Unpopular opinion - Daniel James is not very good

Schmeichel's Cartwheel

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11101 said:
If by dribbling you mean to kick it forward and run very fast, then I agree. Hes effective against the right teams but it's incredibly one dimensional. If he wasnt so quick Traore wouldn't even be in the PL. Neither would James.
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Genuine question here. How often have you seen Traore play? He’s been one of the top wingers in the league this season. Far from a kick & rush merchant. It sounds like you’re judging him from back when he was at Villa.

I don’t mean to “call you out” here so to speak, but you clearly are not watching him play if this is your assessment of his game.
 

romufc

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Schmeichel's Cartwheel said:
Genuine question here. How often have you seen Traore play? He’s been one of the top wingers in the league this season. Far from a kick & rush merchant. It sounds like you’re judging him from back when he was at Villa.

I don’t mean to “call you out” here so to speak, but you clearly are not watching him play if this is your assessment of his game.
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Let me ask you a genuine question. What output is required from a top winger? In terms of goals and assist?
 

11101

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Schmeichel's Cartwheel said:
Genuine question here. How often have you seen Traore play? He’s been one of the top wingers in the league this season. Far from a kick & rush merchant. It sounds like you’re judging him from back when he was at Villa.

I don’t mean to “call you out” here so to speak, but you clearly are not watching him play if this is your assessment of his game.
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Plenty of times. He came out of Barcelona so hes obviously not a total dud, but he is almost entirely reliant on his pace to reach the level of a PL player. He is one dimensional and the end product is very inconsistent, which is pretty much what we have with James. Traore has just learned to use his one talent a bit better.
 

Schmeichel's Cartwheel

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11101 said:
Plenty of times. He came out of Barcelona so hes obviously not a total dud, but he is almost entirely reliant on his pace to reach the level of a PL player. He is one dimensional and the end product is very inconsistent, which is pretty much what we have with James. Traore has just learned to use his one talent a bit better.
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But Traore has dribbling ability & can beat a fullback. James doesn’t and can’t.
 

dablem_10

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for me traore has very fine dribbling skillset and skillfull feets which is very dangerous in combo with his power and pace. What i see problem with him is vision and decision making which put him constantly down in many situation.
 

Denis79

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James isn't reasy to be a starter for us yet but that doesn't mean he can't become a useful player for us in some capacity.
 

Maluco

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BR7 said:
i would actually change DJs position and retrain him as a left back
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He is 23 in November, it’s probably too late to talk about retraining him in a different position. We would be back to the days of Young/Valencia again.

I like him, but I don’t think he is good enough to start for United and I don’t think he ever will be. The difference in ability on the ball when Greenwood came on was stark and said it all for me. A player who is 4 years younger.
 

BR7

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Maluco said:
He is 23 in November, it’s probably too late to talk about retraining him in a different position. We would be back to the days of Young/Valencia again.

I like him, but I don’t think he is good enough to start for United and I don’t think he ever will be. The difference in ability on the ball when Greenwood came on was stark and said it all for me. A player who is 4 years younger.
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You’ve hit the nail on the head. If mason who is 4 years younger is that much better (which he is and some) is there any point in having DJ as an attacking player? So let’s retrain him, I’ve watched his defensive work, backtracking in particular, and he has broken up a few attacks from opposition teams. He shows signs of being able to defend more so than attack. If you can’t beat a man and your touch and crossing are suspect, you’re cooked as a winger I think
 

RUCK4444

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USREDEVIL said:
Unpopular opinion : James is good but needs time.
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I'm afraid you will have to explain this concept here. The moment the kid came and didn't emulate peak Robben pon' the right flank most will have already discarded him in search of the new toy. Daddy daddy want want

Poor lad. You can tell he loves it here as well, had a decent first season by most players standards I would say.
 

el3mel

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Maluco said:
He is 23 in November, it’s probably too late to talk about retraining him in a different position. We would be back to the days of Young/Valencia again.

I like him, but I don’t think he is good enough to start for United and I don’t think he ever will be. The difference in ability on the ball when Greenwood came on was stark and said it all for me. A player who is 4 years younger.
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Can actually 100% seeing him going their route and becoming a back once he gets as old as them.
 

Davìd Moyéz

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elmo said:
Don't blame him for Ole fecking up the starting 11.

He should be an impact sub to test tired defenders, not breaking down a team who's willing to sit from the start. That's just not his game right now.
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If a player isn't good enough to be starting games at 22 then they're not good enough are they. Simple as that.
 

Untd55

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RUCK4444 said:
I'm afraid you will have to explain this concept here. The moment the kid came and didn't emulate peak Robben pon' the right flank most will have already discarded him in search of the new toy. Daddy daddy want want

Poor lad. You can tell he loves it here as well, had a decent first season by most players standards I would say.
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Who cares if he loves it here? He is on a huge wage to play football. Should we be lenient because he enjoys it here? No.

Who said he needs to emulate Robben? Nobody, but people do expect a certain level of ability to be a Manchester United player. Remember this is not Stoke City.

You have to say it how it is. James is not good enough; he has shown it time and again this season that he is out of his depth. He hasn't scored for 26 games as first-team right-winger and hasn't assisted for 11; he is fast become Lingard 2.0, just a faster version of him.
 

GoldanoGraham

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Think he would be better suited as an impact sub, my main concern is that he is indecisive when he receives the ball and then makes the wrong choice and loses possession or the impetus of the attack. He lacks inner belief/confidence - the difference between him and Mason is very clear - when MG gets the ball you expect something to happen - when DJ gets the ball your not surprised that nothing happens.

let’s remember that DJ has lightening pace and that would be best used later in a game when there is more likely to be space - at the beginning of the match when it is tight he unfortunately doesn’t yet possess enough to be a starter - let’s not give up on him yet though - he’s got plenty of potential to become a much better player yet

for now though he should’nt be starting games
 

KristianMackle

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Left footed player on the right side is one of the most difficult players to defend against and Greenwood is already superior to DJ in all aspects of the game. Why is James an automatic starter on that side?
 

M Bison

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I feel he's unfairly treated by the fans. We all know he's not an elite winger and shouldnt be a starter, but we have limited options in that area. Greenwood is a decent option but it's not his natural position and will only ever "do a job" (in my view).

We're crying out for a RW in the next transfer window, which means DJ becomes 2nd choice and plays sporadically and he'd be a decent option in that role.
 

Daonico

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I think he was never bought to play as many games as he had to... and I also think he is better on the left. He looked good in the first few matches, but, out of necesity, he was asked too much too soon and in the wrong position, in my opinion. He reminded me of Januzaj, we shouldn't be relying on players like these. In a way, I think he starts more games now to avoid similar things happening to Greenwood.

I think he will be much better next season if we get a proper first teamer ahead of him and he goes to being a rotation player and impact sub.
 
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Mr. Ant

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It's travesty that Ole had to use him as a first choice winger, even though he's started good he isn't ready to play in the PL every week.

It was quite obvious that James is great against teams that push high up the pitch and Ole plays him against teams that sit back.

He should have been used from the bench against tired defenders and not have the pressure on his shoulders being the first choice winger.
 
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Schmeichel's Cartwheel

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His technical ability is so lacking. On overall footballing ability he’s probably the worst winger who regularly plays in the league.

Even looking at the relegation candidates, he’s nowhere near the likes of El Ghazi, Fraser, Anderson, Brooks, Buendia etc.

Very dead baller for this level who undoubtedly would be in the lower leagues without his pace.
 

youngrell

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KristianMackle said:
Left footed player on the right side is one of the most difficult players to defend against and Greenwood is already superior to DJ in all aspects of the game. Why is James an automatic starter on that side?
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I think it's more to do with managing Mason's development rather than preferring James outright. Greenwood will take over soon enough IMO. He's already showing signs of physical growth into senior football and once he's got that there's no stopping him.
 

pascell

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I've a feeling we'll keep him next season, allow Chong to go on loan and if he impresses on loan, the following summer we'll sell James and Chong will be the squad player.
 
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