Says it all. Remembering his passes that were given away. He actually had more interceptions than any other player tonight, surprisingly.
Luis Nani | 2013/14 Performances
- Thread starter Massive Spanner
- Start date
- Status
Hasn't played for a good while, unfairly i'd say. I understand him being a bit tentative and trying not to make a mistake. But that goal should do wonders for his confidence. I feel he deserves another run in the side and surely he'll start to express himself again.
Wonderful finish! I can't imagine the flak he would have got had he messed up that finish.
He was poor with the ball for most of the night, but most people on here probably would've predicted he'd be like that. I'd love to see him and Valencia in the same team more often - very danger on the counter.
If Rvp isn't ready for sunday I'd like to see the same front 4.
Thought he did very well today. Was tentative going forward every now and then, but he worked very hard, did very well defensively and as the game wore on he got better. The goal will do wonders for his confidence. Same front 6 against Spurs please.
A thing him and Valencia give us when they both play together is a very good balance, and great pace on the break.
A thing him and Valencia give us when they both play together is a very good balance, and great pace on the break.
Pleased for him. That was a good goal. His performances improved a lot in the second half, was a bit average in the first half.
He wasn't great with the ball, things weren't coming off for him. Worked hard, though, and won the ball a few times. Goal should give him confidence and hopefully he gets another chance soon as he has all the talent.
First time he's scored since he impregnated his girlfriend - let's hope this is the start of the form we all think he's capable of producing.
Glad he got the goal, he actually looked better as striker than on left wing.
What form? He hasn't played single minute in last 5 games.
What form? He hasn't played single minute in last 5 games.
His confidence has been torn apart. Giving him 15 minutes up top was a great move from Moyes. I think he did for that every reason. He hid at first, which must be the confidence issues as he's never been one for that, but he got better as the game went on. Gave it away a little, which is all the wankers focus on, yet did a good job defensively and was often part of good moves. His presence, no matter how he plays, generally allows for better football.
His form this season
Even if I am missunderstanding word "current", his form before his last game(more than one month ago) against Stoke was more than decent, at least better than Valencia's.
Even if I am missunderstanding word "current", his form before his last game(more than one month ago) against Stoke was more than decent, at least better than Valencia's.
Yes you are misunderstanding. It says that Moyes has been right to prefer Valencia 'this season', so I'm not talking about the past month.
The reason I mentioned form is because I think Nani is the more talented footballer. If they are both at their best then Nani offers more. But on their form so far, Valencia is the better choice and Moyes has ben right to pick him.
I don't think Nani' s form has been as good as Valencia' s at all. The two games against Leverkusen, Sociedad at home and Fulham were all excellent. Nani has had maybe one game as good as that, West Brom.
They say he's a confidence player. Really hope he keeps his place against Spurs.
Looked dangerous most of the night and I'm glad he finally got something. Great little finish too.
Looked dangerous most of the night and I'm glad he finally got something. Great little finish too.
He's actually a very good finisher clean through, always has been.
Doge?
Was a lovely finish, really pleased for him, should do his confidence a World of good.
So, if Hernandez is in better form than Rooney, we should pick him, it doesn't matter that Rooney on his average form is better than Hernandez in top form?
Okay, you are counting good games, how about you count average ones, or poor performances from Valencia? In all those mentioned games our whole team played very well, so that's saying more about the opposition, than actually about Valencia's performance. Nani wasn't involved in any of those games at all, and played excellent against West Brom when our whole team has been dire.
Fantastic finish. But pretty crap for the other 88 minutes.
Are you trying to say Nani in average form is better than Valencia in top form? Christ, it seems I've hit a nerve here and you clearly have some sort of attachment to Nani. What I said was pretty standard stuff - Valencia has played better than Nani this season so has deservedly been preffered by Moyes. You've turned it into some daft argument.
If Hernandez is in good form then no he shouldn't be picked ahead of Rooney. The situations aren't remotely similar. For one Nani and Valencia are much closer in terms of ability than Rooney/Hernandez. In fact, it's just an awful example in general because I never said that Valencia was in top form - he isn't - he's just played better than Nani.
I don't understand how people could say he was poor, he wasn't a stand out player but he was pretty good. I always think nani gets held against some random expectations, it's almost like he has to actually have had an assist or goal to get praise or rather not be classed as being poor. He's not played much recently so understandably a bit rusty but he worked hard making a number of interceptions, had some good breaks that we didnt make the most off, linked up well and got in some good positions for shots and finally he scored a lovely goal and put ando clean through.
As I said he clearly wasn't at his best but he still worked nicely on the set up and for me the important thing is that he's linking up well which is what we need. With more games you'd hope he gets the final ball or shot better but he's got to be given time to get on to gear. If he plays a couple of games straight without scoring or assisting then that's when it should be an issue but right now it's good that he's getting himself in position to influence as that's what we've generally lacked from midfield.
As I said he clearly wasn't at his best but he still worked nicely on the set up and for me the important thing is that he's linking up well which is what we need. With more games you'd hope he gets the final ball or shot better but he's got to be given time to get on to gear. If he plays a couple of games straight without scoring or assisting then that's when it should be an issue but right now it's good that he's getting himself in position to influence as that's what we've generally lacked from midfield.
Thats more like it Nan Bread
It is very amusing the way it works. Basically the fans have certain favorites usually based on "how hard they try and how frustrating they are " which is a level they determine completely on their own. After this is determined it won't matter how good or bad a player is.
On Whoscored Nani is man of the match today.(Which I disagree with, but it makes a point that he was one of our best in the eyes of the unbiased) This whole "he is frustrating" bullshit only exists in England/united forums to slate continental typed players for no apparent reason. Where I live no single expert has ever brought up Nani as frustrating or bad defensively. Instead they use the word inconsistent which I feel is the correct definition of him.
Nani(and Rooney for that matter) are inconsistent and will almost always have a bad game every 6th or so.
Usually the people whining about Nani are the ones who want to play 4-4-2 with Rooney/RVP on top and who "cant see any reason why Kagawa can't play on the left". Retards in short.
I don't think that's fair to be honest. Firstly, with Nani, he doesn't just have a bad game every 6th game, it's more often then that. Secondly, when he has a bad game, it can be REALLY bad. And finally, he has all the talent in the world but doesn't often reach it. That's what is frustrating. Not that his performance drops as, as you said, it's common for a number of players. It's the fact that he could be so bloody good, a real world class player. It's the gap between his peak and "usual" performance that's frustrating.
Yeah and even the inconsistent thing is slightly harsh. No one ever mentions his form from 09 for a couple of seasons where on the whole he was excellent for us and the numbers back that up, it's only the last season and a bit where he had a lot of injuries and some loss of form that's he's struggled. Before 09 he was still bedding in. I think his bad games are exaggerated because he's got that frustrating tag. If we give him a good run then he'll find form imo or at least out up the numbers.
Not related to your post but I want to point out that Nani had the highest amount of interceptions of all players tonight in Champions League. 3 times more successful dribbles than the second best in our team.
He has an average of a bad game every 6th or so, not less in general.
I do agree that when he has a bad game it is usually really bad, it is Rooney bad. The problem is that like Rooney he has so much individual skill that one moment of brilliance usually means he gets an assist/goal in every game.
Almost all wingers and flair-players in the world has the exact same problem. It is why Ronaldo/Messi/Ribery are considered the best - because they have fewer bad games. There is no winger in the world that we can realistically purchase who will be more consistent and at a similar level as Nani. Which is why I think he deserves to get trusted as a first team eleven week in week out player.
Playing bad one game then being pushed out the team for a month is not going to help his level of play at all. Imagine how rusty Rooney would be if we did it to him every time he was bad?
Instead we need to have another winger who can also produce on their own so that the chance that both wingers are having an off-day the same day is minimal.
I agree with everything really. I do however think that he has a bad game every now and then which is normal for a flair player unless they are absolute world-class(Ribery/Ronaldo/Messi). Even Neymar is more inconsistent or as inconsistent as Nani.
To be fair I agree with all of this. Agree that today especially it wasn't one of his bad games. He wasn't amazing but he had a good solid game. The only thing I would say is when he doesn't have his "peak" games, he often doesn't play like this. He's usually worse. If he played consistently at this level and sporadically put in a great performance I would be more than happy.
Big thing you mention about is consistency of selection. If there was ever a player who needed a run of games, it's Nani. I wish SAF and now Moyes just gave him the trust and time. Only issue is the way we are playing right now, it's difficult to carry Nani during his bad patch before he picks up form. We need a solid 11 every game. Don't get me wrong it's not that Nani definitely won't do the job, he very much may and can. It's just with him there's more of a risk than others that he may not. A safer option to drop him I guess, unfortunately.
Can I get some ketchup with that chip?
In most cases where a player has consistency problems, you can almost always find that they've actually had plenty of injuries during that same time. Like nani the last year and a half, like Rooney last season, etc. Usually once these players get a good run of games, they can pick up form and start playing really well consistently like we're seeing with Rooney this season.
What an assist from Giggsy.
We are the only top team in Europe who considers going for "a safer option, to drop him" because he has a bad game every 6th or so game. Every winger-partnership from the top teams includes at least one inconsistent players but most consists of two inconsistent players. The similarity with all other winger-partnerships is that they are BOTH offensively minded winger like Nani rather than Valencia/Young.
Ronaldo----Bale
Schurrle----Hazard
Navas-----Silva
Neymar---Pedro
Podolski---Walcott
Robben--Ribery
Reus--Blaszcykoski
Cavani---Lavezzi
Cavani plays up front for PSG, he only plays wide when on international duty. Regardless though, you're spot on - i'm a huge fan of Valencia, he's one of my favourite players ever (yes, ever, because of the way he conducts himself and how he comes across, very Scholes-like) but unless he plays like he does against Leverkusen every week, he should not start a single game. The winger is the one position on the field that is almost intended for inconsistency - the position was practically invented because of 'risk taking' footballers who would lose possession 100 times a game but win the match with one magic moment. Leave the defending to the defenders.
Plus, Nani's defending is hideously underrated - he does a very good shift. Nani has always been consistent and extremely productive when given a run of games, and statistics will back him up. Just look at January 2010 to February 2011, & the 07/08 season - the only two times in his United career he has been a constant fixture in the starting XI, and both times he was producing almost every game.
Nani on top form should be starting ahead of Valencia, he's a better footballer. The problem is his inconsistency, one poor game in 6 is insane. It's far more than that. Valencia is also pretty inconsistent so it really is a case of who can put a marker down and make a real case for being first choice.
At the moment its Valencia, and he was better than Nani again tonight so he deserves to keep his place.
At the moment its Valencia, and he was better than Nani again tonight so he deserves to keep his place.
Frustrating and inconsistent can mean the exact same thing when talking about Nani.
I'd have to agree, even if RVP does make it, have him as a weapon on the bench if he's returning from injury in a big game. No reason to change it.
I think we may be in for a let down though if we think it will automatically go as well as tonight by keeping the same line up - we've had these sort of false dawns before whereby we think we've finally discovered the perfect formula. Spurs' midfield is stocked with powerful DM's that'd combat a lot of what we did well tonight. There's no chance they'll be as bad as Leverkusen, they'll be really up for it and press us in midfield, which we always strugggle with.
The thing I like about Nani and Valencia in the side as opposed to having a Kagawa, Welbeck or even Young, they do tend to open things up a bit. There is naturally more room for the front two and Kagawa instantly looks a terrific link between midfield, the wings and the forward.
I don't think we'll see it often because Moyes likes Welbeck but I hope we can maintain some consistency in this area for now. I would advocate Januzaj starting on the right but that seems unlikely. I like wingers having that freedom to switch over, cut inside and play a game with more freedom. But I wouldn't be disappointed if Valencia did play.
Nani wasn't poor at all tonight. He might have wasted some useful counters by being slightly off with his crossing and passing, but you've only got to look at the drive, ability to beat a man and the way he improved as he got into the game more and more. Eventually got a lovely goal and gives him a nice kickstart. The worst thing for him now will be being benched or dropped altogether.
I don't think we'll see it often because Moyes likes Welbeck but I hope we can maintain some consistency in this area for now. I would advocate Januzaj starting on the right but that seems unlikely. I like wingers having that freedom to switch over, cut inside and play a game with more freedom. But I wouldn't be disappointed if Valencia did play.
Nani wasn't poor at all tonight. He might have wasted some useful counters by being slightly off with his crossing and passing, but you've only got to look at the drive, ability to beat a man and the way he improved as he got into the game more and more. Eventually got a lovely goal and gives him a nice kickstart. The worst thing for him now will be being benched or dropped altogether.
- Status