It won't be close to his best position, but i'd rather see Kagawa play the Left winger drifting in role that Welbeck is struggling at, when required.
He could have been at Bradley's level if it weren't for Nigel DeJong...belongs at a Newcastle/Everton level imo. Not necessarily this weeknds version of those teams.
that is relying on fullbacks too much or going through middle with one touch passing football which I dont think Rooney can be consistently part of.
Danny on the left hasn't been bad. He's worked hard, beat his man and come close to scoring, but he just hasn't been able to find the net. I think Danny in that role with Kagawa in the hole and Nani on the right would be a lot more dangerous because of the interplay that could happen. With Rooney in the hole, the ball sticks a little more.
It's nice to discuss all these potential formations but the defensive line, tempo and degree of pressing are all serious concerns. We can play our very best formation and players yet be totally undone by wide open gaps left all over the pitch by a deep line and high attack. Our players play too far apart from each other at times and that's something that has to change.
I am not a fan of any formation or team if it doesnt contain atleast couple of players who are able to take on players, create space and make the opposition panic and that is one element we have totally been missing.
Jeez, i never compared Nani to Navas and i'm not really even interested in that comparison. Don't get why the hell you are bringing that in ? As i said Nani if he does, will go because of his behavior..... Secondly, If Navas is better than Valencia than he'll be a pretty good signing at a reasonable price. You can't compare him to Nani based on Productivity and then Ignore Valencia's as per your convenience. And finally , as good a player he is our team doesn't revolve around Nani by a log distance.
The one touch passing football, with consistent fit defenders and energy and pressing in midfield is low risk. Against most teams, we will create 2 to 3 good chances and it will be down to our two big name strikers to bag those chances.
How is spending 20 m odd and wages on a player who is 26ish and have a fear of leaving his home town and never played in the league? Who was the last player we got of this sort? Hargreaves was it? Navas is very unlikely to find EPL very pleasant and it will be a massive waste so lets not waste whatever precious recourses we have. And should not we upgrading or equaling quality of our best player in each position or atleast potential to be better rather looking at someone who isnt good enough to start, atleast better than this. If we loose Nani and get Navas we are downgrading, what part of that are you not getting, Nani should be our benchmark not Valencia, no way Valencia. It was the same Young argument, for the squad etc etc, improve your first team and your squad gets better anyway.
Yes, he has except one game this season and was last season too, when he played there. Learn to call a spade a spade no matter how much you like the player. And Nani, Welbeck and Kagawa played those roles against Everton and sucked with all of them drifting in the same area. Though having said that i agree that those are Nani and Kagawa's best positions... (not welbeck's). Besides, i was woking on the assumption that with Rooney occupying the hole and doing better Kagawa needs to be accomodated somewhere else.
Kagawa has decent workrate, and it's not like Welbeck has been giving Valencia level of protection down the left either. Have also liked somewhat what Kagawa has done when played in that role for cameos so far in 2/3 games.
@Cevno Anyway, Navas wont be a target because of his physiology and psychology and age so useless to discuss him imo.
You are underrating Navas tbh. And Cazorla to Arsenal were similar circumstances, no ? (Except the mental problems) And with the way you rate Nani, we'll have to sign back Ronaldo to satisfy and even then some will probably be complaining.
Yeah, that's a major drawback for him and i mentioned it with the initial comment, though his condition has improved now.
Johno, even a narrow team needs players that can beat multiple defenders with the ball. Even Spain had Iniesta and Silva who are both very good dribblers (Iniesta being the best in the world). Christmas tree with kagawa and rooney is out of the question as well. Any narrow system we play needs a SS that roams that can dribble well.
Cazorla is way more physically and mentally capable player than Navas, also Malaga wasnt his only club and he is finding it tough after a bright start, and the age thing goes against him as well.
We've got a few bad habits that need correcting. 1. Forwards must begin the defending. A couple of the furthest forward have to stop the progress of the ball, even if temporarily, force the ball sideways or backwards on at least one pass. 2. Some kind of brain activity by our midfielders and fullbacks running back. Run into passing lanes when retreating, when not retreating, step up into passing lanes, put in tackles. 3. The shape we play obviously dictates how we defend. We could easily have Carrick sit very deep with the CBs spread wide to cover fullbacks. However if that is the case they cannot both go forward at once and hopefully, they'll hold halfway between the half line and the box. That would allow us to camp in the oppo half and press with fullbacks (Neville was a god at pressing in the opposition half and either slowing, stopping the counter or winning the ball) and our midfielders forcing either long passes that our CBs could cut out or very elaborate 1 touch play to go through us.
@Cevno We actually need twp, one to replace nani and one for LW, and I would have been pretty happy with Mata and hazard or even Moura as they have talent to be top players, we need marquee talents.
Unfortunately, Hazard would be a perfect player alongside Rooney in a christmas tree. As it stands a christmas tree with carrick, clev, ando (fletch maybe) rooney kagawa and rvp is our best hope in the CL. Try to remain defensively strong and hope the front 3 can make some magic.
