Time to trust in Shinji?
In the Summer Manchester United signed a player to take them to another level, a player who’d dazzled football fans all over the world who’d been fortunate enough to see him play a major role in his sides success. A player who would play just behind Robin Van Persie.
Shinji Kagawa arrived at United with a reputation as one of the brightest young players in world football, following an inspiring season for Borussia Dortmund which not only saw the Germans do the double but also the diminutive attacking midfielder bag 17 goals in the process.
Kagawa may have been able to play in a number of positions but it was widely accepted that the best role for United’s new signing was just off the striker, where he’d been so effective for the record breaking German side.
Since he arrived at Old Trafford Kagawa has been used in a number of roles, around the midfield area, but not often enough has he been deployed as a ‘false 10’ for the duration of the game and not often enough has he been handed a start. Kagawa is a player who can elevate us to another level, but more often than not Sir Alex Ferguson prefers Wayne Rooney in the role best suited for the Japanese playmaker.
Rooney has had a productive season in terms of assists and a decent amount of goals but more often than not his performances have frustrated. Rooney may be a great striker who can drop deep but is he really a traditional ‘false 10’ in the way Kagawa is? Part of me feels that in order to accommodate Rooney, United have sacrificed the chance to take the team to another level by trusting Kagawa to form the partnership with RVP that could bring us even more than title number 20.
The solution would be to drop Rooney in favour of Kagawa, bringing him in to replace RVP when the striker needs a rest or even the former Dortmund player when the games are catching up with him.
It may sound crackers to drop a player of Rooney’s talents but if we’re to get the best out of Kagawa and let him form a gel with RVP maybe it’s for the best of the team?
Do you agree or is this all completely bonkers? Feel free to comment suggest and abuse below:
Kolkins, why would no manager in the world drop Rooney for Kagawa? Is it inconceivable that an Asian player could be better than Rooney? Who quite frankly at times over the past couple of seasons has been mediocre, his touch is poor, he does not fit the number 10 position with the same class and technique as Kagawa. Rooney has the build and grace of a CDM but the finishing qualities of a striker, there is no denying he is a great team player but as a playmaker he does not match Kagawa.
I am convinced Cleverley is partly to blame for Kagawa’s short comings too, he keeps running off up the pitch leaving Carrick all alone and a huge hole in the United defense forcing Kagawa to cover for him.
At the moment United do not deserve Kagawa, they keep playing so pathetically in possession when the going gets tough that they force themselves to defend. Newsflash! Kagawa is not a defender. He was never signed for his defensive qualities so people saying he is not good enough for United for this reason should take a serious look at the players around him. Carrick can play some fantastic balls but under pressure United sometimes might as well just deliberately give the ball to the opposition, Cleverley is far too offensively orientated, Evra might just well be past it, Rafael isn’t quite trustworthy as a defender but fantastic on the ball, Valencia’s confidence is shot, Rooneys first touch is dire, Kagawa’s downfall? His team mates and the fact he can’t defend and cover his team mates asses.
Unless United buy a big scary CDM (NOT Wanyama) and partner him with a fit Jones next season United still won’t get the best out of Kagawa and I think for his own good he should leave and find a team more deserving off him where he won’t be hounded by imbecile fans saying the rest of the team have to carry him as a passenger.
Kolkins, why would no manager in the world drop Rooney for Kagawa? Is it inconceivable that an Asian player could be better than Rooney? Who quite frankly at times over the past couple of seasons has been mediocre, his touch is poor, he does not fit the number 10 position with the same class and technique as Kagawa. Rooney has the build and grace of a CDM but the finishing qualities of a striker, there is no denying he is a great team player but as a playmaker he does not match Kagawa.
I am convinced Cleverley is partly to blame for Kagawa’s short comings too, he keeps running off up the pitch leaving Carrick all alone and a huge hole in the United defense forcing Kagawa to cover for him.
At the moment United do not deserve Kagawa, they keep playing so pathetically in possession when the going gets tough that they force themselves to defend. Newsflash! Kagawa is not a defender. He was never signed for his defensive qualities so people saying he is not good enough for United for this reason should take a serious look at the players around him. Carrick can play some fantastic balls but under pressure United sometimes might as well just deliberately give the ball to the opposition, Cleverley is far too offensively orientated, Evra might just well be past it, Rafael isn’t quite trustworthy as a defender but fantastic on the ball, Valencia’s confidence is shot, Rooneys first touch is dire, Kagawa’s downfall? His team mates and the fact he can’t defend and cover his team mates asses.
Unless United buy a big scary CDM (NOT Wanyama) and partner him with a fit Jones next season United still won’t get the best out of Kagawa and I think for his own good he should leave and find a team more deserving off him where he won’t be hounded by “fans” saying the rest of the team have to carry him as a passenger.
I couldn´t agree more to all what was said. For me as a Dortmund supporter, it is sad to see what ManU did out of the talent from Shinji. Sir Alex bought him, bcs he understood that Dortmund is playing the future football which need to be introduced to the PL soon. That´s why ManU did everything to sign Shinji, just didn´t prepare the condition for this player. Second he is a marketing victim bcs ManU just enjoys him a the strongest ambassador for asian football in there line up. Anyhow, Shinji was loved by fans,respected by teammates, performed great and as he is not such an outspoken person as usually PL player, he has to pay the price now for choosing the wrong league and the wrong team for him. He should have better replaced Xavi in Barcelona in 2 years. So ManU, be proud that you will destroy one of the greatest talents in the forthcoming months, by ruin his self confidence and trying to change him. It is a pitty, but perhaps, you just give him back to the club, who adore this capabilities.
Ferguson must be doing something wrong, if the team he picks keep giving away two and three goal advantage
i really think rooneys best days are behind him plus he has lost a yard of pace which for a 27 year old is quite disgraceful,i think we need to sell him this summer and possibly valencia also who has done nothing this season whatsoever,just think possibly ronaldo,kagawa and van persie would be fantastic as a front three for us next season!!!!
I have to agree with this article. I’d go a step further and sell rooney whilst we can still get something for him. Kagawa is clearly a class act and has bags more ability than Roo. Anyone who cann’t see that doesn’t watch properly. Roo’s game is largely based on drive and determination but for me that drive was once constant and is now sporadic. he is too often laboured and very sloppy. I read too many divs going on about Welbz poor first touch but in reality that kid has the first touch of Zidanne in comparison to Roo. Time to cash in and bend over backwards to bring back Ronaldo. The thought of him and Kagawa with maybe Welbz playing behind RVP would be frightening and would suit the pressing game Shinji wants to play. Also maybe a deep lying playmaker like modric or a quality ball winner and distributor like YaYa and we would be unstoppable. anyway wishful thinking. Want to see more of Powell also.
Rooney is always a good option wether played deep or as a striker,the only thing to be done is to make him happy,SAF have to talk to him to clear the air.
Maybe in 4-2-1-3 or 4-3-1-2 sort of formations where the ‘1’ is Kagawa and the 2 upfront comprise of Rooney and Van Persie. Rooney, Rvp and kagawa playing in a triangle where they exchange places from time to time. From what I’ve seen of kagawa, he has the skill and balance to play a good ball or have good movement inside the box.
RVP should play as a lone striker with Kagawa and Rooney BOTH behind him.(not on friggin wings!)
Then 3 midfielders behind Kagawa & Rooney. Carrick at base with Ando and Clev just ahead.
Insert others as and when suits
Why we havent done this amazes me, seeming as our wingers have been so shocking this season.
I think Kagawa should go in that position as rooney has not been performing, he is not world class and we would have won without rooney