I think his lack of awareness when his midfield partner's in possession is even worse. Always on his heels. Just not a forward thinking midfield player on any level so comparisons to Fletcher are well off the mark because of that alone.
28
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 38
- Goals
- 1
- Assists
- 1
- Yellow cards
- 5
- Status
I think his lack of awareness when his midfield partner's in possession is even worse. Always on his heels. Just not a forward thinking midfield player on any level so comparisons to Fletcher are well off the mark because of that alone.
Before the ref whistled, why didn't he try to play it forward a lot quicker ? It drove me nuts.
Defensively he's a beast, we just need the creativity next to him. Unfortunately when you have a striker in Rooney that refuses to move it's quite difficult to stretch a defence and we end up passing it in front of Newcastle.
Played well. Did his role.
Too slow to move the ball on.
Especially frustrating in injury time.
Especially frustrating in injury time.
well - when we create roughly 30 half-chances - the opponents have like 2 - I don't Think the real issue is central midfield. The real issue is that Januzaj is horribly bad when he has an off-day, Depay showed today he is exactly the same - and Rooney is completely out of form. The other 8 players on our side did really well
he can't be criticized for anything, for what he's on the pitch he's done really well, I think it's maybe a time to pair him with Herrera, Schneiderlin can sweep around defense and win the ball more at our half, Herrera can do the same on the opposition half while being more creative and finding spaces betweenmidfield and attack, this link up play we lacked the most today.
Carrick has done brilliantly well when he came on but it's clear that that front four is too isolated.
In addition to Morgan, nice little flick to Shaw, he's not out of place technically at all, he doesn't get to those situations as he's job on the pitch is just something else.
Carrick has done brilliantly well when he came on but it's clear that that front four is too isolated.
In addition to Morgan, nice little flick to Shaw, he's not out of place technically at all, he doesn't get to those situations as he's job on the pitch is just something else.
He does the defensive side very well but should keep it simpler on the ball and needs to move it quicker, but when we play him the CM partner and #10 need to take on full creative responsibility and just let him patrol.
Solid needs a runner next to him.
Should play 4-3-3 with him at the base, absolutely pointless having two glacial players next to him that don't want to run the ball ever. Basically he's playing as a defensive midfielder and a box to box player all in one. It is quite insane really. Head and shoulders our best signing and most important midfield player.
Agree with most here. Did his job defensively but when he has the ball he needs to sharpen up a bit.
Agree with you both there.
As a team player and for his role he did very well but individually, he does still deserve some criticism because he made quite a few poor passes in favourable situations (e.g when he had time, space or was not under pressure).
I don't think realistically any of our midfielders can play in a midfield two when playing against any half decent opposition that knows to be sit behind the ball and defend half decently. Januzaj today did individually ok to poor but his team role was poor. That's down to him and LVG's tactics imo. We simply can't have this '2nd' striker business with our current squad and need to play the ball faster.
Last edited:
I think he is a huge reason in our 3 clean sheets, has given Blind and Smalling so much more protection. Doing well.
He is great for what he is currently - a tough tackling DM - we need him to grow on the attacking side. When he has the ball and we are in possession he needs to do more with it. Louis' master plan is that will be at least 70% of the time, so he needs to learn how to use it better - that doesn't necessarily mean defence splitting passes, but more off and on teh ball movement and 1-2's to move it forwards quickly.
I think we're too defensive with him and either Carrick or Schweinsteiger. He's doing his DM role well but rarely gets forward. If that's the way it is then would like to see him with Herrera.
I think I will just give him 6/10 every week
He does a good job back there but really does not help with in possession
He does a good job back there but really does not help with in possession
LVG needs to loosen up his ideas and take the shackles off him. Let him charge forward like he did in the second. That's what made a world of difference.
You know that wont happen. He wants stability, control, posession and not a player charging forward and doing risky things, while keeping the midfield open.
No he really doesn't.
Schneirderlin is very good at what he's good at but I think its insane to use him for anything else. Why bother signing one of the best holding midfielders in the league and then try and play them in any other way?
The problem is his partner, Herrera's probably the more natural fit but Carrick and Schweinsteiger are better players. I thought he looked a lot better with Schweinsteiger until he picked up a knock and faded than he has with Carrick so far.
I would like o see Schneirderlin take less risks with his passing though and just quickly move the ball on to our more creative players.
His job is to break up play, win possession, shield the defence and ensure we don't get overrun in midfield, he's doing it with excellence. I just feel he's a bit restricted [LVG, tactics], hence he doesn't go on those forward runs like he does at his previous club. He can really "play" if he's allowed to & move forward if he's allowed to. Fantastic signing.
I never said play them any other way. But you can clearly see that he wants to come forward, and we did need that drive between the front line and midfield, we had nobody working the space till Carrick came on and started playing a double pivot with Schneiderlin and then we saw movement. I'm not saying use him as an offensive midfielder at all.
I didn't think you did, but I disagree with using him as any other sort of midfielder other than a holding one.
Have we ever had a player like This before?
I really do see his importance in how we have been set up. On the ball he has looked quite poor but work rate and how he protects the defence is generally excellent
It's like we have finally signed Jon Obi Mikel
I really do see his importance in how we have been set up. On the ball he has looked quite poor but work rate and how he protects the defence is generally excellent
It's like we have finally signed Jon Obi Mikel
The problem is if we persist with a midfield duo and disallow either of them from engaging in box to box duties, we'll continue to suffer from that ridiculous gulf between midfield and the front line. With LVG's philosophy of hoarding possession, we already have Carrick to sit at the base of midfield and dictate play while screening the defence. It doesn't make sense to play another holding player beside him. It's far too cowardly and conservative. We need him and Carrick/Bastian and either Fellaini/Ander in a 3.
Don't be silly. He shits all over Jon Obi Mikel.
I've always though Mikel a decent player
Hopefully Morgan will be a better version. But I think it's a fair comparison.
Come on Randall. Morgan's already a level above John as a DM.
Perhaps the issues with him hanging on to ball too long are a result of him trying his best to follow van gaals approach.
He can't charge forward when playing alongside Schweinsteiger because the German spends half the game in attacking positions, generally on the left wing. If Schneiderlin burst forward too we'd have no-one in centre mid with our defence sitting on the halfway line. We did that a lot last season with Blind pushing right up the pitch and Herrera going for a wander and we were left wide open in the middle.
The reason he does it when Carrick's there is because he knows Carrick will sit back and defend when necessary. Schweinsteiger won't. That's why I find it a bit odd that people are saying Schweinsteiger and Schneiderlin is too defensive...Schweinsteiger might not spend a lot of time in the opposition box but he's clearly an offensive-minded midfielder.
It's a weird comparison. The first that comes to mind with Schneiderlin is the last thing that comes to mind with Mikel - mobility.
MikelOn his debut and throughout pre-season he was hitting cross field passes and playing some riskier passes. It wouldn't surprise me if he's been told just to break up play and then find the simple pass when he gets it.
He will grow into being a player with us more and deal with the pressure better in time.
John Obi Mikel
Mikel. Seriously?
He's already a better version. A much better version. They're not even similar in the way they play. Schneiderlin pops up all over the pitch, Mikel just strolls around in one small area.
In answer to your question about have we ever had players like Schneiderlin before, yes, of course we have. Only they've been shit (Djemba Djemba) or made of glass (Hargreaves)
The stick he's been getting for his contribution when we're in possession is just absurd. He's played three fecking games. Passing the ball in the centre of the park is all about anticipating the movement of your team-mates because the best option is often behind you. So you can't expect someone to slot into that position and instantly look as though he's been there for years. The first few games were always going to be about showing off his defensive skills. Anyone who paid any attention to him at Southampton could see there's much more to his game than just being a destroyer. Feck it, there's been glimpses of it already in a United shirt. He'll express himself more and more as the season goes on and the Mikel comparison will be more and more absurd.
Seriously?
I've always thought Mikel was stealing a living as a footballer. Just strolls around within a confined space.
Morgan gives energy and legs missing from Carrick and Bastian's game.
He was very decent on the ball and at times highly creative at Southampton I just don't feel he has the freedom to do so at the minute.
I feel the same way. I would prefer that Carrick or Schweinsteiger played behind him and dictate play and either of Schneiderlin or Herrera get the box to box role. We don't need two sitting CM's.
Particularly at home against the weaker sides in the division.
- Status