This guy speaks a lot of sense regarding Herrera's impact on the game.
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) was joined by comedian Ali Woods to look back at the best and worst moments of a rollercoaster season with the annual United Hour Awards.
Has Ten Hag been sacked yet? We're not sure and we hope not, but it's looking more likely as the days pass.
Who should replace him and why is it taking so long to make a decision?
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He is the perfect mixture of Spanish flair and technique, mixed with British grittiness and hardwork. He really seems to relish the battling side of the game, which I think has shown why he has improved already this season, he will only get better and better too.
I didn't realize Scholes visited a tanning booth.
All jokes aside, he is a very bright technical midfielder. He has the eye for the splitting pass and he reads the game very well. Had a crummy period but fair play to the guy for keeping his head up and battle his way into the team and never losing sight of his XL spot ever since.
All jokes aside, he is a very bright technical midfielder. He has the eye for the splitting pass and he reads the game very well. Had a crummy period but fair play to the guy for keeping his head up and battle his way into the team and never losing sight of his XL spot ever since.
Was brilliant today. Was looking forward to seeing him partner Carrick all season, they didn't disappoint. Perfectly compliment each other.
Yeah true, its great to see the chemistry they have playing together. I'd like to see Di Maria added to the duo as I believe all 3 would be magnificent together. Obviously someone would have to make way to make that possible, I'd say Fellaini but he played well today so would be harsh. I'd love to see...
Herrera......Carrick
Di Maria.....Mata........Young
Rooney
.....on the pitch together and Fellaini as plan B.Di Maria.....Mata........Young
Rooney
Even as a huge Ander supporter, I have to admit that he was guilty of over complicating things and getting flustered when spaces were closed down at the start of the season. Maybe it was the pressure of playing at a club he has a great deal of admiration for or him being in and out of the starting XI or perhaps the frantic pace of the league which forces you to process everything quickly and at times make ill judged decisions ? But he is slowly progressing to the level of performances he evidenced at Zaragoza and Bilbao, which is a positive indicator of things to come. A few of his touches (both against Tottenham and in previous matches) are probably the best of any United player since Berbatov.
Once he gets more settled into his position and fully grasps Van Gaal's ideology, I have no doubt that he can be one of the unanimous Top 3 central midfielders in the league and form one of the strongest tandems around with Carrick and whatever player(s) we end up buying in the summer. A lot of people were questioning the transfer at the start of the season but once Ander starts stringing these sort of performances week in and week out, it'll be more than justified in the long run. The keyword for him now is just consistency and keeping a stranglehold on his place in the teamsheet (which admittedly is a bit out of his control at times with a manager like Louis). And hopefully all this chatter of Van Gaal not rating him and planning to ship him out is put to bed too.
Once he gets more settled into his position and fully grasps Van Gaal's ideology, I have no doubt that he can be one of the unanimous Top 3 central midfielders in the league and form one of the strongest tandems around with Carrick and whatever player(s) we end up buying in the summer. A lot of people were questioning the transfer at the start of the season but once Ander starts stringing these sort of performances week in and week out, it'll be more than justified in the long run. The keyword for him now is just consistency and keeping a stranglehold on his place in the teamsheet (which admittedly is a bit out of his control at times with a manager like Louis). And hopefully all this chatter of Van Gaal not rating him and planning to ship him out is put to bed too.
Very good performance, he is excellent.
Anything to avoid using the p-word!
The creative midfielder is the heart of the attack, he's crucial to our success and we have no natural backup.
He played well although I was surprised at people talking about him as a MotM contender - for me Rooney, Fellaini, Carrick and Young were all comfortably ahead.
That is the sort of role I have wanted to see Herrera in though, not as a #10 but as a proper central midfielder, with one of Carrick/Blind next to him, allowing Ander to push forwards and link midfield and attack.
That is the sort of role I have wanted to see Herrera in though, not as a #10 but as a proper central midfielder, with one of Carrick/Blind next to him, allowing Ander to push forwards and link midfield and attack.
The Yang to Carrick's Yin today. Hopefully it's a midfield pairing we stick with, I think it's our best. Shame we haven't used it more often!
Carrick's been great today but imagine for the seasons coming, Herrera playing alongside Schneiderlin, that wouldn't simply be fair pairing for the opposition.
It's all about confidence, letting him be more adventureous and not only him but other players too.
Herrera could be one of the best players not only in the league if we start to play with high pressing game, he's born to play like that. He has all set of skills - he can defend, steal the balls, setting quick counters, link everything in pace, release through passes and poach some goals too. That's one of the reasons he was so good at Bilbao. They're game has been very intense. We need to play like we played in the first half more often.
It's all about confidence, letting him be more adventureous and not only him but other players too.
Herrera could be one of the best players not only in the league if we start to play with high pressing game, he's born to play like that. He has all set of skills - he can defend, steal the balls, setting quick counters, link everything in pace, release through passes and poach some goals too. That's one of the reasons he was so good at Bilbao. They're game has been very intense. We need to play like we played in the first half more often.
Agreed with every word of this. Schneiderlin was fantastic today. I'm worried he'll sign for Liverpool or Arsenal and be a massive upgrade in the spots Gerrard and Coquelin have played in.
My kind of midfielder: flair and technique mixed with grittiness, closing down, and generally hurrying your opponents, but also intelligently keeping track of your positioning and staying defensively solid. Now, he isn't top class in all those aspects but you can tell he loves them all, and he certainly has the talent. if he can get it all together, we will have a gem on our hands. My MOTM today because I believe his movement, passing, and work-rate was the main factor for breaking down the Spurs midfield.
A lot of matchgoing fans rated him very highly, for most of them he was MOTM. I just think that his movement and his presence all over the pitch gets noticed better at the stadium than on the TV. I thought Rooney, Fellaini and Carrick were better, but Herrera's performance was great too. Hope he keeps it up and nothing happens with the trial of match fixing allegations. Can see him getting soon called up for Spain, should have happened earlier if it wasnt for the injuries.
Couldn't give him MOTM because there were a few players who were better, but he was very good. Loved his defensive work the most, with his interceptions and tackles.
I like the way he links with the wide men as well. Whenever he gets in those areas he looks menacing.
I'm a huge fan of his play so I tend to take note of his work even on TV, but I agree that it would be more apparent watching at the stadium. He gambled a little too much with closing down on a couple of occasions, which got us open every time. It's a delicate balance, but I believe he can get it right because every time it happened he was quick to close down other lanes to allow other players to easily bail him out. Its obvious but playing consistently will massively help him on this, more so because other players will understand him better. Ultimately I feel shaping our team play on his style would be a fantastic way to go, we would literally suffocate teams, and at the same time everyone would understand each others risks and respond correctly if a teammate is beaten.
Not just tackles, his defensive positioning and general defensive game is improving, better than anything I've seen from him previously, earlier in the season he was playing well but we were too open at times, in the last few games he has shown a bit more discipline and is improving that aspect of his game.
@Pogue Mahone It's amazing isn't it? When he doesn't play well it's Van Gaal restricting him and when he does play well, it's because he's class. As much as I like Herrera, it is very clear that he is now playing like a proper CM, something he did not show earlier in the season, and which was why he was dropped. Credit to the manager and player, for putting the hard work into that. In that diamond, his lack of defensive nous left us exposed too much, I'm glad he seems to be working hard to overcome that weakness. Credit to player and manager.
From very good, to poor and will be sold, to great again. That's how this thread has swung this season.
Fair enough, its true he was making tackles but Blind was left exposed too often despite Blind himself doing a good job
He's a terrific midfielder and his defensive workrate has been underrated for a good while. He positions himself very well and what's absolutely key in his game is that whenever he manages to win the ball back he's very quick to release it and pick a good pass, which sets us up for a good counter attack plenty of time. He's pretty strong too IMO.
So what we're saying is Herrera is a better central midfielder then Rooney, Mata or Fellaini?....Who would have thought it eh?
Its criminal how LVG has used him this season. At least he seems to have finally learnt his lesson.
Its criminal how LVG has used him this season. At least he seems to have finally learnt his lesson.
I loved the way he took a dropping ball in his stride when he was (incorrectly) called offside in the second half. Instant control with the outside of his right foot and a pefectly weighted pass to Rooney with his left. A really elegant bit of football. Anyone got a gif?
Yup. That's how I see it too. No more getting caught upfield ahead of the ball. His defensive positioning is hugely improved and he's much more aware of runners coming from deep. Seems like a really intelligent footballer, so no great surprise he's able to adapt and evolve his game so quickly. He's actually the sort of clever player that Van Gaal will really appreciate. Can see him becoming a real favourite of the manager if he keeps this up.
Forget his passing. That's a given. We clearly knew he would be top tier in that aspect.
Its his ability to close down, press and win tackles. Its been some time since we've seen someone not named Carrick do that kind of defensive work in midfield. Shockingly suited for the Premiership and he has the potential to go on to be one of the best in this league. If he hits the gym and gets stronger then watch out!
Its crazy that we haven't used him more often earlier in the season (I know he was injured for a lot of it). Hopefully he will be a mainstay in the team EVEN if we are struggling.
Its his ability to close down, press and win tackles. Its been some time since we've seen someone not named Carrick do that kind of defensive work in midfield. Shockingly suited for the Premiership and he has the potential to go on to be one of the best in this league. If he hits the gym and gets stronger then watch out!
Its crazy that we haven't used him more often earlier in the season (I know he was injured for a lot of it). Hopefully he will be a mainstay in the team EVEN if we are struggling.
He drew a lot of appreciation applause for beautiful touches and passing I noticed.
It was a great run and control but I think that Lloris would have got out to the pass if the whistle didn't go.
Probably. He's lightening off his line. Did look to be in that really tricky zone where he would risk conceding a pen if he over committed though. Feck it, I'm giving Hererra the benefit of the doubt!
The thing that frustrates me most is we wouldn't be struggling if we hadn't have insisted on benching Herrera, wasting Rooney in midfield and losing the benefit of his goals and movement at #9, just to accommodate the out of form Falcao and Van Persie. Just look at last Monday's F.A. Cup tie against Arsenal. We were on top at half time, yes it was an open game, but we were far more of an attacking threat in the first half than we were in the second. Without Herrera's mobility and dynamism we wilted against Arsenal, as we have in so many other games this season. Had we been playing the best team, instead of the (on paper) best players, we'd be fighting for the title.
Herrera offers the team, with his energy, effort and ability, the capacity to press from the front, pressure the ball and play a proactive game. The result of that kind of football, as opposed to the zombie football we've seen for much of the season, was in evidence yesterday against Spurs. Herrera is not at the level where you would be talking about him as one of the world's best in his position. However, he's got something we don't get from other players. That alone should guarantee he starts in our midfield, until or unless someone obviously better is signed.
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My favourite summer signing - this lad will get better as he gets more used to the elague too.
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I don't know why, but I worry about Herrera getting dropped again. I just don't get the sense that LVG rates as highly as the fans do. Will be interesting to see what he does when Shaw comes back from injury. I wouldn't be surprised to see him dropped for Blind.
His ability to go into a 50-50 on the ground and come out with the ball is quite incredible. I'm not sure if its because of some amazing judgement, or because he's just a tenacious little fecker. Either way, its blooming great.
After yesterday, no chance. Van Gaal specifically mentioned him and Mata as having excellent games and he's clearly changed with regards to Herrera, probably due to Herrera changing his ways a bit to be more cautious (which in fairness he needed to become, to an extent). Balanced it perfectly on the weekend and was great defensively so I highly doubt Van Gaal will change anything. The only thing I can see him changing is Rojo in for Jones maybe and Di Maria in for Mata, though I'd be very hesitant to do either of those.
Yeah agree with you completely. At the start of the season Herrera was too risky. He was pulling off some sublime passes and skills but would also lose the ball a fair bit. He's growing into his role here with each game now, fantastic to see him doing well.
Don't see that happening, he resembles a proper CM instead of an AM playing in midfield (like at the early stages of this season). He is pivotal for our midfield to work, and I really don’t think LvG would like to mess with it right now.
Yeah, though to be fair I still would have played him as he generally was among our best players even then and wasn't that much of a liability defensively. Glad to finally see him with Carrick though. Carrick is much better then Blind positionally speaking and in terms of holding the midfield and keeping it solid defensively. Always felt Herrera next to him would be great, on paper at least, and it proved to be that way on the pitch.
I missed the LVG, what did he say about Herrera and Mata? Hope you guys are right though.
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