[Frank White]

Taking Rashford to task for having carved out nine shots in the match, and negatively contrasting that to his strike partner who could only enginneer himself a single shooting opportunity is quite the take.

We’ve still got those out there it seems who need to learn that the forwards who get themselves the most chances generally score the most goals.

Looking forward to the stage of the season where Rashford is then criticised for having scored too many of the team’s goals and having too high xG compared to his teammates.

I get his point though that Hojlund could have had a few more chances if Rashford did indeed get his head up a bit more like the one where he hit the side netting instead of squaring to Hojlund. Hopefully that connection comes with time and hopefully it happens soon because with the way we are defending atm we'll need are forwards to be on it.

 

[TMDaines]

I get his point though that Hojlund could have had a few more chances if Rashford did indeed get his head up a bit more like the one where he hit the side netting instead of squaring to Hojlund. Hopefully that connection comes with time and hopefully it happens soon because with the way we are defending atm we'll need are forwards to be on it.

feck’s sake, lads. Opta has having had only one big chance yesterday and that was created by Rashford for Højlund If the VAR’d goal would have stood that would have been 2/2 big chances created by him for his strike partner.

This is just sheer unconstructive drivel. If people hate the bloke for whatever reason then so be it.

 

[stw2022]

It's more than just individual moments. He no more looks up when he's on the halfway line as he does on edge of the box. This is how he plays. There might be one or two examples per match where he looks up but most of the time he simply isn't aware of anything around him. It's astonishing for a player as experienced as he is.

 

[Chicharo]

It's more than just individual moments. He no more looks up when he's on the halfway line as he does on edge of the box. This is how he plays. There might be one or two examples per match where he looks up but most of the time he simply isn't aware of anything around him. It's astonishing for a player as experienced as he is.

This is why he would sometimes end up running out of bounds especially in his first seasons. Because he doesn't look up, he either goes straight for the goal and manages to shoot or he simply loses the ball. It's just something I don't think he'll ever stop doing and become aware of where his teammates are

 

[kaku06]

feck’s sake, lads. Opta has having had only one big chance yesterday and that was created by Rashford for Højlund If the VAR’d goal would have stood that would have been 2/2 big chances created by him for his strike partner.

This is just sheer unconstructive drivel. If people hate the bloke for whatever reason then so be it.

Bit rich coming from you who after being shown the clip doesn’t want to recognise that he’s lazy in his pressing. The Brighton player was barely a few yards away from him and he’s trotting like it’s beneath him. And that’s just one clip, his laziness is evident if you are willing to open your eyes and be honest for once but it would be too much to ask for.

 

[zaafi]

feck’s sake, lads. Opta has having had only one big chance yesterday and that was created by Rashford for Højlund If the VAR’d goal would have stood that would have been 2/2 big chances created by him for his strike partner.

This is just sheer unconstructive drivel. If people hate the bloke for whatever reason then so be it.

United fans who think creating a big chance during a game and wasting four other potential chances because he's greedy and does not work hard, deserve to watch us perform shit against mediocre teams. You've watched world class players and extreme game changers who've given everything on the pitch for us previously, and then you just accept this shit. Not only do you accept it - you praise it. It's unbelievable, really.

 

[Lyng]

feck’s sake, lads. Opta has having had only one big chance yesterday and that was created by Rashford for Højlund If the VAR’d goal would have stood that would have been 2/2 big chances created by him for his strike partner.

This is just sheer unconstructive drivel. If people hate the bloke for whatever reason then so be it.

This is a prime example of taking stats and using them wrong.
Rashford is a winger. He needs to pass when he has a Striker in position.
Now Rashford id not used to having a Striker actually running into the box but he still needs to adapt and start passing more.
Højlund did his job and constantly got in to the right position. The service just was not there.
The idea that Rashford did the right thing by running and shooting blindly is silly.

 

[Handré1990]

Agree with @Lyng and @zaafi here. Rashford has the potential to create these big scoring chances again and again, and again, instead people talk about that one big chance he created? Give me a break! Attitude, mentality and speed of thought is what sets the best apart.

Conversely, does a single poster on this forum believe Rashford would be less effective, even scoring less goals, if he varied his approach more and stopped being so Hollywood? I think as soon as defenders doesn’t know what to expect, that’s when they’re in real trouble..

 

[TMDaines]

Someone reads here:

 

[Irwin99]

Someone reads here:

It feels weird to criticize him because he is genuinely the only attacking player we have that i'd expect to do something like the goal he scored against Arsenal and he undeniably carried the team's entire goal threat last season, but like McTominay in the other thread, the same criticisms just keep being thrown and sometimes it's quite valid. I wish i could remember the game but there was a clip on here last season of him making the worst challenge for a header and the crowd absolutely went ballistic at him for his lack of effort. That side of his game just doesn't endear him to some fans, especially if we're meant to be a better pressing team. He seems to be a very brittle guy as well, always looks vaguely injured whenever there's a collision or tackle on him.

 

[Swiss_Red89]

Someone reads here:

Very good Tweet. The critisism is just so over the top.

 

[royboy16]

I’d cut him some slack most of the team is playing shite.

 

[Cloudface]

Someone reads here:

It's a load of nonsense. We've had years of watching the likes of Salah, Mane, Diaz, Bernardo Silva, Mahrez, Foden absolutely busting their arses to get back into position and actually challenge for the ball. Top managers expecting that no-one shirks their duty. Even if Rashford makes it near the opposition he can't be bothered to actually challenge for it.

Nobody expects him to sprint for 90mins, just actually help out the team in the defensive transition when obvious dangers become apparent. The lad can do it, he just needs to get his head out of his arse.

If this is a tactic then it needs to change as it's constantly leaving us vulnerable down that wing (alongside our non-existant midfield in the defensive transition). I expect Ten Hag puts up with it as Rashford is his only goal threat, but we need to put our shape first and the goals will come from that.

 

[17Larsson]

I wish i could remember the game but there was a clip on here last season of him making the worst challenge for a header and the crowd absolutely went ballistic at him for his lack of effort.

FA Cup final. Last few minutes against City rivals and he just didn't care.

I'll always forgive bad performances, always. As long as the effort is there. With Rashford, the effort or interest in the game is never there so when he has a bad performance he gets rightfully slated

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

Again, bollocks. Weghorst played mostly as a 10.

Convinced many of you don’t actually watch United my goodness.

According to Transfermarkt, Weghorst started as a 10 for us a grand total of… 3 times (with one of those being that first Barca leg as I’ve mentioned before). His other 11 starts in the league alone were as a striker before Erik realized how shit he was and benched him when Martial was back

 

[RedDevilQuebecois]

I'm guessing the Rashford haters are begging for a Garnacho - Hojlund - Pellistri front 3? Am I right lads?

Grand total of 3 league goals between them. Good luck with that. They'll run around though to be fair.

I can live with that, starting against Bayern when people expect us to get our asses kicked anyway.

If Rashford wants to go down the same silly route that Gareth Bale took after a few years at Real Madrid, then I swear to God that I won't shed tears for him on the day Garnacho finds a way to surpass him just like when Vinicius surpassed Bale as a better team player to fit the team's tactics.

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

It's a load of nonsense. We've had years of watching the likes of Salah, Mane, Diaz, Bernardo Silva, Mahrez, Foden absolutely busting their arses to get back into position and actually challenge for the ball. Top managers expecting that no-one shirks their duty. Even if Rashford makes it near the opposition he can't be bothered to actually challenge for it.

Nobody expects him to sprint for 90mins, just actually help out the team in the defensive transition when obvious dangers become apparent. The lad can do it, he just needs to get his head out of his arse.

If this is a tactic then it needs to change as it's constantly leaving us vulnerable down that wing (alongside our non-existant midfield in the defensive transition). I expect Ten Hag puts up with it as Rashford is his only goal threat, but we need to put our shape first and the goals will come from that.

Wonder how Salah and Mane managed to gegenpress years ago and still also be a dynamic duo going forward. Because according to that idiot it must be impossible.

 

[Chief123]

Again, bollocks. Weghorst played mostly as a 10.

How do you guys come up with this nonsense? It’s like randomly making something up and sticking with it as if you’ve convinced yourself it’s the truth.

 

[the_cliff]

Wonder how Salah and Mane managed to gegenpress years ago and still also be a dynamic duo going forward. Because according to that idiot it must be impossible.

Pressing effectively as a winger is actually easier (expends less energy) than being in a tight defensive shape. You win the ball higher up the pitch where you already are is better than having to track an opposing fullback if they've played out of the press.

It is one of it's advantages.

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

I'm guessing the Rashford haters are begging for a Garnacho - Hojlund - Pellistri front 3? Am I right lads?

Grand total of 3 league goals between them. Good luck with that. They'll run around though to be fair.

Yeah mate let’s just keep letting Rashford stroll around with a grand total of one good scoring year and never winning dick. He’s earned the right though to walk around like Messi right?

Also hilarious it takes a club crisis for him to put in a shift. He was unreal work rate wise for a while starting with Liverpool at home last year when we needed a result. Well it’s gone now.

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

Pressing effectively as a winger is actually easier than being in a tight defensive shape. You win the ball higher up the pitch where you already are is better than having to track an opposing fullback if they've played out of the press.

It is one of it's advantages.

I agree. Ten Hag has said as much when explaining why attackers should be happy to press, as you get many more “easy” opportunities for goals and assists without having to break down a settled defensive shape.

 

[Vidooq]

• He doesnt understand the consequences of being dispossessed so many times per game, like Bruno
• He doesn't understand that doing half arsed closing down of a player, makes the complete team suffer, in playing pressing, in defending, in possession
• He needs too many chances, situations if you will, to score a goal
• His concentration drops few times every match, and he makes an error that puts the team in a very bad way. He chickened out from a duel after witch Arsenal scored the third goal, he pulled his leg out. He gave Onana a short back pass, after which Forest scored. He gave a wrong backpass after which Ansu Fati had one on one with Onana.
• Decision making, when to shoot, how to shoot, and when to pass. I dont understand why he goes always for power instead of placement. Every great goalscorer knows how to pass the ball in the net when so close to the goal. Ole talked about this, he got finishing coach in Bennie. Yet, always the wrong decision.

I dont want him dropped. I want these issues coached out of him. Somebody has to be showing these issues to him in post match analysis, otherwise he is a liability for the team.

 

[hobbers]

The difference in his fitness levels from this time last year to now is staggering.

He had 2 miserable years on the bounce where he was appalling and looked like he'd given up on football, gave himself a fitness bootcamp last summer and had an amazing season because of it.

And now just completely reverted to type. He looks visibly shattered with 40 minutes left.

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

His fitness might be off a bit and he should be more a grafter in 50-50s, but I do think people are going overboard on the criticism regarding his attacking play and him being selfish.

He was very good that 1st half and there was a brilliant ball for Hojlund in that 1st half that he should have scored.

 

[YzWayne]

His fitness might be off a bit and he should be more a grafter in 50-50s, but I do think people are going overboard on the criticism regarding his attacking play and him being selfish.

He was very good that 1st half and there was a brilliant ball for Hojlund in that 1st half that he should have scored.

His lack of vision may cost him to be labelled 'selfish', but if you compare to all the cutbacks that Brighton has done to score, it is easy to say his decision making was poor. What irks me more was actually his lack of presence when pressing. It actually defeat the whole point of pressing. The amount of gaps available for Brighton was like a buffet spread. Of course partly our midfield trio was part of the problem but I think it starts from the front.

Ultimately, I would expect ETH to recognize such gaps in training if not in the first half and make necessary changes which he did not. We are not suited to play this system with the current set of players he has at his disposal. Maybe Amrabat may change the situation but we need change like right now.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

I can’t get overly vexxed about isolated clips of one player supposedly not doing enough pressing, when it is clear from said clips that there is no framework in which for players to press effectively.

There absolutely is a framework. Bruno and especially Antony implement it very well. Hojlund looks to have slotted into the pressing system well too. And Mount when he played did so too. Rashford sticks out like a sore thumb as most of the time he’s ambling as if it’s beneath him - like TAA and tracking back last season. In a pressing system if you have one man who always starts refusing to do it then all the efforts of the others are meaningless. Hojlund spent all his time the other day pressing for two forwards it was ridiculous.

What I don’t get is why no manager is able to push him to do it. I guess it’s like Sancho and working on his athleticism - the player just isn’t bothere- except Rashford has to start as he’s actually a good footballer.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

His fitness might be off a bit and he should be more a grafter in 50-50s, but I do think people are going overboard on the criticism regarding his attacking play and him being selfish.

He was very good that 1st half and there was a brilliant ball for Hojlund in that 1st half that he should have scored.

His general play was good the other day. He messed up a few final balls but it happens. The only issue was his pressing but it’s a pretty long term issue hence the reaction plus possession teams like Brighton really expose it.

 

[NotChatGPT]

His fitness might be off a bit and he should be more a grafter in 50-50s, but I do think people are going overboard on the criticism regarding his attacking play and him being selfish.

He was very good that 1st half and there was a brilliant ball for Hojlund in that 1st half that he should have scored.

I think he does ever so well in several situations, but the decision making is overall crap.

But lets have a quick look at the video:

00:08: Bruno plays the ball back to Rashford who lost it from a poor touch. Reguilon is running in behind with plenty of space, there's plenty of angles for a pass. Rashford attempts a dummy to go past no less than 3 Brighton players. Fails. One pass in behind to Reguilon can potentially set him up for an excellent goalscoring opportunity, while even if Rashford manages the unlikely and goes past the 3 Brighton players, all he has is a chance to shoot from around 20meters.

The next clip is a much better involvement and a very good passage of play where we first lose the ball but then regain it and create a goalscoring opportunity, but do you really think the cutback and shot, from that angle, is a better decision than trying to pick out Højlund? Højlund is well positioned when Rashford goes for the cut back, a well placed pass between Dunk and the goalkeeper and a simply touch by Dunk could be an own goal, while behind him you have Højlund waiting for a tap in. I would understand shooting from the cut back angle when he has it on his right if that was instantly, but he has a great option to pass the ball.

1:07: Rashford does brilliantly to turn in midfield, but after this it's a disaster on display. He has Reguilon out to his left and in the middle you have Bruno not being covered at all and with miles of space to run towards goal. The only player that can attempt to go after Bruno is Dunk, but then he has to leave Højlund with space in behind. Rashford just continues his run more or less into Reguilon, who has to stop, then Rashford slows down to the point where there's no space for anyone to run into and he tries to go back two Brighton players and ends up with a throw in.

1:20: Brilliant cross for Højlund, but it's hardly a scenario where he should have scored. The timing of the run to get that burst to go past Dunk is excellent, and it's fine margins that he doesn't get a proper foot on the cross. This bit shows exactly what we need to take advantage of.

1:50 is one attempt too many at going past players, even though he succeeds. As soon as he receives the ball he has Casemiro making a run towards him, Rashford turns towards Brighton and loses the option to pass to Casemiro and he then has to evade two Brighton players. Ideally, just slot the ball in Casemiros path so that he can continue his run forward. It shows great ability, but it's also a numbers game and more often than not you won't get away with turning like that and maintaining possession. But this clip pretty much shows what people want from him otherwise. Reguilon makes a run in behind, Rashford picks him out and drifts into a position where he can get the ball back and shoot from. It's about taking advantage of the movement of your teammates and then getting into a better position to score from. Would've been a brilliant goal had we scored.

2:08 is a great pass to Højlund who has a shit first touch, it happens.

2:36: Has Reguilon out wide, tries to go past two Brighton players to line up a shot from 18meters. Fails.

2;58; Has Reguilon on an overlap and players making run in behinds, goes for a shot that gets deflected onto the post, again the wrong decision making.

3:48: Has McTominay making a run in behind with plenty of space, if McTominay gets the ball it would put him in a agreat position to shoot from and force Dunk to leave Højlund to attempt to block the path for McTominay. Rashford has no less than 3 Brighton players covering him, McTominay continues his run and Rashford tries to skip past 3 Brighton players, manages to pass the ball after the ball has rolled over the line.

4:20: don't mind that he shoots, the pass to McTominay is never really on, just poor execution.

4:46: Another case of holding on to the ball for too long and then attempting a pass.

5:10: Absolute disaster that he doesn't pass the ball towards the back post where Højlund is signalling he wants the pass. Brighton score their 2nd goal shortly after this situation

7:01: Does what he should be doing all match long when he has someone making a run in behind with plenty of spaces, passes it.

As a highlight reel displaying individual technical ability, by all means...But for me, and maybe it's just me, i find it bizarre that someone can look at that video, of a 25 year old Marcus Rashford (soon to be 26), and think it's a very good performance. The video mostly consists of poor decision making where Rashford is going for individual glory rather than the best options available. Player making an overlap, has space in behind, easy pass or attempt to go past 2-3 Brighton players for, best case, a shot attempt from 20meters.

 

[RedRoach]

With Greenwood gone, Rashford is the only player we have that scares defenders and sends them back peddling. You take him out of this team and we are literally a team of nothing players with zero threat or hope of scoring unless ETH can figure out patterns of play that are not dependent on moments which he has yet to do.

That doesn't excuse that he makes poor decisions and should pass more but we are all crying out for players who actually pose a threat in the opposition box (which is why everyone is excited by Garnacho) and now the only decent one we have is being criticised in a way over the top manner.

 

[Drizzle]

Yeah mate let’s just keep letting Rashford stroll around with a grand total of one good scoring year and never winning dick. He’s earned the right though to walk around like Messi right?

Also hilarious it takes a club crisis for him to put in a shift. He was unreal work rate wise for a while starting with Liverpool at home last year when we needed a result. Well it’s gone now.

Mate, he's our best attacker by a country mile. It's not even close. So you can complain all you want, but no sane manager would drop him for some young lads who aren't anywhere near his level.

 

[zaafi]

Mate, he's our best attacker by a country mile. It's not even close. So you can complain all you want, but no sane manager would drop him for some young lads who aren't anywhere near his level.

Impressive. Very nice.

What this video does is showing him not being good enough. He is our best attacker, but that does not mean he's good enough or that he should be free from criticism. He is almost 26, about to hit his prime. Look at his face when he has the ball mate, he doesn't even look up, and it results in his decision making being trash. He had a decent cross to Højlund, and that's about it.

 

[Doracle]

Mate, he's our best attacker by a country mile. It's not even close. So you can complain all you want, but no sane manager would drop him for some young lads who aren't anywhere near his level.

Looks really sharp at the moment. Decision making is generally spot on in those clips as well. 8/10 performance (finishing could have been better in places).

 

[Borys]

I’d cut him some slack most of the team is playing shite.

He is getting plenty of slack. His defensive effort and selfishness has been on ridiculous level last game, criticism is fully justified.

I saw someone defending Rashford "pressing" as apparently Brighton wanted us to press and it was wise thing to sit back a bit. Well that makes sense, but if everyone else is trying to press, do we really believe Rashford was the one player who was told NOT to press? I find this hard to believe in modern football, you either press as a team or you don't press at all.

 

[zaafi]

Looks really sharp at the moment. Decision making is generally spot on in those clips as well. 8/10 performance (finishing could have been better in places).

Shocking opinion for a United fan after a 1-3 loss

 

[Drizzle]

Impressive. Very nice.

What this video does is showing him not being good enough. He is our best attacker, but that does not mean he's good enough or that he should be free from criticism. He is almost 26, about to hit his prime. Look at his face when he has the ball mate, he doesn't even look up, and it results in his decision making being trash. He had a decent cross to Højlund, and that's about it.

So we agree he's our best attacker. Good.

He is absolutely good enough. If we had two other attackers of his quality we'd be near the top of the league. The issue is we rely on him so people like you jump on all his flaws, scrutinise where he's looking when he has the ball, and demand he's dropped or sold. Bizarre behaviour.

By the way, of course he's not immune from criticism, nor is he world class. But he's very good. Let's look at the much more important issues like striker and RW.

 

[zaafi]

So we agree he's our best attacker. Good.

He is absolutely good enough. If we had two other attackers of his quality we'd be near the top of the league. The issue is we rely on him so people like you jump on all his flaws, scrutinise where he's looking when he has the ball, and demand he's dropped or sold. Bizarre behaviour.

By the way, of course he's not immune from criticism, nor is he world class. But he's very good. Let's look at the much more important issues like striker and RW.

We were near the top of the league last season. It's not good enough. Do you not want us to compete for CL titles against Bayern München, City or Real Madrid? Are you happy with finishing top 4 or barely scraping out the CL group stages?

If he worked as hard as players like Son, Salah, Mahrez, Bernardo Silva and also not be as greedy, he'd be a much better player. Look at Son a couple of seasons back - 23 PL goals and 7 assists and also working like a madman, but posters like you would probably rate Rashford over him. He has dropped down a few levels now, but this is where Rashford should be.

 

[Cassidy]

Hes not the problem, he is also not the solution.
He has he's flaws and is inconsistent like more wide players out there, he is not world class, but he is a very good player.

We need to add more players with his quality or above to the attack

 

[Drizzle]

We were near the top of the league last season. It's not good enough. Do you not want us to compete for CL titles against Bayern München, City or Real Madrid? Are you happy with finishing top 4 or barely scraping out the CL group stages?

If he worked as hard as players like Son, Salah, Mahrez, Bernardo Silva and also not be as greedy, he'd be a much better player. Look at Son a couple of seasons back - 23 PL goals and 7 assists and also working like a madman, but posters like you would probably rate Rashford over him. He has dropped down a few levels now, but this is where Rashford should be.

OK, but you agree he's better than our striker and RWs? Why not direct your anger towards those positions which are woefully under par? Why hate on our only top level attacker?

Of course I'd prefer an Mbappe or Vinicius, but if you can't see Rashford is a very good attacker then you're blinded by your agenda.

 

[AndySmith1990]

We'll never be a great team while he's a starter. Far too many flaws and far too selfish.

 

[Drizzle]

We'll never be a great team while he's a starter. Far too many flaws and far too selfish.

Absolute rubbish. If we had Kane and Saka as our other forwards then he'd absolutely feast on premier league defences. The issue is we rely on him for 100% of our attacking threat, so it magnifies all his flaws, and people scream and shout if he doesn't produce every game.

The problem is striker and right wing. We are woeful there.

Edit: even yesterday when he was a little too selfish at times, he almost produced 2 assists for Hojlund. There's real potential in that link-up. Just hope Hojlund gets up to speed quickly.