[el3mel]

His positioning in the goal was great.

Had been a great break for him.

 

[ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg]

He is 20 , surely he can get way better at finishing. He has that in him. The goals he scored under Lvg against the likes of West Ham's and City when played a specific way in attack surely gives an idea he has much more in his locker which ain't coming out under Mourinho with the choice of system and tactics we employ.

I lot of people forget he’s only 20. Where were the likes of Kane, Drogba etc when they were 20? He’s gaining great experience and will kick in over the next few years. You don’t have to be banging in 20 goals a year as a teenager to become a fantastic player. Players need time and experience to grow.

 

[11101]

He is 20 , surely he can get way better at finishing. He has that in him. The goals he scored under Lvg against the likes of West Ham's and City when played a specific way in attack surely gives an idea he has much more in his locker which ain't coming out under Mourinho with the choice of system and tactics we employ.

He can improve for sure but enough for what we need? He was never particularly prolific in the youth teams and he doesn't seem to have that knack of being in the right place at the right time in the box. He likes to space to run in to so he can use his pace.

 

[Patrick08]

he doesn't seem to have that knack of being in the right place at the right time in the box.

I disagree here. All his debut goals when he was breaking into the team were the result of him being at right place at right time which was the same case last night as well.

 

[Patrick08]

He can improve for sure but enough for what we need?

I think so , yes. With consistent game time. Most of the goals he scores is also a result of his super finishing, but as a young player he is inconsistent in that which is very much expected.

 

[Canagel]

The problem with him being a striker is that he lacks the finishing and instinct to be a striker at the top level.

He already showed he had the instinct with LVG. What he lacks is composure. The longer time he has to finish the more likely he is to miss. He does better when he doesn't have much time to think. But at least he is getting into the goal scoring positions. Raheem Sterling missed so many chances and still does now but his composure has improved and this is the same step Rashford needs to make.

 

[Rood]

The problem with him being a striker is that he lacks the finishing and instinct to be a striker at the top level.

I dont agree with that at all - when he first came through he showed great finishing ability but too much time playing wide and being forced into defensive duties has dulled his natural strikers instinct

 

[Canagel]

You mean like other strikers who have played in from the left who were stagnated such as Thierry Henry?

Thierry was a left winger in the beginning and then moved to striker. Rashford was already a striker from the youth set up all the way upto his debut and during LVG's time. He should have stayed there and played with a strike partner either Lukaku, Zlatan or Martial. Instead we shifted him to the left to accommodate our target man and I can't think of many reasons why because he isn't a winger like Zaha for example.

 

[RedorDead21]

Thierry was a left winger in the beginning and then moved to striker. Rashford was already a striker from the youth set up all the way upto his debut and during LVG's time. He should have stayed there and played with a strike partner either Lukaku, Zlatan or Martial. Instead we shifted him to the left to accommodate our target man and I can't think of many reasons why because he isn't a winger like Zaha for example.

I'd be all for weakening ourselves in the short term and loaning him out. I think he needs to play week in week out even in the championship. He can defo become a starter for a top team if he kicks on in the next 2/3 seasons.

 

[Sylar]

We need to play him up top (but not as a lone striker). With support (either 2 man strike force eg with Lukaku or with a man behind him like Lingard).

He basically needs to be pushed close to the top rather than out wide.

 

[RedorDead21]

We need to play him up top (but not as a lone striker). With support (either 2 man strike force eg with Lukaku or with a man behind him like Lingard).

He basically needs to be pushed close to the top rather than out wide.

Sanchez would be far better in that role.......

 

[Sylar]

Sanchez would be far better in that role.......

Oh im not disagreeing. Used Lingard as the example cos of the game we played vs Chelsea at home a few seasons ago under Jose. We won 2 nil and thought Herrera and Rashford were fantastic in their roles (and lingard as support).
I do actually agree that Sanchez through the middle would be best (thought he played their pre-season and looked sharp).

 

[Adisa]

We've done arguments about his position to death. Some of the reasons why he hasn't nailed down a position is because he has made basic errors in his game that have nothing to do with his position...poor runs, not lifting his head up, poor finishing, poor technique etc. People act like he's never played up front for us before. The good thing is that he's still young and hopefully will learn.
If he polishes off some of those inconsistencies, I don't see why he can't play in a wider position as well.

 

[Scarecrow]

Already on 27 caps for England at (nearly) 21 years of age. That's impressive.

 

[FootyGirl88]

We should of just developed him and Martial as a partnership up top then spent the Lukaku money on some good wingers.

 

[Minimalist]

Think his first goal against Liverpool last season clearly shows he has it in him to be a brilliant striker, particularly a composed striker. Got a lot of time to develop further.

 

[Aloysius's Back 3]

Lingard as a false 9 would be better than Sanchez. Sanchez will struggle to make the runs Lingard does however probably providing more pure attacking ability.

Lingard is underrated in his capability to actually be a forward more than a Am - as seen with the game he played upfront next to Rashford against Chelsea & the actual countless goals he scores in a forwards position.

Don't care how many people really disagree with it - but to this day; the most attacking balance we can get is to play:

Martial - Rashford
Lingard


With Lukaku swapping with Rashford whilst Rashford swaps with martial and martial swapping with Lingard. Likewise swap Sanchez when he actually does come in to a forwards form.

To this day - it is LVG's 352 with his forwards we needed to utilise & revert back to - but Jose continues to pretend like it simply does not exist.

That is a front 3 that has pure technical ability rather than thugs like strength and holding on to position to bring others from play from way too deep.

 

[Aloysius's Back 3]

We've done arguments about his position to death. Some of the reasons why he hasn't nailed down a position is because he has made basic errors in his game that have nothing to do with his position...poor runs, not lifting his head up, poor finishing, poor technique etc. People act like he's never played up front for us before. The good thing is that he's still young and hopefully will learn.
If he polishes off some of those inconsistencies, I don't see why he can't play in a wider position as well.

This isn't a video game - Rashford plays up front but plays for a team that is built to get the best out of strikers like Ibrahimlvic & Lukaku - whilst players like martial & Rashford will simply struggle.

The hoof balls, the lack of behind the defence passes, the lack of on the ball receiving with the strikes facing the goal so they can directly take on the central defenders, the actual lack of possession and preference to get rid of the ball so we can counter attack, the width of the rest of the players without no partnerships building, the changing of players every game.


So much more than just being put up as a striker - fact is England play a type of football that is better suited than ours which is basically Jose trying to get the best out of what he Regards to be a second coming of Drogba. Now he looks like he has given up and in the last 2 games - he has changed it to add two strikers & looks simply lost more than ever to create a game plan that helps players like Rashford & Martial to actually play to their strengths.

Rashford has proved that he is better for England than United - that was evident to some supporters the moment Jose out him out as a winger and poor Rashford was focusing on long distant shooting rather than adding a finesse of a striker. The manager has not cohesion with his players - at least not the ones he did not buy.

 

[Zlatattack]

I know many will argue he's not a winger (I agree he's better as a striker), but I do think we'd get more out of him at RW than we will with Mata and Lingard. Give him the role and setup play to suit his strengths.

 

[11101]

I disagree here. All his debut goals when he was breaking into the team were the result of him being at right place at right time which was the same case last night as well.

Every amateur striker on the planet can be in the right place at the right time, some of the time. At the level we require Rashford needs to be there every single time and have the composure and ability to get a good shot off every time. Too often you see a pass come in or an opportunity and are left thinking where the hell is he.

 

[izec]

He should be an inside forward with less defensive duties. He is not a striker in Mourinhos system. Van Gaal seemed to get out more of Rashford and Martial as strikers.

 

[Aloysius's Back 3]

Every amateur striker on the planet can be in the right place at the right time, some of the time. At the level we require Rashford needs to be there every single time and have the composure and ability to get a good shot off every time. Too often you see a pass come in or an opportunity and are left thinking where the hell is he.

There is a difference between playing a team type of football that allows Lukaku to be in the right place at the right time rather than the type of football that allows martial & Rashford to be in at the right place at the right time.

Players like martial & Rashford don't need to be on the back of a defender they are more suited to the ball at the feet due to their abilities to take a man on, score tap in's or finish moves off.

Instead the current team is built to play for Lukaku where every ball is hoof, cross or simply a chance lukaku misses.

Rashford being at the right place at the right time was due to the football style that LVG was playing - he could do the same exact thing right now & would struggle because Jose simply does not play that way. Likewise for Rashford at England. A more technical based football in comparison to what we intend to play.

 

[cyberman]

He should be an inside forward with less defensive duties. He is not a striker in Mourinhos system. Van Gaal seemed to get out more of Rashford and Martial as strikers.

He isn't a striker in anybodys system. He's too selfish with ball at feet and he doesn't hold onto it well enough to bring the widemen / Pogba into play.
He doesn't even come towards the ball, he's off running down the channels isolating himself which is why he constantly has to (unsuccessfully) dribble around a few defenders to keep the move going.

 

[izec]

He isn't a striker in anybodys system. He's too selfish with ball at feet and he doesn't hold onto it well enough to bring the widemen / Pogba into play.
He doesn't even come towards the ball, he's off running down the channels isolating himself which is why he constantly has to (unsuccessfully) dribble around a few defenders to keep the move going.

Thats why we got a manager and a staff to improve him if that is what they dont like about him. But it seems our manager isnt the greatest at improving players, especially offensive ones. He just lets them do their thing.

 

[cyberman]

Thats why we got a manager and a staff to improve him if that is what they dont like about him.

I don't think he has it in him to improve that much tbh.

 

[FootyGirl88]

He isn't a striker in anybodys system. He's too selfish with ball at feet and he doesn't hold onto it well enough to bring the widemen / Pogba into play.
He doesn't even come towards the ball, he's off running down the channels isolating himself which is why he constantly has to (unsuccessfully) dribble around a few defenders to keep the move going.

He doesn't have that issue when he's playing for England tbh

 

[izec]

I don't think he has it in him to improve that much tbh.

He is 20, i wouldn't write him off. Lingard was at Leicester in the championship at the same age and has improved plenty since then. Players dont improve at the same rate, but he is young and deserves some patience. His United performances under Jose are mostly frustrating currently, but i believe he can make a jump int he future (under a new manager that is)

 

[Patrick08]

He isn't a striker in anybodys system. He's too selfish with ball at feet and he doesn't hold onto it well enough to bring the widemen / Pogba into play.
He doesn't even come towards the ball, he's off running down the channels isolating himself which is why he constantly has to (unsuccessfully) dribble around a few defenders to keep the move going.

Because Mourinhos philosophy forces him to play direct and counter attacking way in final third. He was exactly doing the opposite in Lvg philosophy. His one two's with players around him was so pleasing to see, he held the ball and brought on rushing midfielders into play, made runs in behind as well and beat defenders with his pace superbly. The third goal vs arsenal on his debut was a signal of it.

 

[limerickcitykid]

Thierry was a left winger in the beginning and then moved to striker. Rashford was already a striker from the youth set up all the way upto his debut and during LVG's time.

Rashford played as a striker in the youth set up for about a year. He was always a LW or 10 before that.

 

[11101]

There is a difference between playing a team type of football that allows Lukaku to be in the right place at the right time rather than the type of football that allows martial & Rashford to be in at the right place at the right time.

Players like martial & Rashford don't need to be on the back of a defender they are more suited to the ball at the feet due to their abilities to take a man on, score tap in's or finish moves off.

Instead the current team is built to play for Lukaku where every ball is hoof, cross or simply a chance lukaku misses.

Rashford being at the right place at the right time was due to the football style that LVG was playing - he could do the same exact thing right now & would struggle because Jose simply does not play that way. Likewise for Rashford at England. A more technical based football in comparison to what we intend to play.

Under LVG he still only scored 5 league goals, let's not pretend he was some sort of R9 reincarnated.

At no point in his career has he managed even a goal every 2 games. There is a huge amount of progress needed for him to be our next starting striker.

 

[Patrick08]

Under LVG he still only scored 5 league goals, let's not pretend he was some sort of R9 reincarnated.

At no point in his career has he managed even a goal every 2 games. There is a huge amount of progress needed for him to be our next starting striker.

Surely he is not a starting 9, but he can be used a lot better suiting his strenghts, along with Martial as well if they are played in a two upfront with focus on running in behind alongside lukaku with full backs providing width and crosses. But our use of the ball has to improve.

 

[Woziak]

Wow - such incredible differences of opinions on this thread. Marcus only played 1 year as a centre forward in the Youth Team and did indeed play mostly as a roving no 10 who liked to drift to the left in a 4231 formation or 4321. His idols were Rooney and Ronaldo and he tried in the youth team to be a like both of them. When he broke through he was getting constant encouragement from LVG, Giggs, Carrick and more importantly Rooney.

He scored on PL debut, FA CUP debut, Europa League debut, and England debut at 18 years old, incidentally the same age as the Stockport Messiah fodden who has played 7 minutes of pl football this year because he was being encouraged and motivated. When Jose joined he also brought in another role model in, Zlatan to help him and Rashford again scored on his Champions League debut the season after and some key goals in that season. He never truly regressed he was just played in unfamiliar position or as an auxiliary left back or right back which is what Jose demands from his strikers, the boy never complained like Martial but did what was asked of him to further his development. Zlatan had that big injury and we played Marcus at CFW, he produced a Wining goal in a European Cup Semi Final, ran City ragged in a 0-0 draw and scored the winner against Chelsea.

So it's probably fare to assume that after doing his 2 year apprentership and leading the line in the business part of the season when we came 6th but won two trophies, Jose would give him a chance. Pre season against City he started in a formation that is made for him and United, coincidentally the same formation England now deploy a 3-1-4-2. United destroyed City 2-0. The movement of Lukaku, Rashford and Martial when he came on was devastating and if you watch Wellbeck and Rashford or Kane and Rashford for England it's also very good because neither is an out and out 9 or no 10 both players can come deep, link play and go long, giving you unpredictability and more options when you attack than with one simple big man as a predictable target.

The boy is pure Gold, as Ed said 'NOT FOR SALE' and all his decision making will improve when he is given the full confidence of the coach and asked to play in a two or three man strike partnership week in week out where he is not being told to concentrate not on scoring and creating goals but making sure he follows and tracks the opposition full back.

Yet again Southgate believed in him he scored on his debut in the Nations League.
What many pundits and fans conveniently forget is Marcus scores goals against the big teams and yes he should of had a hatrick against Spain because his movement was so clever but his record against the Top 6 with goals scored to games played is better than all of the strikers currently in the Premier League bar Jaimie Vardy!

It's time for fans to get behind him like we did an 18 year old Ronaldo, the club to give him a new contract and the coach to play him either as left striker or CFW and drop Sanchez whose been average at best!

 

[AltiUn]

@Woziak I see a lot of people suggesting we drop Sanchez, but why? Rashford hasn't done anything to warrant starting for us. He played well for England, sure, but he actually got sent off in our last game against Burnely, whereas Sanchez was one of our better players. He could become good player and maybe even a great one but right now he's got a long, long way to go.

 

[Sylar]

I don't think he has it in him to improve that much tbh.

TBF, people said that about Sterling at City and I think Pep has defo improved him in terms of movement, getting into the box, etc (although his finishing is still poor).
I defo think Rashford can be worked with and improved - I cant see it currently under current management.

We dont play to his strengths. But then again, there are times we dont even play to Lukakus strengths. Its a problem when you have no style of play and it changes from game to game.

 

[LuisNaniencia]

Redknapp, Carragher and "Thommo" all stirring the pot regarding Rashford leaving. Sky sports is far too Liverpool heavy.

 

[Cassidy]

I don't think he has it in him to improve that much tbh.

I think he can, he has just stagnated a bit, but he was a more confident finisher than he is now before.

Also as happens with many young players they can stall for a bit or stagnate and then kickon

 

[Mcking]

We should just change permanently to a Diamond midfield.

 

[Devil may care]

Two goals in two games for England, sure he missed some good chances as well but at least he's scoring.

 

[imamuppet]

Lol Danny Mills on 5 live pushing the agenda we should send Rashford on Loan to Ajax. Hahahaha, man what a train wreck, lol

 

[andyjgt1]

Rashford does not need a loan. Butt and the Nevilles weren't loaned, and those guys weren't as skilful as Marcus, they didn't have his pace, and they (they were all under 1.82 tall) weren't as strong as him, and Butt and P Nev didn't have his stamina (G Nev had more tbh).