Smashley Young

Genuinely still baffled as to why we bought him. If it was cheap, then I get that we need cover on the flanks.. But 18 fecking million? Average player, frustrating as feck. Wierd head. Ghetto Smurf
 
I'm gonna go easy on him because it's still his first season here, and he just returned from a long absence. We know what he's like when he plays well and at the moment this isn't even close. With Valencia out he's gonna get more games to play himself into form and I sure hope he takes them.
 
Raven Blade said:
I'm gonna go easy on him because it's still his first season here, and he just returned from a long absence. We know what he's like when he plays well and at the moment this isn't even close. With Valencia out he's gonna get more games to play himself into form and I sure hope he takes them.
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I was never overly impressed with him, even in the days of O'Neill calling him 'World Class'. He's a unique winger for an Englishman, but he still has all the bad traits of a Downing or Johnson.
 
No worse than Valencia was around the start of (his) season. I'd imagine he's struggling psychologically with his injuries since he's never really been injured before. If I remember right, in every other season before he joined us he'd played at least something like 35 games per season and close to not missing any.
 
He's been poor recently, he'll never be a top class winger, we know that. He's decent and he'll remain a decent squad player.
 
As mentioned, he'll never be a top class winger, but he is still well below what he can deliver. He shouldnt disappear in games like that. Still have faith in him though.
 
Even his set pieces have turned to shit since he's joined us, after being good initially, typical.
 
He's not done himself any favours so far to be fair.

He started the season well enough, put in a couple of good matches, although I don't think he was amongst our best performers. He seemed more like a casual contributor to the cause, than one of the people who inspired our good form.

For a man of his pace and crossing ability, I don't think he's shown enough to justify his signing thus far. He should be a very good counter attacking-asset, but he hasn't been. His set-pieces have been average. He dallies too long on the ball. And I don't think he's been as good at getting into goalscoring positions as he was at Villa.

So far it seems like his confidence has taken a dent from being one of many talented players in a club like ours. I do think he's a better player than he's shown us so far, but even at his best, I'd probably still pick Valencia and Nani at their best in front of him.

If that's the case, then £18 million for a squad player is a bit steep.

It's his first season though, he might come good, or Pete might have been right all along, and he's a one-in-five-player. Let's wait and see. He should get a prolonged spell to get his confidence back, and let's take it from there. It's fair to say he's been underwhelming so far though, I think.
 
Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber said:
the lattest cafe Scape goat
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I don't know why anyone is surprised how Young is playing. He was the same at Villa, started the season well then went downhill. Villa fans used to flood the phone ins moaning about him. They felt he didn't put the effort in. Maybe he feels he has made it now he is at United. Watch him have a stormer for England next week.
 
We are laughing at Downing for putting in the exact same shift at Liverpool game after game. I really hope he can do better, because right now we need inventive play from the wing with Nani struggling for form also and Valencia being out.
 
We've all seen him play much better then this for both Villa and England... so the performances are defnitely in him. Give him time, and he'll come good... that's my opinion on it anyway.
 
Anderson8 said:
Even his set pieces have turned to shit since he's joined us, after being good initially, typical.
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I've always wondered if we actually properly concentrate on set pieces as a club really. It seems we never really score many free kicks and I can't remember scoring off many corners either. Obviously they will train on them but it doesn't seem like we create much from them.

As for Young I agree with people saying got to give him time. I agree he's not been outstanding (though I disagree with Orton he's been far better than Downing) but he has had a few very good games.

It's to soon to write him off as being average. I wasn't amazed by him at Villa, though I think he was their best player, but certain players do improve in better sides. He has better quality around him and can excel with that. Valencia wasn't exactly a world beater at Wigan but to his credit he's improved a lot at United. Better players, better coaches and better training always helps.

I'd give Young a season before properly judging him, he started well then has been a bit stop start with injuries/rotation and it's not like he's been our only inconsistent player.
 
Orton said:
We are laughing at Downing for putting in the exact same shift at Liverpool game after game. I really hope he can do better, because right now we need inventive play from the wing with Nani struggling for form also and Valencia being out.
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Some stats from the Premier League

Ashley Young:
Appearances 14
Goals 2
Assists 5

Stewart Downing:
Appearances 24
Goals 0
Assists 0

Young has also scored a couple in Europe. Downing has not.
 
I was more looking at his performance last night, i dont actually remember him touching the ball in the second half until he came off. Like i said, he looked good in a few games at the start of the season, and whether injuries or whatever the reason is has caused his form to dip dramatically, i do not know but he needs to make his presence felt. Nani played poor but still managed to have a few great moments. We need Ashley to step it up. I know Downings been shocking
 
Orton said:
I was more looking at his performance last night, i dont actually remember him touching the ball in the second half until he came off. Like i said, he looked good in a few games at the start of the season, and whether injuries or whatever the reason is has caused his form to dip dramatically, i do not know but he needs to make his presence felt. Nani played poor but still managed to have a few great moments. We need Ashley to step it up. I know Downings been shocking
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It wasn't his fault though. Cleverly and especially Park were rubbish in midfield second half. The only reason why Nani was still in the game was because he is a dribbling wizard who was popping up all over the place.
 
Cantona07 said:
He is average
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He seems to have talent but lacks confidence.

Annihilate Now! said:
We've all seen him play much better then this for both Villa and England... so the performances are defnitely in him. Give him time, and he'll come good... that's my opinion on it anyway.
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Wasn't he the same at Villa, inconsistent. Hasn't that been the main problem in his career?
 
He was a good squad signing, nothing more than that. I dont think people expect him to be Messi surely?

He has done fine as far as im concerned. Played much better in the away leg
 
Not only his cross, but I thought he was very good in general when he came on today. One of the first things he did was hit a brilliant 40 yard pass to Evra and it all carried on from there.

That cross was a peach though, when he's got time, and it's on his right foot, he is more then capable of delivering a belter.
 
Lets be honest, if he contributes to 15-20 goals 'scoring or assisting' you'd put him down as a very solid buy. Right now he has what, 7 assists and 4 goals. Pretty solid given his played 21 games and season riddled with stops and starts due to injury.
 
Well he done quite good i thought, but the lack of drive from the rest of the team didn't make it too difficult for him to stand out. Great cross at the end, exactly what we needed.
 
He's impressed me with his passing in recent times. If Fergie doesn't want to play Berba and Rooney is out I reckon we should seriously consider putting Young in the hole. He played the role in the Cl and I thought he was good and I reckon he could do it well when he's sharper.
 
Good squad player. Val and Nani are better than him. Same as was said when we signed him.
Looks short on form at the moment.. and his diving is really annoying. More than Nani's ever was.
 
marchi-91 said:
Lets be honest, if he contributes to 15-20 goals 'scoring or assisting' you'd put him down as a very solid buy. Right now he has what, 7 assists and 4 goals. Pretty solid given his played 21 games and season riddled with stops and starts due to injury.
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Agree 100%.

Could not ask for better back up on the wings
 
That should buy him some time with those who were impatient about his impact after his return.

That's a match-winning cross that you'd expect Giggs to be making at that time of the match. Young seems to have character in spades.
 
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