It wasn't though was it? The club really hyped him up when he arrived. He was a media darling too, foolishly compared to Ryan Giggs. They certainly made it seem he was more than just a punt signing
Elanga vs Dan James
- Thread starter UnitedFire
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It wasn't though was it? The club really hyped him up when he arrived. He was a media darling too, foolishly compared to Ryan Giggs. They certainly made it seem he was more than just a punt signing
Yeah that was dumb. I’d much rather the club be aligned to Dan James than the other one.
If we’d two players likeJames either side of a prime striker we’d be doing a lot better than with current Rashford and Greenwood low energy setup. I was against selling James but Elanga is a more than capable replacement to be fair. He has a higher ceiling but isn’t as hard working. So it’s a trade off. James isn’t hard to replace. What’s actually hard is deciding to get rid of someone like Rashford who we’ve put so much into and realising that someone like Greenwood is also on the way to being far too passive a player to help us kick on, as talented as he is.
Hmm… Elanga is 19y. He is off course not Mbappe, but being 19y playing/scoring on the highest level in football is impressive and also definition of a talent. Rashford and Greenwood the same. They’ve both had their very good moments and periods, but haven’t developed to world class players. Doesn’t look very promising for them now, but we should never say never. In the case of Elanga it’s still open. He is at least not behind the schedule to be excluded.
Regarding the OP, I think we underrate both Elanga’s performance today and his potential when we start to compare him with James.
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Elanga has probably been the better play, as someone’s already mentioned he has better link up play and better end product. A lot of people said Dan James wasn’t trained properly having only worked under Solskjær, but he wasn’t much better under bielsa for Leeds like people said he would be. He should be flourishing in a high tempo pressing game and although he shows glimpses of brilliance it just isn’t enough for the premier league I don’t think.
I wouldn't be so sure. I do think Elanga looks to have greater potential and I hope he goes on to do great things, but Daniel James is having a good career playing regular football in the premier league at 24. It's not inconceivable to think Elanga's career may not match up to that in 5 years when he's 24. It's very hard to know at this early stage.
Like I said, I don't see anything special about Elanga at the age of 19 as I did when Rashford Greenwood Ronaldo Rooney Owen Walcott or Zaha were 19. Not all of them turned put great but they had something special at 19. I don't see that in Elanga.
They are quite similar but also different. Elanga at times looks more like a forward playing wide. He isn’t great at going past defenders, but he has surprisingly good top speed that he sometimes uses. Maybe not as quick off the mark? He’s clearly not as fast as James, but who in the PL is? Considering Traore has left.
Elanga is only 19. He will only become faster and stronger over the next few years. His composure is already good, but his allround game will improve.
Elanga is only 19. He will only become faster and stronger over the next few years. His composure is already good, but his allround game will improve.
Rashford vs Mbappe.
Greenwood vs Martinelli.
Elanga vs James.
The trajectory of these threads isn't exactly inspiring.
Greenwood vs Martinelli.
Elanga vs James.
The trajectory of these threads isn't exactly inspiring.
Elanga's representing what we always wanted from Martial. As long as United's recrutiment policy is all over the place, he'll be always valuable member of the current squad. Any new manager walking into our mess will probably see some hope in this kid.
His commitment despite no signs of Mbappe levels of talent will always be something special as long as useless passengers flooding the club. I'd stick to him in times when all of a sudden Mata is being brought from the bench to create leverage against experienced CL side... That's how far we're off from challenging anywhere.
His commitment despite no signs of Mbappe levels of talent will always be something special as long as useless passengers flooding the club. I'd stick to him in times when all of a sudden Mata is being brought from the bench to create leverage against experienced CL side... That's how far we're off from challenging anywhere.
I think a lot of us academy watchers have seen Elanga progress slowly each season. To be honest, 3-4 years ago no way would I have said he was 1st team starter and scoring but each season he just got better. He was a bit Bambi a few years ago but he has taken his chance and made it.
I think Elanga will go far. SAF Said it" "hard work is a talent" and I think he's more focused and naturally skilled than James who is extremely limited. Run and shoot is James' ability. Elanga can pass, has decent decisions, runs a lot, gets in good positions naturally, has technique. I think people are underestimating him. Can be one of those really really good and stable squad players that wins you titles or more.
I meant how it turned out.
It worked out surprisingly well for us indeed. Seeing him at Leeds I see no development whatsoever.
I agree that's what I was getting at l ol
One of the few things we've got right in recent years. I don't think Elanga is exactly a future star, but he clearly excels in all the areas we were supposedly keeping James around for. Frankly he is the better player with a few attributes Dan James just doesn't have.
We should do a lot better when it comes to selling players but the club deserves credit for this one. £25-30m is good business for any fringe player, but especially so for one with James' limitations.
We should do a lot better when it comes to selling players but the club deserves credit for this one. £25-30m is good business for any fringe player, but especially so for one with James' limitations.
Why do players who leave us become desirable on this forum when they leave?
Dan James is bang average and that’s his level. He’s doing his thing at Leeds and probably enjoying himself. The club were absolutely right to move him on.
Let’s be realistic, Utd never planned for Elanga to be having this much game time. They weren’t to know Greenwood was going to shaft us and that Rashford was going to forget how to play football. Elanga is only getting so much game time due to circumstances.
Dan James is bang average and that’s his level. He’s doing his thing at Leeds and probably enjoying himself. The club were absolutely right to move him on.
Let’s be realistic, Utd never planned for Elanga to be having this much game time. They weren’t to know Greenwood was going to shaft us and that Rashford was going to forget how to play football. Elanga is only getting so much game time due to circumstances.
I'm not sure I can identify what the value in the comparison is, even after reading through the whole thread.
They're both wingers that work hard and have pace, is that the idea? Considering both of those should absolutely be prerequisites for that position at a club like ours, it's not the most convincing basis.
He's a young, inexperienced player. I'm happy to just give him a season or two around the side and see how he develops. Pigeon holing him as similar quality to a player that ultimately failed to convince at the club can't be helpful.
I've not been blown away by his skill or technique, but he's had some nice moments in that regard and his direct play and ability to sniff out a chance has been a real bright spot. Getting those opportunities shows ability in itself. If he can score goals consistently he's got a chance no matter what, it's the most valuable quality.
They're both wingers that work hard and have pace, is that the idea? Considering both of those should absolutely be prerequisites for that position at a club like ours, it's not the most convincing basis.
He's a young, inexperienced player. I'm happy to just give him a season or two around the side and see how he develops. Pigeon holing him as similar quality to a player that ultimately failed to convince at the club can't be helpful.
I've not been blown away by his skill or technique, but he's had some nice moments in that regard and his direct play and ability to sniff out a chance has been a real bright spot. Getting those opportunities shows ability in itself. If he can score goals consistently he's got a chance no matter what, it's the most valuable quality.
I mean like.... Rashford is 24, and what he's done in the game already is 10x Dan James. And yet he's being benched by Elanga right now. As you say, I guess it's hard to tell who is going to have the better career over all but it's a reasonable guess to say Elanga will be a better player in 5 years time than Dan James.
Remember it was his not tracking back that cost us the goal against Athletico last week.
It was his goal in the first leg that gave us hope
Elanga offered a few attribute that all others do not have.
While James is very fast, but he seems to be making wrong decision almost 100%, a textbook showcase on what not to do. Elanga makes wrong decision, but also makes right ones, so normal learning curve.
Greenwood is lethal inside the box, with both legs, but is practically useless outside the box. Hardly help on defence, never gives you a bouncing touch to break down defence because he always looking for opportunity to shoot. Don't know how much running he provides without the ball. Elanga, as far as I have observe, gives a fair share of positive involvement. Possibly not as much as Sancho, but positive. I can only say Dortmund's teaching is much better than ours.
Rashford's recent form (18 months) have been poor so let's compare his performance during Mourinho's era. Rashford's involvement in build up tends to focus on last 1/3, but most of his decision had been good and is not a selfish player. So perhaps Elanga can achieve better than Rashford, with better finishing touch.
While James is very fast, but he seems to be making wrong decision almost 100%, a textbook showcase on what not to do. Elanga makes wrong decision, but also makes right ones, so normal learning curve.
Greenwood is lethal inside the box, with both legs, but is practically useless outside the box. Hardly help on defence, never gives you a bouncing touch to break down defence because he always looking for opportunity to shoot. Don't know how much running he provides without the ball. Elanga, as far as I have observe, gives a fair share of positive involvement. Possibly not as much as Sancho, but positive. I can only say Dortmund's teaching is much better than ours.
Rashford's recent form (18 months) have been poor so let's compare his performance during Mourinho's era. Rashford's involvement in build up tends to focus on last 1/3, but most of his decision had been good and is not a selfish player. So perhaps Elanga can achieve better than Rashford, with better finishing touch.
Its simple for me. James touch and control breaks down at pace. He has a ton of pace but its no good against top sides because he loses control so easily. He looks good when not at full speed but its just not good enough for us. Elanga's control is much better when he is at full speed. I liked James when he was here, wanted him to do well, like his effort etc but unfortunately he just doesnt have the sort of technique and skill we need.
Not good enough to be our CF, if we aspire to be a top contender we need better player (with all due respect to Elanga)
I'm not convinced he'll be good enough to be a long term first teamer for us, but let's see how he progresses.
He's not a CF, not primarily one. He's an inverted winger who's been played in several attacking positions. Think of Mane
Not good enough still. Whatever his position are.
Squad player at best and thats pushing it
Maguire's poor positioning was more at fault vs AtLetico.
Its strange to see so many people writing Elanga of this quickly in the sense he'll be a squad player tops. Fair enough you dont see anything special at the moment but you might be wrong and he's still so young anything can happen. The fact he doesnt show some things now doesn't mean he wont show it soon and you cant draw conclusions about his ceiling so soon in his career.
Elanga I’m going off u23’s and one game v Watford….looks to have something but isn’t ready for first team yet.
Dan James was the most bang average player I’ve seen at United for years. Anyone watching him for Leeds can tell you that aside from workrate he offers nothing. His end product is diabolical and his other attributes ie touch, vision, skill are virtually non existent. Thank god Leeds came in for him.
Dan James was the most bang average player I’ve seen at United for years. Anyone watching him for Leeds can tell you that aside from workrate he offers nothing. His end product is diabolical and his other attributes ie touch, vision, skill are virtually non existent. Thank god Leeds came in for him.
If Dan James had gone to Arsenal in 2019 instead of United, he'd be thriving now
Elanga's ceiling is so much higher than Dan James', who was never going to be much more than a speed merchant. He is also 5 years younger.
Like all youngsters who make the break into first team football it depends on how they develop, in particular once the opposition have had a good look at them and come up with strategies to frustrate their game.
Elanga has shown more promise in terms of all round ability, quick thinking, speed off the mark etc. but in his last two games there are signs that the opposition are beginning to wise up and he has been somewhat subdued by his markers. Whether he develops and how quickly, will be the 'proving' ground.
James was basically a speed merchant who worked hard, the only signs of development we saw at OT was that he began to lift his head up a bit more to see what was around him. The irony for James may well be that if/as his repertoire of skills develop, he looses his speed.
With youngsters whose break through is able to be retained for a few seasons, the danger then becomes (as with Rashford) they run into a 'brick wall' effect, and 'staleness' creeps in, sometimes through time out due to injury, sometimes failure at international level or personal issues affect them and/or their personal development just 'plateaus-out' and/or they lose their confidence.
Elanga has shown more promise in terms of all round ability, quick thinking, speed off the mark etc. but in his last two games there are signs that the opposition are beginning to wise up and he has been somewhat subdued by his markers. Whether he develops and how quickly, will be the 'proving' ground.
James was basically a speed merchant who worked hard, the only signs of development we saw at OT was that he began to lift his head up a bit more to see what was around him. The irony for James may well be that if/as his repertoire of skills develop, he looses his speed.
With youngsters whose break through is able to be retained for a few seasons, the danger then becomes (as with Rashford) they run into a 'brick wall' effect, and 'staleness' creeps in, sometimes through time out due to injury, sometimes failure at international level or personal issues affect them and/or their personal development just 'plateaus-out' and/or they lose their confidence.
Elanga seems to have more about him than Dan James who was like a dog chasing cars at times.
Yeah on their bench.
Future dead cert starter potential in my opinion. Top mentality to go with it to boot. James was never going to make it at a top half PL club and in my opinion he won't last at Leeds under Marsch.
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Give the boy time. It's not fair to compare them. James is not as half talented as Elanga. If Elanga tries half as hard as James he will become a very good player.
Touche
Some players, their first United goal is etched in my memory. That's when they experience pure, unadulterated bliss. They dreamt of scoring for United but concentrated on just trying to play their bit part in the game, when BOOM! They score. Dan James' face when he scored was enraptured. Same with Rashford, same with Kiko Macheda. Just love it when the debutant crushes it. James was always too wild in his technique, had speed to burn, tried hard, ran his guts out, but I guess at a certain age they (coaches?) determine that's as good as you're going to get, which seems strange.
At the end of the day, he wasn't good enough, but had the right attitude, spirit, and application. He never shirked. Whatever skillset he had, you could count on him leaving it all on the pitch. Now we have at least half a team who isn't good enough but have none of James' professionalism.
At the end of the day, he wasn't good enough, but had the right attitude, spirit, and application. He never shirked. Whatever skillset he had, you could count on him leaving it all on the pitch. Now we have at least half a team who isn't good enough but have none of James' professionalism.
Yeah this pretty much. Elanga is miles more well rounded than James, as well as being a better decision maker just all around in open play.
James by the end of his run here couldn't shoot/pass/ do anything much more than run fast and press.