Source
r/reddevils•
Hassi94

Memphis hints at LvG playing him as a striker

When Memphis was asked 'how do you expect to be played by Van Gaal?'. He answered 'you have seen how I played in the world cup. I want to play as a winger but we will see.'

His english was a little broken and said something about a bus but didn't understand it.

When he was asked whether he can be as good as Ronaldo, he replied "I don't want to talk. I want to show people on the pitch what I can do. I want my feet to talk". Again I'm paraphrasing a tad but that's what I recall.

When asked if he could excite the fans in Old Trafford, he replied with a very confident 'yes', citing his creativity and his eye for goal.

Van Gaal said "we will have to see what position he will best benefit the team". Also talked about Memphis being young and adaptable.

Posted Jul 10, 2015, 2:08 PM UTC · edited

4352
McGrifty•

Oh god LVG is going to play him at GK isn't he

65
m1r0k0vRooney•

And move Valdez up front.

11
Marshmallow_Fluff•

Well he did say he likes his keepers to be comfortable with the ball

8
MisterDMCPowell•

*Valdes.

4
m1r0k0vRooney•

Damn SwiftKey autocorrect

2
Hassi94OPVan Persie•

Van Gaal just confirmed that Darmian is on his way to Manchester now.

27
nickoojCarrick•

My personal favorite part of the whole interview/unveiling in my opinion.

2
AJMcCoy612The Special Juan•

It's not exactly unheard of for a Premier League team to purchase a pacey winger with the intention of converting him into a prolific striker.

Thierry Henry anyone?

26
januzaj_44Januzaj•

Like Henry he has all the attributes to be a goalscorer and Rafa Benitez rumoured to be doing the same with Ronaldo this season. It will be interesting to see how it will work out if LVG goes this route.

Depay has worked wonders as a striker in my fm file at United scoring over 30 goals a season for 10 consecutive years. Obviously this means it's guaranteed to pay off IRL.

8
mrpricklefingers•

urgh you just brought home the fact that benitez is managing ronny now. fucking disgusting.

21
too-many-people•

Also RVP, I think. 

4
HodorBonerBlind•

Haha I read this in LVG's voice

3
RoumenHerrera•

Not sure why you are being downvoted. RvP was a winger pre-arsenal

2
too-many-people•

Yep, Wikipedia says he started his senior club career as a left winger.

1
mahamahdouRooney•

Henry was a striker in Monaco under Wenger IIRC

-3†
turian_sentinelCarrick•

Its true. He was originally a striker at AS Monaco under Wenger, but when he went to Juventus he got forced to play as a winger.

A better example might actually be Van Persie as he indeed started out as a winger at Feyenoord.

7
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
evilthingKing Dave•

https://www.reddit.com/r/reddevils/comments/3clnm7/robin_van_persie_deal_confirmed_by_fenerbahce_so/cswppm5

I'm not saying anything but this subreddit needs to be more mature.

18
northy014Janeeeeet!•

I agree with you, but doesn't Memphis play from the right?

1
evilthingKing Dave•

I'm pretty sure mostly from the left but he can also play on the right and up front. It will be interesting to see how LVG uses him. Other managers will have a headache no doubt.

10
northy014Janeeeeet!•

You're right.

"I like my position on the left-wing but I can play on the right or in the middle. For me, it does not matter - I feel free on the left but my trainer at PSV gave me freedom to move inside – that is my preferred position."

2
BHButcherHerrera•

I'm one of the few people who agree with you actually. I think if Rooney is fit, he'll play up front but I believe that LvG wants Memphis up front as well. That's not to say he wont play on the left, which he will, but we'll see him play striker a lot I feel

1
omegaxLoLAnder Herrera•

Louis van Gaal on striker problem: "It is one of the reasons that we bought Memphis."

Very strong hint at him playing upfront. I think he'll definitely play there in pre-season in some matches, at least.

13
markob53Giggsy•

I'm sure he'll only be used as a striker if Wayne is unable to play for some reason, i'm sure his first position will be on the wing.

9
FeezbullGiggs•

Yup. And it really confirms subtly that di Maria is seen as a winger in case people still doubt this.

Memphis and di Maria will rotate out wide just as Memphis will rotate with Rooney up front I'm guessing.

Also likely means no striker coming in for now anyway as there aren't any available who can seriously be worth an investment I'm thinking too.

3
googly__mooglySmalling•

I think Van Gaal hinted at that last point by saying Man Utd don't buy just to buy. He's waiting for the right young striker to become available, or he's waiting for players like Kane and Lacazette to further prove themselves before investing.

1
FeezbullGiggs•

I think the latter point is very true especially when you're also right about there not being anyone good enough available as well right now.

Lacazette is also unproven to a point as it is still too little of a sample size but of course, that's why scouts are there to assess if they really have the talent more than the ability to impress in the first season.

1
nickoojCarrick•

Hmm I know LVG still sees ADM as a winger but am I wrong to think that he might do as well in the LCM role? Somewhere near where Fellaini played. He played there for RM towards the end and really made an impact. His unwillingness to defend might be an issue but giving him more space to run into and maybe run plays with Depay/Young on the left side is tempting isn't it? And if we brought in a Schneiderlin or Schweinsteiger, we'd have more cover to help Carrick when ADM roams down the left channel.

1
FeezbullGiggs•

You're right. I just think LvG doesn't want him there yet because he takes too much risks and in a central position, it's not ideal so it's either he adapts and changes a fair bit to play there or he plays wide with less adaptation. That's what I think his idea is for now.

Because for another thing, that also means dropping Herrera if di Maria plays there with Carrick and Schneiderlin/Schweinsteiger (any two mainly) which is fine, but it might depend on which games and what is needed.

I'd like to see him play there too in some games especially and with Young or Memphis out wide as well. Maybe against more open teams or teams that can be broken down easily and just sit back to add pace and creativity.

1
Illum503Schneiderlin•

I heard he said that about Nani leaving, not the 'striker problem'

2
CosmicGravyRooney•

So if Memphis is gonna try his hand at striker then that means we will more than likely have Mata, DiMa, Januzaj and Young rotating on the wings...Where does that leave Rooney when Memphis is playing?

1
omegaxLoLAnder Herrera•

Didn't say Depay was first choice striker, or even hint at it. My bet is Rooney is first choice striker, and Depay playing on the wing when Rooney is playing upfront. If Rooney is unavailable or playing at CM (hopefully not), then Depay at striker.

7
CosmicGravyRooney•

Rooney doesn't get injured often and usually starts the majority of matches so I'm assuming we wont see as much of Depay since DiMa and Mata will start ahead of him on the wings, barring a loss of form.

1
FeezbullGiggs•

Mata would be rotated with di Maria on the wings just as much as Memphis will also play out wide I'm thinking.

3
throwmeasteak•

Better than seeing Januzaj up top! I love seeing him play on the wing.

1
Hassi94OPVan Persie•

When a journalist questioned De Gea's dedication given circumstances, Van Gaal said De Gea is very professional and he will keep playing to his best.

11
LordMoldevortHerrera•

He wasn't talking about a bus, I'm pretty sure he was referring to LVG as the "boss".

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Hassi94OPVan Persie•

That would make a lot more sense.

2
rayverine11•

Memphis wasn't talking about a bus haha. He was saying boss. Meaning that he meant where he plays is up to the boss.

2
pcaming•

I don't think it has anything to do with him playing as a striker, but the fact that he is capable of scoring a lot from wing, which in turn eases the burden of the strikers.

Him playing as a striker doesn't solve the problem as we'd still only have 1 main source of goals in the starting XI

1
Hassi94OPVan Persie•

But when asked what position he would play Memphis said basically 'maybe not my natural position' and Van Gaal said we don't have many strikers now so Memphis may have to help there.

2
cloudbreaker81•

I think he will go into the left or right of the front 3. Don't think he will be a central striker, but will drift inside where he has the ability to shoot on sight which he does, or play someone in. I think we will still be in for a front man after RvP, Hernandez likely off, Henriquez is going, Falcao has gone. Only leaves Rooney and Wilson. We will move for a striker for sure.

1
generalquarterThe Gaffer•

he will be our red sniper. shoot to kill, one shot one goal.

1
ThatStiffyAceJones | The English Battle Tank•

He was always looking for that Deep lying forward that would roam on the wings occasionally, like how Robben played for him at the WC. Let's see how Depay fares there.

1
J__P•

So no striker in the transfer window then?

1