Nani

He's doing great in Lisbon at the moment, 6 goals and one? assist so far, always involved in happenings on the pitch and a true leader for them! It sounds very odd to speak like this about Nani after so much time without a proper game from him for us, but this loan spell is doing wonders for him. Bloke is full of confidence. I guess that has something to do with playing week and week out as a starter too, and no injuries as the cherry on top.

It's a real enigma though if he would be happy again here like he is there now. He wasn't playing regularly, even when he looked quite decent, the next match he was benched, then those constant niggling injuries etc. If he can be like this for us as he is for Sporting now, I'd welcome him back with an open arms. Nani, the player we're waiting to see for so long plays for another club now!

Him on the left wing, di Maria next to him in the center paired with Herrera and Blind (Carrick) behind them all. Sounds too good to be true...

By the way:

Manchester United fans furious, Van Gaal has made a mistake

Posted by SPORT WITNESS on November 7, 2014 at 11:05 in Sport Witness Football



Manchester United fans are furious, say Portuguese newspaper O Jogo on Friday. The reason isn't the season so far, it isn't about injuries, and it isn't about a defence held together with sticky-back plastic. The thing making Manchester United fans the most furious right now is Luis Nani.

O Jogo say that supporters of the Premier League club are angry after seeing how well Nani is doing in Portugal for Sporting Lisbon. Another Man of the Match performance on Wednesday, this time against Schalke in the Champions League, has tipped fans over the edge and they've apparently flooded social networks to vent their fury that Nani was sent on loan.

They go with the headline 'Reborn Nani raises revolt in Manchester'.

To be entirely honest, our experience at Sport Witness has been completely different. Manchester United fans who didn't want Nani to go on loan are in the minority and the reaction to his good form for Sporting is generally to be even more critical of the player himself.

Some are annoyed that he's turning it on for Sporting when he didn't for Manchester United and others think he's found his level in Portuguese football, although that obviously wouldn't explain away good Champions League performances.

If O Jogo are saying they have found furious fans on social networks then we're not going to doubt them but from our experience those fans are in a minority.

The Portuguese newspaper spoke to Oliver Kay of The Times who backed up what they thought, that letting go of Nani was a mistake.

"It is increasingly clear that United was wrong to loan Nani. I believe that Van Gaal had to take a series of hasty decisions about which players the club wanted to get rid of. They had failed to negotiate for Fellaini or Anderson, so they accepted a proposal for Nani.

"If it was recently then he would not have taken this decision... Van Gaal was forced to decide quickly, and if he went back, then Nani would be in the squad.

"The argument for the output of Nani was also tactical. It is true that last season he wasn't good, but he would be useful to the team if they're playing with wingers. At first, United went 3412, 4231 but moved to 4141."

There's clearly a lot of pride in Portugal that Nani has been doing so well on his return to Sporting Lisbon and that makes it easy for them to put the blame for his poor seasons on Manchester United. There could be a little truth in that, Nani was Manchester United's best player in the 2010/11 season and then the club bought Ashley Young which made it harder for Nani to get a regular place on the wing. He fought on and was hit by injury and form problems, and a lack of continual games.

However, Nani didn't often impress when given the chance and Manchester United fans grew frustrated. A break from the club was perhaps the best for all concerned and a rejuvenated Nani could return next summer and be 'like a new signing', but from our experience that's not what most Manchester United fans want.
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I am not sure if he would play with the same dose of confidence if he stayed, this loan is exactly what he was needed I think.

Because he's had nothing but time to prove he's up for it... if anything, this loan spell is increasing his value and we'll sell him for a nice chunk of cash.

Who's he going to replace in our current formation?

So, you actually think Nani has a future here?

Yes, if he continues with this form and if van Gaal wants him/if he fits in his "philosophy".

I'm guessing it but maybe to find his feet somewhere again, to gain some confidence, to ease his way back in some familiar place to him, where the pressure is less etc. I think that van Gaal knows exactly what type of player Nani is and that he rates him very highly. If this works out for him and us it'll be cushty on all accounts.

I remember Robben some years ago too and how everyone was writing him off. Look at him now and since he's joined Bayern. With Nani, it could be something similar.