There is no evidence of this. Rashford has always been a very inconsistent/more than occasionally poor performer. There is no correlation with when he started his activism with his performances.
Has the cult of Rashford become more important than the player?
- Thread starter Nikelesh Reddy
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik and Imran hold a long overdue conversation about United's awful league form with 1 win in 7. They discuss a disappointing draw at Bournemouth, a not so disappointing draw against Liverpool and a crushing defeat at Chelsea - Is time nearly over for Erik Ten Hag?
Then in a special second half of the pod, Nik welcomes Natalie ( https://twitter.com/natalie_17) to discuss the fortunes of Manchester United Women as they booked a place in the FA Cup Final after a historic first ever win vs. Chelsea.
Another thing, he has played virtually all the season injured. Fans never consider this.
Assists are goal contributions too, assists can be as meaningless as goals. You can scored wonder goal or ball can bounce off your arse and go in. Anyways there is separate thread for this.
Just reading through the thread and seeing some serious nonsense. You don't know Ferguson and you don't have the slightest clue how it affects his football.
Imagine saying Fegie would be unhappy one of his players is using his platform to feed kids.
Marcus Rashford has 21 goals and 15 assists in 20/21, 22g 12a in 19/20
In terms of direct goalproduction, Marcus Rashford is the second most important player on this team next to Bruno Fernandes.
He's 23 years old. Our own Luke Shaw has just had by far the best season of his playing career at the age of 25. 23 year olds are still considered developing talents, despite this new wave of opinion that players in their early 20s are done maturing.
In 2003, a 23 year old Zlatan managed 15 goals and 1 assist playing in Ajax in the Netherlands. In 08/09, a 23 year old Cristiano Ronaldo netted 18goals 7 assists in the Premier League. In 19/20 a 22 year old Marcus Rashford netted 17goals and 9 assists in the Premier League.
He's doubled his production from 18/19 to 20/21. We've all watched him this year and reached the conclusion that this is the end of all progress?
I've lost count of how many times the Caf has been whining about Rashford in a game this season, only for him to put up an asisst or score a goal a few minutes later. It's become a meme over how absolutely unreasonably reactionary the comment section is.
There are many ways to read statistics, but I know that arguments such as "most of his goals came over a short period" or "most of his assists were this and that" will be thrown out there to make a case that the numbers lie, and he is actually very bad. It's a bit like sayng "Well he scored 15 goals, but he didn't score 30 so he's a dissapointment"
Rashford isnt in the same league as Rooney in terms of scoring. Rooney is the clubs highest scoring player of all time.
Rashford is matching the numbers of one of the best players the game has ever seen. Will he become as good as him? That's a unfair comparison to make. But you kind of have to when the numbers stack up.
It's a bit early to make a case that someone has his their peak, when history is riddled with players who were at this level in their early 20s and went on to do better things in years since.
I find it completely reasonable that Rashford will take a long off season recovering and hit stride next season with a improved squad. Rashford scoring 20-25 goals in the 2021/22 edition of the Premier League is completely realistic. 35 goals in all competitions? Absolutely.
Even if some Caf regulars thinks he's worse than Bebe.
Yeah but the cult of Rashford! He's shit and we need to get rid immediately!!!!!!
I think if Rashford has a great season next year then you look back on this as just one of those things, playing with an injury perhaps or the games being squashed in together. I really think the only way we will be able to comment accurately is to see how it pans out. It could go either way for me.
Its speculation either way. Fergie would undoubtedly be happy with the cause he may be unhappy with how much time it takes up. We know Fergie kept. tight reign of players activities if he thought they were distracting. As we dont know how much of Rashfords time is directly taken up with all this stuff no one can say if its a distraction or not.
This thread might be a new low for this place
According to his own interviews, Rashford enjoys quiet times in the evening reading a book. He attends every training and every game with the rest of the squad. To my knowledge he has not been given time off to attend photo shoot or missed practice to speak to world leaders.
I think you're a bit off the mark when you describe his off pitch acitvities as a distraction. I view it as purpose. And purpose is important in all things.
As for Ferguson, he's weighed in on this before and I think this speaks for itself:
"You have to be shocked at the number of people who are in need of food. Marcus has opened the eyes of everyone in Britain. The work he’s done has been fantastic and we’re all so proud of him because of that."
Most people separate brand endorsements from social work, especially the Govan boy.
Fergie is the biggest socialist there is, he would never have told Rashford to stop what he's doing. It isn't comparable to Beckham or whoever going out to clubs.
I have literally said in the post you quote that we dont know if it is or not because we dont know how much time it takes up?
I disagree. He may feel the cause is worthy but if he decided it was taking his eye off the ball I dont think it would stop him taking action.
Im not saying this is happening to Rashford but if he is being sidetracked it doesnt really matter why does it? His job is playing football and any other activity no matter how worthy should be a distant second.
If someone can demonstrate that Rashford's work off the pitch has negatively impacted his performances then I'm all ears. I won't hold my breath though, it's just pure fiction
A seasoned pro like Lewandowski comes out and says the hectic schedule harms performance, then talks about the fact young players won't remain at the top for long with this sort of schedule and risk of injuries and our fans at the same time are posting yet another thread about how Rashford isn't as good as we think he is and is overrated. The kid put up great numbers despite those injuries and the ridiculous schedule.
How about we give him the benefit of the doubt with his form and let him recover and rest and hopefully have his game time managed better next season so we can see the best of him?
How about we give him the benefit of the doubt with his form and let him recover and rest and hopefully have his game time managed better next season so we can see the best of him?
That is the entire basis of my reply though? We know how much time it takes up: No more than his spare time.I have literally said in the post you quote that we dont know if it is or not because we dont know how much time it takes up?
You also didn't read the whole sequence: " I think you're a bit off the mark when you describe his off pitch acitvities as a distraction. I view it as purpose. And purpose is important in all things. "
The two can easily co-exist.
Speculation. You may be right but it could be having a distracting effect on his football. It not so far fetched. Jesus, we have seen Lingard attacked for clothing and Pogba for Social Media yet we cant even pose the question about Rashford? Maybe its all nicely compartmentalised and its fine but the fact that what he is doing is extremely worthy doesnt mean its impossible for it to be distracting too.
People should wait until he has surgery, he's playing completely different to how he was earlier this season and last season, not just out of form. He was terrorizing defences and could manoeuvre from the corner flag to the edge of the 18 yard box with ease. Martial is nowhere and Rashford can still be somewhat effective without risking his body but he's been played far too much, playing with problems and being overplayed can affect your decisions on the pitch, it's quite debilitating.
Hopefully we can buy someone like Sancho who can cover his position when needed
Hopefully we can buy someone like Sancho who can cover his position when needed
These are just as daft though
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Yes and no. He's a good player and a great guy.
- Is he better off the pitch than on it? Undoubtedly yes.
- If he was your average guy off the pitch, would he still be playing for us? Also yes.
- Will he ever be a truly world class player? Probably not unfortunately.
We should be happy to bring good first team players through the academy. We should be immensely proud to bring though a first team player that is genuinely one of the best role models and people on the planet.
He will probably end up as Sir Marcus Rashford and he will do it regardless of England winning a world cup unlike other Sirs in the world of sport.
- Is he better off the pitch than on it? Undoubtedly yes.
- If he was your average guy off the pitch, would he still be playing for us? Also yes.
- Will he ever be a truly world class player? Probably not unfortunately.
We should be happy to bring good first team players through the academy. We should be immensely proud to bring though a first team player that is genuinely one of the best role models and people on the planet.
He will probably end up as Sir Marcus Rashford and he will do it regardless of England winning a world cup unlike other Sirs in the world of sport.
Perhaps but no one seemed to have an issue with the questions being asked.
And those were pretty ridiculous attacks. You are basically justifying a weird take with the existence of takes that are as weird.
Pretty sure plenty of posters said the idea was daft
Plenty of people had an issue with these questions.
It is almost like how dare Marcus Rashford be a high profile activist? How dare he participates in a Zoom call with president Obama? How dare he use his platform for a cause he believes in? His only role is to play football.
It is ridiculous.
Take a moment to look at the bigger picture, before expressing your anger and resentment.
It is ridiculous.
Take a moment to look at the bigger picture, before expressing your anger and resentment.
It seems to have got to the point where the numbers are very good, overall he has the ability to produce moments. Quite a lot of moments, to the extent that without him we'd have been a much worse side this season.
But there is definitely a suspicion his overall game has stagnated. It might even be argued it has regressed. I don't know if that is my imagination but it feels as if he used to have games where he'd give the opposition full back nightmares, threatening to take them on, going past them. He seems to constantly run down blind alleys now. The success rate of many of his actions seems to have gone to the dogs.
It is hard to pinpoint why exactly this is, or perhaps this is just my perception and he's always been very streaky. My feeling is he's always had a degree of inconsistency but the consistency of poor performances is the worry. I still think he's a player we will rely on over the next few years, I don't think there is any doubt about that. The reality is he doesn't need to be compared to Rooney or any of our greats to be a key player, we are simply not that good a side yet.
But there is definitely a suspicion his overall game has stagnated. It might even be argued it has regressed. I don't know if that is my imagination but it feels as if he used to have games where he'd give the opposition full back nightmares, threatening to take them on, going past them. He seems to constantly run down blind alleys now. The success rate of many of his actions seems to have gone to the dogs.
It is hard to pinpoint why exactly this is, or perhaps this is just my perception and he's always been very streaky. My feeling is he's always had a degree of inconsistency but the consistency of poor performances is the worry. I still think he's a player we will rely on over the next few years, I don't think there is any doubt about that. The reality is he doesn't need to be compared to Rooney or any of our greats to be a key player, we are simply not that good a side yet.
no shame in that
Would have to seriously enhance his all round game
Greenwood will do himself a great favor if he reach the level of Marcus. Rooney was a force of a nature with iron will that few sportsmen can match. Greenwood is a good kid and all that but the over estimation of his ability here is what started the marcus cult similiarly, imho.
If Rashford had a child that he had to raise like many of his team mates... it would arguably be a bigger distraction to him playing football than the relatively small amount of work he does in championing worthy causes.
Yet you would never see having a kid criticised as some sort of distraction from playing football. People need to put it in perspective. Players need to have their own lives and distractions away from the game.
Yet you would never see having a kid criticised as some sort of distraction from playing football. People need to put it in perspective. Players need to have their own lives and distractions away from the game.
People forget that we once had a 18 year old Wanye Rooney playing for us as our main goal threat. We should be signing best in class the likes of Kane, Rooney, Haaland. As Roy Keane says we are Man United not someone who is happy with second place and a Europa league cup run. We are supposedly the biggest club in the world but haven’t won the league since 2013. If we keep heaping praise on an slightly above average footballer like Rashford we have no chance in ever winning the league again. 20 goals a season shouldn’t be applauded it should be expected from the forwards from the biggest club in the world.
This sums it up. There's no arguing with that crowd, because they'll always shift the goalposts when confronted with facts. See that Elvis guy going on about "streakiness" and then dismissing assists because Rashford has a lot of them this season which goes against his argument.
And if you take penalties out of the equation, he's literally right up there with Fernandes, who has been among the most productive players in the world since coming to United.
One of them is the best player in the team, and the other is another example of an overrated academy product with a horde of irrational fanboys. Only on RedCafe \m/
Admittedly it's been a while. He had a good first half of the season if I remember rightly and has been putting in 4's and 5's since.
I wonder if splitting up with his partner, who he's been with for years is the real reason he's fell off a cliff.
All fine points but really who needs nuance when we can just continue our time-honored tradition of tearing down our own players?
You mean we always had 11 Rooney in the squad? Since when is United about galactico and hating your very good but not world class coming from our academy? Yes we need some world class players but that doesn't mean there's not a place for Rashford. Kane, Rooney Haaland aren't even playing in the position we play him.
I don't get the Rashford dig when he's one of our most productive players. If I had to single out a united player worthy of that sort of criticism it would be none other than 'McSauce'. Rashford hugs us 20 plus goals and several assists which is more than anything the older McTominay contributes in any comparable way yet he's the most popular/well liked academy player on the team.
I think Rashford is mostly properly rated on here but he seems to have a growing number of sharp critics who seem to have agendas that go beyond anything that has to do with his football. You can't deny his on field contributions
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Even McTominay doesn't deserve criticism, ideally he is a valuable squad player in a top team. People tend to overlook the fact that great teams like United, Juventus and Milan in the early 2000s had the likes of Phil Neville, Ambrosini or Tacchinardi, the great Barcelona of Pep had Seydou Keita. People are living in a different dimension if they think that players of that level deserve criticism.
McTominay is our highest scoring midfielder, apart from Bruno. So I'm not sure you know what you're talking about.
Aside from the fact that you're not expecting your CM/DM to come close to one of your forwards for goals and assists.
You don’t have to.
It should be possible to defend Rashford against unfair criticism without slagging off other members of the squad.
Not to mention "18 year old Wanye
From memory, Rooney scored 12 league goals and had 10-12 assists the season he turned 23, playing in a way better team - Rashford had 11 and 9 just now. Was Rooney a better player than Rashford at the same age? Yes, but he also had the same tendency to misfire in front of goal, go on hot streaks followed by droughts, and disguise some average to poor performances with decisive goals or assists.
And that's the point all the people defending him make: Rashford is far, far closer to that level than the ludicrous Welbeck/Lingard comparisons that keep popping up in these topics.