Rooney can't be dropped for Kagawa he brings too much to the table. Unfortunately Kagaw's skillset means he can only really shine as a no.10. I doubt he will ever play his best football here.
Shinji Kagawa
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So you'd stick Ozil out wide as well?
So you'd stick Ozil out wide as well?
Ozil and Kagawa have different skillsets. Ozil would be more effective but he wouldn't be at his best out wide. You don't pay 42 million for a player not to be at their best.
So you'd stick Ozil out wide as well?
Why is that any weirder than playing Rooney there?
Good post. The ideal tactical alternative, in my opinion, would be to use Kagawa at the tip of a 3 man midfield and use Rooney as an inside forward, similar to the role David Villa played at Barcelona. As long as the wide forwards, who could be any of Januzaj, Nani, Welbeck and Hernandez also, were making intelligent runs in behind defences instead of pulling out wide, I don't see why it would impact too negatively on their goal tallies. Infact, the goalscoring load would be shared and, theoretically, the use of a genuine #10 will allow for more creative football, thus more goals anyway. Simply saying "Rooney scores more goals" isn't much of an argument as far as I'm concerned. We've got Van Persie to do that, a player who doesn't get clear cut chances as it is.
That's just a nonsense anyway, if he played well on the wing, there would be reason to keep him there, and it would be used as a reason.
Judging from the tone of his response, he wouldn't play Ozil out wide. Presumably this is because there is agreement that Ozil is a much better #10 than Rooney.
Will probably get shot down for this (so why am i suggesting it?), as it may not get the most out of Rooney. But i think this might fix our current, most pressing problems, which is creativity and a sub-standard midfield, in the short run at least. Not my original idea of course as i've seen this posted elsewhere in the caf.
Valencia/Nani---Carrick---Rooney--Januzaj/Nani
----------------------Kagawa---------------------
------------------------RVP------------------------
Rooney has that ability to play in central midfield, and as he gets older the consensus is that he would be great as a scholes type midfielder.
This will allow us to get the best out of Kagawa while putting in a bit more solidity in midfield. Rooney of course needs to learn a bit more discipline but he's a smart footballer and surely would adapt in no time. He could also still contribute goals through long range shooting and arriving late in the box.
Maybe not best for Rooney's morale, but maybe the best option for the team as a whole? I'd rather have Carrick-Rooney, despite Rooney is not well tested at CM at the moment, compared to Carrick - Fellaini/Cleverly/Jones/Anderson. Its not the best solution as maybe a marquee midfield signing, but better than any other option perhaps?
Valencia/Nani---Carrick---Rooney--Januzaj/Nani
----------------------Kagawa---------------------
------------------------RVP------------------------
Rooney has that ability to play in central midfield, and as he gets older the consensus is that he would be great as a scholes type midfielder.
This will allow us to get the best out of Kagawa while putting in a bit more solidity in midfield. Rooney of course needs to learn a bit more discipline but he's a smart footballer and surely would adapt in no time. He could also still contribute goals through long range shooting and arriving late in the box.
Maybe not best for Rooney's morale, but maybe the best option for the team as a whole? I'd rather have Carrick-Rooney, despite Rooney is not well tested at CM at the moment, compared to Carrick - Fellaini/Cleverly/Jones/Anderson. Its not the best solution as maybe a marquee midfield signing, but better than any other option perhaps?
It's not all that far off what we done last season against Arsenal, when Rooney was tasked with man-marking Arteta. Disrupted their game completely, leaving the rest of United to do their own game.
Spent near all of the game deep in midfield, broke their attacks and helped Carrick run the show.
Spent near all of the game deep in midfield, broke their attacks and helped Carrick run the show.
Play a diamond formation to combat theiir midfield?
-------------defence--------------
--------------carrick-------------
-------fellaini----------cleverley--
---------------kagawa------------
-----------Rooney------RVP
Won't happen though.
-------------defence--------------
--------------carrick-------------
-------fellaini----------cleverley--
---------------kagawa------------
-----------Rooney------RVP
Won't happen though.
I think that'll be key tomorrow. Rooney will probably play in behind RVP so it's important that he keeps their deeper midfielders occupied.
Let's hope you're right.
We arent going to outplay them in the middle regardless of how many bodies we put there. The more sensible thing would be to exploit where they are weak and that's out wide specially with them playing CMs out wide. I'd much rather see 2 solid CMs supported by Rooney in the middle, RVP up top on his own and 2 wide players, Nani on the right and Januzaj on the left.
Yeah definitely, if we try to play a narrow game against them then that's giving them the upper foot. It's not our strong point atm. Using the wings has always done well for us against Arsenal.
Don't think there is any possibility of nani playing. It will be Valencia and januzaj in the wide positions
Yep, am pretty sure it will be Valencia out on the right. Was saying what I would rather see. I think we'l see less of the ball and will need players who can do well in tight spaces, hence my preference for Nani.
Interesting. Have to say my preference in this particular game is Valencia - simply down to pace and work rate.
I don't think we will see nani for a while
I dont see why that has to be the case at all. ITs not as if we're brimming with in form wingers anyways.
I agree with you but can't see him getting in next few weeks. We shall see
Nani isn't exactly sluggish either and arguably better at carrying the ball at full pelt. Work rate and defensive work counts for Valencia, but again, Nani is underrated there.
There should be no reason why we should not see Nani for a while. What has he done to deserve that?
None of our wingers have played well this season - with exception of januzaj. Nani has been equally as poor as Valencia (young is on a different level of shit). Just got a sneaking suspicion Nani won't get much of a kick next few weeks. Moyes is trying to find a setup that works so I think you'll see him settle on Valencia/Januzaj quite a lot over next few games
Fair enough that, but the fact that Young has been given game time even whilst playing, as you eloquently put it (and I mean that), on a different level of shit, then there should be no logic behind not playing Nani as he's been far superior to Young. That said, Valencia and Januzaj have been our best wingers thus far this season.
If Valencia starts a third game in a week then I'll be astonished. Only Rooney has had such a role this season. I'm convinced Valencia will be on the bench, as taking into account the way Moyes likes to rotate, he wouldn't have played on Wednesday if we were going to start him today. That's the Ferguson and Moyes logic.
I also don't agree with the line of thought that Nani, or Valencia, have been invidivually poor. Stoke aside, Nani has played well and created chances. As has Kagawa, none of which have been converted. Valencia has been strange in that he's been inconsistent. He's had great games like Leverkusen and Liverpool, then appalling games like City and another I can no longer think of the name. Individually, the majority of the lads have done well, which suggests that the problems and lack of goals have been down to the system rather than inherently bad play. And I think that is the case. This strange variation of what is essentially a 4222 has isolated our central midfielder and created a situation where by our wide men must pick up the ball, and then dribble 30 yards to even come close to our static forwards. More often than not it leads Nani into taking stupid shots and Valencia and Young turning around and passing it to the full back. We're expecting them to take on the world, particularly against deep-lying back lines.
Januzaj should be a cert today, but any of Val, Shinji or Nani is more than fine. I just don't expect it to be Valencia.
I also don't agree with the line of thought that Nani, or Valencia, have been invidivually poor. Stoke aside, Nani has played well and created chances. As has Kagawa, none of which have been converted. Valencia has been strange in that he's been inconsistent. He's had great games like Leverkusen and Liverpool, then appalling games like City and another I can no longer think of the name. Individually, the majority of the lads have done well, which suggests that the problems and lack of goals have been down to the system rather than inherently bad play. And I think that is the case. This strange variation of what is essentially a 4222 has isolated our central midfielder and created a situation where by our wide men must pick up the ball, and then dribble 30 yards to even come close to our static forwards. More often than not it leads Nani into taking stupid shots and Valencia and Young turning around and passing it to the full back. We're expecting them to take on the world, particularly against deep-lying back lines.
Januzaj should be a cert today, but any of Val, Shinji or Nani is more than fine. I just don't expect it to be Valencia.
Big shout to play him ahead of the more impressive Januzaj... important that he stands up and is counted for a change
Ffs. Better perform.
Delighted with this news.
He'll shut a few up today, I reckon.
He'll shut a few up today, I reckon.
This is a huge moment for him. He needs to play well today.
Vote of confidence today - lets hope he repays it. He's due a goal...
Moyes is showing he believes in him as a starter for a massive match, hopefully he uses this opportunity to start performing on a higher level.
I reckon Mad Winger is more nervous than Shinji right now.
Call me surprised. It's what 3 seasons of mindless rotation does to you.
Love him to death, but I'd be surprised if he stands out today. Out of all the things he's wonderful at, his stand-out strength is receiving the ball in that space between midfield and defence and then taking 0.01 seconds to put five gajillion questions into the defenders' heads as to whom he's going to play an utterly lethal pass to.
EDIT: Since we're talking Arsenal, I'd be less surprised than if it was against a "typical English team".
EDIT: Since we're talking Arsenal, I'd be less surprised than if it was against a "typical English team".
Bizarre post.
Aye, alright Shinji.
He's starting on the left. Mad Winger has his excuse ready.
I don't even know what that is supposed to mean.
True.
I can hear the knives being sharpened in case he doesn't have a great game.
Katanas and shurikens at the ready, sir.
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