He won't do it at the level required, if we want to be a top team. It's like Thiago or Rakitic they can do it, but it's not the best options. And if you decide to use him that way, help him with an other "controller" like Carrick or a box to box who is good at this like Strootman, not with Di Maria.
Just look at who played next to Di Maria last season Modric and Xabi Alonso.
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As I said we have Carrick and Blind but then again it's true we need one more CM.


What I dont get is, and I'm not refering to your post, just in general, is that in games in which he played in CM Di Maria looked great. Since he was shifted to a wing he hasnt looked good, now maybe its because of form only or he's more suited to being in CM but suddenly some people doubt even his role in midfield. Although as I said he looked great playing as a CM, maybe he'll turn out good on the wing or be lousy when shifted back to CM but dont understand doubting his ability in CM too.
 
Mali_Zeus said:
As I said we have Carrick and Blind but then again it's true we need one more CM.


What I dont get is, and I'm not refering to your post, just in general, is that in games in which he played in CM Di Maria looked great. Since he was shifted to a wing he hasnt looked good, now maybe its because of form only or he's more suited to being in CM but suddenly some people doubt even his role in midfield. Although as I said he looked great playing as a CM, maybe he'll turn out good on the wing or be lousy when shifted back to CM but dont understand doubting his ability in CM too.
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Personally i do not put in doubt his qualities as a CM, i just think that we don't have the players to compliment him, and i rate Herrera.
So for me since i rate Di Maria as a winger, i think that we should try to put him AND Herrera in the best disposition by using Di Maria like Robben as an accelerator, an impact player. And use Herrera as an offensive CM with a player who will control our game next to him, maybe Carrick or Strootman.

Basically i don't want us to be like Man city, they play with Fernandinho and Touré none of them can control a game and therefore they are useless in Europe. And Silva is a great at contolling the attacks but he can't do everything.
 
Ancelotti's comments are pretty accurate, I think.

Di Maria offers a lot of qualities that few other midfielders possess. His mixture of dynamism, stamina, work rate and ability to step up in big games makes him a fairly unique player in a lot of ways.

Control isn't his strong point though, nor would you really expect it to be given he started as a winger. Playing alongside Alonso and Modric was pretty much perfect for him as they provided a lot of the qualities he lacked and vice versa.

It's hard to see who we can play alongside him here who will provide that same level of control and allow him to flourish. Plus the lack of balance in the squad is such that we'd probably need to bring in another winger as well if we want to shift Di Maria back into his best position in a 4-3-3. Not ideal.

I think you could probably get away with a Herrera/X/Di Maria midfield if you brought in the right type and calibre of player for that final position but it would have to be a very specific sort of player. With that in mind I'm not sure Strootman is the answer either really. He's hardly the sort of player who'll provide that Alonso/Modric type control in CM, is he? Nor is he the sort of sitting DM who'll shore us up defensively....
 
sullydnl said:
Ancelotti's comments are pretty accurate, I think.

Di Maria offers a lot of qualities that few other midfielders possess. His mixture of dynamism, stamina, work rate and ability to step up in big games makes him a fairly unique player in a lot of ways.

Control isn't his strong point though, nor would you really expect it to be given he started as a winger. Playing alongside Alonso and Modric was pretty much perfect for him as they provided a lot of the qualities he lacked and vice versa.

It's hard to see who we can play alongside him here who will provide that same level of control and allow him to flourish. Plus the lack of balance in the squad is such that we'd probably need to bring in another winger as well if we want to shift Di Maria back into his best position in a 4-3-3. Not ideal.

I think you could probably get away with a Herrera/X/Di Maria midfield if you brought in the right type and calibre of player for that final position but it would have to be a very specific sort of player. With that in mind I'm not sure Strootman is the answer either really. He's hardly the sort of player who'll provide that Alonso/Modric type control in CM, is he? Nor is he the sort of sitting DM who'll shore us up defensively....
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I don't think you could come up with a better example of that specific sort of player than Blind of Carrick but I reckon it still won't work.

You can afford to have one risk-taking progressive central midfielder in your team. Two if you're lucky enough to find one of those rare breeds of CMs who is progressive and attacking while also being a very consistent passer and almost never giving the ball away cheaply (a la Modric)

I guess it's possible that Hererra could develop into our own Luka Modric but he's looked a little bit flaky to wear that mantle in his United career so far (plus I think his pass completion stats were fairly ordinary in Spain too) As it stands, playing Hererra and Di Maria in central midfield together would be a recipe for disaster against any half-decent team IMO. Which is a bit mental when you consider we've paid not far off 100m for the pair!
 
sullydnl said:
Ancelotti's comments are pretty accurate, I think.

Di Maria offers a lot of qualities that few other midfielders possess. His mixture of dynamism, stamina, work rate and ability to step up in big games makes him a fairly unique player in a lot of ways.

Control isn't his strong point though, nor would you really expect it to be given he started as a winger. Playing alongside Alonso and Modric was pretty much perfect for him as they provided a lot of the qualities he lacked and vice versa.

It's hard to see who we can play alongside him here who will provide that same level of control and allow him to flourish. Plus the lack of balance in the squad is such that we'd probably need to bring in another winger as well if we want to shift Di Maria back into his best position in a 4-3-3. Not ideal.

I think you could probably get away with a Herrera/X/Di Maria midfield if you brought in the right type and calibre of player for that final position but it would have to be a very specific sort of player. With that in mind I'm not sure Strootman is the answer either really. He's hardly the sort of player who'll provide that Alonso/Modric type control in CM, is he? Nor is he the sort of sitting DM who'll shore us up defensively....
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Ancelotti's comments read like someone who is retrospectively trying to justify selling Di Maria - never mind all the other positive qualities he brought to Madrid.
 
Can't wait to see him playing back in Europe! (pls don't screw it up for a second season Utd)

I can see a few players in the squad only being able to show their best form once Utd are playing in the CL again...more space, slower tempo (in particular games of course) would suit Mata/Herrera/Blind/Herrera perfectly..add Falcao and the future is so exciting.
 
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Does anybody else think he should be given the free role in the team?

I think he would suit the diamond 10 position better. He seems to be using too much energy up chasing the fullbacks, and then doesn't seem fresh when its time to counter or do something energetic.

Let Herrera/Januzaj/Valencia do the wide midfield roles, hell even give Di Maria a striker position and leave Rooney, or Falcao up top.
 
SirBobbysCombover said:
Great start for the lad as expected, loss of form come Autumn / Winter which is normal for his build and play style. I am confident that after his first season in the rainy cold north west, he will flourish Feb time and capture all of our hearts once again.
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Hhhmmm, not sure I'd be happy a £60 million player is affected by weather.
 
KiD MoYeS said:
Hhhmmm, not sure I'd be happy a £60 million player is affected by weather.
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That makes no sense, some helicopters cost millions and they are affected by the weather or you can't launch a rocket if there is little bit of wind. It's just how it is.
 
JPRouve said:
That makes no sense, some helicopters cost millions and they are affected by the weather or you can't launch a rocket if there is little bit of wind. It's just how it is.
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Are we really comparing football players to helicopters?
 
He's just going through a wee blip after an exceptional start to his United career. I don't think it's anything to be overly worried about. Also, I don't think it's entirely down to Di Maria as he's been shifted out wide after excelling on the left of a midfield diamond so Van Gaal has to take some of the responsibility.

Hopefully we go back to the diamond and Di Maria rediscovers that blistering form he demonstrated when he first arrived. I don't think it's hyperbole to say that, on his day, he can win games on his own. He's up there with Sanchez, Hazard, Ageuro in terms of the best players in the league IMO.
 
He hasn't been that bad (apart from the corners), its just that he hasn't been able to do what he is normally capable of. He has always had that when he played as a winger, only last year he became much more consistent. Its his best that is untouchable which makes his okay days seem poor.
 
Play him in a 4-3-3 as he did last season.

---------------De Gea----------------
RB---------CB----------CB------Shaw
------Herrera--Blind-- Di Maria--------
Mata----------Rooney---------Januzaj
 
He plays riskier passes, thats why he has created more chances than anyone in the team too.
 
I take that point, but I've noticed he gives away possession cheaply, at times. He misplaces the simple passes and is successful with the harder ones. His decision making also seems to be suspect. I.e., when to run with the ball, when to pass, etc.
 
Walters_19_MuFc said:
I take that point, but I've noticed he gives away possession cheaply, at times. He misplaces the simple passes and is successful with the harder ones. His decision making also seems to be suspect. I.e., when to run with the ball, when to pass, etc.
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Yeah he has a few times I agree, but I'd still have him in there given some of the passes I've seen him pick out already, especially to RVP.
 
Cassidy said:
Depends how you set the team up IMO.
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Obviously, if you have a goalscoring machine like Ronaldo or a defense like Atletico Madrid you can support that but all the other teams will struggle.
 
JPRouve said:
Obviously, if you have a goalscoring machine like Ronaldo or a defense like Atletico Madrid you can support that but all the other teams will struggle.
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Surely it aint that clear cut, if he can play CM in a 3 with 1 more defensive minded player and another one who can retain possesion well, I think thats ok.

Anyway I guess this season we will find out.
 
Walters_19_MuFc said:
I take that point, but I've noticed he gives away possession cheaply, at times. He misplaces the simple passes and is successful with the harder ones. His decision making also seems to be suspect. I.e., when to run with the ball, when to pass, etc.
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Yep, flash backs of Nani almost.
Since we've put him on the wing he's looked the inconsistent player who was in & out in his first few years at Real, rather than his stellar last year playing through the middle.
 
Cassidy said:
Yeah he has a few times I agree, but I'd still have him in there given some of the passes I've seen him pick out already, especially to RVP.
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Ye, me too. I'd still have him in centre midfield, but I guess we'd have to find that balance that compliments Di Maria's style. Preferably, two accomplished passers of the ball, with calmness and composure, which would explain why he shone in a midfield three with Alonso and Modric - two pass masters, who are great at keeping possession. Having said that, I thought he was fine when we played a midfield three of Blind, Di Maria and Herrera.
 
Cassidy said:
Surely it aint that clear cut, if he can play CM in a 3 with 1 more defensive minded player and another one who can retain possesion well, I think thats ok.

Anyway I guess this season we will find out.
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While that should work out on most occasions, the top teams will plan around exploiting that. Its the same with Fabregas at Chelsea, he's not working both ways like Ander for example and so the top teams will try to play on the fact Cesc wont be tracking his runner all the way back
 
BennyBlanco said:
Yep, flash backs of Nani almost.
Since we've put him on the wing he's looked the inconsistent player who was in & out in his first few years at Real, rather than his stellar last year playing through the middle.
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Granted he's been a lot better in the middle, what confuses me is, whilst playing on the wing, he's been given the license to cut in to middle quite a lot, with the width coming from Januzaj on the other side, which is often where he's been dispossessed or misplaced a pass, so it's not like he's been told to hug the touchline. Hopefully it's just a form thing, but I would like to see him back in the middle.
 
Ekeke said:
While that should work out on most occasions, the top teams will plan around exploiting that. Its the same with Fabregas at Chelsea, he's not working both ways like Ander for example and so the top teams will try to play on the fact Cesc wont be tracking his runner all the way back
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Cesc isn't playing with 2 defensive minded CMs just one though thats the issue there.
 
Cassidy said:
Cesc isn't playing with 2 defensive minded CMs just one though thats the issue there.
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Thats true, altough that defensive minded midfielder is the best one in the league in front of the most solid defence and it can still be an issue, but I think my point persists

If you have a central midfielder who doesn't defend, your opponent will seek to jump on that oppertunity and the best teams have players who will make it count.

There's always going to be some space left behind by such a player and it can cost you. The trade-off is that while they will cost you a goal at the back, they'll create two going forward and you'll outscore your opponent. The trouble is you cant afford any off days when that kind of player doesnt bring anything going forward but still costs you at the back.

I think longterm we'll end up with another proper CM who goes both ways on the left and Di Maria will be pushed further forward where its not a concern. Giving him tactical freedom he can still naturally pull wide to put his crosses in, he just wont be asked to follow runners back
 
Ekeke said:
Thats true, altough that defensive minded midfielder is the best one in the league in front of the most solid defence and it can still be an issue, but I think my point persists

If you have a central midfielder who doesn't defend, your opponent will seek to jump on that oppertunity and the best teams have players who will make it count.

There's always going to be some space left behind by such a player and it can cost you. The trade-off is that while they will cost you a goal at the back, they'll create two going forward and you'll outscore your opponent. The trouble is you cant afford any off days when that kind of player doesnt bring anything going forward but still costs you at the back.

I think longterm we'll end up with another proper CM who goes both ways on the left and Di Maria will be pushed further forward where its not a concern. Giving him tactical freedom he can still naturally pull wide to put his crosses in, he just wont be asked to follow runners back
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I don't think that Di Maria problems are defensive, the main problem is that he gives away the possession in dangerous situation or areas even in his good days, most of the time in champions league or against a realistic team you will pay that.
So if you can avoid that it's a good thing and there is players who can create a lot (obviously less than Di Maria) and have a cleaner passing game.
 
We've somehow turned him into Fellaini's assistant, all he's told to do is look for Fellaini's head when he gets the ball.

What a waste.
 
Manucho the boss said:
We've somehow turned him into Fellaini's assistant, all he's told to do is look for Fellaini's head when he gets the ball.

What a waste.
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But... Fellaini is in great form and has valiantly taken Herrera's spot?! Seriously, though. It's not much of a coincidence that when we start playing basic, more 'physical' in our football that Di Maria struggles.
 
DWelbz19 said:
But... Fellaini is in great form and has valiantly taken Herrera's spot?! Seriously, though. It's not much of a coincidence that when we start playing basic, more 'physical' in our football that Di Maria struggles.
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Cmon, mate. Surely us playing more 'physical' football (although our football hasn't changed since Fellaini's come into the team) doesn't make Di Maria overrun the ball or misplace simple passes.
 
What would you rather have? Antonio Valencia passing the ball to the goalkeeper from the centre circle or Di Maria trying to create chances with his passing? It's a no brainer really. If RVP wasn't shitting himself in front of goal Di Maria would have 3/4 more assist to his credit.
 
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