I'm no great fan of Young and am happy to think it's his 1 good game in 5 but he did play well.
Smashley Young
- Thread starter Red Defence
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Patience dude, patience...
Let's be fair here. How many people were slating Nani on his competitive (?) debut? People got on Nani's back eventually, even if he did prove them wrong eventually. Regardless, any problems can be rectified with time
And I'd have sent Richards off.
Nani was an unknown 20 year old who'd never played in England..He'd also had a cracking pre-season where he scored about 4 goals if I remember correctly, yet people were on his back before he'd turned 21...Young is a 26 year old England regular.
I'm not saying we should get on his back, but I think some of the praise is wishful over egging at best, and deluded at worst. Yes he "took on Richards"...But he lost, every single time. He played some nice passes (but also lost the ball a bit) and his link up play was good, but no better than any of the other front 6. He was OK, with the exception of his fantastic cross for Smalling's goal (the rest of his deliveries weren't particularly special). Nothing more IMO....Not bashing the boy, what possible reason would I have for that? (arguing against an opinion often leads you to seem more damning than you mean to be) I think he'll get much better. But I am a bit baffled by some of the praise. I was right down by his side for the whole of the 2nd half. Richards had his number.
So he was better than Anderson, Smalling, Cleverly and Wellbeck then?
I thought he was pretty good, I was very encouraged. He looked sharp, wanted the ball, generally used it well. Yes he ran into blind alleys a couple of times, but that's what wingers do. He's never going to be a player with real magic but there's something clasy about him, and he looks well up for it.
He was better than Danny and as good as Cleverley IMO.
He was better than Danny and as good as Cleverley IMO.
He wasn't bad. And he made that first goal. That's about as much as you can't want from a game like this were Vidic and Evra didn't look good.
You're mad. Cleverly gave the ball away about once the whole half....Youngie ran into a big black alley at almost every opportunity and delayed virtually every cross...Wellbeck went into his position once and swung in a brilliant first time ball no one got on the end of...Danny's link up play was also far better IMO.
Horses for courses, but he was by far the most frustrating player out there for me. Not that he was bad, because the team played very well, but I can't help but see a lot of over egging here.
I don't want to be too down on the lad though, I'm just reacting to what I see as some undue over-praise.
Horses for courses, but he was by far the most frustrating player out there for me. Not that he was bad, because the team played very well, but I can't help but see a lot of over egging here.
I don't want to be too down on the lad though, I'm just reacting to what I see as some undue over-praise.
Welbeck was poor 5, Anderson was average 6, Cleverley had a nice cameo 6, Smalling looked good as usual but had little to do 6. Young was better than all of them 7.
This is your ratings for the CS game?
He is settling in well. He can only get better.
I agree.
His performance is immenisvely overrated. He wasnt bad, surely not. But he never got past Richards, and looked never really dangerous.
Good free-kick though. Overall a 7/10 performance.
He'll soon start to impress though, I'm sure.
5/10 for that effort PS.
You clearly didn't watch the match did you ?
First half both Young and Nani were a bit wasteful really, didn't link up with the fwds that well and thats understandable...
Young started to look decent after that cross and he seemed to liven up a bit, same goes for Nani.
I mean we were 2-0 down and came back to beat our $$$ Rivals 3-2.... What more can we ask for ?
Young started to look decent after that cross and he seemed to liven up a bit, same goes for Nani.
I mean we were 2-0 down and came back to beat our $$$ Rivals 3-2.... What more can we ask for ?
I thought he used the ball well but didn't really take any responsibility for advancing the play, if that was his general level of performance over the course of his United career I don't think he'd be a success, personally. Think there's plenty more to come from him though.
Agree with Mockney, was shocked that Young was getting as much praise as he was.
Agree with Mockney, was shocked that Young was getting as much praise as he was.
Have to agree with Mockney and Brwned, Young was okay but nothing more. His delivery to Smalling and a couple of nice passes to Welbeck aside, he didn't offer much penetrative play in the final third. He slowed things down, and although he showed eagerness and a bit of skill on the ball, he never really made things happen a lot. I thought Welbeck, Anderson, Cleverley, Smalling, Evans and Jones impressed a lot more to be honest.
But it's early doors, and he's quite obviously got something about him. I reckon he'll link up well with Evra, provide a lot of assists and start to roam a bit more infield as he gets more confident. His movement is very good. Interesting to see what happens when Valencia returns to full fitness.
But it's early doors, and he's quite obviously got something about him. I reckon he'll link up well with Evra, provide a lot of assists and start to roam a bit more infield as he gets more confident. His movement is very good. Interesting to see what happens when Valencia returns to full fitness.
he seems to like all these flicks and stuff, kinda like ronaldo when he first came to us, using those flicks but getting nowhere really. i mean flicks and tricks are great if they get you past people however that delivery for smallings goal made me shoot my load
He was almost always available for a pass, which was the most encouraging thing about yesterday. We were getting into a predictable pattern of playing down the right side of the pitch towards the end of last season. Something that was spotted and easily dealt with by Barcelona in the final.
Yesterday we mixed it up a lot more. It looked less obvious to me which ball we were going to play than it did at times last year.
Yesterday we mixed it up a lot more. It looked less obvious to me which ball we were going to play than it did at times last year.
I'd rate him as somewhere between a 6 and a 7. Not bad for competitive debut but no great shakes either. He was up against a strong fullback though
I had this feeling that he was trying really hard to look like a United winger, trying to show he's got flair and tricks, and that it was messing him up at times. Having said that, it's the nature of wingers and it's early days for him in the team and he didn't look out of place, even though others played better.
Fair enough. Good workrate too, but shouldnt cut inside all the time. Not sure how good he is with his left foot
He had a decent debut, but he has to learn how to play in this United team. He has been used to being the main man at Villa, now it is almost like starting out for England all over again, but .... harder!
He will gel into this team, I'm sure Rooney and Welbeck will look forward to playing with him every week with that English connection. He could be a top, top player for us soon.
He will gel into this team, I'm sure Rooney and Welbeck will look forward to playing with him every week with that English connection. He could be a top, top player for us soon.
Lets be fair here, its pretty much his debut. With that in mind I think he did really well. I do think some people are over critical of players sometimes. He did what was required without really being outstanding. Fantastic ball in for the Smalling goal too.
I'd agree with the first bit of that but completely disagree with the second.
Young didn't have the beating of his full-back on the day. He gave it a good shot but Richards defended against him very well and didn't let him get past him once. What impressed me, though, which is why I think he had a good game was the fact that Young almost always managed to retain possession with accurate short passes inside despite failing to beat his man.
Playing on the wing is a thankless task and if a winger comes up against an inspired full-back, chances are they willl make zero contribution to the game. This didn't happen yesterday and Young was heavily involved in a lot of quality attacking football, constantly available for the ball and rarely conceding possession cheaply. He also won some free-kicks in very dangerous areas and swung in some superb deliveries, including an absolute peach for Smalling's goal. These are all good reasons for Ray Wilkins et al to be impressed and he also impressed me.
Was he our best player? Not at all. He'd probably make the top five though, along with Anderson, Cleverley, Smalling and Rooney. Top six if I was being harsh, because Welbeck also had a very good game. That's still a very good performance, on a day when United made one of the most difficult teams to beat in the league look distinctly second-rate.
Spot on post.
Yeah I agree. He's never going to be a dribble past three men sort of winger but he's got real oomph, he injects pace and he's always thinking. He's not absolutely brilliant at any one thing but he has a lot of general class which I think will serve us well. With him, Nani and Tony V we have great wide options.
Nani?
D'oh! That's pushed Young down a place in the rankings. Let's settle for top 6.
Young - Giggsy's replacement.
Giggsy's - Scholes replacement.
Hargreaves replacement ???
Giggsy's - Scholes replacement.
Hargreaves replacement ???
So far he's been good, but I wouldn't put it higher than that. I expect him to be like Valencia and improve by being at United, but that it will not occur until 2 or 3 months into the season once he has got used to playing with the other forwards. The good news is that Young, Nani and Valencia are all different, which sets problems for the opposition.
Well said, he was vastly overrated yesterday. Not that I don't think he's a good player, he'll do very well here but he did slow things down for us too much, but a lot of players do when they first come in, because they're not used to the quick, fast football we play. One positive thing is that he looked like a player with lots of PL experience and that's very important. For all the talk of people preferring Sanchez, I don't think the kid would have as big an impact as Young is likely to, short term anyway. He's a good purchase and after a few games he'll be firing.
You forgot our best player on the day?
He did fine. Great ball for the Smalling goal. And generally linked up well. But seemed to run himself into trouble with the ball at feet far too often losing the momentum he had as well as looking a bit weak physically at times. Will get better.
Currently Hernandez but it's only concussion, we'll need someone who can offer more than that.
He has been distinctly average for us so far.. Don't get me wrong this is not a criticism.. Its merely the fact of how high I rate him and how he has yet to gain the understanding with his team mates yet.. He should and hopefully will be much better for us once he has come to grips with what being part of Manchester United is all about... It will take him a few months or probably more.. However nothings saying he wont put in a blinder in one the the early matches which will lead him to hit a great run of form and all of the rest will just follow.. I can't wait for the season to start to be honest..
Here is an article about him.
My thoughts are that he will go on to be a revelation for us.
He will go on to give our attack pace and unpredictability and I think he'll eventually be given a roving role. Imagine Young, Nani, Rooney all understanding each other's positions, all knowing how to play them and interchanging at will. Young can attack from the left, right and through the middle.
Why Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has bought £18m Ashley Young | Mail Online
My thoughts are that he will go on to be a revelation for us.
He will go on to give our attack pace and unpredictability and I think he'll eventually be given a roving role. Imagine Young, Nani, Rooney all understanding each other's positions, all knowing how to play them and interchanging at will. Young can attack from the left, right and through the middle.
Why Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has bought £18m Ashley Young | Mail Online
They were doing this in the charity Shield along with Welbeck so it has begun already, they will however get better and better at it in much the same way that we did with Wayne, Cristiano and Tevez.
there are some going a bit overboard about him. i thought he had a good attitude but was against Richards getting back to top form. I know a lot on here scoff at Richards but he's a fookin big area to get around and quick when his head is switched on. Not athe best game to judge him - he'll do well though.
I just feel he's got his stage now and he's ready to hit his peak, he looks massively up for it.
He'll never be an absolutely brilliant footballer but he's very good at lots of different aspects of the game and just seems like a bit of a winner.
He'll never be an absolutely brilliant footballer but he's very good at lots of different aspects of the game and just seems like a bit of a winner.
Ooh! Young Man!
So I posted this earlier then thought, imagine 70,000 doing it, I think we may have found him a chant.