Ye 100%
21
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 44
- Goals
- 8
- Assists
- 3
- Yellow cards
- 8
- Status
Good point.
Precisely this. Sancho and Antony will become even better the more time spent in our new team. Even now, while not setting the world alight, they are doing a good job within the system and both on the scoresheet in the last couple of weeks.
Exactly.
We are building a team and it’s important to get players that fit into the system.
Not being involved a lot so far but I'm really impressed with his basic technique. Quite similar to Greenwood in that area.
Straight to Wikipedia, by any chance?
Wikipedia also mentions (which you left out) that he had been criticised by the media that season. 4 league goals was it? According to Wiki, 6 in 40 for the season. He was a million miles away from the player he became, and Antony will (rightfully) smash that number this season. Let's not play silly beggars. I remember going to Old Trafford and United fans giving him abuse, calling him greedy. I never heard the term 'show pony' used so much as the beginning of his United career. It took him 3 seasons to hit double figures for goals - that should give you an indicator of how long it took him to fulfil his potential. I remember those early days very well, he probably was considered better than an even younger Wayne Rooney by some. It felt 50/50 at the time amongst fans on who they preferred. But Rooney was shitting on Ronaldo's stats for a while, let's face it.
But this isn't about who is better. Obviously Antony will never be Ronaldo. But it's about time required to allow players to settle in so they can fulfil their potential. You're right we would have been questioned if we spent £100m on Ronaldo. But after a few years, those that questioned him would be laughing on the other side of their face. That's my point.
He loves a flick over the top with crazy amounts of spin on the ball
Love his through balls and passing, he has a lovely weight to them. Obviously a very technical player, will take him a while to adapt.
I would love to see a front 4 like this at some point, just to see how it does:
Martial
Rashford -- Sancho -- Antony
Rashford the profile to run in behind as he does so well; Sancho roaming around the sort of left side of the field but more centrally; Martial playing as he does upfront; and Antony keeping width as a right winger who can come in on his left.
Yeah, definitely worth a try.
It seems like people were expecting a pacy winger who beats players 1v1 all the time. Don't get me wrong, I haven't seen a ton of him prior to his time at United but he seems more of the playmaker type who obviously does have some flair and dribbling ability. He has been relatively low-key so far but theres tons to be excited about even just from these few games for United. He clearly works extremely hard offensively and defensively, good quick passing, quick movement, already knows the system - he needs time to get to know the team still though, I think once he builds better relationships with the players around him he'll look much better.
Except we do that all the time here though, laughing at Grealish price tag at City and Nunez price tag at Liverpool. Sure one day they could all be world beaters, but let’s not shy ourself away from giving honest assessment, just because he is our player.
Fair enough, it was late tbf. Wasn’t trying to push any agenda.
Antony and Sancho will be assist machines once you put a competent #9 in between them. Right now, you have the two pieces of bread (wingers) you need something in the middle to make the sandwich... tasty.
yeah buddy. The criticism was over the top and mostly haters focusing on his overuse of tricks. Wiki missed out his Matt busby award so the United fans still voted him the player of the season so the whiners you sat next to must have been "old heads" or "boomers".Straight to Wikipedia, by any chance?
Wikipedia also mentions (which you left out) that he had been criticised by the media that season. 4 league goals was it? According to Wiki, 6 in 40 for the season. He was a million miles away from the player he became, and Antony will (rightfully) smash that number this season. Let's not play silly beggars. I remember going to Old Trafford and United fans giving him abuse, calling him greedy. I never heard the term 'show pony' used so much as the beginning of his United career. It took him 3 seasons to hit double figures for goals - that should give you an indicator of how long it took him to fulfil his potential. I remember those early days very well, he probably was considered better than an even younger Wayne Rooney by some. It felt 50/50 at the time amongst fans on who they preferred. But Rooney was shitting on Ronaldo's stats for a while, let's face it.
But this isn't about who is better. Obviously Antony will never be Ronaldo. But it's about time required to allow players to settle in so they can fulfil their potential. You're right we would have been questioned if we spent £100m on Ronaldo. But after a few years, those that questioned him would be laughing on the other side of their face. That's my point.
Right midfielders in those days not many scored a lot of goals. In his debut season Ronaldo managed 6 goals and 8 assists (14 goal contributions)in 40 appearances which is a goal contribution every 2.8 games which isn't bad for a right midfielder aged 17/18 playing just 2300 minutes (equivalent of 25 full matches). Giggs only scored 9 goals that year and he was considered world class. There were seasons when Ronaldo was denied by the post more than anyone in our team so bar a bit of luck would of had more.
Ronaldo only scored a lot once he moved into the forward line where Anthony already plays. You are comparing different positions but I dont know why you focus so much on goals for a right midfielder when Beckham only made double figures in goals 4 TIMES in his united career playing RM. In his 2nd season Ronnie bagged 9 goals and 9 assists in 50 appearances 3716 minutes (40 odd full games). I'd say that's pretty immediate impact.
I would expect a forward in todays football to smash goal scoring of a side midfielder in a 4-4-2 as I would expect a 17 year old Ronaldo playing in the forward line today to smash his early career goals no problem.
we need goals from them. cant just rely on Ronaldo. Like Pep says, if you play in his foward line you have to score. Casemeiro isn't going to score, neither is Mctom or Fred. Maybe Bruno? If we have once or 2 sources of goals we might become easy to handle
Problem is right now we have a number 9 that is way too one dimensional and can be marked out of the game easily. We need someone who can draw more attention and free up space for our wingers to be more of a threat. I will say though that our ball retention in the final thirds has markedly improved since he came into the team
Unless its against Leeds**
Its unlucky that Antony didn't get two assists last night, from his dink over the top to Ronaldo that he smashed high and wide, and then the one that was cleared off the line.
Getting two assists would make his stats from his first 3 games look so much more promising. Oh well, the goal against Arsenal was still cool and much welcomed.
Getting two assists would make his stats from his first 3 games look so much more promising. Oh well, the goal against Arsenal was still cool and much welcomed.
If you do that, you do that, I’m just saying it is a stupid and nonsensical way to evaluate performances. Nonsensical is not the same as honest, after all.
He’s been pretty meh tbh, but scoring on his debut and the Queen carcking it has allowed us & him a good month or two before anyone in the media notices.
Which is great, ‘cos the last thing we need is an expensive skilful attacking player getting his confidence battered just as we’re easing everyone into a new system.
Which is great, ‘cos the last thing we need is an expensive skilful attacking player getting his confidence battered just as we’re easing everyone into a new system.
Will look better once we get more structure in attack.
Watched the Sheriff game again honestly, he could have had two assists.
Quick free kick to Ronaldo put him in behind he hit it into the stands. Put Sancho in and he had his shot cleared off the goal line.
United have two wingers that will register 15+ assists and get 10+ goals this season IMO and they're only 22 years old.
I have zero doubts over Antony or Sancho. I do think United need a "proper CF/ST" though.
Rashford and Martial will do a job there but won't be converting 30+ a season. Rashford is great on the counter but in the other games with low blocks a number 9 is really needed.
You sadist.
Think people were expecting electrifying dribbles and pace. Think he's more of a Mahrez/Ziyech hybrid with an edge.
More highlights than the full 93'
I believe he’s a better player than even Sancho . More pace, more athletic I’m so impressed with Antony his ceiling is so high. Decision making is very mature even at this stage. Honestly reminds me of Ronaldo who had little as far as stats at age 20-21 but the talent was there for all to see.
We need to get him the ball early before the two defenders double up on him but so far Dalot keeps going inside but I’m sure Eric will work on that.
We need to get him the ball early before the two defenders double up on him but so far Dalot keeps going inside but I’m sure Eric will work on that.
Well, but thats not only it, isn't it? Even if you totally ignore his price tag, there is another thing call expectation too.
Yes, I have mine.
I did say it was foolish to judge him for the first 18months? So I am not disagreeing with you there....but the rest of your post I pretty much disagree with.
£80m+ for potential? Please, tell me another player that has gone for anything like that fee merely on potential? We are talking about a player with champions league experience and winning the league in the country he played in. YOu pay £30-50m tops for massive potential, get out of here, he is what the 4th or 5th biggest fee in premiership history? He cost £10m more than Sancho.
Of coruse there is a settling in period fans should have patience with, its remarkable and not the usual how quickly most of the new signings have already settled in.
But dont tell me its wrong to scrutinise a player after a period of time that is one of the biggest fees in history as he was bought for potential MORE than a player that has come for peanuts, that is ridiculous
People need to stop throwing figures out like gospel. I don’t even particularly disagree with both your arguments but say we paid £51mil, that £50mil tops argument is nonsensical.
If you look at his age, we’ve bought him based on what he’ll offer immediately & what he’ll become. Instead of getting upset because he cost more than your self imposed £50mil tops for potential fee just let the guy play. If we go on to win feck all for years as we have recently then £50mil would be too much anyway, he’ll be as worth it as our team success dictates.
We need Bruno to come over and offer support more imo. Both Eriksen and Bruno tend to play from the left, which leaves Antony all alone over on the right. Could really use Bruno pulling one of the defenders away more often.
Also had a few great moments of setting Dalot up, but didn't quite work out between the two of them.
It's going to take time for sure.
I do worry about with Sancho, Bruno, Antony as 3 of our front 4 where the pace behind is going to come from. If it's not Rashford, pace should be a requirement for our next CF.
Also had a few great moments of setting Dalot up, but didn't quite work out between the two of them.
It's going to take time for sure.
I do worry about with Sancho, Bruno, Antony as 3 of our front 4 where the pace behind is going to come from. If it's not Rashford, pace should be a requirement for our next CF.
I didnt say we spent £80m on him for potential, the person I was responding too did so I wasnt even making the comment we over spent on him
I do not know what matches you were watching and what were you expecting of him, but I think he made really good impression and shows signs of great team player.
We watched Ole ball for far too long and lot of you expect forward players to done everything by themself because team goals were not existing. So players like Rashford would need to dribble past few players and shot. Right now we would be more mobile team where movement and passing is the most important factor to score a goal rather then individual brillance.
You all need to remember that he is young, new player in one of the biggest football clubs in the world, he also need to get respect from other players and the best way to do it is to make good passes, not lose a ball very often and run his ass off for the team,
When he gets that respect and players around would trust him more, then he will get more confidence and will be able to try more dribbles even if he sometimes lose a ball.
From my playing experience there is no worse kind of teamate that would rather dribble then find someone with a good pass. Especially if he is new and you do not know what he is capable of. If you know that someone is a team player and would rather pass then dribble then if he tries to dribble and fail you would never complain about that and be angry at him.
Give him few weeks to settle in a team and get some respect from other players and he will be flying.
Seriously cannot wait to see him with Sancho and Martial supported by Bruno, Eriksen and Casemiro. Was not that excited for years...
We watched Ole ball for far too long and lot of you expect forward players to done everything by themself because team goals were not existing. So players like Rashford would need to dribble past few players and shot. Right now we would be more mobile team where movement and passing is the most important factor to score a goal rather then individual brillance.
You all need to remember that he is young, new player in one of the biggest football clubs in the world, he also need to get respect from other players and the best way to do it is to make good passes, not lose a ball very often and run his ass off for the team,
When he gets that respect and players around would trust him more, then he will get more confidence and will be able to try more dribbles even if he sometimes lose a ball.
From my playing experience there is no worse kind of teamate that would rather dribble then find someone with a good pass. Especially if he is new and you do not know what he is capable of. If you know that someone is a team player and would rather pass then dribble then if he tries to dribble and fail you would never complain about that and be angry at him.
Give him few weeks to settle in a team and get some respect from other players and he will be flying.
Seriously cannot wait to see him with Sancho and Martial supported by Bruno, Eriksen and Casemiro. Was not that excited for years...
Yeah that's fair points. I won't just blame Ole ball though. Under Fergie years wingers were expected to get the crowd off their feet every time they got the ball
He indeed could and should have had two assists vs Sheriff.
Some would have called him the signing of the summer if so.
Some would have called him the signing of the summer if so.
Yeah sure, but in Fergie times the team was very well working machine with solid defense so more players were involved in build up and we could hurt opponents from different angles and as i mentioned because of team success and very high confidence in our players it was much easier to show some skills. Over last few season we did not have defenders contributing in goals (except that 6 months spell for Shawberto) and our central midfielders in McFred was hiding in our own half, so we only had 3 forward players and Bruno to do something productive so it was often 4 players vs 10 of opponents and individual plays were the only way to achieve something.
It's not that Antony won't be doing that in the future, because we all have seen what he is capable in terms of dribbling, pace and skills. But right now the team is building the system, some paths of play and understanding of each other and I think that we will get where EtH wants us to be faster if we would stick to playing more often as a team rather than depend on individual plays. I know that fans are unpatient and want us to dominate world football right now but we need time to get to the point where we are able to compete with City and Liverpool for Premierleague trophy and to do it we need to be a team. That is why i fully support Antony and his decision making and that he would rather be part of a team and help us became better, more unpredictable team rather than became fantastic player in underachieving team.
So I think his style of play right now is dictated by EtH to focus on developing a right system and understanding for the whole team and also he wants to find his place in a team and then get more and more confidence to try to play with higher risk. I am sure at the end of the season we will need to spend few minutes to decide who is gonna be Player of the year because there would be so much to choose from and Antony will be right there with the best.
I also expect him to get me off my feet but can understand that it will take some time and can appreciate his good general play rather than saying he was poor and waste of money because he was not it it will be breath of fresh air to have both our wingers in Sancho and Antony to understand game that well and be able to spot movement and play perfect pass to teammate to accelerate our game.
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has he played with Brazil yet? How is he getting on?
The majority of our squad have been use to the right flank basically being nonexistent in an attacking sense for years, so I imagine it will take some time for them to adjust to either side being an option.
He'll obviously get targeted by oppo fans all season due to his price tag, but I fully expect him to show his worth by season's end.
He'll obviously get targeted by oppo fans all season due to his price tag, but I fully expect him to show his worth by season's end.
One thing is that we had not have right winger at the highest level since Nani so there was not a need to play that side very often and also having left footed CB in Martinez helps with playing accurate balls to the right side of the pitch right now. Perfect combination.
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