[IWat]

If he was bad he would always have been bad.

Maybe his off field work is causing him emotional trouble, conflicts and maybe even depression.

But I see no other explanation for him to suddenly look so uninterested and numb.

Hopefully it's not depression. Depression is a very serious problem.

Depression kills people.

I could see the shoulder potentially causing the disinterest if it's still a problem. If he still can't use it properly and he can't be as physical etc that must be frustrating, and if he's still needing painkilling injections just to play that's going to get pretty miserable, pretty fast. I also wouldn't look forward to my job regardless of the amount I was being paid if I knew I was going to be in pain all the time. At least last season he knew he could get the surgery after the season and so had something to aim towards getting to.

Would sum our club up as of late if him playing with it for months has now messed it up for life.

 

[Bebestation]

I think he is done.

I study medicine so I know how a spinal injury can effect someone's balance and pace.

I feel like some people only understand problems post injury in football if it effects their ankles or knees and never turn back to the player they was like Kaka.

 

[Nicolarra90]

I could see the shoulder potentially causing the disinterest if it's still a problem. If he still can't use it properly and he can't be as physical etc that must be frustrating, and if he's still needing painkilling injections just to play that's going to get pretty miserable, pretty fast. I also wouldn't look forward to my job regardless of the amount I was being paid if I knew I was going to be in pain all the time. At least last season he knew he could get the surgery after the season.

Would sum our club up if him playing with it for months has now messed it up for life.

Hopefully he's just moody from our treatment to his buddy lingard so he can recover his career, either here or somewhere else.

A serious mental health issue or a chronic shoulder problem could mean an early retirement.

He's "one of our own" even if some of you don't like it. And as a homegrown and an important part of our club we must be there for him and help him through this rough patch.

 

[IWat]

I think he is done.

I study medicine so I know how a spinal injury can effect someone's balance and pace.

I feel like some people only understand problems post injury in football if it effects their ankles or knees and never turn back to the player they was like Kaka.

The logic of allowing him to carry on until the end of the season and after the Euro's is potentially one of the biggest blunders the club has made if it turns out to have compromised him long term IMO. I'm sure he was keen to be in the mix for the Euros and so wanted to carry on, but that's what management is there for, he'd have plenty of other tournaments, it's not like he's in his 30s and it would have been his last major tournament. We weren't in a title race or anything either.

 

[Nicolarra90]

I think he is done.

I study medicine so I know how a spinal injury can effect someone's balance and pace.

I feel like some people only understand problems post injury in football if it effects their ankles or knees and never turn back to the player they was like Kaka.

Don't lie, you don't know that by studying medicine, unless you are doing Ortho or sports medicine

Just joking.

Good to know there's a colleague here. I'm a surgeon

 

[Bebestation]

Don't lie, you don't know that by studying medicine, unless you are doing Ortho or sports medicine

Just joking.

Good to know there's a colleague here. I'm a surgeon

I did study ortho mate!

 

[Nicolarra90]

I did study ortho mate!

Great! Congrats

 

[Bebestation]

The logic of allowing him to carry on until the end of the season and after the Euro's is potentially one of the biggest blunders the club has made if it turns out to have compromised him long term IMO. I'm sure he was keen to be in the mix for the Euros and so wanted to carry on, but that's what management is there for, he'd have plenty of other tournaments, it's not like he's in his 30s and it would have been his last major tournament. We weren't in a title race or anything either.

The One bit of hope that I have for him is more football related but it's that not a single English performer from last season at United or England Euros has come back to United and performed how they used to.

Shaw, Maguire were good last season and look out of sorts this season. Rashford himself missed a penalty too and has talked about it effecting him mentally as well.

I personally do think it's a post spinal injury problem effecting things like his pace and balance, but I do have a 5% hope that a top class coach like Ten Hag can come and help adapt his game if he does need to change parts of his game aswell. At the same time hopefully a new season and a rest can bring back the performances of players like Shaw, Maguire and Rashford - otherwise then we might have to look at their futures.

 

[IWat]

Hopefully he's just moody from our treatment to his buddy lingard so he can recover his career, either here or somewhere else.

A serious mental health issue or a chronic shoulder problem could mean an early retirement.

He's "one of our own" even if some of you don't like it. And as a homegrown and an important part of our club we must be there for him and help him through this rough patch.

Yeah fingers crossed he's just having a dip, perhaps taking him more time to get up to speed after being out than he'd like and he's frustrated with the Lingard situation and the teams' performances.

I'm not a medical professional but I do have a mental illness myself and have spent time in hospitals when younger with plenty of interesting people. I know it's not black and white and I don't really want to try diagnose someone else with MH problems, but I really think depression would be about the only thing that fit the bill. I don't think he comes across in the way he acts, speaks etc over the years that he has EUPD or schizophrenia, bipolar, psychosis etc. There is no big variations or swings in how he presents himself or how he acts etc over the years. I'm not saying that as a fact, could well be wrong, but I don't get that gut feeling.

 

[Sayros]

Wow, I missed the game because of the CL but it's pretty crazy to come into this thread and read it turning into issues of mental health and being physically done from his injuries.

 

[Bobcat]

I honestly cant rememeber a worse 20 minute cameo. Simply horrendus from him

Everyone is allowed to have a bad game, but him strolling around and throwing his hands in the air after losing the ball for the nth time is unnaceptable when your teammates have been working hard for 70 minutes and you are supposed to be the fresh legs

 

[united for life]

I think he is done.

I study medicine so I know how a spinal injury can effect someone's balance and pace.

I feel like some people only understand problems post injury in football if it effects their ankles or knees and never turn back to the player they was like Kaka.

is it really the injury? Or is it a massive drop of form? We currently have a group of under performers

 

[Escobar]

Something is wrong with him. To me it does not look like it is an injury or so, he is not „in“ it anymore

 

[Bobcat]

He wants to model himself on Ronaldo's tricks, but Ronaldo's determination & will to succeed when things aren't going well for him are what actually define him. The rest is all worthless without that. If only he would grasp that.

Like how can he watch a Ronaldo at 37 who's legend status is set in stone, but similarly going through a tough time. Watch him finally get his reward by always giving his all, but then come on and still stroll around like he's given up already. I just don't get it.

I was really hoping Ronaldos attitude and hunger would rub off on some of the other players, but it seemingy had the opposite effect. MMM really had a spectacular fall from grace this year

 

[Jackal981]

I was really hoping Ronaldos attitude and hunger would rub off on some of the other players, but it seemingy had the opposite effect. MMM really had a spectacular fall from grace this year

Fall is putting it lightly. MMM is dead. One is a rapist and probably going to go to jail, another is on the sell list and leaving soon, and the last one has a steep performance decline without light in the end of the tunnel.

 

[Bebestation]

is it really the injury? Or is it a massive drop of form? We currently have a group of under performers

It's not really an injury - its more the result of an injury.

When you look at what the spine is - its a link between the top and bottom of your body and more importantly is the central support structure of your body. Its part of someone's posture and an area which is very close to the nervous system.

Now after an injury it doesn't mean things go back to normal, things tend to change and people have to adapt be it a footballer or a normal human being. Sometimes the pain of the spine is always there which means a person is avoiding trying to trigger that pain from certain movements.

Now a difference in posture may seem minimal to someone's eyes but these little changes does effect what a person can do or more so how they go about doing it. Is a player with a difference posture going to have the same balance they had before? The same pace or dribbling ability? (Don't even have to mention the mental ability for someone who doesn't have the same physical ability anymore)

There's things called the GAIT as well which is basically the manner of a person's walking. How is things like this going to change after injuries to their back? Maybe even the littlest bit?

Injuries on the spine and legs can really effect alot of those things which leads to players having to adapt their game.

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

It's simple:
1. He has always been technically limited and an erratic decision maker
2. He was also one of the most physically explosive footballers in the world at his peak, and could use this to wreak havoc
3. He had a debilitating back injury
4. Now that he has lost the explosion, the faults he's always had as a footballer are much more pronounced since he can't make up for it with pure pace.

It's not mental health or a "dip in form". Just a player that sadly got a brutal injury that's chronically going to affect him the rest of his career, and he doesn't possess the other traits as a footballer to make up for this. Ronaldo had to transform his game after his knee tendinitis began in 2014, but being such a technically gifted footballer he could afford to lose some pace and instead became a more cunning player inside the box to make up for it. Rashford will need to have a similar process where he either adds new facets to his game, or he'll be just another bright star that faded.

 

[Foxbatt]

It's nothing of that sort for him not to be arsed to even make an attempt. He simply stops trying once he loses the ball.

 

[9 Stone Elvis]

I think his decision making was always poor and there was a lot about his game that needed to improve but that was carried by a level of confidence taken from scoring goals. When the goals dried up there isnt much left because of the limitations to his play. Throw in a non existent work ethic that developed for whatever reason and he really shouldn't be on the pitch.

This is exactly what should be getting stamped out in the club. The idea that Rashford is still some sort of hero despite not doing anything of note, far less elite level for a time period now measured in years. Thanks for your efforts but you are now a reserve or you can leave. Couple this with playing Pogba and Lingard who can leave for nothing and the stories coming out about the attitude of Greenwood over the last year and its little wonder things are the way they are. Maguire remains captain despite little to no indication he's up to the role and the problems are quite self evident.

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

You can't tell me some youngster from the reserves, chomping at the bit to get first team football would have done any worse than he did last night.

A rancid performance, and one of many.

 

[OmarUnited4ever]

It's not really an injury - its more the result of an injury.

When you look at what the spine is - its a link between the top and bottom of your body and more importantly is the central support structure of your body. Its part of someone's posture and an area which is very close to the nervous system.

Now after an injury it doesn't mean things go back to normal, things tend to change and people have to adapt be it a footballer or a normal human being. Sometimes the pain of the spine is always there which means a person is avoiding trying to trigger that pain from certain movements.

Now a difference in posture may seem minimal to someone's eyes but these little changes does effect what a person can do or more so how they go about doing it. Is a player with a difference posture going to have the same balance they had before? The same pace or dribbling ability? (Don't even have to mention the mental ability for someone who doesn't have the same physical ability anymore)

There's things called the GAIT as well which is basically the manner of a person's walking. How is things like this going to change after injuries to their back? Maybe even the littlest bit?

Injuries on the spine and legs can really effect alot of those things which leads to players having to adapt their game.

Wouldn't the club doctors or the specialists who did his rehab post surgery notice the problems you mentioned in your post?

 

[Carl]

Wouldn't the club doctors or the specialists who did his rehab post surgery notice the problems you mentioned in your post?

Who's to say if it's actually down to his injury, but he's certainly not been the same player since.

 

[DWelbz19]

It's nothing of that sort for him not to be arsed to even make an attempt. He simply stops trying once he loses the ball.

He plays how current Ronaldo or Messi play, basically. It’s as if he’s some veteran 30+ forward with years of goalscoring experience at the top level who doesn’t need to run, because of his status and the fact that he’s conserving himself for a chance or two.

Reality is he’s so far from that. I’ve said it loads of times but I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s retired before he even turns 30

 

[NoPace]

I thought people were a bit overstating his poor performances but I think that was the single worst game I've ever seen him have.

He looked completely physically out of sorts.

 

[red4ever 79]

If we were a serious club, that was serious about winning trophies and being competitive he would be sold this summer.

 

[Laurencio]

He still seems off it, slow on the ball, and has a horrendous first touch. It looks like his body isn't responding as he wants to and he's getting very frustrated by it. He's really very far off it at the moment.

 

[Telsim]

Just my luck yesterday, tuning in just before he came on. And of course, he was dreadful once again. Did he even have one good touch? I can't recall any. What we do with him in the summer will be indicative of the direction the club is going. If we are serious about getting better he will be sold. If he doesn't get sold and gets a better contract instead, then it's clear we are going nowhere.

 

[arnie_ni]

is it really the injury? Or is it a massive drop of form? We currently have a group of under performers

It's more than a drop in form though. He just doesn't even try, doesn't look interested, doesn't want to be there.

 

[Mickson]

He has not been coached for several seasons in a row now. He shoots when he should pass, and he passes when he should shoot. His decision-making is non-existent and he badly needs to learn this, now. IMO if he doesn't fix it till next season, then he's done at the highest level.

 

[stw2022]

I didn’t study medicine but I struggle to understand why his injury affects him so much more when the opposite team have the ball.

He’s still capable of explosive pace and shows it regularly but his decision making and awareness means he almost always does nothing with it or is offside.

Even admitting he’s falling below expectation has to come with an explanation that he’s the first person to be diagnosed with a spinal injury that’s triggered by the need to track back or kicks in the second he gives the ball away or realises he’s run into a dead end of defenders for the umpteenth time in a match.

 

[Chaky_Best]

Think that due to his last two seasons when he overperformed, overplayed and being injured, he just needs time to come back. His game his based on explosivity, physicality and instinct, so I think that maybe at the end of the season he ll be better. Unfortunately this is the case

 

[King_Cantona07]

Hes done physically, will be best to sell this summer to avoid seeing a young player in decline.

 

[Kostov]

That was one horrendous cameo. Everything he touched turned to stinky crap.

 

[UncleBob]

Thank god there's always an excuse, or ten.

 

[romufc]

The worst part of Rashford's game is his attitude. Fans can see when players are not on form or having a bad day but he does not look like he cares. He looks completely disinterested in the football game. A real shame.

 

[stw2022]

Think that due to his last two seasons when he overperformed, overplayed and being injured, he just needs time to come back. His game his based on explosivity, physicality and instinct, so I think that maybe at the end of the season he ll be better. Unfortunately this is the case

But here’s the thing, the explosive pace is still there. I’m not denying he was injured but what’s lacking in his game is the basics; the ability to look up, judgement, time his runs, positional awareness, contribute to the defensive organisation when we don’t have the ball.

To blame that on ‘injury’ for two years during a period where he’s been fit enough to play 90 minutes in the vast majority of games only exists as an excuse because collectively that’s easier than admitting we we wrong about how good he’d become

 

[Litch]

I’m not writing him off at all, he’s lost his way and playing with zero confidence.

 

[Womp]

Once again, isn't and never will be a RW. Even when he was in great form for us, he still looked shite when moved out to the RW. Either play him off the left where he can make full use of his best attributes and let him play back into form, or keep him out of the squad, cause he isn't a RW. Wingers playing on their stronger side are generally more 'playmakers' than inside forwards.

 

[JoaquinJoaquin]

People can't seriously be suggesting Lingard's situation is why Rashford looks disinterested? Like come on, that might be one of the worst excuses I've ever heard.

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

People can't seriously be suggesting Lingard's situation is why Rashford looks disinterested? Like come on, that might be one of the worst excuses I've ever heard.

I know, shocking.