Players, like other humans, can have lapses of judgement and are prone to stupid things. That doesn't mean that a player has "Chronic professionalism issues". Even Scholes had an incident or two with Sir Alex where he acted like a dick, but no one claims that Scholes was not a professional. I remember one season when Rooney was dropped in a crucial holiday fixture when he went out partying or something. But that one incident didn't define Rooney's professional career.
Scholes played in a completely different time. I don't think you can point to many other players of the calibre Rashford is supposedly at and say "yeah they do the same thing". Not Saka or Foden or Kulusevski or Son or Palmer etc etc.
I can grant Rashford as at least being aware to know he made mistakes and looking to fix them, which is why he doesnt get exiled on the squad, but I think there is enough evidence to suggest he lapses too often for a supposedly top player.
So, you can be unprofessional as long as you don't speak out publicly. New information but point taken.
No, you can be forgiven to be unprofessional as long as you acknowledge that you did wrong, take your medicine and work to get back on the pitch again.
Terribly inconsistent as in? He has been dropped prior to this season because of similar issues. Again, new information.
Terribly inconsistent as in being good for a bit then shite for a long time then being good again.
Last season first 2/3rds of the season he was amazing, then in the final third of the season he was shit. The season before he was shit all season. This season he's shit all season. 3 seasons ago he was good. If you struggle to grasp how Rashford is terribly inconsistent then just give up the debate now.
Again, like I mentioned, both the down seasons have come after he was overworked in the previous seasons. Imo, that definitely has played a part. He also has had three 20+ goals seasons in the last 5 (with this one still to end).
As I said he's a severely limited player such that if he's not scoring, hes not exactly contributing in general play.
No top player at 26 should be seen as indispensable when their last 3 seasons are 7 goals (and counting), 30 goals (Great) and then 3 goals the season prior whilst STILL being limited in general play.
He doesn't want it now when he himself said he wants us to be the "best transition team in the world", which is just a fancy way of describing counter-attacking football. What is counter-attacking if not speedily transitioning from the defensive phase to the attacking phase? Counter-attacking doesn't mean just sitting back, absorbing pressure and then hoofing it to your front men.
Ten Hag has said he wanted more direct play and winning the ball higher up the pitch ,which isn't the same as just scoring by running in behind. Rashford is generally shite at pressing and tracking back, and he's erratic in decision making (sometimes good, often shite, as shown with his last 3 seasons). That doesn't suit a club like Manchester United.
Worth flagging he said he's applying this approach because he didnt have the players for a more possession orientated approach. Who knows how that changes in the next window, who knows if the board even trust ten hag to adopt that.
Every team, either transition or possession based, need players who can run in behind and keep the defenses honest. And that is one of Rashford's featured attributes, and the reason why he would excel in any set-up. He has the speed and his dribbling to really hurt the opposition.
Diaz and Martinelli are far more polished players than Rashford? You sure about that because that is not remotely true. Rashford has a very good touch. He has quick feet and is a good dribbler. Also, saying that either of those players have better decision making is surely a joke.
In general play both those players are far better than Rashford. They have better first touches, work tight angles better on a consistent basis, have better decision making and work far harder. This is all a comfortable no brainer when comparing those players to Rashford, who is far more erratic in his dribbling, almost always runs into traffic, doesn't work near hard enough and has inconsistency on his own decision making.
