For that he actually has to put in fantastic peformances which he obviously hasn't done. I'm all for playing up our midfielders, because the attack doesn't help them one bit, and I do think our main three midfielders get excess criticism, however, there's no chance - zero - that Schneiderlin has been "fantastic" for us so far.
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Was absolutely fantastic against Everton, suddenly doesn't look so comfortable in the same position. Is that purely down to personnel (Fellaini?) Even his passing looked a lot more crisp and faster.
You're opinion, but I can remember many good performances so far. He makes us look much more solid when he plays, and I love the way he presses high up the field rather than letting them turn and run at us easily.
You seem to like us having a player of his sort in our team, but can you remember plenty of "fantastic" performances? Like I've said, our midfield gets some rough treatment here, but this seems to be the other extreme. Being fantastic for Manchester United, IMO, involves performances of a much higher standard.
I can't tell you exactly which match as I don't make a point of marking them down or something stupid, but I've Seen him defensively doing a great job in many games, he just needs a more attacking partner to help him dictate the game.
Man Utd 0:1 Southampton
Without Carrick or Basti next to him he looks hopeless when asked to do anything on the ball.
Anonymous again.
Think he's much better than what he was against Liverpool and Newcastle.
He isn't a leader is he. I am not sure he is 'big time' enough for this level. Needs someone to hold his hand.
At least if we draw 0-0 again people can continue to point to that useless stat about how we don't lose when he plays.
He's a coward
He tried to provide a creative drive from CM but it's just not his game, he's more of the water carrier for the creative force.
This.
I think he's lost at this level and doesn't relish the challenge.
Well, we're practically Southampton's level now so that was the wrong choice of words I suppose. Maybe the pressure and expectations of this club are too much for him. I really haven't seen anything from him that suggests he's good enough for a club with our ambitions*
*Fans' ambitions. I'm lost at what the board wants at this club
Yes. He's scared to carry the ball even when there's obvious space in front, and generally chooses the easiest route. Backwards or sideways.
He reminds me of Hargreaves. a headless chicken.
Agreed, he has a place in this team, for his defensive abilities, not for the creative side, that's for the other 4 midfielders to provide.
He will get better just don't think he reads the game well enough to carry it his duties well. The fact that people were mentioning how good he was doing at the start meant he was awful. It's a position the better you play the less visible you become, clear example Carrick all of a sudden his influence in games is visible because the ball is spending more time in the wrong place.
Blind and Smalling are both better driving the ball forward. And Smalling is like Bambi at times. Hargreaves is a decent comparison. He was overrated too.
Are we all still saying that he is struggling because he didn't have X or Y partnering him in midfield? Or are we agreeing now that he is just a bit average?
Sounds like the football most players have played under LVG this season :P
I can't see him having much of a future here if Mourinho does get the job, I imagine he'll want someone who can offer far more to that role.
Really? I think he'd be one of the players Mourinho would love.
Completely agree.
He never seemed to show any interest in him when he was in charge of Chelsea. Ourselves, Spurs and Arsenal all bid on him.
He had Matic and Mikel to play DM, we had...Herrera?
I've been very impressed with the Kante lad at Leicester who plays a similar role.
He was receiving rave reviews from the caf before we signed him. He was supposed to be THE defensive midfielder we needed. Disappointing so far, but I'd like to see under the next manager.
Yes. For me he makes my Premier League XI, in the defensive midfield role. There's no one better at the moment.
I see your point but I was never 100% convinced on him when we signed him, I think we paid too much for him. If this Sanches is as good as everyone is suggesting then I don't really see a place for Schneiderlin.
Difference is he's been given a licence to do whatever he wants, he's all over the pitch getting forward, getting wide, making tackles and running with the ball. Schneiderlin is allowed to do the ground work but clearly told to stay in the middle and don't do any kind of playmaking, just give it wide or back to Blind.
I really do think under a manager who isn't so worried about retaining the ball he would come alive.
This Sanches kid is 18. And we haven't signed him yet far as I know. At the moment Schneiderlin and Herrera are our only mature midfielders with both talent and legs (maybe Blind too but he's very slow). I don't think Schneiderlin's amazing or anything but he's easily good enough to play a squad role for us for a few years.
He's not the only one underperforming under LvG.
Definitely. Been massively disappointed with him lately, but he's someone who I don't think we should write off after a first season, and who will hopefully offer a lot more once the team begins to improve.
So, he has gone from "what we need" to "lost at this level". Some of you don't learn. He's a quality player and am happy we signed him. Has his performances been very good lately? No.
Here is as good a place to say it as any. It's fairly clear that Van Gaal's philosophy and system destroys a player's ability to read the game.
When you have to play in a specific area above all else there is no place for anticipation. The system is supposed to do the anticipating for you and the player only has to think about where the philosophy dictates they should be. And LvG wants his players to think for themselves. It's ridiculous. They're stuck trying to figure out if they are within 1m of where they should be. I'm not sure we should be judging any of the players right now. Their poor form is the manager's fault entirely.
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Bingo, all the players are in a confusing, muddled mess of a "philosophy" right now.
My observations are based on the role he is supposed to be playing. Restraint is key in that specific role, whether he is a natural at it is another question. It's the same reason why I think he'll get better at it with age.
The instructions you seem to be questioning are actually perfect for this role. In any other area on the pitch this can be seen as a hindrance but for CDMs and CBs this is the way your game should be structured. His role should centre around closing spaces and keep the ball rolling. Like I said the fact he so visible during games for us to even question what we he is doing right or wrong, means he is doing a lot of things wrong. There is a reason why people go on about how a certain CDM is underrated.
I saw a stat earlier this month that in 18 games Morgan has started for us, we have won 7, draw 10 and lost 1. Or something to that effect. Is that true?
Derby 1:3 Man Utd
Has been fecking shit for quite some time now
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