Unpopular Opinions Thread

[sullydnl]

Except he's not though. He just has a bigger reputation based upon his time at Chelsea, however.

Bigger reputation based on the period where he was far better and more effective than Coutinho has been thus far? Seems fair to me....

 

[cesc's_mullet]

Bigger reputation based on the period where he was far better and more effective than Coutinho has been thus far? Seems fair to me....

He's not a 'much better' player than Coutinho though, it's pretty obvious.

 

[sullydnl]

He's not a 'much better' player than Coutinho though, it's pretty obvious.

Coutinho's best season: 39 apps, 5 goals, 8 assists. Mata's best season: 64 apps, 20 goals, 28 assists.

A quick look tells me that over the past two and a half seasons Mata has been well over twice as productive as Coutinho? Even in the last year and a half Mata has produced half again as much as him? Not bad for a guy who is supposed to be struggling here....

I know stats aren't everything but that's a fairly big difference to dismiss....

 

[Snow]

Can't agree with any of that except maybe the Schneiderlin part. Matic is brilliant IMO and Agueros finishing is better than average. The Valdes part is ridiculous.

Don't know if Matic isn't just all that but ca mid December he hasn't been good. Perhaps it's because he's played much but he's definitely a reason Chelsea has been much poorer defensively lately. Easy to blame it on Cahill.

 

[Snow]

For Law 46 goals in a single season, 11 years at Old Trafford, Ballon d'Or winner, walking off when he scored for City in 73, Ambassador of the club, pretty easy to see why.
For Schmeichel, not sure about legend, but instrumental in us winning the Treble, probably saved us 10-12 points every season.

Schmeichel is the best goalkeeper in United's history and a massive part in the success of the club. He always gave his hardest and made players around him play their hardest. A one club player doesn't make a legend. For someone to be a legend he has to have historical importance and Schmeichel had plenty.

 

[cesc's_mullet]

Coutinho's best season: 39 apps, 5 goals, 8 assists. Mata's best season: 64 apps, 20 goals, 28 assists.

A quick look tells me that over the past two and a half seasons Mata has been well over twice as productive as Coutinho? Even in the last year and a half Mata has produced half again as much as him? Not bad for a guy who is supposed to be struggling here....

I know stats aren't everything but that's a fairly big difference to dismiss....

It's true that Mata was brilliant at Chelsea until Moany came along, but this new incarnation of Mata is about half the player he was back then (for various reasons).

Currently Coutinho is not a much worse player than Mata despite what Mata was doing 2/3 seasons ago. Though if Mata can get back to that previous form then I can't argue with the fact he's a superior player, but currently he is not (in my opinion).

 

[Xaviesta]

Southampton doesn't play attractive football, they're pragmatic.

 

[MDFC Manager]

Southampton doesn't play attractive football, they're pragmatic.

It's unpopular but you're spot on.

Here's one from me: Fergie was spot on when he tried to marginalize Rooney when he was retiring. He's been an absolutely superb player for us but at this point in time he creates more problems than solutions. His versatility (but not top class at any position) combined with his stature at the club (simply can't be dropped) is a key reason why we can't find a suitable system to play this season.

 

[Sammyjunn]

Mata ripped the league up for two seasons straight, and is still getting goals and assists. Coutinho had a good half a year, disappeared and then has hit a bit of form after a slow start this year.

Coutinho is more explosive, that's it.

Not saying he is better, but that he has more ability, just like Nank has more ability than most players in the world. Difference is, Coutinho is not productive at all, he cant shoot and his decision makingis quite poor often, and he is inconsistent, but in terms of the other aspects I mentioned, I really stand behind that.

 

[Speak]

Signing van Persie was short-term thinking. We didn't need him, would have won the league without him, and would be better off today had he never joined the club.

 

[Lawman]

Not saying he is better, but that he has more ability, just like Nank has more ability than most players in the world. Difference is, Coutinho is not productive at all, he cant shoot and his decision makingis quite poor often, and he is inconsistent, but in terms of the other aspects I mentioned, I really stand behind that.

Think he is flashier but Mata has much more ability. He is a small weak guy that can't run but has a touch only second to Berbatov and a wand of a left foot plus great vision. Would be more effective in a team of runners around him but Mata is supremely talented hence the reason despite his physical short comings he plays at this level.

 

[Lawman]

We are 2 draws or a loss away from a meltdown and LVG will hear some major grumblings because Liverpool who are in better form will be breathing down our necks and we will slip out the top 4.

 

[luckyspurs]

Southampton doesn't play attractive football, they're pragmatic.

That's a brilliant call, even though they're my dad's club.

• Jan Vertonghen is still one of the best defenders in the country.
• Chris Smalling is England's best available centre back.
• Falcao's 39 goals in two seasons in Spain (not including penalties) made him no more likely to succeed in the Premier League than Negredo and Soldado.
• Wenger is still the second best manager in the Premier League, by some distance.
• Cazorla and Sanchez are better than Mata and Di Maria.
• Valencia is doing a really good job for United defensively.
• Chelsea looked a better team last night when Fabregas went off and Ramires came on.
• Shaw is as talented but as limited going forward as Azpilicueta.

 

[Eric'sCollar]

Cazorla and Sanchez are better than Mata and Di Maria.

You, me, carpark now!

 

[Tom Van Persie]

That's a brilliant call, even though they're my dad's club.

• Cazorla and Sanchez are better than Mata and Di Maria.

I don't agree with this at all. Both Mata and Di Maria are much better than Cazorla. Sanchez is better than Mata and Di Maria on current form but if you asked me who I would rather have in the summer then I would have said Di Maria.

 

[JPRouve]

We do not have a team. United is like Frankenstein, made of pieces who shouldn't be together. And until we fix our identity crises we will struggle.

 

[PickledRed]

I don't agree with this at all. Both Mata and Di Maria are much better than Cazorla. Sanchez is better than Mata and Di Maria on current form but if you asked me who I would rather have in the summer then I would have said Di Maria.

But Sanchez is proving to be a much better buy than either of those.

 

[2 man midfield]

We do not have a team. United is like Frankenstein, made of pieces who shouldn't be together. And until we fix our identity crises we will struggle.

Don't think that's too much of an unpopular opinion to be honest, more like a harsh reality. We've got 3 managers stamps on this side, including style of play, not just signings, and we do look very disjointed.

 

[2 man midfield]

But Sanchez is proving to be a much better buy than either of those.

It's apparent to me that Di Maria is the better player when played where he shone for Madrid last season, and for us in the early stages.

Sanchez of course represents the better value for money though.

 

[JPRouve]

Don't think that's too much of an unpopular opinion to be honest, more like a harsh reality. We've got 3 managers stamps on this side, including style of play, not just signings, and we do look very disjointed.

Some people seems to think that it's the managers or the players, i think that no one is really responsible except Ferguson, he was the only one with maybe someone like Capello able to use this kind of group, we lack players for almost all the basic formations, except a flat 4-4-2.
And even with the 4-4-2, our wide midfielders and our strikers are shaky.

 

[Revan]

Fergie was absolutely awful on the transfer market on the last few years.

In his last 3-4 years he has signed (probably forgot a few): Valencia, Owen, Obertan, Diouff, Smalling, Hernandez, Bebe, De Gea, Jones, Young, RVP, Kagawa, Powell, Zaha, Varela.

Only Valencia, Hernandez and RVP have been good buys. The others have been from underwhelming to awful.

Edit: Forgot De Gea, excellent signing.

 

[JPRouve]

Fergie was absolutely awful on the transfer market on the last few years.

In his last 3-4 years he has signed (probably forgot a few): Valencia, Owen, Obertan, Diouff, Smalling, Hernandez, Bebe, De Gea, Jones, Young, RVP, Kagawa, Powell, Zaha, Varela.

Only Valencia, Hernandez and RVP have been good buys. The others have been from underwhelming to awful.

I know you don't mean it, because you forgot to put De Gea and Smalling in the "good buys" category.

 

[2 man midfield]

Fergie was absolutely awful on the transfer market on the last few years.

In his last 3-4 years he has signed (probably forgot a few): Valencia, Owen, Obertan, Diouff, Smalling, Hernandez, Bebe, De Gea, Jones, Young, RVP, Kagawa, Powell, Zaha, Varela.

Only Valencia, Hernandez and RVP have been good buys. The others have been from underwhelming to awful.

I'm guessing you just forgot De Gea? I'm just thankful he got that one right.

 

[Revan]

I know you don't mean it, because you forgot to put De Gea and Smalling in the "good buys" category.

I'm guessing you just forgot De Gea? I'm just thankful he got that one right.

Shit, I checked twice and forgot him (and he's my favorite player after all). De Gea is undoubtedly one of Sir Alex's best signings (definitely in top 5 - top 10, and if De Gea stays here for a long time then it can be his best ever signing). Wouldn't consider Smalling as a good signing at all. Better than Jones for sure, but even after 5 years here he still isn't a starter. He has a good debute season, but that's it.

 

[saivet]

That's a brilliant call, even though they're my dad's club.

• Jan Vertonghen is still one of the best defenders in the country.
• Chris Smalling is England's best available centre back.
• Falcao's 39 goals in two seasons in Spain (not including penalties) made him no more likely to succeed in the Premier League than Negredo and Soldado.
• Wenger is still the second best manager in the Premier League, by some distance.
• Cazorla and Sanchez are better than Mata and Di Maria.
• Valencia is doing a really good job for United defensively.
• Chelsea looked a better team last night when Fabregas went off and Ramires came on.
• Shaw is as talented but as limited going forward as Azpilicueta.

I disagree with the last point. I've hardly ever seen Azpi play at right back but as a left back, I think Shaw is a lot better
going forward than him.

The others, I either agree with or if I don't, I think it's a fair opinion.

 

[JPRouve]

Shaw is as talented but as limited going forward as Azpilicueta.

That's not an unpopular opinion, and that's exactly why a lot of us were excited by this signing because he is like Ashley Cole a real fullback, who is actually good at defending, with the current standards he could be a CB.
Shaw is not a failed winger or left midfielder, he is a defender who can run forward.

 

[Tom Van Persie]

But Sanchez is proving to be a much better buy than either of those.

Yeah Sanchez has been the better buy so far but Di Maria has been played out of his best position for most of his time here. My point was that Di Maria was better than Sanchez before they were both bought. He was phenomenal at Madrid and was excellent for us at the start of the season. To say that Cazorla is better than him is a ridiculous statement imo.

 

[MDFC Manager]

I think he was only comparing Cazorla with Mata and comparing Sanchez with Di Maria separately.

 

[luckyspurs]

I think he was only comparing Cazorla with Mata and comparing Sanchez with Di Maria separately.

Thanks and yes I was.

 

[Borys]

I think he was only comparing Cazorla with Mata and comparing Sanchez with Di Maria separately.

Kind of obvious I thought and both Cazorla and Sanchez are better than Mata and Di Maria respectively. Cazorla seems much more influential for them, don't see how can Mata turn this around. Di Maria will prove his worth, but so far it seems we've bought him without any idea what kind of player he is.

 

[NoLogo]

It's unpopular but you're spot on.

Here's one from me: Fergie was spot on when he tried to marginalize Rooney when he was retiring. He's been an absolutely superb player for us but at this point in time he creates more problems than solutions. His versatility (but not top class at any position) combined with his stature at the club (simply can't be dropped) is a key reason why we can't find a suitable system to play this season.

Don't think it's unpopular, it's pretty obvious and I haven't heard many raving about their playing style more about the fact that they managed the transition so well after they lost so many first team players last summer. So imo suggesting that they are pragmatic instead of spectecular isn't really an unpopular opinion.

 

[Roman Bellic]

Paul Pogba is Overrated. He is class on his day don't get me wrong, but he is a product of the Vine (the app) era, cinderella story (rejected by United, rescued by Juventus) and lack of real Serie A fans.

He scores long range goals and is a key player for Juventus, but he would have been another Nemanja Matic if he was rejected by Chelsea - probably has to do with the hate towards Manchester United, it almost seems like the whole world wants us to dwell on a player who we sold more than 2 seasons ago, i mean i don't see Ravel Morrison getting this much attention.

It is kind of like how Kagawa was the best player in the world for a week, all because of his goal in his first game back for Dortmund, the whole footballing world was expecting us to break down and cry, fast forward to January and i haven't heard about Shinji Kagawa since , just like you never hear about Pogba unless he scores a long range goal or nutmegs a player.

 

[Kostur]

Paul Pogba is Overrated. He is class on his day don't get me wrong, but he is a product of the Vine (the app) era, cinderella story (rejected by United, rescued by Juventus) and lack of real Serie A fans.

He scores long range goals and is a key player for Juventus, but he would have been another Nemanja Matic if he was rejected by Chelsea - probably has to do with the hate towards Manchester United, it almost seems like the whole world wants us to dwell on a player who we sold more than 2 seasons ago, i mean i don't see Ravel Morrison getting this much attention.

It is kind of like how Kagawa was the best player in the world for a week, all because of his goal in his first game back for Dortmund, the whole footballing world was expecting us to break down and cry, fast forward to January and i haven't heard about Shinji Kagawa since , just like you never hear about Pogba unless he scores a long range goal or nutmegs a player.

1) Probably because he's not fit enough to lace Pogba's boots, not to mention him being simply fecking stupid by getting into trouble with law more often than not and generally his shit attitude. Pogba just moved from one club to another to get more playing time, simple as.

2) Only if you don't watch Juve's matches on a weekly basis. Kagawa currently plays for a club that's underperforming horribly bad in their league and is in general crisis while Pogba plays for current and most lilkely upcoming champions of Italy.

 

[Chesterlestreet]

Here's one from me: Fergie was spot on when he tried to marginalize Rooney when he was retiring. He's been an absolutely superb player for us but at this point in time he creates more problems than solutions. His versatility (but not top class at any position) combined with his stature at the club (simply can't be dropped) is a key reason why we can't find a suitable system to play this season.

Signing van Persie was short-term thinking. We didn't need him, would have won the league without him, and would be better off today had he never joined the club.

Reckon there's some truth to both of these opinions. I don't wholeheartedly agree with either - but I don't completely disagree either. Imagine removing the pair of them from the equation. You lose a great deal in terms of quality and potential - but it becomes much, much simpler to pick a team and work from there.

In my opinion Rooney is a brilliant striker, one of the best in his generation - but it seems like it's impossible for his managers to simply stick him up front and let him be the main finisher. As is stands, he has evolved into a hybrid player who can be superb on his day but who has too many flaws in his game to be undroppable (yet he clearly is).

As for RVP - yeah. He was brilliant in his first season, nobody can deny that. I too think we may have won the league without him, though. Our opponents were shoddy. We had Fergie - a much more important factor than RVP, obviously. I suspect we would've nicked enough points to win it without RVP - the latter being what we did, mainly, nicking points in matches where we hardly impressed. Others could have done the actual nicking - Rooney, Chicha, who knows: RVP on form is obviously a match winner, but he hardly improved our overall play - one might argue that someone else would've stepped up and finished off the necessary amount of matches. Wouldn't even have had to replicate RVP's numbers - we walked the league in the end, had plenty to go on.

It's complicated, though. If Fergie's relationship with Rooney hadn't deteriorated, I doubt he would've gone for RVP. So, there's that.

 

[Barney]

Southampton doesn't play attractive football, they're pragmatic.

Absolutely.

Chelsea looked a better team last night when Fabregas went off and Ramires came on.

That wasn't just because of that though.

Comparing Coutinho and Mata is like comparing Silva and Mata. Coutinho is much more of an Iniesta/Silva-esque player. Not comparing ability before any of you jump at my throat.

 

[Yorkeontop]

Paul Pogba is Overrated. He is class on his day don't get me wrong, but he is a product of the Vine (the app) era, cinderella story (rejected by United, rescued by Juventus) and lack of real Serie A fans.

He scores long range goals and is a key player for Juventus, but he would have been another Nemanja Matic if he was rejected by Chelsea - probably has to do with the hate towards Manchester United, it almost seems like the whole world wants us to dwell on a player who we sold more than 2 seasons ago, i mean i don't see Ravel Morrison getting this much attention.

It is kind of like how Kagawa was the best player in the world for a week, all because of his goal in his first game back for Dortmund, the whole footballing world was expecting us to break down and cry, fast forward to January and i haven't heard about Shinji Kagawa since , just like you never hear about Pogba unless he scores a long range goal or nutmegs a player.

You know my motto, "if its rated its overrated". Pogba is pretty good though. He's got that slow burn kinda of game. Its not crash wallop and bang like Rooney in his day. I love the kid.

 

[Chesterlestreet]

Southampton doesn't play attractive football, they're pragmatic.

Partly agree. They are pragmatic. But I don't find that unattractive. They're playing a clever sort of football under Koeman, I find. Suits them well - and has produced fine results so far. They don't play champagne football, obviously, but that's another matter. Not many teams do, after all - and many who try end up looking like a shambles and would've been better off with a helping of pragmatism.

 

[Jaytay]

Manchester United would be playing better with Ancelotti, Guardiola, Mourinho and Klopp in charge.

I like Diego Costa's dirty side of football as long as he doesn't do it against Manchester United.

 

[Roman Bellic]

1) Probably because he's not fit enough to lace Pogba's boots, not to mention him being simply fecking stupid by getting into trouble with law more often than not and generally his shit attitude. Pogba just moved from one club to another to get more playing time, simple as.

2) Only if you don't watch Juve's matches on a weekly basis. Kagawa currently plays for a club that's underperforming horribly bad in their league and is in general crisis while Pogba plays for current and most lilkely upcoming champions of Italy.

(1) Morrison was just an example, i could have easily used Diouf or any other player that has left United in the last 5 years that is thriving but not getting as much attention as Pogba, i used Morrison because he is very similar to Pogba in terms of not being given a chance by Fergie,being young with a huge ego etc, not because he is as good as Pogba - while we are on the subject however, despite not being able to break into the first teams of his clubs and having legal troubles, Ravel Morrison "who isn't fit enough to lace Pogba's boots" has scored 12 goals to Pogba's 18 despite playing less games.

(2) I am an avid watcher of Serie A and i have seen Pogba play a lot of times, as i mentioned earlier - he is a really good player, potentially World Class, but that doesn't take-away from the fact that he sometimes goes missing in games, he has proven to be careless with the ball and has had abysmal performances in the UCL and the World Cup - i should know as i watched all his World cup games, these bad performances have gone unnoticed by the media as well as fans, you never hear about Pogba went he is having an off day - but if he scores a volley from outside the box, you begin to see articles of how United were foolish for letting him go, they even go as far as pricing him at 65 million which to me is absurd. As far as strength of teams go, it doesn't add or subtract from a players ability so the argument that Pogba plays for the champions elect of italy doesn't hold weight, as he doesn't carry Juventus on his back - besides compared to the bundesliga, Serie A is a joke.

 

[Robbie Boy]

Phil Jones simply isn't very good and was wildly overrated on here for a period of time. Anderson was also never nearly as good as some on here claim he once was and the 'shitting' on Fabregas lark is a myth.