17 Aug 2016 15:18:02
GDS2 - I am not on the fence when it comes to Zlatan. I am simply watching from the stands to see how the team will materialise with him as the main striker. Could he be a huge success? Certainly. Could he potentially hold the team back? Possibly.

When I look at the first 11 will it work with Rooney and Zlatan? Add Mata in there and that is three players not exactly screaming gold in the pace the department. We also have to factor Pogba into the team who is not as active defensively as other midfielders and with the full backs pushing forward it is paramount that we try to win the ball up the top end of the pitch as much as possible. Will Zlatan chase down every ball?

Like everyone else I am a fan of what Zlatan can do. I don't believe the fanboy hype that some posters on here do but he is a good player. Zlatan for me created an image of himself as a greater footballer than what he is or has been. Hopefully Jose knows what he is doing and it all works out well. For me I would have liked Martial as the focal point of the attack this season as he has both power and pace to be a real handful.

Time will tell I suppose.


1.) 17 Aug 2016
17 Aug 2016 15:37:28
Maze, I am not going to going to get into a huge debate with you over Martial but I see people talking about Martial as the central striker and I don't understand why people think he would be better off there than where he plays out on the left?

Henry used to drift to the left to receive the ball and that is where he would do the most damage from when he can isolate the full back in a 1 v 1 situation.

Last season Martial had a couple of games as the central striker and was not as effective as when he was out left, if anything, he never really got into the game. Martial is the type of player, IMO, who needs the ball to his feet to face up the full back 1 v 1 and through this, will drag others across to double up on him creating space for other attackers. I think Martial's goal v Liverpool is exactly what Martial is all about and where he will cause the most problems.


2.) 17 Aug 2016
17 Aug 2016 15:38:04
I agree pace is lacking with Mata, Rooney and Zlatan, but I really think that with Pogba, Martial, Mikkie and Herrera we have further options that weren't possible in the last 3 years, The former players have undoubtedly the ability to score pace or no pace but with the introduction of pp and mikkie we have pace that can come through late or overlap. Add in rashford and Martial and that can create all kinds of combinations to get goals. Agree Maze with the last "time will tell" but early days as we know but it is good to feel optimistic rather than disillusioned by style, performance and results of the last few seasons.


3.) 17 Aug 2016
17 Aug 2016 15:38:48
Shock, horror! JMB, you may need to sit down for a minute here, but I agree with most of that.
Zlatan is a good player, capable of doing brilliant things. But Zlatan will please Zlatan. When it comes to work rate he is no Rooney or Tevez.
I would love to see Martial up top, playing off Zlatan. I think they would complement each other very well.
I think Rooney and Zlatan are too similar in so much that they both want to drop deep. I think one or the other should play, with a quick forward running off him and getting in behind the defence and working the channels.
Just my opinion though.


4.) 17 Aug 2016
17 Aug 2016 16:28:34
Rooney playing at number 9 - not an option due to Zlatan.
Playing at 10 - better options in Mhkitaryan, Mata or even Pogba.
Playing in midfield - Jose already said it won't happen and despite the occasional Hollywood pass his ball retention and short passing is awful.

Zlatan is Rooney's replacement in the first team as I see it. I'm not sure it will work with them both in same side. Yes Zlatan isn't pacey. Was Cantona? Sheringham? No but they were intelligent players who brought others into the game. Zlatan up top with pace down either wing from Martial and Rashford, ably supported by Mhkitaryan pulling the offensive strings is surely how we'd like up, ie without Rooney.

But then there's the small matter of the most expensive player in world football and where he plays. Clearly the team will be built around Pogba. But as 4231? 433? Fascinating season ahead but one in which Rooney will surely have a lesser role now.


5.) 17 Aug 2016
17 Aug 2016 16:48:45
i wonder why miki isn't making the first 11.


6.) 17 Aug 2016
17 Aug 2016 16:51:59
Maybe he's being given time to gradually get used to the PL.


7.) 17 Aug 2016
17 Aug 2016 16:56:27
For once i agree with u maze atleast to some extent, Zlatan is our best forward, he has maintained a ratio of a goal every 2 games in league games since 2006, martial is not ready to be the no 9 on his own yet, him being on the wing gives him a bit of leeway to have off days especially now with zlatan mkhitaryan and pogba in the team. Zlatan is not a rooney or a tevez but he brings to our game what rooney lacks, zlatan could have had an assist to add to his goal but for rooney's worldclass finishing, he has lot more phyical presence than either rashford or martial, add to that he has great first touch and vision both of which rooney lacks. Work rate means zilch unless u are able to do your primary job.


Zlatan, rooney and mata combo will not work, but don't think it will last much, mkhitaryan will mostly replace mata when jose thinks he is ready and at risk attracting jred to another bout of rooney defense exercises, hopefully jose has the balls to drop rooney when the bad performances start because if he does, rooney's performances by december will take care of his position in the team, which will mean we might have to go to a 4-3-3 or maybe 4-2-3-1 with mkhitaryan as no 10 and lingard as rw. That is a team which would have lot of pace .


8.) 17 Aug 2016
17 Aug 2016 16:59:14
Zlatan was superb against Bournemouth. Also you mentioned Mata and Rooney, all three scored against Bournemouth.
I don't think Zlatan is the problem, Rooney is the problem. He's way off the pace. He got played in three times against Bournemouth and was found wanting every time. Get Rooney off and play pogba there and you might see a much better balance. Also, I'll play rashford on the right.
As for Martial, he's not a central striker. He wants to be, but he's not. The games he played centrally heated was awful. He's also not doing it at present as his mind seems to be preoccupied somewhere else. I think mourinho will drop him if his performances don't improve.


9.) 17 Aug 2016
17 Aug 2016 17:00:08
10 minutes at a time.


10.) 17 Aug 2016
17 Aug 2016 17:00:56
I think Mourinho is being careful before throwing Micky in the deep end.

He is maybe thinking at what happened to Depay last year for starting too early or it could also be because of lingard and Mata being in form at the moment.


11.) 17 Aug 2016
17 Aug 2016 17:15:16
i don't think any of the front 4 played well on sunday . first game of the season etc.
ibra had 65% pass c/ p which is woeful but can do no wrong .
rooney could of had 3 and if it wasnt first game of the season probably would off.

but at the end of the day its the first game, new manager new players it takes time .
that said allready people are moaning .
just wait until the wig tony or rash have a average game, we will be straight back to, not united quality.

good start imo but some are never happy.


12.) 17 Aug 2016
17 Aug 2016 17:16:58
word is miky is not fit .
never played the last 2 friendlies either.


13.) 17 Aug 2016
17 Aug 2016 17:34:47
while i agree jred that none of the front 4 looked good, only 1 looked unfit and that wasn't martial, zlatan or mata.


14.) 17 Aug 2016
17 Aug 2016 17:39:46
common
change the tune its boring .
you will be calling him for raising money for charity next .


15.) 17 Aug 2016
17 Aug 2016 17:49:23
i don't need to jred bcz he didn't, utd did that for him. Maybe u should tell rooney to change his tune, bcz rooney being unfit for early part of the season is a recurring phenomenon for at least 3-4 years now.


16.) 17 Aug 2016
17 Aug 2016 17:59:25
common
first game of the season none of the front 4 looked that sharp but got 3 goals .
early days i don't see the issue but like a stuck record your moaning .
i don't think rooney looked that unfit nor did mata or ibra .

rooney testimonial was only part of the 5 mil his foundation is trying to raise .
the fact you are still kicking of about anyone making money for charity says volumes .


17.) 17 Aug 2016
17 Aug 2016 18:17:03
u started the whole charity thing jred, and mata or ibra did not look great but neither looked unfit, rooney looked unfit to me only positive would have been it was not as bad as the shield match where he looked like he was done physically after 25-30 min mark, and as i said this is not a one time thing with rooney.


18.) 17 Aug 2016
17 Aug 2016 18:34:05
com
if you can't give a little bit of credit for charity work your opinion on a football performance may be clouded .
i think your talking crap pal .
jose wouldn't pick a player who was done physically after 25 munutes .

first game of the season, good win, 3 goals, new manager, new tactics same old common.


19.) 17 Aug 2016
17 Aug 2016 19:05:33
Do you think Rooney had a good game jred?


20.) 17 Aug 2016
17 Aug 2016 19:12:21
Ports is absolutely on the money there.


21.) 17 Aug 2016
17 Aug 2016 19:14:54
Rashfrd on he right is a must! And miki once acclimatised over any other option.


22.) 17 Aug 2016
17 Aug 2016 19:40:36
Angle
As I have said a few times, in fact even in the post above I don't think any of the front 4 did .
But it was the first game and 3 of them got a goal.
But I think all 4 where average, of course people judge Rooney different .
Like the posters above do you think ibra was superb?
How do you think Mata and martial played?


23.) 17 Aug 2016
17 Aug 2016 19:50:06
By the way I also thought martial ibra and Rooney where average in the charity shield, but again it's early days New tactic etc it takes time .

But at the end of the day its 2 games 5 goals and 2 wins .

Still got the same people moaning regardless, minds are made up before a ball is kicked.


24.) 17 Aug 2016
17 Aug 2016 20:49:42
Yeah early days yet. I think all of the front 4 were average.

I understand your frustration that you think Rooney gets judged differently, but I think that's down to the past number of seasons where he hasn't really been great. That being said, he might very well turn that on its head this season with Jose in charge.

I would like to see him be more alert, quicker on the ball. There were times where the three of ibra, mata and martial moved the ball about quick smart, it then fell to Rooney and the play fell flat again. It's almost like the zip in his play has gone altogether. That's the story of his play the last number of years, lost that zip that made him sometimes unplayable.

Like I said, hopefully Jose gets the best out of him. I am not Rooneys biggest fan but he deserves the benefit of the doubt.


25.) 17 Aug 2016
17 Aug 2016 21:16:39
Anglered
He was our second highest scorer last year, and is there or there about every year .
Which players where great?
Rooney is just another player imo to others he seems to be our only player.

There is no doubt he is judged different, like I have said before it the double standards that get me .

I thought linders was a bright spark of last season but got told all year he was not United quality, the wig could do no right (good player in a good Belgium squad )
2 week ago Tony was never a rb.
A good few on here have made there mind up before a ball has been kicked.


26.) 17 Aug 2016
17 Aug 2016 21:48:24
What happened to fresh season fresh start and giving all the players a chance? 😃

Rooney will have to prove himself this season but its far too early to judge. Martial starting to get some negativity too, he's a 20yr old who is bound to go through patchy form. His form since the end of last season has been average by his early standards but he still has his moments and I thought he grew into the game on Sunday after a poor start. His early form means he has plenty of credit in the bank Imo.

We have plenty of depth this season which is good because Jose can rotate if players are in poor form, that's his job. Like jred, I was happy with our first game and wasn't expecting everyone to be on fire so early on.


27.) 17 Aug 2016
17 Aug 2016 22:23:42
Hb
Fresh season fresh start.
Thumbs up.


28.) 18 Aug 2016
18 Aug 2016 00:53:34
I wouldn't judge any of our players on the last few season's performances. Let's see them when they're not scared sh1tless at losing possession, and not playing in a tactical and positional straight jacket. And that includes my old mucker, Wayne.

Agree with you Jred. I've always tried to stick up for Fellaini and Valencia, against some on here. The same ones now telling me how good they're playing.

Amazing what happens when you get a manager who knows what they're doing.


29.) 18 Aug 2016
18 Aug 2016 08:24:15
HB this fresh season fresh start is what led us to our demise in post saf period, cleverley, anderson, nani, welbeck, had we discarded them early enough and replaced them with better quality rather than waiting for them to come good season after season, we might not have finished 7th in moyes season, in which while moyes was proved inept same can be said about many players as they were found to be average and not utd quality.


30.) 18 Aug 2016
18 Aug 2016 09:06:13
I still don't think Fellaini, Valencia and Rooney are United class anymore but wig had a good game Sunday, Toni is having a succession of good games and Rooney did as well as anyone else Sunday but it's more about how he's underperformed the last few years rather then people's minds are made up before a ball is kicked, he reached great heights and has declined whereas the other two have always been debated are they United quality. So as you'll see I'm consistent, I'll praise when it's due, I'll support everyone in that squad after deadline day but that still doesn't mean I think the above 3 players should be anything more than squad players at this club now if they stay, here's hoping Toni V can carry his form on, that Fellaini in a new style of play can impose himself ala Everton more and that Rooney can rediscover his form and ram my words down my throat.


31.) 18 Aug 2016
18 Aug 2016 10:00:26
Csm, I was referring to the posts the other day about us poster's giving the players in the squad a fresh start after the miserable last couple of years. Nothing to do with keeping players who aren't good enough - that's down to the manager to decide, not us fans. Just thought it was funny that after 1 game where hardly anyone is at full fitness, people are making definitive judgements again.


32.) 18 Aug 2016
18 Aug 2016 10:30:00
Isn't it the same issue HB, let him play a few games, he isn't at peak fitness, he is going through a bad patch. These are excuses to me, i agree to certain extent that this team will take time yo gel, new players new coach etc. But what about what we saw from the players for last few seasons, rooney has been average, same with valencia same is the case with jones, young, rojo, felliani. A few good games doesn’t change that, it is time we accept it, Felliani, rooney, lingard is nani all over again, yes they will have a few good performances but what about the dross they will serve up for most of the season. When do we say u aren't good enough to start or u should be sold. Say jose fails, will it be another year where it is not players fault so let the new manager give them another chance.


33.) 18 Aug 2016
18 Aug 2016 12:26:48
But we as fans can't change the team selection anyway, that's Jose's job. I don't think the likes Cleverly etc got game time because of what the fans think? It was fergy's decision. I was just making the point that it was said on here recently that the players deserve a fresh chance under Jose (from us fans) because things were so bad across the board for the last few years that its unfair to write the players off based on that. Each to their own I guess.

I too have reservations over some of those players. I have worried about Tony's defensive ability and attacking prowess but there's no doubting he has pace and power - which suits a Jose team. And the early signs are that he's been a little more effective at both ends. Jose is a top manager and if he thinks he's the right pick I'm willing to give him a chance.

Rooney frustrates me at times as much as the next guy, those heavy touches particularly. My main concern is that he and Zlatan lack pace and mobility between them. But again i'm happy yo give them a chance and happy to give Jose a chance to make changes if he deems it necessary. We gave lots of options which is great.

We're only one game in, we played OK and won. Good starting point for me and a fresh start this season 😊.


34.) 18 Aug 2016
18 Aug 2016 14:21:11
I know we chatting here has no impact on jose, and as i have said earlier if we don't discuss something bcz we have no say, then there is no point havng a banter site as fans have no say in any thing. Also the they will come good attitude started with fergie, i feel he got soft towards the end. A younger sir alex would have replaced them long ago. It was like he wanted to force them into being good enough through his sheer will. Well hopefully fresh start as jose means is to forget last 3 years and we start where we ended all comes good and we win the title come end of the season.


35.) 18 Aug 2016
18 Aug 2016 15:13:49
I do agree with a lot of that tbf, csm.