Henrikh Mkhitaryan image 22

Henrikh Mkhitaryan Armenia flag

2016-17 Performances

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6.2 Season Average Rating
Appearances
41
Goals
11
Assists
5
Yellow cards
4
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Was pretty top titties in his tiny turn out.

In an ideal world him & Mata would compete for the #10, with him going RW when Juan gets the nod, and Rashford moving wide when he does...

Jose definitely hasn't spent a whole summer meticulously planning his 4 perfect buys, just to play him as a 70min impact sub.
 
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bosnian_red said:
Never going to happen with Mourinho, too small physically I think. One of the two at a time at most is more likely to see.
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Mkhitaryan is bigger and faster than Rooney so I don't think the physicality is the issue. Rooney is being saved by his status and undeserved reputation.
 
Stringer said:
Mkhitaryan is bigger and faster than Rooney so I don't think the physicality is the issue. Rooney is being saved by his status and undeserved reputation.
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Strength wise and their defensive qualities though. Rooney is slower but he is still strong physically and does his bit defensively. Positionally, Mourinho has said plenty of times that he likes his #10's to be big goal threats going forward, but also capable of acting as midfielders to help the build up and dropping back as a center mid defensively. Mkhitaryan can possibly fill that role, but he is much thinner then rooney and might not be as capable of filling in as a center mid defensively like Rooney is. Or at least in Mourinho's view for now. Rooney has been his ideal #10 for the past decade basically so of course he'll believe in him at first. But that's the type that he wants I think so Mkhitaryan is more going to be the right wing for now.
 
bosnian_red said:
Strength wise and their defensive qualities though. Rooney is slower but he is still strong physically and does his bit defensively. Positionally, Mourinho has said plenty of times that he likes his #10's to be big goal threats going forward, but also capable of acting as midfielders to help the build up and dropping back as a center mid defensively. Mkhitaryan can possibly fill that role, but he is much thinner then rooney and might not be as capable of filling in as a center mid defensively like Rooney is. Or at least in Mourinho's view for now. Rooney has been his ideal #10 for the past decade basically so of course he'll believe in him at first. But that's the type that he wants I think so Mkhitaryan is more going to be the right wing for now.
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Apparently Mkhitaryan is meant to be really good defensively and is capable of dropping deeper
 
Attila said:
Apparently Mkhitaryan is meant to be really good defensively and is capable of dropping deeper
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He is capable, think he played deeper when he started out, but it's different pressing from the front as he did in Dortmunds system and just being a Mourinho type of defensive player like Rooney can do with his physicality and experience when dropping in midfield. That's the sort of thing that just isn't Miki's game. He is a fantastic player, but I don't really see him being Mourinho's #10 while Mata is on the right wing, as that is 2 physically slight players. 1 of the two at most is what I would expect.
 
Productivity is pretty much his thing. Why someone would want him as a 5?

This guy scored more goals than Rooney in the 2015-16 season, but somehow has to play deeper.
 
Him not starting games yet is all according to the plan. The Hull-game will be Rooney's last league-start for a while. After that there's the internationals, where Rooney will be benched, causing a bit of a shitstorm in the media. When he comes back, Rooney will play an "important" part in our EL-campaign, while Mkhi cements his place in the first-team.
 
Dinghy said:
Him not starting games yet is all according to the plan. The Hull-game will be Rooney's last league-start for a while. After that there's the internationals, where Rooney will be benched, causing a bit of a shitstorm in the media. When he comes back, Rooney will play an "important" part in our EL-campaign, while Mkhi cements his place in the first-team.
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I hope to god this happens. Rooney can't disappear from our starting lineup quickly enough.
 
Regulus Arcturus Black said:
Different type of players and none of them remotely the type that might get a physical shock in the Prem.

Miki is being eased in and rightfully so. God, it's not like Mata is some dogshit footballer playing instead of him.
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It's not as if the Bundesliga is some training league itself, when it comes to pace and physique, probably the closest to EPL. Mata isnt dogshit, nor are Rashford, Carrick but I still think we could have gotten better from Miki than what the likes of Rooney and Mata have offered so far, some final game cameo's seem too little game time for me personally.
 
I think it's only a matter of time before either Mata or Rooney makes way for him. My money's on Mata.
 
He likes to put ball through opponents legs, he has watched John O'shea a lot, hasn't he?
 
Think he showed a lot in a game that was slowing down. Fully expect him to make the right wing berth his own.
 
ThanksBoss26 said:
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Really glad the manager has made a point of acknowledging him. I thought he showed some fantastic glimpses when he came on and am buzzing to see him cement his place very soon. I'd like to think it's Rooney who will make way but we'll see.
 
Injected the attack when he came on. Much better than his Everton performance when he was still adapting. Time to start him I think.
 
You can definitely see that he's being implemented into the side. His performance against Everton was really bad where his close control abandoned him. Today you could very much see him come to life as he drifted past a couple of players until Rooney failed the back pass. This is new setting and a new country so it will take him a lot more time to adapt. But he's slowly getting there.

I can see why Mourinho isn't starting him. Mkhitaryan is known to go in the dark when he is uncertain of himself (the new country etc) and has added pressure of being a new signing burdening him. But now he's learning the role of the team and when he is fully implemented I can't see him dropping out.

People forget that he played against Liverpool and Tottenham last season where he was inspirational against Tottenham and good against Liverpool. He can do it in this league. Just needs guidance to help him along which Jose is giving him.
 
Exciting cameo against Southampton, once he's fully integrated into the team him and Martial will give us great pace and dribbling either side of Ibra.
 
I can understand why Mourinho said he hasn't used Mkhitaryan for tactical purposes. It's more to do with his adaption than tactics coming into play. Mourinho can't say "Mkhitaryan is still adapting" otherwise there would be more pressure on the player for him to perform the next game as there would be expectations that he will finally become good. Mkhi is a very shy character so he doesn't need that pressure.

By the way did anyone notice his defensive contributions? Intercepted a ball going to the wideman and was helping Valencia quite a bit. Mata often left the right side open but when Mkhi was on we felt much more secure on that side. Definetly a Mourinho esque player for sure.
 
bosnian_red said:
Strength wise and their defensive qualities though. Rooney is slower but he is still strong physically and does his bit defensively. Positionally, Mourinho has said plenty of times that he likes his #10's to be big goal threats going forward, but also capable of acting as midfielders to help the build up and dropping back as a center mid defensively. Mkhitaryan can possibly fill that role, but he is much thinner then rooney and might not be as capable of filling in as a center mid defensively like Rooney is. Or at least in Mourinho's view for now. Rooney has been his ideal #10 for the past decade basically so of course he'll believe in him at first. But that's the type that he wants I think so Mkhitaryan is more going to be the right wing for now.
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I dunno, Rooney used to be strong and went into most challenges and won... These days though he seems to shirk challenges and pull out from them.
 
I think he'll start against Hull. Really good cameo and Mata has had plenty of minutes to keep him happy as well. Be interesting to see how Lingard fits in.

Fecking hell its nice to have these selection headaches. :lol:
 
Stringer said:
Mkhitaryan is bigger and faster than Rooney so I don't think the physicality is the issue. Rooney is being saved by his status and undeserved reputation.
Click to expand...

bosnian_red said:
Strength wise and their defensive qualities though. Rooney is slower but he is still strong physically and does his bit defensively. Positionally, Mourinho has said plenty of times that he likes his #10's to be big goal threats going forward, but also capable of acting as midfielders to help the build up and dropping back as a center mid defensively. Mkhitaryan can possibly fill that role, but he is much thinner then rooney and might not be as capable of filling in as a center mid defensively like Rooney is. Or at least in Mourinho's view for now. Rooney has been his ideal #10 for the past decade basically so of course he'll believe in him at first. But that's the type that he wants I think so Mkhitaryan is more going to be the right wing for now.
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I find that hard to believe, Rooney looks bigger. They are about the same height about 1 cm in it. Rooney is about 10kg heavier. However, I don't think that weight necessarily translates into power. I think that Mkhtarian has the ability to shield the ball better therefore not need to sap his energy by outmuscling his opponent every time. He has the pace, acceleration, skill and balance to avoid those situations. If you like at players with a small build like David Silva and players of his ilk, they seem to never lose the ball by being outmuscled, they have a knack of rolling with the challenges and shoulder barges and maintain the ball despite their size. Shielding the ball is a great way to either win a foul or hold the ball up for a colleague to start an attack or relieve the pressure.

I am not sure it is the case that he (Rooney) is better defensively than Mkhitaryan because we really don't know him (Mkhitaryan) that well or what role he will play here. I do think that we should consider that if someone can hold onto the ball better and lose it less often while also providing more of an attacking threat nullifies any defensive advantageous that Rooney may have (if any). I think it is far better to be attacking and dominate the game than to have to win the ball back every few seconds because of a poor first touch or lack of pace.
 
getting him fully integrated with Pogba and Zlatan will be fantastic. we really have a fantasy squad full of potential
 
Can see him starting against Hull, would love it to be at the expense of Rooney but it'll almost certainly be Mata who gets the chop. Mata in the middle with Mkhi and Martial either side would be fantastic IMO.
 
NinjaZombie said:
I think it's only a matter of time before either Mata or Rooney makes way for him. My money's on Mata.
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Mata has been fantastic. I dont get how easily people are discarding him from the team. Right now he is performing way better than Rooney is.
 
RDCR07 said:
Mata has been fantastic. I dont get how easily people are discarding him from the team. Right now he is performing way better than Rooney is.
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Rooney looks undropabble no matter what he does. Thats why most people think its Mata that will go.

Im guessing Micki will start the Man City game, in fact I think Jose isnt playing him for that reason. So that Pep wont have planned for him. Controversial I know...
 
RDCR07 said:
Mata has been fantastic. I dont get how easily people are discarding him from the team. Right now he is performing way better than Rooney is.
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If it were up to me, mate, Mata would be playing 10 ever since he arrived at the club and Rooney would be gone.

I'm just not certain Mourinho feels the same.
 
If you look at the troubles Mourinho has faced at Real, dropping Rooney would be a headache at this early point of his United run. He doesnt want another Casillas situation. Rooney might be Mr Unpopular at the minute with a section of our supporters, but he's got a lot friends in the dressing room. And more importantly, in the media. You dont want to create unrest, which Rooney has done a few times while at United.

Adding to that, Rooney's not really done anything major to lose his place. He's certainly played better than he has at certain points last year. I'm all for a good public hanging, but he's scored 1 and created 1 in the last 2 games. A decent return for me. Granted my standards are at rock bottom with Rooney these days, but I'd wait until he gives you a reason to drop him first. If anyone, Mata will step out. In a perfect world next year it'll be Martial--Mkhitaryan--Greizmann.
 
He will be playing against Czech Republic and Denmark after the Hull game so we will be able to watch him for a couple of games where he can gain some fitness and maybe a bit more confidence if anyone wanted to know.
 
Please start him against Hull :angel:. Putting him in instead of Mata would be fine preferably instead of Rooney.
 
FujiVice said:
If you look at the troubles Mourinho has faced at Real, dropping Rooney would be a headache at this early point of his United run. He doesnt want another Casillas situation. Rooney might be Mr Unpopular at the minute with a section of our supporters, but he's got a lot friends in the dressing room. And more importantly, in the media. You dont want to create unrest, which Rooney has done a few times while at United.

Adding to that, Rooney's not really done anything major to lose his place. He's certainly played better than he has at certain points last year. I'm all for a good public hanging, but he's scored 1 and created 1 in the last 2 games. A decent return for me. Granted my standards are at rock bottom with Rooney these days, but I'd wait until he gives you a reason to drop him first. If anyone, Mata will step out. In a perfect world next year it'll be Martial--Mkhitaryan--Greizmann.
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Griezmann is not a winger.
 
RDCR07 said:
Mata has been fantastic. I dont get how easily people are discarding him from the team. Right now he is performing way better than Rooney is.
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He's been Good, fantastic is way over board.

I think people are saying that based on the fact that Rooney has been playing despite his performances for a long period that Matta will suffer even though he has been considerably better especially after first 2 games.
 
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