09 May 2015 09:13:36
Before we signed ADM I must have seen him play about 10 times, he never really stood out for me especially in the world cup. So I admit I'm no expert on his form for Real. But I'm starting to get the feeling I'm not alone in this because everytime somebody tries to be football expert they say one thing "he was motm in the cl final". I remember cleverly having a stormer in the charity shield against city but doesn't mean f all because we all know how that one ended. The media and pundits all seemed shocked at how much we paid and that also fuels my doubt because they have seen him play more than me and obviously have a better insight. I watched him closely in the world cup because I had him in my dream team and I wasn't very impressed either. Is ADM just another Nani? Would prefer people who actually offer good information to respond and please don't mention the cl final! Ha
09 May 2015 09:25:54
Like you Clarity I wasn't an avid watcher of La Liga, but I had ADM in my dream teams the past few times (he was always pretty cheap for some reason, hmm!), yet he gets nominal points. I'd say I'd watched him 20-25 times prior to signing.
I have only seen him play very well a couple of times. Similar to Cavani as well.
I think people seriously underestimated the fact that opponents have Bale, Ronaldo, Benzema to worry about when playing Madrid so ADM was often seen as the lesser evil to worry about. With Argentina they obviously have similar quality that give him freedom.
We were crying out for a player that could run at defenders and open up space for our other players, however his use of the ball is beyond atrocious. I remember the Switzerland game in the WC where he scored the winner despite having one of the worst performances I have ever seen any player at any standard have.
We had our pants pulled down with the fee no question about it. He does have an X factor that we desperately need, but we just don't see it often enough and frankly he is more of a liability than an asset. The changing of position doesn't help, but then he was a winger for a long time, then shone in CM for a while for Madrid, so the change in position worked ok for him then! We are too quick to make excuses. I just think PL teams figured him out after watching him closely for a few games, a bit like what happened to Januzaj and even Hernandez.
If his name was Balotelli he would have been sold already!
09 May 2015 09:39:58
Ha thanks Beast glad its not just me, being relatively cheap in the dream team is exactly why i picked him i thought cheap and starts for argentina no brainer.
09 May 2015 10:22:36
Both claim not to have watched him in the Spanish league which is where he played almost 90% of his matches. Expert opinions none the less.
09 May 2015 10:34:01
ADM is one of those players who can be amazing and appalling in the same game. He has the ability to do the sublime but in trying that every time he gets on the ball there is a 50/50 chance he will pull it off.
If you watch his highlights video he looks like the best player in the world, But those videos don't show the poor tracking back, the easily being pushed off the ball or the poor decisions he makes.
He is one of those players every top team needs in their side, a player who can win you a tough game in a moment by doing something out of the ordinary. But for most of that game he will be a passenger. He needs 10 top players around him to do all the things he doesn't do well, which will give him the platform to win the game with an individual bit of skill.
I think over the last 4/5 years he is either the top or second highest assister in Europe, you can't do that without being a good player, he just lacks the consistency to play that well over 90 mins.
With the team still needing a fair bit of rebuilding he was the wrong player last summer. But if we bring in the right players this summer and ADM stays and finds a settled position then he could be the difference in the big games next season.
09 May 2015 10:35:08
If we get the fee back we paid for him it should go down in the history books as the best piece of business done ever. Hopefully there is something to the Bayern and PSG rumours.
09 May 2015 10:42:49
Imightbesomeone - I said I wasn't an avid watcher, not that I didn't watch him at Madrid, I don't comment if I don't know enough.
The scouts and people that signed him are meant to be experts, how did that work out?
09 May 2015 10:46:51
Shappy I know what your saying mate. He does have that little piece of Magic in him but so far he has been pretty appalling for us and I am worried that if he sits on the bench again next season his value will plummet even more. I think Depay will outshine him tenfold next season personally.
In the PL no team can afford to have a half arsed player in their team, nobody. His body language is poor and he has already gave an interview in which he said 'who knows what the future holds' when asked about Paris. We need better from our star man no matter who he is.
Let's not forget we are taking about the MOST Expensive signing not only for Man Utd but in English football HISTORY here.
09 May 2015 10:53:39
IMBS must have missed the line "I am no expert on his form for real" or maybe didn't read the word no in the sentence
09 May 2015 11:00:31
Great points again Shappy got to say your posts are always consistently top quality. Thanks for a great reply.
09 May 2015 11:27:13
I've watched him quite a few times in recent years and I'm not a fan. I grimaced when we bought him, especially for so much money. I hate all the slagging off players get on here but I fear he will not be a success.
09 May 2015 11:37:42
He does gave a touch of Nani about him I.e. Poor decision making at times. But he is a big step up from Nani in terms of what he can deliver on form. He seems to have by far his best season in his last one at Real and unfortunately we ended up massively overpaying, partly down to that I imagine. I'm happy to see if he can improve next season because he's capable of terrorising defences (which we have lacked) but obviously if we could get Bale and make only a smallish loss on Di Maria i'd be more than happy. Otherwise let's see what he can do next season.
09 May 2015 11:44:07
Same here AJH - (although I don't mind the slagging so much, in fact it has been more than deserved the past couple of years).
The ADM deal looked even worse because of Sanchez as well.
09 May 2015 12:01:18
When he played his best stuff for us early in the season he played on the left of a midfield diamond , last season he played left of a midfield three for Real and was outstanding .
For me that's by far where he's best , as it gives him the opportunity to run at teams from a bit deeper and open up the game for others .
If we can't find a way of playing him there we should try and get as much of the money we paid for him back and move him on .
09 May 2015 13:17:53
Few too many Fantasy Football fans me thinks.
09 May 2015 14:05:31
Good discussion, guys. I know Clarity was quoting my comment supporting ADM. By the time I wake up here in the US, you all have usually moved on to another debate!
Many valid points about how poor Di Maria has played. I have been shocked at how often he is not on the same wavelength as his teammates. And the way he has gone down so easily looking for fouls is embarrassing. I think the comparisons with Nani are fair - infuriating one moment, a game winner the next. That is why naturally he will divide our opinion of him.
I have defended him, just on the grounds of knowing what he is capable for us. I hope he can regain his form. And finally, his own decision this summer of staying or going, if it comes to that, will tell us a lot about his character. Fellaini, for example, deserves a lot of credit for proving himself this year.
09 May 2015 18:08:45
Not just you Z iv seen lots say it recently your comment was just the straw that broke the camels back. Nothing personal pal.