[TrustInJanuzaj]

Oh yeah, Mason Greenwood, the proven goalscorer and performer in semi-finals for major trophies.

Can we appreciate his world class talent without making silly statements like this? The lad has barely started to prove himself and probably wouldn't be starting for us this season if we had an actual RW. England are stacked in terms of attacking options and there is no player that Mason has outperformed in the national team that he can replace. It's OK to say that Greenwood has improved in some aspects, but also regressed, mostly in his finishing which used to be his strongest point.

He's 19 of course he doesn't have a track record, what he does have is the talent though which is more than the rest of the backups can say. DCL, Ings and Abraham (an example of 3 players currently ahead of him in the pecking order), don't have the same talent and they also have the track record. At least Greenwood has scored some massive goals at a club like Utd. I'm not even saying he should be a starter, but he absolutely should be in the current squad.

 

[TrustInJanuzaj]

This is madness. Greenwood is great, but the other 2 are proven goalscorers for more than 6 months.

And they are also far less talented players. Greenwood will have a career better than either can even imagine and that starts with getting opportunities at a young age. Everyone in the England camp was impressed by him if I remember the reports around his first call up. He's still getting punished for Iceland, when he shouldn't be anymore.

 

[Cassidy]

And they are also far less talented players. Greenwood will have a career better than either can even imagine and that starts with getting opportunities at a young age. Everyone in the England camp was impressed by him if I remember the reports around his first call up. He's still getting punished for Iceland, when he shouldn't be anymore.

Or he might not given hes only scored 4 goals this season.
Point being he clearly isn't ready to be trusted ahead of them right now

 

[KD6-3.7]

I had a feeling his form was going to take a huge dive this season. It’s what always happens whenever a young player breaks through with us. Of course the break didn’t help with the British press finding anything to make him look bad and destroy his confidence.

I‘d bet if we don’t sign a RW this summer transfer window and we throw Amad in the deep end a year from now he’ll be in the same position. We simply are a poorly structured club for these young players and until we actually sort out the first team so they have a better environment to perform freely in without having expectations blown out of proportion.

 

[TMDaines]

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Interesting comparison of Greenwood’s two PL seasons and a sign that he isn’t ready to play a major role for United. Despite the fact that he’s been unable to score more than a single league goal this season, he’s still just about doubling his expected goals across his career. He’s simply not getting himself involved anywhere near enough to expect to contribute goals.

 

[Shimo]

He was excellent against West Ham, my MOTM. He's not had a great season and wasn't helped with how he started with the Iceland fiasco and possibly some other situations afterwards. On the field you have to keep in mind is that once he finished the season the way he did last year, defenders were not going to just let him get on the ball in shooting positions or one on one since he can go on either foot. He had bit of unknown about him last year and was able to use that.

He isn't a wide forward but, does a decent job at it. We need to find ways to get him in and around the box more. Goals will come because he just knows how to strike a ball. Put money on him scoring against Milan.

 

[lex talionis]

Perhaps I’ll be forced to eat my words, but I have a feeling that month from now we’ll be looking at these posts from mid-Match wondering why we ever doubted Greenwood coming through as a top class finisher for United.

 

[tjb]

Perhaps I’ll be forced to eat my words, but I have a feeling that month from now we’ll be looking at these posts from mid-Match wondering why we ever doubted Greenwood coming through as a top class finisher for United.
[/QUOTE

Our fans say they want to bring youth through, this is what happens. Rashford took years before making a consistently positive impact. Greenwood does so many things right and is actually a much better overall player than last season. When you're judging a 19 year old striker playing on the right wing harshly on goal return, it makes no sense. This is why i've always been a fan of loans ( 2 years so the other team has more stake in the experience). The problem isn't that young players can't grow at united, it's that fans put too much pressure when they aren't perfect at big clubs.

Another major problem is this. Greenwood is recognized as a striker who can score goals yet is playing on the right flank often finding himself in positions where he cannot get those goals, similar to both rashford and martial at various times under Mourinho. Neither put in as good performances as consistently as Greenwood currently has, yet weren't expected to score goals. They had ibra and lukaku taking on that pressure for them and were both given ample opportunities to succeed without being judged harshly due to their status as wingers. greenwood despite playing in that position, has not been given that leeway. He's 19 .

 

[Adam-Utd]

I had a feeling his form was going to take a huge dive this season. It’s what always happens whenever a young player breaks through with us. Of course the break didn’t help with the British press finding anything to make him look bad and destroy his confidence.

I‘d bet if we don’t sign a RW this summer transfer window and we throw Amad in the deep end a year from now he’ll be in the same position. We simply are a poorly structured club for these young players and until we actually sort out the first team so they have a better environment to perform freely in without having expectations blown out of proportion.

It all stems from that England situation really, and then his friend suiciding not long after.

He wasn't quite the same person, this has been a growing up period for him but I hope he will come out of it stronger. This will be the make or break of him, but we've started to see his talents return.

The finishing will return i'm sure of it, he just looks to be rushing his shots a little instead of allowing them to come naturally, that'll come with confidence. His all round game though is getting better and better, the 2 dribbles he did against West Ham show that also.

 

[Black Adder]

What happened to his right foot?

He looked two footed when first showed on the scene, but now he only uses his left foot. He scored some belters last season with his right, wondering what has changed in meantime?

 

[romufc]

What happened to his right foot?

He looked two footed when first showed on the scene, but now he only uses his left foot. He scored some belters last season with his right, wondering what has changed in meantime?

Confidence. Last season every time he was in front of goal, the ball went in whereas this season he is snatching at chances.

The West Ham one is the classic example, done both the defender and keeper but hit the post, last season that goes in.

It is a good learning curb for him this, I think it will help his development.

 

[Adam-Utd]

What happened to his right foot?

He looked two footed when first showed on the scene, but now he only uses his left foot. He scored some belters last season with his right, wondering what has changed in meantime?

It is strange, I feel like the coaching staff are maybe telling him to just stick to 1 foot? maybe it's just what happens when he feels less relaxed.

 

[Raven]

Greenwood hasn't really had an opportunities to get back into the squad as he hasn't been selected. He's good enough to make an impact for England but he won't with a manager like Southgate sticking to his favourites.

I like Greenwood but he's been nowhere near good enough this season to justify a place in the England squad. He's still 19, there's plenty of time.

 

[Adam-Utd]

I like Greenwood but he's been nowhere near good enough this season to justify a place in the England squad. He's still 19, there's plenty of time.

He's only just recovering from the last time he went there too!

Best to keep him away from all that for now until he's grown a bit.

 

[roonster09]

I like Greenwood but he's been nowhere near good enough this season to justify a place in the England squad. He's still 19, there's plenty of time.

Yeah, his form isn't good enough for call up and also he doesn't have enough credit to get call up without playing well like other senior players. He should earn it.

 

[AjaxCunian]

What happened to his right foot?

He looked two footed when first showed on the scene, but now he only uses his left foot. He scored some belters last season with his right, wondering what has changed in meantime?

I thought it was just me, he really never uses it anymore and this might be one of the clearest examples of what confidence can do to a player. I think it's also a bad thing for him as it has made him much more predictible than last season. We really need him to pick up, after Covid he was every bit as good as Rashford, Martial. He looks like a youth player now (which is normal ofcourse).

 

[LovelyLittlePanda]

Yeah, his form isn't good enough for call up and also he doesn't have enough credit to get call up without playing well like other senior players. He should earn it.

If we don't look at age, credit or talent, he's been our worst performer. 1 goal and 1 assist in 23 games.

I've been frustrated with Mason, but it's not his fault he has played so much that he could only disappoint when he's out of form. It's Ole's and the club's fault for having to rely on a promising 19-year-old to the deliver the goods week in, week out. Somehow we don't have a guaranteed starter for the RW position and somehow Ole has forgotten Mata exists.

 

[UncleBob]

Shit performance, should've been subbed off

 

[bosnian_red]

Shit performance, should've been subbed off

For who? Everyone else is injured.

 

[Zoo]

He’s 19, a game like this will have done him the world of good. I thought he was okay when he was involved.

 

[kouroux]

For a guy who can use his right foot, he is way too left footed

 

[Brightonian]

How was he 'shit'?? Just came on to say that once again he was our best forward despite not really getting any scoring chances. Did well to see the ball at all with Fernandes so off his game.

 

[acnumber9]

For who? Everyone else is injured.

Ignore Uncle Bob. If it had been Martial he’d been naming him man of the match.

He was decent enough the rare times he got the ball. He just doesn’t make anywhere near enough runs into the box. He needs to improve on that to take advantage of his talent.

 

[Woodenlung]

Greenwood was fine. We didn't actually create that many clear cut chances. He's still not a complete player yet and will take years to develop.

Big area to improve is his awareness of when the attack is on. Was slow to react to crosses.

 

[UncleBob]

For who? Everyone else is injured.

Anyone.

 

[AjaxCunian]

Daniel James has been better than him this season. Greenwood doesn't really add anything, he mostly passes straight back when he receives the ball, doesn't really create chances, is easily contained by defenders, this is not looking good at all and is worrying. I hope Martial and Cavani are back soon. Season to forget for him, hopefully he kicks on for England u21 and regains confidence, because the kid does have the potential.

 

[Red Shorts]

How was he 'shit'?? Just came on to say that once again he was our best forward despite not really getting any scoring chances. Did well to see the ball at all with Fernandes so off his game.

As baffled as you there. He does as much as he can when he has the ball, most creative out of the front 4 for the past few weeks, including tonight

 

[El Zoido]

He’s really good, his overall game is way better than last season. Just needs the goals to return, and they will.

 

[spiriticon]

Another Martial-esque performance from Greenwood. Ok in the buildup and nowhere to be seen when the ball fizzes across the goal.

Get in the 6 yard box more often please.

 

[MattofManchester]

His hold up play has improved noticeably when he gets the ball in certain areas.

Would had had a chance to score and been put through in a good position if James had a brain.

Sometimes I wish he'd gravitate more to the left than the right, as the swap with James going centre and him going wide is an awful idea.

Trying way too hard to be involved at the moment, and nothing is coming off.

 

[AltiUn]

Not surprised to see the usual suspects coming in here to have a go at him. I suspect if he was French those same posers would be getting his name tattooed on their forehead.

 

[Red Shorts]

Daniel James has been better than him this season. Greenwood doesn't really add anything, he mostly passes straight back when he receives the ball, doesn't really create chances, is easily contained by defenders, this is not looking good at all and is worrying. I hope Martial and Cavani are back soon. Season to forget for him, hopefully he kicks on for England u21 and regains confidence, because the kid does have the potential.

Incredible observation

 

[NinjaFletch]

There's no doubt of Greenwood's ability, but I simply don't understand how we constantly produce strikers who don't understand how to move in the box. You'd think an academy as good as ours would be producing well drilled players, but they're all learning on the job.

 

[Godfather]

Very average

 

[jderbyshire]

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Notice on the second heat map, the shots are very spread out across the goal, whereas last season they're more central.

I had this issue with him against West Ham - he's not often in the centre. He understandably, naturally drifts wide.

His technique and finishing are outstanding, but as he develops he will hopefully improve his positioning. Having Cavani around should help.

But it was like we had no centre forward tonight.

 

[kundalini]

Technically competent but such a negative performance. So many times he opted to pass backwards when he had the chance to attack. One decent turn and shot that was saved comfortably. No urgency to get in the box when Shaw got behind their defence.

 

[NinjaFletch]

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Ah yep, this is the issue. He simply doesn't get himself enough scoring chances. He's not playing badly, but unless he learns how to get in the right positions he's never going to be a top goalscorer no matter how good his finishing is.

 

[UncleBob]

Greenwood was fine. We didn't actually create that many clear cut chances. He's still not a complete player yet and will take years to develop.

Big area to improve is his awareness of when the attack is on. Was slow to react to crosses.

He was pretty much invisible. 39 touches, the only player that had fewer touch was Rashford (no surprise there),

Could've subbed him off without replacing him and it wouldn't have been noticed in the second half.

Pogba was subbed on at half time and had the ball 13 times more with half the time on the pitch.

 

[Brightonian]

As baffled as you there. He does as much as he can when he has the ball, most creative out of the front 4 for the past few weeks, including tonight

Barely put a foot wrong. Apart from the first ten/fifteen minutes of each half we just weren't managing to play high enough up the pitch for him to get chances, but he can't be blamed for that.

 

[bosnian_red]

Could've subbed him off without replacing him and it wouldn't have been noticed in the second half.

Obviously bullshit as Greenwood still worked his ass off and did his bit defensively and to relieve some pressure. He'll improve but he's the only forward we have who has managed to keep himself fit, when the rest are barely limping around.