Thing is, he is slated when he recycles the ball as well. Turn back Tony, remember?
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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.
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exactly. Greenwood and Rashford were meant to be alternating as #9 but neither of them are prepared to take up the correct positions for a tap in or battle for a 50/50. If we want to penetrate and score the easy and scrappy goals we need to commit to that kind of thing all the time. Greenwood and Rashford want it to feet on the edge of the box. Every time. It’s holding us back
And last season?
Yes I remember him doing it when players were available in the box, so its not the same is it
it’s not that it’s just once there was nobody in the box though is it? They are never making those runs and they need to. Nothing like a few well hit crosses into the danger area to show what the team is currently lacking when Cavani is out.
You have no idea what you're talking about. Rashford has 2 headed chances vs West Ham in the same game from crosses, the first of which he should have buried. James is out of sync with the attack, when Greenwood pulls out to create space James needs to wait for the other attackers to get into the space (it didn't help that Ole didn't commit many men forward from the CMs, usually a CM can help fill the space in the box when Greenwood pulls out, and Rashford was on his last legs). When they are not he needs to recycle the ball and not go for the byline. If you watch Greenwood or Rashford play the position you see how they do it.
Funny enough it happens at City often too and they just recycle the play till there is a crossing opportunity
You might not like James, I assume like most you probably don’t? we should have better regular starters at a club of this size but the fact is he is much more direct and has been out working our bigger names. He’s clearly been put back into the team to provide something the manager feels we’ve been lacking. He put in a few very tempting crosses that would be a decent chance for any half aggressive forward player in a top team playing on the front foot but he’s getting slated for it?
You think that cutting it back to Rashford standing with hands on hips on the edge of the box is in fact the right way to play that move? Rashford can clearly see across the line that the cutback wasn’t on. James can see it too so he plays the percentage ball and hopes he gambles. How about If you’ve been standing on the edge of the box for almost every other move, in fact your only clear chance was actually a header from a similar position. absolutely nothing else has come off for you, you haven’t even managed a shot on target since, do you just keep doing the same thing over and over and wait for your teammate who has just battled into a promising position to get in sync with you or do you take the risk and try to make the run? A real forward would always take the risk. I don’t know how anyone could argue otherwise.
Endlessly recycling possession is why we continue to stutter against teams who sit in. We keep too much of our play in front of the opposition in the hope of eventually finding a gap through the middle and it goes nowhere unless Bruno Shaw or Rashford manage to pull something nice out of the bag. The opposition get comfortably dug in and grow in confidence as the game goes on and we just hit more and more hopefull balls into the box. Maguire and McT having to get forward to try and bulldoze through in certain games should tell you all you need to know about our forwards movement. Our left back is probably our most consistent direct creative outlet outside of Bruno which also says a lot about their creativity as a unit.
I think our forwards haven’t scored as much this season mainly because they just don’t create enough simple or ugly chances for each other. They overcomplicate. their first instinct isn't to look up for each other when they get the ball or to make that early near post run. They repeatedly dribble forward into a dead end and kill the move or to simply pass back after taking too long on the ball to just play such a simple and ultimately meaningless pass. We need to improve massively in that regard. We want to go and spend big money on a right winger to come in and do something similar to what James was doing in the last match. If that’s really the case then why aren’t our current players finally reacting if that’s all we’ve badly needed all along? When were the lads fighting in the box waiting for a cross or tap from each other during any of our other moves this season then if it’s just James that is out of sync? They were stood outside the box waiting for it to feet as per usual. They don’t do it in any game, whoever is playing with them.
Centre forward has become a gaping hole in this team yet again but creativity is just as big of an issue too. People saying Greenwood should be our #9? Where’s the striker desire and movement then? If he wants to be a 9 long term then he needs to come alive when half chances on the shoulder occur. It’s much harder to defend against than endlessly playing side to side out in front of them. Make them turn around, mix it up, unsettle them. Battle them. Give them something different to think about. It will at least make more space for your teammates. You mention city? City score plenty of tap ins with a direct pacy ball back across the 6 yard box after getting slipped in behind. Liverpool too. The difference is their forwards aren’t totally static when it comes back across. Sterling scored a header a few weeks ago against arsenal from a similar position.
Ole keeps playing James because he’s currently a lot more direct, aggressive and potentially creative on the right than any of our other forward players. Getting a penalty and scraping by was our version of winning ugly last year. We need to find a way to keep scoring the ugly scrambled goals in tight games and in that case we can’t just chose to ignore perfectly decent crosses.
Rashford scored a few early last season from whipped James crosses from the right into the 6 yard box. Last Sunday he just stood around looking at him like he wasn’t even on the same team. That’s the problem when Cavani doesn’t play. Rashford isn’t creative like a top winger and he’s not aggressive like a top striker. He’s something in between and it’s currently the same thing with Greenwood. They are both good players but we definitely need some competition and a plan B.
apologies for the longwinded reply. I think James has been good. If the rest of the forwards were even half as aggressive and selfless as him we’d be flying it.
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Good post.
James has his limitations but what he does do is the basics and our other forwards neglect this side of the game way too often.
You only need to look at James for Swansea and Wales - he plays the same way, and despite players like McBurnie and Keiffer Moore being far inferior to our forwards, they do attack the box and make those runs you talk about to get on the end of his crosses and it works.
I don’t think we’ve had a chance to see him play with Cavani yet, which is a shame, but I’m sure his performance level goes up when/if we do.
Long post which missed the point I made. I have nothing against James, just saying he should improve his decision making when in those positions and learn when to cross and when to recycle the possession.
We have scored the second most goals in the league this season, secondly we have 2 out of the top 5 chances creators in the league in Shaw and Bruno.
I agree forwards need to do better with runs, that doens't mean any player should cross the ball willy nilly. Which is why players like Bruno and Shaw know when to cross and know when to recycle and thus create so many chances.
The issue is any criticism of a player for some reason needs to be defended to an extraordinary level, and for what reason? Crossing the ball with no one in the box is conceding possession and a poor decision.
The criticism of Rashford here is also a bit silly, again Rashford was on the end of 2 crosses in the game, one which he should have scored from, by the end of the game he was clearly on his last legs (and should have been subbed), but that is besides the point.
Yes I mentioned City because when there is no one in the box (which happens plenty) they recycle the possession, which is clearly what I said should be done.
Its pretty simple:
1. Do we need to improve the runs into the box and getting more players into the box - yes,
2. Are we always going to have players in the box to get on the end of things - no
3. When there is no one in the box, is the correct decision to cross the ball to no one and concede possession - NO
lots of players play those percentage crosses on instinct, James sees he can’t hit Rashford direct. The next best thing is to invite Rashford to run into that dangerous area unmarked and Rashford made the wrong choice because it would have been a goal or at least a chance on target if he’d gone. James made the correct decision there. It would have been a poor decision to just knock it backwards. Anyway. Sorry for going off on one! I’m all Jamesd out 
I think he’s an average player but he displays the right aggression and direct play we need more of.
I think he’s an average player but he displays the right aggression and direct play we need more of.
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I do not know why you posted this as instinct. It is the basics that they teach at Academies like Ajax, Barca etc. Player puts the ball into the space another player should run into. This has been a huge issue at United for sometime now. This is also where I have a problem with the coaching staff. Why can't they get our strikers to run into positions? Martial, Rashford, Greenwood. All the same. `Do not know or refuse to make that move. Once or twice it is understandable. But now it is in every match.lots of players play those percentage crosses on instinct, James sees he can’t hit Rashford direct. The next best thing is to invite Rashford to run into that dangerous area unmarked and Rashford made the wrong choice because it would have been a goal or at least a chance on target if he’d gone. James made the correct decision there. It would have been a poor decision to just knock it backwards. Anyway. Sorry for going off on one! I’m all Jamesd out
I think he’s an average player but he displays the right aggression and direct play we need more of.
thank you sir for the post, echoing my thoughts from last few years. carrick and McKenna have nothing to add here and if Ole wants to survive he must know better and put a stop to this buddy system. I sense Ole has leverage right now on Ed and he must use it for his own benefit.
AC Milan 0:1 Man Utd
This guy I swear he is gonna make me go crazy
I swear he is gonna make me go crazyI know!! Does so many things so well but just stops short at the decisive moments. There is a player in him but it really needs to be coaxed out.This guy
Possibly his worst game for us. A damn shame after that good spell.
Laughably bad. Just when he got into a good position he thought “nah, there’s another player I can try to beat”, only to fail miserably. Like a very small child playing against men.
Look, he is overpromoted currently and that's not his fault. He chuggs and chuggs some more.
Nowhere near the required standard.
He needs to be instructed to lay the ball at the right opportunity, which tonight was at least twice, once for a one-on-one to Mason and another time to Bruno. I can see the frustration in our forward line with him.
He wasn't that bad, he's just the player to hate at the moment. Won us loads of freekicks and put in some good crosses.
He works his arse off so I never want to be too critical, but he's simply not good enough. James and AWB is about as threatening as a foam spoon.
It isn’t. It is his fault when he blatantly ignores easy passes though.
The guy never lifts his head up. He's useful but he's like a selfish Aaron Lennon.
Exactly, thought he done ok. Has played last few games so thought Ole should have brought on Diallo as the game went on.
He has his uses, but you simply can't be that poor on the ball and play in one of the 3 attacking positions at United. It's not even playing badly, it's a lack of ability.
If the game was just about effort and hardworking he would be the best player. When he is asked to think what should he do in the final third, he just becomes clueless.
Don't get why he's getting a lot of criticism. He carries the ball very well and wins a lot of fouls. Final ball and decision is lacking, but no one really should have unrealistically high expectations of him.
Justifiable criticism = hate
I feel like if I "social distance" walk past him he would fall over. Not a particularly strong lad
He probably had his full back 1 vs 1 or beaten about 6 times that game. And basically did nothing.
He is a good footballer. Just not good enough for Man United.
In what way is it though?Justifiable criticism = hate
If he had a final ball, we wouldn't need Sancho.
He had a decent game though.
He had a decent game though.
He's quick and his hard work is a strong attribute.
Unfortunately he's just not very good at any sort of end product. We really need to upgrade.
Unfortunately he's just not very good at any sort of end product. We really need to upgrade.
Thought he was awful and after a couple games of progress went back to the hit and run merchant of the beginning of the season
Had some great chances to do something and just either ran down a blind ally or passed backwards to awb
Probably the only professional footballer i would fancy myself against in a shoulder to shoulder challenge
I mean, if you think he's good enough to be part of an attacking front three at Manchester United, then fair play. But all the evidence would suggest otherwise. He's a grafter but clearly lacks the quality to be here. It's just boring and juvenile when the same posters throw the word 'hate' around to shut down any contrasting opinions to their own.
First half was quite poor, but he was really good in second half and can never fault his efforts.
My my how useless this guy is, he even fecked his dives up tonight.
Ole gives him another chance in big game and the player rewards him with championship quality.
I guess that was the deal form the start, right ? Low risk fee with not too high expectations... United needs to step up with the ambitions someday.
I guess that was the deal form the start, right ? Low risk fee with not too high expectations... United needs to step up with the ambitions someday.
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