24
What is his real position?
He was fortunate that Bailly did half of his job for him alright, allowing him to concentrate on attacking once everyone figured out he wasn't much use defensively.
Like you say, he's learning that position and clearly had some issues with elements of it so comfortably our best player on the night isn't exactly applicable.
Who was better than him?
Bailly did the job of two defenders last night.
Rashers was also quite good.
TFM was good going forward but shocking defensively. You can't overlook that seeing as he was playing RB. I'm not slating him as he was playing in an unfamiliar position but comfortably our best player on the night he was not.
He was comfortably our best player on the night, after a less than confident opening few minutes (which you would expect after the Northampton performance).
His willingness to get forward, his link up play and crossing were very impressive.
Was not even in the top 5. If that was an impressive appearance, then I worry for the lad.
What is his real position?
According to people on this forum, a bit like Rooney, it's apparently wherever he isn't actually playing.
It's a big sign of trust that Jose started TFM even after his horror display at Northampton. Not surprised that a 18 year old playing out of position would have troubles, especially when the whole team underwhelmed.
One good game one bad, average rating 4.8, how does that work?
Played rb for Holland u15/16s then cb at every age level above that, played cb or dm for Ajax, dm for most of his u18 games for United with a few at cb, for United u21s he played cb,rb,lb and a couple in midfield. I think part of the reason he looked sluggish against Northampton and at the start of the game last night was that the only football he's played at any level since the start of May was 45 minutes in the friendly against Wigan. It also seems like Mourinho is trying to get him to stay wide more and attack more whereas Van Gaal was happy for him to play quite defensively and stay narrow to cover the cbs which is going to take time to adapt to.What is his real position?
Played rb for Holland u15/16s then cb at every age level above that, played cb or dm for Ajax, dm for most of his u18 games for United with a few at cb, for United u21s he played cb,rb,lb and a couple in midfield. I think part of the reason he looked sluggish against Northampton and at the start of the game last night was that the only football he's played at any level since the start of May was 45 minutes in the friendly against Wigan. It also seems like Mourinho is trying to get him to stay wide more and attack more whereas Van Gaal was happy for him to play quite defensively and stay narrow to cover the cbs which is going to take time to adapt to.
Well. On a scale of 1 to 10, 4.8 is about average.
After only 8 appearances I think it's OK to not be sure of his best position. If like Rooney another four years go by then I think your comparison would be valid.
1 isn't a real rating though, nor is 2 and I'd be surprised if anyone aside from rooney was around 3 for a game on here. He can't have got very high ratings last night.
Not visited the Fellaini thread lately I take it?
That bad? Surprising, I was in there a few weeks ago and it was pretty pleasant, one of the more pleasant threads on here. I suppose we've now noticed how much more Herrera offers so hes back to being chief weapon.
To be fair, the thread isn't actually too bad at the moment. Still lowest rated player yesterday though.
Everyone is bleating on about his position. He doesn't seem ideally suited to any position from what I can see. Can't really defend and lacking the passing range for midfield.
How can you make this argument before he's actually had a run-out in midfield? Both the defending and the passing are a completely different job from midfield as opposed to from fullback.
DM or CB is his position. He's wasted in any kind of wide position.
Everyone is bleating on about his position. He doesn't seem ideally suited to any position from what I can see. Can't really defend and lacking the passing range for midfield.
A truly incredible athlete and it's obvious he's a pretty talented footballer too but he needs to learn how to play a position. I had him down as a CB based on his natural attributes but he his positional sense just seems really underdeveloped even for a player of his age.
As a DM I could see it looking a bit similar to when Jones played there. Also I don't think we even need that kind of player in our midfield. We need a Carrick type player who can speed up our game by passing the ball forward quickly and accurately, rather than another runner who doesn't have that range of passing.
Thats called Blind.
I can give an opinion based on what I've seen of him. That's what you are doing. I think he could do a good job as an all action defensive midfielder. I'd swap him for Fellaini right now. He'd do exactly the same things but a bit more quickly. There would be some benefit in it.
But I'm just not sure we actually need that type of player at all in most games. What we really need is someone like Carrick who can screen but more importantly move the ball quickly from that position. Not run with it but actually pass it forward to our attackers quickly. Our transition through midfield is fecking chronic.
Yourself and a few others already seem to be decided that he can't do this or he can't do that. For instance you dont think he's ideally suited to any position. This after only 8 appearances in the first team.
On the flip side being open to him improving and changing over the next few years isn't really an opinion, it's just the logical way of allowing a very talented 18 year old to develop.
By your logic we can't form an opinion until a player is finished developing. Do you think he could develop into a centre forward? Am I allowed rule that out?
AgreeHow can you make this argument before he's actually had a run-out in midfield? Both the defending and the passing are a completely different job from midfield as opposed to from fullback.
DM or CB is his position. He's wasted in any kind of wide position.
