Daniel James image 21

Daniel James Wales flag

2020-21 Performances

View full 2020-21 profile

5.5 Season Average Rating
Appearances
26
Goals
5
Assists
2
Yellow cards
3
Status
Not open for further replies.
Pogue Mahone said:
And he’s playing with much worse team-mates for Wales. Which should make it harder for him to make an impression. Swings and roundabouts. It’s obviously mainly a confidence thing. He believes in himself in a Wales shirt.
Click to expand...

This is reverse logic surely. By this reckoning it's harder to play in the Championship for Swansea than it is for Manchester United in the Premier League.

Wales are in a Championship/League One level group whilst being a lower PL side in quality so it's obviously easier to look good in that setting.

That said, it would be better to disregard international performances for all players when considering club performances. International football and club football are different countries, for want of a better phrase.
 
Last edited:
Still think we should have loaned him out in the Summer... he needs to be playing week in and week out.
 
Classical Mechanic said:
This is reverse logic surely. By this reckoning it's harder to play in the Championship for Swansea than it is for Manchester United in the Premier League.

Wales are in a Championship/League One level group whilst being a lower PL side in quality so it's obviously easier to look good in that setting.

That said, it would be better to disregard international performances for all players when considering club performances. International football and club football are different countries, for want of a better phrase.
Click to expand...

The vast majority of our games aren’t in the Champions League. And, in theory, the mismatch in squad quality between United and bottom half PL teams is far greater (or at least more frequent) than he will experience with Wales.

Admittedly, it hasn’t often looked that way under Ole...
 
Pogue Mahone said:
The vast majority of our games aren’t in the Champions League. And, in theory, the mismatch in squad quality between United and bottom half PL teams is far greater (or at least more frequent) than he will experience with Wales.

Admittedly, it hasn’t often looked that way under Ole...
Click to expand...

A lower level is a lower level. It's easier to look good at a lower level no matter how you slice and dice it.

Finland's best player is Championship level. Bulgaria are completely terrible (England put 10 past them in two games recently). Ireland is a Championship level team.

I don't think there's anything to learn from his international performances in relation to his club performances. I think it's generally a misleading way to look at players full stop.
 
I'm not sure Dan will ever have the required quality to make it here long term, he has looked beyond lost in the team during 2020, but I still hold a glimmer of hope due to his earlier performances and how he plays for Wales – although that is still a bit off the required quality, honestly.

What I will say, is while he is not necessarily young in age, he is still very green in terms of senior football, so there is plenty of scope for improvement and learning.

I hope last night gives him the required boost and he can either start to contribute more to the team or he can go on a loan to help iron out his deficiencies with less pressure.
 
Classical Mechanic said:
A lower level is a lower level. It's easier to look good at a lower level no matter how you slice and dice it.

Finland's best player is Championship level. Bulgaria are completely terrible (England put 10 past them in two games recently). Ireland is a Championship level team.

I don't think there's anything to learn from his international performances in relation to his club performances. I think it's generally a misleading way to look at players full stop.
Click to expand...
Thing is, he has played rubbish for United against Championship teams and Europa League teams as well. He also performed pretty well for us at the beginning of last season. I doubt he will ever be a starter, but hopefully his good form for Wales can translate to at least decent performances for United. I think we need every player to perform. I find it strange that lately he seems unable to exploit space ahead of him.
 
Just seen the wales highlights he had a blinder, 2 crossed assists, beating the fullback with ease and then scores a cracking screamer. Why cant he do that for united.
 
RedIan said:
Just seen the wales highlights he had a blinder, 2 crossed assists, beating the fullback with ease and then scores a cracking screamer. Why cant he do that for united.
Click to expand...
Two things imo!

The weight of expectation playing at a huge club weighed against a national side with lower expectations. He has also been played in his more natural position on the left for Wales. At Utd he has the impossible job of dislodging Rashford so he’s been played all over the place. Against Newcastle he had his best game in ages playing LW.

The other point I’d suggest is that he’s had coaches for Wales who believe in him and give him confidence. At Utd, I don’t think Ole does that.
 
RedIan said:
Just seen the wales highlights he had a blinder, 2 crossed assists, beating the fullback with ease and then scores a cracking screamer. Why cant he do that for united.
Click to expand...

We lll it's not often you get to play a 10 men Finland. Not downplaying his performance here. Good for him he did well. But context matters
 
Inigo Montoya said:
Two things imo!

The weight of expectation playing at a huge club weighed against a national side with lower expectations. He has also been played in his more natural position on the left for Wales. At Utd he has the impossible job of dislodging Rashford so he’s been played all over the place. Against Newcastle he had his best game in ages playing LW.

The other point I’d suggest is that he’s had coaches for Wales who believe in him and give him confidence. At Utd, I don’t think Ole does that.
Click to expand...
Not sure your second point is very valid given Ole played him in 33 PL games last season, way beyond the point most fans wanted him to – if that isn't believing then I'm not sure what is.

He played in a fluid front 3 with Bale and Wilson for the first 45 last night, with him often being the central player, and when not centrally, he was mostly occupying the right. He moved to the left later on when the shape changed and Bale moved to the right. But yes, I agree on the whole he plays a lot better from the left and he will be at least 3rd choice there for us.
 
Has he ever played on right wing for us? How bad can he be if we just tell him to run in straight line up and down the pitch and try to cross, win fouls around the box etc?

Remember he's competing with Mata so the crossbar is at ground level.
 
Borys said:
Has he ever played on right wing for us? How bad can he be if we just tell him to run in straight line up and down the pitch and try to cross, win fouls around the box etc?

Remember he's competing with Mata so the crossbar is at ground level.
Click to expand...
Did you not watch any of our games last season at all?!
 
Borys said:
Has he ever played on right wing for us? How bad can he be if we just tell him to run in straight line up and down the pitch and try to cross, win fouls around the box etc?

Remember he's competing with Mata so the crossbar is at ground level.
Click to expand...
He's played most of his football for us on the right wing and has been largely disappointing. He began last season on the left and played well. He has had fleeting performances on the left since then and has been slightly better than on the right, but still underwhelming.
 
Why do players get better in fans eyes when they dont play ?

James is not a starter in this team, he hasnt got the quality on the ball.
 
romufc said:
Why do players get better in fans eyes when they dont play ?

James is not a starter in this team, he hasnt got the quality on the ball.
Click to expand...
I really think we should start looking for different solutions than just playing Mata on the right. As bad as James has been, this is frustrating as feck.
 
Borys said:
I really think we should start looking for different solutions than just playing Mata on the right. As bad as James has been, this is frustrating as feck.
Click to expand...

Its a joke, every RW we have wants to come infield. I want to see us recruit specialist in positions rather than jack of all trades. When did we last have a specialist RW? Di Maria, was played in diff positions too.

We do not have a specialist LW either, its just square pegs in round holes. In most positions.

CB - 2 slow CB's who are crap at 1 v 1 and we want to play attacking football with high line
DM - We dont have a specialist DM
Pivot - Fred is probably our best pivot but no one knows what he is
CAM - Bruno - probably the only specialist
LW - Rashford wants to be a ST
RW - No one
ST - Martial who is a inside forward

Its a joke.
 
romufc said:
Its a joke, every RW we have wants to come infield. I want to see us recruit specialist in positions rather than jack of all trades. When did we last have a specialist RW? Di Maria, was played in diff positions too.

We do not have a specialist LW either, its just square pegs in round holes. In most positions.

CB - 2 slow CB's who are crap at 1 v 1 and we want to play attacking football with high line
DM - We dont have a specialist DM
Pivot - Fred is probably our best pivot but no one knows what he is
CAM - Bruno - probably the only specialist
LW - Rashford wants to be a ST
RW - No one
ST - Martial who is a inside forward

Its a joke.
Click to expand...

I don't rate Lindelof but he's actually very good 1 on 1. He's utterly shit in the air but 1 on 1 on the ground is his biggest strength.

Your assessment of Rashford I find a bit odd too. If anything I think Rashford is often playing too deep because he wants to ping passes around, not sure what about that shows he wants to be a striker. Particularly as his finishing has been poor too.
 
Remember the geese said:
He's played most of his football for us on the right wing and has been largely disappointing. He began last season on the left and played well. He has had fleeting performances on the left since then and has been slightly better than on the right, but still underwhelming.
Click to expand...

He began last season on the right. He scored his debut goal against Chelsea playing on the right and he got most of his assists on the right as well, including 2 assists for Rashford against Liverpool and Norwich City. The idea that James plays better and is more suited for the left hasn't translated in end product when he's been deployed there. He had 13 apps on the left last season out of his 33 apps in the league
 
Plays well with space in front of him, which he got in the second half. Good finish also at the end. But needs a lot of work to be a starter.
 
Has a good run, and a great finish. Not bad when he came on. Was decent defending too.

Not sure why he was getting so much stick in the match thread. He wasn’t the reason we were playing poorly in the second half.
 
That was a pretty solid finish. He deserves credit for that. Nice one.
 
Pleased for him, he really needed that.

still not convinced he’ll make it here but that was much better.
 
If ever a player needed a goal it was Dan James. Hopefully that gets his head right. Cos if we can make use of his pace in behind we have a great weapon. He has talent we can use. Its just a question of whether he can cope with the pressure and stop playing within himself. Decent signs late on tonight.
 
He got overplayed last season. But we need players like him to come in and play. He may never be a starter, but offers something different. Pleased for him.
 
ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg said:
He got overplayed last season. But we need players like him to come in and play. He may never be a starter, but offers something different. Pleased for him.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Against sides who sit high up the park James will always be a threat sitting on their RB.
 
Thought he took his goal well, this time last year he may have tried to blast it, but took his time, and slotted in nicely. Great run and cross earlier.
 
Thought he looked lively when he came on. Had a great international break as well.
 
He thrives when he's given space and he seems more comfortable on the left.

Still far from the starting XI, but happy for him today nonetheless.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.