[TwoSheds]

Someone else found a site listing him at a similar height. But from the pics I saw online of him next to the 6'2 Thorpe I'd say he's 6'1.

He was quite skinny last season, btw, he's filled out a good bit.

I'm a fan of Thorpe and I thought he should have gotten a chance last season. So I'm a little biased.

My recollection is that the defense in the reserves was very good In the first half with Thorpe, but a bit better with McNair.

But I didn't think it was enough to rate McNair over Thorpe, as its a team game.

But considering McNair was playing next to Ekangamene, who hadn't played CB previously for the reserves, I was pretty impressed.

Can anyone tell me if Ekangamene played any CB for the U18s?

Also, I wrote McNair stepped up in the middle of last season, was it actually at the beginning off last season and he just didn't get into the team much until Thorpe left?

Think Ekangamene played left back a few times for the U18s but don't remember him playing at CB...you need a MUJAC or someone to confirm though!

 

[gooDevil]

Think Ekangamene played left back a few times for the U18s but don't remember him playing at CB...you need a MUJAC or someone to confirm though!

Right on, thanks

 

[mazhar13]

McNair, like in the U21, showed a good amount of composure at the centre of defence. He did little wrong against West Ham, but then again, West Ham aren't that great going forward, anyways. Still, once the big target men came in, McNair did well to deal with them and was a key figure in weathering the storm.

I'm happy that he's getting his chances. After a good season at the U21, he's getting his chance in the first team. With Smalling and Jones both unlikely to play against Everton, I'm looking forward to seeing how he does against better-quality players.

 

[mazhar13]

Think Ekangamene played left back a few times for the U18s but don't remember him playing at CB...you need a MUJAC or someone to confirm though!

Ekangamene did play as a central defender alongside McNair last season at the U21. He did very well as a central defender, as well, and I thought it made better use of his strengths than his supposed best role as a central midfielder.

 

[Bojan11]

McNair, like in the U21, showed a good amount of composure at the centre of defence. He did little wrong against West Ham, but then again, West Ham aren't that great going forward, anyways. Still, once the big target men came in, McNair did well to deal with them and was a key figure in weathering the storm.

I'm happy that he's getting his chances. After a good season at the U21, he's getting his chance in the first team. With Smalling and Jones both unlikely to play against Everton, I'm looking forward to seeing how he does against better-quality players.

You clearly haven't watched West Ham then.

They been pretty good going forward this season and have a few decent strikers, who are also quite physical. McNair dealt with them well.

 

[jb8521]

Think Ekangamene played left back a few times for the U18s but don't remember him playing at CB...you need a MUJAC or someone to confirm though!

Youre right he mainly played lb or cm, I only ever remember him playing once as a cb for the under 18s following an injury.

 

[mazhar13]

You clearly haven't watched West Ham then.

They been pretty good going forward this season and have a few decent strikers, who are also quite physical. McNair dealt with them well.

I'm aware of their more progressive football with Big Sam starting to move away from the long-ball tactic and moving in towards short passing and good movement (why he's playing a diamond midfield setup). However, it's early days for them, and, like Hughes at Stoke in his first season there, it'll take a bit of time before they become better going forward.

Having said that, I don't think McNair had an easy job at all. He still did well against West Ham, especially when we were under the cosh and Jenkinson (baffled as to why Wenger loaned him out) got more involved in the game. I'm very happy with his performance, and I hope to see more of him as he's shown that he has the mentality to make it into the first team.

 

[Hit It]

He's had a real taste of what the PL is about now. I just hope United fans don't get on his back when he does make a mistake because we have to understand that these youngsters like Blackett, Mcnair and Thorpe are a work in progress and need time to adapt. The media will play their part in magnifying an error a player makes but I don't think we should get sucked up in the hype they create regardless if its positive or negative. He had a decent début and has potential to improve and that's the end of it.

 

[TwoSheds]

Youre right he mainly played lb or cm, I only ever remember him playing once as a cb for the under 18s following an injury.

Left wing a few times too thinking about it!

 

[FromTheBench]

Big test for him vs Everton and Lukaku then.

Somewhat worried.

 

[Crackers]

Neither Jones or Smalling looked as if they were in training today so I expect to see McNair again on Sunday. Another big game for him.

Him and Rojo as the pairing? Rafael and Shaw as the fullbacks.

 

[footballgirl07]

Big test for him vs Everton and Lukaku then.

Somewhat worried.

Lukaku has been playing a lot more wider than previous seasons and normally wide right. So he is more than likely up against Shaw and Rojo than McNair. If Matinez plays his usual game, it will be McNair v naismith more than anything during play. More worried with set pieces with our defence than anything. Everton are a big, strong team compared to our guys.

 

[FromTheBench]

Lukaku has been playing a lot more wider than previous seasons and normally wide right. So he is more than likely up against Shaw and Rojo than McNair. If Matinez plays his usual game, it will be McNair v naismith more than anything during play. More worried with set pieces with our defence than anything. Everton are a big, strong team compared to our guys.

Lukaku has been playing wide to catch out LB's physically.

Considering our CB's being more of a weakness right now won't make that much sense to play Lukaku wide this game as he's not that great there too.

 

[Dunk]

Won't Blackett pair up with Rojo at CB?

 

[Stobzilla]

Youre right he mainly played lb or cm, I only ever remember him playing once as a cb for the under 18s following an injury.

Charni and McNair played CB for a big portion of last season for the U-21's.

 

[FromTheBench]

Won't Blackett pair up with Rojo at CB?

No. LVG said Mcnair will start being only right sided defender fit.

http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-F...e=twitter&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=ManUtd

 

[Devil may care]

Great confidence boost for McNair, LvG is really strict about not playing two CB's with the same main foot.

 

[footballgirl07]

Lukaku has been playing wide to catch out LB's physically.

Considering our CB's being more of a weakness right now won't make that much sense to play Lukaku wide this game as he's not that great there too.

Depends on if Martinez changes his gameplan. He seems to prefer having him wide right and drift inwards. But to me that means Rojo will get the brunt of Lukaku with Shaw. But if plays him as straight through the middle, it will be a big test for McNair. Obviously with the big loss with Mirallas injury, he may want to change up his attack to hit our weaknesses.

 

[gooDevil]

Charni and McNair played CB for a big portion of last season for the U-21's.

Yes, I had wondered if Charni had any previous experience at CB.

McNair's success last season, considering his inexperienced partner, is all the more impressive.

 

[SharkyMcShark]

Yes, I had wondered if Charni had any previous experience at CB.

McNair's success last season, considering his inexperienced partner, is all the more impressive.

You guys know that Charni isn't at the club anymore, right

 

[gooDevil]

You guys know that Charni isn't at the club anymore, right

Yes.

 

[SirAF]

Not surprised that he'll start. Rojo is guaranteed to start as the only fit senior defender and Louis doesn't like two right footers or two left footers in defence.

 

[Loublaze]

You clearly haven't watched West Ham then.

They been pretty good going forward this season and have a few decent strikers, who are also quite physical. McNair dealt with them well.

Tbh they didn't target him as hard as I thought they would. Not taking anything from his performance. Valencia troubled him with his pace a few times though, but against Lukaku its going to be speed and brute force, not to mention Everton also have Eto'o. This will be a massive challenge for young McNair, matter fact it will be a challenge for newcomer Rojo too.

 

[The Red Thinker]

Won't Blackett pair up with Rojo at CB?

Blackett - Left footed
Rojo - Left-footed

In LVG's system, both cannot play at RCB because in this system when a Left footer tries to pass down the right hand side, the balls will almost always be shaped away from the pitch and not within a pitch as a right sided passer would do.

 

[Shimo]

It's not going to be about individual match ups where we will have a challenge but, more as a team. Lukaku or E'to will get their one on ones if we end up playing stupid. Doesn't matter who is in the back if Everton are given the freedom of OT to constantly go up against them. If we play our game, keep the ball like we know how to and dictate the pace/play, Rojo and McNair will fare just fine.

 

[Kag]

Van Gaal specifically refers to our defenders as right sided and left sided centre halfs. Unless he can help it, Rojo and Blackett will be fighting for a place on the left, and Smalling, Jones and Evans for the other. As they're all out, in comes McNair.

 

[In Rainbows]

No. LVG said Mcnair will start being only right sided defender fit.

http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-F...e=twitter&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=ManUtd

Which is kind of strange considering Thorpe is available.

 

[Raees]

Lukaku drifts to the right wing.. which means if anything it is Rojo who'll be up against him most of the time and Shaw. If he tries to target McNair by taking him down the left side.. he is less effective.

 

[Stobzilla]

Which is kind of strange considering Thorpe is available.

Ties in with what was being said in the Thorpe thread about LVG seeing him as a midfielder.

 

[FromTheBench]

Mcnair has definitely leapfrogged Thorpe for the time being as a CB.

 

[ottosec]

Mcnair has definitely leapfrogged Thorpe for the time being as a CB.

i think he was chosen because he is more comfortable on the ball.

I am a little worried how he will deal with Luckaku, hopefully he does well!

 

[Loublaze]

i think he was chosen because he is more comfortable on the ball.

I am a little worried how he will deal with Luckaku, hopefully he does well!

I think people are also forgetting Eto'o is at Everton now as well. Both our CBs have a job on their hands Saturday.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

So he's going to start against Everton then? He definitely deserves it from his performance against West Ham. Guess that means Jones is still out, though?

 

[Eric'sCollar]

Good luck to him. Another huge test, especially if Lukaku moves inside which I assume he will.

 

[The Red Thinker]

Which is kind of strange considering Thorpe is available.

Except that McNair had a great game in a tight match and has some momentum and valuable first team experience ahead of Thorpe.

 

[limerickcitykid]

Except that McNair had a great game in a tight match and has some momentum and valuable first team experience ahead of Thorpe.

I don't think it is strange because Paddy is getting to play but that he said there is only one available which means he doesn't even see Thorpe as an option for the right sided CB.

 

[In Rainbows]

Except that McNair had a great game in a tight match and has some momentum and valuable first team experience ahead of Thorpe.

That has nothing to do with LVG's comment. I'm not saying Thorpe should start over McNair. McNair did well in his last game and should be rewarded with another start as none of the senior right footed cbs are available. I'm saying that it's possible LVG doesn't consider Thorpe as a cb based on his comment that McNair is the only right footed cb available.

 

[The Red Thinker]

That has nothing to do with LVG's comment. I'm not saying Thorpe should start over McNair. McNair did well in his last game and should be rewarded with another start as none of the senior right footed cbs are available. I'm saying that it's possible LVG doesn't consider Thorpe as a cb based on his comment that McNair is the only right footed cb available.

Thorpe is not even in contention because he hasn't played once. Therefore he doesn't figure in the equation. If he had said something similar last week, then your point would be more accurate. We can't put in a rookie with no game time ahead of a Rookie with game time. If Thorpe and McNair both started last weekend (hypothetically speaking, where LVG had no option but to play two Right footed CB's because hypothetically everyone else was out of the equation) then you'd be right.

 

[In Rainbows]

Thorpe is not even in contention because he hasn't played once. Therefore he doesn't figure in the equation. If he had said something similar last week, then your point would be more accurate. We can't put in a rookie with no game time ahead of a Rookie with game time. If Thorpe and McNair both started last weekend (hypothetically speaking, where LVG had no option but to play two Right footed CB's because hypothetically everyone else was out of the equation) then you'd be right.

A couple of United fans (khoazany is one of them) have mentioned that LVG implied Thorpe was a midfielder right after the West Ham match.

 

[jb8521]

Charni and McNair played CB for a big portion of last season for the U-21's.

I know he asked if charni had played cb for the under 18s