[Trizy]

It would be great if he can repeat these performances on wing because we could use good left winger if we switch back to 442/4231.

Realistically between him being a shite winger and LVG trying to already fit Mata, Rooney, RVP and Falcao in the team I can't see us switching to wingers any time this season.

Young has been bang on average defensively, people mistake it for being good because he's not a defender and going forward he's spent most his time back passing when under pressure or whipping in a nothing ball with either foot and hoping for the best. Grant it he's got confidence the past couple of games and he's actually running at the opponents full backs (which is an impressive improvement) but it usually amounts to another nothing ball.

His improvements might prolong his career at United but Luke Shaw at 19 is already better than him.

 

[Fahad Jawaid]

He was our best player vs Villa so if that's your view its a warped one in my opinion fella.

Mate, i actually think even in that match he was frustrating, he was beating their fullback for fun, but then how many times he actually produced a great ball in? , as far as i remember there was one great ball in the first half, and another if you count the assist for the goal Falcao scored, that's his problem in a nutshell, in his good days he will beat their fullback two to three times, and one or two of those crosses will actually be threatning, otherwise most of his crosses will be underhit or overhit.

The thing is due to shit wingplay from him and Valencia, we are so used to mediocre performances, a winger coverted fullback whose there to maintain width ,and always have ample amount of room to operate delivers two dangerous crosses in a match and we are happy with him, i remember when Di Maria played for us for the first match against Burnley, his first three crosses felt like peeches because there were swung in with pace and and there were towards some player rather than smashing on the shins, and constant overhitting or underhitting of crosses.

 

[Shimo]

Mate, i actually think even in that match he was frustrating, he was beating their fullback for fun, but then how many times he actually produced a great ball in? , as far as i remember there was one great ball in the first half, and another if you count the assist for the goal Falcao scored, that's his problem in a nutshell, in his good days he will beat their fullback two to three times, and one or two of those crosses will actually be threatning, otherwise most of his crosses will be underhit or overhit.

The thing is due to shit wingplay from him and Valencia, we are so used to mediocre performances, a winger coverted fullback whose there to maintain width ,and always have ample amount of room to operate delivers two dangerous crosses in a match and we are happy with him, i remember when Di Maria played for us for the first match against Burnley, his first three crosses felt like peeches because there were swung in with pace and and there were towards some player rather than smashing on the shins, and constant overhitting or underhitting of crosses.

Which players out there that soon as they beat their man get a dangerous cross in each time? From dead balls players have difficulty getting in perfect crosses yet you think Young should be getting a dangerous ball in each time he beats his man? That he is putting pressure on defenders and beating his marker quite a bit is what makes the performances really good - instead of him having to go back each time. Even Di Maria, you mentioned one game, his crosses have been far from dangerous each time - even so called top players can't do it each time and Young right now is giving top level performances flat out.

If we could get the same kind of work from the right, we'd be in such great shape going forward.

 

[Ixion]

It does frustrate me a little that he hasn't been able to get more than one assist to his name after half the season but so many of his crosses go into dangerous areas (unlike Valencia on the other side), he can't do much more. Not many players can cross like Beckham. The fact teams are starting to double-up on him is a good indicator of how he is playing. If Shaw is back I would expect a back four soon with Young out on the wing proper, it would be good to get some overlapping runs since Young and Valencia are often isolated out there.

 

[golden_blunder]

I daresay if Giggs were playing now as a 25 year old there'd be a bunch of moaners on here moaning about his crosses

 

[SonnyTheHaloPro]

He has looked very dangerous recently, I want to see him LW for the next game with Shaw at LB.

 

[Loublaze]

Realistically between him being a shite winger and LVG trying to already fit Mata, Rooney, RVP and Falcao in the team I can't see us switching to wingers any time this season.

Young has been bang on average defensively, people mistake it for being good because he's not a defender and going forward he's spent most his time back passing when under pressure or whipping in a nothing ball with either foot and hoping for the best. Grant it he's got confidence the past couple of games and he's actually running at the opponents full backs (which is an impressive improvement) but it usually amounts to another nothing ball.

His improvements might prolong his career at United but Luke Shaw at 19 is already better than him.

I don't know why you're comparing him to Shaw. Young is better going forward and has been decent at the back. This is a makeshift position for him, its not his to keep.

 

[Fahad Jawaid]

Which players out there that soon as they beat their man get a dangerous cross in each time? From dead balls players have difficulty getting in perfect crosses yet you think Young should be getting a dangerous ball in each time he beats his man? That he is putting pressure on defenders and beating his marker quite a bit is what makes the performances really good - instead of him having to go back each time. Even Di Maria, you mentioned one game, his crosses have been far from dangerous each time - even so called top players can't do it each time and Young right now is giving top level performances flat out.

If we could get the same kind of work from the right, we'd be in such great shape going forward.

I could name several players who need half a yard to put in a great ball in and they aren't even wingers, they try to pick somebody out, Kagawa, Carzola, Silva, Oscar, Bale, Ronaldo, Ribery, Robben, even in our side Rooney, Rvp, ADM, Mata all try to pick somebody out and they are a constant menace against opposition. My problem with him is that, he actually loses the ball alot, he either under or overhits it, and when he is expected to be our creator, and we overload the middle, which allows ample amount of space to our wingbacks, when they fail, we either fail to create chances, thats another reason i don't want the 3-5-2 because except the Attacking midfielder, we are largely dependent on them to create, Burnley and Villa being prime examples.

 

[Trizy]

I don't know why you're comparing him to Shaw. Young is better going forward and has been decent at the back. This is a makeshift position for him, its not his to keep.

Because he's not good enough to be an effective winger, he never was for us so the only other position available is one where Shaw is much better at.

 

[Loublaze]

Because he's not good enough to be an effective winger, he never was for us so the only other position available is one where Shaw is much better at.

Shaw is not a better LWB than Young. 3-5-2 won't last long though, its up to Shaw and Rafael to play well and have a good run of fitness.

 

[Shimo]

I could name several players who need half a yard to put in a great ball in and they aren't even wingers, they try to pick somebody out, Kagawa, Carzola, Silva, Oscar, Bale, Ronaldo, Ribery, Robben, even in our side Rooney, Rvp, ADM, Mata all try to pick somebody out and they are a constant menace against opposition. My problem with him is that, he actually loses the ball alot, he either under or overhits it, and when he is expected to be our creator, and we overload the middle, which allows ample amount of space to our wingbacks, when they fail, we either fail to create chances, thats another reason i don't want the 3-5-2 because except the Attacking midfielder, we are largely dependent on them to create, Burnley and Villa being prime examples.

Yeah and none of those players put in a great cross, every game, every time they beat their man. For the past several games Ashley Young has been as every bit creating chances as any of those names you've put forward. Fine if he has not been good enough in the past but, your examples of games recently for not putting in a great cross every time even though he has created chances does not hold up.

Credit where credit is due - right now he playing well and we should at least be riding it till someone else can take over and do better if they get their chance or his performances do start to drop

 

[golden_blunder]

I could name several players who need half a yard to put in a great ball in and they aren't even wingers, they try to pick somebody out, Kagawa, Carzola, Silva, Oscar, Bale, Ronaldo, Ribery, Robben, even in our side Rooney, Rvp, ADM, Mata all try to pick somebody out and they are a constant menace against opposition. My problem with him is that, he actually loses the ball alot, he either under or overhits it, and when he is expected to be our creator, and we overload the middle, which allows ample amount of space to our wingbacks, when they fail, we either fail to create chances, thats another reason i don't want the 3-5-2 because except the Attacking midfielder, we are largely dependent on them to create, Burnley and Villa being prime examples.

Most of the players you have named are all considered world class. Do you really expect United to have a world class player in every position? Nevermind squad players

Give young a break ffs, he's playing well and deserves credit not people like you moaning about crossing percentages

 

[caisenma]

Was at the game today and thought he was rubbish. I dont think a single cross found its target and wasn't much of a factor.

Perhaps some of the criticism he came in for last year was unfair, but then maybe some of his current praise is a wee bit over the top too. He's turned into a good back up left back, but now that Shaw is here I hope this signals his return to the bench.

 

[Loublaze]

He was one of our better players again.

 

[iBoss]

His left foot crosses have been shite. Whipped in some very good right footed ones though.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

Very well put from Barney Ronay I think:

1) Ashley’s front-to-back thinking proves he is young at heart

There are few things more interesting right now in the Premier League than Manchester United’s defence, which resembles in its ever-changing cast and shape a kind of footballing modern jazz, all trills and twirls and unexpected zig-zags, a new trombonist here, an unexpected xylophone man over there. If United’s defence was unchanged at White Hart Lane, it was still a slightly odd-looking thing, with three career centre halves (average age, 22) and a pair of converted wing-backs.

It is tempting to suggest in Phil Jones and Paddy McNair, Van Gaal has finally achieved some balance: a defender who makes mistakes because he’s too rash, paired with a defender who makes mistakes because he’s too timid. And yet for all that, United kept a clean sheet against Spurs and have now conceded just five goals in their last 10 matches, a tribute to David De Gea’s excellence and to the resourcefulness of the players.

Most notably, Ashley Young has been a quiet revelation as a left wing-back and left-back. Against Spurs Young was again mobile, determined and always ready to skate forward down his wing and attack with craft and intent.

One of the best things about Van Gaal managing in England, so far, has been his ability to persuade even established players to take on new roles. The resurrection of Young’s Old Trafford career, set in train on the pre-season tour of America, is a genuine plus. It is no doubt just a quirk that United have not lost since the opening day of the season with Young in the team. There is also perhaps a slight disadvantage in being right footed when making those overlapping runs.

But whatever happens from here, Young deserves credit for the rare achievement among English footballers of being willing enough, and astute enough, to reinvent himself late in his career.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/dec/29/premier-league-ten-talking-points

Cracking stat about us not losing with him starting!

 

[Fahad Jawaid]

Most of the players you have named are all considered world class. Do you really expect United to have a world class player in every position? Nevermind squad players

Give young a break ffs, he's playing well and deserves credit not people like you moaning about crossing percentages

My point wasn't about having world class players in every position, my point was when we play 3-5-2, we are dependent on him and Valencia to create most of our chances, and they are given ample amount of space to work with, i feel as a primary attacking outlet he isn't good enough or consistent enough, on his best days he will be able to beat their fullback twice or thrice and still his end product is awful. I would either want us to cease this formation, or play somebody who given that time or space will create far more than he does.

 

[kouroux]

My point wasn't about having world class players in every position, my point was when we play 3-5-2, we are dependent on him and Valencia to create most of our chances, and they are given ample amount of space to work with, i feel as a primary attacking outlet he isn't good enough or consistent enough, on his best days he will be able to beat their fullback twice or thrice and still his end product is awful. I would either want us to cease this formation, or play somebody who given that time or space will create far more than he does.

You're saying things that are far from the truth. On his best days, he's created many good scoring chances for our strikers. The few recent matches are a proof to that. Yes he isn't the best wingback we could hope for but he's doing his best.

 

[RooneyLegend]

What I'm finding amazing is how good he's been defensively.

 

[ivaldo]

I can't believe people are doubting Young's effectiveness these last few games, he caused absolute havoc for spurs in that first half and should've walked away with at least 2 assists to his name, he's been our best outfield player recently.

 

[mufcwarm92]

He's been absolutely brilliant for a considerable period now. Good on him.

 

[golden_blunder]

My point wasn't about having world class players in every position, my point was when we play 3-5-2, we are dependent on him and Valencia to create most of our chances, and they are given ample amount of space to work with, i feel as a primary attacking outlet he isn't good enough or consistent enough, on his best days he will be able to beat their fullback twice or thrice and still his end product is awful. I would either want us to cease this formation, or play somebody who given that time or space will create far more than he does.

yet the people you stand up as your examples of consistently good crossing/passing are all world class players.

 

[marjen]

My point wasn't about having world class players in every position, my point was when we play 3-5-2, we are dependent on him and Valencia to create most of our chances, and they are given ample amount of space to work with, i feel as a primary attacking outlet he isn't good enough or consistent enough, on his best days he will be able to beat their fullback twice or thrice and still his end product is awful. I would either want us to cease this formation, or play somebody who given that time or space will create far more than he does.

We're not dependant on Valencia or Young to be world class wingers in a 3-5-2. What we do need from them is the energy to get up and down that wing every time, the ability to stretch play and occasionally to create chances for their team mates with pieces of good wing play even if they are nominally outnumbered. Which they do, Young particularly so. All the while defending their flank well enough, excellently in Young's case.

He's basically been nailing the wing back role lately. The problem isn't the wing backs it's our lack of pace in other areas of the team, particularly up front, to stretch teams.

 

[TwoSheds]

Yesterday Young regularly had two men on him whenever he had the ball and yet more often than not he beat them. one of the big problems 2nd half was that nobody tried to find him and when they did they all just ambled around in the box while spurs defenders swamped him.

 

[m1y2]

I always thought he is a clever little player very adjustable and versatile, I think he found his spot at LB, him and Shaw could be great there for us, I am little concerned with Young's defending but he can learn that and looked solid so far, so I don't see why not to use him in games we need to attack and risk more.(He already palyed there twice right?)Shaw will get better in no time to start ahead of Young but still there is no need for him to start 50 matches per season, Young can also alternate from the right which could be in the end a good back-up option for Rafael and maybe we will buy someone but till that he can do the job even as somebody suggested he is better crossing with his right from the left than from the right but it is a matter of time he will get it right maybe and the case of day he will be having..

 

[kouroux]

Could this confidence he currently feels make him perform better as a LW or will we see the player we used to dislike ?

 

[Crashoutcassius]

Our best outfield player since he started playing at left back

 

[starman]

I want to see him play in the diamond, I thought Valencia would be a good option, but Youngs defensive game and ability to get up and down makes him a prime candidate

 

[Red Shorts]

I can't wait to see us play 4-4-2 again with him play left wing and having the likes of Luke Shaw playing behind him. He needs support down that left side, that way he can be even more effective by drawing a man out. He is a completely changed player and I'm very happy to see this. van Gaal showing how fantastic a manager he is by improving not only him, by others like Fellaini too.

 

[Getsme]

I can't wait to see us play 4-4-2 again with him play left wing and having the likes of Luke Shaw playing behind him. He needs support down that left side, that way he can be even more effective by drawing a man out. He is a completely changed player and I'm very happy to see this. van Gaal showing how fantastic a manager he is by improving not only him, by others like Fellaini too.

I have a feeling it wil be him or Shaw in the team, not both.

 

[Raees]

Injured - any news?

 

[Devil may care]

Couldn't cross the road today but hope his hammy isn't too bad.

 

[Ixion]

Very unfortunate, finally finds some form and now he'll be out for ages. Luckily Shaw is back now.

 

[Man-United]

Affraid we are looking for at least a month out.

 

[Sied]

As frustrating as another injury is, Young and Valencia's are really perfectly timed as Rafael and Shaw return. Even if LVG didn't want to play with 4 at the back he's surely going to be forced to now.

 

[FromTheBench]

But after describing the injury as "very bad", the manager told MUTV: "He has a hamstring injury. He's out for many weeks, I think. But I'm not a doctor so we have to wait for tomorrow or the day after tomorrow."


http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-F...jured-in-Manchester-United-draw-at-Stoke.aspx

 

[Rado_N]

Pulling up at full speed like that means it's going to be as bad as hamstring injuries get, it's not like he felt it a little tight so stopped himself, that was a proper tear of the muscle.

 

[Truedevil]

Gutted, even if not as a starter he is a very good option to have on the bench. Just when he was playing well week after week this happens.

 

[Sam]

Massive shame for the lad. Probably showing the best form of his United career.

 

[Red Dreams]

Pulling up at full speed like that means it's going to be as bad as hamstring injuries get, it's not like he felt it a little tight so stopped himself, that was a proper tear of the muscle.

pity that. His best has come when he played on the left.