Is there a place for Rashford as a regular starter?

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He's been a shadow of his former self. Hopefully Ralf can switch the light back on like in that video and we can see his old self back one day.
 
Rossa said:
And how would you prioritize?
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Respect for what he's done. But I'd prioritise being the best possible player I could be improving every year. Beckham has done a he'll of a lot for charity all through his career, didn't stop him maximising his talent to the fullest dud it.
 
GMoore23 said:
I never buy all this Rashford needs to be on the left crap. The boys lighting quick and should be terrorising full backs down the right. Instead he sulks like a little bitch as he just wants to cut inside and shoot all the time. Bench him.

True Greats like Giggs, Kanchelskis, Beckham and Ronaldo never had a problem with it.
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Loads of wide players play as inverted wingers almost exclusively and don't get messed around by getting put on their worse side for no reason.

When did Chelsea ever feel like just taking Hazard out his best position and sticking him on the right instead? It would just be idiotic.

If you're asking, should Rashford be able to adapt to put in better performances than he does on the right? Sure. But he doesn't, and we know that. We know he's shit every time he plays on the right, and so we played him on the right anyway hoping something magically changes. And we did all this so we could play Sancho on the left, who we bought because he can play on the right, and who's best games recently have come on the right.

Some fans just hate Rashford so much that they're unwilling to recognise how unbelievably stupid this decision was.
 
giggs-beckham said:
Liked him when he first broke onto the scene. Not the same player, not driven enough by football.
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It's a strange thing with our Marcus.I don't see at all why having political passion and awareness, and basically just giving a shit about the poverty that scars the UK at this point, should detract from his footballing focus or abilities. They're very different worlds, footbal and politics, and people can inhabit both simultaneously. There does seem to be something wrong, though, that's for sure. He doesn't look as though he's very involved, and basically doesn't seem to care much, and his former searing pace and dribbiling skills appeared so long ago that its hard to recall what a brilliant player he can be. I'm hoping Ralph can connect with him and get to the root of whatever it is that is causing the problem; he seems so unhappy here, nowadays, and I've not perosnally heard the slightest of whisper of why that might be so. Anyway else have a clue about this? I'll say in advance that I don't believe that it's because he's only concerned with alleviating poverty - that seems to me to be just too trite an explanation.
 
He's a sensitive lad. Maybe some personal/mental health issues?

Doesn't look like he's enjoying the pitch too much.

Hopefully he gets help, if he needs any that is.
 
giggs-beckham said:
Respect for what he's done. But I'd prioritise being the best possible player I could be improving every year. Beckham has done a he'll of a lot for charity all through his career, didn't stop him maximising his talent to the fullest dud it.
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Who says he isn’t? Just because he’s not playing well doesn’t mean his priorities are wrong.
 
He just looks like he can’t be bothered, like he’s depressed.
 
GMoore23 said:
He looks markedly better on the left because he sulks when played on the right. He needs a severe wake up call.

This is Manchester United and its a privilege to be chosen to play at all.
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So we played him on the right for what reason? To teach him a lesson? To hope that he stops sulking?

Tonight was an important game, you play everyone in their best position as it gives you the greatest chance of getting a result. There was no logical reason for the decision, I couldn't believe they didn't even swap mid-game given Sancho was getting no joy out of the full back on his side, and Rashford was predictably shite on the right as always.

@noodlehair must have been tearing his hair out.
 
I don't think I have seen a game in the last 3 years where he hasn't picked up a knock of some kind
 
calodo2003 said:
Not getting seen during runs doesn't absolve him from exerting effort elsewhere. He's not running himself into the ground by those runs.
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Where were these mythical runs? All I saw was him standing, seeming uninterested, on the right doing nothing.
Wlorst United player on the pitch by far.
 
Everyone deserves a clean slate under a competent coaching setup but the next 18 months is make or break for Rashford as a United player. If he doesn’t pull his socks up he can move on because in current form he’s barely a mid-table player.
 
Wasn't great today but it was a typical right sided performance from him. No idea why we have been persisting with him on the right this season.

Donut said:
He just looks like he can’t be bothered, like he’s depressed.
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Agreed something looks off. Maybe Ole leaving has thrown his head
 
He hasn't been a top or even very good player for the guts of three years now.
 
Just doesn't look creative enough for me. One trick pony that wants too much space and time when the reality is he's not going to get it at this level. He literally just loves running into dead end channels with the ball, there's not much direction switches or creativity when he has the ball. Looks a frustrated figure but you can clearly see how much more comfortable Sancho is on the ball in comparison.
 
ivaldo said:
I do. He looks markedly better on the left. He's always going to be more of a goal threat on the left, which is his biggest asset.

I think he has it in him to be really effective when we're pressing. Sancho on the right with Rashford on the left seems our best bet right now.
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We need creativity from the left. Not losing the ball most of the time, not tracking back and getting the odd goal to the detriment of our overall play. If we want to be balanced and play with a striker he needs service. A stint on the right putting in the yards as a provider is exactly what Rashford and this team currently needs. At least he’ll pass the ball on the right.
 
giggs-beckham said:
Respect for what he's done. But I'd prioritise being the best possible player I could be improving every year. Beckham has done a he'll of a lot for charity all through his career, didn't stop him maximising his talent to the fullest dud it.
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Actually I do think it happened to Beckham as well. He wasn't the same player towards the end with us and I'm worried same thing is happening with Rashford.

Rashfords becoming this national treasure figure like Beckham did and I think its taken away their edge.
 
Dominos said:
Loads of wide players play as inverted wingers almost exclusively and don't get messed around by getting put on their worse side for no reason.

When did Chelsea ever feel like just taking Hazard out his best position and sticking him on the right instead? It would just be idiotic.

If you're asking, should Rashford be able to adapt to put in better performances than he does on the right? Sure. But he doesn't, and we know that. We know he's shit every time he plays on the right, and so we played him on the right anyway hoping something magically changes. And we did all this so we could play Sancho on the left, who we bought because he can play on the right, and who's best games recently have come on the right.

Some fans just hate Rashford so much that they're unwilling to recognise how unbelievably stupid this decision was.
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Are you sure you signed Sancho for the right? He spent his last at least 1.5 years at Dortmund playing primarily on the left and other players had to make room for him and were played out of position back then, too. Chances are he sees himself on the left as well. The competition was always going to be harder for Rashford with Sancho joining United.

Moreover, one can argue that Sancho's skill set is actually far better suited for an inverted winger than Rashford's who has more explosiveness, pace and strength to offer. Sancho is much more comfortable in the tight spaces.
 
Honestly I've supported the guy and have wanted nothing but for him to do well and succeed here but the guys 24. He is no longer a young kid. Do we want to take the next step and challenge for trophies? Then the cold truth is he's simply not good enough, not for a side that wants to compete for titles, no chance.
 
always been a massive fan of Rashford but right now he looks miles off it, for me he seems to be trying to change his style, used to be direct all the time but now he seems to want to take an extra touch or take it wide etc, might be a confidence thing and hopefully Ralf can get him firing again,
 
I got slated in September for saying he’s always rated higher when he’s injured. People forget just how poor he can be and how often it happens. He genuinely had more bad performances for United than good ones and there’s always excuses being made - Either he’s carrying a knock or he’s just back from a layoff and the real Marcus is coming. It never happens, not consistently. When he’s bad he’s rotten, just kills so many attacks.

A great lad and I hope to god RR can get the best out of him, he needs to put in the work and use his legs to the fullest of their ability.

A nuisance factor is sorely missing from his game. He could be a nightmare to play against but makes it so much easier than it should be. It’s very frustratingz
 
Weird to see all this about Rashford tonight after playing out of position and still contributing a good assist, whilst the man occupying his preferred position did even less.
 
Zehner said:
Are you sure you signed Sancho for the right? He spent his last at least 1.5 years at Dortmund playing primarily on the left and other players had to make room for him and were played out of position back then, too. Chances are he sees himself on the left as well. The competition was always going to be harder for Rashford with Sancho joining United.

Moreover, one can argue that Sancho's skill set is actually far better suited for an inverted winger than Rashford's who has more explosiveness, pace and strength to offer. Sancho is much more comfortable in the tight spaces.
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That was the debate around signing him. It felt like we signed him because he can play on the right with some decent effect, rather than it necessarily being his best position. Many thought it was the wrong signing for that reason.

Our left wing options - Rashford, Martial (could probably add Lingard, Pogba) - cannot play on the right at all to any decent effect, Rashford and Martial are just useless there. So we needed a right wing option because we only had Greenwood who could play there and there's a possibility he ends up a striker, and he's still an inconsistent player who was quite terrible for the first 2/3 of last season. Sancho also gave us the option to rotate Rashford out the team and play Greenwood on the right and Sancho on the left.

Now, as it happens Sancho has had a poor start here no matter where he's been played. However he's had his best spell in the previous 3 games, playing from the right. So why you wouldn't keep him there is anyone's guess.
 
Dominos said:
That was the debate around signing him. It felt like we signed him because he can play on the right with some decent effect, rather than it necessarily being his best position. Many thought it was the wrong signing for that reason.

Our left wing options - Rashford, Martial (could probably add Lingard, Pogba) - cannot play on the right at all to any decent effect, Rashford and Martial are just useless there. So we needed a right wing option because we only had Greenwood who could play there and there's a possibility he ends up a striker, and he's still an inconsistent player who was quite terrible for the first 2/3 of last season. Sancho also gave us the option to rotate Rashford out the team and play Greenwood on the right and Sancho on the left.

Now, as it happens Sancho has had a poor start here no matter where he's been played. However he's had his best spell in the previous 3 games, playing from the right. So why you wouldn't keep him there is anyone's guess.
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I presume tonight there was a tactical reason for it because they didn’t swap all night. Rashford at least created three chances and got an assist. Don’t think Sancho gained anything from it though.
 
Said it in his thread but I'm convinced he's fecked physically.

Won't, or can't, run. Always saving himself for bursts of sprinting into open space. Forever wincing in pain at every instance of contact and just generally looking absolutely miserable on the pitch. I really wouldn't be shocked if he's done with football in 2-3 years.
 
Bad performance.

But it doesn't prove anybody's agenda one way or another. Though I'm sure that won't stop a lot of you.
 
Shane88 said:
Said it in his thread but I'm convinced he's fecked physically.

Won't, or can't, run. Always saving himself for bursts of sprinting into open space. Forever wincing in pain at every instance of contact and just generally looking absolutely miserable on the pitch. I really wouldn't be shocked if he's done with football in 2-3 years.
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Something to add to that as well, is that he rarely heads the ball anymore. It's literally very rare you see him challenge for headers.
I actually began to notice the lack of headers from him (even challenging for headers from goal kicks etc), ever since the reports came out about heading footballs being linked to dementia.

I honestly believe that he is thinking outside of the sport, and seeing there is more to life than football.
 
If it’s 4222 then don’t be surprised if we see Bruno and Ronaldo up top while Sancho and Lingard fill the attacking mid. Lingard is very good at pressing and I fancy him to might even be part of the regular. However, Ronaldo is not always gonna be 100% fit probably in this high intense press so if he needs rest then Rashford can come in.
 
TMDaines said:
Weird to see all this about Rashford tonight after playing out of position and still contributing a good assist, whilst the man occupying his preferred position did even less.
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You got that bit right
 
The Oracle said:
Something to add to that as well, is that he rarely heads the ball anymore. It's literally very rare you see him challenge for headers.
I actually began to notice the lack of headers from him (even challenging for headers from goal kicks etc), ever since the reports came out about heading footballs being linked to dementia.

I honestly believe that he is thinking outside of the sport, and seeing there is more to life than football.
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So he's not engaging into first balls that require an aerial challenge...fine. But why does he get to escape the effort from trying to challenge for the second and third ball?

Marcus isn't that good when it comes to heading the ball either, but there is practice and technique, but that also requires self-awareness and sacrifice. And it's not as if he's been smoked in the face with a ball the past week (McTominay) or been subbed off/missed games because of concussion (Shaw).

Need to stop babying Marcus and just tell it like it is. His attitude and effort on the pitch has been poor. Not living up to the 10 shirt at all.
 
TMDaines said:
Weird to see all this about Rashford tonight after playing out of position and still contributing a good assist, whilst the man occupying his preferred position did even less.
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Sancho? Played the ball into the box for Fred, for Bruno to score. Slipped in Fred again for the penalty that Ronaldo scored. Scored against Villarreal and Chelsea.

If we're holding Ole, Maguire, and other players to higher standards, then why are some people allowing Marcus to get a pass? He should be influencing the game much more than he is, and it isn't only reflective of goals/assists.
 
I'm not sure what's wrong but something is not right with Marcus.
He plays like a 32 years old striker who's saving energy for those 2 decisive sprints in the game and he can't do that since he has Ronaldo in front of him and we can't afford to have two passengers when we're out of possession.

He should be one of our best players when it comes to pressing and running out of possession, but he's not.

If it's an ego thing and he thinks he's entitled not to work the entire game then Ralf will simply put him on the bench.

I just feel it's not so simple. He's not looked like himself ever since that back injury. I guess we'll see if he improves under Ralf, but I bloody hope he does.
 
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