edcunited1878
Full Member
This is the Lingard thread if I'm not mistaken, that is why I'm focusing on him as it was brought up in the discussion. I said it was part of the problem, other part of the problem is the so called first-team players like Mkhitaryan are very inconsistent, as was our way of playing with Ibra on which i agree with you. Lingard has played much less this season, which is understandable and as it should be.
On the part that he's looked like a threat I won't agree. He started in our two defeats this season, and looked nowhere like a threat. He looked good against Burton and scored two very good goals against Swansea, but his overall game was average as usual. And that is me being objective as I could be. He failed simple through balls, can't beat a man 4/5 times and that against better and more organized opposition will be punished and evident.
He is judged on the here and now. He is 25 in a month, he is as good as he will ever be, which is not good enough. You can improve as much, you can't improve your natural ability at 25. Maybe some on here have different definition of squad player, but I don't think we should have squad players who can only contribute as little as Lingard. I'm all for giving chances to our youth as long as they are good enough or are going to be good enough. Lingard is not good enough and at 25 will never be, in this present situation he does more against our youth policy than in favor of it.
Managers can be wrong too, and you can always form your own judgement. The fans will be happy when we are back at winning titles and our attack is filled with attackers who will bring those titles here, not when the manager and DOF are happy with giving 100k a week to Lingard to contribute a little as he has done.
Lingard is a squad player for United and has a role under Jose. What he makes in wages isn't relevant. His age isn't relevant either.
What is good enough for you? Zero transfer fee, good teammate, good squad player. We know his limits are as a bench player and cup rotation player. He's come up in moments that justify his inclusion in the squad and offers pace and movement and intelligence off the ball when that is necessary. Having the same type of player never helps.