Nani

[Bubz27]

I always said, he was a complete confidence player. And not even his own confidence. He needed to know the manager had confidence in him.

Yeah I know, earn that confidence. But it isn't always as simple as that. Different humans have different needs.

When Valencia broke his leg/ankle, was probably the only spell where Nani knew he wouldn't be dropped next game if something didn't come off for him, and he produced fantastic numbers and performances in that spell.

He was capable of magic and moments of stupidity. Now, I like players like Young and Valencia, but a lot of our 'magic' began to disappear when functional players took place over players capable of magic. (fwiw, I know you need both types. But a winger/forward is one place I want a confident player capable of the extraordinary.)

 

[finneh]

I always said, he was a complete confidence player. And not even his own confidence. He needed to know the manager had confidence in him.

Yeah I know, earn that confidence. But it isn't always as simple as that. Different humans have different needs.

When Valencia broke his leg/ankle, was probably the only spell where Nani knew he wouldn't be dropped next game if something didn't come off for him, and he produced fantastic numbers and performances in that spell.

He was capable of magic and moments of stupidity. Now, I like players like Young and Valencia, but a lot of our 'magic' began to disappear when functional players took place over players capable of magic. (fwiw, I know you need both types. But a winger/forward is one place I want a confident player capable of the extraordinary.)

Absolutely. Throughout his time here you could pick out his best form after he'd played several consecutive games. It was like he needed to be guaranteed half a dozen consecutive games whereby he would not be dropped irrespective of ropey form; after which he performed consistently well. I got the feeling that if he wasn't given this security he'd always be trying to do far to much to impress and would try to beat his man or score from distance even when the opportunity wasn't there. Without this pressure he was as consistent as you're likely to see from a winger.

Unfortunately in terms of his career at United this only really occurred Jan 2010 up until Koscielny injured him on 22nd Jan 2012, essentially ruling him out for the rest of the season. I'm not sure what happened in terms of Fergie's faith in him after that injury. He went from being as close to a guaranteed starter for two years to rarely starting more than 2 games on the bounce. Whether the signing of Kagawa had an effect I'm not sure, but Nani was certainly the better player when given consistent game time.

The same seemed to be the case at Sporting and later Fenerbahce. Give him the confidence of consistent game time and he'll repay that faith with very good performances.

 

[MemphisDepay]

I do think the fact that he started the biggest game of the season, the Real Madrid home game in Fergie's last season shows how much faith Fergie truly had in him. And he was doing pretty well that game until that unjust sending off.

 

[Massive Spanner]

I do think the fact that he started the biggest game of the season, the Real Madrid home game in Fergie's last season shows how much faith Fergie truly had in him. And he was doing pretty well that game until that unjust sending off.

He pretty much forced himself into the side with two good previous performances, in fact I think he only came off the bench in one of those games in which we basically fielded a B side, he was basically "done" here according to most before the Real game. I'd say a lack of faith in him from Fergie was one of the biggest contributors in Nani not making it here. Fergie never trusted him over Valencia, and, at times, Ashley Young. I think he was just a bit too erratic for Fergie as a winger. He was much more of a fan of someone like Valencia, no nonsense, dependable, will get the cross in to the box (well, pre. 2013 at least!).

 

[Kostov]

Prime Nani was fantastic and not inconsistent at all. The problem was that we only got “prime Nani” for about a season and a half. Two seasons, tops.

What I meant with inconsistent was that he was fantastic for a prolonged period of 1.5-2 seasons, when he was one of the best players in the league, but from his first season here the talent was obvious, he had some outstanding games, great goals and frustrating moments of course.

It's a real shame we let some of our talented players like Nani/Rafael for peanuts, and replaced them with less talented ones, I could never forgive LVG for those moronic decisions.

 

[Bwuk]

I'd take a prime Nani over any of Mkhitaryan, Mata or Lingard in a heartbeat. He was inconsistent but he was also capable of the extraordinary, I loved him.

Agreed.

Nani was a brilliant player, a pure magician on the wing on his day.

 

[SambaBoy]

I'd take a prime Nani over any of Mkhitaryan, Mata or Lingard in a heartbeat. He was inconsistent but he was also capable of the extraordinary, I loved him.

This. He just offered so much quality and ability to beat a man was outstanding. He could literally stand them up at the edge of the box and go either way with a drop off the shoulder. There was a period of games where he was the difference maker in every game and if we were searching for some creativity, we would look to him.

He was much better on the right than the left wing and that Carragher tackle and the Madrid sending off seemed to ruin him and he never regained that form. Moyes never even attempted to use him properly.

 

[criticalanalysis]

So much revisionism for Nani.

He was a really good player for United, but like the team in the latter years, declining in form and probably confidence, and ultimately sold to let him get his mojo back (I think). He was unstoppable in one of the seasons where he almost single-handedly win the games for United (while Rooney - perhaps again behaved like spoilt child). My favourite goal was that solo goal (Goal no. 18 - Youtube: Didn't really show the earlier solo run from middle of the pitch before the goal though), but he scored plenty of thunderbastards as well.



A decent in-form Nani would be really useful in this season's United team at that RM/RW.

Definitely not a Depay. Depay did it for PSV, in Holland. Nani did it for United, for more than just a season.

Interesting you mention that goal against because I have vague (good) memories of it. I think that goal and moment put us back in the game.

My memory of Nani during those 12-18months was, 'we have a genuine world class difference maker'. First touch, pace, one-two passing, technique, dribbling etc was just sensational. He was just amazingly 'clutch'.

So sad seeing the lack of opportunities/decline after

 

[DannyCAFC]

Is it general consensus that he was better at shooting with his left-foot? I seem to remember him scoring some extraordinary goals from long-range with his left and kind of came to the conclusion that although he's obviously right-footed, he seemed to hit it better with his 'weaker' foot.

Great player at his peak and one I thoroughly enjoyed watching, playing RW he could beat his full-backs with tricks and/or pace and put in dangerous crosses, or cut inside and absolutely leather it with his left. I'm a big fan of wingers that are two-footed, especially when they can hit it from range like Nani could on his weaker foot, makes you such a danger and the full-back doesn't how a clue which way to show you.

 

[AshRK]

I feel had jose taken over from sir alex, we would have seen more from nani in our shirt. Jose would have done really helped nani reach his heights , which sadly he never reached.

 

[711]

Tough fecker, might dive and roll around like a mortally wounded ballerina but if it needed a foot in or an elbow he knew how.

 

[Lawman]

Could produce moments of brilliance and did regularly for a season but ultimately was to inconsistent to be a long time regular. Great potential but never quite made it to where his potential level was at for me. Great career and good player Sharpe or Blomquist level type.

 

[2cents]

Could produce moments of brilliance and did regularly for a season but ultimately was to inconsistent to be a long time regular. Great potential but never quite made it to where his potential level was at for me. Great career and good player Sharpe or Blomquist level type.

Ok Sharpe, fine, but Blomqvist? He doesn't belong in the discussion at all.

 

[Hojoon]

IIRC he suffered quite a few injuries in his last few seasons, that didn't help his cause.

 

[IrishRedDevil]

I always loved him as a player and was very sad to see him go.

We watch football to be entertained, and that's exactly what Nani was capable of doing. On his day he was unplayable and able to do stuff that other top players could only dream about.

 

[Massive Spanner]

IIRC he suffered quite a few injuries in his last few seasons, that didn't help his cause.

He never really recovered from the Carragher tackle. He was probably one of the best wingers in Europe at the time it happened.

 

[Hojoon]

He never really recovered from the Carragher tackle. He was probably one of the best wingers in Europe at the time it happened.

I dunno, I remember him turning in some great performances early in the first half of 11-12. Koscielny's tackle on him that made him lose two months in January that season looks even more fatal in hindsight.

 

[FujiVice]

He's was our Mesut Ozil in the sense that when things are going well its easy to praise him, due to how fantastically talented he is. And when things werent going well, he was an easy target. Always felt for him being booed off in his last season for us. A few deserved the same shit as he was getting, but he was the person people seemed to go for.

 

[2cents]

I dunno, I remember him turning in some great performances early in the first half of 11-12. Koscielny's tackle on him that made him lose two months in January that season looks even more fatal in hindsight.

Yeah this is correct. The Carragher tackle didn't do much damage, but I think his ridiculous mistake earlier in that match may have cost him his first team place in the final months of that season just as Valencia started hitting form - the kind of mistake that would really, really piss Fergie off.

Then he started 11/12 in top form again until that injury, and that was pretty much it for Nani as a first choice pick.

 

[Nick.]

Anybody remember the Community Shield goal vs City? I think it was the winner to make the score 3-2, one of my favourite moments after going 2-0 down iirc.

 

[Di Maria's angel]

Anybody remember the Community Shield goal vs City? I think it was the winner to make the score 3-2, one of my favourite moments after going 2-0 down iirc.

One of the the best 2nd half performances I've seen. Two brilliant goals from Nani - the first was simply brilliant and the second driven by determination.

 

[theREDMAN]

For me Nani has been one of the most frustrating players I've had the privilege to watch. He was either world-class or horrible. I don't remember him being a little bit of both on a given day.

 

[Dobbs]

Tough fecker, might dive and roll around like a mortally wounded ballerina but if it needed a foot in or an elbow he knew how.

Plenty of attributes but that definitely wasn't one of them. Neither physically or mentally. Had he been I'm sure his career would have played out differently.

 

[RedDevilCanuck]

Fergie rated him highly despite the brain farts.

Technically he would not look out of place in any team.

 

[Giant Midget]

Plenty of attributes but that definitely wasn't one of them. Neither physically or mentally. Had he been I'm sure his career would have played out differently.

Was an absolute tank physically tbh

 

[Cypriot]

Tell you what, he was a cracking player for a few seasons with us. No matter all the abuse/criticism he received he always came out and gave 100% which isn't what you can say about a lot of players we've had over the years. I liked him a lot, and at one point he was easily the best winger in the league for a couple of years. Hope he's doing well for his current club.

 

[Ashley R1+O]

That goal against Chelsea was absurd, pick it out Petr.

 

[Dobbs]

Was an absolute tank physically tbh

Big difference between having muscles and being tough.

One of my biggest gripes is players who obviously spend a large amount of time in the gym but then don't put it to use like they should.

 

[Hellboy]

I'll never understand you guys...
I disliked him as much as i dislike Fellaini now, and yes, I'm being serious.
Hated seeing him in our starting lineup.

This video sums him up as football player for me, worst decision making in the history of football, probably.

you're an idiot.

 

[Kostov]

I'll never understand you guys...
I disliked him as much as i dislike Fellaini now, and yes, I'm being serious.
Hated seeing him in our starting lineup.

This video sums him up as football player for me, worst decision making in the history of football, probably.

That says more about you, really.

 

[Oscie]

If he was a 19/20 year old his entire career he would be one of the most exciting and promising 19/20 year olds in the world game.

Sadly beyond that and when our came to the stage where you expected consistency and quality his performances were ad predictable as a coin toss

 

[Grylte]

you're an idiot.

What a good way to discuss something on a forum, how long did you think through your reply?

That says more about you, really.

We all like and dislike some players, for various reasons, sorry if i hurt your feelings by disliking Nani.

 

[Kostov]

We all like and dislike some players, for various reasons, sorry if i hurt your feelings by disliking Nani.

Nah no reason to be sorry, as much as it hurt me i'll get over it.

 

[Grylte]

Nah no reason to be sorry, as much as it hurt me i'll get over it.

Have a beer later, and you'll feel better in no time!

 

[Lawman]

Ok Sharpe, fine, but Blomqvist? He doesn't belong in the discussion at all.

Think you are under rating Blomqvist!

 

[2cents]

Plenty of attributes but that definitely wasn't one of them. Neither physically or mentally. Had he been I'm sure his career would have played out differently.

Big difference between having muscles and being tough.

One of my biggest gripes is players who obviously spend a large amount of time in the gym but then don't put it to use like they should.

He absolutely steam-rollered Ivanovic off the ball one time I seem to remember. He was well able to handle that part of the game when he was in the mood.

 

[2cents]

Think you are under rating Blomqvist!

He literally had one decent enough season here. That's all.

 

[Dobbs]

He absolutely steam-rollered Ivanovic off the ball one time I seem to remember. He was well able to handle that part of the game when he was in the mood.

Same incident came to my mind. As it would for everyone else I guess. Which is telling in itself.

 

[Utdstar01]

A peak Nani would've been perfect for our right side  Exactly what we are missing. 

 

[JustAFan]

A peak Nani would've been perfect for our right side  Exactly what we are missing. 

You don't say