[roonster09]

Well, he is currently playing at a high level as an inside forward. Your take is the speculative one, you said that you want him up even though that's not where he is currently performing and showing great promises. I'm just wondering why it would be better to have up front instead of where he currently is.

Also just because young player did well as 9 for youth team doesn't mean they can be great for senior team in the same position. Right now he looks very good as right wing forward and looked lost as a CF as he didn't have physicality to deal with CBs.

He might end up playing as CF like Aguero did, dynamic little player with quick feet and good dribbling ability but it doesn't make sense from club point of view when we have finally addressed our weakest position.

 

[Fosu-Mens]

Arsenal fans are the kings of overrating their players. Other than David Luiz they think all their players are class, and then are constantly surprised when they're 3-0 down at home to Crystal Palace or whatever.

My mate thinks that most of the team is dross, except for Auba, Torreira, Tierney, Saka, Laca, Leno and Martinelli.

 

[In Rainbows]

Not necessarily, it depends on the set up and with the way we are playing, I see him getting more chances from right side.

Re other bold part, it's not just about finishing. Greenwood won't get chance to run at defenders all the time if he plays as CF, his game will be restricted fighting with CBs for possession, unless he drops deep to get few touches on the ball.

Greenwood will have chances to go after defenders similar to his goal yesterday except it will happen through the middle over longer distances. It happened all the time for the youth sides. Greenwood isn't some player who wants to dribble past players from a stand still or anything. He's great at running at defenses when on a counter where he can decide which foot he wants to strike the ball with. He's not like Rashford.

Greenwood's technique is good enough to string play together up top.

Well, he is currently playing at a high level as an inside forward. Your take is the speculative one, you said that you want him up even though that's not where he is currently performing and showing great promises. I'm just wondering why it would be better to have up front instead of where he currently is.

I see someone that could be a Ronaldo/Robben type of wide player and think that it is extremely valuable. Quality strikers aren't as rare as quality inside forwards.

Of course my take is a speculative one, but it's a transition that many players undertake. Martial just did it.

We look at the qualities of a player and we can decide whether a player can perform a role or not. We look at their history as a youth player too. We can draw from these two things and estimate where a player can shine. If a player who is an amazing striker at youth level (unlike Rashford) is brought up to play first team football, but is shunted out wide precisely because we want to protect him and he shines, does that all of a sudden mean he can't play his natural position? Or does it mean that he's such a quality player that it didn't matter if you played him out wide, he was always going to succeed?

How does a player even play up top if we've decided in order to break in at first team level they must play out wide and if they fail, they can't play at first team level, but if they succeed they can only play in that position?

Greenwood has the quality to play up top. He has the technical ability to link up play, he has the finishing ability in abundance.


Of course I will be fine if we bring in Sancho and put him out on the left and keep Greenwood on the right. I just wouldn't be surprised if Greenwood is also capable of benching someone like Martial in the next 2-3 seasons.

 

[JPRouve]

Of course my take is a speculative one, but it's a transition that many players undertake. Martial just did it.

We look at the qualities of a player and we can decide whether a player can perform a role or not. We look at their history as a youth player too. We can draw from these two things and estimate where a player can shine. If a player who is an amazing striker at youth level (unlike Rashford) is brought up to play first team football, but is shunted out wide precisely because we want to protect him and he shines, does that all of a sudden mean he can't play his natural position? Or does it mean that he's such a quality player that it didn't matter if you played him out wide, he was always going to succeed?

How does a player even play up top if we've decided in order to break in at first team level they must play out wide and if they fail, they can't play at first team level, but if they succeed they can only play in that position?

Greenwood has the quality to play up top. He has the technical ability to link up play, he has the finishing ability in abundance.


Of course I will be fine if we bring in Sancho and put him out on the left and keep Greenwood on the right. I just wouldn't be surprised if Greenwood is also capable of benching someone like Martial in the next 2-3 seasons.

That's the thing, I don't think that playing wide means being shunted, in the modern game inside forwards are the headliners among attackers with one exception being Lewandowski. To me having Greenwood wide in a position where I could see him become one of the best player in the world isn't shunting him but putting him in the best situation for himself and the team. Maybe he will be even better as a striker but I'm currently seeing an exceptional talent who is playing at a high level as an inside forward.

 

[Rolaholic]

 

[Handré1990]

It’s incredible how easy he has taken to first team football. That was last season, he played under 18 a little over a year ago! I’m going to enjoy this journey.

 

[OL29]

Remember when people thought Greenwood was slow

I think people will be surprised with how quick he actually is, now he’s added some muscle he looks more explosive, it happens with loads of young players.

 

[E-mal]

I think he's the most naturally talented player in the squad.

Naah, Pogba is.

 

[Class of 63]

One positive from the tournament postponements is that Mason will surely play himself into the England squad for next year's Euros.

Think he'd have gone this year if it hadn't been postponed.

 

[Prodigal7]

I think people will be surprised with how quick he actually is, now he’s added some muscle he looks more explosive, it happens with loads of young players.

Mason use to represent Manchester in Athletics so it’s something he’s comfortable with. You can see his running style/technique is very good too.

 

[elmo]

He'll be our top scorer for the team next season if he gets the chance in the first team.

 

[Freak]

This boy is going to be an absolute star if everything goes for him. The talent he has is outstanding.

 

[reddevilchennai]

I think he has an higher ceiling than that of Martial and Rashford.He could be a phenomenon in years to come.

And having Mason, Sancho, Rashford and Martial competing for the front 3 spots is exciting.

 

[LVGSdive]

I think people will be surprised with how quick he actually is, now he’s added some muscle he looks more explosive, it happens with loads of young players.

He is an accomplished sprinter. So its not really a surprise if you know his background.

 

[Tarrou]

It's hard to find top wing forwards these days, especially left footed ones who play on the right. His future could well be on the right long term, and the potential is there for him to get big big numbers from that position.

He's brilliant at finding space to cut inside and shoot with his left, but also very capable going outside and placing it in the far corner with his right. Very hard to defend against a player like that.

 

[mav_9me]

That pass to Bruno is as good as it gets, absolute perfection. Honestly didn`t know he had that in him!

He absolutely does. He is a much more rounded player than what you have seen so far going by his academy years.

 

[mav_9me]

I am worried about how quickly people are forgetting just how unstoppable Rashford was right before he got injured. And that was in a still very dysfunctional team, he was doing a lot of both the creating and the scoring himself.

Of course he is still rusty. He's played four games after a lay-off of five and a half months. But it's not even as if he's playing badly. His playmaking has been excellent, as evidenced by the assists against Sheffield and a whole host of key passes since the return of football. It's actually been nice to have the opportunity to appreciate just how good a passer of the ball he is, callback to the days when he was tiny and not especially fast and was a crafty playmaker.

It's just his forward play that needs to get back into gear, and it will.

Didn't realize how good a passer he has been.

Never knew he was a playmaker. This was in U18 or even younger?

 

[hmchan]

Everytime I see Greenwood dribble on the right, I think of Mahrez.

 

[Adam-Utd]

I think people will be surprised with how quick he actually is, now he’s added some muscle he looks more explosive, it happens with loads of young players.

Yep. I always said he just looked like he was struggling a bit stamina wise. I think these 3 months off to build his body and put in some fitness work will be the making of him.

He genuinely does look to have had a boy to man transformation, but there was never any doubt that he is seriously quick - he just doesn't really play he kick and run style.

 

[romufc]

Yep. I always said he just looked like he was struggling a bit stamina wise. I think these 3 months off to build his body and put in some fitness work will be the making of him.

He genuinely does look to have had a boy to man transformation, but there was never any doubt that he is seriously quick - he just doesn't really play he kick and run style.

Credit to the coaches? I am sure someone must have been in his ear about getting muscle.

Now he looks like a first team player, I am so excited to watch him play.

 

[Adam-Utd]

Credit to the coaches? I am sure someone must have been in his ear about getting muscle.

Now he looks like a first team player, I am so excited to watch him play.

Nature also of course, we forget these boys are literally growing in front of our eyes.

Go back to that photo of Rashford at Norwich with Garner, Williams and Greenwood behind him and they all look so different already.

As you say though the fitness coaches have probably given him a bulking up program and it's clearly worked so far.

 

[mav_9me]

Exactly. Wait till he showcases how well rounded his game is. This is most definitely not him. An inside forward who cuts in and shoots? There is so much more natural game in him.

 

[mav_9me]

Well, he is currently playing at a high level as an inside forward. Your take is the speculative one, you said that you want him up even though that's not where he is currently performing and showing great promises. I'm just wondering why it would be better to have up front instead of where he currently is.

I see someone that could be a Ronaldo/Robben type of wide player and think that it is extremely valuable. Quality strikers aren't as rare as quality inside forwards.

While he could be like Ronaldo from left or Salah from right, you see how Mbappe gets played as a 9 and RVP did. That's how I see Mason too. You'll get more out of his game imo.

 

[fergieisold]

I think people will be surprised with how quick he actually is, now he’s added some muscle he looks more explosive, it happens with loads of young players.

Yeh, watching the goal on Tuesday I was surprised at the pace on him! I thought he was slow!

 

[JPRouve]

While he could be like Ronaldo from left or Salah from right, you see how Mbappe gets played as a 9 and RVP did. That's how I see Mason too. You'll get more out of his game imo.

But Mbappé started professionally as a striker, that's where he performed at 17 years old in Ligue 1 even though he was a wide player. It's basically the opposite of Greenwood. To me you are making it a lot more complicated than it should, play him where he performs at a high level which until proven otherwise is as inside forward. There is no need to fix what isn't broken.

 

[mav_9me]

But Mbappé started professionally as a striker, that's where he performed at 17 years old in Ligue 1 even though he was a wide player. It's basically the opposite of Greenwood. To me you are making a lot more complicating than it should, play him where he performs at a high level which until proven otherwise is an inside forward. There is no need to fix what isn't broken.

Fair point abt Mbappe. Either way I think it will be a natural transition at some point into a 9 for Mason. It will happen naturally. Lot of time for that to happen.

 

[Berbasbullet]

So gratifying to see a young talented player slowly start realising his potential, filled out loads and clearly going to be a handful for anyone playing him.

 

[roonster09]

Fair point abt Mbappe. Either way I think it will be a natural transition at some point into a 9 for Mason. It will happen naturally. Lot of time for that to happen.

I don't understand why people are so desperate for this to happen. He looks so much dangerous as a right forward. Also this is our weakest position. Finding goal scoring right sided player has been the biggest challenge for us since SAF retired. Greenwood can make that position his own and with how he is playing he will end up with #7 too.

Greenwood can score many goals as RWF and also he will have more space to showcase his passing ability. Almost all big clubs have wide forwards as their star players, same will be case if Greenwood develops as Right forward.

 

[Striker10]

What do people want? Him running in behind? Him being a target man? Him dropping deep? Where he is now is a good thing! He can get more involved in the game. He's shown he can score from distance but also he don't even need to get in behind defenders to score. His movement can get them to back off. He might score more as a striker, maybe....it's not a certainty but I think playing out wide gives him the ability to come inside or have a run. It's a good position for him. Look what Rashford did from that position this season.

 

[AneRu]

I don't understand why people are so desperate for this to happen. He looks so much dangerous as a right forward. Also this is our weakest position. Finding goal scoring right sided player has been the biggest challenge for us since SAF retired. Greenwood can make that position his own and with how he is playing he will end up with #7 too.

Greenwood can score many goals as RWF and also he will have more space to showcase his passing ability. Almost all big clubs have wide forwards as their star players, same will be case if Greenwood develops as Right forward.

That would be a huge bonus if he can make the position his own, he has already scored 14 goals without being a regular so the odds for him doing better than this are good. But I think we need someone more creative than him for that role, maybe he has it in him I don't know but I guess we will see during the remainder of the season.

 

[JPRouve]

That would be a huge bonus if he can make the position his own, he has already scored 14 goals without being a regular so the odds for him doing better than this are good. But I think we need someone more creative than him for that role, maybe he has it in him I don't know but I guess we will see during the remainder of the season.

That's where adding Sancho or Grealish would be valuable, we don't imperatively need someone more creative because the creative hub is Bruno-Pogba but sometimes we may need something different than Greenwood-Rashford and in general we should rotate our attackers in order to keep them fresh and on their toes. So to me Greenwood should be seen as the incumbent and long term right inside forward but we should still bolster our attack, if he somehow ends up playing up front, so be it but we shouldn't try to force something that isn't a necessity when he is performing very well in his current role, individually and collectively.

 

[roonster09]

That would be a huge bonus if he can make the position his own, he has already scored 14 goals without being a regular so the odds for him doing better than this are good. But I think we need someone more creative than him for that role, maybe he has it in him I don't know but I guess we will see during the remainder of the season.

This is his first season and for most part he was playing reserved role, still ended up contributing around 16 goals. With more freedom and more familiarity with the role and teammates, he should score even more goals.

 

[AneRu]

This is his first season and for most part he was playing reserved role, still ended up contributing around 16 goals. With more freedom and more familiarity with the role and teammates, he should score even more goals.

Agreed but I still think Sancho coming in as the starter and Mason continuing his development without the pressure of expectation will serve us and him very well. Continuing the reserved role will allow him to develop without pressure whilst Sancho would take us a level up as an attacking force.

Both Mason and Sancho can play roles across the frontline meaning that there will be enough games for the former.

 

[roonster09]

Agreed but I still think Sancho coming in as the starter and Mason continuing his development without the pressure of expectation will serve us and him very well. Continuing the reserved role will allow him to develop without pressure whilst Sancho would take us a level up as an attacking force.

Both Mason and Sancho can play roles across the frontline meaning that there will be enough games for the former.

Yeah, like Ole said at ManUtd there should be always competition for positions and that's how it should be. Take any big club, they will have good quality players fighting to play regularly.

Rashford, Martial, Greenwood, Sancho are all versatile players capable of playing multiple positions. So they will get many games.

 

[AneRu]

Yeah, like Ole said at ManUtd there should be always competition for positions and that's how it should be. Take any big club, they will have good quality players fighting to play regularly.

Rashford, Martial, Greenwood, Sancho are all versatile players capable of playing multiple positions. So they will get many games.

Agree with this. Rashford, Martial, Sancho, Greenwood, Ighalo and James is a pretty good and versatile forward selection to pick from.

 

[RUCK4444]

Agreed but I still think Sancho coming in as the starter and Mason continuing his development without the pressure of expectation will serve us and him very well. Continuing the reserved role will allow him to develop without pressure whilst Sancho would take us a level up as an attacking force.

Both Mason and Sancho can play roles across the frontline meaning that there will be enough games for the former.

I think (and hope) that Greenwood will take the number 9 from Martial before we know it. Not because I dislike Martial, I’m enjoying the form he’s in this season.

Martial will then either move on or rotate with Greenwood as the striker or Rashford as the LW.

Greenwood shows signs of an elite level striker, will be tricky for Ole to continue his progression without pushing him into the 9 position sooner or later. Doesn’t have to be next season but perhaps the one after for sure.

I love the idea of a no 9 so unbelievably two footed spinning behind and scoring of either foot with the likes of Pogba, Bruno and Sancho feeding him.

 

[RooneyLegend]

If Sancho comes in Rashford has to be more worried than Greenwood.

 

[SAFMUTD]

He's the real deal, I think we have a gem in our hands. If he stays injury free I dont see how can anyone stop him from being worldclass in the near future.

 

[lenny_1248]

But Mbappé started professionally as a striker, that's where he performed at 17 years old in Ligue 1 even though he was a wide player. It's basically the opposite of Greenwood. To me you are making it a lot more complicated than it should, play him where he performs at a high level which until proven otherwise is as inside forward. There is no need to fix what isn't broken.

He played with Falcao in pair. Huge diference.

 

[JPRouve]

He played with Falcao in pair. Huge diference.

Huge difference to what exactly? Mbappé was a wide player at youth level who started his professional career upfront and he didn't start with Falcao who was playing for Chelsea.