Nani will reignite our charge to the title

Status
Not open for further replies.

Raees

Pythagoras in Boots
Joined
May 16, 2009
Messages
29,469
I do for the short-term we do have to use nani especially in europe if we are going to go 4-3-3. He may not have end product but just his presence and pace will make the team alot more balanced.

In a 4-4-2 him on the left and Valencia on the right is also a good option and again provides the team with sufficient quality and flair.

I can see him making a decent impact if allowed to.
 

Snow

Somewhere down the lane, a licky boom boom down
Joined
Jul 10, 2007
Messages
33,377
Location
Lousy Smarch weather
Would be great that one of the 11 starters would be there simply because of his set pieces taking ability. We get so many corners and make nothing of them. Our free kicks aren't anything to brag about either a side from the one or two Giggs free-kicks each year. Since our left wing has been pretty useless anyways this season I want Nani to start, even if it were only for his abilities to take corners.
 

Pogue Mahone

The caf's Camus.
Joined
Feb 22, 2006
Messages
133,853
Location
"like a man in silk pyjamas shooting pigeons
Would be great that one of the 11 starters would be there simply because of his set pieces taking ability. We get so many corners and make nothing of them. Our free kicks aren't anything to brag about either a side from the one or two Giggs free-kicks each year. Since our left wing has been pretty useless anyways this season I want Nani to start, even if it were only for his abilities to take corners.
Erm... Giggs can play left wing.
 

Epic

Full Member
Joined
Jul 16, 2004
Messages
7,436
Nani need to pop up on the team sheet to do all that, though.
 

Pogue Mahone

The caf's Camus.
Joined
Feb 22, 2006
Messages
133,853
Location
"like a man in silk pyjamas shooting pigeons
And he can't take corners. Rarely puts it over the first defender and his passing free-kicks aren't special. They are the same as his corners.
He takes corners as well, if not better, than Nani.

In fact he does everything Nani does a lot better than Nani. Just a shame he's at an age where he can't be expected to keep putting in peak performances for more than a handful of consecutive games.
 

Snow

Somewhere down the lane, a licky boom boom down
Joined
Jul 10, 2007
Messages
33,377
Location
Lousy Smarch weather
He takes corners as well, if not better, than Nani.

In fact he does everything Nani does a lot better than Nani. Just a shame he's at an age where he can't be expected to keep putting in peak performances for more than a handful of consecutive games.
I don't know what games you are watching. Giggs is not good at taking corners. Last game against Birmingham he put three in a row straight to the head of the first defender. I would estimate he does that at least in 1 of every 2 corners. If he were any good at corners his assists would be more. Just watch him. The Giggs spell he has put on you will break if you look for it.
 

Pogue Mahone

The caf's Camus.
Joined
Feb 22, 2006
Messages
133,853
Location
"like a man in silk pyjamas shooting pigeons
I don't know what games you are watching. Giggs is not good at taking corners. Last game against Birmingham he put three in a row straight to the head of the first defender. I would estimate he does that at least in 1 of every 2 corners. If he were any good at corners his assists would be more. Just watch him. The Giggs spell he has put on you will break if you look for it.
He's got more assists than any other player in our team this season.
 

adexkola

Doesn't understand sportswashing.
Joined
Mar 17, 2008
Messages
48,407
Location
The CL is a glorified FA Cup set to music
Supports
orderly disembarking on planes
He takes corners as well, if not better, than Nani.

In fact he does everything Nani does a lot better than Nani. Just a shame he's at an age where he can't be expected to keep putting in peak performances for more than a handful of consecutive games.
I don't know what games you have been watching, but Giggs' corners are utter shit.
 

Raees

Pythagoras in Boots
Joined
May 16, 2009
Messages
29,469
Giggs is decent at taking corners, I don't think nani is that great from set-pieces either. I want to see Nani due to his potential goal threat and pace and Giggsy utilised more in the second half of games where he is generally more effective.
 

davisjw

Full Member
Joined
Apr 19, 2007
Messages
5,287
We need him to be productive first, than he can light up the EPL. Basics Nani, keep to basics.

And he scores fantastic goals but it takes at least 10 shockers to get that one.
 

Scholesy

New Member
Joined
Oct 17, 2006
Messages
11,118
Location
'And Solskjær has won it'
If Fergie gave Nani a run of 6-7 games on the trot, then he may well spark a new life into us I believe.

The probability of Fergie giving him these games is zero...
 

Name Changed

weso26
Joined
Jan 10, 2008
Messages
27,395
Location
Dublin
He is:

a) Our best dead-ball specialist (corners and free-kicks)

b) Our best long-range shot specialist.

c) Our most tricky winger.

All the above attributes help teams to win tight games. Hopefully he apologises to SAF, buries the hatchet with SAF and gets a run of a few games. We will all be suprised how well he can do.

Come on Nani.

:devil:
Funny. Wishful thinking.
 

Shimo

Full Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2009
Messages
8,082
No one has been taking good corners and as much as I like Nani, Giggs definitely takes the better one at this time. But, for corners it's more than the people that take them - it's just our general approach of how to attack into the box, it is pathetic.

Aerially we strike little fear into opponents. Watching the Birmingham game, a friend had popped in (dipper supporter) mid game and when we got a corner, I told him it might as well be a TK taking a goal kick, we aren't going to do anything with it and that was when Giggs had come on.

The one thing that Nani does provide IMO that we lack a lot of from the loss of Ronaldo is getting free kicks in dangerous areas. Right now the person most likely to win us one is Paddy. Nani on the field usually can get us 1 or 2 a game. If that means we have to endure him rolling around the ground and having a moan so be it but, till someone else can step and be that threat, to be the person other teams end up chopping down, we could use him on the pitch.

I've got to wonder if he has learned not from Giggs but, Valencia on how to approach the game. I think Giggs is in a different mold of winger from either of them at this stage. The Wolfsburg game I thought maybe he had, he was more thoughtful with the ball and not just running down endless alleys.

We'll see the next time he gets a game for us, perhaps a light has gone off in his head and thought, hey if I just play like Valencia, simple keep possession, get to the byline and look up and put a cross in if it's there or pull it back otherwise - then maybe I can keep my place week in and week out. Just KISS ... keep it simple stupid.

If he can do the same thing on the left as Valencia - and IMO he has more ability, he can really balance us out.
 

Pogue Mahone

The caf's Camus.
Joined
Feb 22, 2006
Messages
133,853
Location
"like a man in silk pyjamas shooting pigeons
If Fergie gave Nani a run of 6-7 games on the trot, then he may well spark a new life into us I believe.

The probability of Fergie giving him these games is zero...
*sigh*

Tell me, how many players (other than our back four/keeper) in our squad have started 6-7 games in a row over the last few seasons?

Once you've come up with that (very short) list, take a moment to think about WHY they have and why Nani hasn't.
 

RedDevilCanuck

Quite dreamy - blue eyes, blond hair, tanned skin
Joined
Feb 22, 2007
Messages
8,426
Location
The GTA
We have been crap lately.

Changes are needed.

Play Nani.

Has been shit lately but he actually shoots, can beat his man easily and has great pace.

I prefer Giggsy in the middle anyway.

Come on Nani, this is a chance to nail down that left side.

Nani and Valencia on the wings with Evra and Rafael as support gives us tonns of skill, pace, and width.
 

kietotheworld

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Sep 10, 2006
Messages
12,638
I can think of 3 players over the last few seasons that have started 7 in a row (this is off the top of my head, without checking stats or anything)

Rooney
Ronaldo
Evra

Van Der Sar prior to this season.
Vidic had about 10 last season.
 

phelans shorts

Full Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2009
Messages
27,217
Location
Gaz. Is a Mewling Quim.
He is:

a) Our best dead-ball specialist (corners and free-kicks)

b) Our best long-range shot specialist.

c) Our most tricky winger.

All the above attributes help teams to win tight games. Hopefully he apologises to SAF, buries the hatchet with SAF and gets a run of a few games. We will all be suprised how well he can do.

Come on Nani.

:devil:
A) no he isn't
B) fair enough
C) so Valencia is playing so well because he's simple? I.E. No he isn't

nani is very much an enigma, and one that we cannot afford to give a run with nothing to show for it
 

Shimo

Full Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2009
Messages
8,082
*sigh*

Tell me, how many players (other than our back four/keeper) in our squad have started 6-7 games in a row over the last few seasons?

Once you've come up with that (very short) list, take a moment to think about WHY they have and why Nani hasn't.
Because SAF believes it is a squad game. It would be great if we had 11 players that were all undroppable types that never got hurt or lost form but, for the most part we've been so competitive because of our squad game.

Certainly Nani hasn't done anything to make him undroppable - very few have (On current form I don't think Rooney should be undroppable) but, for Nani a run of 6 or 7 games straight has every chance of a player building consistency and improve. Pre-season run gave me at least a good idea that he does have the capacity to raise his game if he is playing week in and week out.

He's never been given the same chance Valencia has got on the right. Till he gets that same chance and not the "numerous chances" bandied around of 15 min here, 30 min there and 1 or 2 games here spread through a season

Most people think he has the ability, so it's not just a question why not give any Tom, Dick or Harry a run to prove themselves.

Lots of talk about how much we rotate our squad and how it affects our team performances, why is it different for individuals. Good players coming back from injury (or sometimes a bad run of form) are said to need to play their way back into form, so it's not unreasonable to expect that something similar needs to happen for Nani to spark into life?

For me it will always be a question about how much better can he do with a solid run of games. Most likely though that question will be answered when he moves to another club.
 

RonaldoVII

Full Member
Joined
Aug 29, 2008
Messages
24,258
Location
PSN:FrozenInHell
Valencia has as many tricks as an a4 piece of white paper. That isn't to say he isn't on form as we all know he is, but tricks aren't what he does.

You say we can't afford to give Nani a run with nothing to show for it, but one point with Nani is that he always has something to show for in that he often scores or creates a goal when he isn't seemingly playing well. Nani's productivity is good, he just needs to improve his general play. A run of a few games in the team without fear of being dragged off after 45-60 minutes if you've misplaced one pass would be good. A few unconditional 90 minutes could easily be given in the next few games against Burnley, Hull and Portsmouth.
 

CLK_FPC

Fists of Fury
Joined
Aug 5, 2008
Messages
9,292
Location
★Live Good☆Look Good★
He is too frustrating for me to care about. I used to hate him with a passion but I said give him a chance he started the season well but then he reverted to type and made me feel like I misplaced my faith.

He won't get a run on the right ahead of Tony so he will have to learn to like the left if he wants/cares enough to play but before he gets a chance it won't kill him to get some reserve games.
 

Boss

Melodramatic, attention seeking space-attacker
Joined
Jun 11, 2009
Messages
23,909
Location
I left you with enough memories to resurrect me wi
He is too frustrating for me to care about. I used to hate him with a passion but I said give him a chance he started the season well but then he reverted to type and made me feel like I misplaced my faith.

He won't get a run on the right ahead of Tony so he will have to learn to like the left if he wants/cares enough to play but before he gets a chance it won't kill him to get some reserve games.
When did this happen!
 

RedDevilCanuck

Quite dreamy - blue eyes, blond hair, tanned skin
Joined
Feb 22, 2007
Messages
8,426
Location
The GTA
why doesn't Fergie ever play him on the right? I know Valencia has nailed that down but in terms of rest and rotation or tactics in game I find it baffling.

Nani usually (every time I've seen him) plays on the right for Portugal and actually does pretty well. Dare I say he and Ronaldo are thier most creative players these days.
 

MG

Full Member
Joined
Sep 25, 2008
Messages
11,811
Location
Friendzoning 'nice guys'
He is:

a) Our best dead-ball specialist (corners and free-kicks)

b) Our best long-range shot specialist.

c) Our most tricky winger.

All the above attributes help teams to win tight games. Hopefully he apologises to SAF, buries the hatchet with SAF and gets a run of a few games. We will all be suprised how well he can do.

Come on Nani.

:devil:
Only problem is:

d) He's not that good.
 

johnmufc

New Member
Joined
May 10, 2009
Messages
4,521
He is:

a) Our best dead-ball specialist (corners and free-kicks)
Corners? Maybe. I think Carrick takes an excellent corner kick but Fergie seems insistent on having him in the box as an aerial threat despite him almost never winning attacking headers.
Gibson also seems like a decent corner taker.
Nani is better than Giggs at corners though, in my opinion.
Giggs is our best free kick taker as it stands but if Hargreaves ever returns he may have something to say about that.

b) Our best long-range shot specialist.
Well, he isn't afraid to have a pop at goal, but usually he gets it horribly wrong. Scholes and Carrick are probably the most efficient when it comes to long shots but they don't try them frequently like Nani and Gibson.

c) Our most tricky winger.
Perhaps, but his terrible decision making nullifies his skill most of the time.
Valencia has a great blend of pace, strength, and skill to make him extremely effective at beating defenders.

All the above attributes help teams to win tight games. Hopefully he apologises to SAF, buries the hatchet with SAF and gets a run of a few games. We will all be suprised how well he can do.

Come on Nani.

:devil:
Maybe you're a bit optimistic but what I will say in Nani's defence is that he is an excellent crosser of the ball and can come up with assists and create chances, even if he's not playing well.

He deserves a chance. He gets a lot of stick but he does have that bit of flair we sometimes lack. Surely he's a better option than Park for matches such as our recent ones against Leeds and Birmingham.
 

Red Pavan

shittest username ever manutddabest791
Joined
Mar 15, 2008
Messages
16,479
Location
UK - Ronaldo's House.
Only problem is:

d) He's not that good.
I think he is a good player, could become a top player but something atm is not working for him at United. But, i am awaiting a run of games from him and will wait until the end of season to make my judgement and even if not for us he could become a huge success for another top club imo.
 

Adebesi

Full Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2006
Messages
19,159
Location
Sanctity, like a cat, abhors filth.
I still think Nani has it in him to be a great player for us. Whatever is holding him back is in his head. Some people struggle with the pressure of expectation or competition to get in the team and something like that seems to be affecting Nani, who cant express the obvious talent he has for us for whatever reason. Maybe he will get over it though. If he does, lucky us. Though I am losing faith he can get past it. If he does move on I think he'll do well elsewhere.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.