[Witchking]

Dude, what the feck are you on about? I mean it doesn't make much sense to say this about Rashford now either, but Shaw?! The guy has been consistently great for so long now, and has even adapted to a sudden centre back role with ease, and certainly showing a lot of spine. You're just regurgitating old narratives

Look back at Shaw since Jose quit the club. He has had up and down seasons with Ole, been praised to the skies when he performed but him, Rashford, Lindeloff, Maguire, AWB Fred, Mctominay are the mainstays of the team when we have been hammered regularly since 2021. When we are in tough positions, these kind of players do not have to will to step up and do something about changing the course of the game.

I find Shaw to be a very classy player who has a great first touch and can pass, attack, defend has everything to be world class but doesn't perform like one at the highest level for United. He does that only when we are as a team in a good nick. Never when the chips are down. Players like him and Rashford are fair-weather players. Step up when the pressure is less.

 

[AndySmith1990]

Good player, but not elite. He's too Inconsistent and too thick. Unfortunately for us our level has dropped so far he's still our star player, which is quite sad

 

[Raoul]

What is that, 2 goals in 10 games now ? One wonders what our table position would be now had Rashford not gone on his improbable post WC scoring run.

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

I thought he was looking very bright for the 30 or so minutes.

Tailed off afterwards. I honestly think ETH is somewhat to blame for his loss of form

 

[Bebestation]

Been off it ever since his knock. Needs to be stuck at LW to get some run of form.

 

[Bebestation]

Good player, but not elite. He's too Inconsistent and too thick. Unfortunately for us our level has dropped so far he's still our star player, which is quite sad

He's the best LW in the league. Grealish would be nothing without a striker. He lost his performances ever since his knock & was carrying a whole 4th best team in england by himself. He will never be C ronaldo but arguably only 2 in 1 million players ever will every decade. its good to have you back though.
Gakpo, Martinelli, Sterlin, Mudryk, Grealish, Saint Maxim, Mitoma, Zaha, Son etc

 

[kouroux]

What is that, 2 goals in 10 games now ? One wonders what our table position would be now had Rashford not gone on his improbable post WC scoring run.

Closer to Chelsea maybe

 

[Raoul]

Closer to Chelsea maybe

Definitely no where near the top 4.

 

[kouroux]

Definitely no where near the top 4.

Absolutely right and when we play badly, Marcus wants to take it upon himself too much to win the game and as a result delivering a horrible performance

 

[antohan]

Been off it ever since his knock. Needs to be stuck at LW to get some run of form.

Mmmm... I was more of the idea his form went to shit the moment he stopped having Garnacho challenging at LW. This sounds more like a regular cause for a dip in form.

 

[Bebestation]

Mmmm... I was more of the idea his form went to shit the moment he stopped having Garnacho challenging at LW. This sounds more like a regular cause for a dip in form.

Rashford seems more physically fragile than mentally fragile to me.

Every time he has an injury he can look quite off it for some time - almost like he needs a rest.

It happened under Rangnick with his back injury.

 

[Baneofthegame]

He can't play as striker in my opinion, keep him LW, there were so many times last night we work it to the wing and there's just no one to cross it in to.

 

[TMDaines]

He can't play as striker in my opinion, keep him LW, there were so many times last night we work it to the wing and there's just no one to cross it in to.

Rashford would be fine at CF if we supported by a functioning midfield, and we have seen that in many games this season. Bruno on the left was sheer stupidity, Weghorst was never going to create anything and Antony is dire at that too.

Rashford is best as an extremely attacking inside left, but he’s a good centre forward too when the team is built to maximise his runs in behind.

 

[stw2022]

He needs a partner he can work and develop with. Even when he was scoring lots of goals, as good as it was and he looked it was always more an individual upturn in form and confidence rather than maybe anything that had been developed

He's always going to be a confidence- based player. If he had a partner he could, in theory, do less. In my view his biggest issues occur when he tries to do too much. I'm not sure he'll ever develop a football brain sufficient to be able to do that consistently. For him to work I think he needs a) someone he can work with and develop a playing relationship with and b) a manager that's going to put the shackles on him, give him a very narrow and specific role to avoid the accumulation of dozens of games in a row where he thinks taking on a defender from a standing start is something he's particularly good at

 

[11101]

His purple patch is coming to an end isn't it. Its the second one of his career, and when he is in them he is fast, direct, and aggressive. Those traits mask that hes technically average, cant finish, and is generally ineffective if he cant run in behind. So what you end up with is a player who will have a storming season every 3 or 4 years and be largely average the rest of the time. He should be an option for our front line, not our only hope. I'd hoped ETH could coach some consistency into him but it doesn't like its going that way.

 

[MadDogg]

Rashford would be fine at CF if we supported by a functioning midfield, and we have seen that in many games this season. Bruno on the left was sheer stupidity, Weghorst was never going to create anything and Antony is dire at that too.

Rashford is best as an extremely attacking inside left, but he’s a good centre forward too when the team is built to maximise his runs in behind.

It's not just about the midfield behind him, it's also about the opposition. Rashford at striker really doesn't bring anything except running in behind the defence over and over and over again, trying to beat the offside trap. That can work against teams who leave a lot of space in between the defenders and the keeper to run into, but if they don't really leave that space then Rashford basically provides nothing. He can't act as a focal point as he has no hold-up play and can't win any long balls to help ease pressure off his team, he doesn't link up well with others, and even with those runs he tends to be offside too often.

A striker needs to bring more than that, especially since he actually times those runs better when he plays off the left anyway. Rashford has improved at striker this season but he's still extremely limited there and ideally he'd only be an emergency option when the first two choices are unavailable or as a tactical option against certain opposition.

 

[Baneofthegame]

Rashford would be fine at CF if we supported by a functioning midfield, and we have seen that in many games this season. Bruno on the left was sheer stupidity, Weghorst was never going to create anything and Antony is dire at that too.

Rashford is best as an extremely attacking inside left, but he’s a good centre forward too when the team is built to maximise his runs in behind.

I just don't think he makes CF runs inside the box, he drifts out to the left anyway. He's done fine overall but I think it hurts our play especially when we have a lot of the ball.

 

[McGrathsipan]

His purple patch is coming to an end isn't it. Its the second one of his career, and when he is in them he is fast, direct, and aggressive. Those traits mask that hes technically average, cant finish, and is generally ineffective if he cant run in behind. So what you end up with is a player who will have a storming season every 3 or 4 years and be largely average the rest of the time. He should be an option for our front line, not our only hope. I'd hoped ETH could coach some consistency into him but it doesn't like its going that way.

His purple patch is over a few weeks ago and we are back to seeing his real level. He loses the ball so many times and breaks down alot of what we do going forward. His decision making is wrong most of the time.
I dont normally buy into the line that players need other players around them to be better but in his case he is one that needs to be with a world class striker. Against packed defences he needs help.
he is not a striker, he needs help up there and then we will see a consistently good player

 

[TMDaines]

It's not just about the midfield behind him, it's also about the opposition. Rashford at striker really doesn't bring anything except running in behind the defence over and over and over again, trying to beat the offside trap. That can work against teams who leave a lot of space in between the defenders and the keeper to run into, but if they don't really leave that space then Rashford basically provides nothing. He can't act as a focal point as he has no hold-up play and can't win any long balls to help ease pressure off his team, he doesn't link up well with others, and even with those runs he tends to be offside too often.

A striker needs to bring more than that, especially since he actually times those runs better when he plays off the left anyway. Rashford has improved at striker this season but he's still extremely limited there and ideally he'd only be an emergency option when the first two choices are unavailable or as a tactical option against certain opposition.

I don’t disagree with any of that really. My point is that if you play Rashford at centre forward, it can work, but you have to set your team up to make that work. Yesterday, I have no idea how Ten Hag expected the attacking midfielders or full backs to provide the required service.

 

[DavelinaJolie]

West Ham weren't giving him the space to run in behind, and in his attempts to take players on it seemed like there were two or three players crowding him. You could see him get more frustrated as the game wore on.

 

[Pexbo]

He desperately misses Varane and Martinez passing from deep. I’m not talking about the over the top ball he can run on to either, we’re just far far quicker getting him the ball in dangerous positions when they are playing and we play further up the field with confidence.

 

[TMDaines]

His purple patch is coming to an end isn't it. Its the second one of his career, and when he is in them he is fast, direct, and aggressive. Those traits mask that hes technically average, cant finish, and is generally ineffective if he cant run in behind. So what you end up with is a player who will have a storming season every 3 or 4 years and be largely average the rest of the time. He should be an option for our front line, not our only hope. I'd hoped ETH could coach some consistency into him but it doesn't like its going that way.

There’s, what, three players who have scored more goals in the top 5 leagues than him this season? There’s, what, two who have scored more non-penalty goals? He’s near enough single-handedly carried United’s goalscoring this season. We’ve never looked more one dimensional in my lifetime.

I don’t really get why a select few want to denigrate Rashford when he has shown, yet again after being written off by Rangnick; that he is one of the finest goalscoring forwards in European football.

He’s absolutely one of the two surest things in United’s squad. There’s Bruno’s creativity, Rashford’s goalscoring threat and the entire rest of the team is up for debate.

 

[Nou_Camp99]

He's been off form of late granted but I still can't blame the only forward we have who had actually had a good season when the other 5/6 have been a complete and utter joke.

 

[elmo]

Basically just don’t give him space for him to run behind and he can’t do anything because he can’t take advantage of his pace.

 

[TrustInJanuzaj]

I still wonder if we could genuinely cash in this summer based on this seasons form. I think there are better attackers we could get with that money!

 

[Leftback99]

He was poor. But it's hard to criticise him when his individual goals have completely carried us this season. Like someone said above we'd be looking like Chelsea's season otherwise or worse.

 

[Charles89]

A couple of months ago, I would have backed him to finish all of those chances he got vs Brighton and West Ham, think his confidence is fading again, along with his form.

 

[Marwood]

There’s, what, three players who have scored more goals in the top 5 leagues than him this season? There’s, what, two who have scored more non-penalty goals? He’s near enough single-handedly carried United’s goalscoring this season. We’ve never looked more one dimensional in my lifetime.

I don’t really get why a select few want to denigrate Rashford when he has shown, yet again after being written off by Rangnick; that he is one of the finest goalscoring forwards in European football.

He’s absolutely one of the two surest things in United’s squad. There’s Bruno’s creativity, Rashford’s goalscoring threat and the entire rest of the team is up for debate.

You do have to take into account what competitions a player is featuring in though. If every forward was playing in Europa as opposed to Champs League I'm sure their goalscoring stats would increase. I'm not saying this to denigrate Rashford but you have to be realistic about his record.

At the top level i.e. Premier League he has 14. It's ok. It doesn't suggest he's one of the finest goalscorers. Salah is supposed to be having a bad season and he has more. Callum Wilson has one less but in quite a few less games. Toney has scored more. These are guys who've spent big chunks of their careers in lower divisions.

His league stats are pretty much what you expect when you watch him. He's not a great finisher but will always get chances because of his pace and movement.

Thank god we have him but one of the finest goalscorers he isn't. Even in an era where goalscorers are scarce.

 

[Forevergiggs1]

Absolutely right and when we play badly, Marcus wants to take it upon himself too much to win the game and as a result delivering a horrible performance

He's the same when we're playing well. When he's going through a purple patch he's got tunnel vision towards goal. When we're playing badly he's the same except everything he hits turns to shit. He's not a team player which is detrimental to a teams success unless you're called Haaland.

 

[Nou_Camp99]

I still wonder if we could genuinely cash in this summer based on this seasons form. I think there are better attackers we could get with that money!

Would you sell Rashford and keep Antony? If so you might want to try a new sport.

Absolutely unreal how people on here think selling the only forward we own who actually gets returns is the move we need to make.

I'd sell every single other forward we own before Rashford. That's not to say he's as good as Mbappe etc as he clearly isn't. But my word he's better than Sancho Martial Antony and Weghorst.

 

[TrustInJanuzaj]

Would you sell Rashford and keep Antony? If so you might want to try a new sport.

Absolutely unreal how people on here think selling the only forward we own who actually gets returns is the move we need to make.

I'd sell every single other forward we own before Rashford. That's not to say he's as good as Mbappe etc as he clearly isn't. But my word he's better than Sancho Martial Antony and Weghorst.

I didn’t massively want Antony and I don’t think he’s great. I agree Rashford is better but that’s also the reason he would actually bring in some additional funds. My issue with Rashford is I’m not 100% certain he’s conductive to playing the style of football I’d like to play moving forwards. He’s very much a wide forward who doesn’t create enough for others and is extremely wasteful in possession. You can only carry a handful of those players in a possession team and I’m not convinced that Rashford is actually good enough to be one of those players. I look at City and they carry Haaland and De Bryune as those kinds of players, the rest very rarely make errors and give away possession. I think Bruno could be one of those players we carry, another could be a striker like Osimen. Beyond that we can’t afford to carry any more passengers in possession. At least with Antony his ball retention is one of his strongest points, but I agree he needs to be much better too.

 

[NinjaZombie]

I think he was trying to do it all by himself at times last night. Needs to play with the context of the team. Of course, the team has to be set up to play together, but the last 5 minutes when he stopped holding the ball up for too long and started passing the ball quicker and playing a few one touch passing, we actually looked a bit more threatening. Martial's chance came from him playing a quick one two.

When he has the ball, he can sense the opposition focusing on him and trying to crowd him out, but he has either no awareness to use his team mates or his on pitch ego tells him he needs to take the challenge on and do something extraordinary. Or both. It's a mentality thing with him. Decision making.

It's frustrating seeing him constantly looking to shift it to his right trying to get a shot away when everyone knows that's what he has been trying the whole game.

 

[kouroux]

He's the same when we're playing well. When he's going through a purple patch he's got tunnel vision towards goal. When we're playing badly he's the same except everything he hits turns to shit. He's not a team player which is detrimental to a teams success unless you're called Haaland.

Haaland is a team player as much as he needs to be

 

[kouroux]

He's the same when we're playing well. When he's going through a purple patch he's got tunnel vision towards goal. When we're playing badly he's the same except everything he hits turns to shit. He's not a team player which is detrimental to a teams success unless you're called Haaland.

I don't mind a player who does that when he is in good scoring form. However when he is struggling, it's ugly and feels like forcing it.

 

[ayushreddevil9]

New contract must have been sorted. Who knows

 

[Nou_Camp99]

No player has more match winning goals in the PL this season. He's tied with Haaland and Kane I believe with 10 match winners.

So that's essentially 20pts he's won practically on his own with just winners and that's not including his other goals and assists.

As I keep saying.... Rashford is the least of our issues. Some of the others are stealing a living and need binning.

 

[zaafi]

No player has more match winning goals in the PL this season. He's tied with Haaland and Kane I believe with 10 match winners.

So that's essentially 20pts he's won practically on his own with just winners and that's not including his other goals and assists.

As I keep saying.... Rashford is the least of our issues. Some of the others are stealing a living and need binning.

If he doesn't score, he does nothing. That's the problem with him. He is the least of our problems when it comes to our forwards, but it's still an issue that needs to be addressed.

 

[Nou_Camp99]

If he doesn't score, he does nothing. That's the problem with him. He is the least of our problems when it comes to our forwards, but it's still an issue that needs to be addressed.

This is the most stupid statement I keep seeing. The others do nothing all the time mate. Hahahaha.

 

[zaafi]

This is the most stupid statement I keep seeing. The others do nothing all the time mate. Hahahaha.

Why do you always end your posts with a massive laughter? Genuinely curious.

If you keep seeing it, maybe there's some truth in it, no? The others do nothing, but somehow Antony always has more key passes than Rashford every single game. Same with Sancho. Sancho also has 5 goals and 2 assists in half of Rashford's minutes played, so if he were to play as much and follow his current stats, he'd have 10 goals and 4 assists, which really isn't that far off from Rashford's 16 goals and 5 assists.

When Rashford plays like this, he offers absolutely nothing. Runs into defenders, hoping somehow he gets through with the ball. He's not a very intelligent player, despite being a good goal scorer. Very easily replaceable.

 

[Nou_Camp99]

Why do you always end your posts with a massive laughter? Genuinely curious.

If you keep seeing it, maybe there's some truth in it, no? The others do nothing, but somehow Antony always has more key passes than Rashford every single game. Same with Sancho. Sancho also has 5 goals and 2 assists in half of Rashford's minutes played, so if he were to play as much and follow his current stats, he'd have 10 goals and 4 assists, which really isn't that far off from Rashford's 16 goals and 5 assists.

When Rashford plays like this, he offers absolutely nothing. Runs into defenders, hoping somehow he gets through with the ball. He's not a very intelligent player, despite being a good goal scorer. Very easily replaceable.

I don't. The comment you replied to previously didn't have it.

It's also to highlight just now ridiculous this fanbase is. There's a clear and unhealthy agenda from many on this forum against Rashy and that probably stems from last year.

Rashford is the reason ETH is still in a job because without him he'd be massively struggling this season. Our fans just don't like him.