[WR10]

It’s like watching a headless chicken sometimes.

This is what we’ve been saying about him for 2 years now. Kick and run with no real conviction otherwise. He went on a goal scoring run when we had no other goal scoring options in first half of season. Now in a much more possession sophisticated team his weaknesses are glaring. He doesn’t back himself in tight spaces and resorts to either one touch passing it back or attempting ridiculous dribbles/tricks that are outside his natural ability. The most frustrating is his constant one touch pass back in dangerous channels.

Those are frustrating because that’s his chance to turn and unsettle the back line like Greenwood constantly does. He’s stuck in a Lingard mentality where he just doesn’t back himself in creating any possession value. Training-pitch like ball retention only. Useless. The only time he looks confident is when he’s got space to run in. That’s really not what you want from a starting 11 player in this team sorry.

 

[Still ill]

He's had a great season, really great. He's been shite of late, as have they all but I am very glad we have him and can't wait to see how he develops next season. This place is weird.

 

[Bwuk]

Looked to be struggling the last few games of the season physically.

Against Leicester it looked like he could barely run.

Overall - 8/10 for the season. He literally carried this side for a while with no Martial/Pogba.

 

[The-Natural]

If we move to a 4-3-3 (as we should in my opinion) and we also sign Sancho it will be very interesting to see who makes the front line. Neville somehow convinced it will be Martial even though he has showed far more as a number 9 than Rashford has. Can you imagine the combination play between Sancho, Greenwood and Martial? Terrifying.

Write Marcus Rashford off at your peril obviously and he can absolutely still develop his game further but if we are still seeing these clueless performances happen he will eventually have his work cut out getting in the starting 11 if the aforementioned transfer/system change happens.

 

[Amar__]

This is what we’ve been saying about him for 2 years now. Kick and run with no real conviction otherwise. He went on a goal scoring run when we had no other goal scoring options in first half of season. Now in a much more possession sophisticated team his weaknesses are glaring. He doesn’t back himself in tight spaces and resorts to either one touch passing it back or attempting ridiculous dribbles/tricks that are outside his natural ability. The most frustrating is his constant one touch pass back in dangerous channels.

Those are frustrating because that’s his chance to turn and unsettle the back line like Greenwood constantly does. He’s stuck in a Lingard mentality where he just doesn’t back himself in creating any possession value. Training-pitch like ball retention only. Useless. The only time he looks confident is when he’s got space to run in. That’s really not what you want from a starting 11 player in this team sorry.

What a terrible post.

 

[Amar__]

132 pages and I bet at least 40% of it is a criticisim, and we still see posts as the above people questioning his talent.

And in reality he's been directly involved in around 30 goals this season, that's what, around 1/3 of what this team has actually scored in total? And led the team all by himself when Pogba and Martial were injured.

Some of our fans are just bunch of idiots who deserve that this team continues to sign mega expensive mega stars who turn into flops like di Maria, Lukaku, Falcao, etc.

 

[DoomSlayer]

This is what we’ve been saying about him for 2 years now. Kick and run with no real conviction otherwise. He went on a goal scoring run when we had no other goal scoring options in first half of season. Now in a much more possession sophisticated team his weaknesses are glaring. He doesn’t back himself in tight spaces and resorts to either one touch passing it back or attempting ridiculous dribbles/tricks that are outside his natural ability. The most frustrating is his constant one touch pass back in dangerous channels.

Those are frustrating because that’s his chance to turn and unsettle the back line like Greenwood constantly does. He’s stuck in a Lingard mentality where he just doesn’t back himself in creating any possession value. Training-pitch like ball retention only. Useless. The only time he looks confident is when he’s got space to run in. That’s really not what you want from a starting 11 player in this team sorry.

What a load of shite. Rashford and Martial at their best have shown incredible link-up play, quick passing in tight spaces and skills to beat 1v1 defenders. How this agenda against Rashford can still keep existing is beyond me.

 

[lex talionis]

I realize Rashy has his haters here, but for me he's been brilliant this season. Sure, the last few matches he's been quite off but surely that all comes down to fitness. A broken back doesn't sound like a minor niggle to me. He may be one who has to take more time than we'd really like while we challenge for the EL trophy.

 

[theklr]

I'm abit concerned that the injury is making his body work abit differently regarding his pace and 1vs1. I remember Van Persie (i think) talking about how an injury like this could follow and hamper you for the rest of your career.

Praying im wrong though.

 

[hungrywing]

I'm abit concerned that the injury is making his body work abit differently regarding his pace and 1vs1. I remember Van Persie (i think) talking about how an injury like this could follow and hamper you for the rest of your career.

Praying im wrong though.

I think he's just been told to try being more of a playmaker for a few months.

After that you get all the benefits such as defenses having to worry about whether he's going to dribble or shoot or pass (instead of just dribble or shot), Martial drawing more focus in opposition pre-match plans and thus Rashford being left one on one that much more often, deeper understanding between teammates etc.

 

[Adam-Utd]

All these expert opinions rating our players when they're dead on their feet nice one guys. Get back to football manager.

 

[romufc]

Rahdford will be fine, this is why signing another top quality forward is required.

It will have a double effect.

1. It will give the likes of Bruno, Rashford and Martial rest if need be
2. It will also kick Bruno, Rashford into giving better performances.

Lets say a Sancho is there and he Rashford or Bruno is playing badly, all it takes is 2/3 bad games and you are replaced and if Sancho does well, they will have to wait until he drops.

Competition for places will improve us whilst keeping players fresh.

 

[Glorio]

Rashford is a brilliant player who dropped off at the end - simple as that.

Against Leicester though, he was terrible. He just wasn't trying at all. He didn't sprint, or attack the full back, or help the defence with any conviction apart from jogging casually and watching the action unfold, and he spent most of the game walking or standing. It wasn't like he was trying things and they weren't coming off, or he was nervously losing the ball (see Bruno, Maguire).

For what was the most crucial game in recent history, he just didn't appear bothered enough to engage. It seemed to me he may have been feeling an injury, or at least trying to avoid one because he felt something. In which case, wouldn't it have just been better to tell the manager so we're not playing with 10 men effectively?
Or left field suggestion (no pun intended) maybe he did, Ole didn't listen and he was on a sulk as memories vs Wolves came flooding back? Not his MO but I'm just trying to make sense of his inactivity.

At some point it seems Bruno came out to the left to provide a body there because the Dr offered nothing. Considering the weight of the game, I was really disappointed.

 

[rotherham_red]

Rashford is a brilliant player who dropped off at the end - simple as that.

Against Leicester though, he was terrible. He just wasn't trying at all. He didn't sprint, or attack the full back, or help the defence with any conviction apart from jogging casually and watching the action unfold, and he spent most of the game walking or standing. It wasn't like he was trying things and they weren't coming off, or he was nervously losing the ball (see Bruno, Maguire).

For what was the most crucial game in recent history, he just didn't appear bothered enough to engage. It seemed to me he may have been feeling an injury, or at least trying to avoid one because he felt something. In which case, wouldn't it have just been better to tell the manager so we're not playing with 10 men effectively?
Or left field suggestion (no pun intended) maybe he did, Ole didn't listen and he was on a sulk as memories vs Wolves came flooding back? Not his MO but I'm just trying to make sense of his inactivity.

At some point it seems Bruno came out to the left to provide a body there because the Dr offered nothing. Considering the weight of the game, I was really disappointed.

He's obviously knackered and needed rest. Lest we forget, he carried us on his back in the first half of the season. If it wasn't for him, we'd be nowhere near. His big game record had been absolutely stellar up til the last week had been stellar as well. Heck, even the week before, he was largely responsible for us getting that win at Palace which was after the disappointing draw at Southampton.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

I realize Rashy has his haters here, but for me he's been brilliant this season. Sure, the last few matches he's been quite off but surely that all comes down to fitness. A broken back doesn't sound like a minor niggle to me. He may be one who has to take more time than we'd really like while we challenge for the EL trophy.

If you think he has haters here. Take a look at the shit people post on his Twitter account.

So called Utd fans! It's an embarrassing clusterfeck of hate

 

[Nou_Camp99]

22 goals and 8 assists in 42 games is more than decent. Rashford has been in the top 3 performers of the season for us, along with Martial n Bruno. Who else has had a bigger impact for us this season? Greenwood has done great too to be fair but he's only just become a regular.

 

[DannyDee]

I don't think you understand anything about football if that is how you asses a player like Rashford. I'm curious as to what you would say to someone like Vardy, Van Persie or Torres. You could make the claim they lack natural talent for different reasons at different points in their career. Van Persie at the age of Rashford struggled to become the 30 goals a season striker he became in his later years. Vardy was just nowhere at the age of Rashford. Torres was clearly someone who you would call a natural talent when younger but didn't last that long at the top level did he. Is it because he wasn't a natural? No. There is many aspects to consider, ups and downs in careers, and for his age Rashford seem to already be on track to become a club legend. Even if that doesn't happen, that doesn't mean he wasn't a great footballer or a natural, he clearly was a huge talent and is slowly closing in on his potential. He is in the top bracket of talents in the world at the moment, and if you fail to see that I doubt you could tell the difference between say a player like Mbappe and Bergwijn.

This isn't about Rashford. But, I would say RVP and especially Vardy had developmental curves that were atypical, and are outlying events you can't expect people to replicate. Torres if I remember correctly destroyed his hamstring and was never the same after. Similar to how injuries destroyed Michael Owen at an even younger age going from a Galactico signing to being taken in on a free by us within 5 years as our 4th striker.

Rashford has accomplished a lot for a 22-year-old. I feel people do forget how young he is, due to him already having 38 England caps and almost 150 EPL appearances for us. He's still at an age where players commonly take the next-step-up performance-wise in their careers. Just look at Martial this year. While I don't see Rashford doing this to the same extent, the jump Cristiano Ronaldo made from a very good but inconsistent player at 20/21, to a star player at 21/22, to Ballon D'or winner at 22/23. Or Saleh, who didn't really break-out as a star player until 24 and continued to develop into what he is at 27 or so. Now, Rashford could also stagnate, but he's clearly shown enough over the past year for us to show faith in him going forward right now with the hope he can make that next-step into an EPL Team of the Year type player for us, with the hope for even more.

 

[Glorio]

He's obviously knackered and needed rest. Lest we forget, he carried us on his back in the first half of the season. If it wasn't for him, we'd be nowhere near. His big game record had been absolutely stellar up til the last week had been stellar as well. Heck, even the week before, he was largely responsible for us getting that win at Palace which was after the disappointing draw at Southampton.

Not challenging that at all - I'm saying if he wasn't feeling fit to play, he shouldn't have been on the pitch, as we were playing with 10 men for most of that particular game.

 

[AshRK]

I feel since the restart he has been playing far too deep and honestly he has made some fabulous passes/crosses but he should be direct and play more closer to the goal. I don't blame his performance against Leicester. He was making the passes which Pogba and Matic should have made but in the first half they were just pasing to each other and Bruno and Rashford had to drop deep to do their job.

Overall I am very happy with his development. 22 goals is a great return but he has to carry on and be hungry for goals as he will be losing out on Penalty goals. All these playmaking stuff is good but you are a goal scorer and the goal should be to reach 20 Pl goals next season and try 30 in all competition.

 

[MikeKing]

This isn't about Rashford. But, I would say RVP and especially Vardy had developmental curves that were atypical, and are outlying events you can't expect people to replicate. Torres if I remember correctly destroyed his hamstring and was never the same after. Similar to how injuries destroyed Michael Owen at an even younger age going from a Galactico signing to being taken in on a free by us within 5 years as our 4th striker.

Rashford has accomplished a lot for a 22-year-old. I feel people do forget how young he is, due to him already having 38 England caps and almost 150 EPL appearances for us. He's still at an age where players commonly take the next-step-up performance-wise in their careers. Just look at Martial this year. While I don't see Rashford doing this to the same extent, the jump Cristiano Ronaldo made from a very good but inconsistent player at 20/21, to a star player at 21/22, to Ballon D'or winner at 22/23. Or Saleh, who didn't really break-out as a star player until 24 and continued to develop into what he is at 27 or so. Now, Rashford could also stagnate, but he's clearly shown enough over the past year for us to show faith in him going forward right now with the hope he can make that next-step into an EPL Team of the Year type player for us, with the hope for even more.

Perfect assessment that.

 

[He'sRaldo]

If Bruno takes the set pieces from now on will his numbers drop lower next season, or will he be able to kick into another gear and match or better them without the set pieces?

What do people think?

 

[DoomSlayer]

If Bruno takes the set pieces from now on will his numbers drop lower next season, or will he be able to kick into another gear and match or better them without the set pieces?

What do people think?

Rashford would still get some FKs in general as he has that thunderbolt in his locker, plus I think he might be the 2nd choice penalty taker so will get a few from the spot as well.

When the lad is fully fit again, we will see how explosive he can be. I'm 100% certain that his struggles have mostly been due to fatigue and having to be in the first 11 straight away after bad injuries, some of which he had been carrying throughout the season. There is no way Marcus plays so lethargic if fully fit, he was purposefully trying to not move that much and was looking to receive the ball and play a ball behind the defence for the other forwards.

 

[Van Piorsing]

If Bruno takes the set pieces from now on will his numbers drop lower next season, or will he be able to kick into another gear and match or better them without the set pieces?

What do people think?

He's still Rashford and he's still capable of achieving greatness. Rotation in free kick taking will be natural way of getting best out of him.

We had Ronaldo, Rooney and Giggs wanting to take the free kick in the same back in a day, plus Hargreaves who could sink any team with his technical skills. Rash 100% will take them especially if we'll add players in mood of Sancho/Grealish who can win tons of free kicks near the box.

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

Genuinely worry about people’s memories here. “Rashford can’t take players on anymore.”

 

[Dr. Dwayne]

Rashford is a brilliant player who dropped off at the end - simple as that.

Against Leicester though, he was terrible. He just wasn't trying at all. He didn't sprint, or attack the full back, or help the defence with any conviction apart from jogging casually and watching the action unfold, and he spent most of the game walking or standing. It wasn't like he was trying things and they weren't coming off, or he was nervously losing the ball (see Bruno, Maguire).

For what was the most crucial game in recent history, he just didn't appear bothered enough to engage. It seemed to me he may have been feeling an injury, or at least trying to avoid one because he felt something. In which case, wouldn't it have just been better to tell the manager so we're not playing with 10 men effectively?
Or left field suggestion (no pun intended) maybe he did, Ole didn't listen and he was on a sulk as memories vs Wolves came flooding back? Not his MO but I'm just trying to make sense of his inactivity.

At some point it seems Bruno came out to the left to provide a body there because the Dr offered nothing. Considering the weight of the game, I was really disappointed.

Jesus Christ. fecking state of the newbies.

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

Jesus Christ. fecking state of the newbies.

Ban them all.

 

[KennyBurner]

This is what we’ve been saying about him for 2 years now. Kick and run with no real conviction otherwise. He went on a goal scoring run when we had no other goal scoring options in first half of season. Now in a much more possession sophisticated team his weaknesses are glaring. He doesn’t back himself in tight spaces and resorts to either one touch passing it back or attempting ridiculous dribbles/tricks that are outside his natural ability. The most frustrating is his constant one touch pass back in dangerous channels.

Those are frustrating because that’s his chance to turn and unsettle the back line like Greenwood constantly does. He’s stuck in a Lingard mentality where he just doesn’t back himself in creating any possession value. Training-pitch like ball retention only. Useless. The only time he looks confident is when he’s got space to run in. That’s really not what you want from a starting 11 player in this team sorry.

This is the best analysis I’ve seen of him since we changed our style to a possession based system. He doesn’t really take on players when we are camped in their half. He doesn’t believe he can dribble in tight spaces. Im just going to blame it on fatigue. Usually he likes to run with the ball even if he loses it. Fatigue has him taking the safer option.

I don’t think we should include him in Europa until we reach the finals. James should come in on the left so he can rest. Ole is going to break his back if he continues overplaying him.

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

This is the best analysis I’ve seen of him since we changed our style to a possession based system. He doesn’t really take on players when we are camped in their half. He doesn’t believe he can dribble in tight spaces. Im just going to blame it on fatigue. Usually he likes to run with the ball even if he loses it. Fatigue has him taking the safer option.

I don’t think we should include him in Europa until we reach the finals. James should come in on the left so he can rest. Ole is going to break his back if he continues overplaying him.

Interesting, it was one of the worst analysis I’ve seen of him!

 

[KennyBurner]

Interesting, it was one of the worst analysis I’ve seen of him!

He clearly stated that rashford struggles in tight spaces. It’s the truth. He needs space to run into which he hasn’t see much of after the restart. He can beat his man but it’s very inconsistent and tends to put us under pressure if he loses it. I’m also thinking fatigue has played a part in this.

The poster was wrong with the “useless” remark but I’m focusing more on the dribbling critic. Good dribblers are important for a possession system to relive pressure for other players and against a press. I want to see more improvement from rashford in this aspect so that teams like Southampton don’t think it’s okay to man mark him without consequences.

 

[TwoSheds]

Genuinely worry about people’s memories here. “Rashford can’t take players on anymore.”

8 out of 10 times he can't do skills mate, weren't you listening? He's over the hill now, plus he was always shit of course. Like I always said because I'm a genius.

 

[roonster09]

Interesting, it was one of the worst analysis I’ve seen of him!

It's like people forget all the moments where he dribbles past players in tight spaces and then comes up with "He can't do it", hilarious take.

 

[CG1010]

He clearly stated that rashford struggles in tight spaces. It’s the truth. He needs space to run into which he hasn’t see much of after the restart. He can beat his man but it’s very inconsistent and tends to put us under pressure if he loses it. I’m also thinking fatigue has played a part in this.

The poster was wrong with the “useless” remark but I’m focusing more on the dribbling critic. Good dribblers are important for a possession system to relive pressure for other players and against a press. I want to see more improvement from rashford in this aspect so that teams like Southampton don’t think it’s okay to man mark him without consequences.

he isn't Messi with his dribbling of course but he creates several chances through his dribbling. Just one example is him dribbling through three opposition players in his own half which eventually led to goal by Martial in a recent match (?).

And it's hardly kick and run. In fact I can't remember him doing that in recent days.

 

[roonster09]

This is what we’ve been saying about him for 2 years now. Kick and run with no real conviction otherwise. He went on a goal scoring run when we had no other goal scoring options in first half of season. Now in a much more possession sophisticated team his weaknesses are glaring. He doesn’t back himself in tight spaces and resorts to either one touch passing it back or attempting ridiculous dribbles/tricks that are outside his natural ability. The most frustrating is his constant one touch pass back in dangerous channels.

Those are frustrating because that’s his chance to turn and unsettle the back line like Greenwood constantly does. He’s stuck in a Lingard mentality where he just doesn’t back himself in creating any possession value. Training-pitch like ball retention only. Useless. The only time he looks confident is when he’s got space to run in. That’s really not what you want from a starting 11 player in this team sorry.

Eh? He is always among the best in the team.

Spoiler: Possession value

 

[Dante]

Genuinely worry about people’s memories here. “Rashford can’t take players on anymore.”

Exactly.

Just because Rashford is capable of running fast, that doesn't mean he's not also capable of dribbling close.

Too many posters seem to think you can only do one or the other.

 

[JJ12]

Physically didn’t seem there since the return - that isn’t a surprise or a concern tbh.

His passing has been fantastic though.

 

[roonster09]

He clearly stated that rashford struggles in tight spaces. It’s the truth. He needs space to run into which he hasn’t see much of after the restart. He can beat his man but it’s very inconsistent and tends to put us under pressure if he loses it. I’m also thinking fatigue has played a part in this.

The poster was wrong with the “useless” remark but I’m focusing more on the dribbling critic. Good dribblers are important for a possession system to relive pressure for other players and against a press. I want to see more improvement from rashford in this aspect so that teams like Southampton don’t think it’s okay to man mark him without consequences.

That post was full of inaccuracies.

 

[pratyush_utd]

If we move to a 4-3-3 (as we should in my opinion) and we also sign Sancho it will be very interesting to see who makes the front line. Neville somehow convinced it will be Martial even though he has showed far more as a number 9 than Rashford has. Can you imagine the combination play between Sancho, Greenwood and Martial? Terrifying.

Write Marcus Rashford off at your peril obviously and he can absolutely still develop his game further but if we are still seeing these clueless performances happen he will eventually have his work cut out getting in the starting 11 if the aforementioned transfer/system change happens.

Its just not Neville, entire British media is convinced. Huge amount of people on this forum is also convinced despite Martial scoring equal amount of goals while playing less and not taking penalties (Rashford has 6 penalty). Martial is just better at everything a number 9 should do than Rashford while i think Rashford is better out wide where he gets more space. When Martial was injured, we played some of the worst football we played this season and we actually coped well without Rashford.

Rashford has been poor since restart but i think the criticism he is getting is way over the top. He had a back injury and coming back straight into first team is difficult from that. I am more worried if that injury is somehow changed his style of play because he does look little reserved.

 

[Glorio]

Jesus Christ. fecking state of the newbies.

Do you have a point? The post centres around 2 major points if you get off your high horse and engage your brain cells:

Did Rashford have a good season? Yes - Is this what you disagree so strongly against?

Did he have a terrible game against Leicester where he was hardly involved? Yes - Again, is this what you disagree so strongly against?

 

[Dante]

Its just not Neville, entire British media is convinced. Huge amount of people on this forum is also convinced despite Martial scoring equal amount of goals while playing less and not taking penalties (Rashford has 6 penalty). Martial is just better at everything a number 9 should do than Rashford while i think Rashford is better out wide where he gets more space. When Martial was injured, we played some of the worst football we played this season and we actually coped well without Rashford.

Rashford has been poor since restart but i think the criticism he is getting is way over the top. He had a back injury and coming back straight into first team is difficult from that. I am more worried if that injury is somehow changed his style of play because he does look little reserved.

You constantly bring up people's Britishness as an excuse to dismiss their opinions.

 

[pratyush_utd]

You constantly bring up people's Britishness as an excuse to dismiss their opinions.

If Utd was playing in America, I would have said American Media. I just mentioned what every single journalist or people who work in "British media" writes or talk about. Maybe not being British makes it easy for me to see through this. Don't care about the nationality of the player who play for Utd.

I support United and not England national team. For me Rashford is as important as Martial or for that matter any other United player. When I feel a particular player is not getting fair shake, will point it out.