Aleksandar Mitrović

[Hanshithispantz]

Gayle is an absolut beast in the Championship like

 

Think it a bit of a stretch for Mitrovic to do the same, he (Gayle) would have comfortably broken the Championship record if he stayed fit.

[Kaizero]

Gayle was an absolute beast last season like

 

Think it a bit of a stretch for Mitrovic to do the same, he (Gayle) would have comfortably broken the Championship record if he stayed fit.

 

Will be interesting to see how many Mitro ends up with.

[Hanshithispantz]

Gayle was like a goal every 85 minutes or so before his injuries, whatever Mitro gets it’ll be a long way off that.

[Mole_Toonfan]

So people, Rafa or Mitrovic? In who do you trust?

 

Rafa for me everytime - no question.

 

You can be for Rafa and also disagree with his stance on any player( not just Mitrovic), it isn't that black and white.

 

For example, i think Merino should be getting more game time than he has since his return from injury but doesn't mean i'm against Rafa or anything silly like that.

[Happinesstan]

Gayle is an absolut beast in the Championship like

 

Think it a bit of a stretch for Mitrovic to do the same, he (Gayle) would have comfortably broken the Championship record if he stayed fit.

 

Indubitably. And he would likely have done the same for Fulham if he had signed, but then he is back to the Premier where he is average (based on this season) and will most likely be moved on, which presents the problem of finding a replacement and getting the to settle.

 

As things have turned out, if they get promoted and sign Mitrovic on a permanent deal, they have a promising youngster already ready to go.

[Papavasiliou]

Gayle was like a goal every 85 minutes or so before his injuries, whatever Mitro gets it’ll be a long way off that.

 

It's all irrelevant anyway. The ones who don't like him will still bang the "It's only the championship" drum and the ones that like him will still bang the "better than Joselu" drum and neither camp will ever change their mind.

[TRon]

Gayle was like a goal every 85 minutes or so before his injuries, whatever Mitro gets it’ll be a long way off that.

 

Plus Gayle did it over half a season before the injury, not a run of a few games. Fair play to Mitro, but you can't use a few goals to knock Gayle's performance.

[Hanshithispantz]

Gayle is an absolut beast in the Championship like

 

Think it a bit of a stretch for Mitrovic to do the same, he (Gayle) would have comfortably broken the Championship record if he stayed fit.

 

Indubitably. And he would likely have done the same for Fulham if he had signed, but then he is back to the Premier where he is average (based on this season) and will most likely be moved on, which presents the problem of finding a replacement and getting the to settle.

 

As things have turned out, if they get promoted and sign Mitrovic on a permanent deal, they have a promising youngster already ready to go.

They’d be better off just signing another striker though.

[Hanshithispantz]

Gayle was like a goal every 85 minutes or so before his injuries, whatever Mitro gets it’ll be a long way off that.

 

It's all irrelevant anyway. The ones who don't like him will still bang the "It's only the championship" drum and the ones that like him will still bang the "better than Joselu" drum and neither camp will ever change their mind.

[Kaizero]

Gayle was like a goal every 85 minutes or so before his injuries, whatever Mitro gets it’ll be a long way off that.

 

Plus Gayle did it over half a season before the injury, not a run of a few games. Fair play to Mitro, but you can't use a few goals to knock Gayle's performance.

 

I don’t know how «will be exciting to see how many Mitro gets» turns into «Mitro is scoring more than Gayle» tbh.

[Happinesstan]

It must be time for an update on goals per minute comparisons.

[Conjo]

Who really cares if joselu runs around like a blue arsed fly in training?

 

Rafa, the coaches, Joselus teammates and some supporters.

 

If Shelvey see that Mitrovic is being picked ahead of Joselu when Joselu out performs him in training, maybe he too will put in less effort because he knows he will get picked anyway. Lascelles see that Shelvey and Mitro are picked ahead of Joselu and Merino/Hayden and puts in less effort etc etc. Joselu gets angry that he is not picked and stops making any effort because why should he if he isn't getting picked anyway. Poor training results in poor match performances and we go down.

 

One of the few advantages we have this season is fighting attitude and team spirit. I don't see why Rafa would risk spoiling that in order to accommodate one player.

[Infinitely Content]

I don't believe thinking in terms of Mitrovic v Joselu is all that constructive tbh. Where one has to been made out as less for the other to be more. Joselu does a different job, and some including the manager, coaching staff & players I presume would argue he has done it well enough for the most part. 'It's only the championship' is also not really a worthwhile point as the same could be applied to Dwight Gayle who has hardly set the world alight in the Premier League ever despite being quality in the Championship. I think it's more constructive to think of them individually and what they bring/could have brought to the team with recognition that all three of them have obvious positives & negatives. Joselu has scored a few important goals, worked very hard for the team & been lacklustre at times too, the same can very much be applied to Dwight Gayle who goes missing far to much to be a leading striker for us. Mitrovic on the other hand has had glimpses of action for us this season and arguably made us look a more potent attacking side on those occasions. I think the frustrations & questions come about through the thought of 'what if', as there's much evidence that points towards the feeling that if he was given a run in the side, he would have likely matched or bettered the other two scoring wise whilst also allowing us to take advantage of his direct style in a team consisting of poor passers of the ball and not much creativity generally speaking. Slimani could provide that if he gets himself fit in time, but now that Mitrovic is showing his worth and the ability to hit form despite not even being match fit - of course questions are going to be asked as understandably so I'd say. Not that they're all that useful at this present time mind. And not that he would have been guaranteed to make much of a difference either.

 

As an aside, and imo, going forward as a team I'd much rather keep hold of Mitrovic than the other two, I think Gayle & Joselu have pretty much reached their ceiling in the Premier League, where as Mitrovic is a young, promising player and more of an unknown quantity. You also cannot ignore the positive signs shown in his first season here when he was actually given a run. On the other hand, if Rafa doesn't see him as a player who can play in the system he sees fit, than obviously Mitrovic has to move on, but that doesn't mean he was/is poor in any way shape or form really.

[Papavasiliou]

Who really cares if joselu runs around like a blue arsed fly in training?

 

Rafa, the coaches, Joselus teammates and some supporters.

 

If Shelvey see that Mitrovic is being picked ahead of Joselu when Joselu out performs him in training, maybe he too will put in less effort because he knows he will get picked anyway. Lascelles see that Shelvey and Mitro are picked ahead of Joselu and Merino/Hayden and puts in less effort etc etc. Joselu gets angry that he is not picked and stops making any effort because why should he if he isn't getting picked anyway. Poor training results in poor match performances and we go down.

 

One of the few advantages we have this season is fighting attitude and team spirit. I don't see why Rafa would risk spoiling that in order to accommodate one player.

 

I wonder how much it helped team morale to see a striker picked every week that never seemed to trouble a keeper.

[Conjo]

Who really cares if joselu runs around like a blue arsed fly in training?

 

Rafa, the coaches, Joselus teammates and some supporters.

 

If Shelvey see that Mitrovic is being picked ahead of Joselu when Joselu out performs him in training, maybe he too will put in less effort because he knows he will get picked anyway. Lascelles see that Shelvey and Mitro are picked ahead of Joselu and Merino/Hayden and puts in less effort etc etc. Joselu gets angry that he is not picked and stops making any effort because why should he if he isn't getting picked anyway. Poor training results in poor match performances and we go down.

 

One of the few advantages we have this season is fighting attitude and team spirit. I don't see why Rafa would risk spoiling that in order to accommodate one player.

 

I wonder how much it helped team morale to see a striker picked every week that never seemed to trouble a keeper.

 

I would assume it was a feeling of collective responsibility that nobody did good enough rather than players pointing at individuals.

[TRon]

I don't believe thinking in terms of Mitrovic v Joselu is all that constructive tbh. Where one has to been made out as less for the other to be more. Joselu does a different job, and some including the manager, coaching staff & players I presume would argue he has done it well enough for the most part. 'It's only the championship' is also not really a worthwhile point as the same could be applied to Dwight Gayle who has hardly set the world alight in the Premier League ever despite being quality in the Championship. I think it's more constructive to think of them individually and what they bring/could have brought to the team with recognition that all three of them have obvious positives & negatives. Joselu has scored a few important goals, worked very hard for the team & been lacklustre at times too, the same can very much be applied to Dwight Gayle who goes missing far to much to be a leading striker for us. Mitrovic on the other hand has had glimpses of action for us this season and arguably made us look a more potent attacking side on those occasions. I think the frustrations & questions come about through the thought of 'what if', as there's much evidence that points towards the feeling that if he was given a run in the side, he would have likely matched or bettered the other two scoring wise whilst also allowing us to take advantage of his direct style in a team consisting of poor passers of the ball and not much creativity generally speaking. Slimani could provide that if he gets himself fit in time, but now that Mitrovic is showing his worth and the ability to hit form despite not even being match fit - of course questions are going to be asked as understandably so I'd say. Not that they're all that useful at this present time mind. And not that he would have been guaranteed to make much of a difference either.

 

As an aside, and imo, going forward as a team I'd much rather keep hold of Mitrovic than the other two, I think Gayle & Joselu have pretty much reached their ceiling in the Premier League, where as Mitrovic is a young, promising player and more of an unknown quantity. You also cannot ignore the positive signs shown in his first season here when he was actually given a run. On the other hand, if Rafa doesn't see him as a player who can play in the system he sees fit, than obviously Mitrovic has to move on, but that doesn't mean he was/is poor in any way shape or form really.

 

On that I will agree. He's still young so there's every chance he could get better, whereas the other two were probably always considered as temporary solutions at best anyway. I still think Mitro has it all to prove as a Premier player, but that's not his fault, he hasn't really had the opportunity because he doesn't suit Rafa's methods. But even if Rafa leaves we might not see him here next season. If Fulham go up I think he'd rather stay there with a manager who is a fellow Serb and favours him.

[Guest]

He played well and was scoring in pre-season. He scored a couple before his suspension. He must have been doing something right under Rafa's instructions to be doing that.

[Footsoldier]

Who really cares if joselu runs around like a blue arsed fly in training?

 

Rafa, the coaches, Joselus teammates and some supporters.

 

If Shelvey see that Mitrovic is being picked ahead of Joselu when Joselu out performs him in training, maybe he too will put in less effort because he knows he will get picked anyway. Lascelles see that Shelvey and Mitro are picked ahead of Joselu and Merino/Hayden and puts in less effort etc etc. Joselu gets angry that he is not picked and stops making any effort because why should he if he isn't getting picked anyway. Poor training results in poor match performances and we go down.

 

One of the few advantages we have this season is fighting attitude and team spirit. I don't see why Rafa would risk spoiling that in order to accommodate one player.

 

I wonder how much it helped team morale to see a striker picked every week that never seemed to trouble a keeper.

 

I would assume it was a feeling of collective responsibility that nobody did good enough rather than players pointing at individuals.

 

I’m inclined to think that team morale with an extra six points in the bag would be a tad higher than it is now. I am willing to bet when a player looks at their pay packet at the end of the season if we go down they may not take the simplistic view that you have. I’ve never heard the likes of Alex Ferguson say Give me the player who runs around in training but can’t hit a barn door on Saturday afternoon because its good for morale. FFS.

[Shays Given Tim Flowers]

Was glad when Mitro smashed that barn door when we played villa away in our last premier league season.

[Dinho lad]

Who really cares if joselu runs around like a blue arsed fly in training?

 

Rafa, the coaches, Joselus teammates and some supporters.

 

If Shelvey see that Mitrovic is being picked ahead of Joselu when Joselu out performs him in training, maybe he too will put in less effort because he knows he will get picked anyway. Lascelles see that Shelvey and Mitro are picked ahead of Joselu and Merino/Hayden and puts in less effort etc etc. Joselu gets angry that he is not picked and stops making any effort because why should he if he isn't getting picked anyway. Poor training results in poor match performances and we go down.

 

One of the few advantages we have this season is fighting attitude and team spirit. I don't see why Rafa would risk spoiling that in order to accommodate one player.

 

I wonder how much it helped team morale to see a striker picked every week that never seemed to trouble a keeper.

 

I would assume it was a feeling of collective responsibility that nobody did good enough rather than players pointing at individuals.

 

I’m inclined to think that team morale with an extra six points in the bag would be a tad higher than it is now. I am willing to bet when a player looks at their pay packet at the end of the season if we go down they may not take the simplistic view that you have. I’ve never heard the likes of Alex Ferguson say Give me the player who runs around in training but can’t hit a barn door on Saturday afternoon because its good for morale. FFS.

 

Vastly different context. 

[Footsoldier]

Do you want to enlighten me?

[Conjo]

Who really cares if joselu runs around like a blue arsed fly in training?

 

Rafa, the coaches, Joselus teammates and some supporters.

 

If Shelvey see that Mitrovic is being picked ahead of Joselu when Joselu out performs him in training, maybe he too will put in less effort because he knows he will get picked anyway. Lascelles see that Shelvey and Mitro are picked ahead of Joselu and Merino/Hayden and puts in less effort etc etc. Joselu gets angry that he is not picked and stops making any effort because why should he if he isn't getting picked anyway. Poor training results in poor match performances and we go down.

 

One of the few advantages we have this season is fighting attitude and team spirit. I don't see why Rafa would risk spoiling that in order to accommodate one player.

 

I wonder how much it helped team morale to see a striker picked every week that never seemed to trouble a keeper.

 

I would assume it was a feeling of collective responsibility that nobody did good enough rather than players pointing at individuals.

 

I’m inclined to think that team morale with an extra six points in the bag would be a tad higher than it is now. I am willing to bet when a player looks at their pay packet at the end of the season if we go down they may not take the simplistic view that you have. I’ve never heard the likes of Alex Ferguson say Give me the player who runs around in training but can’t hit a barn door on Saturday afternoon because its good for morale. FFS.

 

 

He also discussed the best ways to deal with big egos, saying: "When I work with the biggest talents, I tell them that hard work is a talent, too. They need to work harder than anyone else. And if they can no longer bring the discipline that we ask for here at United, they are out.

 

[Dinho lad]

Do you want to enlighten me?

 

You're comparing Rafa and Fergie even though they couldn't be any more different from each other? That includes anything from football philosophy, to transfer budget to control of the club.

 

 

[Odear]

From Twitter.. fairly spot on.

 

 

“Mitrović is playing in a team at the top end of their division, with a squad that includes some PL quality.

 

Naturally he's finding himself in scoring positions regularly & converting—just as he did at Anderlecht.

 

At Newcastle he's playing 30 yards deeper with his back to goal.“

[Footsoldier]

Who really cares if joselu runs around like a blue arsed fly in training?

 

Rafa, the coaches, Joselus teammates and some supporters.

 

If Shelvey see that Mitrovic is being picked ahead of Joselu when Joselu out performs him in training, maybe he too will put in less effort because he knows he will get picked anyway. Lascelles see that Shelvey and Mitro are picked ahead of Joselu and Merino/Hayden and puts in less effort etc etc. Joselu gets angry that he is not picked and stops making any effort because why should he if he isn't getting picked anyway. Poor training results in poor match performances and we go down.

 

One of the few advantages we have this season is fighting attitude and team spirit. I don't see why Rafa would risk spoiling that in order to accommodate one player.

 

I wonder how much it helped team morale to see a striker picked every week that never seemed to trouble a keeper.

 

I would assume it was a feeling of collective responsibility that nobody did good enough rather than players pointing at individuals.

 

I’m inclined to think that team morale with an extra six points in the bag would be a tad higher than it is now. I am willing to bet when a player looks at their pay packet at the end of the season if we go down they may not take the simplistic view that you have. I’ve never heard the likes of Alex Ferguson say Give me the player who runs around in training but can’t hit a barn door on Saturday afternoon because its good for morale. FFS.

 

 

He also discussed the best ways to deal with big egos, saying: "When I work with the biggest talents, I tell them that hard work is a talent, too. They need to work harder than anyone else. And if they can no longer bring the discipline that we ask for here at United, they are out.

 

Do you honestly think that if Ferguson or any top manager was staring relegation in the face they wouldn’t use every resource at their disposal to try to avoid it? It made no sense to get rid of Mitrovic and persist with the others up front. Even less if the reason was he didn’t train hard enough. And then to panic and bring in a player with what could be a long term injury?