It wasn't just Dario Gradi, Ferguson and Powell himself apparently both agreed at the time that he would end up as a midfielder. I think he's still got time to drop into that role and be successful, he's very talented and intelligent and obviously there has to be something about him that suggests he can do it otherwise Gradi et al wouldn't have thought so in the first place. Whether or not he'd be better off further forward is still a question though. I think he would probably naturally suit playing attacking midfield most, but he'll struggle very hard to play for us in that position
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I think agreed is a strong way to put it. There is no way a deal would have been agreed on Powell playing at CM only. I think it's more of an opinion and view of where they see him in the future.
But they did agree. Here's the quote
"Crewe played him as a forward in behind the striker, but I asked a question of [Alex director of football] Dario Gradi as to whether he thought central midfield was his position.
"That's what he thinks, and Nick thinks that's his position too, so we're all in accord on that."
it doesn't mean they agreed to play him at CM only, and I'm pretty sure that the few times he played for us he didn't play there. But yes you're right, the point is that's where they all saw him playing in the future, apparently. Powell might not really think that anymore though, or perhaps he never did. And who knows what Moyes wants to do with him
"Crewe played him as a forward in behind the striker, but I asked a question of [Alex director of football] Dario Gradi as to whether he thought central midfield was his position.
"That's what he thinks, and Nick thinks that's his position too, so we're all in accord on that."
it doesn't mean they agreed to play him at CM only, and I'm pretty sure that the few times he played for us he didn't play there. But yes you're right, the point is that's where they all saw him playing in the future, apparently. Powell might not really think that anymore though, or perhaps he never did. And who knows what Moyes wants to do with him
Yes, agreed as in their opinion was the same. Nothing in terms of something set in stone that he would be contractually obliged to play there though.
I think I may have misinterpreted your post now that I have read it over.
I think I may have misinterpreted your post now that I have read it over.
That's his style of play I'm afraid...I don't think he was casual at all.Arsenal were pressing all over the pitch and Wigan looked out on their feet with no service to the strikers
I've never seen a casual centre midfielder so I don't quite believe it when people say he can be centre midfielder.
As for the game itself, I thought he had the ball more often than Wigan's approach could have afforded him so it's disappointing how little he did with it.
He just looked like he struggled to get into the pace of the game, sometimes as sub it's difficult to get flying out of the blocks. Arsenal were really pushing hard when he came on, so it wasn't a surprise to me he looked a bit caught cold.
Once he got going though he showed his ability and what he can do. That dribble where he dragged the shot wide with his left is more like what hes capable of. Either way wasn't the best game to judge him on.
Once he got going though he showed his ability and what he can do. That dribble where he dragged the shot wide with his left is more like what hes capable of. Either way wasn't the best game to judge him on.
Has been voted in as Crewe's greatest player in history!
This is surreal.Seems a bit mad He did fire them into League 1 though, so I suppose their fans must appreciate that.
He did fire them into League 1 though, so I suppose their fans must appreciate that.Haha well I won't complain!
It basically means they think he's more talented than David Platt, which might be a reasonable shout. He's weirdly underrated by a lot on here.
Clayton Donaldson cruelly overlooked 
Wasn't Dean Ashton from Crewe? Thought he'd of been a better choice.
Danny Murphy, David Platt, Stan Bowles, Rob Jones, Robbie Savage etc
Didn't realise he had such a stinker against Arsenal. Great to see some comments pop up straight away writing him off. Morons.
haha, um wow.
I didn't see the game but seeing some of the comments here afterwards were ridiculous based on one game. People seem to forget he was hands down Wigans best player in the first half of the season. He pretty much carried the team in Europe.
Powell being voted Crewe's best ever player is a bit surprising but I can understand it. Around the time we signed him I can remember reading what Crewe fans thought about him and I remember that a lot of them were saying he was quite possibly the most talented player their academy had ever produced
I'm surprised by all the negative comments after the Arsenal game. He's likely been our most impressive player on loan and scored goals wherever he's played. I don't really believe he is going to end up as a CM, he's likely an attacking mid or a forward but I'd only rank him next to Adnan from United in that age group.
I really hope Nick makes it here, he's clearly a talented player. I'd like to see him get a loan out to a Premier League club next season, it'd be interesting to see how he'd cope playing regularly at the top level and it'd most likely benefit his overall development.
He needs to go on loan to a PL club that would play him in centre midfield.
Agreed. That sort of thing is completely out of line. He's a young player who in football terms, is wise beyond his years and will make it at United.
I'm probably a bit detail-oriented here but he was one age group older than Adnan.
Agree that he probably won't end up at CM (Fergie thinks what he want but Moyes is our manager now).I think he'll become a better version of Park here.Not really fixed in any position but still offer something in every position he plays in.
He was injured recently was he not ?? I can understand if he needs a bit of time to get back to his best. No idea why people are so negative about him ??
Also, he could fit in as a CM, we should try it before dismissing it.
Also, he could fit in as a CM, we should try it before dismissing it.
Well, to be fair, he did have a bad game against Arsenal. I'm not writing him off, anyway. Him and Lingaard would be better on the bench and be rotated in than some of our other players like Young and Valencia, though I'd prefer to see them go on loan to a Prem club.
He is quality. I have no doubt he will make it at United. Not bothered about the occasional poor game.
I've watched quite a lot of him this season for Wigan and not been at all impressed. He was decent in a couple of the early games, but it's gone downhill from there. Almost seems to have taken a step or two backwards. That probably has a lot to do with the fact that he's almost always playing as a centre-forward. He struggles to get any kind of touch going unless he sees plenty of the ball, which isn't going to happen playing up front for Wigan at the moment.
He's a quality player, and eventually he'll get the opportunity to show it, and I'm sure he'll have a good career. But I don't hold high hopes of him making it at United. Not very mobile, and not quick-thinking enough in my opinion.
He's a quality player, and eventually he'll get the opportunity to show it, and I'm sure he'll have a good career. But I don't hold high hopes of him making it at United. Not very mobile, and not quick-thinking enough in my opinion.
Never understood why Wigin has him playing up their. In my eyes, they are mishandling his ability and has a result, it is no suprise to hear that he has regressed.
I think it's mainly down to Coyle. He used Powell exclusively as a forward during his time as the Wigan boss. Coyle prefers his midfielders to be box-to-box and be good ball-winners. Powell was in no way a ball-winner in midfield, and since his strength was his finishing and goalscoring, Coyle used him as a striker. In come Rosler after Powell, and we see him use Powell in the same way as Rosler already has accomplished midfielders ahead of Powell.
Just went on a Crewe forum (apparently that's a thing by the way) to see what they thought of Nick Powell and found a thread entitled let's all laugh at man utd. Bit ridiculous that, eh? It's like Ethiopia laughing at Britains debt.
Has he regressed? He's had a pretty good season, by any standards, in the championship and up until this year he had only ever played regularly in league two and the reserve premier league. Hard to call that regression especially since some of the issues highlighted have always been issues for him. I personally don't buy into the idea that a player is only going to progress by playing in their favourite position; it might have been preferable for him to spend all season in midfield but I think he'll have gained a lot from the regular playing time at a decent competitive level.
I have not watched him play, but as I stated, what I hear is that he has not really taken the championship by storm. I never liked the idea of him playing as a striker, so to hear that he has not done so well was no surprise to me because from the little I saw of him at United, he seemed better utilized as a midfielder. He needs to be more involved in the game and devlop his game around ball retention and making the penetrative passes. Rather than finding goals and playing with his back towards goal. I am only basising this from what I heard of his performances at Wigin.
Would be a silly move if we let him go there - it's only Championship standard and below opposition he'd be playing against.
If he is to go out on loan again it would need to be to a PL club, to properly establish whether he can handle it.
He's only just turned 20 and for the most part he's been good for Wigan this season. Iv not got a clue if he will ever be a first team starter here but he's got potential, id like to see him go on loan to a Premiership team next season.
It seems that Nick lost his starting spot for Wigan recently. It does not bode well for him making an impact for United next season.
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