He was really good when he came on. It's just completely frustrating knowing that he'll probably be piss poor for the next two games.
Luis Nani | 2013/14 Performances
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What about the other wing then? Nani is competing against Wellbeck, Young & Januzaj and still cannot get a decent run of games. Get off Valencia's back.
Yeah, I think Valencia hasn't been too awful lately, and looked good with Rafael today but then got moved to right back. He needs to work on his crossing, but he puts in a few dangerous crosses now and then. Once we start playing our best team consistently, (Rafael at right back, actual midfielders, either Nani/Januzaj on the left) then we will see much better performances from us I think. Well at least more wins.
I'd rather Nani sky a shot into Row Z then having some winger out there playing the part of a George Romero film extra.
The obvious move here and now is to give him a run of matches on the left. Rafael and Valencia as a combo ain't too bad on the right. Give Januzaj plenty of minutes - on either side, really.
Sometimes I think Nani is a starter or a goner at this stage. He's not an ideal squad player as he clearly needs frequent pitch time to be really valuable. As I see it we need a top class winger. Nani could be that player. But if he remains an infrequent starter, we're better off buying someone and letting Nani go. Valencia isn't as good but he is a far more plausible squad man in the long run.
Sometimes I think Nani is a starter or a goner at this stage. He's not an ideal squad player as he clearly needs frequent pitch time to be really valuable. As I see it we need a top class winger. Nani could be that player. But if he remains an infrequent starter, we're better off buying someone and letting Nani go. Valencia isn't as good but he is a far more plausible squad man in the long run.
Personally wouldn't mind trying him as a AMC.
He has pace, movement, good link up play and an eye for a pass. We all know he is decent at 1 on 1 finishing aswell.
With Kagawa hardly impressing it might be worth a shout.
He has pace, movement, good link up play and an eye for a pass. We all know he is decent at 1 on 1 finishing aswell.
With Kagawa hardly impressing it might be worth a shout.
I really don't think Nani can play that role. You say he has an eye for a pass and good link up play, but he really doesn't IMO. His passing is one of the weakest elements of his game; if we all get angry at Rooney for misplacing simple passes now and again, then Nani will get fruit and veg thrown at him. Also Nani doesn't have the movement in the way you need to play AMC. You need to be able to play with your back to and back from goal. You need to pass and move into space quickly. You need to be fast and agile in tight spaces. Nani isn't that - Nani is great with space in front of him, he's fast and able to run into it when sprinting.
Honestly think Nani is the most typical winger/inside forward in the game; I would even rather play Young in AMC over Nani, and god knows I hate Young.
Good lord, we must be thinking about different players then...
Are you telling me Nani is a great dribbler with close control in tight spaces? Are you telling me you see Nani make quick one touch, accurate passes when there is one man right on top of him and many more around him? Because I don't know which Nani you've been watching then.
Nani is a great dribbler when he is one on one with a defender. You rarely get into that position as an AMC.
Nani has the flicks and tricks, but I've never once seen anyone say he is a good passer of the ball - A vital skill for an AMC.
I admit, I'm not explaining myself clearly. But, I don't think I need to. To me it is blindingly obvious that Nani would not be a good no.10.
Yes and Yes. He's been involved in many of our most intricate goals in his time here, especially during his purple patch.
eh?
Nani's not an AM but he is a very good dribbler in tight areas
Nani's not an AM but he is a very good dribbler in tight areas
Nani is probably one of our best playerswhen it comes to dribbling and playing in tight spaces. He always looks for quick intricate passing exchanges with the attackers alongside him. His link up play is one of his biggest strengths.
Valencia is only rated on this forum. Personally, I think he's the weakest in our squad, even weaker than Ashley Young. Valencia only runs & creates this facade that he woks harder than others whereas his productivity is next to a pile of a shit & a toilet brush. Nani/Janujaz should be playing on that right flank while Young/Kagawa should be on the left.
The dribbling part is harsh as he's excellent in tight spaces, but I agree with thrust of the passing comments. I think he would give the ball away a lot as a number 10.
People use the word "frustrating" in relation to Nani, but I'm starting to think Valencia is the most frustrating player we've ever had.
If he was just shit and did nothing, like Young, I could accept that. But instead he tirelessly bombs up the wing with terrific pace, only to hit the ball into the left-back's legs every fecking time, so that at best we win a corner.
I can't honestly think of another winger who manages to get up the line, doing exactly what a classic winger should be doing, as many times a match as Valencia. And yet at times he seems to beat his man then wait for him to recover, purely to ensure his cross can be safely blocked.
Has somebody told him this is the aim of the game? Is he getting football confused with French cricket? Or does he have a vision defect that means he actually can't see anybody standing within two feet of him, leaving him baffled by why his excellent crosses keep suddenly changing direction and flying back past him for a throw-in?
If he was just shit and did nothing, like Young, I could accept that. But instead he tirelessly bombs up the wing with terrific pace, only to hit the ball into the left-back's legs every fecking time, so that at best we win a corner.
I can't honestly think of another winger who manages to get up the line, doing exactly what a classic winger should be doing, as many times a match as Valencia. And yet at times he seems to beat his man then wait for him to recover, purely to ensure his cross can be safely blocked.
Has somebody told him this is the aim of the game? Is he getting football confused with French cricket? Or does he have a vision defect that means he actually can't see anybody standing within two feet of him, leaving him baffled by why his excellent crosses keep suddenly changing direction and flying back past him for a throw-in?
You're all missing the point. Being a good dribbler on the wing is completely different than dribbling in the no.10 position. As I said, I was not explaining myself clearly but I'll try again;
On the wings you have much more space. At most you'll only really have 2 players near you (the wide defender, and the wide midfielder if he's tracking back. When I say he isn't good in tight spaces, I don't mean that he can't skill his way past players when they get close to him because he can. What I mean is, if there are players ALL around you, which is the case in the 10 position, your dribbling is very different to the wing where your focus is primarily on beating your man and exploiting the space behind them. In the 10 position, there is no space to exploit behind any man you beat unless you're against the last man or on the counter. When you dribble, you're dribbling past players to make space to play a pass or link play. On the wing you run at defenders to beat them and get the ball in or cut in and shoot - at least that is the style of player Nani is. In the middle, you rarely directly run at defenders, you need to be more composed, have much tighter ball control, and have the passing awareness.
Those of you who think he has the passing ability to play the 10 role, then sorry but I just don't agree and have never seen evidence to sway my opinion.
If nani got a good run in the side than I think on form whilst he wouldn't be an ideal number 10, coming infield as part of the attack he could do some real damage there. He might not always pick out the right pass but he's capable of very quick exchanges ther as well as running as people which would be a big threat there.
I think that's fair - he has it in him. My main gripe is how you said it though, that his passing just isn't consistent enough. Fundamentally, Nani is a winger and he is most effective on the wing, so he should play on the wing.
I'd like to see Moyes put his faith in him and just play him for a few consecutive games. He seems low on confidence, but despite that he plays more positively on the flanks than Welbeck or Valencia imo.
I'd be interested in seeing him on the right again - he had a spell where he was really good there.
Yeah Valencia must be due a rest. Hasn't he played every game since the international break as well as both of Ecuador's games.
I was thinking more from the angle that Valencia has been terrible, and something needs to be done =P.
Don't recall ever hating him, there were times he frustrated many of us.
The only thing that frustrates me about Nani is that he never gets a decent run of games.
Starts today. Please let this be the performance where he makes himself undroppable...
Very pleased to see him taking on defenders and trying his best to whip them in. Now, if all of our wingers could do something similar on a regular basis...
Yeah but he's just shown the bad side, fannying out of vital 50/50's
I can't see that happening.
Decent performance but he's still a fanny, as you've summed it up.
He needs games to get better, that's fecking obvious.
He's tried some things that have come off, and some things that haven't. As per!
If we ever want to be creative ever again, he needs to play. I don't know what some people are expecting from him. Our problem today certainly hasn't been our wingers.
This.
Nani's nowhere near top form but, even like this, he has more variation to his game than Valencia, Young, Welbeck etc. ever will. We need to trust Nani, give him a good run of games so he can build up his confidence, and then we'll see the guy who tore Chelsea a new one in the 2011/12 3-1 at Old Trafford and the one who won the United players' player of the season award in 2010/11. Nani is that good. We just need to give him the chance to show it.
Its been far too long since we saw Nani strike a 30 yard shot into the net. I miss the back flip...
He needs to play more on instinct. My biggest peeve is how he delays things all the time. He'll allow the optimum moment for a pass or a cross to pass him by and it ends up what is him getting into a great position look like him being wasteful. Even if his staggered passing doesn't immediately prove problematic there's often a chain reaction effect. If he could just play on instinct it'd be a lot better.
In the match thread I mentioned Januzaj's cross from the left, whipped in, about 20 mins in. Nani wouldn't have done that he'd have wanted half a dozen more touches and therein lies his problem. I'm not sure if he over thinks things, if it's a confidence thing or if he doesn't have great vision but if he played more on instinct and stopped dwelling on the ball so much he could be a terrific contributor.
In the match thread I mentioned Januzaj's cross from the left, whipped in, about 20 mins in. Nani wouldn't have done that he'd have wanted half a dozen more touches and therein lies his problem. I'm not sure if he over thinks things, if it's a confidence thing or if he doesn't have great vision but if he played more on instinct and stopped dwelling on the ball so much he could be a terrific contributor.
The more he plays, the more confident he gets and the quicker his decision making becomes which is why he needs a run of games. He's currently playing like someone who knows a bad performance will see him back on the bench
Yeah but that's life. This isn't little league now.
...I assume that means something as I heard it being said in a movie once
That tackle wasn't pretty
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