I don't think it's a case of not being excited about him as a player, it's just the fact we've spent £30m on Shaw so signing a left back who's comfortably better than him and still very young doesn't make sense. Would've preferred Rodriguez to Shaw but now we have one there's no need for the other.
Ricardo Rodriguez
- Thread starter yanuzay
- Start date
I don't think it's a case of not being excited about him as a player, it's just the fact we've spent £30m on Shaw so signing a left back who's comfortably better than him and still very young doesn't make sense. Would've preferred Rodriguez to Shaw but now we have one there's no need for the other.
Very good full back indeed, would be a first choice player here if he came.
Well, looking it at another way, better him than Cavani. The latter would be a really bizarre signing if it happens
I'am thinking if we sign him, LVG might field us like this:
-----------------DDG-----------------
Smalling---------Evans----------Shaw
----------Carrick---------------------
Valencia-------Herrera--------Rodriguez
---------Mata--------Rooney--------
----------------RVP-----------------
-----------------DDG-----------------
Smalling---------Evans----------Shaw
----------Carrick---------------------
Valencia-------Herrera--------Rodriguez
---------Mata--------Rooney--------
----------------RVP-----------------
Said in the 3-5-2 thread, but I could understand why we were linked with him. He'd be a better signing than Cuardrado.
He still plays on the left and we have still only recently signed a left back for a hefty price.
I'm not convinced about Shaw attacking wise in a 3-5-2. He'd be better playing as the left centre back.
They dont play the same position. Rodriguez is a left back who I doubt can florish as a wing back
He will never be a centre back.
I know they don't.
But if Cuardrado comes in what do we do with Rafael and Valencia. And Rodriguez is pretty going forward, so I have no doubts he'd flourish as a wing back.
Why? He's better at going forward than defending, if anything, I doubt Cuadrado would make a good wing-back, as he's defensively not good enough, but then again, they now play Dani Alves there and we play Valencia there.
Because he's a defender first and foremost. He's a good crosser of the ball but his strength is defending, like he showed against Argentina
Going forward I'd prefer players who're not defenders
Well, the position is for defenders. Just for some that are better going forward than Shaw, like Rafael. Less defensive responsibility doesn't mean no defensive responsibility.
He is miles ahead Shaw at this time. But he's also 3 years older, so maybe Shaw will be at the same level or better in a few years.
I don't think we will buy him, because we would have basically wasted the money we spent on Shaw.
I don't think we will buy him, because we would have basically wasted the money we spent on Shaw.
Bale was a defender...
Not a very good one, mind.
I think he's far more suitable for the role than Shaw is tbh.
Considering how we are looking to play, signing Shaw was a huge error. Rodriquez is in the Alves mould already, assisting and scoring for fun and is better offensively than all our wingers currently are.
Shaw is a proper left back.
Shaw is a proper left back.
Shaw and Rodriguez both like to burst from deep so don't think they are dribblers from a standing start at all. Rodriguez just has a better cross bit like Baines and his assist numbers bit bloated come from Set pieces similarly as well while Shaw seems to cross way less. He either carries the ball with pace into deep central or passes it inwards right now.
Rodriguez would be more suited to a LWB role, but not sure either is suited to it more than as a LB where Shaw's main strength is his one on one defending and ball carrying ability from deep. Guess, he can still learn and adapt though to this role as his attacking play had to improve anyway. Remember he just turned 19.
In a nutshell this is why it did matter whether Shaw was a Van Gaal signing or not. It could easily stall his progression if there isn't a proper place for him in the system. However it's likely that Shaw will be here for long enough (and longer than Van Gaal), so the signing wont be an 'error' in the long run.
If we wanted the most versatile left wing-back available, we should have gone for Bernat. I haven't seen much of Rodriguez, but he didn't strike me as a truly amazing offensive outlet. Not the type to turn and carry the ball from stand still higher up the pitch, like Bernat.
He probably still would have made more sense for this system, but he almost certainly wont be coming now Shaw's here.
We could be in a uncomfortable position where we aren't truly sorted out at left wing back, or maybe Shaw will adapt quickly and benefit from it when the time comes for him to possibly go back to an orthodox left-back role.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...l-transfer-claims-Wolfsburg-star-s-agent.html
Manchester United make contact with Ricardo Rodriguez over potential transfer, claims Wolfsburg star's agent
Manchester United make contact with Ricardo Rodriguez over potential transfer, claims Wolfsburg star's agent
We should have signed him in the summer, he's a wicked left back and is incredibly productive from that position as well.
He signed a new contract recently including a release clause (supposed to be around 25-30m €). He would be a decent buy for that money.
Seriously? It was a massive feck up not getting him then. I've watched him quite a few times this season, and he looks incredibly consistent in his performances and he was great at the world cup too.
The English sports press are an embarrassment. 
Would have been a really nice buy last summer.
Before this season, would you really rather have him than Shaw? Shaw can be United's Ashley Cole.
Rehashed shite.. we won't be signing another quality left back with Shaw here.
Rodriquez is better than Shaw, I thought that in the summer as well. Shaw is also nowhere near Ashley Cole's level yet so no point comparing them. Having said that I would have always looked to bring Shaw to this club, but not for the price we ended up paying. I can understand paying extortionate fees for attacking players, but not full backs.
Why do you care so much about the transfer fee? How are you sure he's better? Have you seen him defending a lot or are you basing this on his free kick stats like most people?
Nowhere near his level yet? Of course. He's 19. At that age Cole was getting his first team debut. Shaw already has 80 appearances, most of them in the PL. At 19 he's come a longer way than Cole at 19. That is what was paid for. Also, by getting him this early he can be qualified as a home grown player. That's massive. It's becoming more and more important in Europe.
What was Rodriguez like 3 years ago? You have any idea? I think you need to look at the bigger picture rather than the flavor of the month.
Hes not really flavour of the month tbh, hes been highly rated for a while. I get what you say about Shaw, but given the choice I would have signed Rodriquez if it was a choice between the 2. I hope Shaw can get to the heights everyone seems to think he can, time will tell I guess.
I'm really into finance and economics so I care about these things.
Why do I care what Rodriquez was like 3 years ago, My point was that he's a better player right now and we should tried to get him in the summer. And how exactly is he flavour of the month, he's been very good for 18months now.
You're the one who was comparing him to Cole lol not me.
That is some embarrassing "journalism" if all they did was change quotes from last year. Not a signing that would make sense anyway, only purpose seems to be to stir shit.
Even with the patchy first season I still rather have Shaw over Rodriguez long term.
I dont see the need for 3 LB's even though Rodgriguez looks the part.
I would (and I said so). Rodriguez was way further in his development in the summer and for me he even has a higher ceiling, but you could argue about that.
Not sure if you understood me right, but his current contract includes the release clause. The sum apparently is tied to Wolfsburg getting in the CL or not (and the sum gets lower each year).
http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/...uez-nach-der-unterschrift_ich-wollte-weg.html
Flavor of the month is a figure of speech. You know what I mean. 18 months is no time in football. Less than 12 months ago one of the best strikers in the world was playing for Monaco and now that same person is playing for Man. United and isn't a top 20 striker going by his performances.
Shaw is the safer choice. Especially considering the amount of players brought into the team. You want someone who's used to the league. Plus, like I mentioned before, he's going to count as home grown in the future. Not just in nation but at club. A big difference then it would be buying him 3 months from now.
Do you actually watch Wolfsburg play on a regular basis? Answer this honestly. I have my doubts about so many people commenting on him that don't show their face in the Bundesliga thread.
I was comparing him to Cole for a reason. Cole was England's nr. 1 left back for over 10 years and one of the best, and at times the best, left back in the world. Shaw in his mold. Can you say the same for Ricardo Rodriguez? I certainly can't and I don't think the club would either. You need to take that into consideration when looking at the money factor.
I think it's the opposite really. Rodriguez was bought for more than 10m € a few years a go so he was already highly rated back in 2012. Since then he has developed into a top left back who's not only good defensively but extremely effective going forward and very good on the ball.
In the world cup he had to deal with Messi and Di Maria who was on top of his game back then and Rodriguez completely bossed that game.
With Shaw I'm not sure if he's gonna fulfill his potential really. It's always the same with young talented players, "He's young and will only improve". Unfortunately that's not how it works. And from what I've seen Shaw is able to defend very well but he's nowhere near as versatile as the top left backs in the world. Today it's not enough for a left back to just defend, and I don't know if Shaw can add the offensive qualities to his game. There's huge pressure on him with his price tag and with the media attention he's getting, he certainly wouldn't be the first player to not justify the investment. In the end Shaw was a big gamble from my point of view... I guess only the future can tell