[BlahRules]

I have never seen a player quite like him. He had run the ball out of the pitch than any player in football history.

I know he is quick but does he think he is 'the flash'. i hope he starts playing it simple, which is what he did when he got promoted.

I remember in LVG regime his link up play was exceptional for a young a striker let alone a player who is playing his first professional games.

Every time I watch him play, all I see is player trying to mimic C.Ronaldo, and his failing at that, miserably.

 

[Brwned]

Confidence is gone.

Was the golden boy breaking through. Could do no wrong.

We got Zlatan in and Rashford was benched or played wide out of position. Was potentially only for a season till Rashford got his spot back.

Bring in a 75m donkey and never rotate.

We’ve mishandled him. He’s far worse player now than when he was breaking through. When Spurs were in a similar situation they gave Kane the chance and let him blossom. We’ve done the opposite.

Pretty much every young player goes through this phase of development so I don't think it's anything to worry about yet. He's only 20. Let's not blow things out of proportion here. Very few attackers break into the first team of an elite team and stay there. They have dips in form and face elite competition and fight their way back in, often taking years to do so.

Physically Rashford has changed significantly since he first broke through, so that brings about a change in his approach and style by default. And that brings some growing pains. Beyond that every player goes through a phase where when they first burst onto the scene, they're an unknown quantity and can play entirely naturally. Then teams start to figure out how to deal with them and they have to make lots of conscious decisions on what to do differently. Plus learning how to be more disciplined under Mourinho's approach.

That's a lot to deal with for a young attacker in a team that's misfiring. Once he gets back to playing naturally and with much fewer conscious choices, we'll be in a better place to judge. The fact he developed his set pieces significantly in that time is a good indication both of the kind of dedication he's putting in training, and what he can do when he's given some room to breath outside of open play. He's obviously low on confidence and working through that.

I've never been entirely convinced he has the technique to excel at this level but every now and then there are some really promising glimpses.

 

[breakout67]

I have never seen a player quite like him. He had run the ball out of the pitch than any player in football history.

I know he is quick but does he think he is 'the flash'. i hope he starts playing it simple, which is what he did when he got promoted.

I remember in LVG regime his link up play was exceptional for a young a striker let alone a player who is playing his first professional games.

Every time I watch him play, all I see is player trying to mimic C.Ronaldo, and his failing at that, miserably.

You are spot on. He is so predictable now, which is sad because he was very unpredictable earlier in the season. You can be sure that he will try to be 'the flash' the first time he gets the ball.

 

[Adnan]

He does bring urgency and purpose to our play but his dribbling on the wing is below par for a wide player. I think his best bet would be to develop as a striker at United or elsewhere...

 

[Drainy]

If he's got the skill set to be an elite player, my names Alf Hippititimus.

Give it 3-5 years and we'll see. He's 20 for god's sake.

 

[superdry]

Give it 3-5 years and we'll see. He's 20 for god's sake.

I want him to become that top player, but I can't see anything that marks him as anything near.

 

[backtowhiteside]

Rest Lukaku and give Rashford a shot against Chelsea...why not!

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

 

[AltiUn]

Rest Lukaku and give Rashford a shot against Chelsea...why not!

Rashford's about as 'out of form' a player we've got at the club, playing him against Chelsea would be an appalling idea.

 

[Garethw]

His development has completely stalled under Mourinho.

 

[Garethw]

Rashford's about as 'out of form' a player we've got at the club, playing him against Chelsea would be an appalling idea.

So that’s Rashford, Martial, Pogba, Sanchez, Herrera, Matic, Lingard and to a certain extent Lukaku all out of form.

Maybe just maybe we should be looking at our managers shit house tactics for why such a huge number of players being out of form.

 

[AltiUn]

So that’s Rashford, Martial, Pogba, Sanchez, Herrera, Matic, Lingard and to a certain extent Lukaku all out of form.

Maybe just maybe we should be looking at our managers shit house tactics for such a huge number of players being out of form.

Not disputing that.

 

[Garethw]

Not disputing that.

I totally agree with you about Rashford. He shouldn’t be anywhere near leading our attack.

I just find it incredible how basically our entire attack has lost form/confidence at the same time. Mourinho is doing a piss poor job of sorting this issue out, seeing as though we’ve been disjointed in this area for almost his entire managerial reign.

 

[AltiUn]

I totally agree with you about Rashford. He shouldn’t be anywhere near leading our attack.

I just find it incredible how basically our entire attack has lost form/confidence at the same time. Mourinho is doing a piss poor job of sorting this issue out, seeing as though we’ve been disjointed in this area for almost his entire managerial reign.

Agreed, I think more questions need to be asked about Mourinho than all the individual players, we have a talented attack despite what some may have you believe and the manager needs to get it to work, he's been very well backed financially as far as I'm concerned if he can't get this team to function we should perhaps look at alternatives who might be able to.

His man management, particularly with Martial and Rashford, has been very poor. Rashford's confidence is shot, whenever he's on he looks like he constantly needs to prove himself and it's hampering the team.

 

[Garethw]

Agreed, I think more questions need to be asked about Mourinho than all the individual players, we have a talented attack despite what some may have you believe and the manager needs to get it to work, he's been very well backed financially as far as I'm concerned if he can't get this team to function we should perhaps look at alternatives who might be able to.

His man management, particularly with Martial and Rashford, has been very poor. Rashford's confidence is shot, whenever he's on he looks like he constantly needs to prove himself and it's hampering the team.

Exactly mate. You only need to look at the lukewarm performances we’ve seen from Sanchez to see that £200-£300 million of player acquisition is not going to make a blind bit of difference if he doesn’t modify his tactical approach.

I’ve always been a huge Mourinho fan, but I’ve been massively disappointed in him. I’ve seen more than enough success to last me the rest of my life. Trophies are amazing, but they aren’t the be all and end all of being a supporter. All I ask is that the manager sets the team up in a positive manner.

Football is only football to those playing it, coaching it, etc. To the rest of us it’s a form of entertainment. Is it too much to expect to be entertained?

 

[Mr PG]

He does bring urgency and purpose to our play but his dribbling on the wing is below par for a wide player. I think his best bet would be to develop as a striker at United or elsewhere...

Rashford >Lukaku in big games. Scored twice vs city, vs arsenal vs Chelsea and was exceptional in Europa when Zlatan went out injured. Daley Blind of all people effectively used to shackle Lukaku whenever we played Everton.

Rashford trickery and ball intelligence can get the best of any defender he would just struggle against teams that park the bus. Lukaku can physically bully lesser defenders but not elite ones which I think explains their respective records

 

[Adnan]

Rashford >Lukaku in big games. Scored twice vs city, vs arsenal vs Chelsea and was exceptional in Europa when Zlatan went out injured. Daley Blind of all people effectively used to shackle Lukaku whenever we played Everton.

Rashford trickery and ball intelligence can get the best of any defender he would just struggle against teams that park the bus. Lukaku can physically bully lesser defenders but not elite ones which I think explains their respective records

Did you reply to the wrong person?

 

[diplomat]

So that’s Rashford, Martial, Pogba, Sanchez, Herrera, Matic, Lingard and to a certain extent Lukaku all out of form.

Maybe just maybe we should be looking at our managers shit house tactics for why such a huge number of players being out of form.

Totally agree, yet some posters would rather back Mourinho to the wall and sell more than 10 players to suit his negative outlook on how football should be played.

 

[Zebs]

Was Sunday the first game this season he wasn't involved in?

 

[L1nk]

Good player, nothing more. I know people, including me, want him to succeed because he's homegrown but his talent has been blown way out of proportion, I don't think he will ever be good enough to be lead striker for us in the long term, has nowhere near the potential of Mbappe and I don't think he even has the potential or ability of Martial. So whilst I would say Mourinho is to blame for the way our attack has behaved at times this season I don't think him or his tactics are fully to blame to Rashford or his form. Lately he's been pretty average and rather selfish on the pitch which has been annoying to see, I hope he comes back in rather fresh and with his earlier form.

 

[RedDevilCanuck]

He was a winger in the academy right?

Which wing?

Why can't he play as a right winger that gets crosses in and can either tuck in to help in midfield or help out Valencia?

 

[Jonno]

So that’s Rashford, Martial, Pogba, Sanchez, Herrera, Matic, Lingard and to a certain extent Lukaku all out of form.

Maybe just maybe we should be looking at our managers shit house tactics for why such a huge number of players being out of form.

I thought Martial, Pogba, Matic, Lingard and Lukaku played excellently against Chelsea and the managers 'shit house tactics' completely outfoxed the current Champions.

Funny that isn't it.

 

[AP88]

Good player, nothing more. I know people, including me, want him to succeed because he's homegrown but his talent has been blown way out of proportion, I don't think he will ever be good enough to be lead striker for us in the long term, has nowhere near the potential of Mbappe and I don't think he even has the potential or ability of Martial. So whilst I would say Mourinho is to blame for the way our attack has behaved at times this season I don't think him or his tactics are fully to blame to Rashford or his form. Lately he's been pretty average and rather selfish on the pitch which has been annoying to see, I hope he comes back in rather fresh and with his earlier form.

Van Gaal used him properly; central and close to the goal so he’s instinctive and can’t just run at full speed - something that’s killed him in the past 18 months. He’s a good finisher and dangerous within 30 yards of the goal.

He’s not incredibly talented ala Martial, Mbappe etc, but that doesn’t mean he’s can’t be just as effective if he becomes a destructive, Cavani-esque #9. To get to that level, he has to go on loan.

Mason Greenwood is more of a gem and potentially complete forward IMO, that kid really is exciting.

 

[bosnian_red]

He was a winger in the academy right?

Which wing?

Why can't he play as a right winger that gets crosses in and can either tuck in to help in midfield or help out Valencia?

He's been used as that the past few months when he has come on. Just dealt with a few injuries and a loss of form while others have been in better form.

 

[Damien]

Was Sunday the first game this season he wasn't involved in?

Spurs away. Rashford was about to come on but Fellaini got injured.

 

[el3mel]

Van Gaal used him properly; central and close to the goal so he’s instinctive and can’t just run at full speed - something that’s killed him in the past 18 months. He’s a good finisher and dangerous within 30 yards of the goal.

He’s not incredibly talented ala Martial, Mbappe etc, but that doesn’t mean he’s can’t be just as effective if he becomes a destructive, Cavani-esque #9. To get to that level, he has to go on loan.

Mason Greenwood is more of a gem and potentially complete forward IMO, that kid really is exciting.

Is he ? I think his finishing is mostly predictable and he has missed 1v1 chances for my liking this season and the last one. If he wants to play as a striker, first thing first to improve this point. At the point no chance he can play over Lukaku.

 

[Jinn]

The problem for Rashford is that we are not ripping teams apart.
If we are 3 or 4 nil up by say the 60min of a game, I'm quite sure Mourinho will pull of Lukaku to rest him and give Rashford a go upfront.
SAF used to do this with many a young player over the years, however, we did have a fantastic high scoring first team back then.

 

[Luke1995]

I think Rashford can be very important in the Champions League matches. He definitely seems to thrive in the biggest stage, he was our main player in the two matches against Anderlecht and Celta last season

What I love about him is that he always is willing to try something different, he makes more mistakes than most of our players because he likes to try flashy tricks and he needs to improve his playmaking ability but I don't think his talent was blown out of proportion, just that he is still adapting to the competition with Romelu and Alexis, he was used to just get rotated with Martial and it is being difficult for him in this new environment, but next season with the experience of this one hopefully he will come back better than ever

 

[Damien]

Is he ? I think his finishing is mostly predictable and he has missed 1v1 chances for my liking this season and the last one. If he wants to play as a striker, first thing first to improve this point. At the point no chance he can play over Lukaku.

I remember in preseason and at the start of the season there were loads of comments about how Rashford has become more clinical. Since then he's deteriorated a fair bit on that front.

 

[Roeindo]

We will never give him chance to shine because of our approach. If we have scored 2 or 3 goals, JM will subbed his attacker for DM or FB.

 

[Di Maria's angel]

I remember in preseason and at the start of the season there were loads of comments about how Rashford has become more clinical. Since then he's deteriorated a fair bit on that front.

It's not been that bad, imo. He has hit the post several times this season. And, IIRC, he actually hasn't featured much since the abysmal performance against Bristol City.

When I think of why he was dropped, it wasn't for his bad finishing, it felt as if it was because he was being too selfish i.e. showing his lack of experience.

 

[Raees]

Good player, nothing more. I know people, including me, want him to succeed because he's homegrown but his talent has been blown way out of proportion, I don't think he will ever be good enough to be lead striker for us in the long term, has nowhere near the potential of Mbappe and I don't think he even has the potential or ability of Martial. So whilst I would say Mourinho is to blame for the way our attack has behaved at times this season I don't think him or his tactics are fully to blame to Rashford or his form. Lately he's been pretty average and rather selfish on the pitch which has been annoying to see, I hope he comes back in rather fresh and with his earlier form.

I think there is a differece between overrating his talent vs overrating his performances. For me he remains a potentially sublime talent who possesses several world class attributes but his performances for me did not suggest to me that this was a Mbappe level performer. He is very hit and miss technically and likewise with his decision making.

Hope this time out does him good and he starts to connect the dots more and we see more fluid performances where he is in control of his various attributes and produces more cohesive performances rather than chaotic ones mixed with moments of brilliance. He needs to look less raw basically that is step one for him in his comeback. Way too early to write him off IMO. He needed this slump to give him a chance to work on his game.

 

[Nick7]

Is he ? I think his finishing is mostly predictable and he has missed 1v1 chances for my liking this season and the last one. If he wants to play as a striker, first thing first to improve this point. At the point no chance he can play over Lukaku.

For a player just gone 20 yeah he's a pretty good finisher.

 

[haram]

We will never give him chance to shine because of our approach. If we have scored 2 or 3 goals, JM will subbed his attacker for DM or FB.

So we are just going to pretend him and Martial were not being subbed on and off for each other the whole season?

 

[Hernandez - BFA]

Instinctively he's a great finisher, especially for his age.
Myself and a United pal always say though how unreliable he is when he is 1vs1 with the keeper and he has time to think about it - he misses a lot when this happens.

I know someone will bring up chances when he finishes them, like against Chelsea a season or so ago but I can definitely remember watching many opportunities where he hits it at the keeper when he has time to think about it.

I guess you call that composure. With experience that'll come, but that's certainly what he lacks consistently to be a reliable forward for a big club at this stage.

Hopefully being with Lukaku and Zlatan for next few months will help him.

 

[haram]

How many 1 on 1s has he missed this season? I remember one against Real Madrid I think.

 

[el3mel]

For a player just gone 20 yeah he's a pretty good finisher.

Martial's finishing looks better and more consistent for me and he's only older by 2 years.

He's not a bad finisher but not good one for me either. Inconsistent is the word. If he wants to get more time at striker position he needs to improve his finishing. Even if Lukaku didn't play, both Sanchez and Martial are ahead of him for this position imo.

 

[Nick7]

Martial's finishing looks better and more consistent for me and he's only older by 2 years.

He's not a bad finisher but not good one for me either. Inconsistent is the word. If he wants to get more time at striker position he needs to improve his finishing. Even if Lukaku didn't play, both Sanchez and Martial are ahead of him for this position imo.

Yeah and last year people were giving Martial crap for poor finishing. If I recall correctly people were saying "he can only finish one way low and to the far post" when he was in poor goalscoring form. That happens with young players, the older they get, the more training they get, the better they get at stuff like that.

 

[el3mel]

Yeah and last year people were giving Martial crap for poor finishing. If I recall correctly people were saying "he can only finish one way low and to the far post" when he was in poor goalscoring form. That happens with young players, the older they get, the more training they get, the better they get at stuff like that.

For me I have always questioned Martial's off ball movement but never complained about his finishing. He misses chances like everyone else for sure but his finishing is very consistent most of time. Rashford has some decent finishers, but he missed a lot of 1v1 that it can't be mentioned as just normal misses. Age or not he needs to improve in this department to play in such position.

 

[Nick7]

For me I have always questioned Martial's off ball movement but never complained about his finishing. He misses chances like everyone else for sure but his finishing is very consistent most of time. Rashford has some decent finishers, but he missed a lot of 1v1 that it can't be mentioned as just normal misses. Age or not he needs to improve in this department to play in such position.

Improve, sure. But I don't think he's a bad finisher, not at all. I also think 1v1 is a difficult skill for young players to learn. A lot of what goes into a great striker in 1v1's is having the know how and quick thinking to outwit a goalkeeper. Something I think he'll learn in time.