[romufc]

I think Grealish is a flop. He has still done much better than Antony, so not quite sure what your argument is there? Grealish isn't and hasn't been one of the best LWs in the league after he came to City, which due to his price tag and expectations that come with it makes him a flop. Doku isn't a flop because he cost much less.

Højlund scored 16 goals and 2 assists in total last season. Antony has 5 goals and 3 assists over three seasons. His debut season yielded 4 goals and 2 assists. He has been a massive flop. He has a better first touch than Højlund, but other than that, it isn't even close. That being said, Højlund needs to improve massively. It was a huge gamble paying that much money on an unproven striker to lead the line, and so far it hasn't paid off. I'm not there yet calling him a flop, but he is closing in, so he needs to improve. Antony has had three seasons now. His first started OK, then went terrible, and second season was even worse. He had ample opportunity to turn it around as ETH gave him too many chances, but he failed to improve.

Rashford has been on a steady decline, but he still has moments, but many claim he needs to be sold. His 30 goal season is still far beyond anything Antony has produced for us. Garnacho is still very raw, but he also produces much more than Antony every season, on top of being a much more exciting player that also causes defenders more issues. Do you honestly think Antony is at Garnacho's level in terms of output or general level? He may have better close control and acceleration on the first five yards, but that's about it.

An 80m attacking player needs to have a healty output - so far, Antony just doesn't.

I think I would ask back - how do you see him as a player in a Manchester United squad? Let alone a starting XI that should be fighting for a top four then league titles?

Firstly, I would like to say.. Manutd paying the fees they did is not an inditement on the player... its more how incompetent we were as a football club. Antony wanted to leave, Manutd were dumb enough to offer £85m..

What do you want the players to do? Say no... I dont think I am worth £85m so I won't sign for the club?

I dont see any of our attackers currently good enough to fight for the PL title, not just Antony. This can change under the new manager but the rest have had 2 seasons where they have stunk out the gaff.

Garnacho is a good player but he is good for a specific style, counter attacking only because he has 0 input in the build up, when passing out the back, the reason we cant pass teams mid block is as soon as the ball is played to any of our attackers, it bounces off and comes back.

The exception to that are.. Amad and Antony. They can actually receive and protect the ball.

Whilst Antony may never be good enough for Manutd, neither is Garnacho in the long run. They will both end up at mid/lower table clubs.

 

[Vanrouge]

The hatred and outrage concerning Antony I fail to understand. He's done little or nothing to warrant such comments from supporters.

He has done very little to consider him a success. His football has been a failure overall. He's had some decent moments, but honestly, there are so many RWs I would have over him in the PL alone.

He is not responsible for the price, but as a player for the club, the price is a part of it. Paying 20 m for him means that we could have spent another 50-60 on other players. Spending 80m on him meant that he was supposed to be a great player, but he is average at the very best. He may turn it around, and he may work as a wingback, and he may even work as a right sided 10 in Amorin's system. I'm not going to give up on him just yet, but if he doesn't start producing more this season, he should be sold next summer.

Quoting a couple of decent moments in the cups is like saying Origi was a great player for Liverpool. He never was, and he isn't there anymore.

I wonder if you've confused me with a different poster. I never mentioned "a couple of decent moments in the cups," let alone quoted them. Also, Origi as you say is gone from Liverpool. Whereas Antony is still at United, and while that's the case, I and others will continue to hope he can turn it around. Not predict. Hope. It's the nature of football fans to be optimistic toward and supportive of our players.

But yes, the hatred, I agree, is incredibly weird. A poor kid from the favelas of São Paulo fighting to play at the very highest level of a crowded sport is worthy of respect and admiration. As everyone keeps saying, the price tag isn't his fault, and although his attacking output has disappointed for the most part, we can't even fault his effort and application. There is literally no reason to hate Antony as a human being, and I genuinely find it bewildering.

 

[TheReligion]

Firstly, I would like to say.. Manutd paying the fees they did is not an inditement on the player... its more how incompetent we were as a football club. Antony wanted to leave, Manutd were dumb enough to offer £85m..

What do you want the players to do? Say no... I dont think I am worth £85m so I won't sign for the club?

I dont see any of our attackers currently good enough to fight for the PL title, not just Antony. This can change under the new manager but the rest have had 2 seasons where they have stunk out the gaff.

Garnacho is a good player but he is good for a specific style, counter attacking only because he has 0 input in the build up, when passing out the back, the reason we cant pass teams mid block is as soon as the ball is played to any of our attackers, it bounces off and comes back.

The exception to that are.. Amad and Antony. They can actually receive and protect the ball.

Whilst Antony may never be good enough for Manutd, neither is Garnacho in the long run. They will both end up at mid/lower table clubs.

I find it odd to mention Garnacho as if he’s the finished article and won’t add to his game.

 

[Kag]

I find it odd to mention Garnacho as if he’s the finished article and won’t add to his game.

It’s an incoherent post from start to end.

My (probably) shitty contribution here is that I suspect Antony might play a little more football under Amorim than most people think.

We’ve had two interviews today and in both of them Amorim explicitly refers to data relating to sprints, running back, and keeping the ball. Say what you will about Antony’s time here thus far: a car crash for all concerned. But there’s boxes he ticks.

I’ll probably come back in eight months and laugh at this, but an upturn in form isn’t completely beyond comprehension.

 

[Ish]

It’s an incoherent post from start to end.

My (probably) shitty contribution here is that I suspect Antony might play a little more football under Amorim than most people think.

We’ve had two interviews today and in both of them Amorim explicitly refers to data relating to sprints, running back, and keeping the ball. Say what you will about Antony’s time here thus far: a car crash for all concerned. But there’s boxes he ticks.

I’ll probably come back in eight months and laugh at this, but an upturn in form isn’t completely beyond comprehension.

There’s always that one…(hahaha not poster!)…player, who will surprise under a different manager/environment and Amorim’s system might give him a lifeline when everyone expects him to be moved on. I think there was a thread on here wanting Antony to play LB (as Malacia and shaw were out) and we had Dalot/lindelof/AWB over that side. So as a wingback in Amorim’s system, with the skills you highlighted….stranger things have happened!

But yeah, that being said, we’ll start with Dalot & Mazraoui as Amorim has said as much. It’s easier and more logical as players are adjusting to the new system, versus trying to teach wingers to defend (& even on those metrics, Antony is 99th percentile). So yeah, we might yet make a £30m player out of Antony

 

[statpadder]

I’m only Antony in because of the hate he gets - especially from his own fans. There is nothing better to see than an underdog shut people up.

Hoijland and Sancho have been worse signings at the same price - yet Antony is supposed to be the only one hated for not being able to produce in a disjointed attack.

 

[ValenciasDrilledCrosses]

I’m only Antony in because of the hate he gets - especially from his own fans. There is nothing better to see than an underdog shut people up.

Hoijland and Sancho have been worse signings at the same price - yet Antony is supposed to be the only one hated for not being able to produce in a disjointed attack.

Neither Sancho nor Hojlund cost as much as Antony, and even if you don't rate Hojlund to suggest that he's a worse signing than Antony is pure delusion. Horrible post.

 

[statpadder]

Neither Sancho nor Hojlund cost as much as Antony, and even if you don't rate Hojlund to suggest that he's a worse signing than Antony is pure delusion. Horrible post.

They cost a similar amounts in 64m, 73m and 81m.

Hoijland has also suffered because of a disjointed attack and I believe he will get a lot of goals/chances if Amorim can implement his style. But everyone can see he has been a thoroughly underwhelming signing so far for the amount paid.

Sancho, on the other hand was possibly our worst signing since Fergie’s retirement. Takes what 6 months? to work on his mental health and then comes back to have a public fued with a manager and out for 6 more months.

My only problem is why is the same amount of patience not reserved for Antony? Why is there a bitterness, an unjustified hate? Why does everyone including fans of Manchester United want him to fail? Why is he written off when other similar players are not?

 

[portrushred]

They cost a similar amounts in 64m, 73m and 81m.

Hoijland has also suffered because of a disjointed attack and I believe he will get a lot of goals/chances if Amorim can implement his style. But everyone can see he has been a thoroughly underwhelming signing so far for the amount paid.

Sancho, on the other hand was possibly our worst signing since Fergie’s retirement. Takes what 6 months? to work on his mental health and then comes back to have a public fued with a manager and out for 6 more months.

My only problem is why is the same amount of patience not reserved for Antony? Why is there a bitterness, an unjustified hate? Why does everyone including fans of Manchester United want him to fail? Why is he written off when other similar players are not?

My guess is that his failings are quite obviously due to a lack of ability. He cannot get to the line and cross the ball. Thats not really acceptable at any level but for a £90m winger that's ridiculous. While the likes of Sancho's failings may also be due to ability, its not so obvious. There is hope that its because he's not settled in the league/ out of form etc. And theres still hope that it will all click.
Thats my take anyway.

 

[RedRocket9908]

I hope he gets a chance to show what he can do under Ruben Amorim and shows just how unjustified the hate he gets is, he is a good player that has been used wrongly by the previous management and didnt have the right players around him to allow him to be effective in the role he was given.

 

[jem]

I hope he gets a chance to show what he can do under Ruben Amorim and shows just how unjustified the hate he gets is, he is a good player that has been used wrongly by the previous management and didnt have the right players around him to allow him to be effective in the role he was given.

How was he used incorrectly? And which players hampered his effectiveness?

 

[RedRocket9908]

How was he used incorrectly? And which players hampered his effectiveness?

He was used as a left footed righte winger in a team that was never setup for a left footed right winger to be effective, he never had an overlaping wingback to pass to or a number 9 to pass to once he cuts inside so he is forced to either try a shot or get crowded out while holding up waiting for someone to get in place for a pass.

 

[SungSam7]

Hoijland has also suffered because of a disjointed attack and I believe he will get a lot of goals/chances if Amorim can implement his style. But everyone can see he has been a thoroughly underwhelming signing so far for the amount paid.

To be fair, not much of the team bar the defense has been functioning. I'm sure I read somewhere that Hojlund had a crazy conversion rate last season, and probably would have scored more had he been giving more opportunities.

There was a few times he scored on the half chance like one he did against Villa on boxing day.

Now there is question marks around his positioning within the box but he likes to run with the ball towards goal and has good pace for a tall lad, watching Gyökeres against City, Hojlund has similar traits to him. His balance is awful though. Hopefully Amorim can make the same player like Gyökeres has become.

 

[jem]

He was used as a left footed righte winger in a team that was never setup for a left footed right winger to be effective, he never had an overlaping wingback to pass to or a number 9 to pass to once he cuts inside so he is forced to either try a shot or get crowded out while holding up waiting for someone to get in place for a pass.

I’ve never got the sense that Antony was shooting because he’d exhausted all over available options…and I’d also question why, in admittedly limited game time, Amad has looked far more effective playing that same position.

 

[Plant0x84]

I hope he gets a chance to show what he can do under Ruben Amorim and shows just how unjustified the hate he gets is, he is a good player that has been used wrongly by the previous management and didnt have the right players around him to allow him to be effective in the role he was given.

I’m not a Antony hater, but this is a weird post.

Firstly in the context of your comments about Amad, who has had much fewer minutes than Antony and has already shown far more potential.

Secondly I’m sure he will get a chance under Amo but I fear we may already have seen what he has to offer. We certainly haven’t seen any growth or development of his game. He doesn’t seem to be trying to use his right foot, he doesn’t want to do anything other than cut in and shoot, and he was found out after a few games in the PL. It’s too easy for defenders to force him down the outside and his reluctance to cross means he simply passes it backwards.

Thirdly if ten Hag who bought him with him from Ajax and should know him completely didn’t use him properly then what chance has he got under a new manager with radically different ideas?

I hope it works out for him too, but currently blind hope is all we have.

 

[Chief123]

I’m only Antony in because of the hate he gets - especially from his own fans. There is nothing better to see than an underdog shut people up.

Hoijland and Sancho have been worse signings at the same price - yet Antony is supposed to be the only one hated for not being able to produce in a disjointed attack.

Hojlund a worse signing than Antony? Unbelievable.

 

[Shaw's Shank Redemption]

I’ve never got the sense that Antony was shooting because he’d exhausted all over available options…and I’d also question why, in admittedly limited game time, Amad has looked far more effective playing that same position.

To be honest Amad didnt look that great under Ten Hag.

Antony will have a different role under Amorim's tactics.

Whether Amorim's tactics of left footed wingbacks with a player like Antony can be pulled off in the PL still has a big question mark but something about this has me excited especially if he is given a chance at RWB with more time and space because the inverted forwards should in theory confuse the opposition fullbacks & give more time and space for Antony.

 

[jem]

To be honest Amad didnt look that great under Ten Hag.

Antony will have a different role under Amorim's tactics.

Whether Amorim's tactics of left footed wingbacks with a player like Antony can be pulled off in the PL still has a big question mark but something about this has me excited especially if he is given a chance at RWB with more time and space because the inverted forwards should in theory confuse the opposition fullbacks & give more time and space for Antony.

I’m no tactician, but was the system much different during Ruud’s 4 games in charge?

 

[utdalltheway]

No appearance today. I’d heard that he featured in some of the training.

 

[Red Rash]

No appearance today. I’d heard that he featured in some of the training.

I heard he's training better than Amad
Heh

 

[TrailMonkey]

I’d play him instead of ZZ on Thursday. They’re both shit, but different kinds of shit; ZZ tries nothing and achieves nothing, Antony at least tries even if anything good rarely comes from it. Antony also has energy and intensity, unlike the fecking sloth king that is ZZ.

 

[Gabriel Djemba-Bebe]

I am ready for one of the most surprisingly effective redemption arcs since Moussa Sissoko was converted into a DM.

 

[Telsim]

Largely a nondescript performance. Not really good or bad. Maybe should be given a few more chances.

 

[flameinthesun]

He's just a very basic player. He's ball control is actually pretty good but he doesn't have any physicality, no real ability to beat a man and isn't that creative. Just ends up being a basic player on the wing.

 

[-Supreme-]

I’d like to see him at LWB instead of Dalot to give us a better balance with his left foot.

 

[Oranges038]

He was terrible.

 

[RedRocket9908]

Did ok tonight but wasnt where he needs to be to be a regular starter

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

I’d like to see him at LWB instead of Dalot to give us a better balance with his left foot.

I’d like to see him never play for us again

 

[Superunknown]

I don't think he's dynamic enough to be a starter in this side. He doesn't look like he's on the same wavelength as the rest of the team when he plays.

 

[RDCR07]

I hope he doesn’t wear the United shirt again. I’d be happy with that.

 

[BarstoolProphet]

Sole roll, sole roll, backpass. Then he surprisingly manages to dribble his opponent before it's sole roll, sole roll, backpass.

 

[JB08]

Thought he was ok actually.

 

[Cassidy]

Yeah hes still shite

 

[bitcoin]

I don’t think he was as bad tonight as is being made out. His industry and endeavour is good, showed a decent first touch, and linked up well with Mount a few times.

He needs to learn to release the ball quicker, as he sometimes holds on to it too long which dissipates the attack. However, he is generally a sharp player and I think he could have a squad role to play at wingback.

 

[RedRocket9908]

I don’t think he was as bad tonight as is being made out. His industry and endeavour is good, showed a decent first touch, and linked up well with Mount a few times.

He needs to learn to release the ball quicker, as he sometimes holds on to it too long which dissipates the attack. However, he is generally a sharp player and I think he could have a squad role to play at wingback.

He wasnt but a lot on here have an unwarrented agenda against him, it was the same with Onana last season.

 

[Devil81]

I'm literally at a loss why he's never being used on the left hand side when he's that left footed he refuses to use his right foot at all.

It's so frustrating as it's almost like he's got no movement in his right foot at all.

 

[Ollie Derbyshire]

He was awful, got past his man twice using his squirming ability but he has no end product at all and 90% of the time makes the wrong choice. He’s too weak and too slow to be any use to us.

 

[Cutch]

Thought he and Malacia offered the square root of feck all between them going forward. No quality or creativity at all. Our wingbacks have to be creating chances for us if we're gonna get back to scoring enough goals long term

 

[Orange Tree]

Play him on the left, maybe then we will have a decent crosser in the team.

 

[Swerny]

Not good enough