Edinson Cavani image 21

Edinson Cavani Uruguay flag

2020-21 Performances


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6.3 Season Average Rating
Appearances
39
Goals
17
Assists
5
Yellow cards
6
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Devil81

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To put it simply, the problem isn't Cavani, it's the players who are supposed to supply him.

He'd be in double figures by now if players weren't as selfish or could at least find his runs. I think he's been brilliant but nobody seems to be able to find him with a pass.

Wouldn't surprise me if he didn't take the option of the extra year, let alone United.
Quoting myself here.

The body language has been a huge give away all season, I actually thought he's just the type of striker that would score a hat full of goals at United but it's now become apparent a poaching striker isn't the right fit for this team.

Maybe a Dybala would be perfect after all, someone who could drop in and hold the ball and bring others into play. Like an upgraded version of Firmino at Liverpool.
 

Tom Cato

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Cavani looks set to return to Boca. Not happy in Manchester after the FA labeled him a racist according to his father. He also doesn't speak the language so that definitely must have an impacton overall comfort in the area.

Can't say I blame him.
 

Red & White

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Is it just us who get players family members telling the media they want to leave? I think we need a long term CF and we all know who would be the dream signing but I don’t know if we’d be top of his list. Cavani would have been great for another year if we can’t find someone this summer but you get the feeling we won’t have enough funds for all the positions that need attention.

I don’t imagine the FA charge has made him feel anymore welcome, if he was on the fence with the extension.
 

UpWithRivers

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I think he realizes he hasnt got it anymore. Yes he can play a few games but the pace and physicality of this league is not ideal for an injury prone player at nearly 35. He's better off winding down. In some way fair play but on the other side he seems like another mercenary that came for a bit of cash before he swans off to Boca.
We need to stop this temporary fixes like him and Ighalo and get a more permanent option. Easier said than done though.
 

dinostar77

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Love the comments from the family members. Until the penny drops with them that their golden goose wont be getting the superstar wages he has been earning in europe when he goes back to south american.

Personally I'd like him to stay for another season. He's a top striker with incredible movement
 

McGrathsipan

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Love the comments from the family members. Until the penny drops with them that their golden goose wont be getting the superstar wages he has been earning in europe when he goes back to south american.

Personally I'd like him to stay for another season. He's a top striker with incredible movement
The club should let him go and free up money rather than pay him huge wages to be at the physio table more than the pitch
 

Bondi77

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Love the comments from the family members. Until the penny drops with them that their golden goose wont be getting the superstar wages he has been earning in europe when he goes back to south american.

Personally I'd like him to stay for another season. He's a top striker with incredible movement
He has great movement....I just wish he could move a bit faster!
 

Devil81

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I think he realizes he hasnt got it anymore. Yes he can play a few games but the pace and physicality of this league is not ideal for an injury prone player at nearly 35. He's better off winding down. In some way fair play but on the other side he seems like another mercenary that came for a bit of cash before he swans off to Boca.
We need to stop this temporary fixes like him and Ighalo and get a more permanent option. Easier said than done though.
Covid put a stop to that I'm afraid, Cavani was needed because like most clubs we couldn't spend what was needed to get a top top striker.
 

GBBQ

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Love the comments from the family members. Until the penny drops with them that their golden goose wont be getting the superstar wages he has been earning in europe when he goes back to south american.

Personally I'd like him to stay for another season. He's a top striker with incredible movement
He's had some vital games for us this season where he was the driving force behind our wins but they have been few and far between through a mixture of injuries, Cavani perhaps not being up to his best and the fact we don't really play in a way that provides him with enough service.

He's definitely not been a flop but I think its too big a gamble to pay him massive wages if he's not going to be fit for key games. It was worth a punt and has paid off enough but I think he'll go in the summer.
 

TMDaines

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This feels again like a Pogba story where everyone is taken by surprise by something relatively logical. Cavani was in semi-retirement and thought his European career earning big wages was over until we knocked on his door.

He's done a bit of a job for us this year, but longer term he isn't a solution and a contact extension would likely be an error. He's done better than I expected, but can't stay fit enough to play a reliable role. Let's enjoy the year and move on.
 

Jaxa

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I really don't mind whether he stays or goes tbh and bear no grudge if he wants to leave due to not being able to settle in Manchester if that is the truth,

We didn't spend millions on securing his services and he's done a decent job for us so even if it's for the 1 season it was still great seeing a legendary player such as him in a united shirt,

I have also been in a position before where I have moved to a country or city even that i could just not settle in and had to move after a year so it's very normal, footballers are humans at the end of the day and south americans moving to Manc can be a big culture shock, you have to love grey skies and baltic weather if you want to stick it here, so to move back to be closer with his family and his home country where he is happy in I wish him all the best, he's been incredible professional since being here and that's all you can ask.
 

Hoof the ball

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Cavani has a conversion rate of 30% this season. This is his best rate of conversion since the 17/18 season with PSG.
Haaland has a conversion rate of 37.25.
Lewa has a conversation rate of 38.25
Mbappe has a conversion rate of 36.5

So Cavani is doing very well in terms of his shots-to-goals ratio.

What does it look like for United forwards?

Rashford is at 19.75% in 2020/21
22.08% in 2019/20
25.6% in 2018/19
28.7% in 2017/2018

Martial is at 12.12% in 20/21
28.81% in 19/20
33.3% in 18/19
29.03% in 17/18

Rashford's accuracy in front of goal has regressed year-on-year.
Martial has surprisingly been very good in terms of conversions these last few seasons and in 18/19 almost reaching Mbappe level of converting chances, but this season Martial has just bottomed out.
 

11101

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Cavani has a conversion rate of 30% this season. This is his best rate of conversion since the 17/18 season with PSG.
Haaland has a conversion rate of 37.25.
Lewa has a conversation rate of 38.25
Mbappe has a conversion rate of 36.5

So Cavani is doing very well in terms of his shots-to-goals ratio.

What does it look like for United forwards?

Rashford is at 19.75% in 2020/21
22.08% in 2019/20
25.6% in 2018/19
28.7% in 2017/2018

Martial is at 12.12% in 20/21
28.81% in 19/20
33.3% in 18/19
29.03% in 17/18

Rashford's accuracy in front of goal has regressed year-on-year.
Martial has surprisingly been very good in terms of conversions these last few seasons and in 18/19 almost reaching Mbappe level of converting chances, but this season Martial has just bottomed out.
The difference between 30% and 35% is huge when it comes to strikers. Where are you getting those numbers from though? They're a lot different to the conversion rates i have seen. For example Cavani has had 30 shots this season and 6 goals - a 20% rate.

There is also a difference in the type of striker. A penalty box poacher should have a higher rate than somebody who drops deeper and takes longer shots.

Plus, Rashford and Martial have been shockingly bad this season. Ole himself could have gone out there and done better.
 

Hoof the ball

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The difference between 30% and 35% is huge when it comes to strikers. Where are you getting those numbers from though? They're a lot different to the conversion rates i have seen. For example Cavani has had 30 shots this season and 6 goals - a 20% rate.

There is also a difference in the type of striker. A penalty box poacher should have a higher rate than somebody who drops deeper and takes longer shots.

Plus, Rashford and Martial have been shockingly bad this season. Ole himself could have gone out there and done better.
Squawka comparison matrix. They source their stats from Opta.
 

red4ever 79

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This feels again like a Pogba story where everyone is taken by surprise by something relatively logical. Cavani was in semi-retirement and thought his European career earning big wages was over until we knocked on his door.

He's done a bit of a job for us this year, but longer term he isn't a solution and a contact extension would likely be an error. He's done better than I expected, but can't stay fit enough to play a reliable role. Let's enjoy the year and move on.
Fully agree with you. He has done a job, missed a few games with injury which was expected. When he has played you can see he is a class above Martial in the centre forward position. Shame we didnt get him a few years earlier, but if he wants to go let him and we move on. We should be looking more longer term at who can fill that position for us.
 

11101

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Squawka comparison matrix. They source their stats from Opta.
I'd question their accuracy. They say he's had 20 shots in the league this season. Everywhere else, including the Premier League website, say he's had 26.


edit: the discrepancy seems to be that they don't count blocked shots in the total, which is misleading imo.
 

NicolaSacco

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I guess the issue here is cost of replacement, and that's why I think Utd will do all they can to persuade him to stay. I cannot believe Solskjaer would go into a new season with Rashford, Martial, and Greenwood. AM has gone from 17 goals in the Prem last season to 4 this season, no way of knowing which player will turn up next season. Rashford is a 1 in 3 striker, valuable no doubt, but he is not the most natural finisher, nor the best link-up player. And Greenwood is having something of an up and down season. I actually think he'll go on to have a better career than either Martial or Rashford, he has the talent for it, but it might be another 3 years before he starts producing regular high goal scoring performances.

Will be interesting to see what happens with Haaland, you get the impression he likes the PL, unlike Mbappe who I'd expect to end up in Spain.
 

jem

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Well they kind of go hand in hand. His body can't handle the intensity of the game anymore.

6 goals this season. Mctomminay has more doesn't he?

He's been okay at best. I'm not slightest bit bothered if he leaves.
I don't think he's looked washed up at all, when he's been on the pitch. Washed up to me was Rooney in his last season for us, or Valencia. Yes the injury record is a concern, but when he's been on the pitch, he's been our best striker (damning with faint praise, but still.)
 

SuperiorXI

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Lets be honest Cavani has been at best "decent". We should be looking to upgrade for sure especially considering his age and recent injury issues. We need a world class striker and a reliable backup at a bare minimum.

I want us to stop dishing the #7 out as well. The next person to wear it needs to have earnt it - and not just through performances but by winning some trophies for us.
 

WakeAndBeek

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Cavani looks set to return to Boca. Not happy in Manchester after the FA labeled him a racist according to his father. He also doesn't speak the language so that definitely must have an impacton overall comfort in the area.

Can't say I blame him.
He’s never played for Boca, I still think he is too good to just play the last few years of his career out in Uruguay but then again Tevez did similar at Boca and a lot of South American players seem to want to return to their home clubs before retiring. Pretty sure Messi has stated that he wants to play for Newell’s Old Boys again too.
 
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Dve

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A message re his intentions or just social media fluff?
I don´t read it as an intend to dismiss his father´s claim he wants to leave. I see this being suggested all over, but there is nothing contradictory in missing his family and wanting to go home, and be proud of playing for United the few months he has left. This is a gimmick to the United fans; not a proof that he is going to stay.
 

Dve

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Cavani looks set to return to Boca. Not happy in Manchester after the FA labeled him a racist according to his father. He also doesn't speak the language so that definitely must have an impacton overall comfort in the area.

Can't say I blame him.
I think the quote was that he´s not comfortable in England, not Manchester specifically.
 

Tiber

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If he leaves he leaves. Either way, we need a long term solution sooner rather than later
 

antohan

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Cavani is a great pro, never a mercenary and will always put a shift in until the very last minute he plays for us. Park any other nonsense in that regard.

Ole has now twice mentioned the Manchester weather so clearly that has been an issue. Don't blame him, winter is fecking grim there. He spends his leisure time outdoors, loves fishing, etc. He is not into nightlife, partying, etc so basically gets the short end of the stick with no upside.

I've no doubt he is proud to play for us. We give great importance to a club's history and legacy. Language issues notwithstanding, I'm sure the likes of Mata have got him up to speed and fully appreciating it.

Ole has also mentioned he hasn't been able to play as much as he would like. Has never quite got going partly due to injuries but also that stupid suspension when he was starting to click.

Riquelme has been quite unspoken he wants to take him to Boca to spearhead their next Copa Libertadores campaign. Boca is a legendary club too, he would play at a different pace/intensity, get great service and score for fun there. When off, it's a few hours drive to his ranch. I can see that being an attractive proposition for him and his dad, obviously.

Money is not the issue, he is minted and not someone with expensive bad habits. If he can see a role, a challenge and a trajectory for next season he'll be up for it. As it stands, I'm not seeing it, and rightly so, as he is just a useful stopgap as far as we are concerned.

It's a shame we didn't sign him absolute ages ago as he would have suited us and every single manager we've had over the last decade, as opposed to all the "specific blueprint" players we've been recycling over these years.
 

GDaly95

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Does anyone else think something might be up with him beyond an injury?

I was under the impression that he only suffered from a knock but he seems to be out for more games than expected. Couple that with the comments from his father recently...

Am I reading too much into it? Probably am tbf
 

stygg

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So, what do we make of the news that Cavani’s been passed fit by the club but he refuses to play?
 

Sayros

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Rashford's accuracy in front of goal has regressed year-on-year.
Martial has surprisingly been very good in terms of conversions these last few seasons and in 18/19 almost reaching Mbappe level of converting chances, but this season Martial has just bottomed out.
Martial has always been a good finisher until the end of last season to now. The problem was never with his conversion rate (at least until now), it was with how little he would attempt to score unless in the best position, bar the odd moments of genius. What's impressive about Haaland, Mbappe, or Lewa is the conversion rate coupled with the volume they put out.
 

spiriticon

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It would be a shame if his last few months with the club were nothing but tabloid speculation of 'Will he go/Won't he go?" just because his dad couldn't shut the feck up.

We knew he wasn't going to stay long term, that was obvious. If he wanted to go at the end of the season, I don't think we would have stopped him. But for now I'd like him to fully concentrate on the football and tell his dad/agent/whoever to shut up.
 
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