Daniel James / signs for Leeds

[OL29]

Don’t recall the context

A few numpties. Not sure why you’re all making a song and a dance about it now. Plenty of players before him have been called things like “Fergies son”, “championship player”, “stealing a living” and so on. I fail to see why it’s suddenly become such a big issue. He had 1 great game. Let’s see him play 6 or 7 in a row, a bit of consistency and these comments will die down.

As far as I can recall you were confused that people were annoyed at the abuse that Pogba was getting, I’m just trying to understand why it’s different for James. None of our players deserve to be abuse they receive from segments of the fan base.

 

[Gopher Brown]

Good riddance

Why do you feel the need to post this about a player who always puts in top effort, never moans about being out of the team and hasn’t criticised the club or teammates once?

 

[Real Name]

Where is he going?

 

[Judas]

Good riddance

These sort of ugly posts are just shameful really, says a lot about the people posting them.

 

[golden_blunder]

As far as I can recall you were confused that people were annoyed at the abuse that Pogba was getting, I’m just trying to understand why it’s different for James. None of our players deserve to be abuse they receive from segments of the fan base.

You know what you’re right. I’ve obviously changed my mind since then. Though I don’t think any players deserve the over the top reactions that some get

 

[hobbers]

It takes a mixture of players. You don’t win leagues etc without the likes of O’Shea, park, nevilles etc doing the hard yards

Park had more ability hopping on one foot than James.

 

[Chairman Steve]

The jump from Swansea to Man Utd is pretty big. It was probably more sensible for him to go to somewhere like Leeds to develop more, rather than be chucked in the deep end at Utd after his first full season at Swansea. By the time he joined us he had barely played 50 professional games.

He’s a relatively low cost, low risk punt that didn’t work.

 

[Red Shorts]

He's built for a middle/lower level PL club, where he can be a good starter.

A proper counterattacking team would suit him to a tee. His pace is a weapon, but I just dont see him being a great player here.

 

[Devil_forever]

He’d thrive at Leeds. If he played on the left here, he’d be far far more of a threat. The player I’d choose to press and track back against the big teams. It says a lot about how this club is run that Lingard 29, who’s had 6 good months and offers nothing different to anything we’ve already got, in the last year of his contract is going to be kept over James, who’s what 22? Who can actually develop, because he’s got some great attributes. Judging him by his performances on the right is silly, look at rashford when he plays there.

 

[Attila]

Why do you feel the need to post this about a player who always puts in top effort, never moans about being out of the team and hasn’t criticised the club or teammates once?

Why would he moan or criticise his teammates when he's the worst one on the pitch

 

[golden_blunder]

Park had more ability hopping on one foot than James.

Miss the point

 

[Poborsky's hair]

Miss the point

I think the point is that all mentioned were very useful squad players whereas James is not good enough even for that role. He plugged some holes in the meantime before we developed Greenwood but even comparing him to Lingard, Lingard is Robben to him, works hard, can press much better and has a knack for goals and some great ones too, James very, very very weak finisher and for an attacking player of United quality, doesn't matter if squad quality, he should be sold. He's just a headless chicken on and of the ball, losing duels to almost every player, being physically underdeveloped. If we want to start winning things we certainly need to raise the bar for squad players as well.

Elanga has a much higher ceiling if he stays injury free, he could take Lingard's, Mata's James's spot - that's for this year. But hten next year we have Amad and Facundo back, with Pellistri being already very similar player in terms of workrate just obviously with higher ability..

I think people are also a bit pissed James palying because it's so obvious he will never be good enough for us and takes a lot of gametime of other players who deserve a shot..

Wherever DJ goes I wish him well, my bet is that he could start for some of bottom 5 in the EPL but be a rotation option for for the better part of the bottom half teams. The top 10 is already very strong equipped, would struggle for gametime there. let's see maybe he can step up with regular playing time..

 

[Freak]

I have no problems with keeping James. People are probably expecting too much from him. He was never bought to be a starter but to be a squad player who will fit as a piece into the overall puzzle during certain games.

It’s someone like Lingard or Martial whom I will sell ahead of James. Those 2 are on first team wages but do not offer the required output expected of a first team players.

 

[golden_blunder]

@Poborsky's hair Meh that’s harsh and that’s my point. I agree that it’s time for him to probably move on, with regular play he can progress more. But that’s where I stop, the rest of your post is my point about digging at players simply because they don’t reach the highest standards at United or because they are injured ala Jones. Our support is fickle as fook

 

[Andre Kagawa]

What wages is he on? I'm not sure we'll be able to get rid.

 

[ZIDANE]

If we need to raise funds for a midfielder then we should be open to selling James for sure - I worry it’s too late for that.

 

[sun_tzu]

What wages is he on? I'm not sure we'll be able to get rid.

45k a week I think.. which is a lot of money by most standards

But for a 23 year old winger with almost 25 internation caps and around 50 premier league games for Manchester United isn't especially excessive.

 

[AFC NimbleThumb]

@golden_blunder I get your general sentiment, but James just isn't good enough. The likes of O'Shea and Park were far superior footballers. If anything, I feel our poor squad depth has held us back over recent years. James just plainly isn't good enough, it's best to just call it as such.

Exactly.

The sentimentality for our own players clouds a lot of judgement.

Park & o’Shea played key roles [at times] in damn good teams, James has never shown an iota of what they did. He’s simply not of the required quality.

People complain that we hold onto players longer than we should & reduce their values yet will say James is a ‘great squad option’ although in our biggest game last season he could only muster a brief cameo in Extra Time.

We’ve been down this road too often. We need to sell him while he has value, it’s best for player & club.

 

[Andre Kagawa]

45k a week I think.. which is a lot of money by most standards

But for a 23 year old winger with almost 25 internation caps and around 50 premier league games for Manchester United isn't especially excessive.

Absolutely, you're right. I was thinking upwards 65-75k. He would still be considered a somewhat of a 'marquee signing' purely because he's played here, so he'll garner interest.

Maybe Brighton/West Ham ish?

 

[Castia]

This is why people get pissed off how the hell is he getting starts for United…..fecking stupid

 

[SAFMUTD]

Hopefully we can sell him, no hurt feelings towards him he always puts the effort and works with socks off but he's simply not good enough with Rashford, Sancho and Greenwood clearly ahead of him I would rather give the remaining minutes to youngsters such as Elanga and Amad.

 

[Garethw]

Where is he going?

Nowhere IMO.

 

[Garethw]

This is why people get pissed off how the hell is he getting starts for United…..fecking stupid

It’s a joke.

 

[RUCK4444]

This is why people get pissed off how the hell is he getting starts for United…..fecking stupid

It’s a joke.

We are lacking in midfield, also playing Pogba there who needs defensive cover.

He puts an excellent shift in defensively and will no doubt track Adama. Ffs

 

[Garethw]

We are lacking in midfield, also playing Pogba there who needs defensive cover.

He puts an excellent shift in defensively and will no doubt track Adama. Ffs

He’ll do feck all for 70 minutes and then get substituted. He’s not good enough and shouldn’t be starting games ffs.

 

[ivaldo]

We are lacking in midfield, also playing Pogba there who needs defensive cover.

He puts an excellent shift in defensively and will no doubt track Adama. Ffs

You think James is going to be covering Pogba in midfield?

 

[Castia]

We are lacking in midfield, also playing Pogba there who needs defensive cover.

He puts an excellent shift in defensively and will no doubt track Adama. Ffs

Isn’t that part of the problem? Look they start Trincao Jimenez and Adama 3 all out attackers they give zero fecks about what we’re doing.

Yet we pick Dan James because he puts a shift in and will help defend. How about playing attackers so Trincao and Adams are pushed back.

 

[Zlatan 7]

Isn’t that part of the problem? Look they start Trincao Jimenez and Adama 3 all out attackers they give zero fecks about what we’re doing.

Yet we pick Dan James because he puts a shift in…..yeah you’re right ffs.

I’d say he’s trying pogba and Bruno as a 3 with fred ready for a Ronnie, cavani, sancho front line.

also there is nothing wrong with having someone in the front 3 here tracking Adama seeing how attacking minded two of our midfielders are.

 

[luke511]

We are lacking in midfield, also playing Pogba there who needs defensive cover.

He puts an excellent shift in defensively and will no doubt track Adama. Ffs

Yeah let's play a winger so he can defend whilst AWB is covering, against an ultra defensive Wolves side. He should be nowhere near today's line up given the way Wolves play, he has the technical ability of an old school centre back.

 

[DWelbz19]

I’d say he’s trying pogba and Bruno as a 3 with fred ready for a Ronnie, cavani, sancho front line.

There’s to suggest this at all. It’s almost certainly our normal 4231 which Solskjaer has very rarely (never?) moved from in the past 2 seasons.

 

[mav_9me]

We are lacking in midfield, also playing Pogba there who needs defensive cover.

He puts an excellent shift in defensively and will no doubt track Adama. Ffs

Haha... So rather than play a proper midfielder we decide to play a winger for his tracking back? Is that how we are going to do?

 

[VorZakone]

Love the "defensive shift" argument. Is that more valuable than offensive quality for a wide player?

 

[Zlatan 7]

There’s to suggest this at all. It’s almost certainly our normal 4231 which Solskjaer has very rarely (never?) moved from in the past 2 seasons.

Ok

 

[Red00012]

Been a passenger on our team

 

[Plant0x84]

You’ve all been had over by The Scum! Dan starts today and is going nowhere! Olé loves him!

 

[Eplel]

"Dubbed as the new Andreas Pereira"

 

[Tarrou]

pretty sure if Cavani was fit enough James wouldn't have started, or if Ronny was available

if Martial wasn't absolutely useless in the last game as well - but here we are

I'd much prefer him to Martial at the moment

 

[RUCK4444]

Isn’t that part of the problem? Look they start Trincao Jimenez and Adama 3 all out attackers they give zero fecks about what we’re doing.

Yet we pick Dan James because he puts a shift in and will help defend. How about playing attackers so Trincao and Adams are pushed back.

We’re playing attackers as well ffs. Balance.

 

[RUCK4444]

You think James is going to be covering Pogba in midfield?

Not Pogba per se, but tracking the likes of Adama and helping out defensively yes, it’s the only reason he’s playing.

 

[RUCK4444]

Isn’t that part of the problem? Look they start Trincao Jimenez and Adama 3 all out attackers they give zero fecks about what we’re doing.

Yet we pick Dan James because he puts a shift in and will help defend. How about playing attackers so Trincao and Adams are pushed back.

Yes part of the problem in so much as we are short in midfield and even when we haven’t got injuries our base of midfield is suspect.