[hobbers]

Shades of that Europa League final yet again today. Abysmal, played as a 12th man for Villa.

Think it has to be a combination of things. One is obviously him being a counterattacking pace merchant sort of player who has lost all his pace and has no other real facet to his game, but also at the same time he's lost motivation to even be a footballer any more. His PR team can whip up whatever glib essays they like on twitter, but on the pitch he looks like he couldn't give half a shit about the result or his team mates or his own performance.

 

[Cassidy]

He wasn’t on the pitch long but he was full of energy and got down the left and put a few threatening balls in the box. Looked a lot brighter in 10 mins than Rashford did all game and this isn’t a one off either his form has been abysmal for months now.

No Rashford first half was much better

 

[Cassidy]

So you think he's rubbish as well then?

He is certainly not ready, Rashford was poor but he was better than Elanga. Granted Elanga only had 10 minutes but the comparison is a bit silly.

 

[UncleBob]

He will at some point and there will be much flip flopping on here again when he does.

Seen too many amazing goals from him and performances to give up hope. He's put Trent on his backside number of times. He's been the scourge of City and PSG. There's a good player in him which we've seen ourselves. God know what's upset him so much but he seems so deflated it's hard to watch.

Having people racially abuse him for missing an important penalty probably hasn't helped him either.

 

[Raees]

He will at some point and there will be much flip flopping on here again when he does.

Seen too many amazing goals from him and performances to give up hope. He's put Trent on his backside number of times. He's been the scourge of City and PSG. There's a good player in him which we've seen ourselves. God know what's upset him so much but he seems so deflated it's hard to watch.

Having people racially abuse him for missing an important penalty probably hasn't helped him either.

The racial abuse thing was very recent and he’s had a face like a smacked arse for way longer than that and even if it was a thing, guys like Saka got it just as bad and have gone from strength to strength and Rashford is meant to be a social campaigner whose used to receiving a lot of vitriol for skin colour and background so I don’t buy the fact that is what is upsetting him.

More likely to be the ego inflation, Ronaldo arrival, playing through injury and girlfriend issue. Lots of factors at play here but the workrate has been an issue for a long time... ever since he believed into the hype that he’s the next Ronaldo.

It’s a shame because that workrate he had was what made him special and abit different to your Neymar Mbappe superstar types... he seemed like the type of player who Klopp and Pep would appreciate for his off the ball work but it’s completely gone out of his game.

 

[Tyrion]

That moment where Greenwood shot and Rashford didn’t go after the second ball because he felt Greenwood should have passed it…..was a disgrace.

The effort made to get to the fumble after greenwoods shot says it all really.

The crowd reaction to that was amazing. I don't think I've heard OT be that stunned at what one player did. It was like that meme from Naked Gun where the whole audience slaps their foreheads simultaneously.

 

[Fozzie_Bear1972]

He has the look of someone who realises that his chance of being a genuine star player for club and country have gone. That bright future he hoped and dreamed for has been replaced by the growing realisation that his next move will more likely be to Everton than Barcelona and that, from there, it’s just a matter of time before he gives in to his ultimate destiny and pulls on a Sunderland shirt.

 

[GifLord]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Rashford defense already out in full swing.
Poster fails to realize Rashford barely finished matches in those 50+ games he did in the mid 2010s

 

[UncleBob]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Rashford defense already out in full swing.
Poster fails to realize Rashford barely finished matches in those 50+ games he did in the mid 2010s

He's right about minutes. Rashford has played an insane amount of football

 

[GifLord]

He's right about minutes. Rashford has played an insane amount of football

He's not. 2016-17 53 games in all competitions seems a lot right? Then you look at minutes played 3068 = 34 games
2017-18 52 games in all competitions. 2676 minutes = 29.7 games
Last season was the only time he played a crazy amount of games minutes wise = 4146 or 46games.

To even compare him to the likes of Becks, Giggs and Neville
Beckham from 95 to 2000 was averaging 44 games per season minutes wise

 

[chiz2kul]

He's not. 2016-17 53 games in all competitions seems a lot right? Then you look at minutes played 3068 = 34 games
2017-18 52 games in all competitions. 2676 minutes = 29.7 games
Last season was the only time he played a crazy amount of games minutes wise = 4146 or 46games.

To even compare him to the likes of Becks, Giggs and Neville
Beckham from 95 to 2000 was averaging 44 games per season minutes wise

r/hedidthemath

 

[Harry190]

He looks defeated.

 

[lex talionis]

Whatever the truth of Rashy's minutes, he looks like a man who needs a mental and physical break from the game. Sometimes the right answer is to play through it, but that's clearly not working. Give him a week off from training and another week off from competition and see what his mental and physical state is with a second half substitution in a match whose outcome is already decided.

 

[VidaRed]

I'd send him on leave till the champions league resumes.

Sometimes bad form starts to become a habit and only time away can reset it.

 

[sosolid4u09]

The racial abuse thing was very recent and he’s had a face like a smacked arse for way longer than that and even if it was a thing, guys like Saka got it just as bad and have gone from strength to strength and Rashford is meant to be a social campaigner whose used to receiving a lot of vitriol for skin colour and background so I don’t buy the fact that is what is upsetting him.

More likely to be the ego inflation, Ronaldo arrival, playing through injury and girlfriend issue. Lots of factors at play here but the workrate has been an issue for a long time... ever since he believed into the hype that he’s the next Ronaldo.

It’s a shame because that workrate he had was what made him special and abit different to your Neymar Mbappe superstar types... he seemed like the type of player who Klopp and Pep would appreciate for his off the ball work but it’s completely gone out of his game.

Its simple

He was very good very early. Had a lot of success due to his raw athleticism and the circumstances at utd.
It got to his head and he never put the work in to learn the game of football or develop some fundamentals. The game has caught up to him now and without the basics hes just a below average premier league player. This is demoralizing him as he cant understand whats gone wrong, and its too late to fix anyway.

Its over for him at the elite level.

 

[allen7]

Strange he’s out of confidence after we hire a psychologist to address these problems

 

[AussieDevil]

He doesn’t care, it’s as simple as that. You don’t go from a high work rate to a low work rate at his age if you cared enough.

He needs to realize he built his platform off the back of United. The least he can do is try harder on the pitch.

 

[Seij]

I've previously defended him on this saying that it hasn't affected his performances and that he's had poor coaching staff in the past couple of years, but I wonder if the MBE thing really got to his head? I can't imagine Rashford from a few years ago with this kind of body language and lack of effort.

 

[Marcus]

I think he doesn't want to play football anymore. Maybe he finds it meaningless compared to his other work? He really looks like he is mentally not on the pitch.

 

[MyBloodIsRed]

Would be worried if he was in a position to do this to be fair.

haha autocorrect! :-(

 

[SonyaCross493]

Some people say his off-field work is more important than whatever he does on the pitch.. but if he wasn't a Manchester United player and say an Everton or Leicester player.. would he have got given the same platform and would his words have the same impact highlighted in the media and on social media? I'm not sure. So yes it's important he performs on the pitch for the club who gave him that chance and platform. MBE or not it shouldn't make him above Criticism as a footballer.

 

[NewGlory]

His off the pitch work is irrelevant to him making the team. All the respect to him for everything he does but THE ONLY thing. that matters during the game is his performance. End of story. Stop trying to psycho-analyze him. None of us know him and none of us are his therapist. Doesn't matter what causes it, fact is that he is simply far from good enough right now. And that is where all the discussion should end. Not good enough - you don't get to play. If you keep it bad for long, gotta leave. Simple

What you do off the pitch, where you grew up, how much you are a fan of the club - none of that qualifies for starting and playing for United. Only performance, consistent performance ideally, matters. Anything else is a side story.

 

[Foxbatt]

Apart from one shot which he tried to bend and came off Cavani's head what else did he do?

 

[NinjaZombie]

I think he was pissed at Greenwood for not squaring him that ball AND not scoring. He did a little resigned shrug when the shot was saved.

It's looking more and more likely that they either don't like each other, or their styles of play don't complement each other. I remember when people tried to create some kind of animosity between Rooney and Ronaldo in 2006. Seems like with Rashford and Greenwood, it might actually be true.

 

[nainaisson]

Strange he’s out of confidence after we hire a psychologist to address these problems

Maybe we need to send the psychologist to a psychologist to address his problems. Then the psychologist, after his problems are addressed, can address the players' problems.

 

[Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber]

It's amazing he is keeping his place with his current match day level
Makes one wonder what his challengers do in training

 

[united for life]

He looks defeated.

that’s the right word - defeated. Yesterday’s body language indicated that he was trying but as if he’s not able to pull himself from this status. It’s like a depressed footballer on the pitch…

 

[Name Changed]

He is so predictable, he has become a one trick pony.

 

[calodo2003]

He is so predictable, he has become a one trick pony.

He’s always been a one trick pony.

 

[Jackal981]

I think he was pissed at Greenwood for not squaring him that ball AND not scoring. He did a little resigned shrug when the shot was saved.

It's looking more and more likely that they either don't like each other, or their styles of play don't complement each other. I remember when people tried to create some kind of animosity between Rooney and Ronaldo in 2006. Seems like with Rashford and Greenwood, it might actually be true.

Like he would not shoot from that position. Pot calling kettle black. I think he felt threatened by Greenwood rise to the first team

 

[Foxbatt]

I am actually fed up with him. If there is something wrong with him then tell the club and get it sorted out. He has become a worse sulker than Martial now.

 

[chisnall_red]

Confidence, well lack of, kills ‘em, as we all know. Keep playing him; he’s going to score next game and we’ll all sleep well at night again. He’s not Sir Rashford for nothing right?

 

[afatzp]

I sense Rashford lose passion about football. He barely smiles, so indifferent on everything on the pitch, syndromes just like work fatigue or job burn-out.

He actually should stay away from football for couple weeks, no match, no training, no social media and be with his family instead of showing up in business / PR occasions. Then he might find himself and his passion back.

 

[Yagami]

Looks like he hates being on the pitch. A far cry from the boy in the profile picture above.

 

[carlbcfc]

I watched a video on YouTube yesterday Of Ralf allegedly barking instruction on the training pitch. Players were doing an agility drill, and I noticed how Lingard, and Rushford, didn’t even complete the drill properly, they cut a corner, and just went through the motions.

As an example, Rashford needs to be dropped. Maybe just give him two weeks off to get his head straight. I loan to Newcastle might rejuvenate him.

 

[SATA]

I really missed the 18 year old Rashford who burst onto the scene without fear

Hearing that Old Trafford sort of turned on him when he was subbed off? I'm sure he heard some of those boos as well. Perhaps the club should send him to a beach or somewhere to just unwind with his family and take his mind off football for a month and bring Martial back into the team to take his place

 

[Hoboman]

Visibly lost yard of a pace and has nothing to compensate for it. The whole team struggling and playing awful football, hence he looks even more one-dimensional than usual.

I like to think his attitude and body language has more with frustration in his current physical conditions than with lack of willingness.

 

[Greck]

His allround play has always been underwhelming, sometimes he gets a goal and all is forgiven. It's disappointing because he has the technical talent, can shoot the air out of the ball and can beat defenders. Problem is Rashford botches the execution of every difficult situation. If it's not a binary decision he will botch it.

 

[CH23]

I was hoping his bad form last season was because of his injuries but unfortunately it seems like after the surgery his form got even worse

 

[Volumiza]

Whatever the truth of Rashy's minutes, he looks like a man who needs a mental and physical break from the game. Sometimes the right answer is to play through it, but that's clearly not working. Give him a week off from training and another week off from competition and see what his mental and physical state is with a second half substitution in a match whose outcome is already decided.

I’d suggest an even longer break, there’s some deep sh*t going on but whatever it is, it’s not helping keep starting games with him every week.

Whether is mental, physical or both it won’t be solved by a week. His demeanour, his body language suggests to me that he needs a complete break from first team responsibility for a while to have a complete reset. Absolutely nothing about his game right now is warranting that automatic place in the team.