Luis Nani | 2013/14 Performances

Status
Not open for further replies.
Womp said:
:lol:
Don't know what it is with football fans and hate for Nani. It seems like it's pre-determined, they have things to sook about already ready, regardless of how he is actually playing?

He was Portugal's best player in the second half. How about the supposed "best player in the world" who was absolute shite and did nothing all game but have a whinge. A player who hasn't played football all season from injury has been more lively than the supposed best player in the world.

It's ridiculous, Nani was shit, Ronaldo was shit. The whole Portugese team was shit. No-one should have the finger pointed at them.
Click to expand...

Its based on the need for attention and social acceptance on web forums. People think they can increase their forum cred by repeatedly bashing certain players.
 
Raoul said:
Its based on the need for attention and social acceptance on web forums. People think they can increase their forum cred by repeatedly bashing certain players.
Click to expand...

It gets old. What was he supposed to do in that game? He was a lot better than I thought he would actually be to be fair - against a very good German team with his whole team playing shit.

Not even people on forums though, people on twitter, fans globally seem to have some fetish for focusing on Nani's negatives in a game rather than the actual game itself, while glorifying other players who don't deserve it ala CR7.
 
He was probably one of Portugal's best players. Still poor though.

Wouldn't criticise him considering how the game went but he hardly deserves praise either. Lets see how he does in other games.
 
I was listening to Talksport on my way home from work and they mentioned that in the last two seasons Nani has only started 14 games. That's because of both injury and being out of form/favour. That's really something and to me explains why he's stagnated or perhaps even regressed. He can't have improved playing so little. I didn't catch the game today but it sounds like he was decent. For his own sake he needs to go somewhere where he is first choice when fit so that he can reignite his stalling career. It be a shame if his talent goes to waste. I'd like to see him regain his form and he will only do that playing week in week out. I just don't think it'll be here.
 
Raoul said:
He's made all of 22 league appearances in two years, at least one of which was blighted by injury, and under David Moyes. I know its the current, hipsterish fad of the moment to draw attention to oneself by criticizing Nani, but we really need to look at the squad as a whole rather than fixating on FM fantasies of moving this or that player. I'm sure Van Gaal will make the right decision on who to sell and who to keep.
Click to expand...
I would say an "injury", cause nothing and i mean nothing was really known about it. He has not delivered in 12-13, 15 appearances in PL and CL, 1 goal, 2 assists. That two years down the drain almost literally. Does he even have a desire to be here anymore? I am not sure. I can't really see such a players being kept at Chelsea, City, even Liverpool.
Do we want to keep him as we keep Anderson? I think a more ruthless approach to players would help us. People need to understand that failure is not an option at Old Trafford. Otherwise it's like this Anderson story. Another season gone, lets give him a chance in the next one, cause the guy was class act three years ago.
 
Lane said:
I would say an "injury", cause nothing and i mean nothing was really known about it. He has not delivered in 12-13, 15 appearances in PL and CL, 1 goal, 2 assists. That two years down the drain almost literally. Does he even have a desire to be here anymore? I am not sure. I can't really see such a players being kept at Chelsea, City, even Liverpool.
Do we want to keep him as we keep Anderson? I think a more ruthless approach to players would help us. People need to understand that failure is not an option at Old Trafford. Otherwise it's like this Anderson story. Another season gone, lets give him a chance in the next one, cause the guy was class act three years ago.
Click to expand...

Why are you pointlessly bringing Anderson into this ?
 
Raoul said:
Why are you pointlessly bringing Anderson into this ?
Click to expand...
Because he is a very good example of the "care facility" mentality i am talking about. Just look at our opponents, rivals, do they keep player that once was good but has not delivered for two years already? I think not.
 
Lane said:
Because he is a very good example of the "care facility" mentality i am talking about. Just look at our opponents, rivals, do they keep player that once was good but has not delivered for two years already? I think not.
Click to expand...

No need for it. This thread is about Nani.
 
Raoul said:
Why are you pointlessly bringing Anderson into this ?
Click to expand...
And it's not about Anderson it's about a fact that Nani in the last two years managed just two goals and two assists in 27 games, not all from the start. Okay lets say 22 games. It's still beyond being poor. And the fact tat he played so little is mostly down to him. I am sorry i don't believe in this mysterious injuries that supposedly kept him out like half a year last season and this. Without proper return date, diagnosis and stuff. It looked more like he just went on sabbatical really. But whether this injuries were real or not is not even a major question. Cause even if they were real, will he be fit enough to play 30+ games this year? Could he deliver at the rate acceptable by United's standards? I think yes/yes is a pipe dream and nothing more. Sometimes you just need to let it go. And as i've said i am convinced both Nani and United need this break, cause it will suit both parties.
 
Lane said:
And it's not about Anderson it's about a fact that Nani in the last two years managed just two goals and two assists in 27 games, not all from the start. Okay lets say 22 games. It's still beyond being poor. And the fact tat he played so little is mostly down to him. I am sorry i don't believe in this mysterious injuries that supposedly kept him out like half a year last season and this. Without proper return date, diagnosis and stuff. It looked more like he just went on sabbatical really. But whether this injuries were real or not is not even a major question. Cause even if they were real, will he be fit enough to play 30+ games this year? Could he deliver at the rate acceptable by United's standards? I think yes/yes is a pipe dream and nothing more. Sometimes you just need to let it go. And as i've said i am convinced both Nani and United need this break, cause it will suit both parties.
Click to expand...

Having a rubbish manager who didn't inspire the best of out of any of our players, including Rooney and RvP may have something to do with it. Face the facts, we've been poor over the past 12 months and no player, except perhaps Januzaj, was immune.
 
We can't keep hoping Nani will recapture form from seasons ago, especially when he hasn't come near that level since. It would be like Chelsea fans waiting for Torres to get back to his best, except at his best Torres reached a higher level than Nani, sustained it for a longer time and hasn't struggled to get on the pitch as much as Nani. Sometimes you have to accept that a player, even a talented one, is done at your club and needs to leave if they're going to resurrect their career.

Of course we're so lacking in quality out wide that selling Nani might not be an option, even if it is the right move.
 
sullydnl said:
We can't keep hoping Nani will recapture form from seasons ago, especially when he hasn't come near that level since. It would be like Chelsea fans waiting for Torres to get back to his best, except at his best Torres reached a higher level than Nani, sustained it for a longer time and hasn't struggled to get on the pitch as much as Nani. Sometimes you have to accept that a player, even a talented one, is done at your club and needs to leave if they're going to resurrect their career.

Of course we're so lacking in quality out wide that selling Nani might not be an option, even if it is the right move.
Click to expand...

I'm sure he will never be as good as he was a few years ago. That said, Nani is not the problem. What we need is a complete squad rethink based on Van Gaal's preferred style and formation. Some players can be used in different ways to how they were under Fergie and Moyes, some can add to squad depth, some may actually improve under a manager like Van Gaal. We need a holistic approach to both improve players already have as well as buying new players who have attributes that LvG is looking for.
 
He looked like Nani. At times played well and you wondered why he wasn't getting more chances last season when available, then at others he was making awful decisions. The chance to play in Ronaldo was still at 1-0, or 2-0? Might have changed the dynamics of the game, it's happened before in the tournament so far.
 
Nani did not play that badly. Good first touch control and dribbled ok in tight spaces.
Still think he would be useful for us if we adopt a more short passing game.
Hmm. It seems like some Rooney supporters are not very supportive of Nani.
 
Raoul said:
Its based on the need for attention and social acceptance on web forums. People think they can increase their forum cred by repeatedly bashing certain players.
Click to expand...

What nonsense. I actually believe it is the done thing to ridiculously praise Nani on here. The ones who go against him certainly get bashed more than his staunch defenders.

I'm not sure what game some watched but Nani was typically Nani tonight. He wasn't Portugal's worst player but the ones calling him their best player are the typical Nani defenders who see no wrong in his game.

Nani has been off his game and suffering with injuries for two seasons now. I find it very doubtful that he is going to recapture his form circa 09-12. The rare action that he has seen has left me utterly disappointed with his performances. I have always liked him but the blind faith shown exclusively by the Caf faithful has always baffled me. Critisising a player who, quite frankly, deserves it, doesn't equate to 'Nani hate' or other such juvenile tags. It's reality. I, for one, would happily see him go at this stage.
 
markhrad said:
Nani did not play that badly. Good first touch control and dribbled ok in tight spaces.
Still think he would be useful for us if we adopt a more short passing game.
Hmm. It seems like some Rooney supporters are not very supportive of Nani.
Click to expand...
Was it Rooney's half time moan on the phone that really made Nani play so poorly, do you think? Or did Rooney Skype the Portugal team before the game?
 
Raoul said:
Having a rubbish manager who didn't inspire the best of out of any of our players, including Rooney and RvP may have something to do with it. Face the facts, we've been poor over the past 12 months and no player, except perhaps Januzaj, was immune.
Click to expand...
He was as poor under Fergie. Was he rubbish as well? I mean in 12-13 our wingers were as bad as it gets and Nani still could not get much games.
 
Robbie Boy said:
What nonsense. I actually believe it is the done thing to ridiculously praise Nani on here. The ones who go against him certainly get bashed more than his staunch defenders.

I'm not sure what game some watched but Nani was typically Nani tonight. He wasn't Portugal's worst player but the ones calling him their best player are the typical Nani defenders who see no wrong in his game.

Nani has been off his game and suffering with injuries for two seasons now. I find it very doubtful that he is going to recapture his form circa 09-12. The rare action that he has seen has left me utterly disappointed with his performances. I have always liked him but the blind faith shown exclusively by the Caf faithful has always baffled me. Critisising a player who, quite frankly, deserves it, doesn't equate to 'Nani hate' or other such juvenile tags. It's reality. I, for one, would happily see him go at this stage.
Click to expand...

Seems to sum things up nicely. Who wouldn't be off their game if they were blighted by injury for a couple of years, especially with the 2nd coming under the calamitous upheaval with Moyes.
 
Lane said:
He was as poor under Fergie. Was he rubbish as well? I mean in 12-13 our wingers were as bad as it gets and Nani still could not get much games.
Click to expand...

He was not his usual self in Fergie's last year, just as under Moyes. Let's see how he does under Van Gaal. If LvG keeps him, it will be because he rates him and thinks he can get him playing at a higher level.
 
He was one of Portugal's better players, along with Moutinho and Veloso, but he was still poor.

I do think it's best for him to move on from both the clubs perspective and the players. He's far more talented and could have something to offer, but it's a similar situation to Anderson, whereby, he has completely stagnated at the club and a fresh challenge is needed for him. From the clubs perspective, we need to be ruthless in our transfer business, both incomings and outgoings. Nani hasn't produced enough for the past two years and very few of his eight seasons here can be described as very good. Too expect him to flourish under a progressive coach like van Gaal, but he is a technical player is simply naive also. Now is the ideal time to cash in, injuries look like they've effected him and we could still receive a reasonable fee for him.
 
Being fit is a paramount part of the game. A player can be godlike but if he gets injured every couple month, spend two months on sidelines and then three week recapturing form, he is pretty much useless to any top club.
 
Raoul said:
Seems to sum things up nicely. Who wouldn't be off their game if they were blighted by injury for a couple of years, especially with the 2nd coming under the calamitous upheaval with Moyes.
Click to expand...

Well if you want to exclusively use that as an excuse for his poor performances when he has played, then so be it. It has certainly contributed to it but I think the problems run much deeper than that. He's a confident lad but it's like he has lost some of the confidence in his ability and I would question his application and decision making. I would also question the purpose of keeping such a seemingly chronically injured player who offers so little in his rare game time.
 
Last edited:
Robbie Boy said:
Well if you want to exclusively use that as an excuse for his poor performances when he has played, then so be it. It has certainly contributed to it but I think the problems run much deeper than that. He's a confident lad but it's like he has lost some of the confidence in his ability and I would question his application and decision making.
Click to expand...

He's obviously a confidence player. His issue has been part physical (injuries) and part psychological, which leads me to suspect LvG will be able to reinvigorate him. If he decides to make a switch and buy a new winger, then fine. Personally I find Young and Valencia to be far more one dimensional.
 
Raoul said:
He was not his usual self in Fergie's last year, just as under Moyes. Let's see how he does under Van Gaal. If LvG keeps him, it will be because he rates him and thinks he can get him playing at a higher level.
Click to expand...
So if he will do only slightly better, cause you can't really be worse than Nani was in the last two seasons, then what? we should keep him one more year to see if he can actually deliver in the tune 10 goals, 10 assists at least?
How long should we keep Nani exactly? Until 2018?

And then again. You said no Anderson, but still. You say if LVG keeps him, it means. Fair enough. But did Fergie keep Anderson in United? Yes. Why? Cause he thought he could get him playing at a higher level?

But sure lets see what LVG would decide. He is obviously gonna do his own thing, but even if LVG will give Nani a chance, the last one i sincerely hope, i thnk he would not take it.
 
Lane said:
So if he will do only slightly better, cause you can't really be worse than Nani was in the last two seasons, then what? we should keep him one more year to see if he can actually deliver in the tune 10 goals, 10 assists at least?
How long should we keep Nani exactly? Until 2018?

And then again. You said no Anderson, but still. You say if LVG keeps him, it means. Fair enough. But did Fergie keep Anderson in United? Yes. Why? Cause he thought he could get him playing at a higher level?

But sure lets see what LVG would decide. He is obviously gonna do his own thing, but even if LVG will give Nani a chance, the last one i sincerely hope, i thnk he would not take it.
Click to expand...

Its not really about last chances as if he's done something wrong and is going to be penalized. He's 28 at the end of this year and will naturally move on at some point, especially as he is a confidence player which tends to work more for younger players who don't overthink their roles.
 
NMF said:
Had a few brain fart moments but other than that he was probably Portugal's most threatening player.
Click to expand...
Ronaldo had a 90 minute long brain fart. Silent but deadly type of brain fart that nobody seemed to notice.
 
To be fair, Portugal's entire game plan was to give Ronaldo the ball as much as possible. Nani can be a very good attacking option, as he showed in the warm-up to the WC, but wasn't given much of a chance to shine today. And the game was over when Pepe did a "Pepe". If he's fit at the start of next season, he should definitely play and hopefully we'll play some quicker football under LVG that allows Nani to play his best football more consistently.
 
Nani was good. Not great, but good. Given that he played two roles for much of the match (central midfielder & winger), he did alright.

He used the ball very efficiently when he moved to central midfield, and he always made himself available with good movement and positioning. The Portuguese forwards weren't that great for the whole match, whilst the Germans did a great job defending Portugal's attacks.

I still think that he can be a good player for us. With van Gaal coming in, this is a new beginning for Nani where he has the chance to become a key figure in Man. Utd.
 
LR7 said:
I was listening to Talksport on my way home from work and they mentioned that in the last two seasons Nani has only started 14 games. That's because of both injury and being out of form/favour. That's really something and to me explains why he's stagnated or perhaps even regressed. He can't have improved playing so little. I didn't catch the game today but it sounds like he was decent. For his own sake he needs to go somewhere where he is first choice when fit so that he can reignite his stalling career. It be a shame if his talent goes to waste. I'd like to see him regain his form and he will only do that playing week in week out. I just don't think it'll be here.
Click to expand...

He really wasn't decent.

It was a standard "not good Nani" performance. Poor decisions, lack of awareness of what was going on around him and trying to do too much on his own. Along with the usual two or three moments of brilliance which make all the rest of the stuff such a frustrating ball ache to watch.

As people keep saying, it's the knowledge of what he's capable of that hurts the most.

Still, it's just one game. Playing for a poor team, in sweltering heat, with only 10 men. Unfair to single him out for criticism but the performance wasn't worthy of praise either.
 
kouroux said:
He's among the players, if they leave or stay, it'll do nothing to me.
Click to expand...

Have to say that it might be better if he leaves and we get some money for him at least. Doesn't look like he will turn it around IMO.
 
I was at the Sunderland game at the end of the season and after losing a 50:50 challenge (comprehensively), he went down, took an age to get up and just looked like a broken man who has lost all his heart and confidence.

I wouldn't rule out van Gaal trying to resurrect his United career but at this stage I can't see a return to his form of 2,3,4 years ago unfortunately. I think a sale this summer might be best for all parties.
 
Maestro14 said:
To be fair, Portugal's entire game plan was to give Ronaldo the ball as much as possible. Nani can be a very good attacking option, as he showed in the warm-up to the WC, but wasn't given much of a chance to shine today. And the game was over when Pepe did a "Pepe". If he's fit at the start of next season, he should definitely play and hopefully we'll play some quicker football under LVG that allows Nani to play his best football more consistently.
Click to expand...

I have noticed that Nani appears to play better when Ronaldo is not playing.
The game before the Sweden play-off and the friendly I saw recently being examples that come to mind.
having Ronaldo on your team is a blessing and a curse. As you said the tactic of just giving Ronaldo the ball at every opportunity can seriously hinder the creativity of other players.
Mind you when you watched how ronaldo destroyed Sweden almost single-handedly, one can see why they do it.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.