Nani has played well for us this season and 1 bad performance does not mean he should be dropped completely. Januzaj I can agree with. He's in too good a form to be dropped but not Kagawa who's downright average on the left wing.
Luis Nani | 2013/14 Performances
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Nani has played well for us this season and 1 bad performance does not mean he should be dropped completely. Januzaj I can agree with. He's in too good a form to be dropped but not Kagawa who's downright average on the left wing.
But Kagawa wouldn't really be on the wing, as such. Wing-nessness will be provided by the fullbacks. More wide midfielders who come inside rather than wingers. I agree Kagawa is less than effective used as a winger.
I count versatility as being able to play in multiple positions and perform many different roles, obviously. You're implying Valencia is more versatile because he can fill in at right back (yet is very rarely picked there and instead we put center backs there) and midfield (again, never played there for us) and is more defensively solid? I don't see how that makes him more versatile, especially as he's about as one dimensional as a professional footballer can be, it's just that in the past, he was really fecking good at that one dimension.
I don't think it particularly adds a great deal more to Valencia's appeal anyway. We have a lot of versatile players in the squad. Smalling, Jones, Nani, Kagawa, Giggs, Welbeck, Van Persie, Rooney, Young, Januzaj, Cleverley, Anderson and Fellaini can all play at least 2 roles as well.
Yes, I am aware of that but Kagawa seems to do nothing in that position other than playing pointless 5 yard passes and providing Evra no protection at all which nowadays is not a great idea.
In that season Nani was just as good, if not better than Robben and Ribery.
Nani has many good games when he is fit and playing regularly.
He's worked back as much as any of our wingers this season
Have to agree with that.
We'll never get the best out of Kagawa if we continually play him on the wing. He's ok to fill in there if we're stuck but he lights up when he's in midfield behind the striker(s) and that's where he should be played. The sooner Nani gets his confidence back the sooner we'll start firing again.
Nani has traditionally ripped Arsenal a new one.
I'd probably start with him and Valencia and bring Janujaz on later.
Simply don't see how Kagawa will ever be a big player for us. I can't believe Fergie really thought we'd get Van Persie, so I'm certain the original plan was simply Kagawa off Rooney.
Then the VP signing obviously massively changed the plan
I'd probably start with him and Valencia and bring Janujaz on later.
Simply don't see how Kagawa will ever be a big player for us. I can't believe Fergie really thought we'd get Van Persie, so I'm certain the original plan was simply Kagawa off Rooney.
Then the VP signing obviously massively changed the plan
Januzaj has to play. His performances have been outstanding so far.
As for Kagawa, why can't you see it happening? He's not playing any worse than Nani or Valencia, better actually.
But it doesn't work like that. You don't start regularly on the off chance you start playing well. When you get the chance you play well to start more regularly. This is Nani's 7th season here so any mention of him playing well "that season" is a bit ominous.
That's fecking brilliant. Champagne wordsmith.I'd say two and a half of playing really well, a decent debut season, and some extremely frustrating seasons seasons; some of which were injury riddled.
A big problem for United is dealing with teams that press us. Nani has amazing close control and can beat players easily with his quickness and skills. Yes, Nani does make stupid decisions and can give the ball away in bad areas, but his good outweighs the bad. Rooney and Giggs both do this too.
Januzaj and Nani on our wings is a ridiculous set of wingers. That pace and skill with scoring touch and the ability to pull off something special is what we need.
Hope he lines up against Gibbs on Sunday. Can see him giving him a really hard time. Expecting Valencia though.
Sorry but no, not on the wings. Kagawa has been average on the left for us, Nani and obviously Adnan would be better on the left based on current form. I wish some fanboys would open their eyes.
Indeed. Nani was shit against Stoke but aside from that game he's been very decent this season.
If Moyes has balls he'll start with Nani, Januzaj, Rooney and RVP. We need the three points and are only going to get them by putting their full backs under pressure.
Gibbs and Sagna are not great defensively so we need them to be concentrating mainly on doing their defensive duties (hopefully poorly) and not what they are most proficient at (providing a wide attacking outlet). Nani has caused Arsenal full backs problems on numerous occasions; the best way to defend against them is to attack and pin them back in their own half.
I imagine they'll start with Ozil, Ramsey, Cazorla, Rosicky, Arteta and Giroud. Not a great deal of width and without the full backs providing an attacking outlet they should be containable and with those 4 attacking player's we'll always get chances.
For me if Moyes starts with Young or Valencia (except at RB) he has bottled it.
Gibbs and Sagna are not great defensively so we need them to be concentrating mainly on doing their defensive duties (hopefully poorly) and not what they are most proficient at (providing a wide attacking outlet). Nani has caused Arsenal full backs problems on numerous occasions; the best way to defend against them is to attack and pin them back in their own half.
I imagine they'll start with Ozil, Ramsey, Cazorla, Rosicky, Arteta and Giroud. Not a great deal of width and without the full backs providing an attacking outlet they should be containable and with those 4 attacking player's we'll always get chances.
For me if Moyes starts with Young or Valencia (except at RB) he has bottled it.
I don't even think it takes balls to start those four. It's Arsenal who should be fearing us, we're always thrashing them and this time should be no different. Nani and Januzaj will have a field day out there against their fullbacks, and with Rooney doing his free roaming job behind the striker, and van Persie as our out-and-out striker, I see no problems. I'm confident as always against these lot.
Sounds about right.
Is Cazorla fit for the match?
Young won't start. I think Moyes has had enough of his theatrics. It will either be Kagawa or Januzaj on the left with either Nani or Valencia on the right. I'm hoping Nani starts. Valencia has been in pretty good form recently and will no doubt outpace Gibbs with fair ease, but I think Gibbs will struggle more against a player like Nani. Also, I think Nani has better attacking movements. Valencia's defensive contributions are, of course, brilliant though. I could imagine seeing Nani on the left and Valencia on the right also.
Sagna is OK defensively, isn't he?
I disagree in terms of Valencia v Gibbs. Gibbs is lightning quick and I wouldn't be surprised if he could outpace Valencia (although out-strength I agree).
Sagna has looked better defensively this season than last season where he was all over the place, but I still feel he's liable to be left on his arse. I'd say he hasn't come up against anyone as tricky as Januzaj this season.
Personally if Rafael isn't fit I'd go with Valencia behind Nani. That'd force one of their front players to tuck back in to help out the full back. Whereas Smalling for instance whilst good defensively, doesn't get forward enough.
So whether whichever tactical selection turns out to be right, what matters for you is that he doesn't 'bottle it'?
Did you graduate from the school of meaningless football clichés?
I could be wrong because I haven't seen the film for a good number of years: but when Manchester United let cameras into the dressing room back in the day I seem to remember that Fergie liked to accuse the under performing players of 'bottling' it. It may be a selective memory but if I remember correctly his halt time team talks consisted of him basically calling the under performing players a bunch of shithouses by way of a challenge.
Not at all.
Simply put if Moyes feels a defensive line-up or defensive tactics that are indicative of a Young/Valencia selection is the way to go in a must win home game then I feel this would illustrate someone who has failed to recognise what this club is about. If we were away from home or 5 points clear at the top of the League my tune would be very different, but have no illusions - this is a must win.
"Bottling it", "cowardly", "apprehensive", "gutless", "weak" - interchange any of the above if the foremost phrase is too cliche for your liking.
Maybe he just thinks Valencia is better. It's hardly as if Nani's performances have made him undroppable and Valencia has been in a decent run of form - he was one of the best players on the pitch against Sociedad at home and Fulham.
Might be tactical reasons to go with Valencia as well, he offers better width than Nani and if Moyes goes for Kagawa then it gives us a better balance IMO
Of course it's just an opinion but I feel that Gibbs would have Valencia somewhat in his pocket, due to Valencia's main attribute being something that Gibbs has in abundance; pace. Also the last thing you want to do is invite their full back out, something which I feel Valencia often does by sitting deep when we aren't in position.
If Arsenal's full backs feel they can bomb up the wings due to our wingers sitting back helping out the full backs, then they will have the upper hand. The reason Nani has had a lot of success in the past v Arsenal (and I'd imagine Januzaj will too), is because they are so reliant on their full backs to provide an outlet to their narrow formation, attacking wingers should stifle or expose this outlet.
Would be very surprised if all 4 start. I'd say Rooney and RvP are nailed on. Januzaj, given everything he has done in the past month or two is a likely starter. Would have to go with the 'reliability' that Valencia gives in these big games. Nani's defensively underrated, but Valencia is on another level in that sense.
It will also be interesting to see who gets picked at CB for this one.
Who mentioned his performances on the left for us this season? I don't get why it's absolutely impossible for him to become a big player for us. He hasn't looked at home in this team but I certainly don't think we should write it off as not having a chance of happening.
Also, this tendency to jump the gun and call anyone a fanboy smacks of people rushing to the latest bandwagon. You should probably see a poster make a few conclusive posts along that line to roll out the fanboy carpet.
Playing him tomorrow means that Rooney or Januzaj (or Nani) will sit out, which on current form is far form deserved. So as I said, bench role for Kagawa.
You accuse people who want Kagawa in the team as being fanboys, and then say that leaving out Nani would be far from deserved. What has Nani done that makes leaving him out so unjustified?does anyone think Moyes will suddenly morph into some kind of caution free zone and play Vp, Rooney, Janujaz and Nani in the same starting lineup against the league leaders!?
With Arsenal's midfield, we're going to need a lot of hard work, which is typically where Valencia comes in.As long as he doesn't just stop like he did for that City goal.
With Arsenal's midfield, we're going to need a lot of hard work, which is typically where Valencia comes in.As long as he doesn't just stop like he did for that City goal.
Does anyone think Kagawa would start?
I'd list my preferences for wide starters in this order
Nani has smashed them in the past
Valencia, sheer hard worker, and recovering a bit of form
Janujaz, new star in the making, too early for a start in this type of game
Young, worked well against Arsenal before, good defensive play
Kagawa, doesn't work that well on the left, not much defensive cover
I'd list my preferences for wide starters in this order
Nani has smashed them in the past
Valencia, sheer hard worker, and recovering a bit of form
Janujaz, new star in the making, too early for a start in this type of game
Young, worked well against Arsenal before, good defensive play
Kagawa, doesn't work that well on the left, not much defensive cover
His record against Arsenal, which is very good. Plus Nani has been better than Kagawa on the wings this season, one game will not change this fact, and Rooney will definitely play in Kagawa's favored spot behind RvP, that's what I'm talking about.
All of Nani, Januzaj, Van Persie and Rooney work very hard so I don't see a problem with such a line up.
Rooney and Van Persie are guaranteed to start. Adnan is incredibly likely to get the nod given he had the night off mid-week. Valencia has started two games on the bounce and the wide men that play mid-week usually don't play at the weekend. The final spot is between Nani, Valencia and Kagawa, and going off the rotation we've seen from Moyes over the past month or so, it is quite likely that we'll see Nani return to the fold come Sunday. I think Nani would have played against Sociedad if we were intending on using Valencia.
Gibbs was properly outpaced by Kyle Walker and I don't see Valencia as slower than him - Valencia is on Bale level in terms of pace, when he decides to use it full on. Gibbs is quick, but not quite in that league.
Januzaj may prove a bit tricky for Sagna, true that. I also agree that Valencia behind Nani is OK, although I think Fabio should get the nod - that's not going to happen though.
Not enough width In that imo both Nani and Adnan cut in too often, in our set up you need one winger to stretch the play. Especially without Rafael
I could see Nani playing tomorrow. Moyes has fielded Nani, RVP, Rooney and Januzaj a few times since the City game. What he has not ever seem to have used is Januazaj and Kagawa in the same starting eleven with RVP and Rooney.
Whats with Young being considered a defensive selection? He's defended less than Nani and Januzaj this season. Kagawa has recovered the ball 3 times as much.
Nani has had a lot of good games against Arsenal too. Still feel Valencia is a cert for this though.
Both Adnan and Nani are capable of stretching the play so I don't see that as a problem. The major reason that they've had to cut inside more so than often is because Rooney is cemented up top alongside Van Persie and the midfield is too slow to link the play between midfield and attack. We've been playing with some kind of 4222 as a result, so I would argue that our wide men, Kagawa aside, are cutting inside because they need to get involved, not because they can't stretch the play.
I don't even have a problem with them cutting inside. It's generally more progressive and less predictable for the opposing defence anyway.
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