Lingards role and Sanchez

comment by Manc Python (U17527)
posted 2 minutes ago
I have wasted far too much energy over the years with Lingard. I think the lad is utterly useless. He creates next to nothing and it’s like playing with 10 men half the time. He is anonymous 90% of matches
I’d keep Sanchez also personally. He is always involved in the game but if he does leave I won’t cry about it.
It’s now time to try something different in there and drop Lingard. I just get the impression Ole is a big fan of him, not sure why
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It's because of his work rate and the space he creates but Ole he needs to get over because there is no use in making space and then making negative passes.

I'd have him on if we're trying to close a game down with 10 minutes to go but we need to be more adventurous with our starting line ups. We didn't make many signings but that area of the pitch can still be improved with the players we have.

Sanchez needs to stay because there is nobody else who can play as a forward, it would be ridiculous to let him go now.

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People keep saying this... Yet he has shown no sign of resembling a striker or even a footballer at United

He's finished at this level

Keeping him just takes up a seat on the bench

I'm not one of Lingard's biggest detractors but I wouldn't go as far as to say I'm a fan either. He's always been a squad player for me. He doesn't have the natural ability to really carry one of the main attacking roles in a Manchester United side - especially one lacking a bit of star dust already.

I think one of the main problems with Lingard's game - and it was even more evident this evening than it usually is - is that he doesn't possess the technical ability to show the opponent a bit of the ball and be able to keep it or do something cute with it. He can't shift it and pick out a pass or go past a player from a standing start. He constantly makes his control away from players into safe space, which kills momentum. It means he protects the ball fairly well and doesn't give it away too cheaply in dangerous areas, but also means a lack of cutting edge, invention and flair. It's all much too safe for an attacking player. When he does receive the ball under pressure and in tight spaces, he'll often lose it because he doesn't have the quick feet or skill to get out of trouble.

I think late in games his energy, running and moving can be an asset off the bench but we certainly need better from the off. I'd also like to see Gomes given chances sooner rather than later. He was quality in preseason and deserves a chance.

comment by Shugs (U14253)
posted 34 minutes ago
Sanchez needs to stay because there is nobody else who can play as a forward, it would be ridiculous to let him go now.

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People keep saying this... Yet he has shown no sign of resembling a striker or even a footballer at United

He's finished at this level

Keeping him just takes up a seat on the bench
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Exactly, even if we’re down to the bare bones I’d play Greenwood or Gomes, neither would be worse than Sanchez. He’s been awful.

Would love to see Gomes thrown in Lingard has moments but was poor tonight, the thing we lack is creativity behind the strikers and the kid has it, we really should have taken 3pts tonight with all the possession but a team like Wolves will always fight and make a chance 1-0 is never enough and we paid the price.

If its simply a case of sanchez or lingard then it's not even an issue.

Lingard would struggle in the championship. No two ways about it.

Not that I'm suggesting sanchez is a long term prospect.

It's a bit like discussing ordinary and garbage when we should be discussing quality and effectiveness.

Never seen such a weak united front 6 (pogba excluded)

Sanchez is probably better off leaving and that would be in everyone's interest, even if it leaves us short.

Lingard is a decent player and someone like him would be like players in the past such as Phil Neville, who are good but not at the level we need when we need to push on a level. As a squad player he'd be very useful. He can play a few positions too. But we all knew we needed another player there. Sadly we didn't add any midfielders and though Dybala and Eriksen would definitely been an upgrade there, neither wanted to come for various reasons.

Mata and Gomes should be given a chance there. I know people are asking for Pogba to be further forward, sadly we don't have much options to play the centre two. After Pogba and McTominay, we have Fred and Matic - neither of whom has shown they can come in and take the place of either. Then there is midfield utility man Pereira, he has looked better on the right or further forward but not as a ten. Garner may be another option but that would be a very young midfield between him and McTominay.
I think we need to address this in January if Gomes didn't look ready by then.

I remember Lingard scoring a WC goal & everyone was saying he was world class

probably got lost in translation

And yet Lingard made two important touches in creating Martial's goal (who, by the way, disappeared for 80 of the 90 minutes).

He's a work horse to be fair, probably what was needed for a lot of the game , we defo need another playmaker.