What you want is one thing. But if fate has decide for you. If its already written in the stars. Dont go against it. Your fate and destiny is CF boy.
We dont always get what we want. When thing comes as less expected. Meant to happen. Yeah follow it.
Martial was injury during warm up. LVG decided or he had only really good option up front. LVG put and play Rashford as CF.
Rashford scoring both goals inside the box. And when its meant to happen that way. Martial injury and you got the chance as CF. The ball will come and find the way to you. And you will be at the right place and right time for the ball. He had that "right time at right place ability" Like United legend Ole champion league goal against Bayern. If it meant to happen. The ball will come to you.
But back to Rashford 2022. For i have always disagree with Ole and Ragnick picking and playing Rashford as Left and right winger. And throwing him around. Not specialize him as his starting career match as CF, be most of the inside the box. We can be best on all roles and postions. My philosophy and prefer have always been. Best peoples and players for specific roles and positions. If you want RW or LW. Go and get the best and natural Wingers/wide players.
And after Lukaku was leaving. United and Ole prefer experience, but CF in Ighalo, Cavani, Ronaldo and Martial who is lacking that killer instinct and straight shoot strikers. All those years. With not success. United could specialize and developt Rashford to a 100 % CF like Vardy and Lewandoski. Both had play as CF in theirs whole careers. Theirs get the chance to practise and specialize as CF. Then naturally it will rise your killer instict and sharpness infront of goals. Because practising you get during match days are crucial. More natural set up then training sessons.
Nothing to hide or to defend. His isolation and individual performances hasnt been good and consistent. But i can show it back to history. If the collective is poor and collapsing. Then the poor collective team playing will affect invidual performances too.
And it has been went back to Ole last two years. Before Bruno came and LVG period where All of Rooney, Falcao, Di Maria, Martial and Rashford were struggling. Clearly the biggest reasons of United attacking struggling were due to collective build up of the attack. The collective team playing. United were in a poor period. United ship were out of direction and sinking. It does affect invidual performaces too. Special if the goal and direction of that ship are winning the league or get top 4.
And the collective team playing. This responsibility is down most to the manager/head coach. The team he set up. The combination and relations between the players.
Both Ole set up McFred in most of theirs games. Even they had other options. Both went for save and counter attack set up.
And for me personally. If you set up for counter attack. Not going out there to playing on the front foot. Try to dominate and control the ball and match from beginning. I read and rate it as underdog mentally team and club. You know your opponents teams are better than you. Then you set up to counter. So its clearly underdogs mentality and defensive mindset. Opposite of playing on the front foot like Pep, Klopp and Bayern.
So looking at the bigger picture. Only limit at the ground perspective. Not taking all the club structure like owner and CEO and Dof.
The managers Ole and Ralf have to take the big blames for it. Ole definitely said he will play UNited way and on the front foot in the beginning. But when things get tougher and harder. Ole became safer, took lesser risk and go for safe bet and choices like McFred most of the time Pobga as LW.
And with my United squad analizing. Ralf hasnt play the United best XI yet and he hasnt get the best out of his squad. Why? Reason are here.
Like i said. I believe more in relations and reasons that lead to big chances and goals. Not only at the end product which is goals. The mind, creative, build up and consistent top service United attacking players will get.
Then like Ole. Safe CM duo choices. Which many fans have experience, react and believe they are not good enough to win the league and hard to get top 4 with that CM duo.
Like against Watford. McFred duo when United could go for Pobga there instead. Against second bottom team at home. Why was United so defensive and safe go into the match with that line up?
And to get the best out of United squad. Personally for me. I believe this is United best XI. 442
Bissaka - Varane - Jones - Shaw + Sancho - Bruno/Pobga - McFred - Martial/Rashford + Rashford/Bruno - Ronaldo/Cavani.
I disagree like against Ole. Safe choice and decision line up. He has to trust Pobga as nr.8. Motivate him, give and boost his confidence. Not by using him as LW, as nr.10. Then Pobga like Rashford from Left to right winger. "Where are i best at?The manager use and throw me around. To find the best XI.
If not trusting Pobga. Then you have an alternative and another option. Bruno down as the creative and offensive nr.8. Then go with 2 CF upfront.
And a hint. United upcoming left winger in Garnacho from the United u23. I think he is more clinical than Sancho as left winger. Garnacho is a left winger with a more natural goalscoring ability. Get his first up call with Argentina. And for the benefit of the team. United need the best and most natural RW as RW. And its Sancho. Sancho one on one ability is a lot better than Rashford and i think Sancho crosser from the right is more precise than Dalot and Rashford.
Sancho for the benefit of team shall play as RW. Sancho as left winger doesnt have the pace and top speed to receive trough ball and to come alone with the goalkeeper. Rashford does has the top acceleration, eplosiveness and top speed to receive trough ball against opponents high back line like City and Liverpool.
So with addition with the more clinical left winger and attacking player Garnacho. Line up could be like this:
Sancho - Bruno/Pobga - McFred - Rashford/Garnacho + Bruno/Lingard/Rashford + Ronaldo/Cavani/Rashford
Those are United best XI line up. In my mind. Reason i disagree and believe both Ole and Ralf havent get the best out of United squad. Under achievement and havent start and give United best XI line up to gel over a long period of matches. To let them understand and gel them into a unit strong collective.
Nr.8 has to be the team most offensive and most creative player. On a consistent level. The mind and creative of them. Every strong and good attacking team start from it. Then you build on it. With others strong reasons, puzzles and positions. Get the best ingredients for each positions. And with all the best ingredients for each postions. Together and combine. It will lead to the end product, result and the bigger picture. A strong, good, dominate and consistent collective unit. A strong United.
I believe in interdepence. Strong and good relations between units of a team. Together it will build a strong collective. Not only blame on on player. The collective playing of United is so poor. Compare to the best teams.