The Manchester United Thread

[Vanjagl]

Well, tonight is Lazio - Milan, so we'll have the chance to watch Kessie vs Savic. It should be good.

 

[Mike.]

Savic is on a different level to kessie

 

[RhQQ]

Savic is on a different level to kessie

He is, but the more I watch him lately, the more I think he's in the Paul Pogba mould.

 

[Theatre of Dreams83]

He is, but the more I watch him lately, the more I think he's in the Paul Pogba mould.

More tactically disciplined than Pogba and has the defensive side to his game. Would work well with Pogba and Matic.

 

[RhQQ]

Agreed but he still seems to be best when deployed as the interior of a 3 who can get involved in the final third, ala Pogba.

 

[Vanjagl]

No question about it. However could he be that perfect partner for Pogba like other people said? He would need a heck more tactical discipline if Pogba switches off in the game.

 

[RhQQ]

Just sign Toni Kroos, pay whatever you have to. Problem solved.

 

[Scouseinthehouse]

He is, but the more I watch him lately, the more I think he's in the Paul Pogba mould.

For a cheaper option, if he doesn't end up in Naples to free up Jorginho, catch a few Sampdoria games for their young Uruguayan Torreira. Think you'd like him.

 

[Theatre of Dreams83]

For a cheaper option, if he doesn't end up in Naples to free up Jorginho, catch a few Sampdoria games for their young Uruguayan Torreira. Think you'd like him.

Another one I was trying to think of today when talking about Kessie. I knew there was another young CM I’d been impressed with this season. Thanks would be a fantastic signing! Another one I can see being linked with everyone soon.

 

[Average Joe]

AC Milan's Franck Kessie dreams of joining Man United | Football News | Sky Sports

Kessie is interesting player, he reminds me of Essien, not as technical, but the same engine and drive. Someone like him might be good option as a partner for Pogba. Would love to see what Joe has to say about him as a Milan fan.

Scouse is right in a few things he has said about him, though I didn't see massive amounts of hype when we signed him, I think the general feeling was *well he's been good, better than montolivo so get in!*

The team is settling under Gatusso and now they are playing more as a team, I have high hopes for Kessie in the long run, needs to keep his concentration more though the game but he's got the basis to be top.

His contract / loan thing....I think we have agreed to sign him for 18 or 20 million next year, all being well (not sure about bonuses / add ons, thought it was 25odd total when we first talked of getting him. If it is, bargain in this market.

Over all, can be a bit scattered positional wise but if Gatusso and the coaches can lock him in to a system he can be great.

And yes Savic is better than him. Should be a good game tonight BTW if anyone wants to see either of the lads, Lazio vs Milan 7.45 sky sports mix or red button, Coppa Italia Semi final 2nd leg

 

[Scouseinthehouse]

..... Should be a good game tonight BTW if anyone wants to see either of the lads, Lazio vs Milan 7.45 sky sports mix or red button, Coppa Italia Semi final 2nd leg

I'm torn as L'pool's U-23's have their PL International Cup Qtr against Porto at 7. Which for some strange reason has been switched to Manchester. (Leigh.). Not snowed here since yesterday. Just been baltic cold. Presume that's why Tranmere couldn't host but it's not like it's been any warmer down the East Lancs. And it's now behind closed doors too which just adds to the strangeness.

 

[Vanjagl]

First half impression:

Savic - Given free role, he's attacking much more than defending, though at the moments Lazio midfield looks non-existent. Granted, Bigla - Leiva really arent world beaters, but neither are Milan players.

Kessie - Not seen much of him. He likes bursting forward, although he's not very good at it.

I don't think any of them are suited for United in current shape.

 

[Scouseinthehouse]

.....

Typical Kessie game. Half the time you don't realise he's on the pitch. Savic has been top draw though mate this season.

Anyway, so I switch over with around 15 to go normal time and the first thing I hear from the commentator is 'Ohhhhh, Lucas Leiva was a little late there' ...... Don't EVER change Lucas mate. XD XD

 

[PatrickLFC]

Every time I've watched Lazio in the last two seasons, Savic has been the best player on the pitch.

Torreira as mentioned has also been superb for Sampdoria, my concern if Liverpool are interested is that he's pretty short, so are Keita and most of our mids already. For that reason he'd be a better fit for United, plenty of behemoths to make up for it.

 

[Theatre of Dreams83]

Savic much better first half. More involved when playing deeper and slightly more disciplined. Played far to high second half and didn’t see half as much as the ball.

 

[Average Joe]

Well.... that wasn't exactly a classic was it!

Nice to see the partnership of Romagnoli and Bonucci really working well, last time we had any competent defenders was just before Thiago Silva left.

570 odd mins without conceding now I think it is. Calabria really in form lately, still have Conti to come back though and he started the season really well before the injury.

Kalanic... didn't rate him before he came, don't rate him now!

Both teams so poor when near the goal and the penalties were atrocious generally. Still, on to Juve!

 

[Theatre of Dreams83]

INTERVIEW Brian McClair's 14 years at the MUFC academy left a legacy that lasts to this day. Talking Lingard, Rashford, McTominay & so many other playing careers that began at the club https://www.telegraph.co.uk/footba

Former Manchester United forward Brian McClair discusses working in the academy as youth and reserve team coach and academy director.

He talks about Rashford, McTominay and Lingard’s development & Ravel Morrison & Paul Pogba being misunderstood​

 

[Theatre of Dreams83]

From the Palace Presser-


HOW THE SNOW HAS AFFECTED PREPARATIONS
“Yesterday, [we trained] indoor and today, outside but [it has been] difficult. We tried, we worked. The atmosphere is positive and we can't complain because it's over. So, for the rest of the day, they [the players] can be at home.”

SCOTLAND OR ENGLAND FOR MCTOMINAY?
“My advice to him is not about national teams - it's not about that. My advice to him is to keep the way he is - very humble, very open to learn, intelligent and keep going in the same direction and the same profile, trying to fight to have minutes with Manchester United which is not easy. Then the national team will just be a consequence of his work at the club. But I can't confirm at all that both national teams [England and Scotland] have contacted him because I don't know.”

SCOTT IS STAYING GROUNDED
“I think the people around him are the right people. I have never met them but I have to believe that the kid with his attitude towards the others and towards football, the parents must be really good people that pass to him the right values. The kid is keeping his feet on the ground and is very calm. I think he passed some important tests - not from the football point of view but more from the mental point of view, with his maturity, calm, playing against the champions and knockout football in the Champions League. Two tests by the mental approach. So, I think there is a long way to go, obviously, but his feet are very much on the ground, very stable and I just hope he can keep the same direction.”

WE WILL FIGHT FOR THE BEST POSSIBLE FINISH
“First of all, the gap is a very short gap - six points between the second and the fifth teams is really short and really open for everybody. But all four are in the Champions League still, so we have other focuses and targets all of us. I have to say all of us are very good teams - in spite of some times the way I read, it looks like all the others are better than us. But I'm not so sure that is the reality. I would say four very good teams and one will be out of the Champions League. If you ask me second or fourth, I say by the financial point of view it doesn't make a difference, by the prestige point of view, it doesn't make a difference - you go to the Champions League and even the fourth team doesn't have to even play a last qualification match. But, from the personal point of view, second is better than third and third is better than fourth. So, we are going to try the best possible finish. Of course, the top four is very difficult and, at the moment, that's the main target for us. But, if you can finish third, we are not going to finish fourth. If you can finish second, we are not going to finish third.”

 

[Theatre of Dreams83]

Jose Mourinho all but confirms Zlatan Ibrahimovic will leave United this summer: 'We all think it's his last season at Manchester United.' #mufc



"For Zlatan, we all think it's his last season at Manchester United and it will be a very personal decision for him to play or to stop," said Mourinho. "I think he won the right of choosing his life and his future - he's such an amazing player with such an amazing career that only that awful injury in the wrong moment broke a fantastic couple of seasons that he could, and should, have with us.

"This season has been really difficult for him. Is he injured? No, he's not injured. Does he feel totally happy and totally ready and totally convinced that he's in [the] conditions to help the team in this moment? No.

"But he's such an honest guy and such a champion that he only wants to be back with that feeling of 'I'm totally ready for it'. He's working hard and, hopefully, his evolution brings him to that level that he wants to have a positive answer.



Jose Mourinho on @Fellaini : "He will be back to play in a couple of weeks. For hypothetical CL quarter-final." No update on future.



“He's still a young player, his injury had a little surgery, but a minor surgery, and he will be back to play again in a couple of weeks,” the manager told reporters, before estimating when the player could potentially return to the pitch. “If we proceed in the Champions League beyond Sevilla, I think he will be ready for a hypothetical quarter-final. He will be ready for a hypothetical FA Cup semi-final. He will be ready for the last couple of months of our Premier League fight.

On the subject of Marouane’s contract running out at the end of this season, and what is happening regarding the player’s future, Jose continued: “Is he going to stay or leave? I don't know. I don't know. I want him to stay, the club wants him to stay. The process, the negotiations, the numbers, the distances between the offer and what he wants - I really don't know how things are going.”


In a separate interview with MUTV, the boss confirmed he will be without three defenders for the Selhurst Park encounter.

"No Phil Jones, no Marcos Rojo, no Daley Blind," he said. "We don't have them. So the situation hasn't changed. The squad is the same."

 

[Theatre of Dreams83]

Leroy Sané on Timothy Fosu-Mensah, his toughest Premier League opponent: "I have played against him twice this season, and even last season, he had me really well under control and I told him how happy I was to play against him". [sky sports]