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08 Aug 2022 09:54:53
Adrien Rabiot is this morning's link. Reported by Ornstein though, who is usually fairly spot on.
Another with an attitude problem and an agent who loves the limelight.
Interestingly, we are starting to get linked with £20m players. Has ETH decided the squad is so poor/ light thaT he'd be better off with four £20m signings than one at £80m? Interesting week ahead.
1.) 08 Aug 2022 10:19:19
Hope neither is true. Would be better off with neves and take a risk on the young kid from salzburg, although i suspect he will find it difficult and will need time and probably will get slammed here as the pl is a tough school for a 19 year old from austrian league.
2.) 08 Aug 2022 11:00:49
I'm hoping the Rabiot and Arnautovic rumours don't lead anywhere. Both decent players, better than what we have, but neither look good enough for where we want to go and both have had attitude issues in the past.
Given our dressing room issues we need players with good attitudes, ideally players with EPL experience as we need players who will get to grips with the league immediately and not take half a season to acclimatise.
Fabian Ruiz would have been a great option, but given his impending move to PSG it looks like that boat has sailed.
Ruben Neves gets a lot of love and I wouldn't be against it, that said he would likely cost MORE than FDJ.
Matheus Nunes seems to be the hipsters pick, always seemed a gifted player when I've seen him. Although personally I think he's more suited to a box to box role than as a holding midfielder.
Youri Tielemans is probably the player I'd target, EPL experience and available for a reasonable price. While also probably being closer to the skillset EtH seems to be looking for in a midfielder (technically gifted, mobile, quick, press resistant, with an expansive passing range) .
Up front Sesko is the name that keeps being linked. Supposedly a talented player from everything I seen written about him. Only seen him in a UCL group game last season. Looked decent but didn't really stand out at that level at the time. Maybe by the time he's 22 he'll be considered world class. But we need a player who can make a difference this season not in 2-3 years time.
Mitrovic has been mentioned and I wouldn't be against it, seems a much better player now to the one who was in the EPL previously. Although he would likely cost a lot.
The EPL striker I'd go for would be Ivan Toney. works hard, presses well, good technical level linking well with teammates, and has a clinical finish when in front of goal. He looks very well suited to EtH's style of play. Again though cost could be prohibitive.
Both Mitrovic and Toney would likely cost upward of 40-50m as they are vital in their sides fight for EPL survival this season. Which is a lot of money to pay for a striker who won't necessarily be a long term first choice option.
Which leads me to Moussa Dembele of Lyon, proven scorer decent link play, good technical striker, good in the air and on the floor. While entering the final year of his contract and would be available for under 30m.
For me if you cannot get your first choice option then you cannot be paying top whack for your 2nd or 3rd choice compromise options.
If FDJ isn't going to happen and Ronaldo is determined to leave then maybe Tielemans and Dembele for less than what FDJ would cost initially let alone in total are probably the smartest moves available to the club.
3.) 08 Aug 2022 11:33:42
Shappy come on mate both are average. and one is a complete racist
If we do end up with the 2 players above then we have well and truly fell off. what are we actually trying to accomplish buying cheap mediocre players that would get a sniff in any other top 6 side never mind the top 4 or a team wanting to win trophies.
4.) 08 Aug 2022 12:06:56
Arnautovic can stay in Italy. Why we’re targeting him is beyond me. Rabiot I’d take for the reported low fee but only IF he is not the alternative to De Jong.
Adding Rabiot and Tielemens/ Neves would improve our midfield but it’s surely not the route we want to be taking?
As Shappy has said, Ruiz would’ve been a decent alternative but he’s off to PSG. I can see us getting Rabiot and going for SMS late in the window. I’m certainly not against Savic as he’s better than what we have.
5.) 08 Aug 2022 12:33:06
Bolger, This is literally the first line of my post:
"I'm hoping the Rabiot and Arnautovic rumours don't lead anywhere. Both decent players, better than what we have, but neither look good enough for where we want to go and both have had attitude issues in the past".
All I have said is they are better than what we have.
I don't want them, I don't think they are good enough and their attitudes stink.
6.) 08 Aug 2022 12:42:13
A lot of reports now saying that we’ve agreed a deal for Rabiot. Looks like the pursuit of De Jong is finally over.
7.) 08 Aug 2022 13:07:19
I don’t actually think either are better than what we have
Shappy you just said in that last paragraph I don’t think they are good enough but yet you also said they are decent players ?♂️
Not making a dig shappy but these types of players if we are to actually show some ambition on wanting to win are not the players we go for
No wonder ronaldo wants to leave. 0 ambition the club is a shadow of its former self
Play Iqbal or savage play McNeil or ganarcho use the players within and development them if your not going to spend money on a ready made player now
Stop the short term stop gaps it’s not how you produce a winning team
If rabiot is an alternate to de jong then this is a joke of window tbh.
8.) 08 Aug 2022 13:15:58
Rabiot is 27 and is a very good player. His technique is miles ahead of McFred. He'd be a major upgrade. He's not a backup player at Juve. He's a starter for all his time there. Arnautovic would be signed as a squad player. Not ideal but he did really well with Bologna last year. Don't get the doom and gloom about those two.
9.) 08 Aug 2022 13:32:19
MA is 33 years old and would be just as inept at pressing as Ronaldo. I’d rather we brought through a youngster or signed somebody like Sesko than drop £10m+ on a stop gap player who doesn’t fit the manager’s system. We really should have signed Darwin when we had the chance….
10.) 08 Aug 2022 13:44:04
don we already have an abuser at the club we don't want a racist aswell
if they don't want to pay the money and get a striker to help score goals and you know maybe win something then just promote a player from the youth and work with him
this window has clearly become about the owners not wanting to pay the money for players.
11.) 08 Aug 2022 13:50:20
Rabiot I can just about get my head round. Although he’s moody and far from what we need. Arnautovic I’m literally dumbfounded. I reckon he must think all his Christmases have come at once. He’s nothing special and won’t be the kind of player to dig out blind for you, he’s also got dubious morals and he isn’t what we need at Old Trafford. I actually can’t believe we’re in for a player like him…………. panic and desperation spring to mind. We haven’t learnt a thing over the last 10 years. And I don’t care if ETH wants him or not. I’ve got eyes as have other fans, and he isn’t what we need.
12.) 08 Aug 2022 16:15:39
Sorry but perhaps i am missing something. Which players have the owners not paid up for or not willing to. hasn't the fee been agreed with Barcelona for quite some time now and that too in excess of 80M? So where is the issue with the owners here. Its literally EtH running the show here. All 3 signed have been his targets and all targetted are again his. don't get the hatred with the owners here.
13.) 08 Aug 2022 18:06:19
United it would quite glazer esk to bid
For a player who doesn’t want to join for them to then be able to turn around and say we tried getting de jong but instead we paid 15 million for rabiot.
14.) 08 Aug 2022 18:12:23
Bolger2 I wasn't aware of the racist allegations re Arnautovic. If true obviously we should steer clear.
15.) 08 Aug 2022 18:44:53
Dembele is terrible.
16.) 08 Aug 2022 19:38:15
Bolger2……exactly what I was thinking. Stick decent bids in for FDJ knowing full well he wants to stay where he is. Also stick a bid in for Anthony knowing full well it’s 20 million below their valuation. Gives the impression everything is hunky dory to shareholders. The club is skint in my view. The fees for Martinez and Malacia were offset by sales (albeit minimally) and would have been lumped on the debt anyway. No sign of the Glazers investing any of their own cash that’s for sure. And for the record, signing Arnautovic is a complete joke.
17.) 08 Aug 2022 20:11:23
RedWhiskey, he's decent without being outstanding. Even at that level he's better than Arnautovic as a footballer and almost certainly a better person.
18.) 08 Aug 2022 20:11:45
Rabiot is not good enough. Is decent but no more. Its no coincidence he can't settle and retain a first team place at the bigger clubs. As a squad member he is OK (and yes he is better than McFred) but he is not the calibre of player we should be looking to rebuild a teams midfield around.
19.) 08 Aug 2022 21:47:32
Good news, the Bologna president says Arnautovic is not for sale at any price. Let's hope he is a man of his word.
Another shambles of a transfer window for United, strangely reassuring.
20.) 09 Aug 2022 00:01:24
You can literally view the accounts if you want to, the club is not ‘skint’ and you’re embarrassing posting stuff like that.
21.) 09 Aug 2022 08:37:22
It’s the complete lack of anticipation and planning that is so troubling: United always so reactive….
Look at what RBL just done: sign Sesko in a year to replace outgoing Nkunko….
Appearing so panic-stricken now…
Surely a huge question mark over scouting also - hope analysts brought in can rectify this.
10 Jul 2022 20:09:37
Leandro Paredes (CM) from PSG seems to be the latest rumour doing the rounds. Could any of the Eds shed any light on this at all please?
{Ed002's Note - Leandro Paredes (DM) May well be available with Roma a possible destination or an exchange with Juventus for Kean. Manchester United and Lazio both stepped back from the €35M asking price.}
1.) 10 Jul 2022 21:41:42
Good for a yellow card on £1 accas!
02 Jan 2022 10:41:28
The Alvarez rumours seem to be really picking up pace. Really don't understand this one - another striker/ inside forward type.
Cavani, Ronaldo, Rashford, Sancho, Greenwood, Martial, Elanga, Diallo, Shoretire, Pellistri.
I know he's had an injury but I'm already disappointed by the lack of game time given to Amad Diallo - a far better prospect than Elanga IMO.
The only reason I can see for Alvarez is if Martial (thank goodness), Cavani (gutted) and Diallo/ Elanga (loan) exit in January.
EDs - is Alvarez likely? If so, how about the above mentioned exits? (HNY to you all, too and thanks for all your continued hard work) .
{Ed002's Note - He would be a Martial replacement. I have explained about potential departures.}
1.) 02 Jan 2022 12:41:11
Only based on ropey YouTube footage (sorry, not a frequent visitor to the River Plate stadium) he looks an exciting player, with lots of goals from outside the box so he's not afraid to have a pop. Whether there is any substance to the rumours I have no idea but it looks like the front-line is up for a little fine-tuning.
2.) 02 Jan 2022 14:55:22
I don't know much about him, supposedly highly rated and has a better record in Argentina than Lautaro Martinez had before his move to Inter Milan.
If we are going to persist with a front 2 formation then we will need to find a younger striker.
Martial will be leaving, possibly in January While Cavani will be off in the summer.
That leaves a by then 37 year old Ronaldo, as well as Rashford and Greenwood as our options in the striker positions.
At a reported 17m and on fairly low wages I think he could be a excellent replacement on Martial.
3.) 02 Jan 2022 16:41:46
Lets just hope there is some kind of clear thinking behind it. Diallo, Pellistri, VDB seem to have been bought in with no clear plan what to do with them.
4.) 02 Jan 2022 23:29:32
Pellestri and amad are clearly for a couple of years time. both would have been out on loan but amad got injured. I'd be interested to see if we send pellestri somewhere else in January because he's not getting much game time this season and he seems a bit behind . i have a feeling donny will go to Newcastle on loan this month they need to sign decent players and he could help dig them out if the hole their in.
04 Jun 2021 09:08:25
Morning all.
Wondering if any of the EDs can shed any light on Martial leaving this summer please?
For me, he seems the obvious saleable asset to bring in some much needed funds for the essential minimum of four purchases we require this summer.
Thanks.
{Ed002's Note - There are no plans to sell him.}
1.) 04 Jun 2021 09:30:52
I'd imagine players like Pogba and even DDG would be ahead of Avram's favourite player in line for the exit door.
2.) 04 Jun 2021 10:16:11
If the plan is to keep him, I just don’t understand where he fits in. OGS is obsessed with either Rashford or Pogba on the left, it seems almost certain that Sancho will come in on the right, where Greenwood and the ever-impressive when given the chance Diallo are also good options. Cavani certain to start the big games up top, with Greenwood and Rashford other options through the middle. That’s without mentioning James, Elanga, Shoretire.
Where does Martial play?
3.) 04 Jun 2021 11:43:43
i expect pogba to leave this summer unless Ole wants to shoe-horn him into midfield of play alongside bruno with a CDM like rice / saul in midfield. so we will have martial, rashford, cavani, greenwood, sancho and james as our forward line options - pretty decent if you ask me.
4.) 04 Jun 2021 13:49:48
He is only obsessed with Pogba/ Rash on the left as Martial is unfit a lot. When fit he starts there regularly.
5.) 04 Jun 2021 14:17:56
While I don't think Martial is going to prove good enough to be a long term first choice option. He is still far above any of our other sub options.
If we sign someone like Sancho then our front four will be Bruno, Rashford, Sancho and Cavani.
Greenwood will be the first choice as an attacking sub either wide right or up top.
That leaves Martial, James, Diallo, Pellistri, and Hannibal as other options assuming Mata, Lingard and Andreas Pereira leave this summer.
Most of them are kids with little experience. Considering Cavani will likely pick up several injuries next season it makes little sense to sell Martial.
{Ed077's Note - Martial is on a lot of money to not even be the first choice attacking sub.}
6.) 04 Jun 2021 15:16:15
I can't see anyone stumping up the cash for Martial nor paying his wages. So I don't think he leaves sadly. I would much rather seeing his playing time given to one of the youngsters coming through.
7.) 04 Jun 2021 20:19:00
Martial has been bang average for 80% of his 5 seasons with us. He's not consistent enough. Clearly has talent but its nothing without consistent application.
One of the Eds noted on the City page that United were looking at Kane back in March. That may have cooled now that Cavani has signed but there is 1 or 2 years tops there and likely Edi plays what, 30 of our potential 60 games next season?
We do need another striker but it absolutely is not Martial.
I know it's a pipe dream but Martial + Lingard + cash for Kane would solve 3 problems in one hit!
Dear Baby Jesus .
8.) 04 Jun 2021 21:59:06
Unlike many, I like Martial, and if we didn’t also have Rashford, I’d want to see him kept as LW. However, we do have Rashford at LW, and sadly I don’t think Martial is going to learn the movement and positioning need as a CF, or at least not soon enough to take over from Cavani.
We can’t afford to wait another 2-3 years for him to learn, we need a CF good enough to take over from Cavani by next summer, and right now, Greenwood looks closer to being ready than Martial does.
25 Jan 2020 13:07:04
“Ighalo and Slimani are one of a number of forwards United have enquires about taking on last in the last few days.â€
Question is, who are the others in the ‘number’?
Btw - Ighalo’s recent stats are good, wouldn’t be the worst option IMO. Slimani on the other hand 🙈
1.) 25 Jan 2020 22:47:19
He was always scoring for Watford and has a good record in china. He could be a surpringly successful short term goal getter. I don't like the idea of Slimani however.
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31 Aug 2023 08:09:26
Fabrizio Romano saying we never made a €2m loan bid for Amrabat but are simply discussing. Typical journalists trying to tarnish our name.
Bayindir and Cucurella announced today, Amrabat and (hopefully) one more tomorrow that comes out of nowhere a la Casemiro, is my guess.
I think today will be the day vdBeek and Henderson finally leave, too. I also wouldn't be surprised if Everton come in and throw £30m+ at us for McTominay.
1.) 31 Aug 2023 08:35:42
Fabrizio is a total flog!
2.) 31 Aug 2023 09:59:57
Downsie53 - good luck with those predictions mate.
I certainly don't see VDB and Mctominay going anywhere and if that's the case we are going to struggle to get the Amrabat deal over the line because Fiorentina don't want a loan deal.
I still don't understand why two midfielders and a striker wasn't the priority instead of paying nearly 50 million out for a goalkeeper, it's madness!
I really hope your predictions are right Downsie53.
3.) 31 Aug 2023 12:43:07
Downsie
I don't think Mc will go anywhere and we are not selling at this stage of the window for 30 mill. DVB and Bailly are two that I would think the club wants gone and putting a lot of effort into it. Your guess is as good as mine who comes. 100 percent a lb coming the rest who know.
I am an outlier and not abscessed by selling mc. I was hoping maguire would go and was replaced and more relevant in my view as what we need.
4.) 31 Aug 2023 13:08:22
DDG had to do Simmo, he was costing us games and offered nothing to the manager's style of play. I see Donny going on loan and us signing Amrabat on loan. Mainoo returning will be great and McTominay if here will have a point to prove.
Bruno - Mount - Erisken - Mainoo - Casemiro - McTominay - Amrabat
Then you get to the ones who can play there like Martinez, Cucurella potentially.
Rumour has it we want Amrabat on loan because EtH wants to sign a permanent forward. But that's just rumour.
5.) 31 Aug 2023 13:26:53
Forgot Hannibal if he doesn't go out on loan.
6.) 31 Aug 2023 15:52:28
Sydney - I agree DDG was costing us games and he had to go.
My point is that their were other keepers available that would of cost less which means that we wouldn't be trying to scrape money together for a loan deal for Amrabat.
Onana cost far to much money IMO, the striker and midfield positions should have been the priority.
7.) 31 Aug 2023 16:08:32
simo
If you want to build a team you go get a great keeper. Onana and the guy from AC milan best out there. Milan priced out for everyone including big spending chelsea.
Look at city and liverpool, their keepers are excellent. Average keepers will cost you more points than an average midfielder. We had to buy a porper keeper for the next 5-7 years.
8.) 31 Aug 2023 16:35:28
Ahmed, we don’t know yet if we got a proper keeper now, he not had greatest start, was chipped from half way line, should have given a pen away in next game, got put on his pants far too easily in last game, fallen out with Ten previously fell out with Song, but we know he got very good feet, so still a lot to prove, before we can put him in that bracket.
9.) 31 Aug 2023 17:00:04
Trafford, Onana is up for player of the month. I think he has done very well so far.
Simmo, that's fair. From what I heard though through rumour is Onana was a player who was promised to EtH by the Glazers. He was his main target.
10.) 31 Aug 2023 18:32:08
Every keeper gets chipped or something that makes them look silly a mistake. The mistake was not his but dalot, who gave it away and we were playing high up the pitch and you can already see he is not coming out as much as preseason.
He is a major upgrade on DDG imo when on the ball and even when he clears the ball. ddg sometimes could not get the ball past the half way line and his kicking was poor.
11.) 31 Aug 2023 18:58:12
I agree he is better with his feet and kicks the ball better, and supposed to be more commanding, does that alone make him a better keeper, far too early to say that after 3 league and couple of preseason games measuring against 10 years! But if that’s the case why don’t teams just put there most skill full player in the goal! If saving the ball is not such a requirement anymore, I was a bit shocked how easy he was put on his pants too.
12.) 31 Aug 2023 19:11:32
Chipped in a friendly, get rid. He’s started well, a couple of hairy moments but I’d expect that early on, DDG was terrible when he first joined, it’s an upgrade we really needed.
13.) 31 Aug 2023 19:20:21
Onana was our best player against Spurs. I like to see the keeper laying into his defenders. Call me old fashioned. We finally have a keeper who isn’t going to let his defenders off the hook for mistakes, which should hopefully raise their level. He’s looking our best signing of the summer so far.
25 Aug 2023 10:46:50
Altay Bayindir
Jean-Clair Todibo
Sofyan Amrabat
Marcos Leonardo
How many (if any) do people realistically believe will be United players by the end of the window?
Dean Henderson
Harry Maguire
Donny van de Beek
Scott McTominay
Anthony Martial
How many (if any) do people realistically believe will STILL be United players by the end of the window?
I think Bayindir and Amrabat in, Henderson and van de Beek out.
1.) 25 Aug 2023 11:30:08
Honestly bayendir in
Maybe hendo out but only on loan.
Can’t see any better which is scarey. We seem to be neglecting the biggest concern in our team MIDFIELD! Not sure what the thinking is or if there’s any at all.
2.) 25 Aug 2023 12:13:41
Tim,
Nothing like a bit of negativity, I think we will get a few more deals done in and out, teams start to panic towards the end of the window, things will get done.
3.) 25 Aug 2023 12:21:46
We will sign a midfielder. Because it would be suicide not to.
Henderson will go, but perhaps on loan with obligation to buy.
Maguire will play hardball, probably stay, but maybe leave on loan. We will pay half his wages.
McTominay maybe the only decent money that comes in. But I can still see us pricing him out of a move over a couple million.
4.) 25 Aug 2023 12:31:01
After today’s news, we could do with a younger Daley Blind - someone equally adept as a no.6 and at left back!
5.) 25 Aug 2023 12:45:03
Difficult to say, I think two in two out but if things ramp up and the Maguire thing opens up again maybe three in three out. Maybe an unexpected wildcard third signing who hasn't been mentioned yet on loan if someone becomes available.
6.) 25 Aug 2023 12:58:32
This is what I think will happen:
We sign Bayindir and move Henderson on loan for some fee + some mandatory buy clause at certain appearances. He would work at crystal palace and seems best for us and them.
It was high time the previous keepers left and newer keeps comfortable playing the modern way came in.
With Shaw's injury, I expect Maguire to stay till Jan.
Evans I am not sure what player we are getting at his age but at best he is there to play 5-10 games this year.
McTominay, Donny and Hannibal, surely someone has to go atleast 1 of them maybe even 2. I expect McTom to be sold and Donny to go on loan. Hannibal I am not sure, but i'd rather see him play than donny or mctom.
Amrabat in would be perfect, games like Tottenham is where we need 2 defensive minded midfielders and I hope we sign Amrabat.
Letting Martial go would be mad. We have no strikers. I'd rather his contract expires.
7.) 25 Aug 2023 13:02:05
Maguire out
Handerson out
DVDB out
Jonny Evans to replace Maguire
A backup keeper in
Amrabat in
Positive net spend for the remainder of the window (including future loan to buy values) .
8.) 25 Aug 2023 13:09:22
Sorry but I don’t know your name so I’ll just reply to giggs to sheringham. Not meaning to be negative I just don’t have the faith that some seem to have in our recruitment team. I’ve seen nothing to prove that they can get in the requisite players and move on those we need. Really hope to be proved wrong. 7 days left and we’ve got a lot of work to do.
9.) 25 Aug 2023 15:42:37
With injuries picking up I think the club will Panic a bit and get all in. I can see a lot of activity this next week.
Have said before I may look stupid but think we will be active both in and out.
10.) 25 Aug 2023 17:27:19
Just watching Sky Sports News, I know they’re not always reliable, just passing on what they said. Their “sources” in the last hour have said United don’t see anymore outfield players coming in.
11.) 25 Aug 2023 18:08:32
It's all dependent on player sales Fallguy. So unless players are sold, none will be replaced. It's not looking like Maguire or McTominay are going anywhere.
The club will look to a new keeper as Henderson wants to leave and it's looking highly likely. There is also concerns regarding our 3rd keeper's fitness.
12.) 25 Aug 2023 19:06:46
United will go into full panic buy mode on 31st and sign at least one midfielder and another on loan. I'd ignore sky as they love bashing United to get clicks etc as they haven't a clue most of the time.
23 Aug 2023 21:12:26
So it's seems as if West Ham are going to sign Kudus for £37m.
What an absolute disgrace that we haven't
matched this bid.
- false 9
- can play wide
- can play 10
- can play 8
- far more of a goal threat than all in our squad bar Rashford and potentially Hojlund
Hate to say it, but Alvarez, JWP and Kudus are three signings for West Ham that would all vastly improve our squad (maybe not first XI, but better options than McT, vdBeek, Eriksen, Martial etc. ) We're being out-bought by bloody West Ham, let alone City, Arsenal, Newcastle.
1.) 23 Aug 2023 21:30:46
And yet his old. manager appears not to want to sign him.
2.) 23 Aug 2023 21:40:47
LOL don't get me started. I think he will do very well. always liked him.
3.) 23 Aug 2023 21:58:44
Maybe there’s a reason he’s off to West Ham and not United, Liverpool, Madrid, Bayern etc… he may do well in the league but that doesn’t mean he’s good enough for United. We will have our targets that the managers identified, and the club will be pursuing the deals accordingly. I don’t understand people having a meltdown because the club hasn’t spent tens of millions of pounds on a signing they've mostly likely watched on YouTube a few times.
4.) 23 Aug 2023 23:27:12
How is it a disgrace ???.
5.) 23 Aug 2023 23:42:02
Because that is what the internet is for.
It also doesn't help that we have been poor of late with our signings. No one thinks oh United signed him he must be good.
Had Texi gone for him then we would be more confident in the signing because he seems perfectly competant.
6.) 24 Aug 2023 08:58:33
I distinctly remember getting torn a new one when I suggested JWP could be worth a punt.
Not glamorous. 'We're Manchester United' etc.
We haven't been Manchester United for about 12 years, this is the new norm. We're a sleeping giant.
7.) 24 Aug 2023 10:43:54
Its the internet, last year after 2 games Martinez was getting slated for being a soft midget who couldn't hack the Premier League.
Turns out The Butcher knew how to jump, and has hacked mercilessly and without prejudice most of the Premier League living up to his nickname in full.
I think i recall suggestions he should be dropped for Harry Maguire.
8.) 24 Aug 2023 12:22:23
I don't remember that perception of Martinez once he'd arrived. thought he was an instant hit. But in the month leading up to his signing he couldn't have been a worse player.
9.) 25 Aug 2023 07:42:28
There was a goal i think against Brentford from a Corner and basically he got beat from a standinf by a guy charging in, he had no chance had he been Jaap Stam.
That wasnt the narrative displayed though even remember the pubdits banging on about it.
23 Aug 2023 08:39:25
Bayindir seems like a reasonable option as no.2 keeper.
First choice and captain at a huge club with massively demanding fans in Fenerbache and is a 'footballing keeper' in more of the Onana style as opposed to the Greek from Benfica who is more of a De Gea type.
Cheap, too. At around £6m, we now need to sell Henderson and put the £15m gained towards Amrabat, pretty sharpish.
1.) 23 Aug 2023 10:44:19
It's a back up keeper, as long as they are a good fit stylistically, or a good standard and cheap enough then that's all we need.
2.) 23 Aug 2023 12:49:14
It's a risk taking an untested back up keeper. Anything happens to Onana and we could be in huge trouble.
3.) 23 Aug 2023 13:13:48
Salford, the issue is that it's hard to find a top level proven keeper who will happily come and sit on the bench.
Back up keepers by their nature tend to fit into one of three categories.
1. Not quite good enough for that level so they are happy to be on the bench at a higher level than they would probably be able to play regularly at.
2. A declining older keeper who was good enough for this level, but is winding down now.
3. An unproven youngster who is happy to be on the bench and have a chance of playing for a top club.
When Henderson was in the third category it was fine. We had DDG as first choice and Romero as back up who probably fell into the first category. A good keeper but one that probably wasn't quite good enough to be first choice at a top European side.
Then Henderson went out on loan and proved himself to be a very good EPL keeper, while DDG started to decline. Romero left for pastures new, and we were left with a situation of having two EPL keepers who were good enough. Both wanting to play, one in the ascendancy the other declining.
They were allowed to fight it out for the first choice starting position. That caused uncertainty in our defence and impacted both keepers form negatively.
The keeper position is the exception to the rule, it's a position where competition for places doesn't drive success but only causes issues.
The same thing happened at Chelsea with Mendy and Kepa. Both keepers form was effected and it caused uncertainty amongst the defence.
I wouldn't be surprised if the same thing happens at Arsenal this season with Raya and Ramsdale. In fact I kind of expect it.
Therefore we don't really want to sign a keeper who will genuinely challenge Onana. Instead Onana needs to be our clear No.1 and we need a keeper who will be content to sit on the bench and come in to rest Onana or when he's injured/ suspended.
That is only ever likely to be a few games a season, 10 at most. In that role they don't need to be as good as the first choice, or even proven at this level (they likely won't be) .
They just need to be a keeper in a similar style to the first choice so that the entire defence doesn't have to dramatically change how they play when the back up keeper comes in. While also being good enough so there isn't a massive drop off in performance.
Pretty much every side in the league has a big drop off in quality between their first choice and second choice keepers. As such everyone runs that risk of being in trouble if their first choice is out for an extended period of time.
But that's the better gamble than trying to have two keepers of similar quality.
4.) 23 Aug 2023 14:03:13
I thinks he's perfect.
Cheap, only 25 and has been the number 1 keeper at Fenerbache for the last 4 seasons. He's also got 5 caps for the Turkish National team so he can't be that bad.
5.) 23 Aug 2023 14:06:08
Good choice for number 2 long as he plays in same vein/ style as Onana that’s what you need, the doubters on here must want Ederson or Alison to sit on the bench as a number 2, them moan about spending 80 million on them.
6.) 23 Aug 2023 14:16:53
never seen the guy kick a ball or play. given the circumstances its looks like a bit of good business and get Henderson out the door. guys like him are not good to having around as he has made his feelings clear and has a very high opinion of himself.
What i don't get is if he is that good why has no one come in for him properly and not these loan deals. I don't think we are missing much by letting him go hopefully and was never impressed with him at forest last year before he got injured.
7.) 23 Aug 2023 16:53:08
Massive risk pinning everything on a complete unknown as you never know what will happen with Onana. One long-term injury and suddenly he's in at the deep end. But I guess this applies to all positions where teams are spread a little thin. But this guy looks like he has a few year's international experience so looks like an upgrade and hopefully a safe pair of hands.
8.) 23 Aug 2023 16:59:47
Well onana looks like he might be back with Cameroon so we’d miss him all of January for the afcon.
9.) 23 Aug 2023 19:26:29
I just don’t understand why we didn’t keep Kovar as number 2, it’s baffling. He won the Czech title last year and made 28 first team appearances. Unless he was desperate to play and had an agreement with United.
10.) 23 Aug 2023 20:26:05
He needed to play.
15 Aug 2023 18:27:42
MIDFIELD.
Lots of comments on here and various platforms today about our midfield last night. Here's my take.
A modern day midfield essentially needs three components: a '6', an '8' and a '10'.
The type of '6' a manager chooses tends to set the standard for exactly how his team is set up. A 'playmaker 6' such as Neves, Busquets or what we would associate best as Carrick, will ensure that the team is set up to pass, pass, pass. A 'destructive 6' will kick, tackle, breakup play then give the simple ball to the nearest team mate. Fabinho, Palhinha etc. do this very well. Casemiro is the latter (as is Amrabat), albeit with legs that seem to be aging, therefore his '8' next to him has to be a monster.
The '8' quite simply is your grass covering all-rounder. They have to be able to intercept, tackle, pass, create. Think Veratti, Valverde, Bellingham etc., whilst the likes of Thuram, Kone and Onana have potential to grow into world class players in this role and we should be doing everything to get one of these in the building ASAP in my opinion.
Then the '10'. The creator in chief. The Odegaard, Foden, or our own Bruno Fernandes, who we seem to be trying to shoehorn into the '8' role for some bizarre reason. His stats are unbelievably good in the '10' role - leave him there!
My problem is, that unless you're Manchester City, whose back four + Rodri is SO good that you can get away with playing a 6 and two 10s, a midfield needs the balance of all of the above. Instead, we seem to be set up this season to try and emulate City's 6 and two 10 model. But we just aren't good enough to do so.
We need (ed) an 8, rather than Mount. They may have been unrealistic, who knows, but we should have gone all out for the likes of Bellingham, Caicedo, Rice, Veratti, De Jong or even Kante to play that box to box role. I now worry that we'll realise this in the next few weeks, get Amrabat in and then shoehorn Bruno or Mount into a wide position, when really those two should be in direct competition for just one place in our side - the '10'.
It's been a busy summer, but could do with getting even busier!
1.) 15 Aug 2023 18:54:59
Yes i agree with this post, a journalist needs to ask Ten Hag why, given he was so adamant that we sign Frenkie De Jong that he sent Murtough and Arnold went on a lads holiday to barcelona to sign the guy even though he clearly did not want to come, we have not signed a midfielder that is similar in profile to De Jong at all.
Watching Mcalister on Sunday he seemed to be a more logical midfield option than Mount (not saying he is a better player, that he would have been a better fit with bruno and Casemiro) .
2.) 15 Aug 2023 18:59:31
Very Good post Downsie, my feeling is if Amrabat arrives it’s only a matter of time before one of Bruno or Mount is pushed out wide.
Apparently Amrabat is an excellent progressive passer and a good ball carrier. He’s very effective in the first phase of play which we really missed last night in my opinion.
Let’s see what happens!
3.) 15 Aug 2023 19:23:32
Cheers, DLIB. But from what I’ve seen, Amrabat isn’t those things: he’s a tackler who will then play things simple. Think Casemiro but with a few years of younger legs. He’s not really a through the lines passer, more of a keep things simple type.
4.) 15 Aug 2023 19:26:22
Bruno can't play on wing, he is a liability defensively. It's certainly need another 2-3 signings.
5.) 15 Aug 2023 22:37:03
Downsie - In the World Cup he was deployed more of a destroyer due to Morocco’s defensive style of play but for Fiorentina last season he ranked 11th for progressive passes per 90, he ranked 5th for passes into the opponents half per game and 6th for progressive carries. He ranked 5th in Serie A for passing accuracy of 89.3%
Fiorentina were predominantly a possession based side ranked only behind Napoli in terms of possession.
He definitely has quality on the ball which should help us transition from deeper positions an area where I think we really struggled last night.
6.) 16 Aug 2023 07:53:34
That’s spot on Downsie. Having seen Amrabat many times, he’s a player that keeps it simple. He wins the ball and mostly plays a short pass to the nearest player, from the eye test it seems that way. He will add some toughness to midfield, but he’s not peak Casemiro, and he’s certainly not De Jong.
The problem on Monday night was the tactics. We effectively played 5 up front because Mount and Bruno were so high.
I only have 1 criticism of our current manager, and it’s that he can be too stubborn / take too long to realise that something needs tweaking. We needed to ditch the modern way of moving a full back into midfield because their wingers were killing us, and we should’ve dropped one of Mount or Bruno alongside Casemiro to get control of the game. It seemed so obvious that we needed to get back to basics.
31 Aug 2023 17:54:03
Reguilon is poor. Dalot will be first choice LB until Shaw returns, whereas Cucurella would have walked into our side. Depressing.
30 Aug 2023 17:11:48
Amrabat will be driving this by refusing to play for Fiorentina and insisting on only moving to United.
Now Fiorentina have two options:
1. Insist on a permanent deal at €26m and run the risk of United not being able to finance that, then Amrabat going on strike all season and then being stuck paying his €70k wages all season before he leaves on a free next summer.
2. Accept a rather creative loan deal which will help us out with FFP. Something like a loan deal for a high (for a loan) fee of €15-20m, to be paid after the financial year ends.
29 Aug 2023 11:50:23
If he comes in purely as the rotational option to Casemiro for under £15m, I’d be delighted. Premier League experienced, a leader and has an excellent habit of putting his foot in and keeping the ball simple.
However, if it’s to come in and play ALONGSIDE Casemiro, I’d be worried as we’d be far too static and unimaginative in the middle.
Overall I feel it’s probably just a story we’ve leaked to put further pressure on Fiorentina to reduce the Amrabat price, like we did with Caicedo/ Mount and Ramos/ Hojlund.
Whatever happens, this squad desperately needs a backup no.6.
28 Aug 2023 09:27:25
Maguire out, Cucurella and Evans in would be more than adequate at the back.
But I wouldn’t be tolerating a loan deal if I were United. You’re happy to go there, Harry? Then you aren’t getting the severance pay and you aren’t going on loan. £30m and no pay off or stay and be sixth choice.
Then next summer we can go big on a centre half to replace Varane.
27 Aug 2023 15:24:08
As per my views on the other post, Cucurella would be excellent, Reguilon disastrous!
Now seeing Marcos Alonso linked - he’s be excellent for us - Premier League proven, good aerially and knocks Maguire down to SIXTH choice centre half, too!
27 Aug 2023 07:25:39
Definitely Cucurella. You don’t go from being Brighton’s player of the season and earning a £50m+ move to being awful in 18 months. Sometimes moves to certain clubs just don’t work out. He’d do us a good job.
Reguilon, just no. He’s proven incapable of adapting to the PL.
My only question is why it is necessary at all. Unless one of Shaw or Malacia’s injuries are going to keep them out until after Christmas…?
Either way, Fernandez needs another loan. Would like to see him go to a Bournemouth, Luton, Sheffield United etc.
25 Aug 2023 12:31:01
After today’s news, we could do with a younger Daley Blind - someone equally adept as a no.6 and at left back!
21 Aug 2023 17:43:28
Correct decision, although weakens us significantly. Genuinely believe he’s guarantee 25+ goals in an ETH side.
Selfishly, I hope we can sell him to a Saudi/ Turkish club for a fair whack to reinvest in the squad. He’d have been a £100m player in today’s market without the issues - hoping we may still get around £30m?
16 Aug 2023 21:42:08
Still have a feeling we’ll manage to move Maguire on. If a club really want him then they’ll pay £35m and we’ll put the extra £5m in his pocket as severance pay.
Amrabat will still happen. He wants ten Hag.
My biggest frustration is how Liverpool get linked with Stuttgart’s captain at 8:45pm and have the famous “here we go” by 9:30pm. Why do our transfers have to come with huge noise and weeks of public negotiations?
15 Aug 2023 19:23:32
Cheers, DLIB. But from what I’ve seen, Amrabat isn’t those things: he’s a tackler who will then play things simple. Think Casemiro but with a few years of younger legs. He’s not really a through the lines passer, more of a keep things simple type.