06 Jun 2016 20:08:11
I personally wanted varane for cb. Is bailly that much better than fosu mensah who could easily play cb?

1.) 06 Jun 2016
06 Jun 2016 20:19:25
Well, he helped Villareal to 4th place in La Liga and a Europa League semi final. Not a bad effort as he has to form two partnerships last season due to injury.

2.) 06 Jun 2016
06 Jun 2016 21:18:51
On the down side, I'd never heard of him and he hadn't been mentioned on here at all so intents and purposes he was effectively unknown.

On the plus side, the same could be said for Martial.

3.) 06 Jun 2016
06 Jun 2016 21:40:21
Bailly looks physically ready for the prem which at his age is impressive and i'm sure mourinho will back himself to turn that raw potential into a good centre back like he was in the process of doing with zouma at chelsea.

Plenty of centre backs are on the move this summer, be it varane, laporte, umtiti, manolas or stones and we can't sign them all but i'd like to back mourinho as he's proven over his career that he knows a good centre back.

As for fosu mensah he looked very good at right back in the few games he played last season. he'd be a good complement to shaw if fit next season on the other side of the defence.

4.) 06 Jun 2016
06 Jun 2016 21:46:05
I think we may still bring in a second CB. Whether that is verane, stones, manalos, the sweedish. chap. the list goes on. I just don't believe that Mourinho for all his pragmatic approach will not reinforce the are fully that we have been saying for years needsome looking at.

5.) 06 Jun 2016
06 Jun 2016 22:11:51
True to be fair mourinho has a good track record for buying players and cbs. He will know what we need.

6.) 06 Jun 2016
06 Jun 2016 22:14:41
I want Varane too but he's injured at the moment so all possible suitors will tred with caution. bring in other CBs and then your price won't get pushed quite so high by RM in their usual eBay/ transfer tactics!

7.) 06 Jun 2016
06 Jun 2016 23:09:17
I must confess I'd not heard his name mentioned until we were linked with him and that concerns me somewhat. I can't think of a time when a player was signed for £20m+ when I hadn't heard from one place or another that they were one to watch.

Equally concerning is that apparently he is someway down the backup list for Barcelona in their pursuit of another CB - but I suppose we have to have faith in JM and EW that he is the best available to us at this time.

8.) 07 Jun 2016
07 Jun 2016 01:53:20
TFM is not the new messiah. He's a very good young talent who needs to get an opportunity around the first team this year. How anyone can think we should not get Bailly because of TFM is beyond me! We have Smalling as a CB and not much else. TFM may not even end up being a CB when he's developed.

9.) 07 Jun 2016
07 Jun 2016 05:12:58
Yes as we all heard of Vidic, Evra and were all ronaldo experts because we seen him play a friendly. You do your job I do mine. They do theirs.

10.) 07 Jun 2016
07 Jun 2016 09:17:38
I have only seen Eric Bailly on a few occasions, but he seems to have all the right attributes. He is still a little bit raw and is learning his trade, consistency will be an issue for him over the next couple of years.

But he has solid technique, is strong and quick and is a great reader of the game.

He is a typical Mourinho defender in many ways.

Personally my thinking is that we need two new centre backs, and its probably better to go for one younger one with high potential and one older one with top level experience and leadership potential.

Players who fit the mould for the younger one include Stones, Varane, Marquinhos, Rugani, Romagnoli, Laporte, Giminez, Umtiti and Bailly.

Stones will cost the earth, Varane will be tricky to get from Madrid, Marquinhos is Barca's top target, Rugani is highly regarded at Juve who won't sell him easily, Romagnoli only joined AC Milan last summer and is their key defender, Laporte is City bound, Giminez is Atletico's future key defender and won't be leaving unless for silly money.
Which leaves us Bailly or Umtiti as the others are either at a top club already, and/ or will cost silly money.

As for TFM, he is a great prospect and should be given time in and around the first team, but he isn't ready to be a starting CB.

I see him probably getting minutes at RB, with occasional runs out at CB or CDM.