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It is true I criticized players including Antony, depends on my mood!
Define ‘top player’? If we get top four this year and a bit of luck in the cup are we saying that’s in spite of Antony or something?
Valencia used to target the shin of full backs and you’d wonder how he ever got to United but he will also give a very committed performance every game, which does help engage the fullback to a point.
Not saying it would be in spite of him but he has hardly made a massive contribution. The fact is if rashford gets injured we don't really have anyone who will score regularly
Valencia started destroying opposing players shins when he was converted to a right back. It was crazy because when he played as an actual winger, while he never had a whipped type of cross in him, he managed to get the ball into dangerous areas. Like Antony, he was one thing and defenders knew, go on the outside but, no one could stop him at the time, even Ashley Cole who was in his prime used to get torn apart. The time Rooney scored all those headed goals, several came from Valencia's crossing.
Looking at him stats-wise and comparing him this season versus the Antony at Ajax, the big difference is simply the lack of creativity.
I think it’s about balance. Rashford - Osimhen - Antony is a very strong front line in my opinion for example. If he can get hit 15 goals and assists next year that’s what we need in addition to his defensive/team work. Rashford and the striker will be bulk of the goal output.
Do you reckon a Frimpong and Kane would help bring out more in his game then
My original statement got led down this route but it wasn’t about his ability. That was a tongue in cheek.
Did you miss his peak? He was hitting double-digit numbers assists for a few seasons in a row before evidently forgetting how to cross altogether. 09/10 and 11/12 were especially good.
My bad - that's for sure. With the way he kept his width, he was always an outlet and when he received the ball, he could literally carry us 30-40 yards up the field. Defenders knew they could not rest and our RBs always knew they also could rely on him to lend a hand, that's for sure.
At times we can underrate past players.
I liked that about him. You know he will give you solid every game, even when not having an outstanding game. Wide men are generally in consistent but they need this quality to keep them in games till things fall into place.
I think any reasonable person should be 50/50 on him. It could vert easily go either way with him, anyone saying with certainty that he will or won't make it is judging prematurely.
Don't see it at all, kanchelskis could use both feet and dribble past people. Pellestri reminds me more of kanchelskis with the way he runs and dribbles.
That's clearly over the top.
You're stretching a bit there. Blasting shots well wide from 20 yards out and overhitting a cross(likely another shot wide anyway) aren't plus points.
Yes
Not really.
Plenty have. A few have even said he’s one of the most useless wide players they’ve seen or some shit like that. Asking more from him isn’t the only that’s happening - there’s definitely an irrational hatred among many. I’m just too lazy to now start pulling out those posts.
) crosses delivered.Well, as I said before he joined, this was pretty much how he played at Ajax. He struggled to beat his FB there, ruined plenty of counter attacks due to either not trusting himself to carry the ball or needing to always cut in on his left whether it was the right time or not, nearly always looked to cut in and shoot, didn't have a good cross on him, etc.
how many points did Utd get in those games?Stats never tell the whole story but bloody hell, his stats in PL are awful.
16 games, 3 goals, zero assists, zero big chances created, 1 dribble per game and..... 0.1 (
On hindsight its crazy those people in Ajax has the guts to ask for that much money, 40-50m is absolutely the max they could do hope for even they do not wish to sell the player, really. Normally the fee shouldn't go higher than 20-30m, as he is just plain average. How we manage to end up paying 85m is totally beyond common sense, its like Barca asking for Fred for 80m, or Real asking for Mctominay for 80m out of the nowhere, I doubt even my 12 year old nephew would do something so reckless in a FM game.
Antony had played 135 senior games when he moved to England and cost £82 million. Mahrez had played 67, having previously only played semi professionally and cost £450k, Salah had played 123 (44 in Egypt, not sure what the level is like) and cost £11 million, Son had played 165 (all in Bundesliga) and cost £22 million. They all were bargains/punts some with less experience and Antony was the biggest signing in the league this season. comparing apples to oranges
I don’t understand your reply.
Yep I'm here at this point. I think he's been very underwhelming for the amount of money we spent but his one standout property is that you give him the ball and he doesn't lose it. That is a super valuable property to have.
Basically I don't think you should compare his signing to those players and be delighted by his contribution. Many of those players were punts who happened to turn out pretty good. He can't be an £82 million punt, if you know what I mean
Oh okay.
So basically Rashford & Osimhen would have to carry the bulk of the attacking output because Antony is incapable. Sounds about right.
Too many cutbacks to remind me of Kanchelskis. Kanchelskis seemed more direct. I'd love if Antony could get a few of Andrei's "initial strike deflects back" goals though!
