14 Nov 2017 06:03:08
Ed001 if you have time, I would like to have your opinion on Mikitaryan.

We signed him after a terrific season with Dortmund, but he has never performed to that level here.

As other posters suggest do you think Pogba not being available directly affects his performance? Will he improve when Pogba is back?
Jose seems to trust him completely. There seems to be no competition for him at that position from the squad and also seems like we are not looking for a central playmaker in the market.

Ed001 please enlighten us with your view on him. Fellow posters also welcome.

{Ed001's Note - I expect he will improve, if he is in the team, with the return of Pogba but I am not convinced by him at all. He has pace and decent technical ability but I find him a tad brainless. I never rated him at Dortmund to be honest. He is very reliant on other players creating space for him as he does not make good runs or show clever movement. I think he was a poor buy and will end up being sold as a disappointment to be perfectly honest.

By the way, he also is not the best trainer and does not like to be told what to do on the pitch, he wants to just play off the cuff and do what he wants. So I am very surprised he has lasted this long with Mourinho, who likes his players to play in a very structured system. He moaned a lot at Dortmund about being stifled because Klopp wanted him to work back and press and make effort off the ball. Seemed a strange buy to me.}


1.) 14 Nov 2017
14 Nov 2017 09:20:50
To be fair to him ed (and I’m one of his biggest critics) last season he did put a defensive shift in when he played out wide, which is why he had some poor games towards end of last season. However I see what you mean with everything else and I think we should get rid it him.
Also on a side note, have you heard anything about Angel gomes and his contract talks?
Caolan.

{Ed001's Note - I haven't, I know he has been made aware of other possibilities if he cannot agree a deal with United, but I have no idea if he has any interest in moving or not.}


2.) 14 Nov 2017
14 Nov 2017 09:31:20
Fully agree with the Ed. A good player in patches.

I think we desperately lack a big game, match-winning playmaker of the likes of hazard, kdb, coutinho. We have two decent but very limited number 10s in Miki and Mata, who are far from the required standard. Random deas of playing Lingard or ibra there are absurd.

We've got a good no. 6 and 8 in matic and pogba but lack a real genius to unlock the door or score from notbing in the big games. Trouble is there ain't many of those about and if they are, they're either unavailable or extortionate.
Would be interested in the Ed's thoughts on this.

I also have a big concern around Lukaku who, apart from not being that great a footballer, i genuinely think is the wrong type of striker for our team.


3.) 14 Nov 2017
14 Nov 2017 09:37:33
Thanks Ed!

{Ed001's Note - pleasure mate.}


4.) 14 Nov 2017
14 Nov 2017 09:45:37
Rave I th8nk we are being a bit harsh on lukkaku. if we had 2 decent wide players he would score more.
I'd wait till the end of the season to judge him and I think he will bang in a good few goals for us the rest of the season.


5.) 14 Nov 2017
14 Nov 2017 12:31:30
Leahy yep that probably sounded harsh but your point around a lack of 2 decent wide men (which is absolutely right by the way) is why I say he's the wrong type of striker for us.

Many people say wingers is the 'United way', but how many years, players, managers and styles have passed since we played with two genuine wingers. For me it's an old style of play and one for the lesser teams to just get balls into the box for a big striker (with lesser teams set up to deal with that too) . Which is why I've also said a couple of times he got the right type of service at Everton (and probably wba too) for his style of play, which he mightn't get at a more sophisticated team (in theory! ) like United, where strikers need more individual ability, finesse and ability to link plays.

What is notable for me is that although he's first choice for Belgium, a top class national team, when his coach Thierry Henry talks about him on sky he doesn't seem convinced either.


6.) 14 Nov 2017
14 Nov 2017 12:49:40
He puts the ball in the net, when he plays well United play well .
Same goes for Belgium, good footballing side lukaku us there all time top scorer .
He is an on the shoulder striker doesn't have to be a cross .
Still only 24 as well.


7.) 14 Nov 2017
14 Nov 2017 13:04:22
Agree jred but a few good crosses would net him a few more goals per season.


8.) 14 Nov 2017
14 Nov 2017 13:31:46
Obviously lukaku is a very good striker. All strikers go through a Lean patch. The concern for me in tje last half dizen games is not that be is not scoring but that we are not creating enough chances as a team. Lukaku is not missing loads of chances. There has been a real lack of creativity. Poor crosses poor final balls and rash and martial running up to many cul de sacs.
Hopfully pogba can help bring out the early season form of these guys when he returns.
That said players have not played well recently and they do need to take responsibility. I don't see anybody hiding just not enough good play.


9.) 14 Nov 2017
14 Nov 2017 14:14:28
Thanks for your time and reply Ed001!

I remember one of you Eds constantly saying he comes with a lot of baggage at the time of purchase.

I am really confused why would have Mourinho wanted him in the first place like you have mentioned.

His good performance is very rare but when he does it is really great to watch. Hopefully he improves.

Just another question, as you have mentioned there is obviously a problems with him but why is Jose not looking at other options in market? May be we have other priority positions to be addressed?

{Ed001's Note - that was Ed002 saying that, I do agree totally with what he said, he has an attitude problem. Jose wanted to play Pogba in that sort of position, hence looking to build elsewhere, particularly wide areas, to allow Pogba space in midfield to attack.}


10.) 14 Nov 2017
14 Nov 2017 14:16:30
Leah
Cross a good through ball all the same .

Don't think lukaku has looked the same since he got Injured to be honest.


11.) 14 Nov 2017
14 Nov 2017 14:24:51
He scored 2 for Belgium the other night so hopefully he has found a but if form .
18th this season for club and country.


12.) 14 Nov 2017
14 Nov 2017 15:38:01
Jred you don't think lukkaku looks the same since he got injured.
Ten minutes later you think he hit form.
What side of the fence you on jred.
Jred I bet the front door of your house is around the back.


13.) 14 Nov 2017
14 Nov 2017 17:02:03
Leahy
I didn't see Belgium's game pal .
If you notice I said" hopefully" he Has found a bit of form .


14.) 14 Nov 2017
14 Nov 2017 22:39:53
Wingers with pace and creativity are outdated? REALLY? You mean you wouldn't take Hazard from Chelsea!? In my opinion he is exactly the type of player we need. Basically he is a winger but one who is talented enough and intelligent enough to come inside when possible. He creates plenty of goals creates space for others and scores a few himself. Just what we need.


15.) 15 Nov 2017
15 Nov 2017 04:15:18
Thanks for your views Ed001. Looking forward for your next article :)

{Ed001's Note - cheers mate, it is Pele next. I just took a short break from doing football stuff to do some stuff on basketball for a change. It was a nice change, but required a lot of research as I knew nothing about the Redeem Team and a lot less than I realised about Michael Jordan! But I am back to doing football stuff for a while now.}


16.) 15 Nov 2017
15 Nov 2017 11:29:16
Oh great Ed001! Pele it is then. I recently watched the movie about him, hope you give us more interesting read :)

Cheers! Keep the good works coming. Thanks again!

{Ed001's Note - not sure I can do anything as interesting as a film like but I will certainly try!}


17.) 15 Nov 2017
15 Nov 2017 13:07:44
Ed001 I'm available if your looking for someone to play pele.
I'm known as the cork pele. Lol.

{Ed001's Note - not what you usually get called on here!}


18.) 15 Nov 2017
15 Nov 2017 13:26:10
Lol ed, lucky I have thick skin.

{Ed001's Note - I have heard that said about, or at least something along those lines.}


19.) 15 Nov 2017
15 Nov 2017 14:13:19
Leahy is one of the good guys only has thick skin because it's always raining in cork its one of the reasons roy Keane was always so grumpy😂😂.


20.) 15 Nov 2017
15 Nov 2017 15:34:04
Not too bad here Ken, when it rains in cork it's uasually warm rain.
A police man pulled me one day when it was raining, aren't you stupid to be speeding in the rain. Well I said it's dry in my car your the stupid one out there in the rain.