Agree, also for Modric to score an absolute worldie as well. Very sad.
Nani
- Thread starter VJ1762
- Start date
Imagine Valencia versus Chillwell or in behind Ake.
Modric properly changed the game when he came on and ran the show.
Infuriating, I genuinely think we had a great chance of going onto win that season. Felt a lot of togetherness in that side.
Fergie was so unlucky in Europe at times, some proper unlucky eliminations, however I won't dispute that his two wins came with some luck too!
Very sad indeed.
Slightly off topic - I've been lurking here for years, and just wanted to say your username and tagline are brilliant!
Thanks
I was a big fan.
I remember during his lowest point under Fergie the boos started coming. Fergie was asked about Nani and he said " he's got a future here." Fergie always rated him.
He and Ronaldo were two of the best I've seen cutting in on their wrong foot and shooting. Such a skill destroys the confidence of a fullback.
Nani's dribbling style meant he could also beat a fullback from a standing start. This helped us so much when teams sat back.
I remember during his lowest point under Fergie the boos started coming. Fergie was asked about Nani and he said " he's got a future here." Fergie always rated him.
He and Ronaldo were two of the best I've seen cutting in on their wrong foot and shooting. Such a skill destroys the confidence of a fullback.
Nani's dribbling style meant he could also beat a fullback from a standing start. This helped us so much when teams sat back.
Nani was class. Remember there were a lot of calls for his head on here going into the 09/10 winter window. He had a game against Hull in the late January where Rooney scored 4, where he was outstanding and then followed it up with a brilliant display at the Emirates, he was flying after that.
Even on Nani's worst days you could generally trust him to create one great goal scoring opportunity a game. He probably should have more assists than he does.
Yeah this is my take. Strangely, one of my first memories of Nani is that damn Carragher thug tackle on him.
Argh that fecking ref
I remember him being on corner duties and never beating the 1st man.
Yeah strange post. Broke his leg start of his 2nd season for us, he was player of the season the year after it and played with us for 10 overall.
Nani was immensely talented but erratic.
He started showing consistency eventually and was our best attacking option for a while along with Rooney. Then weirdly was underused after the signing of Ashley Young.
He started showing consistency eventually and was our best attacking option for a while along with Rooney. Then weirdly was underused after the signing of Ashley Young.
Yeah it was often brought up how his injury made him a lesser player, yet he had several very good seasons, post-injury.
Fantastic player when he was on it. Creative, skilful and explosive. It's easy to forget how good he was. When Ronaldo left it was widely thought he could step up and fill the gap, but he never quite did.
The major downside was his decision making, which was a flaw he could never quite fix. Could be absolutely infuriating at times.
If he was at United now he'd be an absolute superstar by current standards.
The major downside was his decision making, which was a flaw he could never quite fix. Could be absolutely infuriating at times.
If he was at United now he'd be an absolute superstar by current standards.
Just at the 30 minute mark a couple of stories I'd never heard. Apparently Nani slapped Pique, threatened to break Phil Jones face and broke Davide Petrucci's ribs.
Was that by accident or on purpose?
Every time I see that refs face I get triggered. Remember how quick Jose got Modric in. It was lightening fast. Just thinking about it now, I’m triggered.
Made me remember something I once saw between Rio and Nani, thought they were going to kick off live on TV!
At the one of the end of season award ceremonies being shown on MUTV they were showing the players mingling after they arrived. You couldn't hear what they were saying but Nani and Anderson were together with Rio nearby. Nani said something and Rio went over when Nani starts curling his top lip up and doing like a "fish hook" motion to Rio. Assuming he was taking the piss out of Rio's lip, who was at one time referred to as a wobbly gobbed twat by those who didn't like him in the wake of him flirting with Chelsea, meeting with Peter Kenyon in a restaurant and the drugs ban etc.
Rio seemed furious, up in Nani's face pointing at him.
Don't know if Rio has ever talked about that?
On purpose, apparently they had an argument outside then Nani did it in the gym. Didn't go into much detail as they spoke over eachother but Rio said Nani was out of order.
I met Nani a few times. Let’s just say I did “security” for him a couple times. He has hands/can fight. I’ve also watched him “teach” capoeira to some of my friends. If he was to fight anyone in that United team, I’d put my money on him based on what I’ve seen with my own two eyes.
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Shouldn't be too difficult considering the squad's complete lack of fight.
Interesting. I met him once after I had dinner at a restaurant called the Stubborn Mule in Orlando. This was the week of the MLS all star game against Atletico Madrid and before covid hit. He spoke better English than I remembered seeing on TV prior. He seemed nice
Not heard/seen that. I think he interviewed Nani a couple years ago and they seem tight
Actually found the clip!
Rio perhaps not as furious as I remember but he seems to be making a hand gesture to tell Nani to watch his mouth and points as if to offer him to step outside. Ronaldo interluding as a peacemaker.
2:05 if it doesn't start at the right place.
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The days people moaned at Nani's output as a winger!
If only they could have seen the crop of wingers we had 15 years or so later!
Yeah the Hull game was when it all came together, had a great game and goal vs Spurs late on in that season too that felt like it had won the title for us until the loss to Chelsea. I remember him being insanely good during 10/11, but I also feel like he dropped off a lot after Carragher tried to break his leg in March in that loss to Liverpool, and he didn't really ever recover to the level he was even though he was great at times in 11/12 too. By Fergie's final season he was kind of finished for us.
During that 18 month window (from Jan 2010 through mid 11/12 or there abouts) Nani could probably have accurately been described as world class. When he was on top of his game he was magic, but overall inconsistency is unfortunately how he will be remembered. Even on off days, he was always the type to be able to conjure up a goal from nothing.
Yeah he was a wonderful player to watch and I don’t think he was fully appreciated at the time because we’d been blessed with so many great wingers.
It's sad how much the standards have changed in the last couple of years. A finished Nani would walk into our first XI right now.
Pretty sure this is his first season with us, so the expectations were fairly low. He was quiete brave back then too. That seal dribble at the Emirates alone proves that.
I loved watching Nani play. Athleticism, flair, close control, speed, and has a strong shot on him from range. I think his inconsistency was overstated. He took risks and was one of the few players that can create something out of nothing.
Agreed. A pure joy to watch, especially after CR7's exit. The cheeky goal v Spurs, the chip and seal dribble v Arse, the insane community shield goals v City, the backheel CL goal v Bayern. Fantastic player.
All good shouts, however my favorite Nani goal is the one against Boro, where he beats Cattermole and Luke Young and then unleashed a thunderbolt from 30 yards out. Insane goal.
A fan asked him to sign a Portugal 2016 shirt yesterday, and the madlad took the shirt from the fan and left, claiming it was stolen from him.
This seemed to be theme a lot for us and english clubs in Europe around that era, one of the biggest robberies in football was barca vs chelsea when Drogba started swearing at the camera, people seem to forget how damn lucky pep was to even get to the champions league final that year
2 constants seem to be Madrid and Barca both benefitting from dodgy decisions. Tinfoil hat firmly on. Quite a few times Casemiro was lucky to stay on the field for them as well.
Unbelievable goal. Remember watching it, after he beats the first man thinking where he was going. No! Not from there…