Manchester United Goalscorers and Assisters 07/08 [R]

[holytoledo]

For big games like this I would prefer to keep him on the bench to unleash him in the second half.

Other than that though he has the attitude I love. He's always fighting, and you can tell when he gets the ball anywhere near the box he wants to get a shot off. Exciting talent.

[sab456]

Nani is a G. I love this kid. He's gonna be fire. He really took Fergie's hints when he was out of the side for that stretch, and he's answered in a great way. I think he's really close to making that LW spot his - if Giggsy was in form than it wouldn't be that close, but he's been average/good and Nani has managed to make contributions nearly every time he's stepped on the pitch recently.

FIYAHHHHH THE BOY IS FIYAHHH

He is also quite effective playing behind a striker.. Very impressed with him..

[johno]

Something that may go unnoticed and could certainly be forgotten in a few years time is how good Ronaldo was at freeing up and setting up teammates this year. With just 3 recorded assists and all the goals he's taken and all the shots he's taken to score them, one could see how some would call him a ball hog. Which he is, but he's also spread the ball around - however with woeful finishing by Rooney and Tevez in particular - many of the chances the lad has created have gone to waste.

[Vermont Red]

I agree, Johno. I'm not ready to say that his decision-making is always great especially later in games in which we need a goal, but he is getting better and better at recognizing open teammates. Imagine if he improves further in that aspect of his game.

[Joelzinho]

I always thought his 23 goals and 20 assist last season were rediculous.

[sdotsom]

Same here. As a midfielder myself, I almost take more pride in a great assist than a goal, and what Ronaldo did last season was impressive. I think his tally this season would be just as impressive if his teammates knew how to finish as well as he did. When he releases the ball these days, it's usually to good effect (as VR mentioned, his decision making is improving). People just aren't finishing off the chances.

[JC7rox]

rediculous.

Was this in tribute to johno?

[Rakim_22]

I almost cried celebrating.
Did you also fap yourself senseless? ;)

[Joelzinho]

Did you also fap yourself senseless? ;)

Nah I was in too much pain.

[Republic of Mancunia]

Been thinking a bit about;


Direct Assists (last direct pass before conversion)

Total
Nani – 13
Giggs – 8
Evra - 1
O'Shea - 1

Vs.

Ronaldo - 3
Brown – 3
Simpson - 1
O'Shea - 1


(O'Shea's split because I believe he was at RB for one assist and LB for his other) , and to a lesser degree;


Direct Assists (last direct pass before conversion)
Total
Evra - 1

Vs.

Brown – 3

and wondered if there's any website out there that lists in more detail exactly where the assists are played from, (that's already decent indicator) and perhaps more importantly, where we concede from too? Cheers if anyone knows of any such site/source of info.

Really pondering over right back and the future, possibly a few other things too.

[johno]

That's quite interesting when you think about it ROM.

If you went to Soccernet and found the gamecast logs (I'm not sure if they're available after the match, it might tell you where the assist was from).

Also, I think quite a few of Nani's assists have come from CK's. Say maybe as many as 5. He's had a couple from the right, but the rest would be from the left.

Ronaldo although he starts out on the right usually would probably have his assits come from a central area as well.

I think there've been at least 40 chances where the RB has been given 3 seconds on the ball on the right flank with 3 men in the box waiting for a header and one at the top of the box waiting for spills or a cutback and we've got very few assits.

I also believe that while Evra's assist totals are low considering his attacking nature, you've got to remember that many a time he's making space for Giggs or Nani by making the run. He won't have many direct assists but he's been involved in a fair few goals. If we had that balance on the right, I'm sure we'd see a few more quality crosses from Ronaldo even.

One more thing... I think with Ronaldo being the only serious aerial threat and probably the best at reading crosses in our attack, the assists from crosses kinda have to come from the left as neither Rooney nor Tevez is likely* to nod home a Ronnie cross. At the very least they're less likely that Ronnie is to convert a cross from the left.

[Republic of Mancunia]

Agree with alot of that of thought some of the same things. Just trying to get my own mind straight on the future at right back and what I want/which direction I'd like to see us go.

Really undecided on a bunch of stuff but it sort of went like this (welcome to my brain, or lack thereof :p);

*Saw a thread elsewhere saying they hoped Wes signed a new deal (no doubt motivated by his goal on Sunday)
*It was mentioned in there that he had as many assists as Ronaldo
*Noticed here that he's got more than Evra too
*Thought about the way Wes' delivery gets criticised but not Patrice's
*Conceded that many times all Wes has to do is cross the ball as he's often invited forward by a pass into space left occupied by Ronaldo whereas Patrice often does the opposite for Giggs/Ronaldo and he certainly doesn't need that invitation to get forward
*Evra oftentimes works in tighter areas too
*Pondered about Brown's new deal/ Neville/ Simpson/ Hargreaves/ O'Shea / New signing?
* Remembered the Portsmouth thread (I think it was) where a few mentioned Pompey making United play on the outside and wondered if the left side/right side assist numbers made us predictable in any way
* Got to thinking that if we were playing with a more productive RB in terms of assists (as players FBs who can deliver, usually like to bomb on more) would we be more open on that flank
* Couldn't decide between a more defence minded FB/attack minded one so fancied a look at where we concede from
* Began to think that if having a defence minded one was in anyway enabling Ronaldo to do what he does then it can't be all that bad
* Thought "yeah, but those numbers from the right really are low"
* Asked myself if symetry/synergy matters at all
* Wondered if Ronaldo being low on assists was an anomaly and if he'd pick up in the future (not that I'm complaining about his contribution to the team, I'd be mad to)
* Thought about Brown some more and whether I want him to sign or not. Did when the contract situation first came up but have cooled off since
* Remembered the way Babel went past him like he wasn't there at one point on Sunday
* Remembered Ronaldo sleeping on a ball played inside him on Sunday and how I bricked it when I thought he might give away a penalty
* Wondered if we could somehow have both: protection on that flank and better crossing/balls in
* Mused over some crazy formations that might enable it if not to be done with personnel including a 5-3-2/3-5-2, 3 (CBs)- 2 (Wbs)- 2 (cms) 2 (WFs- 1 (CF) and even a 3-4-3 :eek:
*Thought, na Fergie never plays 3 at the back

And on and and on and on... Thinking out loud stuff that maybe would've been better staying in my head for now?

Still none the wiser. :confused:

[sdotsom]

Think there's some good points in there. 2 main ones for me are -

1) We have an RB position that, due to the nature of our play, finds itself in very decent crossing positions. Areas where a properly played cross would definitely be able to cause havoc in the opponent's 6. Wes isn't the best at knocking those crosses out in the air, if we're being honest.

2) With Ronaldo bombing forward (as he should), we are also relatively exposed on the right side of midfield - which then means that we need someone to stay back there and cover when guys like Babel, Pedersen, J. Cole, etc get forward there on us. Wes, once again, isn't the best 1v1 defender - he's capable, but not consistent. Babel skinned him twice on Sunday - once Wes took a mad lunge at the ball and at least pushed it into an Lpool corner, the other time Anderson saved his ass.

So basically Wes is an average to good back in both those departments. What we want is a pretty much the best of both worlds - a player who could handle the right flank the way Becks and Gaz did through the 90s. This would obviously require Ronaldo to be a bit more responsible defensively, the way Becks would play almost as RB when Gaz was forward. To his credit, Ronaldo has improved his defense a tad. You see him harassing players on corners, etc. But more importantly, the new RB would need to know how to cross and make good offensive decisions.

I do think Danny Simpson is capable of both. In his few short cameos he's made this season, his overlapping runs are great, and yet he doesn't lose out in 1v1 situations, where he's still a great FB. So I'm still torn on whether I want Wes back next season. If Gary Neville is actually fit - then I wouldn't mind seeing him leave. Love the guy, gave us great service for over a decade at this club. But if he wants to go...I think Gaz would go back to being the starter, but would transition Simpson into the role.

[johno]

Nice thought process RoM. Love that... I can completely feel you on the lack of productivity from the right comparatively speaking.

I think a technically sound RB who is defensive in nature would be fine. Otherwise, an attacking RB who has blazing pace AND is a decent 1v1 defender would fit the bill.

Obviously both aren't exactly easy to come by, but we might have one on the team already, not named G Nev.

Hargreaves can cross and he'd stay back most of the time, but when teams stick to Ronaldo and afford him room - he can be a weapon. Not sure though, we don't know how consistent he'll be at RB.

[sdotsom]

Miguel of Valencia?

[dannytoone]

Miguel of Valencia?

Hes good no doubt, but his crossing and passing is pretty substandard as of late. He is a solid defender though, and always is quick on the track-back.

[Joelzinho]

Miguel of Valencia?

Hes good no doubt, but his crossing and passing is pretty substandard as of late. He is a solid defender though, and always is quick on the track-back.

Just go for Bosingwa if thats the case.

[nik-united]

more portuguese players?

[dannytoone]

more portuguese players?
Hey...the model has worked so far!

[Rakim_22]

Hey...the model has worked so far!
When we sign Ricardo the model will be shattered. :D