United thread 2020/21

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Well he’s a regular starter for the world champions, which suggests a certain level of quality that wasn’t on display last night, and is rarely if ever on display when he plays for the rags.

I’m going to leave it there. You think he’s shit, the manager of France disagrees.
Manager of France also thinks Zouma is better than Laporte
 
With regards to Fernandes, he is a bit of an anomaly by all accounts.

He was always a very good player in Portugal. He has a really good knack of shooting, crossing, very decent creative player, and most of all a really good amount of drive and work ethic. Players like that rarely drop below their standard. So unfortunately he can't be downed by the United curse. At least not yet...

United have been clever enough to put him at the centre of everything. Not only does every attack go through him, but he takes penalties and set pieces too. He's bound to rack up good stats with their team of giants. And as I say he's consistently at his level.

Of course he's not elite level, nor is he playing for an elite team. Which means a really good side can keep him and the rest of United quiet, and it's unlikely he'll ever pull the proverbial rabbit out of the hat à la De Bruyne. It's noticeable how generally ineffective he is against the top sides this season. But against the dross they play on a weekly basis for the most part, he's more than good enough.

He's a great flat-track bully. For a team with ambitions of top 4 and regular semi-final appearances, he's great for them.

But the fact he's not quite an elite player and yet he's leagues above the rest of their team is telling about the rest of their squad.


Edit: I'd like to add that the only two players that United have (/had?) that element of "magic" about them i.e. the ability to do something amazing out of nothing like I mentioned De Bruyne could, are Pogba and Martial. And those are the two players more than anybody else that have been turned to shit by United from being formerly prodigious. That's as much anti-football as anything as far as I'm concerned.
I agree about Pogba. Maybe most posters here hate on him but for me, if you put attitude and work ethic aside, Pogba is an extremely talented and natural footballer. When he has a good game, he makes footballing look easy. Certainly one of those players that can 'create something out of nothing'. If both players are their best, Fernandes doesn't even come close.

I do think Martial is a player whose development has stalled. For someone deemed as having 'great potential', he had never looked more consistent than he was when he first signed for the Rags. Only time when I thought Martial is probably becoming a better player was when he was employed centrally, but he's never going to displace Rashford.
 
I agree about Pogba. Maybe most posters here hate on him but for me, if you put attitude and work ethic aside, Pogba is an extremely talented and natural footballer. When he has a good game, he makes footballing look easy. Certainly one of those players that can 'create something out of nothing'. If both players are their best, Fernandes doesn't even come close.

I do think Martial is a player whose development has stalled. For someone deemed as having 'great potential', he had never looked more consistent than he was when he first signed for the Rags. Only time when I thought Martial is probably becoming a better player was when he was employed centrally, but he's never going to displace Rashford.
You can have all the skills in the world but if you can't be arsed to use them then you are a shit footballer
 
I agree about Pogba. Maybe most posters here hate on him but for me, if you put attitude and work ethic aside, Pogba is an extremely talented and natural footballer. When he has a good game, he makes footballing look easy. Certainly one of those players that can 'create something out of nothing'. If both players are their best, Fernandes doesn't even come close.

I do think Martial is a player whose development has stalled. For someone deemed as having 'great potential', he had never looked more consistent than he was when he first signed for the Rags. Only time when I thought Martial is probably becoming a better player was when he was employed centrally, but he's never going to displace Rashford.
The problem is that the media overhypes United players and some of the fans are taken in (not proper matchgoing ones who know the grim reality about their current squad).
Martial and Rashford are both well below the highest level. They are no more than decent squad players for an elite club. United used to have Ronaldo and Giggs in those positions.
Pogba is also below the elite level. He is a good passer of the ball but his first touch is poor for an international player and his workrate is appalling. The way he was robbed by John Stones on Wednesday was just humiliating. United used to have Scholes in that position. The levels at their club are still well below where they need to be.
 
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