24 Feb 2015 08:27:04
There seems to be a lot of hypocrisy on this site. If you all remember we played a few games with wingers (West Brom away, Man City away off the top of my head) and Di Maria didn't exactly destroy the opposition.
You were all calling Van Gaal to play him as a centre midfielder because that's where he did so well at Real Madrid. Now that he's playing there and still not playing his best football you all now want him back out wide?!
You are finding any excuse to blame the manager, everything the fans have called for he has given them and it still hasn't worked so at what point can we stop blaming Van Gaal and start blaming our players who aren't turning up.
P.S We could do with Nani back right now
24 Feb 2015 09:14:35
On the wing or in a midfield 3 and he will done fine imo.
Not sure about the 10 role
24 Feb 2015 10:28:59
He has played a few games recently in a midfield 3
24 Feb 2015 10:33:22
Di Maria is struggling to settle IMO. I don't think he wants to be in Manchester and I think despite what he says, he regrets signing for us. The weather doesn't help, he is not used to this climate and going from Argentina/Portugal/Spain to English weather is going to be an issue. He started happy and was playing quite well, but the novelty seems to have worn off pretty quick. It doesn't matter where we play him at the moment, he needs to sort his head out before we see a massive improvement on the field.
On another note, I think Rafael may get a game this weekend despite LvG's reluctance to play him.
24 Feb 2015 11:24:39
Playing in a diamond isn't playing in a midfield three. Di Maria plays well on the wing or part of a midfield three with wide players ahead of him. Why he did so well at Real last season is because he had Ronaldo and Bale making runs ahead of him, dragging players out of position and creating space. At United everything is really congested, so he doesn't get of an opportunity to build up speed to run at people, or have runners ahead of him to play balls behind the defence or down the channels. Because we don't have players like Bale and Ronaldo, our best option is to play him wide in a midfield 4 or 5. That gives him more opportunity to get one-one-one with defenders and exploit them with his pace. Whether (see I made a the pun lol) he can adapt to the EPL is another matter, but until he is given a decent run in his best position we won't get much out of him.
24 Feb 2015 11:30:48
Perfect assessment for me Syd.
24 Feb 2015 12:06:39
Think everyone needs to cut him some slack. He's moved to a new country and he had armed robbers smashing in to his house while he was there, with his family, for crying out loud. Having been through a similiar experience, it's very traumatic. He will not be 100% right now.
24 Feb 2015 12:53:46
I think he's finding out very quickly how quick and strong the defenders are in this league. I'm not sure he's cut out to do well in this league as he gets pushed over very easily, but you never know, if he can strengthen, then he might do well.