Great. 
Damn injuries are getting highly annoying now.
Damn injuries are getting highly annoying now.Smashley Young
- Thread starter Red Defence
- Start date
He started very well for us, but then he got his first injury and never been back efter that one, and now he's got a new injury. Shame for such a good player and after that start he had for United.
I remember thinking at the time we signed him that one of the positives was his injury record. He made at least 34 Premier League appearances in each of the last four seasons (37, 36, 37, 34). It's therefore incredibly annoying that's he's had two separate injuries with us that have kept him out for a month or more.
Completely forgot about Young!
For feck's sake. That really is annoying.
Started the season on fire so he did, then fizzled out and got the injuries. I really dont know if he would get back in the first 11 when fit however, Valencia or Young? hmmm
He will play. We will rotate and keep them all fresh.
I still think Young on the left and Nani on the right has the potential to be our best wing pairing.
I dunno. I think Young is probably a better player than Valencia but I like the balance of our team with Valencia in it. He offers us a good natural width not too dis-similar to what Giggs offered us for all those years.
In a 433 perhaps Young is more suitable but in a 442 I'd prefer Valencia every time.
Nothing seems to get mentioned about him.
I was beginning to get the impression he'd gone to Hargreaves holiday camp.
I was beginning to get the impression he'd gone to Hargreaves holiday camp.
We're talking about where he will fit into the team on the wings, however it's also worth noting that he can play in behind the striker if need be. Whether he will be required there or not, I'm not sure, but I would like to see how he can play there sometime.
It's a little fuzzy but he's played there already this season hasn't he? Don't remember it going well.
Personally I don't like him in that position. Plus it means he's taking the place of either Berbatov, Hernandez or Welbeck.
Two things in particular that I've been disappointed with Young, his crossing and his inability to beat his man. I prefer Valencia.
Young is very good at beating his man. His problem is that he often turns around to try and beat them for a second or third time.
We call that "The Nani."
Valencia on the right and Nani on the left is our best pair of wingers. Fulham away was our best performance of the season IMO because - unlike our other big wins - we weren't at home and we weren't playing a team in crisis. That game was all about two brilliant wingers on top of their game.
Young's a great option on the left but I would definitely put him behind both Nani and Valencia in the pecking order. For now, anyway.
Young's a great option on the left but I would definitely put him behind both Nani and Valencia in the pecking order. For now, anyway.
agree
His crossings been dreadful to be honest, as has his set pieces. The 2 main qualities he was meant to have that would improve the side.
He's been crossing from the left, being a right footed player he's at a disadvantage in that position. We won't play him on the right though, shame as he'd be a real asset crossing from the right.
This is nothing new. He's been playing on the left hand side pretty much all his career, and its never affected his crossing ability the way it has this season.
(Because all he does is cut inside anyway..)
Very well said, Pogue.
Very well said, Pogue.
I'd place him on the left above anyone we have when he is on top of his game.
I don't think we've seen enough of him with us to know yet but I suspect Young on the left will be the way to go.
Nani
Valencia
Young
that's how i rate our wingers
Valencia
Young
that's how i rate our wingers
Indeed. To be honest I have confirmation bias when it comes to him. I've been a fan a since he broke through at Watford and I've wanted him to be signed for a long while for out left flank. That is why I've often questioned why it took him this long to get into England reckoning.
I think we've seen enough from Nani this season to prove he is capable of playing on the left, and Valencia isn't exactly far behind him in his abilities on the right side.
I'd have both of them in the team ahead of Young. Just because left is Youngs natural position, and isn't Nani's, doesn't mean he should be playing there because let's face it, he ain't nearly as good as Nani, and he's a level below Valencia too.
Not to mention, Young before his injury was in poor form.
I'd have Valencia and Nani as our first choice wingers at this moment in time.
I'd have Valencia and Nani as our first choice wingers at this moment in time.
I'd have them as our wingers pretty much all the time, unless they were in REALLY bad form, or needed a rest.
Is Young really a level below Valencia? I like them both but Young will be better in my opinion.
They're both 26 and Valencia has definitely been the better player in the last 3 years.
The way I see it Young can hit a height that Valencia cannot, however he does that about once or twice a season. The other times Valencia is a much better player for me and that is why I couldn't really understand the Young signing as anything other than possibly as a squad player.
The only reason I'd have given him a look in to the first XI if fit at the moment is because Nani looks a little jaded after having played almost every game this season. Bolton at home would have been a perfect game to rest him with Arsenal/Liverpoolx2/Chelsea coming up.
I hope he's hungry/interested/up-for-it upon his return from injury (and I can't see why he wouldn't be...). A motivated Young with something to prove can be a fecking fantastic footballer... as he's shown in a couple of spells for Villa / in an England shirt.
I think a big reason will have been that Young is comfortable on the left wing while Valencia is not. Obviously, Nani should be first in the pecking order for that slot but Young has got to be a better alternative than an ageing Ji-Sung Park.
The fact he can play both wings means he can cover for both valencia and Nani, with the possibility of ousting one or other of them if he really ups his game or they have a lengthy dip in form.
Of course Young is a good player, but he's not a consistent one yet. Like finneh said above, he is more capable of more moments of magic than Valencia is, but certainly not on the same level as Nani, and he's yet to prove that he can be as consistent a player as either of them.
He'll never be as good as Nani (who is younger) and I'm not convinced he'll be as good as Valencia either, big difference in their debut seasons at the club.
EDIT: Was about to post the same as Pogue said above, his main advantage over Valencia is his flexibility in different positions.
He'll never be as good as Nani (who is younger) and I'm not convinced he'll be as good as Valencia either, big difference in their debut seasons at the club.
EDIT: Was about to post the same as Pogue said above, his main advantage over Valencia is his flexibility in different positions.
Valencia is the new Mr. reliable.
True. but for me Nani on the right is something else. He gives us the magic i that role that Valencia never can. & an on form Young offers the same on the left. That is why in our first few games this season we were murdering teams. I can hardly wait to have all of our 4 wingers bang on form. Fullbacks will suffer greatly.
I don't agree that he is level below Valencia. All Valencia has over Young is consistency. Not ability. That is why at the start of the season, Valencia was on the bench and Nani and Young were first choice.
I might be wrong but Valencia had injury issues at the start of the season didn't he? Can't really argue against your beliefs on them though, I myself think Valencia is better, and consistency plays a big part for me. He may not be as flashy but he's a better crosser and when on form he is very good at making space for himself to get them in.
Nani is our best player on either side, but based on performances in the last few years I would agree, he's still more effective on the right, and utilizing his abilities should be the priority.
I do criticize Young a bit, not as a player, more so as a priority signing. I guess I just can't get it out of my head that we paid so much and gave him such big wages.
I'm glad we have them all though, 3 of the leagues very best wingers, and wingers have always played such a huge part in the Utd mentality, although we are over reliant on them of late due to our midfield weaknesses.
Anyone know the latest on Young or when he's due back?