08 Jun 2018 07:12:54
Was at the England game last night and I have to say Rashford was brilliant, always looking to beat his man, got one or two tricks up his sleeve and was head and shoulders above anyone else. Think he should start next week and if he falls by the wayside because of mourinho it would be a massive shame, you have one hell of a player on your hands.


1.) 08 Jun 2018
08 Jun 2018 07:18:41
Rashford has made more appearances under the Jose reign than any other player in the squad.


2.) 08 Jun 2018
08 Jun 2018 07:44:23
The question is who does he leave out. The obvious candidate is Sterling I suppose. Big call for big Gaz.


3.) 08 Jun 2018
08 Jun 2018 08:34:15
Sterling has had a great season but for whatever reason he hasn’t really performed while playing for England. I expect rashford has played his way into the starting line up. Great to see. Loftus cheek is another who should get a start too. Great talent.


4.) 08 Jun 2018
08 Jun 2018 08:44:46
There's a difference between 'made an appearance' and being 'made to appear'.

Rashford may have featured in many games, but he is like a scared rabbit for us. A young kid like him, Martial and many others don't need the baggage/ responsibility that is clearly thrown on them at our club currently, they can't handle it and Jose knows it. Rashford did give the ball away several times trying 'tricks', he would have been seriously rebuked the first time it happened by Jose and would have either been subbed or too afraid to try it again if this were him in a Utd shirt.

Our managers mentality is not suited to flamboyant, risky players under the age of 23. They are easy to scapegoat which I get the impression he likes to do in order to vent his frustrations and transfer blame. These young, fragile characters don't typically have the ear of the other players, or lack a real presence in the dressing room. Meanwhile superstars like Zlatan and Pogba can do anything they want without fear of reprisal, this is noted and undoubtedly envied by the likes of Martial and Rashford and they don't seem to have the strength of character to overcome it, merely sulk or sink further into their shell. Some will argue that they are paid to do a job and should do better when given the chance, others will argue that they should be managed better to get the most from their obvious talent more consistently.

Watching Rashford last night (albeit against Costa Rica) was like watching Depay against Bruges. Kids back on the school playground, enjoying the game without the fear of the PE teacher coming and stopping their fun. It's what we all want to see of course, but a manager like Jose I imagine will have been cursing the screen at times and will have been desperately trying to get message to Southgate not to corrupt his robot further. Maybe there is a longer term plan for Rashford, you have to break him to really make him - who knows!

This isn't anti-Jose btw, there is a reason he prefers the older players and he can trust them more in his mind (despite their very hit and miss performances) . Loose cannons are great when they work, but often they don't and Jose plays each game so close to the bone that one miss-fire and we could lose 2-3 points. For us to see the best of Rashford we need to say goodbye to Jose I fear - but Rashford is far too hit and miss to be relied upon and one good game against very poor opposition does not make Jose wrong about him.


5.) 08 Jun 2018
08 Jun 2018 09:21:39
Should of explained myself better, i meant if you purchase players in the forward positions limiting his game time.

I should also clarify i don't watch utd wewk in week out so only have this game and highlights to go off.

I just think the boy oozes class and if nurtured correctly could be a brilliant player.


6.) 08 Jun 2018
08 Jun 2018 10:35:47
Beast. I agree with your assessment. Rashford was brilliant last night. But he tried to dribble a couple of times and it didn't work, and i fear that Mourinho would have substituted him for doing that. In my opinion, we play far too cautiously.
We have to allow the flair and creative players to express themselves. Its the way to create chances and score goals. And goals win matches.
Rashford losing the ball near the opposition goal will not normally result in us losing a goal, but Jones, smalling and our midfield misplacing passes and not pressing hard will. And that's where i disagree with Mourinho's philosophy completely.
I hope Rashford is allowed to play freely for England and show what he's capable of.


7.) 08 Jun 2018
08 Jun 2018 10:43:34
Park, but then does he leave out lingard or Ali?

Crikey Beast, can we just forget about our miserable sod of a manager for a few weeks and enjoy the world Cup and the build up.

Don't worry about next season. Everything is going to be amazing and we're going to play scintillating football once Jose completes his fifth transfer window and finishes bulding the team he wants.


8.) 08 Jun 2018
08 Jun 2018 10:57:55
MancMan it’s a tough one. On form you would possibly say leave alli out. Surprisingly there are some decent options in the forward positions with Kane, Vardy, rashford for striker/ second striker and alli, Lingard, loftus cheek for no 10/ attacking mid. Add sterling in the mix and not bad. Problem is central midfield. Thought Henderson was good yesterday but still lack somebody to control the tempo. Buzzing for the World Cup.


9.) 08 Jun 2018
08 Jun 2018 11:00:56
MancMan - It just frustrates me when other club fans come on praising our players like it's some epiphany, saying stuff like 'you have one hell of a player on your hands'. No, England have one hell of a player, we COULD have! I hear it all the time about Depay now, before he signed he was going to be the next Ronaldo. Now he has left he is going to be the next Ronaldo. Martial it will be the same if he joins Spurs, etc.

As AAA says above, if only the shackles were released and our players could show their stuff for their club. It's not just their shackles it's the whole team, to create space and commit defenders you need midfield and full back runners, something we lack massively. Great for England, but only highlights what we miss out on as a club as well.


10.) 08 Jun 2018
08 Jun 2018 11:07:45
Think you are spot on beast. Arguably we have a better squad than England and if the tactics are changed and the shackles released, we will blow teams aware. I share your frustration in this area. We do have some very good attacking players who should be tearing this league up. Very frustrating.


11.) 08 Jun 2018
08 Jun 2018 11:20:05
I don't care if he loses the ball 9 times out of ten when he's going at defenders. That's the risk with forwards. All it takes is them to get through once.


12.) 08 Jun 2018
08 Jun 2018 11:59:56
Does the Same apply to Sanchez Nou? He gives the ball away loads but is that down to trying things or is his retention just crap? If rashford is giving the ball away 9/ 10 I think fans would be on his back. Btw I do agree with you just asking the question.


13.) 08 Jun 2018
08 Jun 2018 12:04:59
Stevie, the problem is the one time he will go through, he will hit the goal keeper or miss the gaping goal. Not great for the Ultra Talented Superstar we have on our hands.


14.) 08 Jun 2018
08 Jun 2018 12:14:50
Beast good post, right on the money .
Park I think 99 was talking metaphorically I sure u get his point.


15.) 08 Jun 2018
08 Jun 2018 12:35:39
Yeah, I wasn't referring to him in particular, just the way I like my forwards to approach things. I don't think i would get on any forwards back for trying things and it not coming off. Like I said, it'll not come off every time, but the defender knows he has to be spot on every time, the forward only has to get through once.


16.) 08 Jun 2018
08 Jun 2018 12:46:18
I know jred just asking the question. Nou I agree I want our forwards to feel they have the freedom to try things without the fear of getting subbed etc. Last night showed the importance of balance in the side especially in the full back areas. Think 2 new full backs will do us the world of good. Not expecting gung ho attacking football, but an overlapping left back will provide balance and attacking threat.


17.) 08 Jun 2018
08 Jun 2018 13:28:52
A friendly against CR is very different to the EFL. Let's see how Rashford does against sterner opposition.

He did have a difficult and frustrating season for United. He dribbled too much, and his passing, link up play and awareness were frequently poor. I often thought he was trying too hard. Separate from the question of whether Mourinho is responsible for the apparent decline, I thought he was treated fairly on the basis of his performances. Both Sanchez and Pogba were dropped for various games.


18.) 08 Jun 2018
08 Jun 2018 15:42:01
Park, its amazing that we are talking about the England team in these terms. With our supposedly crap squad we now have selection headaches. Fantastic! I admire how Southgate has gone about his business and devised a system which suits the players he has. I don't have a preference for rashford/ sterling or two from Lingard, Ali, Loftus Cheek. I also don't mind whether he picks Henderson or Dier. Mainly I trust Southgate to assess and choose who he thinks will work best because I think he's done a pretty good job of that up to now.

Beast, I agree with your post about Rashford and the wider implications for the team but I also agree with Shawthing who says that Rashford has been treated fairly by Mourinho. Rashford does need to make better decisions on the pitch.

My theory on Mourinho is that we give him the opportunity to come good with all the time and money he wants. He either does the business or him and his supporters (including those on this site) will have been given all the rope they need. Either way it's a win win.