07 Jul 2017 12:33:43
Ed001

If you are around i would love to hear your opinion on our summer signings/ signings to be or maybe not to be?

I do value your opinion and you always have a good knack of making me look at things differently and change my point of view on most occasions.

It was insightful to hear your opinion on Rooney today and about giving things back and dropping his wage demands for Everton.

They are things I do not consider and know nothing about about when I make my comments on players but they make you look at things differently.

The comment about not dropping his wage demands to play for his boyhood team was very revealing and said an awful lot about his character that i did not know.

Most people on here, myself included, would play for free for there own team. However Rooney appears to have demands above that of a normal player wanting to play for his home town team which i find strange.

So my question in a long drawn out way. If you were a United fan would you want Lukaku, Morata, Both or neither?

{Ed001's Note - personally I would go for Morata, he is a better player to build an attack from. Lukaku reminds me of a better version of Loic Remy. He is arrogant, but that is self-belief which is why Lukaku is such an excellent finisher. It is the rest of the game that is the problem. Far too often he is static and allows defenders half his size and pace to mark him completely out of a game because they make it difficult for him and he just can't be arsed to try and move them about.

What he wants, to be at his best, is to play ahead of a team playing from deep, with balls over the top for him to use his pace and power to get on the end of. That way his dreadful first touch is not such an issue, as he only needs to knock the ball forward, rather than control it, most of the time. When he has to take a ball to him and look to bring others into play, he is lost. The poor first touch sees the ball bounce off him.

Watching Lukaku try to control the ball is like playing kerby. You throw the ball and hope it is going to come back to you to catch, but usually it goes just about anywhere else. Added to his inability to motivate himself to break sweat chasing that poor touch and you have a problem if you need to build an attack through him. He is also surprisingly poor in the air for such a big man. Otherwise you could also look to get it wide and whip the ball into the box for him, but he needs the ball on the floor to get the most from him.

Morata, on the other hand, is excellent technically, when he was at Juve he worked his backside off playing a similar role to the one Dybala now plays, most of the time. He was also used as a main striker, but he is not at his best with balls launched over the top. Morata wants balls he can take in and look to play in others or attack his man.

Lukaku is the better finisher, but Morata is a much better all round player. For me that is a huge difference. Something I remember as a kid was Everton in the mid-80s won the league with Andy Gray, who scored goals but they sold him and brought in Gary Lineker who scored twice as many, but they finished second. With Lineker every other player's goal return dropped, as it was all about getting him in, whereas Gray brought others into play too and the team contributed much more. I think that Morata and Lukaku are comparable. One will score lots of goals but the other will score goals and help the rest of the team to score as well.}


1.) 07 Jul 2017
07 Jul 2017 13:43:24
In fairness, 001, Lukaku has more assists than any other striker in the prem in the last 5 seasons. I'm not saying he's the be all and end all, but he has more to his game than you've just gave him credit for. However, football is a game of opinions, which makes it what it is haha!

{Ed001's Note - having assists does not mean a thing. How many are down to poor control meaning the ball bounces to another player? How many are due to him actively creating a chance for someone else? Stats like that are just crap and meaningless numbers on their own.}


2.) 07 Jul 2017
07 Jul 2017 14:08:10
ED001 I think you could compare Lukaku to Saha. Both had a poor first touch and when it comes to finishing like Saha, Lukaku is better when it isn't given time to think where to shoot.

{Ed001's Note - Louis Saha? If so he never had a poor first touch at all. Quite the opposite.}


3.) 07 Jul 2017
07 Jul 2017 14:26:50
Saha was technically class. Always a bit gutted that his injuries got in the way, loved it when he was on form for us.


4.) 07 Jul 2017
07 Jul 2017 14:33:08
Saha's first touch and close control were a huge part of his game. His ability to take the ball in, use his burst of pace to get a yard or two on the defender and his excellent finishing were what he was all about.

I think it was Neville who said Saha was amazing in training, the things he could do with the ball at his feet. He was a really good player. Shame about his injuries.

{Ed001's Note - exactly, Saha was class on the ball, just suffered badly with injuries.}


5.) 07 Jul 2017
07 Jul 2017 14:37:22
What's yours opinions on Lindelof, Perisic and Matic Ed? They seem most spoken about.

{Ed001's Note - I like what I have seen of Lindelof, looks a good defender. Decent on the ball too from what I have seen.

Not sure about Perisic, I know I have seen him play, but I just don't remember anything much about him. So he obviously wasn't terrible or I would have noticed.

Matic I just think suits the way Mourinho likes to play, he has a good range of passing and is happy to sit deep and prevent opponents breaking quickly. He does lack mobility, but he is big and strong.}


6.) 07 Jul 2017
07 Jul 2017 15:33:41
Ed001 i'm in 100% agreement with all of that. Great assesment! Feeling better now? 😁.

{Ed001's Note - no I am still sulking at your use of the word some! Can't get round me that easily.....}


7.) 07 Jul 2017
07 Jul 2017 15:45:38
Thanks ed, appreciated, I always thought matic would be a shrewd signing, Lindelof and Bailly would be a great combo for many years. Never seen Perisic play so cannot comment but think we may wait on griezmann. As for lukaku, well he has his flaws no doubt but he puts the ball in the net so hopefully our supply lines are in working order next season.


8.) 07 Jul 2017
07 Jul 2017 15:45:38
Thanks ed, appreciated, I always thought matic would be a shrewd signing, Lindelof and Bailly would be a great combo for many years. Never seen Perisic play so cannot comment but think we may wait on griezmann. As for lukaku, well he has his flaws no doubt but he puts the ball in the net so hopefully our supply lines are in working order next season.

{Ed001's Note - welcome mate.}


9.) 07 Jul 2017
07 Jul 2017 16:01:39
Touchy git😁.

{Ed001's Note - just so long as you don't do any touching, you have been warned about this! Only Ed007 doesn't mind being touched up by you and that is because he can't afford to be choosy. Last time he went to the cinema it was to see the Elephant Man and the crowd there thought he had come in costume.....}


10.) 07 Jul 2017
07 Jul 2017 16:23:47
That's harsh ed. Poor john Merrick.

{Ed001's Note - good point, I apologise, Merrick was never as ugly as 007.}


11.) 07 Jul 2017
07 Jul 2017 16:24:04
I completely agree stats are meaningless unless justified, however, would you be that annoyed if your striker was creating chances for teammates by being sh*te. Think what he could do if he had a good touch ;)


12.) 07 Jul 2017
07 Jul 2017 16:51:28
TBH ED001 I always found Saha to play like an octopus his legs were all over the place. When fit and on form he was very good.

{Ed001's Note - that's enough about your private life mate, what did you think of him as a footballer?}


13.) 07 Jul 2017
07 Jul 2017 17:42:49
Morata just hasn't done enough for me only started 15 games last season 14 for juve the season before. Played a bit on the left hand side of midfield for juve and in the hole .
Not really scored a lot either .
Looked better for Spain when I've seen him but united don't play like spain .
Not the type of striker we need imo when you have pogba miki and a couple of others who can play in that space off or near the striker .

Not the perfect player lukaku but good in and around the box. If he is used to get on the end of things I think he will suit united and Jose very well .


14.) 07 Jul 2017
07 Jul 2017 18:11:39
I agree with the last paragraph jred. Like with all new signings i have high hopes for lukaku.
I think he will improve too in all aspects. Can't wait to see him in action.


15.) 07 Jul 2017
07 Jul 2017 17:34:58
Scorching form for a wounded man 001😂😂.

{Ed001's Note - always mate, always ;-)


16.) 07 Jul 2017
07 Jul 2017 18:24:02
I've never seen a player better at controlling the ball with his chest than Saha. Admittedly not top of the list of important footballing attributes but I loved him when he was here.


17.) 07 Jul 2017
07 Jul 2017 18:51:24
Saha
Was a top player I thought york was outstanding during his short spell at united.

You look at lukaku he is big strong lad and you would expect him to be a target man but that's not really his game .
Top striker and still only 24 but a lot of his game could and probably should improve .
It's up to him but he could be a great player .


18.) 07 Jul 2017
07 Jul 2017 19:31:40
Ha ED001 when fit he was very good. However I don't think UTD ever really saw the best of him due to his injuries. I found that he was bet at first time shots rather than taking a touch or two.


19.) 08 Jul 2017
07 Jul 2017 19:31:40
Ha ED001 when fit he was very good. However I don't think UTD ever really saw the best of him due to his injuries. I found that he was bet at first time shots rather than taking a touch or two.

{Ed001's Note - I saw him in his younger days do some lovely dribbles. Once out of nappies he did lose that skill to a degree though.....

Seriously, I can remember him being good at running with the ball and beating a man to get a shot off in the days before he joined United. I don't remember much of him at United due to his injuries though, so maybe they had cost him that timing you need to know when to move the ball away from an incoming challenge.}


20.) 08 Jul 2017
07 Jul 2017 21:10:39
Thanks Ed01

You have pretty much described my thoughts but in a much more ellaquaint way!

I have to confess I have not seen much of Morata but he's looked neat and tidy with a good first touch in the small amount i have seen.

Now depsite Lukaku goals he does look somewhat clumsy at times with a poor first touch. I would have hoped to sign them both if possible and if not i would have gone with Morata.
Thats just purely down to my preference and i'm not saying it's necessaraily going to be the right choice but hey you have to go with your gut instinct and mine would be Morata.

Now before anyone starts saying i'm not happy with Lukaku that's really not true and i'm glad we have got a good player on board if it actually happens but my first choice probably would have been Morata or both.

However Lukaku scored a lot of goals last season so hopefully (if he signs) he can repeat that for us but his goals will just possibly replace Ibra/ Rooneys goals that went before and if we are to make a serious challenge we need more goals from our wide players and no 10.

Hopefully Martial and Rashford can provide these and prove me wrong as so far both have fallen short of our very high standards required. Both are young and can easily get to that level so let's hope they do this season and if Mkhitaryan returns from is up and coming pregancy in form and scores some goals we might actually be up there challenging!

{Ed001's Note - I have completely forgotten what any of that said in the shock of finding out Mkhitaryan is pregnant! Will that not interfere with his game?}


21.) 08 Jul 2017
08 Jul 2017 11:09:19
Well it didn't help Neil Webb much!

On a side note how long do you think Mourinho will be at United?

I know you mentioned the hotel living and not being near to his family being a possible problem. I can confirm that as my uncles brother is his driver and takes him back to London all the time however my thoughts are barring international football he doesn't really have many other options if he leaves us.

Barcelona are very unlikely to touch him as are City and Liverpool. He's done Chelsea and Madrid so there are not many big club options open to him after England and Spain really.

{Ed001's Note - I really don't know mate, I don't think he is really fully thinking about football to be honest. His head must be in bits over his father and not having his family there is not a good thing. However, it can be a good distraction to throw himself into and keep his head right. Sometimes it feels like he is looking for an excuse to leave, other times it is clear he wants to be a success.

You are right though, there is not a lot else for him on offer, so I think he is going to have to make it work for the season, either way. Then I would expect him to re-evaluate how things are going being away from family. The problem is that the only reasonable alternatives are abroad and his family are in London, so I don't see how he has a choice but to make things work at United.}


22.) 08 Jul 2017
08 Jul 2017 13:31:54
cheers ed01.