[The Purley King]

Thought he was superb, apart from missing the chance at the end.
Worked hard, kept the ball well and was involved in all of our best attacking moves. Hopefully he keeps this up now.

 

[Massive Spanner]

Thought he played well. He's never been a particularly prolific finisher anyway so I wasn't overly surprised at the miss.

 

[Rozay]

Thought he had a very good game myself. Linked very well with Rooney.

They are not connecting with Persie though, and as soon as we can get that bit right, whether it is with Persie or someone else, we will be devastating.

 

[Glanville95]

He did well. First time he's played in that position here, in the 'Robben role' if you like, but he managed to carry our main threat in the first half and was sublime on a few occasions on the counter -particularly that run from within our own half when Dave picked him out.

He's not a goalscorer however. If that was Arsenal's star attacker, he scores, but di Maria isn't prolific, so it's kind of expected to see him profligate in front of goal. Ideally it would have been the same combination with AdM to Rooney like with the second and we most likely score a third. It's good to see the connection between Rooney and di Maria on the pitch though, both are always on the same wavelength.

 

[Carlsen19]

No idea why he didn't just take it round the keeper for an easy tap-in, that miss could have been costly but we managed to hold on. Looked a lot more dangerous than he has in the last couple of games though so that's a positive.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

I thought he played well. Some sloppy bits of play but also some moments of really world class football. You expect that from a player like him though. He was always going to be more of a Nani than a Valencia. Hopefully that wee dip is over and can continue as the game-changed he's looked like for most of his career at United so far.

 

[Shimo]

We just don't get him on the ball enough - when we had Ronaldo we tried to get him on it as much as we can. When Rooney became the main man, we tried to have things go through him as much as possible and even today that seems to be the case. Maybe that's because passing is not his forte but, we need to nonetheless look for more ways to then get him either running at the heart of the defense and around the box or out wide getting crosses in - because every time he does get the ball, it seems like something is going to happen.

 

[Isotope]

Di Maria played better than his newcomer rival Sanchez, who kinda dissapeared toward the end.

It's encouraging.

 

[LR7]

Angel di Maria’s pace was crucial to Manchester United’s plan to hit Arsenal on the break as the Argentina winger showed when he set up Wayne Rooney to score the second goal. That was reward for an afternoon when Di Maria never stopped trying despite making little impact for most of the game. Of the 6.4 miles he covered – slightly more than 10 kilometres – some 458 metres were at full sprint, more than any other player registered in the weekend’s Premier League games.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...Maria-s-pace-undid-Arsenal.html#ixzz3K1AmnM6D

 

[simonhch]

He's a top quality player, and will only get better as our team gets more and more cohesive.

 

[Will Singh]

He had his first good game after a dip in form and I think it's more down to the role he played which is key to him playing well.

 

[FC Ronaldo]

When the attack starts to click he'll be brought back into the central midfield and given space to roam once more and deliver the goods. After his blistering start from deep, he's probably the #1 watched man by every team since. Get an on song Falcao, RVP, Mata and or Rooney to pressure them too et voila. The Di Maria of Madrid, Benfica and the World Cup will light it up again. No doubt about it.

The boy is special. He and Falcao have the potential to claim 2nd and 3rd spots as the best foreigner attack minded players to play for Utd in the Premier League. On song only Ronaldo beats them.

 

[Sam]

So is it a coincidence that he puts in his best performance in the last few weeks, having been brought back off the wing?

 

[ricky-romeo]

So is it a coincidence that he puts in his best performance in the last few weeks, having been brought back off the wing?

yes. we need to get him off from the wing.

think he will nailed it in a"robben world cup" role as well. the link up between di maria and rooney could be devastating when both are on fire.

 

[.Rossi]

Rooney, Falcao and Di Maria up top, could be a mouth watering prospect....

But, we shouldn't expect too much too soon. Di Maria is without doubt wasted on the wing though

 

[Mani]

He need proper support behind him for us to see his best,he's more helpful in central areas than at wider.

 

[saivet]

So is it a coincidence that he puts in his best performance in the last few weeks, having been brought back off the wing?

I don't think so. Arsenal practically encourage teams to counter attack them and that's what he's very good at. It did help though that he had very little defensive duties though.

 

[George Owen]

So is it a coincidence that he puts in his best performance in the last few weeks, having been brought back off the wing?

yes. more than his position, what helped him was our set up (park the bus) + arsenal attacking leaving ridiculous gaps to take advantage from.

nothing new.. we all know Di Maria excels with an counter attacking set up.

the problem is when we have the ball and other teams park the bus against us. Thats when he looks (and the whole team) less effective.

 

[Igor Drefljak]

What about giving him a game as a striker. We lack some serious pace up front, and he can offer us that. Against a team like Hull, it could work.

----- Fellaini -----
Herrera -- Carrick
------ Mata ------
Rooney - Di Maria

 

[Igor Drefljak]

we all know Di Maria excels with an counter attacking set up.

the problem is when we have the ball and other teams park the bus against us. Thats when he looks (and the whole team) less effective.

It can be frustrating, but on so many occasions when we do win the ball, we tend to pass around the back a few times first, and give the opposition time to organise themselves. We just need to hit faster

 

[George Owen]

It can be frustrating, but on so many occasions when we do win the ball, we tend to pass around the back a few times first, and give the opposition time to organise themselves. We just need to hit faster

exactly, we need to be less predictable. recover the ball, attack. recover, attack. the problem is our midfielders are much better at passing around the ball than being incisive and fast with the transitions. (except Di maria)

 

[bosnian_red]

yes. more than his position, what helped him was our set up (park the bus) + arsenal attacking leaving ridiculous gaps to take advantage from.

nothing new.. we all know Di Maria excels with an counter attacking set up.

the problem is when we have the ball and other teams park the bus against us. Thats when he looks (and the whole team) less effective.

I kind of agree, but not comletely. He can be effective both on the wing and in the middle, but for different formations. On the wing, he can be brilliant if it's a counter attacking set up. In a possession set up, he can be brilliant playing in center midfield and running from deep, as he showed in his first 5 or 6 games. Putting him in the middle for a counter attacking set up, unless it's as a free role going forward, wouldn't be the smartest, and playing him on the wing in a possession set up where the opposition park the bus usually is when he is inconsistent.

The good thing about him is that he can be absolutely world class in both set ups, just needs to be picked in the right positions and have the right roles in those set ups to get the best out of him.

 

[Dion]

He's winning games for us on a regular basis but he's not Messi or Ronaldo. He's exactly what I expected so far and absolutely worth the money we paid for him.

He's definitely strongest through the middle or on the right though, let Shaw provide the width on that side (when he's fit of course).

 

[ricky-romeo]

What about giving him a game as a striker. We lack some serious pace up front, and he can offer us that. Against a team like Hull, it could work.

----- Fellaini -----
Herrera -- Carrick
------ Mata ------
Rooney - Di Maria

was thinking of this for the hull game. rvp simply needs some time off and falcao is still isn't ready. tempted to give wilson a start here as well.

 

[Sarni]

He's a poor finisher, not going to make it as a striker. His creativity would go to hell up top too.

 

[Brightonian]

How can anyone want to play him anywhere other than as a midfielder (at least quasi-central)? He's been miles better for us there than in any other position, and it was his brilliant form in that position that we bought him for.

If you want pace up front, just play Wilson instead of RVP.

 

[Jammydodger7]

What about giving him a game as a striker. We lack some serious pace up front, and he can offer us that. Against a team like Hull, it could work.

----- Fellaini -----
Herrera -- Carrick
------ Mata ------
Rooney - Di Maria

Di Maria should never be started as a striker!

 

[Sarni]

How can anyone want to play him anywhere other than as a midfielder (at least quasi-central)? He's been miles better for us there than in any other position, and it was his brilliant form in that position that we bought him for.

If you want pace up front, just play Wilson instead of RVP.

A central midfielder with freedom to roam around and move over to the flanks, that's about the only position he's truly world class in. Buying a €70m player and then refusing to play him in the position he's best in seems a bit pointless.

 

[Brightonian]

A central midfielder with freedom to roam around and move over to the flanks, that's about the only position he's truly world class in. Buying a €70m player and then refusing to play him in the position he's best in seems a bit pointless.

Exactly.

 

[Feedingseagulls]

was thinking of this for the hull game. rvp simply needs some time off and falcao is still isn't ready. tempted to give wilson a start here as well.

If a back 4 is tenable for that game then I'd very much like to see this too, or Mata & DiMaria behind Rooney. Unfortunately the likely unavailability of specialist full backs paired with somewhat makeshift CB options might well mean the wingback choice is rather forced upon us.
A backline of Valencia-McNair-Smalling-Blackett-Young seems more viable than Valencia-McNair/Blackett-Smalling-Blackett/Young. If we had the option of Blind plus Carrick in front of the ailing defence...
So if 5 at the back then Fellaini+Carrick+Herrera then DiMaria behind Rooney would give him that freedom again.

 

[Devil may care]

Surely LvG realizes now that he's way more effective in a free central role, but he isn't a striker, those lining him up like Robben in the WC I think are wide of the mark. Move Rooney to a #9 role, bolster CM so Di Maria can play as a free roaming AM in a 3, and add some width either side of Rooney.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

A central midfielder with freedom to roam around and move over to the flanks, that's about the only position he's truly world class in. Buying a €70m player and then refusing to play him in the position he's best in seems a bit pointless.

The whole point of playing in central midfield is to be disciplined and not wander round wherever the mood takes you.

If he's playing a bit further forward then a free role is fine. I thought the position he played against Arsenal is the best way to use him and he responded with a decent performance.

 

[Chaky_Best]

Surely LvG realizes now that he's way more effective in a free central role, but he isn't a striker, those lining him up like Robben in the WC I think are wide of the mark. Move Rooney to a #9 role, bolster CM so Di Maria can play as a free roaming AM in a 3, and add some width either side of Rooney.

I think with Di Maria it’s more than his positioning. With Real he played right wing and as a free central midfield. The fact is that in both position there, I think it’s the same with Argentina; he’s not there to dictate the game, not a playmaker. He’s more a player who destroy opponents lines with the ball, and create space for others. At United he’s saw as the best player, when at Madrid he had more important player surrounding him.

I really think that he can be as good as last year playing left wing, if we manage to balance the team, if Rooney becomes the leading striker, and if we boost our midfield with top top quality. Then ADM will be free to destroy everbody. I think that he must be free to run, run , run take the ball, try and loose it knowing that others will dictate the tempo, but not been the general like CR7 but more the lieutenant

 

[Devil may care]

I think with Di Maria it’s more than his positioning. With Real he played right wing and as a free central midfield. The fact is that in both position there, I think it’s the same with Argentina; he’s not there to dictate the game, not a playmaker. He’s more a player who destroy opponents lines with the ball, and create space for others. At United he’s saw as the best player, when at Madrid he had more important player surrounding him.

I really think that he can be as good as last year playing left wing, if we manage to balance the team, if Rooney becomes the leading striker, and if we boost our midfield with top top quality. Then ADM will be free to destroy everbody. I think that he must be free to run, run , run take the ball, try and loose it knowing that others will dictate the tempo, but not been the general like CR7 but more the lieutenant

It's a fair point that in those teams he's not the main man and therefore is afforded more room and less pressure, but his best ever football was played as an AM where he can drive counters. If you put him on the left he's going to have to resort to crossing a lot of the time, and if you play him right he'll be expected to score goals cutting in, something I don't think his his strongest suit. The free roaming AM role with two quality CM's behind would still be ideal IMO.

 

[Sarni]

The whole point of playing in central midfield is to be disciplined and not wander round wherever the mood takes you.

If he's playing a bit further forward then a free role is fine. I thought the position he played against Arsenal is the best way to use him and he responded with a decent performance.

Real Madrid won Champions League with him playing in the exact same role. I'd say with a 3-man midfield we're bound to play with Di Maria you can have one that doesn't necessarily stick to one position.

I still think Mata, Di Maria, Blind and Herrera is our best midfield combination. Give them time to gel and they'll be very good. Move Rooney up front and depending on the opposition either add another forward or bolster the midfield to make it a 41212 or 451.

 

[Empire]

He's winning games for us on a regular basis but he's not Messi or Ronaldo. He's exactly what I expected so far and absolutely worth the money we paid for him.

He's definitely strongest through the middle or on the right though, let Shaw provide the width on that side (when he's fit of course).

I think he is worth the money if played centrally, his work rate is insane, he presses and in that sense he helps out immensely defensively and also his ability to dribble so well through the centre is helpful and he just pops up out of nowhere in pockets of space and if he drifts to the left he has a very good cross.

I think LCM is best for him so hopefully we can make the diamond work and in the summer Louis van Gaal will entertain the possibility of moving Rooney up top, signing wingers and then playing a middle 3 of Carrick, Herrera and Angel di Maria.

I don't think he has a great shot, he cuts in from the right and shoots too much, from the left he might put some good crosses in for a Falcao so we will see about that.

 

[Chaky_Best]

It's a fair point that in those teams he's not the main man and therefore is afforded more room and less pressure, but his best ever football was played as an AM where he can drive counters. If you put him on the left he's going to have to resort to crossing a lot of the time, and if you play him right he'll be expected to score goals cutting in, something I don't think his his strongest suit. The free roaming AM role with two quality CM's behind would still be ideal IMO.

I think too, but to be clear what and who do we need then to get the best out of him ?

Should we play ala Madrid ? Which United player has the same style in the same position ?

-----------------------------Alonso-----------------------------
-----------------Modric---------------Di Maria-----------------
Bale-----------------------Benzema--------------------Ronaldo

At United this can work for you ? But what about LVG's love for Strootman, his pursuit of Vidal ? And placing ADM inside, would mean that we have an absolute need to buy wingers (as LVG dreams about 4-3-3). Is Januzaj good enough to play a role ?

--------------------------Carrick/Blind----------------------------
---------------Herrera---------------------Di Maria--------------
???????-----------------Roo/RVP/Falcao--------------------?????

I would take this for next year with just one player added

--------------------------Carrick/Blind----------------------------
---------------Herrera--------------------Vidal/Strootman-------
Januzaj-----------------Roo/RVP/Falcao-----------------Di Maria

 

[Sam]

The whole point of playing in central midfield is to be disciplined and not wander round wherever the mood takes you.

If he's playing a bit further forward then a free role is fine. I thought the position he played against Arsenal is the best way to use him and he responded with a decent performance.

How can you possibly think that after last season?

Its quite obvious what his best position is, and it isn't as a winger, or a striker (despite his improved performance this weekend).

 

[Sam]

Real Madrid won Champions League with him playing in the exact same role. I'd say with a 3-man midfield we're bound to play with Di Maria you can have one that doesn't necessarily stick to one position.
.

Its funny, Madrid win the CL with Di Maria part of a midfield 3, a Madrid fan on here says that Di Maria in midfield made them more solid, and yet people on here claim he can't play in midfield as it leaves us to open.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

How can you possibly think that after last season?

Its quite obvious what his best position is, and it isn't as a winger, or a striker (despite his improved performance this weekend).

Because how he performed last season is not really relevant to what we need from him right now.

If we had Alonso and Modric alongside him in central midfield and Bale and Ronaldo on the wings I might think a little differently.