Where do you rank Mason Greenwood as a talent?

[Revan]

Not saying he will hit their level, but it's the most excited I've been about a young player since Ronaldo and Rooney were emerging in 04-06.

Best academy product since Giggs

Honestly, if he does not hit Rooney/Giggs' level, I am gonna be disappointed in life. He looks better than any player (except probably Messi/L. Ronaldo), I've seen at this age.

If we don't sign Sancho, he should easy score 30 goals from the wing next season.

 

[SAFMUTD]

Bigger than Jordan

 

[United58]

He cuts in and shoots exactly like Messi, not saying he'll reach that level but he's so, so good

 

[Redfrog]

In last lets say 10 years, only Mbappe was bigger talent than Mason

Not the same type of players mate. I'm french and I don't know if I'll consider Mbappé as better talent 100%.

Mbappé is so fast but it can be his weakness. He relies too much on pace and sooner or later he will slow down.

Greenwood is much more clinical and more intelligent as a player. I never saw an 18 years old play with so much maturity. It is just natural for him.

He is not flashy as he could be. He is a team player. The boy was just born a footballer. He play as a grown man in a boy body.

 

[Relevated]

If you want me to be honest he's the most exciting and genuine looking youngster we've had since Rooney and Ronaldo

 

[Shimo]

When it comes to Sancho - think of it in this way, if one of the current front 3 are not available, then we have a quality drop. If Greenwood continues like this, then we have a luxury that most top teams need in the modern game.

What it also allows for is a bit more flexibility if say want to rest Ferndandes and not be forced to push Pogba up, could play all 4 with Martial/Rashford through the middle.

Greenwood continues like this though and likely it will be one of the others that gets rotated.

 

[Fortitude]

On the half-turn; left foot touch to stand his opposing marker up; rapid transition to right foot and snapshot. If you watch the replay in slow motion, you get to see just how discombobulating this is for defenders and keepers because, just as they're processing what's happening, the second and third action is coming their way in less than a second.

It's not long now before managers go through the trademark routine of trying to put a covering man behind the one going towards Greenwood, as all the elite players earn when they become notorious.

Martial, in particular, is going to have more space to play in as a direct beneficiary of this.

 

[Manny]

That strike today was R9 esque

 

[Prongsy]

What a unique talent. How he works his goals, and watch him come up with such composed, elegant, and crafty build ups, is more delightful than his shooting. Absolute sensational. Incredibly intelligent, and has remarkable ability that helps him to use his intelligence the best. So lucky this isn't happening like at Moyessiaah era.

 

[Revan]

When it comes to Sancho - think of it in this way, if one of the current front 3 are not available, then we have a quality drop. If Greenwood continues like this, then we have a luxury that most top teams need in the modern game.

What it also allows for is a bit more flexibility if say want to rest Ferndandes and not be forced to push Pogba up, could play all 4 with Martial/Rashford through the middle.

Greenwood continues like this though and likely it will be one of the others that gets rotated.

I think most know that. Some might think that it would be better to sign a very good player, but whom would be content on being on bench most of the time.

Obviously, we need depth but I am not sure if it is healthy to do rotation all the time. Maybe better to have a default trio in the attack, and rest them as needed. We kind of did the same mistake in 2008 when we signed Berbatov and then rotated him with Tevez, never getting the best of either of them.

For what is worth I don't know what is the right approach. Sancho is excellent and offers us something different (elite dribbling). Mason is excellent too and is arguably the best finisher in the league. Rashford and Martial are excellent too. So, in one way I would like to sign Sancho so it further improves our attack. On the other hand, I also want this trio to further play together and improve. Likely, they're gonna surpass 60 goals this season, with Martial and Rashford having lengthy injuries and Mason being a reserve for most of the season. If they are fit next season, it can easily be 80, in which case signing Sancho can potentially make things worse. So the question is should we sign someone very good, whom would be happy with being a rotational choice, or disrupt the current attack by spending 100m in Sancho.

 

[Kag]

Honestly, if he does not hit Rooney/Giggs' level, I am gonna be disappointed in life. He looks better than any player (except probably Messi/L. Ronaldo), I've seen at this age.

If we don't sign Sancho, he should easy score 30 goals from the wing next season.

It isn’t Greenwood that Sancho puts on the bench. He’ll get thirty regardless.

 

[Revan]

It isn’t Greenwood that Sancho puts on the bench. He’ll get thirty regardless.

Ole never takes Rashford off. I am afraid it is Mason who will miss most.

Martial should be undroppable unless Mason plays well in 9 (I know that he has done it for the youth categories, but at the moment he seems more suited to do damage from the wing, while Martial is very good at setting the others).

 

[Kag]

Ole never takes Rashford off. I am afraid it is Mason who will miss most.

Martial should be undroppable unless Mason plays well in 9 (I know that he has done it for the youth categories, but at the moment he seems more suited to do damage from the wing, while Martial is very good at setting the others).

I see it as healthy competition, ultimately. The three most in form will play. I just happen to think that Greenwood will always be one of the form three, which is great for us. He really is the tits.

 

[Revan]

I see it as healthy competition, ultimately. The three most in form will play. I just happen to think that Greenwood will always be one of the form three, which is great for us. He really is the tits.

I am not sure. The healthy competition did not work for us in 2008-2009. I think that Barca had some problems too now with Griezmann.

Has there been a club that had to rotate players for the sake of rotating players and it worked? Are clubs with world-class players as rotational choices who are happy to do so? Honestly, I don't remember any.

So dunno. Sancho is extremely exciting, but also the three players we have are extremely exciting. I am a bit afraid that 3 + 1 would sum to 2.5 instead of 4.

So while I wanted us to sign Sancho a couple of months bad, now I don't care that much. It is fine either way.

 

[RU Devil]

Kid is cold as ICE. Doesn't seem to snatch at his chances, like some strikers do. So calm and seemingly deliberate in his motions, it's shocking how powerful his strikes are. Definitely in the Mbappe mold, and his physique post-Restart is a marvel. Not that he's become totally bulked up, but he's definitely a lot less slight and less likely to be pushed around.

Gotta love how the front 5 are gelling. As soon as the opportunity arises, you see all 5 running like gazelles, sometimes joined by fullback or 2. Should have scored a few more today the way they were creating.

Back to Mason, he probably will eclipse Rashford within a year or 2. Just seems a bit more relaxed and confident. I'm sure he'll hit a few bumps but as long as Ole (& Gareth) are patient and allow him to blossom, he'll be in the running for Ballon D'or eventually.

 

[Rightnr]

Genuine world class talent with world class mentality. He converts better outside the box than most players convert from the penalty spot.

His only issue would be Martial is playing as the main striker. But it also gives him a chance to learn his trade without the extra pressure of being our main target man.

 

[Canagel]

Better than Haaland

 

[Suv666]

Better than Pele

 

[mav_9me]

Sure Greenwood is on a crazy finishing streak, obviously he's a great finisher but nobody keeps up this rate of finishing tbf. But his technique and all around game is just so good. He's not just a finisher. His touch, movement, passing, turns are always just perfect. Covered by 2 people going back and he still makes the right turn or first time pass and starts a counter. Just a brilliant footballer, even ignoring the finishing which is ridiculous.

Just as he has taken time to show his right foot, I think he is taking time to show his all round game. Right now he is keeping things simple. With time he will show more dribbling and more creativity with passing imo.

 

[SER19]

Honestly, if he does not hit Rooney/Giggs' level, I am gonna be disappointed in life. He looks better than any player (except probably Messi/L. Ronaldo), I've seen at this age.

If we don't sign Sancho, he should easy score 30 goals from the wing next season.

The terrifying thing with these amazing talents is the prospect of injuries, either niggling or serious, stifling their development. Seen it so many times it's actually stressful to think about

 

[MikeKing]

As the most talented forward I've seen come through the club at such a young age. Specialist + natural footballer is just the crazy combo. The phrase generational talent gets thrown about quite a lot but if the point is that it's a talent that only comes once in a generation, then he fits the description.

 

[jlecesne]

Dare we give him the #7 shirt?

 

[Paxi]

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[Superunknown]

The comparisons that we are making in this thread are scary. We have a huge talent on our hands and I hope this club does absolutely everything to help him achieve and fulfil that potential.
I look at him and see a striker in the mould of Van Persie. Somebody who can make goals out of nothing, yet can shoot from distance, score from awkward angles, and is just a pain in the d*ck for the opposition. 16 goals this season for a kid his age is fantastic.

 

[pocco]

He's top level in my opinion. He's got all the talent that you need but his two-footedness really tips the balance. I can't wait to see how far he goes.

The English media generally gush over Rashford but Neville actually said on commentary today that Greenwood has more to his game. I just switched on MOTD and they were talking him up big time. It just feels like we're witnessing something special unfold once again at Old Trafford.

 

[VanGaalEra]

The obvious comparison is RVP, but there’s something about him that also reminds me of Fowler.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Finishing aside (and his finishing is ridiculous) his all round game is getting better and better. Barely put a foot wrong today and is so elegant in possession. Makes football looks so easy.

 

[noodlehair]

He makes everything look easy and it's all instant as well. His last two goals are perfect examples. It's not just "finishing" it's natural ability. Every touch moves him into space and then before the defender can react he's moved again or he's already got the shot away. You don't see the flashy skills because he has no need for them. Even the first goal tonight. It happens because Greenwood just casually nutmegs someone in his own half and runs 60 yards with the ball with no one being able to get near him.

It's all that natural it's really hard to tell if he's having a bad game because you so rarely see him get the ball and waste it or stand there thinking what to do with it.

Honestly I rate him above anyone I've seen come through our academy. He's got the perfect set up around him so if he keeps his head screwed on he can be something really special. Martial and Rashford are two of them most dangerous young attacking players around. Rashford has scary levels of ability himself. Greenwood is 18 and making them look like a sideshow.

 

[VanGaalEra]

Best 18 year old to have played for us (at least since I watch football). Rooney was good, but he played in a much-settled team and was starting pretty much every game. He had 2 more goals than Greenwood has now.

He might be the best finisher I have seen at United (maybe RvN but that is it). It doesn't matter where he is, it doesn't matter left or right, if you give him an inch of space, the ball is gonna end in the net.

If we sign Sancho, both Sancho and Martial are gonna struggle to keep Greenwood out of the team.

I think it will be Rashford who has to worry.

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

I am not sure. The healthy competition did not work for us in 2008-2009. I think that Barca had some problems too now with Griezmann.

Has there been a club that had to rotate players for the sake of rotating players and it worked? Are clubs with world-class players as rotational choices who are happy to do so? Honestly, I don't remember any.

So dunno. Sancho is extremely exciting, but also the three players we have are extremely exciting. I am a bit afraid that 3 + 1 would sum to 2.5 instead of 4.

So while I wanted us to sign Sancho a couple of months bad, now I don't care that much. It is fine either way.

Barcelona's problems with Griezmann are more-so him occupying the same spaces as Messi does even if he's had games lately where he hasn't played.

Though I agree re: Tevez and Berbatov.

It's a tricky situation with Sancho. I'm not sure what the right move is.

 

[Eli Zee]

The comparisons that we are making in this thread are scary. We have a huge talent on our hands and I hope this club does absolutely everything to help him achieve and fulfil that potential.
I look at him and see a striker in the mould of Van Persie. Somebody who can make goals out of nothing, yet can shoot from distance, score from awkward angles, and is just a pain in the d*ck for the opposition. 16 goals this season for a kid his age is fantastic.

16 goals for a kid his age who was subbed on most of his appearances... every time he’s started he’s scored and/or assisted pretty much now. Imagine what he can do with a full season and a much more settled, positive team

 

[Rado_N]

Finishing aside (and his finishing is ridiculous) his all round game is getting better and better. Barely put a foot wrong today and is so elegant in possession. Makes football looks so easy.

His first touch is sensational. I can't think of the right word to describe him but efficient might be close. There's nothing he does that's unnecessary, he receives the ball and instantly he's got it where he wants it, usually right in the spot it needs to be to unleash an absolute thunderbastard of a shot.

He's also got a ridiculous amount of composure for a young lad. He never panics. NFL rookies often talk about how after they get going the game "slows down" for them and they start seeing things like they did in college; Greenwood looks like he sees the game in green code.

He's so exciting.

 

[VanGaalEra]

Finishing aside (and his finishing is ridiculous) his all round game is getting better and better. Barely put a foot wrong today and is so elegant in possession. Makes football looks so easy.

He seems to pick the right pass at times also, makes the right decisions on the counter.

 

[Green_Red]

They had a graphic on MOTD that showed goals scored by teenagers in a single season. Not sure if it was Man Utd specific or not, either way that is some company to be keeping in your first senior team season.

George Best - 17
Brian Kidd - 17
Wayne Rooney - 17
Mason Greenwood - 16

 

[Hoof the ball]

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[Robertd0803]

Frightening talent.

His switch from right to left foot is beautiful.

One of the things that amazes me is how hard he hits the ball with very little build up. The goal tonight v Villa nearly went through the net it was such a rocket.

 

[paulscholes18]

11 days to go till he is the best U20 football in the universe

 

[RedRonaldo]

Will be great if he could score 20 goals this season, his full debut season!

 

[TrustInOle]

Will win the Ballon D'or.

Not since Messi have I seen a kid his age have such complete control over the ball. Sky is the limit if his head stays screwed on.

 

[RedRonaldo]

All this past months people are talking about Rashford vs Mbappe, Haaland vs Mbappe, or Sancho vs Mbappe.
But in the end it could be Greenwood vs Mbappe afterall, which would actually be the closest comparison.