[Eyepopper]

*cough* Brazilian *cough* Tom *cough* Cleverly

 

[jem]

A genuine question: why do people have such high hopes for Pereira? Was he a Pogba-level talent when he first arrived? I'm not being provocative here; I genuinely don't remember, so am curious to know. As well, was he a major success on his various loan spells? My recollection is that he wasn't, but could be wrong. It seems he's been here a while now, but outside of a few impressive pre-season performances over the years, I can't recall him doing anything.

 

[Devil may care]

Can't judge him on tonight IMO, but I wouldn't be surprised if that is the last time we see him in a United shirt.

 

[haram]

Absolutely. Mourinho played him on the wing number one to make a point to Valencia and the kid himself about his loan, and also to make it difficult for pereira so he could test his resolve and/or as political insurance so he could say ‘well, you wanted me to play him (and he was crap)’.
He did ok. Poor in moments but showed some good moments. His passing is crisp which has been non existent in our midfield for a decade and he has a good shot.

Yeah, ok.

 

[Charles Miller]

*cough* Brazilian *cough* Tom *cough* Cleverly

He is born in Duffel Belgium though.

 

[Isotope]

If one rubbish performance could get a young player out of the team, how about a 25 y.o. expensive high-wages player can still playing by being rubbish for the whole season?

 

[MikeKing]

Been a while since he has played, think he played alright considering. To me he still has a way to go but I have faith that his playmaking skills will keep growing into something amazing eventually.

 

[DanNistelrooy]

I have to admit that I didn't watch him much for Valencia last season but apparently he did play LW at times there? I find that difficult to imagine how he can be effective there, not got any pace and not much of a left foot from what I've seen. In fact you could write the same sentence about Mata on the right... Both have to cut inside because of their stronger foot and both with no pace to beat a man.

 

[youngrell]

Looked devoid of confidence mostly, which is no surprise considering his last game and how long he's been left out since.

Struggled on the left and did better in midfield but was another victim of a really poorly balanced team and lack of movement from his teammates.

First half, every single one of our players wanted the ball to feet with no one running in behind. Both he and Pogba benefitted from Rashford and Lingard's introduction but still poor overall.

 

[steakpie]

He's a good player, probably PL level, but he isn't top 6 level.

Physically, he's nothing special. Technically hes good but not great. I would be surprised if he is still here next season.

 

[Sylar]

He looked a lot better when we were actually playing football at the end.

Struggled on the left with Rojo, grew into the match in CM. Had a few positive moments in the end

Yeah, I think these are fair.

 

[Dolf]

Waits months for a game then gets threw onto the wing with Marcos Rojo behind him.

Standard Jose. You’d think he wants certain players to fail

Exactly, just so he can say “look how bad they are. This is why I don’t play them. I was right once again.”

 

[Velvet Revolver]

Absolutely. Mourinho played him on the wing number one to make a point to Valencia and the kid himself about his loan, and also to make it difficult for pereira so he could test his resolve and/or as political insurance so he could say ‘well, you wanted me to play him (and he was crap)’.
He did ok. Poor in moments but showed some good moments. His passing is crisp which has been non existent in our midfield for a decade and he has a good shot.

Exactly my thoughts.

 

[Johan07]

He's not a winger. We all ask for him to play, Mourinho plays him completely out of position and then blames him when he fails to perform when he never had the foundation to do anything well in the first place.

He played wing/#10 for his entire youth career at United. He played mostly LW for Valencia last season when he could get in the team. A few minutes at RW.
Mourinho did play him out of position when he asked him to suddenly be a #6 during pre-season. He did not play him out of position yesterday.

 

[fergieisold]

Meh, he doesn't look good enough me. Looks like he'll be good for a decent mid table side like Everton.

 

[bosnian_red]

He played wing/#10 for his entire youth career at United. He played mostly LW for Valencia last season when he could get in the team. A few minutes at RW.
Mourinho did play him out of position when he asked him to suddenly be a #6 during pre-season. He did not play him out of position yesterday.

He played in the position but only ever impressed when he played centrally. He was never looked at like a future wide player. If he played wide it was to squeeze him in, but it was always with a future eye to move him in the middle.

 

[Johan07]

He played in the position but only ever impressed when he played centrally. He was never looked at like a future wide player. If he played wide it was to squeeze him in, but it was always with a future eye to move him in the middle.

Which games did he impress in when being played centrally?
He got a few games there in pre-season when most of the squad was on WC-break, as was the oppositions players. He did OK against Leicester in the first game and stunk the place up the next. Before that he never really played as a DM. He should have been sent on loan this season to a PL-club, if he really wants to make a career in the PL. Its bad man management from Mourinho to have kept him around and used him the way he has.

 

[Velvet Revolver]

If he was not a united player, 50% of posters here who are not impressed with him would want him here!

 

[Who's Kissing Cameras?]

Exactly, just so he can say “look how bad they are. This is why I don’t play them. I was right once again.”

Yep. It’s so obvious what he’s doing. Of course he wouldn’t play Andreas in a midfield role where his best performances have been.

 

[André Dominguez]

He's a good reserve player. You can't have top players as subs, otherwise they will ask to be transfered.

 

[Johan07]

If he was not a united player, 50% of posters here who are not impressed with him would want him here!

Why? He could not command a regular starting place at Valencia last season. As a winger. They didnt even consider him playing centrally. A Valencia that a lot of posters now think is a crap team who we should have beaten easily yday fielding our second string.
I dont hate on Pereira, but he has not shown anything close to command more minutes at our club and IMO he has not shown enough to occupy a squad position this year.
He needs to play and he will not get those minutes at United even without Mourinho.
Should have been loaned out.
Same applies to McTominay. Doesnt benefit the club or the players keeping them around like this.

 

[Johan07]

He's a good reserve player. You can't have top players as subs, otherwise they will ask to be transfered.

In my mind it was poor squad management to keep both Pereira and McTominay around this year.
Both have been part of the first team squad at least one season, which is good for a young player to start out with. But then they need to play. I would rather have sent them both on loan and promoted a younger player like Garner or Gomes to the first team squad.
Which would make them eligible to go on loan on the season after one year under Mourinho.
Both Pereira and McTominay would do better playing regularly this year. Long-term.
In addition I would have signed a more experienced CM to complete the squad. Someone who would be happy to contribute and know his place as a back-up.
Our squad management at CM has been terrible this year and thats on Mourinho for me.

 

[El Zoido]

He has real talent, I feel he could develop massively in a better team and with a better manager.

 

[FootyGirl88]

He has real talent, I feel he could develop massively in a better team and with a better manager.

It's true look at what Poch is doing with Winks

 

[P-Nut]

You could see his frustration throughout. He's used to passing and moving and rotating the ball to open up space. In this team it was pass and stare at the ball you'd just passed. Felt sorry for him at times, you could see the difference instantly when him and Pogba linked up, compared to when it was Fellaini or Fred giving him the ball.

 

[breakout67]

ITT: Pereira has turned into a CM because of a few pre-season games.

Him and Mata should be alternating the no.10 in many of our dead rubber games this season. But, strangely Mata has become one of Mourinho's go to men when we are struggling.

 

[Ace of Spades]

He has shown plenty during preseason and our first game. He was poor against Brighton (like the rest of the team), and then was frozen out. He then starts but out wide, with fecking Rojo as LB. What exactly were people expecting ?? He started getting better once he was moved central, which is where he should play. We can and should play him, as well as our other young players, because the senior players are crap. If we want to get back to the top, then we will have to rely on nurturing young talents, because the top players will not be looking to join us with the state we are in currently.

 

[André Dominguez]

In my mind it was poor squad management to keep both Pereira and McTominay around this year.
Both have been part of the first team squad at least one season, which is good for a young player to start out with. But then they need to play. I would rather have sent them both on loan and promoted a younger player like Garner or Gomes to the first team squad.
Which would make them eligible to go on loan on the season after one year under Mourinho.
Both Pereira and McTominay would do better playing regularly this year. Long-term.
In addition I would have signed a more experienced CM to complete the squad. Someone who would be happy to contribute and know his place as a back-up.
Our squad management at CM has been terrible this year and thats on Mourinho for me.

I totally agree: it was really a poor decision to keep both of them in a secondary role. Because if a young player doesn't play, he can't gain experience.
And the problem is that the first team players are not doing well, so one does also wonder what difference does it make to play McTominay or Pereira instead of some of them.

We could make a loan with a callback clause in case of injuries, though.

 

[izec]

He has real talent, I feel he could develop massively in a better team and with a better manager.

That is what will happen if his next move is a wise one.

 

[NotQuiteManc]

I think for him to have game time, and develop further, he has to start being on the wings or starting position from the left wing for example.

Modric and Eriksen started their EPL career from that kind of position before being moved towards more central position. Did them no harm and probably benefitted from it. At the moment, he is lacking defensively and I think in Joses team, the CM must be defensively disciplined and as much as hate to say it, only Matic and to certain extent, Fellaini has it.

Offensively, he already has the potential to be very good and has all the right tools but need to develop more defensively.

 

[Velvet Revolver]

Why? He could not command a regular starting place at Valencia last season. As a winger. They didnt even consider him playing centrally. A Valencia that a lot of posters now think is a crap team who we should have beaten easily yday fielding our second string.
I dont hate on Pereira, but he has not shown anything close to command more minutes at our club and IMO he has not shown enough to occupy a squad position this year.
He needs to play and he will not get those minutes at United even without Mourinho.
Should have been loaned out.
Same applies to McTominay. Doesnt benefit the club or the players keeping them around like this.

And this is based on the 1.5 games he played in the PL? You don't need to hate on a player, but judging a player based on these games is not right.

He is just not a Jose player and thats a fact. We need creative minds in our team, and Andreas is one of them. I am in no way saying he is the next best thing when he is clearly not. He can't do worse than some of the $$$ midfielders we have in our team can he?

Also, regular game time at Valencia earned him a call up to the Brazilian squad

 

[Silas]

What was the reasoning in playing him on the wing?

 

[Dr. Dwayne]

Great shot. Needs games.

 

[R77]

Great shot. Needs games.

This. I can't see how we can call him the Brazilian Cleverley just yet, seeing as he's not had anything approaching a run of games and keeps getting shunted around different positions. His composure, resistance to the press, and game vision means he has attributes we could do with, but without having a run in the team it's too difficult to tell.

 

[PepsiCola]

What was the reasoning in playing him on the wing?

Jose had to prove a point

 

[Ephrem]

Play him as a CM or don't play him at all.

And he is definitely better than Fred at the moment.

 

[TheForgottenOne]

You could see his frustration throughout. He's used to passing and moving and rotating the ball to open up space. In this team it was pass and stare at the ball you'd just passed. Felt sorry for him at times, you could see the difference instantly when him and Pogba linked up, compared to when it was Fellaini or Fred giving him the ball.

This. I can't believe how some of the people here seem to miss this.

You can clearly see his intention to keep moving both himself as the ball. Something we are clearly missing in other players.

Pereira is actually showing some football intelligence and has a good work rate. I have more confidence in our squad developing some good games with him than many of our other options.

Judging him on being nothing special based on these few games with our current crap squad would be a big misstake. Put him along some other midfielderd with some passing intelligence and I am pretty sure he will be a good player for us.

And if not, I rather go down trying with players like him than less talented break down players like McTominay, Fellaini and the current Herrera.

 

[Ashley R1+O]

I actually think he'd have a role backing up our four man box press playing in one of the advanced positions. Natural backup for Lingard. There just isn't really room for him at the moment.

 

[P-Nut]

This. I can't believe how some of the people here seem to miss this.

You can clearly see his intention to keep moving both himself as the ball. Something we are clearly missing in other players.

Pereira is actually showing some football intelligence and has a good work rate. I have more confidence in our squad developing some good games with him than many of our other options.

Judging him on being nothing special based on these few games with our current crap squad would be a big misstake. Put him along some other midfielderd with some passing intelligence and I am pretty sure he will be a good player for us.

And if not, I rather go down trying with players like him than less talented break down players like McTominay, Fellaini and the current Herrera.

Yeah he's clearly not right for the tactics we employ, just watching him in the game (as I did for about 15-20 mins) you can see that he wants to develop attacking moves and create space for himself and others. However, the rest of the midfield just wasn't seeing the game in the same way and constantly looking for the easiest pass, when a 1-2 or a little triangle could have opened up the pitch for us.

 

[JohnnyLaw]

Why? He could not command a regular starting place at Valencia last season. As a winger. They didnt even consider him playing centrally. A Valencia that a lot of posters now think is a crap team who we should have beaten easily yday fielding our second string.
I dont hate on Pereira, but he has not shown anything close to command more minutes at our club and IMO he has not shown enough to occupy a squad position this year.
He needs to play and he will not get those minutes at United even without Mourinho.
Should have been loaned out.
Same applies to McTominay. Doesnt benefit the club or the players keeping them around like this.

Under Marcelino they’ve consistently played a 4-4-2 formation with wide playmakers like Soler, who despite being their own product had to compete with Andreas for game time last season, similar to Atletico for example who have used Koke wide in Simeones 4-4-2.
There wasn’t room in Valencias central midfield for a player like Pereira, there clearly has been in ours though as we’ve regularly employed 3 central midfielders in our set-ups under Mourinho.
Injuries also played a part in tripping his progress last year.
His best work has come when he’s played centrally for Granada where he had some stellar performances against the very top teams in La liga. Earned himself the step up to Valencia who like us is a big profile club even though they might not be living up their reputation currently.
We’ve needed a technical player like him in our midfield set-up and he should’ve been integrated into the team last year, could’ve saved us 50 million pounds this summer if we had.