[limerickcitykid]

He's only competing with Martial for that left wing spot.

No he isn't. Rashford has played LW and Lingard is better on the left than the right anyway so if Mkhi or Mata play on the right then Lingard will be pushed to the left. Rooney also indirectly competes as he is taking the 10 spot which will be pushing Mkhi and Mata out right which pushes Lingard to the left.

 

[Devil may care]

Good man management, not sure it's any more than that, I just can't see him getting into this side all that often, making the bench will be a challenge.

 

[Cantona'sCollar]

I still think he has everything needed to be another great #7 - he just hasn't shown it for us yet. He'll settle this season and improve under a manager who actually allows players to take risks. We shouldn't even consider the idea of selling him for another 2 or 3 seasons - some players peak later and take longer to put their game together in order to make the jump to the top leagues.

I genuinely predict he'll become a top player.

 

[sunama]

I genuinely predict he'll become a top player.

You think he will go from being a Championship level player, which he is now (he actually plays well against poor sides...EPL sides are the teams he struggles against), into a top class player?
The only players I have seen make that improvement are Kevin Philips and Jamie Vardy.
I'm sure there are a few others, but I can't think of them.
To go from Championship level to EPL/CL level is near impossible.

LVG gave him every chance to succeed last year (Jose won't be doing that as there is too much pressure on him to win the title). And after about 20-odd games of poor performances (except against lesser sides), he was benched.

 

[K2K]

You think he will go from being a Championship level player, which he is now (he actually plays well against poor sides...EPL sides are the teams he struggles against), into a top class player?
The only players I have seen make that improvement are Kevin Philips and Jamie Vardy.
I'm sure there are a few others, but I can't think of them.
To go from Championship level to EPL/CL level is near impossible.

LVG gave him every chance to succeed last year (Jose won't be doing that as there is too much pressure on him to win the title). And after about 20-odd games of poor performances (except against lesser sides), he was benched.

Van Gaal actually moved Martial to the right for a while I'm order to accomodate Memphis into the team.

It's just far to easy to blame a fallen manager for his failures.

 

[Cantona'sCollar]

You think he will go from being a Championship level player, which he is now (he actually plays well against poor sides...EPL sides are the teams he struggles against), into a top class player?
The only players I have seen make that improvement are Kevin Philips and Jamie Vardy.
I'm sure there are a few others, but I can't think of them.
To go from Championship level to EPL/CL level is near impossible.

LVG gave him every chance to succeed last year (Jose won't be doing that as there is too much pressure on him to win the title). And after about 20-odd games of poor performances (except against lesser sides), he was benched.

You say that as if most Championship players had already spent a season (at the age of 20) somewhere else in Europe (with a different style of football) as the best player in the league. He has shown incredible ability even if it was in a weaker league, and he has shown glimpses of it here. People underestimate the importance of confidence in sport. Some people are more fragile than others - a manager that actually has confidence in him (not dropping him after a bad game when Rooney, Lingard and Fellaini are all exempted, or actually allowing him to take risks) could make him rediscover his old form.

Some players reach their potential later than others, not everyone does a Ronaldo or Messi. Some players also take longer and find it harder to adapt to a different style of football. He's also not had the easiest life, by all accounts, and this is the first time in his life that he is living away from home. He's only 22, that's university age. Too many people forget that footballers are human beings and have regular day-to-day things that can affect their performances. He has great potential, he just needs to not let this opportunity slip - you won't stay at a club this size for too long if you don't show you are good enough.

@K2K True - no one is doubting that he was subpar last year. I am a big fan of his and will be the first to admit he was more often a hindrance than anything else most of the time, bar a few games early in the season and the time we beat Arsenal in the run in. Still, Van Gaal made players like Di Maria look average - surely it's obvious that players that play very risky football rarely thrive under him (at least from his Bayern days and after).

The most notable exception is Robben, who happens to be a winger who can play up front, and is also excellent at keeping possession (two things LVG is obsessed with in a wide man, seemingly).

I'm not saying what he has shown last season is enough - I am saying that I still think he is going to turn it around. He seems determined and professional. He's young and has time on his side.

 

[K2K]

You say that as if most Championship players had already spent a season (at the age of 20) somewhere else in Europe (with a different style of football) as the best player in the league. He has shown incredible ability even if it was in a weaker league, and he has shown glimpses of it here. People underestimate the importance of confidence in sport. Some people are more fragile than others - a manager that actually has confidence in him (not dropping him after a bad game when Rooney, Lingard and Fellaini are all exempted, or actually allowing him to take risks) could make him rediscover his old form.

Some players reach their potential later than others, not everyone does a Ronaldo or Messi. Some players also take longer and find it harder to adapt to a different style of football. He's also not had the easiest life, by all accounts, and this is the first time in his life that he is living away from home. He's only 22, that's university age. Too many people forget that footballers are human beings and have regular day-to-day things that can affect their performances. He has great potential, he just needs to not let this opportunity slip - you won't stay at a club this size for too long if you don't show you are good enough.

@K2K True - no one is doubting that he was subpar last year. I am a big fan of his and will be the first to admit he was more often a hindrance than anything else most of the time, bar a few games early in the season and the time we beat Arsenal in the run in. Still, Van Gaal made players like Di Maria look average - surely it's obvious that players that play very risky football rarely thrive under him (at least from his Bayern days and after).

The most notable exception is Robben, who happens to be a winger who can play up front, and is also excellent at keeping possession (two things LVG is obsessed with in a wide man, seemingly).

I'm not saying what he has shown last season is enough - I am saying that I still think he is going to turn it around. He seems determined and professional. He's young and has time on his side.

Yes players like Martial thrived under similar circumstances. Rashford too.

For me,I am not convinced that he is that good to be honest. He really struggles with the basics required from a winger(like consistently beat his man).

 

[Cantona'sCollar]

Yes players like Martial thrived under similar circumstances. Rashford too.

For me,I am not convinced that he is that good to be honest. He really struggles with the basics required from a winger(like consistently beat his man).

True, but Martial and Rashford were the exceptions. A lot of players were genuinely "Van Gaal'd" - they were fresh and played with a freedom that none of the others did (or were afforded).

He does, but I think that's the confidence. Even though the Eredivisie is weak, he showed a lot of skill there - he had a great touch and dribbled well (nothing Messi-like but he was going past players). And things like shooting ability don't disappear just because the standard of opposition is better - it's clear he's low on confidence because he scored some very nice goals from distance for PSV, whereas he hits the wall every time he takes a free kick for us.

 

[DocRockter]

If we can get him to play with Shaw and Martial on the left, then nothing is impossible for him. His physical side is second best only to Valencia's and his finishing is still there. Needs some finesse and some wise players to guide him to make better decisions and he'll be there with Hazard(14-15) co..

 

[Dumbat12]

What I like about Mourinho is that he is very similiar to SAF in terms of man management. He defends players from the media, he doesn't throw them under the bus like Moyes and Van Gaal did. Even when Fellaini did that stupid mistake in the Leicester match, we all knew it was Fellaini's fault (Mourinho did too), but he did not bash him or anything, he blamed the pitch. You can bet your ass though that he had a conversation with Fellaini about that same mistake in the locker room.

He is ruthless when he needs to be, but gentle for the most part.

It's the same strategy SAF used and it worked perfectly.

This is just protecting Memphis, but I hope Memphis really takes this opportunity Mourinho has given him. He needs to prove himself this season. I would hate it if we sell him and he starts performing for some other club.

 

[MD7]

Good to hear that Mourinho thinks it was mostly a confidence thing. If he works hard, and shows it at training, I see him getting enough game time with PL substitutes, and Europa/cup game starters.

he doesn't throw them under the bus like Moyes and Van Gaal did.

Not really fair on LVG, because he never threw players under the bus. Most of the time he deliberately attacked the media, or said something that could be seen as bold to get the spotlight of his players, and more on him. He always wanted to protect his players.

 

[snk123]

I've not seen someone have a better individual game since the Ronaldo days than Memphis. He has the ability for sure.

 

[K2K]

Good to hear that Mourinho thinks it was mostly a confidence thing. If he works hard, and shows it at training, I see him getting enough game time with PL substitutes, and Europa/cup game starters.


Not really fair on LVG, because he never threw players under the bus. Most of the time he deliberately attacked the media, or said something that could be seen as bold to get the spotlight of his players, and more on him. He always wanted to protect his players.

Van Gaal regularly threw players under the bus

Did it with Young and Bastian to name just two. He didn't really do that with Memphis though.

 

[Nighteyes]

Mourinho was hardly going to come out and say he's shit.

 

[khoazany]

Obviously he will stay but I'm not convinced he will turn the tide around.

 

[Tosicsleftpeg]

You say that as if most Championship players had already spent a season (at the age of 20) somewhere else in Europe (with a different style of football) as the best player in the league. He has shown incredible ability even if it was in a weaker league, and he has shown glimpses of it here. People underestimate the importance of confidence in sport. Some people are more fragile than others - a manager that actually has confidence in him (not dropping him after a bad game when Rooney, Lingard and Fellaini are all exempted, or actually allowing him to take risks) could make him rediscover his old form.
.

A good point definitely, he was the best player in the Eredivisie by quite a distance and highly rated by alot of big teams so there must be something else hes not shown us yet.

 

[Sammyjunn]

@Kill 'em all and I even forgot Young, Memphis will be out of the selection more often than not. We can only bring 7 bench players, 1 keeper, 2 defenders, 2 midfielders and 2 attackers most often. Rashford; Mata, Lingard/Miki will be surely on the bench along with a cm, cant really see space for him.

 

[kr0nix]

This guy has copped a lot of flak for admittedly flat performances, but I think he will come good with time. He's very much a confidence player and once that picks up, I think he can be a great player for us.

 

[K2K]

True, but Martial and Rashford were the exceptions. A lot of players were genuinely "Van Gaal'd" - they were fresh and played with a freedom that none of the others did (or were afforded).

He does, but I think that's the confidence. Even though the Eredivisie is weak, he showed a lot of skill there - he had a great touch and dribbled well (nothing Messi-like but he was going past players). And things like shooting ability don't disappear just because the standard of opposition is better - it's clear he's low on confidence because he scored some very nice goals from distance for PSV, whereas he hits the wall every time he takes a free kick for us.

Memphis struggled with the Dutch NT too and was dropped . Van Gaal had nothing to do with that.

What the Eredivisie perfomances show and the majority of his good perfomances here show is that he is able to turn it on against poorer players. However whenever he faces an improvement in quality,he tends to struggle big time.

 

[Sammyjunn]

Memphis struggled with the Dutch NT too and was dropped . Van Gaal had nothing to do with that.

What the Eredivisie perfomances show and the majority of his good perfomances here show is that he is able to turn it on against poorer players. However whenever he faces an improvement in quality,he tends to struggle big time.

He was class at the WC aged 20(?), 2 goals and 1 assist just from cameo's, he was PSV's starman in the Europa League, CL qualifications and PSV proved last season that they arent some push-over side.

 

[Litch]

A good point definitely, he was the best player in the Eredivisie by quite a distance and highly rated by alot of big teams so there must be something else hes not shown us yet.

Agree. Also IMO if you sign a player from any other league, it's a lesser league than the Prem. That said, the last time I looked, didn't we sign a certain Jaap and Ruud from that lesser league. Not to mention some of the best players to lace up a pair of football boots historically came from that 'lesser league'....

 

[Kill 'em all]

Agree. Also IMO if you sign a player from any other league, it's a lesser league than the Prem. That said, the last time I looked, didn't we sign a certain Jaap and Ruud from that lesser league. Not to mention some of the best players to lace up a pair of football boots historically came from that 'lesser league'....

The premier league isn't better, it's just different. For example in Serie A even if the level of players is lower, the tactical level involved is much higher than the English league. Even with the amount of money in our league, we still can't dominate European competitions. Hopefully this will change with managers like Guardiola, Conte, Klopp and Mourinho.

Just look at Juventus, with very limited resources they still managed to do better than English teams in the Champions league.

Mourinho was hardly going to come out and say he's shit.

If he didn't believe in him, he would've just completely dropped him from the team like Schweinsteiger.

 

[K2K]

He was class at the WC aged 20(?), 2 goals and 1 assist just from cameo's, he was PSV's starman in the Europa League, CL qualifications and PSV proved last season that they arent some push-over side.

He was decent at the world cup but not as influential as some are making out to be. Because of Van Gaal's appointment I watched all the Dutch games.

He was PSV starman yes,but that is a far cry from being good enough for United.

Other than the Fa cup final,he was in every single matchday squad ,so he can't complain about lack of opportunities. He was played and and at times verged on abysmal. I very much doubt he'll ever become a first team mainstay here. Especially with a far superior player ahead of him.

 

[Nighteyes]

I see we're back to the same old excuses. This keeps coming up every second page.

Confidence player.
Not enough chances.
Van Gaal not allowing him to take risks.
Obvious talent.

 

[TrustInJanuzaj]

I've not seen someone have a better individual game since the Ronaldo days than Memphis. He has the ability for sure.

God that performance was amazing, just had the fullback in absolute bits.

 

[Sammyjunn]

He was decent at the world cup but not as influential as some are making out to be. Because of Van Gaal's appointment I watched all the Dutch games.

He was PSV starman yes,but that is a far cry from being good enough for United.

Other than the Fa cup final,he was in every single matchday squad ,so he can't complain about lack of opportunities. He was played and and at times verged on abysmal. I very much doubt he'll ever become a first team mainstay here. Especially with a far superior player ahead of him.

He made decisive goals and assists vs Australia and Chili out of my head, how is that not really influential? Im not sure if Holland would top the group if it wasnt for Memphis' influence.

You cant predict whats enough to succeed at United, ask di Maria, Falcao, Schweinsteiger, former world class players who had achieved so much, but yet.

Im not making excuses for him, I dont think he'll get much chances again this season, our squad is too big.

 

[Raoul]

It's all a mental game with Memphis. Mourinho's comments no doubt reinforce that last year was a one off and he will be back to his best this year.

 

[Litch]

The premier league isn't better, it's just different. For example in Serie A even if the level of players is lower, the tactical level involved is much higher than the English league. Even with the amount of money in our league, we still can't dominate European competitions. Hopefully this will change with managers like Guardiola, Conte, Klopp and Mourinho.

Just look at Juventus, with very limited resources they still managed to do better than English teams in the Champions league.



If he didn't believe in him, he would've just completely dropped him from the team like Schweinsteiger.

You mistake CL teams rather than their respective leagues. There's a difference. Bayern, Real, Barca, PSV and Juventus maybe more competitive in CL but that IMO isn't cause their leagues are better, it's quite the opposite. I don't have to say it cause it's well documented the competitive nature of our league means unlike the other leagues 7 teams could realistically win our league this year, which means unlike Juve, no ones winning it 4x on the bounce; Bayern or PSV literally winning it by Christmas or in Spain, the same 3 teams each year going for the league.....

 

[MD7]

Memphis struggled with the Dutch NT too and was dropped . Van Gaal had nothing to do with that.

He was dropped because he barely had any playing time at United, wasn't in form, and the matches played weren't of any significance. Don't blame him for everything, because The Netherlands were just bad as a whole during the qualification campaign, and missing Robben surely didn't help. Memphis has already shown that he can also do it at the national team, even against decent opponents, look at the match against Spain when he was in form, and playing with a lot of confidence.

 

[united_99]

I see we're back to the same old excuses. This keeps coming up every second page.

Confidence player.
Not enough chances.
Van Gaal not allowing him to take risks.
Obvious talent.

He is very young and for his age has done fine at the WC and with PSV.
If players like Januzaj, Stones or Sterling are afforded those excuses then why not Memphis?

 

[DWelbz19]

He is very young and for his age has done fine at the WC and with PSV.
If players like Januzaj, Stones or Sterling are afforded those excuses then why not Memphis?

The 'obvious talent' is far more prevalent in Sterling than it is in Memphis. Januzaj is on his last legs to make it at this club, and I think John Stones is absolutely shite.

 

[Raoul]

Agree. Also IMO if you sign a player from any other league, it's a lesser league than the Prem. That said, the last time I looked, didn't we sign a certain Jaap and Ruud from that lesser league. Not to mention some of the best players to lace up a pair of football boots historically came from that 'lesser league'....

The lesser league argument is also almost always nonsense thats spouted by lazy internet punters who don't know enough about the player to evaluate his individual skills but still want to feel part of the discussion. And yes as you say, the Dutch league has only coughed out players like RvN, Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Luis Suarez et al

 

[Litch]

The lesser league argument is also almost always nonsense thats spouted by lazy internet punters who don't know enough about the player to evaluate his individual skills but still want to feel part of the discussion. And yes as you say, the Dutch league has only coughed out players like RvN, Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Luis Suarez et al

....not to mention historically the likes of Edwin, over mars, Davids, Seedoff, Rikjaard, Gullit, Van Basten and.....Cruff

Laughable really.

 

[Nighteyes]

He is very young and for his age has done fine at the WC and with PSV.
If players like Januzaj, Stones or Sterling are afforded those excuses then why not Memphis?

Stones, I don't rate at all.

For the other two, they look and have shown more evidence of their talent in the league than Depay has (Januzaj will probably be sold so rather irrelevant in any case). Far far more in the case of Sterling who even last season looked a couple of levels above Depay has. Memphis looks very ordinary and completely unsuited to playing a winger for United. Blaming Van Gaal for not giving him chances (Nearly 50 appearances paint a completely different and truer picture), or not giving him freedom (Martial, Young and Lingard certainly did not seem to be constrained when they played on the left) are feeble excuses.

Continually parroting about his supposed obvious talent is delusional. Even more when you consider most never even watched him at PSV and are only going off stats.

 

[acnumber9]

The lesser league argument is also almost always nonsense thats spouted by lazy internet punters who don't know enough about the player to evaluate his individual skills but still want to feel part of the discussion. And yes as you say, the Dutch league has only coughed out players like RvN, Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Luis Suarez et al

Those talking about his talent always have to relate it to how he performed in the past though. It's relevant when you look at that leagues top scorer list from last season that it's a lot easier to score goals in that league than it is in England.

 

[united_99]

Stones, I don't rate at all.

For the other two, they look and have shown more evidence of their talent in the league than Depay has (Januzaj will probably be sold so rather irrelevant in any case). Far far more in the case of Sterling who even last season looked a couple of levels above Depay has. Memphis looks very ordinary and completely unsuited to playing a winger for United. Blaming Van Gaal for not giving him chances (Nearly 50 appearances paint a completely different and truer picture), or not giving him freedom (Martial, Young and Lingard certainly did not seem to be constrained when they played on the left) are feeble excuses.

Continually parroting about his supposed obvious talent is delusional. Even more when you consider most never even watched him at PSV and are only going off stats.

I personally am mostly not blaming LvG but Memphis is not the only attacker who couldn't shine under him.
Of course a few others did but it can well be that Memphis, like Di Maria need more patience and encouragement.
Personally don't rate Sterling too highly and don't agree he has shown far more than Memphis.
Memphis has just had his first year in a new league in a struggling team and there's absolutely no reason to already give up on him.

 

[Litch]

Not sure whether he's gonna be good enough or not. Jose seems to think so but time will tell. On the issue of time, Depay could have been outstanding last year, still proves nothing. We've seen enough times here people have a great first season and then are never to be seen again. I always believe you learn more in this league from a poor start, and history tells me, pretty much all the best imports pretty much started poorly.

 

[VanGaalEra]

Looking forward to watching him improve and prove the doubters wrong this season.

 

[Litch]

Looking forward to watching him improve and prove the doubters wrong this season.

Agree, but like lots on here, they'll celebrate any success like they had amnesia but equal the vultures will be circling ready for when he has a bad one...

 

[Unam333]

Encouraging words from Mourinho, but let's see if Mourinho really gives Depay enough chances.

I can imagine that Woodward told Mourinho something like: United paid millions for Depay last season, don't sell him, give him time, don't want to see the money get poured down the drain.