Exactly, and thankfully we're getting to a similar level, just need more depth in midfield and RB & we'll have a seriously strong squad capable of competing.
Is there a place for Rashford as a regular starter?
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So what? Did I say that Pogba shouldn't be part of the first 11? He can play like he did today very centrally blending with Bruno Fernandes if we get the right CDM that can help occupy both.
Rashford is the best LW that we have at the club in terms of a finisher - It's a pure joke to act like Rashford is some average player.
His numbers are insane and he does it against top clubs too.
He’ll play plenty. We are allowed to have more than 11 good players ffs 
There would be no regular spot for a lot of players if we played like today every week.
We won't.
We won't.
Rashford is not even a winger, he's a wide forward.
He doesn't look to create, he looks to shoot and because he's so good at that, we have people going on about how many goals he scores and how much we'd miss him if he comes off the bench.
What these people fail to mention and what playing Pogba on the LW has shown is that creativity from wide can more than make up for having a goal-scoring LW.
Personally, with the personnel we have, I'd play 4-3-3 with Pogba at LCM, Bruno RCM, Rashford on the left, Sancho right and Martial/Cavani up top, with rotation allowing for rest.
EDIT:
And yeah, Rashford hasn't got technical ability, he can't dribble past players. If you've failed to notice that in the past 18 months, I don't know what to say, except stick to emojis.
Rashford can't dribble past players
So we are going to play Pogba as a LW because we can't fit him in - in his proper position?
Pogba may have started as a LW in todays game but after the first goal he was playing more and more centrally.
Atleast I agree with you that Pogba and Bruno can be the central midfield partnership along as we get the right CDM.
Sancho is also coming to the RW to be more of a creator (all the positions James got in to can lead to chances by Sancho).
I'm fine with Pogba starting games over Rashford- but acting like Rashford is some average player with no technical ability or to be one of the main goalscorers of Manchester United is just not sitting in my stomach or brain.
I think the competition for forward spots is exactly what we need to compete for the trophies.
I'd love to see more players prioritizing their club performances and not going into international comps with injuries and taking months to heal afterwards, eating into club time. Rashford never really had to contend with competition before this, but when he finds himself benched when fully fit that'll start to change how he thinks about his own health and performances.
I'd love to see more players prioritizing their club performances and not going into international comps with injuries and taking months to heal afterwards, eating into club time. Rashford never really had to contend with competition before this, but when he finds himself benched when fully fit that'll start to change how he thinks about his own health and performances.
Season ticket holder 14 years, fan for 35+ years.
You?.....have you ever even been to a game?
Go look at the squad in 2008. So many attacking players and they were all kept happy and played loads.
Our first team has been run into the ground the end of thr last two seasons because there is such a drop off in quality after them. Now we can rotate a bit more.
Also Rashford has two twenty goal seasons back to back, last season carrying a shoulder injury. I think he'll OK and the topic was a stupid one.
What a beautiful problem to have.
Damn you old
A lot of posters on the caf have heart eyes when it comes to Rashford and won't even entertain the idea that he's not a guaranteed starter anymore. He was very poor last season and it wasn't just because of injuries/fitness problems. Hopefully Sancho's arrival is the kick up the arse he needs.
The Rashford of old before his injury, certainly. The one we've seen in the last 6-8 months. Bench.
Classic48 lad, and lived a life you could probably only dream about, now run along and play....
I bet once he returns he will have the most appearances until end of the season, starting from his return.
Rashford will play plenty of games, he’s a very good player who scores and makes plenty of goals for the team.
Ideally we will use our strength in depth and rotate Cavani, Rashford, Sancho, Greenwood and maybe even Elanga depending on fitness and the opposition, and I think this is exactly what we will do.
Ideally we will use our strength in depth and rotate Cavani, Rashford, Sancho, Greenwood and maybe even Elanga depending on fitness and the opposition, and I think this is exactly what we will do.
Yes, because we shouldn't be expecting our forwards to play 50+ games in a season.
He'll get lots of games. Cavani isn't going to play twice a week every week, and will likely pick up an injury or two. Martial will likely go through periods of niggles and bad form, as he always does. Pogba will play CM in a lot of games too. And Bruno needs to not be playing 58 games again, it's far too much. Sancho coming in takes away some of that creative burden, and hopefully VDB can step in as a #10 too.
We finally have depth to rotate and not run players into the ground. Rashford coming back in November will be a huge boost for when fixtures pile up around Christmas and the new year.
He'll get lots of games. Cavani isn't going to play twice a week every week, and will likely pick up an injury or two. Martial will likely go through periods of niggles and bad form, as he always does. Pogba will play CM in a lot of games too. And Bruno needs to not be playing 58 games again, it's far too much. Sancho coming in takes away some of that creative burden, and hopefully VDB can step in as a #10 too.
We finally have depth to rotate and not run players into the ground. Rashford coming back in November will be a huge boost for when fixtures pile up around Christmas and the new year.
Nice problem to have and shows where we're headed. We've got Rashford, Pogba and Sancho for the left. Sancho, Greenwood and Diallo(I think he's that good already) for the right and Cavani, Greenwood and Martial for up top. Pogba and Diallo can also cover for Bruno in the 10 role. 8 top players for 4 positions. What great options! Great work Ole and team
Southgate is that you?
His ability to go past players is more to do with his rapid speed and acceleration than actual ability to go through tight spaces.Rashford can't dribble past players
So we are going to play Pogba as a LW because we can't fit him in - in his proper position?
Pogba may have started as a LW in todays game but after the first goal he was playing more and more centrally.
Atleast I agree with you that Pogba and Bruno can be the central midfield partnership along as we get the right CDM.
Sancho is also coming to the RW to be more of a creator (all the positions James got in to can lead to chances by Sancho).
I'm fine with Pogba starting games over Rashford- but acting like Rashford is some average player with no technical ability or to be one of the main goalscorers of Manchester United is just not sitting in my stomach or brain.
Even in that clip, he kicks the ball and runs down the wing. That is not what I mean by technical ability.
I don't understand why you and others get so defensive when I say Rashford is not that good technically. Compared to Pogba and Sancho, he's just not.
But he's an altogether different type of threat and it's great we have him as an option.
As for where Pogba is to play.. it's honestly too tiring at this point because he doesn't have a place in our team necessarily but he's too good to be left out. We really should be building around him in midfield but apparently buying a proper CDM is just too much to accomodate a player who's cost us 90m and can lead us to glory. I'd personally play him alongside Fred in this formation but that's weak against a proper team.
Spot on
Cavani
Sancho - Greenwood
Is our best front 3 imo if Sancho can hit the ground running but we play enough games for everyone to be happy.
It's Martial that'll be fecked unless he starts really well and gives Ole a decision to make before Cavani gets fit.
Sancho - Greenwood
Is our best front 3 imo if Sancho can hit the ground running but we play enough games for everyone to be happy.
It's Martial that'll be fecked unless he starts really well and gives Ole a decision to make before Cavani gets fit.
It means Rashford will have to improve if he wants to be a consistent starter and a future starter for England. That's a very good thing.
The fact that Rashford will get games is totally besides the point. He will not be in our strongest XI, therefore, he will probably make equal amounts starts to sub appearances.
The fact that you think it's a stupid topic begs the question why you're here in the first place. Join discussions where you can constructively argue, not ridicule and belittle.
Get his shoulder sorted and give him midfield support, he’ll be our top scorer this season. I’m sure of that.
As someone said already........this place
60 game season, he 100% going to play more games on that side than anyone while covering other spots............hes our most dangerous player on the left with his energy and pace, especially when we playing counter attack.
Can't wait to he is back. Some options now on the bench and on the pitch. Teams will be fearful again
60 game season, he 100% going to play more games on that side than anyone while covering other spots............hes our most dangerous player on the left with his energy and pace, especially when we playing counter attack.
Can't wait to he is back. Some options now on the bench and on the pitch. Teams will be fearful again
Will be tough to beat Bruno!
To answer the thread starter, peak Rashford will definitely start for us probably over Martial/Cavani. We'd have a front three of Sancho/Greenwood/Rashford. Like others have said though this is a great problem to have, players not taking their place for granted and every good or bad performance means something to your starting spot. The more we find spots to rotate Bruno and Rashford the better for the team.
The guy was amazing to watch before his shoulder and back injury wasn't he? Very fun player to watch and became deadly the end of the season before the last one.
Sancho has to prove it in England and dribbling without that free space in the Bundesliga counter attack isn't going to be easy either, so I think jumping in to questioning Rashfords place as a starter is really questionable.
There's a Martial & James who may not have a future this time next year, a Sancho that still hasn't proved it in the Premier League (hoping he will), and Pogba who is a creative player - who as Ole said was given the freedom to play as he wants (hence why we saw him centrally alot and not exactly on the side holding the touchline).
Pogba had a freedom and its something I enjoy watching but neither do I think we can play him as a LW/LAM every game either because sometimes we are not going to be able to give that freedom or we may need a more capable inside forward than a creator instead.
Pretty sure I did one then the other there pal.
The better question is why the feck would you sit Greenwood if he plays like he did today. He was unplayable and offers the best finishing at the club.
Ultimately it depends on his form, similar to also Sancho and Greenwood. Neither of them should be permanent starter regardless of form, even Sancho. The one who's in form and contributes to the team the most at the moment starts.
I'm really hoping Rashy Mason and Sancho will become a legendary front three, even eclipsing the Rooney Ronaldo Tevez era (yeah I know, big shoes to fill)
Short answer, yes! He is our main goal threat outside of Bruno. People forget how good this guy is.
Yeah, he's a brilliant player. One of our most productive players in terms of stats and a scorer or both big and beautiful goals.
There's no question mark against Rashford.
Then again, we were a "joke club" yesterday for not having announced Varane and Solskjær was a "coward" for picking the team that only put 5 past Leeds. Who knows what madness the self hating fans will spew into the night.
Rashford will prove them wrong again, as much as they're frothing to "burst his bubble".
There's no question mark against Rashford.
Then again, we were a "joke club" yesterday for not having announced Varane and Solskjær was a "coward" for picking the team that only put 5 past Leeds. Who knows what madness the self hating fans will spew into the night.
Rashford will prove them wrong again, as much as they're frothing to "burst his bubble".
last season he played to much, this season he plays less? Rashford has to first fully recover from his injury and find his match fitness and rythm again. This could be a process of months, so the answer of the OP is much more less to be answered when that times comes.
He's not imo. Cavani and Greenwood are both bigger threats. Not to mention Sancho based on his Dortmund form.
You won’t win the league with a set front three. Need rotation and squad depth. Players will be in and out of form. He will be a regular though and will start the bigger games.
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