[TMDaines]

He's been one of our most lethal players from the left and goals have been hard to come by most of the season and certainly were going to be today. With the players out we should've had Rashford in his best position instead neutering our whole attack.

Still with that said since the squad was depleted I'd expect more effort. Back in the past he's actually done well and provided crosses and assists for Cavani and others, he's had good games on the right but last season and today he's still dismissive about being there and it doesn't quite sit well with me still to get him on a big contract. I can forgive last season.

Personalities are different. Some players are more adaptable and flexible. Some will work just as hard and make an honest effort out of whatever you ask of them. But some won’t or can’t. They either get the hump or they only have the confidence for a narrower range of tasks.

Rashford is one of those you ask to do what he best at, stretching the game, running in from behind, and attacking from the left. He can do that as an inside left, or as a centre forward, but one who needs a partner to work with. Asking Rashford to perform out of position isn’t a good idea.

 

[Hammondo]

We all gotta remember if we put one of our players on the wrong side, or centrally when they shouldn't, they forget how to play football and will look like a championship player.

 

[Frank Grimes]

I understand that he is more suited to playing on the left and that's his best position. That doesn't mean he should give the impression to not give a shit whenever he is not playing there. I genuinely think he sulks whenever he is asked to switch wing for the greater good of the team. He can't even be arsed to stay onside.

Other than that he is back to his best, at least the media keep telling me.

 

[Sea-Cow]

Why not play him up front, with either Elanga or even Pellestri on the right. At least it is more natural.

As bad as Rashford was today he is still miles better than Elanga, in any position. Elanga is not a premier league footballer and I am occasionally embarrassed for him when he tries to "dribble" a fullback. The ball bounces off his shins more than his feet.

 

[RedIan]

When will the long succession of mangers spot what everyone knows. Rashford is useless on the right wing.
its just pointless playing him there.

 

[stw2022]

He's a right-footed wide forward being asked to play on the right as a wide forward.

His lack of positional versatility being so easily accepted us strange. He's not being asked to play centre-back or work in accounts.

This isn't what an insurmountable challenge looks like for any decent player. For Rashford it routinely proves to be the case.

 

[stw2022]

When will the long succession of mangers spot what everyone knows. Rashford is useless on the right wing.
its just pointless playing him there.

Why though? During the course of any game or season due to injuries, suspensions, tactical reasons or anything else you will ask pretty much all your outfield players to play in a position and in roles askew of their ideal.

Even within that, a right-footed wide forward being asked to play on the right as a wide forward really shouldn't render him entirely fecking useless and the issue isn't a manager who plays him there as much as the bizarre state of affairs that people make excuses for him

 

[OldSchoolManc]

So, unless Rashy is played in his very specific inside left forward position, or wherever it is he feels he should be played, it’s quite alright for him to not put the required effort in?
The excuses made for him are beyond ridiculous

 

[GMoore23]

A certain Ronaldo was probably the greatest LW of all time yet he was still world class on the right for us also. Rashford acts like a spoilt little cnut every time he's played on the right and it's totally unacceptable.

 

[Isotope]

When you have so many gaps up front, creating another by taking your in-form forward and sticking him in his least favoured slot to accommodate a kid and an over-the-hill striker is wrong.

Ole dicked Rashford around after buying Sancho and Rangnick never invested in him. Let’s not make the same mistake again. He’s looked really bright playing inside left and up front in recent months. Now he’s suddenly getting consecutive games of being rested, playing in the hole behind Ronaldo or being asked to play on the right. I don’t get it.

He did play on the left also since minute 65, and didn't do much. Unless we're watching a different game.

 

[AndyMUFC]

He's terrible on the right, it was one of the big issues under Rangnick. Guess it was a consequence of us not wanting to drop Garnacho but hope ETH doesn't try him there again. Elanga isn't a great option out there either but we'd have been better balanced with him on the right and Rashford on the left.

 

[Dec9003]

Still making excuses for putting minimum effort in.
We were short staffed, we have the Ronaldo Diva situation and yet Rashford won’t put the effort in because he’s ‘out of position’.
Seems to me that he’s dreadfully limited if that’s the case.
Offer a performance based reduced contract or get rid.
Also noting the absence of the Rashford defence mob who have been insisting that he’s better than sliced bread lately.

If only being able to play two of the three forward positions well makes him limited, then most players are.
Rashford is at his best when he can either cut inside and shoot or if he’s upfront beating his man and getting a shot away, putting him on the right is pointless, if you’re going to pick him there we shouldn’t play him at all.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

He did play on the left also since minute 65, and didn't do much. Unless we're watching a different game.

Yeah , everyone always gets so hung up on right vs left for our attacking players. Why do they never notice how often they swap flanks during each match? Always find that strange.

 

[El__Jingo]

easily the most over hyped player in our squad and have never understood it..

absolutely no excuse from a professional footballer to not be comfortable on the right hand side, just show more variety to your game ffs instead of relying on your pace..

 

[ZainCRse7en]

How much is he on in terms of wages? Would it be difficult to move him on? Enough of this academy product, face of man utd, etc craps. The reality is that we will never be considered an elite team once again with him as a starter. Just not good enough.

 

[Isotope]

Yeah , everyone always gets so hung up on right vs left for our attacking players. Why do they never notice how often they swap flanks during each match? Always find that strange.

True. Many fixed with explanation, "oh.. he started on the right" but conveniently "forgot" that since Garnacho was off, Rashford was back to his supposedly "best" position and was just as wank as he was on his "pointless/useless" position. And even before that, Rashford and Ronaldo, VdB often swapped positions during the game.

Anyway. Said it before that his ceiling was pretty high but his low is near the basement level. So it's a matter of how far the coaching can tilting the scale and he has more of those ceiling games.

It's another gamble of potentially 5 year high-wages new contract EtH has to make decision on.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Disappointing to see him go back to his jogging comfy self today. I guess he's got nothing left to prove now.

 

[reelworld]

what's his excuse of giving up a free header to goal and trying to play Ronaldo instead in the fecking 90th minute?

 

[Trequartistry]

Keep praising him and then blame the manager for him being shit as a striker, as a right winger and even in his favored position left winger.
The Rashford neverending story

Nope I’m very far from his biggest fan, I’d take 30 million for him this summer - but the charity talk is nonsense and an easy thing to point at

 

[TMDaines]

A certain Ronaldo was probably the greatest LW of all time yet he was still world class on the right for us also. Rashford acts like a spoilt little cnut every time he's played on the right and it's totally unacceptable.

Players have different skillsets and different strengths and weaknesses. Nani and, to a lesser extent, Ronaldo were quite ambidextrous and started out as old-school midfield wingers. Crossing and being out on the flank is more of their natural game, and they were largely going to do the same thing with equal effectiveness regardless of what wing they were on.

Rashford was more of a centre forward, who has evolved to be seen as an inside left, and is a lot more one-footed. He wants to cut in and shoot, or slide in a pass, with his right foot. He can’t do the same thing on the other side. Put him on the right and he won’t be able to cut in as effectively on his left, and isn’t a greater crosser of the ball if he stays wide.

Take Antony, for example: he’s incredibly one-footed. If you play him on the left or the right, he is going to do two entirely different things. If he’s on the right, he will play as inverted winger, moving into the space between midfield and defence looking for a cross or shot. If he’s on the left, he will very wide and a classic winger. Nobody who’s seen Antony play would suggest that you can ask him to play on the left, as he does on the right.

Someone like Robben is a good illustration because of the volume of games he played over his career. His goalscoring and assist rate was much better on the right and left. If you play him on the left, he can’t do a “Robben”.

 

[Hammondo]

Players have different skillsets and different strengths and weaknesses. Nani and, to a lesser extent, Ronaldo were quite ambidextrous and started out as old-school midfield wingers. Crossing and being out on the flank is more of their natural game, and they were largely going to do the same thing with equal effectiveness regardless of what wing they were on.

Rashford was more of a centre forward, who has evolved to be seen as an inside left, and is a lot more one-footed. He wants to cut in and shoot, or slide in a pass, with his right foot. He can’t do the same thing on the other side. Put him on the right and he won’t be able to cut in as effectively on his left, and isn’t a greater crosser of the ball if he stays wide.

Take Antony, for example: he’s incredibly one-footed. If you play him on the left or the right, he is going to do two entirely different things. If he’s on the right, he will play as inverted winger, moving into the space between midfield and defence looking for a cross or shot. If he’s on the left, he will very wide and a classic winger. Nobody who’s seen Antony play would suggest that you can ask him to play on the left, as he does on the right.

Someone like Robben is a good illustration because of the volume of games he played over his career. His goalscoring and assist rate was much better on the right and left. If you play him on the left, he can’t do a “Robben”.

Whats Rashfords skillset aside from running fast in a straight line?

 

[Cloudface]

If it was just that he isn't very good there I could accept it. But when he plays on the right he has a face like a slapped arse and doesn't put the effort in because he's having a strop. Which is a much bigger problem for me.

For what it's worth, I don't see why a player like Rashford cannot operate wide right. Just get to the byline and ping it across.

 

[Irwin99]

I sometimes wonder what the expectations really are for Rashford in terms of how good and how consistent he really can be. EtH seems very happy with him and we all know Ole loved him but I can't shake the feeling that he'll never be the elite player I want him to be: consistently an absolute menace to oppo defenders, consistently gets 30 odd combined goals and assists, regularly in contention for individual and team of the year awards, nails down a best position and stays there, and most importantly, is a major contributor/key player for a title winning and Champions League challenging team. That's the level the club want to be at and it needs the players to do it.

On the positive side, he's still pretty young, his record against the big clubs is fantastic, if you give him space to run in behind defences he's still absolutely lethal (see Arsenal game), and he seems to be in a better place than last year.

 

[Idxomer]

The team needs him this season but if the club is smart, they would look to sell next summer.

 

[TMDaines]

Whats Rashfords skillset aside from running fast in a straight line?

It's not a good faith discussion if we are starting like this. Waste of time for us both.

I sometimes wonder what the expectations really are for Rashford in terms of how good and how consistent he really can be. EtH seems very happy with him and we all know Ole loved him but I can't shake the feeling that he'll never be the elite player I want him to be: consistently an absolute menace to oppo defenders, consistently gets 30 odd combined goals and assists, regularly in contention for individual and team of the year awards, nails down a best position and stays there, and most importantly, is a major contributor/key player for a title winning and Champions League challenging team. That's the level the club want to be at and it needs the players to do it.

On the positive side, he's still pretty young, his record against the big clubs is fantastic, if you give him space to run in behind defences he's still absolutely lethal (see Arsenal game), and he seems to be in a better place than last year.

Well, he got 34 combined goals and assists in 19/20, 36 in 20/21, of which 28(!) were before his bad injury in January and after giving up penalities. He was trending for close to 50. At that point comparisons to Rooney were very positive. Then he got injured, lost his smile and lost the favour of Ole and Rangnick.

 

[NinjaZombie]

Disappointing to see him go back to his jogging comfy self today. I guess he's got nothing left to prove now.

This seems to be the trend with him and Shaw. The complacency that sets in when they've nailed a starting position.

 

[RedStarUnited]

'He should have played on the left"

He did, for 30 minutes and didn't do anything.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

This seems to be the trend with him and Shaw. The complacency that sets in when they've nailed a starting position.

Wait till we give him a cozy new contract

 

[Stadjer]

I dont dislike Rashford and not part of the Rashford out group but blaming his bad game on playing on the right side is a bit a bad excuse i think. The way some people react is almost like Rashford is a goalkeeper asked to score goals. He has been on the area of the pitch before. He can still make runs, he can still swap positions with other forwards from time to time.

He just had a bad game because he isnt a world class player who will always play well. He is Marcus Rashford, a good player and very good in certain counter attacking setups. That doesnt mean he needs to be kicked out of the club or not get a new contract. He should at the very least be good enough to be bench player for Manchester United. You need those players too.

 

[jem]

The most overrated player I’ve ever seen at United. He’s never come close to justifying the acclaim he gets (I’d argue Martial, also overrated, has done as much.) It’d be one thing if he were a limited grafter, but he’s a limited player with a dodgy work ethic. Can’t see how that would ever be a recipe for success.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

I dont dislike Rashford and not part of the Rashford out group but blaming his bad game on playing on the right side is a bit a bad excuse i think. The way some people react is almost like Rashford is a goalkeeper asked to score goals. He has been on the area of the pitch before. He can still make runs, he can still swap positions with other forwards from time to time.

He just had a bad game because he isnt a world class player who will always play well. He is Marcus Rashford, a good player and very good in certain counter attacking setups. That doesnt mean he needs to be kicked out of the club or not get a new contract. He should at the very least be good enough to be bench player for Manchester United. You need those players too.

The problem is his salary. He earns the salary of a top player. I'm not sure how we're going to renew and manage to pay him his worth. Another opportunity for us to get fleeced I guess. We seem to crave it.

 

[ZainCRse7en]

The most overrated player I’ve ever seen at United. He’s never come close to justifying the acclaim he gets (I’d argue Martial, also overrated, has done as much.) It’d be one thing if he were a limited grafter, but he’s a limited player with a dodgy work ethic. Can’t see how that would ever be a recipe for success.

Because he came out of the academy, is English, activist, mbe, etc. Ticks all the boxes to make a perfect poster boy and image of Man Utd. But I agree, the reality is that he is simply not good enough and too limited as a player. Weak mentality as well with all the girlfriend issues and whatnot. Best to move on.

 

[Abraxas]

It's not really an excuse to say he's shit on the right. It is accepting the reality of the situation. Has he ever had a good game there in all the times he's played that position?

I don't see how it's that much of a black mark against him. Just don't fecking play him there. He can play on the left, or up front, but if you're wanting a lad to "do a job" on the right it is absolutely pointless. He's not got the game for it.

 

[Lecland07]

Most players have a stronger side and drop levels when they are played on the opposite side; not sure why people think this is a controversial opinion when it is a fact. There are not many players who can sustain their highest level on both sides of the pitch; it just doesn't happen much.

Why does Salah never play on the left? Why did Mane never play on the right? etc. It is all the same reason: you play your best players in their best positions. They don't play them on the opposite wings because they won't be anywhere near as effective.

 

[Stacks]

Because he came out of the academy, is English, activist, mbe, etc. Ticks all the boxes to make a perfect poster boy and image of Man Utd. But I agree, the reality is that he is simply not good enough and too limited as a player. Weak mentality as well with all the girlfriend issues and whatnot. Best to move on.

he's our biggest goal contributor. Surely plenty more should be moved on before him?

 

[Doracle]

The problem is his salary. He earns the salary of a top player. I'm not sure how we're going to renew and manage to pay him his worth. Another opportunity for us to get fleeced I guess. We seem to crave it.

His comparators in/around the England set up are on:

Sancho - £350k
Sterling - £300k
Grealish - £300k
Foden - £225k
Saka - £200k
Rashford - £200k

I think it’s difficult to construct an argument that he’s worse than all of those (my own view is that he should start at the WC), suggesting that he’s actually on a relatively low wage compared to his peers.

 

[VP89]

His comparators in/around the England set up are on:

Sancho - £350k
Sterling - £300k
Grealish - £300k
Foden - £225k
Saka - £200k
Rashford - £200k

I think it’s difficult to construct an argument that he’s worse than all of those (my own view is that he should start at the WC), suggesting that he’s actually on a relatively low wage compared to his peers.

Hes on more than a lot of players who generally perform better than him. Martinelli, Kulusevki, Bowen, Son, etc.

Dont know why you've limited it to England players? For what its worse only Sancho has been worse than him.

 

[Stacks]

Hes on more than a lot of players who generally perform better than him. Martinelli, Kulusevki, Bowen, Son, etc.

Dont know why you've limited it to England players? For what its worse only Sancho has been worse than him.

Grealish, Sterling. How do those other guys generally perform better? When has Martinelli, Kulusevki or Bowen hit 30 G+A in a season?

 

[Nou_Camp99]

Hes on more than a lot of players who generally perform better than him. Martinelli, Kulusevki, Bowen, Son, etc.

Dont know why you've limited it to England players? For what its worse only Sancho has been worse than him.

Bowen hasn't been as good as Rashford this season. Last season he was pretty good tbf to him but the one before that was Rashford again.

 

[VP89]

Grealish, Sterling. How do those other guys generally perform better? When has Martinelli, Kulusevki or Bowen hit 30 G+A in a season?

When did Rashford? Two seasons ago? That's no longer relevant.

Sterling and Grealish are better than Rashford in my opinion, based on the past 18 months. Same goes for the others.

Bowen hasn't been as good as Rashford this season. Last season he was pretty good tbf to him but the one before that was Rashford again.

As above.
I also negate this idea that Rashford is good this season. He's terribly inconsistent. For every Liverpool game there's a Villa game. For every Arsenal game there's a Southampton one.