Marcus Rashford

[serghei]

Mate, we've brought him for a squad role. For this role, and this position, you need ability to make a difference in the bigger games. He has it. That's all. How often will he show that ability will decide if we buy him permanently or not.

Ability is clear, consistency is a question mark. That's where we start from with him.

What I value most is contribution in the bigger games. And by bigger games I don't mean vs big names. Even if we play vs a midtable side in the league and we struggle like we struggled with Las Palmas and Leganes last season at home. If he comes in, and scores or provides an assist or something, that's the type of contributions that matter.

Not scoring 2 goals to make it 5-0 instead of 3-0.

 

[Horatio]

Rashford vs Vinicius/Mbappe lesgoooo

 

[Maradona37]

What are you talking about, they can just send Rashford into the stands for a full season. A club that has no money and desperately needs to sell does not buy Mbeumo for 80m.

They're in hundreds of millions of debt, and loading more and more on and simply kicking the can (their problems) down the road by amortising (as @Birdy implies). They already owe a fortune in unpaid installments to many clubs. They can spend and delay the payments down the years, but they're simply digging themselves in deeper to their debt.

They also have this pie in the sky idea about a new stadium, which will never happen. So much needs to change regarding the land and train station near the ground, plus they will need billions to get the stadium built. Even if they get that funding from the tax payer (which would be a disgrace if it happens), there's far too much work for them to do. Plus where would they play in the meantime? That new stadium is an absolute pipe dream I think.

Now, of course, many clubs, including Barca, have financial issues. This lot have serious problems though, and really do need to get wages off the books as it is killing them. Barca have got them out of jail a bit by taking Rashford on loan.

 

[Maradona37]

Mate, we've brought him for a squad role. For this role, and this position, you need ability to make a difference in the bigger games. He has it. That's all. How often will he show that ability will decide if we buy him permanently or not.

Ability is clear, consistency is a question mark. That's where we start from with him.

What I value most is contribution in the bigger games. And by bigger games I don't mean vs big names. Even if we play vs a midtable side in the league and we struggle like we struggled with Las Palmas and Leganes last season at home. If he comes in, and scores or provides an assist or something, that's the type of contributions that matter.

Not scoring 2 goals to make it 5-0 instead of 3-0.

I never denied any of that as a rotation player. Obviously as a squad player he's ok (though whether he is happy to be one with his ego is a risk I have outlined several times already).

Also, he struggles against low blocks and has a history of playing (or at least scoring) better vs big teams, did you not know that? It might change at Barca.

Also, ability is not clear, as any player can show ability in bursts. If he can't do it consistently then clearly his ability is overrated. So we disagree on that, too. I don't rate a player's ability by them showing something good every 29 February.

You on the other hand seem to think if a player does something nice or has a good game that is their real ability. I do not.

 

[serghei]

I never denied any of that as a rotation player. Obviously as a squad player he's ok (though whether he is happy to be one with his ego is a risk I have outlined several times already).

Also, he struggles against low blocks and has a history of playing (or at least scoring) better vs big teams, did you not know that? It might change at Barca.

We will see. Performance in bigger games is absolutely key factor for me.

 

[Kul_z]

Welcome. Best of luck. Have a feelong he would be great

 

[Maradona37]

We will see. Performance in bigger games is absolutely key factor for me.

We also disagree about the definition of 'ability'.

Well I'd expect him to do better against teams with high lines than against teams that deny space. As throughout his career there's a clear pattern of him scoring more in the big games where teams play with a high line and let him use his pace in behind. It's a clear tactical quirk that means he scores more against top teams than smaller teams, proportionally speaking.

Flick might change that, he might not. We will see. But I think you're taking an overly optimistic view of this signing.

 

[Horatio]

We will see. Performance in bigger games is absolutely key factor for me.

in how many big games has he performer according to you?

 

[Maradona37]

in how many big games has he performer according to you?

With all due respect to serghei, I doubt he has watched him much week to week in the PL over the last decade. He doesn't seem like a PL follower or that he's that familiar with the player. All his arguments are centred around his 'top/peak ability' he showcases once in a blue moon, and the hanging on to a single game against PSG where he was good but has now been blown pretty out of proportion. He wasn't great for a lot of his loan spell at Villa, tbh.

 

[serghei]

in how many big games has he performer according to you?

Plenty in his career to date. One of the most established and high quality rotational players we had on LW since Pedro 10 years ago.

 

[Horatio]

With all due respect to serghei, I doubt he has watched him much week to week in the PL. All his arguments are centred around his 'top/peak ability' he showcases once in a blue moon, and the hanging on to a single game against PSG where he was good but has now been blown pretty out of proportion. He wasn't great for a lot of his loan spell at Villa, tbh.

I been a proponent of rashford loan from first hour but I don’t agree with serghei’s reasoning.

Can’t convince someone by presenting highlight reel of one game.

 

[Horatio]

Plenty in his career to date. One of the most established and high quality rotational players we had on LW since Pedro 10 years ago.

hmmmmm

 

[serghei]

hmmmmm

Who was better than Rashford as our B option on the wings? Can't think of any since Pedro.

 

[Maradona37]

I been a proponent of rashford loan from first hour but I don’t agree with serghei’s reasoning.

Can’t convince someone by presenting highlight reel of one game.

Agree.

I gave a nuanced view on him on previous page. I see some reasons to be optimistic, and you even noted last night I was being less against him and fairer.

But people are going to have to do better to convince his doubters than use highlights reels of one/several games and talk about mythical 'top ability' he barely ever shows.

 

[Horatio]

Who was better than Rashford as our B option on the wings? Can't think of any since Pedro.

That’s not what we were discussing.

Rashford being best B option is different discussion to how many big games have you seen him deliver.