24 Mar 2018 13:12:46
Alexis Sanchez? Is he all that? Or is he the latest victim of the Manchester United No.7 shirt?
Robson, Cantona, Beckham and Ronaldo. Four of our very best players and all wore the number 7 shirt one after another.
Since Ronaldo left, Owen wore it for three poor years with only "that" goal against City to show for his time at United.
Then Valencia wore it for what will probably go down as his poorest of the 9 seasons he has spent at the club.
Then came that season of Di Maria, and we all know how that ended.
Depay was next to don the shirt for 18 months, never being able to live up to his promise.
Now it's Sanchez's turn, and so far he is struggling with it.
In that list of players is one very good long term servant of the club who's only poor year was when he had the No.7 on his back.
One former Balon d'Or winner.
A fantastic young talent who has been successful at PSV and Lyon, but couldn't replicate that form in the United No.7.
And two players who many consider to be within the top ten best players in the world at the time of their signings.
And Not one of them has managed a great 90 minutes in that shirt. Great moments maybe, but not an entire match.
Will Sanchez break free of what is becoming a cursed shirt number at United?
Or will he be its latest victim?
24 Mar 2018 13:29:12
Good player Sanchez in fact really good . Right fit, right age that's the big question.
24 Mar 2018 14:54:26
Give him time, only had 10 matches when the club has had an indifferent spell. A full pre season, no World Cup to a player of that calibre will be excellent for us next season.
24 Mar 2018 15:21:50
Don't want to worry people, but I bought him in last season's Football Manager as he was turning 30. He was even worse than he's been for us in real life. Not saying it's an omen, but.
24 Mar 2018 15:36:51
I'm pretty sure he would be amazing with an attacking minded manager.
24 Mar 2018 16:13:55
I think the poor performers or 'curse' of the no 7 shirt has coincided with our struggles since sir alex has left. Really all the players since ronaldo (not including di maria or sanchez) do not have the skill or quality to warrant the no 7. I think sanchez has the personality and ability to so i think he will come good. A full pre season should see him raring to go on all cylinders next season.
24 Mar 2018 16:19:08
correct reman.
24 Mar 2018 16:27:24
Ddg after 9 games?
Vidic?
Evera?
Andy cole?
Darren fletcher, the list goes on.
Really good player needs a bit of time a bit of luck and a bit of support. New team not really flying new area new surroundings it not essy to settle as quickly mid season.
No wc for him in the summer we will reap the rewards of that next season.
I don't believe in 'curses' its a bloody shirt number and bears no relevance to the players performance it manchester united not harry potterðŸ˜ðŸ˜ it means more to the supporters than the players i think.
24 Mar 2018 16:37:11
Welsh, so would say our poor form started with the signing of Sanchez. Not only has his form been poor since he signed. But his inclusion in the team has had a knock on effect on Pogba, and it's pushed Martial and Lingard either out of the team or into positions which aren't their best which has effected their form.
Until Sanchez signed we had been relying on the good form of Martial and Lingard. And while we did that we were winning games. Now we struggle. It keeps coming back to us signing Sanchez.
Now I thought signing Sanchez was a no brainer, a top class player proven in the EPL available on the cheap.
Even though I feel that our best signing throughout our history have been younger up and coming players with a point to prove rather than those players at the peak of their powers who might already feel like they've made it.
Ronaldo, Rooney, RvN, Vidic, Rio, Evra, Keane ect fitting in the first catagory and Blanc, Veron, Berbatov, Di Maria, Owen, Falcao ect fitting into the latter.
However, his signing has been the catalyst in our recent poor form which has ultimately cost us a place in the UCL quarter finals.
Will Sanchez recover his form and prove himself at United, or will the curse of the No.7 shirt and our terrible record with signing top class players at their peak mean we will never see the best of him? Only time will tell.
24 Mar 2018 17:10:35
Just don’t think you can blame one player for the teams indifference, Pogba was sketchy at best pre Sanchez as was martial and Rashford, was only really Lingard that was on fire, Jose took him out the side, Lukaku has got better since Alexis arrived if anything. New team mates, he will be fine I’ve no doubts.
24 Mar 2018 18:24:01
Pogba and Sanchez in the same team don't look good. Unless one sacrifices for the other.
25 Mar 2018 11:49:33
How about our manager picks a team then chooses a formation and tactics that get the best out of our players? I know it's a revolutionary concept but it might just work.
A three man midfield with Pogba on the left with Martial/ Rashford on the left wing and Sanchez on the right with instructions to press high up the pitch, move the ball quickly and play an attacking game.
Leahy 12 posted above that football is simple and he's right. Rather than a cursed shirt number I think the more likely reason the players are struggling is that our manager is a stubborn idiot with outdated ideas.