The Manchester United Thread

Depay has evolved and now plays in a 10 role, where he has freedom to show his abilities and is not burdened by excessive defensive tasks. He had a brilliant 17/18 season with Lyon, and he's having a solid season right now, tho not as productive as the one before.
 
We don't need another makeshift player again, just get a proper RW who can play that role properly. Got to say it pains me to say it but Sane is a City player I'd dearly love, he reminds me a bit of Giggs in many ways. He's obviously more used on the left (I think) but just thought I'd put it out there.
 
Depay has evolved and now plays in a 10 role, where he has freedom to show his abilities and is not burdened by excessive defensive tasks. He had a brilliant 17/18 season with Lyon, and he's having a solid season right now, tho not as productive as the one before.

You see, people saying he's a Ronaldo kinda player got it wrong. He's not a winger that plays always open, looking to beat his player in a 1x1 situation, nor a striker that thrives making runs to receive the ball behind the defense. He's at his best when he has the ball in his feet and is allowed freedom. He is not a player for positional football (Van Gaal) or highly structured tactics (Mourinho). Tho he's dutch, he is almost a brazilian kinda player.

So, he's very creative, but to bring him to play at his best we need a manager that likes the 10 role.

Mourinho was very astute to insert a buyback clause in the transfer.
 
Completely different evaluation to the one I’d have on him but there you go.

I’d personally be very happy to have him added into our mix with his versatility to cover 3/4 positions without much of a drop off.

I do believe he'd thrive under Klopp. The only worry is that he plays roughly in the same areas of the pitch as Firmino, who's dropping very deep nowadays.
 
I do believe he'd thrive under Klopp. The only worry is that he plays roughly in the same areas of the pitch as Firmino, who's dropping very deep nowadays.

Like I alluded to above, his versatility to cover right across the fromt 3, or as a playmaking 10, would be invaluable to have. (Not into this ‘specific player for a specific role’ notion personally in todays game. Flexibility is key. Not least during games. So the more versatiiity the better for me.). And he’s more than competent with little drop-off right across that. So much you can do with him that he’d be a real fun addition to anyones arsenal IMHO. The stats only tell a part of the story. Lads a constant menance going forward and a ***** to pick up in his floating role.

Terrific talent. His maturity on and off the field has been nice to see blossom the last few years.
 
Like I alluded to above, his versatility to cover right across the fromt 3, or as a playmaking 10, would be invaluable to have. (Not into this ‘specific player for a specific role’ notion personally in todays game. Flexibility is key. Not least during games. So the more versatiiity the better for me.). And he’s more than competent with little drop-off right across that. So much you can do with him that he’d be a real fun addition to anyones arsenal IMHO. The stats only tell a part of the story. Lads a constant menance going forward and a ***** to pick up in his floating role.

Terrific talent. His maturity on and off the field has been nice to see blossom the last few years.

Interesting argument you make about flexibility. I feel the same. We don't see players that feel confortable all around the pitch anymore. We used to have total attackers like Henry, Bergkamp, Ronaldo. Wich position they played: CF? Winger? False nine? Second striker? Yeah, all of them.

The modern football is too sectorized. That's an ugly side to Guardiola's positional play becoming the dominant footballing culture. Some players require more freedom than the system allows them.

That's the problem with brazilian football right now. Trying to tell young players that they either are a winger, a cf or a 10, and that they should therefore stick to one determined area of the pitch. But our culture is that the best players should be with or near the ball at all times, and sticking to your position waiting for the ball to come (as Guardiola did to Henry, for instance) is extremely unnatural. If Ronaldo was born in this generation, coaches would certainly make him a winger that sticks to the sideline at all times.
 
Interesting argument you make about flexibility. I feel the same. We don't see players that feel confortable all around the pitch anymore. We used to have total attackers like Henry, Bergkamp, Ronaldo. Wich position they played: CF? Winger? False nine? Second striker? Yeah, all of them.

The modern football is too sectorized. That's an ugly side to Guardiola's positional play becoming the dominant footballing culture. Some players require more freedom than the system allows them.

That's the problem with brazilian football right now. Trying to tell young players that they either are a winger, a cf or a 10, and that they should therefore stick to one determined area of the pitch. But our culture is that the best players should be with or near the ball at all times, and sticking to your position waiting for the ball to come (as Guardiola did to Henry, for instance) is extremely unnatural. If Ronaldo was born in this generation, coaches would certainly make him a winger that sticks to the sideline at all times.

Cantona was a superb all around player.
 
Watching the (terrible) Brazil's friendlies, i was impressed with four players: Telles (best LB in Europe not in a top side), Allan (pressing powers like Kante but good technique too), David Neres and Everton.

Everton plays mostly as a LW, but he can also play in the right. He's very skilled and a natural dribbler. Lacks finishing. He's been linked to us before. Not a starter right away, but a good option in the bench.
 
..... That's the problem with brazilian football right now. Trying to tell young players that they either are a winger, a cf or a 10, and that they should therefore stick to one determined area of the pitch. .....

Interestingly, a Brazilian journalist made a similar distinction on Firmino (who I don’t think theres a more complete all-round forward anywhere. Better, more consistent goalscorers. But his workrate and all round game is unrivalled) the other day and how the rest of the National side needs to catch up with him:

https://www.thisisanfield.com/2019/...role-proves-why-liverpool-is-the-perfect-fit/
 
Interestingly, a Brazilian journalist made a similar distinction on Firmino (who I don’t think theres a more complete all-round forward anywhere. Better, more consistent goalscorers. But his workrate and all round game is unrivalled) the other day and how the rest of the National side needs to catch up with him:

https://www.thisisanfield.com/2019/...role-proves-why-liverpool-is-the-perfect-fit/
Firmino likes to drop deep to link-up play with his teammates and to create space. Tite wants him to play as an authentic striker, making runs behind the defense. It kills his football.
 
Like I alluded to above, his versatility to cover right across the fromt 3, or as a playmaking 10, would be invaluable to have. (Not into this ‘specific player for a specific role’ notion personally in todays game. Flexibility is key. Not least during games. So the more versatiiity the better for me.). And he’s more than competent with little drop-off right across that. So much you can do with him that he’d be a real fun addition to anyones arsenal IMHO. The stats only tell a part of the story. Lads a constant menance going forward and a ***** to pick up in his floating role.

Terrific talent. His maturity on and off the field has been nice to see blossom the last few years.

Not sure how much he has matured off the field, there seem to be pretty frequent issues between him and the rest of the squad and the manager in Lyon. He is also playing a lot better for the Dutch National team than he is for Lyon where he isn't really hitting the same level he managed the season before. I think he is clearly a talented footballer but he would still be a very risky signing for anyone to make I think, and Lyon also aren't known for letting players go on the cheap


Also there's this

[video=youtube;PQa4mr2o8Z4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQa4mr2o8Z4[/video]
 
Not sure how much he has matured off the field .....

Also there's this .....

Not my taste, and the cigar’s ill-advised, but he’s well into his music and that career he’s setting up for himself after football right?

There’s been incidents. That’s the rub witn such a personality. But not nearly as many as earlier in his career. He appears like Ibrahimovic to me with that unwavering belief in himself as the best, along with being a charismatic , expressive personality, that comes across as arrogant to some and rubs them up the wrong way. The narrative’s written.

Matured in so much as his work rate and dedication are markedly better than when he was at Utd and the incidents are fewer. And by all accounts he has personal psychologists/ a life coach et all helping him develop and control his anger. Not perfect and a says to go but a whole bunch better than he was.

With the obvious caveat of not being able to speak to anyone at Lyon, on the face of it I wouldn’t be scared off by his past when he’s trying to inprove on his future.
 
LvG, despite bitterness attached, dropped a lot of hometruths yesterday.
 
LvG, despite bitterness attached, dropped a lot of hometruths yesterday.

Think he was talking whack personally, he says there is no difference between Mourinho and Solskjaer football - calling it 'park the bus'.

Now don't get me wrong there have been games where let's face it we have sat deep, but that's the only parallel. With Ole it's different to Mourinho because he allows the counter by keeping wide playera higher up the pitch.

Not to mention that Ole for the most part has been more expansive for sure against the smaller teams.

I'm not entirely convinced by Solskjaer, but comparing the football to Mourinho is just dribble if you ask me.
 
Think he was talking whack personally, he says there is no difference between Mourinho and Solskjaer football - calling it 'park the bus'.

Now don't get me wrong there have been games where let's face it we have sat deep, but that's the only parallel. With Ole it's different to Mourinho because he allows the counter by keeping wide playera higher up the pitch.

Not to mention that Ole for the most part has been more expansive for sure against the smaller teams.

I'm not entirely convinced by Solskjaer, but comparing the football to Mourinho is just dribble if you ask me.

That seems to be the only thing emotional United fans have taken from it. Ignoring every bit of sense he spoke and just disregarded it all as “whack” because he said Ole plays counter attacking footy. That epitomises what’s wrong with our club and fans. The glazers need to be OUT. We’re a football club, not a business.
 
That seems to be the only thing emotional United fans have taken from it. Ignoring every bit of sense he spoke and just disregarded it all as “whack” because he said Ole plays counter attacking footy. That epitomises what’s wrong with our club and fans. The glazers need to be OUT. We’re a football club, not a business.
lol glazers out like thats ever going to happen thay make too much money to sell get over it
 
Mark Ogden and Ducker echoing what Luckhurst tweet says. Saying we will be signing young potential WC talents and no longer signing players in there late 20s unless they are undoubtedly WC players.
 
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