[WR10]

Get him loaned out ASAP. This kid is clearly shell shocked at how much he has regressed as a footballer. Get him out on loan somewhere that plays him week in week out so he remembers the basics of football. Get him with an attacking minded team to teach him how to pick the ball and drive with urgency and directness.
Hes got no fecking clue how to dribble let’s be honest

 

[Web of Bissaka]

So enlighten me, was that his ‘right position’ today, as I can’t keep up?

It is. I get your point, but being in the right position doesn't definitively mean the player will perform good/great.

 

[Web of Bissaka]

Against Brighton, there didn't seem to be any understanding between him and his team-mates. Whenever he made a run off the ball, they didn't bother to pass to him. Other occasions he seemed to make strange choices, making it more difficult for players to give him the ball.

Problems are the runs he made isn't a good run at all (half-hearted at best eg. Lindelof's pass to him inside the box with his half-baked running) nor it is a good choice to pass it to him considering defender's good anticipation (they follow him at good distance) and lack of good spaces he's running into.

The strange choices he made when he's on the ball irritates me.. like what the heck is he doing. When your teammates is performing like this, it's difficult to be confident your passing won't go to waste - best not to pass to James at all... or just a few until he start doing things right in game.

 

[Rozay]

It is. I get your point, but being in the right position doesn't definitively mean the player will perform good/great.

Also, continued poor performances make any position the ‘wrong position’. Hypothetically, if James never plays well on the left-wing, there is little basis to declare it is any more his rightful position than the right wing. The proof is literally in the performances.

 

[Steven7290]

He was just so poor with every aspect of the game. It does look like he has gone into hiding and not taken his attacking responsibility, signs of confidence problem to add on to his limited footballing ability.

 

[Alemar]

He's actually worse than Lingard, incredible.

I don’t like Lingard at all. But he at least has minimal uses recently (fresh legs, pressing). James plays worse than Lingard, he doesn’t do anything at all

 

[ti vu]

I don’t like Lingard at all. But he at least has minimal uses recently (fresh legs, pressing). James plays worse than Lingard, he doesn’t do anything at all

Lingard is tactical astute. He can do lone pressing. He is not exactly pacy, only a bit quick, but he can make good use of it. James is just clueless. He just abuses his pace, but when we don't use collective high pressing, he can't even do individual pressing and look as if the game just pass him by.

Same thing can be said about Andreas Pereira, despite he is flashier with more technical tools than Lingard. There is a reason manager like SAF, LVG, Mourinho all see the good attribute in Lingard. He's limited but has good enough understanding of a football game, meaning he can carry out more different tactical plan.

 

[Devil may care]

Was there a conspiracy to not pass to him? barely got into the game.

 

[Foxbatt]

I felt sorry for him. When he got the ball from Brandon, he runs into positions that James cannot pass. So he has to turn back. They should have given him a bit more encouragement by passing to spaces where he can use his pace.
The best for him is for him to go on loan to Leeds if they want him.

 

[Faetheshire86]

I have a lot of sympathy for him. He hasn't played a lot of football since project restart. But his issues seem to be more than just sharpness. Barely had a sniff last night and when he did he was very poor. Trying too hard to make something happen.

The problem for us is, there are a lot of minutes to go around this year and of our attacking back-ups, he is the only one with any pace.

I have no idea what's the best thing to do with him? Would giving him a few games in u23s give him some confidence or would it make things worse? A loan to a side he will play lots, maybe in a poorer league?

 

[eltigreFalcao]

I was pointed out a year ago because I somehow said he's a "speed merchant" (not my actual words) but actually I was right about him not getting even the basics right. Nowdays he's not even a good runner, what the heck happened? No progress at all

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Play some academy players over him. We'd actually be better off.

 

[NinjaZombie]

If we loan him out, I'm not expecting him to stay a United player for long. Loaning him out is pretty much telling him and everyone else that he's not good enough.

 

[Arka_BleedingRed]

Players like Dan James, Adama Traore, Douglas Costa would prove/have proved useful to coaches who are system reliant, like Guardiola, Bielsa etc. who are intense coaches with specific systems and patterns of play. They can utilize the ability of the players, provided the players can stick to the instructions issued to them of course.

But with Ole being heavily reliant on player's skill and brain, especially in the final third, and coupled with the huge pressure of playing for United, I see no place for James here, at least in his present state. The sooner we can move him, the better. If Bielsa wants him, he should absolutely be moved.

 

[Richter]

If Leeds want him get rid he only fill up the numbers can replace him with a academy prospect easily.

 

[rollingstoned1]

Players like Dan James, Adama Traore, Douglas Costa would prove/have proved useful to coaches who are system reliant, like Guardiola, Bielsa etc. who are intense coaches with specific systems and patterns of play. They can utilize the ability of the players, provided the players can stick to the instructions issued to them of course.

i am watching the leeds united documentary and he almost joined Leeds last january for the deal to fall through at the very end of that window. I felt bad for him because it felt like he really wanted it to happen having gone there with his dad and looking back i do feel he would have benefitted massively from an education under Bielsa. He is the sort of player he likes anyway, clay he can mould rather than finished pots.

 

[Arka_BleedingRed]

i am watching the leeds united documentary and he almost joined Leeds last january for the deal to fall through at the very end of that window. I felt bad for him because it felt like he really wanted it to happen having gone there with his dad and looking back i do feel he would have benefitted massively from an education under Bielsa. He is the sort of player he likes anyway, clay he can mould rather than finished pots.

Yeah, agree with that. Not a fan of James at all, but he seems to be a good lad, and it would do him a lot of good learning the basics under Bielsa.

 

[kouroux]

There was a moment, a high ball was coming to him but there was no opponent to him, he was all alone, he found a way to head it to a Brighton player.

 

[roonster09]

This was a punt and looks like it's not working. Barely involved in the game, whenever he did he just lost the ball.

We should just loan him to Leeds or Brighton if they are interested, he will either be a better player or good chance his market value will increase.

 

[WR10]

Players like Dan James, Adama Traore, Douglas Costa would prove/have proved useful to coaches who are system reliant, like Guardiola, Bielsa etc. who are intense coaches with specific systems and patterns of play. They can utilize the ability of the players, provided the players can stick to the instructions issued to them of course.

But with Ole being heavily reliant on player's skill and brain, especially in the final third, and coupled with the huge pressure of playing for United, I see no place for James here, at least in his present state. The sooner we can move him, the better. If Bielsa wants him, he should absolutely be moved.

This is the most bang on post in here.

 

[hmchan]

One thing I don't like about James is that when he's on a bad day, he's basically non-existent with no influence in the game.

 

[NotoriousISSY]

Don't want him to go...who will I use on FIFA to abuse people?

 

[FrankDrebin]

His body language isn't so great either.

 

[11101]

He looks like his form is getting to him. It's nothing to do with ability at this point, his first thought is how to get rid of the ball as quickly as possible. He never even attempts to make runs in behind any more, he looks like he doesn't have the confidence in his own ability to get round a man. In the Van Dijk/Maguire threads we were talking about how Salah immediately starts running the channels when VVD gets the ball. James didn't even face the right way let alone start running last night. He didn't want it.

In his present state he might be an option late on to tire and stretch opposition defences, but that's about it. I think a loan is the right thing for him now.

 

[youngrell]

Needs to be away from the first team to regain some sort of confidence.

He has shown ability in very small patches for us, he performs well for Wales and he showed a bit at Swansea, so there is definitely something there but he has no business being i the United team at the minute. I don't think his team mates even want to give him the ball because they know how much he's struggling currently.

I don't want us to cast him aside already, because he does have potential, but I think a loan would be ideal right now. Leeds would be great because he would be getting very good coaching and solid instructions to follow. He could come back much better schooled for what we need.

 

[Kostov]

He was shocking and it's been going for some time. Ole need to make something happen with him clearly he's declining for some reason. He was an exciting prospect at the start of last season and now he can't seem to do anything right,.

 

[Gandalf]

He was shocking and it's been going for some time. Ole need to make something happen with him clearly he's declining for some reason. He was an exciting prospect at the start of last season and now he can't seem to do anything right,.

I am a big supporter of Dan but clearly at this point he needs a change of scenery. I think a loan to Leeds would be perfect to continue his education and restore his confidence. I watch him when he is with Wales being Welsh myself and he looks a different player. I think he plays very much on confidence and knowing his role and with Giggs support and having target men like Kieffer Moore to aim at he becomes a real threat and looks comfortable on the pitch but I really feel at United he is being left to try and figure it out himself and not getting a proper education.

 

[Grande]

I am a big supporter of Dan but clearly at this point he needs a change of scenery. I think a loan to Leeds would be perfect to continue his education and restore his confidence. I watch him when he is with Wales being Welsh myself and he looks a different player. I think he plays very much on confidence and knowing his role and with Giggs support and having target men like Kieffer Moore to aim at he becomes a real threat and looks comfortable on the pitch but I really feel at United he is being left to try and figure it out himself and not getting a proper education.

I think that makes sense. Watching him and Van de Beek try to cooperate yesterday was painful at times. Never on the same wavelength. James did well at the beginning of last season when United had to play simple due to personnel and time together under Ole. He looked better than Mata then. Now we have more creative players and more of the ground structure, more onus is placed on the attacking players to combine creatively and to a larger degree avoid simplicity (to avoid predictability). B-string will always suffer then, but James suffer more than any, whereas Mata can find ways to contribute.

 

[Shark]

He was really poor again and I agree with those saying he should be loaned out, but we need to get someone else in before we do that or we'll be even worse off. It'd be completely illogical.

 

[GlasgowCeltic]

The first few game were just a bounce, think that has to be accepted now. The top level talent isn’t there

 

[Schmeichel's Cartwheel]

He’s dog shit. He has nothing to offer other than pace on the counter. Get rid. No loan, get rid perm.

 

[georgipep]

I am a big supporter of Dan but clearly at this point he needs a change of scenery. I think a loan to Leeds would be perfect to continue his education and restore his confidence. I watch him when he is with Wales being Welsh myself and he looks a different player. I think he plays very much on confidence and knowing his role and with Giggs support and having target men like Kieffer Moore to aim at he becomes a real threat and looks comfortable on the pitch but I really feel at United he is being left to try and figure it out himself and not getting a proper education.

And if James doesn't make it as a starter with Leeds and becomes a fringe player there? How does that impact his confidence and long term chances?

 

[romufc]

He’s dog shit. He has nothing to offer other than pace on the counter. Get rid. No loan, get rid perm.

I thought he was a good option last year but my goodness he is so poor.

Pace on the counter is all well and good but doesn't help when decision making is poor.

His footballing brain is complete opposite of Mata, If Mata could pass and make runs into the box, why can't he? Brighton played a high line, yet he could never get in behind.

He has no clue how to use his pace.

 

[Schmeichel's Cartwheel]

I thought he was a good option last year but my goodness he is so poor.

Pace on the counter is all well and good but doesn't help when decision making is poor.

His footballing brain is complete opposite of Mata, If Mata could pass and make runs into the box, why can't he? Brighton played a high line, yet he could never get in behind.

He has no clue how to use his pace.

Imagine if we could give Mata the age & pace of James...

 

[Nou_Camp99]

He didn't even stand out against Brighton reserves. Think he knows his time is soon up at the club.

 

[Andycoleno9]

Watching him is like watching some random fan who got chance on lottery to play with pro football players.

 

[Jonty]

He was terrible last, played in what is supposedly his best position on the left but everytime the ball went left he made a sprint to the right wing leaving Williams isolated. Start of last season he looked like a prospect but now I think it is best for him and United for him to move on.

 

[Jonty]

Imagine if we could give Mata the age & pace of James...

Looked like Mata had turned back the years with his run that led to the free kick for the first goal.

 

[Gandalf]

He’s dog shit. He has nothing to offer other than pace on the counter. Get rid. No loan, get rid perm.

Charming. Coached properly he is a decent PL winger, probably not United level sadly but he will have a good career, he needs better coaching and to play for a team with a more straight forward attacking style. Calling our own players dog shit is everything that is toxic about this forum.

 

[ReallyUSA]

Losing hope for him. I gave him the benefit of the doubt early on, but it seems like maybe this IS his quality.