Hey, they've been class recently, and hey, a quick fix may not work at all. Moreover, we have Smalling and Bailly returning from injury who were regarded as first choice anyhow.
Victor Lindelöf
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A quick fix won't work but its clearly evident that Jones, Rojo and co won't either. The former spends more time in the treatment room then on the pitch while the latter is lucky not to see red (and luck does run out). And no Smalling hasn't done enough to be considered a regular first teamer either.
So yes we do need a new CB. If Rojo, Crocko and co are good enough then they will win their place back.
Guess we just have to agree to disagree. If you look at our stats the last couple of seasons, we do well in terms of goals conceded, but we struggle in terms of goals scored; subsequently, I would put emphasis on scoring more goals.
To me, Smalling is first team quality, and it seems obvious that Bailly will get there. Having four first team centre backs seems like a dream that pretty much no team can enjoy. In addition to Rojo, Jones, Smalling and Bailly, we also have two up and coming talents that we should nurture. I really despise this buying for buying's sake as I take it. A 22 year old defender from Benfica is hardly going to be an improvement on what we currently have - and thus I see no need to spend on a position where I think we are pretty well stocked. Our wingers are failing us big time, and have been for a long while; I think that should be our focus.
As much as I want to see a Swedish player at United I can't help to be sceptical about this. I have never seen him as United quality, but then I also trust Mourinho especially when it comes to signing center-backs. So we'll see.
LVG played a style of football with us which made Helenio Herrera look like Keegan on steroids. No wonder why we did so well at the back. Also if our CBs are so great then surely they shouldn't be afraid of some 22 year old from Benfica wouldn't they? My only 'agenda' is to see us stop with this musical chairs in CD. We've played everyone there, left backs, midfielders etc. We'll soon try Sir Bobby Charlton too
Zlatan must know him quite well and I imagine has a high opinion of him.
Plus Jose knows a Centre Back when he sees one.
Plus Jose knows a Centre Back when he sees one.
Zlatan has spoken well (or, good, to speak like Zlatan lol) about him in the media.
I've always felt we would sign another centre back and expected it to happen in the last transfer window. Mourinho is one of the best when it comes to centre backs so I trust him if he thinks Lindelof is good enough. Having 5 centre backs for 2 positions will increase competition. Blind probably won't play there in the future.
My point is that we have conceded 17 this year - only Tottenham, Chelsea and Southampton (!!) have condeded less. I don't think our CBs should be afraid of the said 22 year old, which is why I think he will do little else than add to the numbers we have, and therefore I think we should rather nurture the talents within the club. If it was Boateng knocking on the door for 30m, then I'd be all for it.
Is Bobby Charlton tall enough to play centre back? Surely he has lost an inch or so due to old age.
Thats encouraging. You imagine Zlatan rates the players mentality then as well as his ability.
Haha nice one mate, touch of class
If Zlatan rates him, i guess we have no option but to sign him!
http://www.espnfc.com/story/3003455...vic-victor-lindelof-good-enough-for-top-clubs
Man United's Zlatan Ibrahimovic: Victor Lindelof can play for top clubs
Former Sweden captain Ibrahimovic said that the 22-year-old would be a good addition.
"I think Victor is doing great things, he is playing good for Benfica, he gets a lot of responsibility for the national team now, he is growing," the Manchester United striker told a news conference ahead of Thursday's Europa League match against Feyenoord.
"Is he good enough for United? I think he's good enough for the big clubs out there. It's up to him what he wants. Whatever he chooses will be good for him.
"I know he is hot on the market so let him make the right choice, what fits him good."
United central defenders Eric Bailly and Chris Smalling are currently sidelined with injuries.
Former Sweden captain Ibrahimovic said that the 22-year-old would be a good addition.
"I think Victor is doing great things, he is playing good for Benfica, he gets a lot of responsibility for the national team now, he is growing," the Manchester United striker told a news conference ahead of Thursday's Europa League match against Feyenoord.
"Is he good enough for United? I think he's good enough for the big clubs out there. It's up to him what he wants. Whatever he chooses will be good for him.
"I know he is hot on the market so let him make the right choice, what fits him good."
United central defenders Eric Bailly and Chris Smalling are currently sidelined with injuries.
And at what price? We still struggling to create chances and when our opponents take us on the defence shakes more then the Titanic when it hits the iceberg. We shouldn't be relying on players like Fellaini to close the gaps but we do. We need consistency at the back and we shouldn't end up into a silly situation were midfielders and fullbacks have to play in CD because our CBs are too injury prone/shite to do their job.
These brood has been given their chance of consolidating a regular first team place and had failed miserably. They don't deserve a guaranteed first team place anymore and they should sweat for a first team place. Lindelof might not be Boateng but I doubt he needs to be, especially considering how easy it was for another 22 year old to quickly win his place against these gentlemen
I would be fine with getting Lindelof, amazing potential and, like you said, we are one injury away from crisis in the centre back position. He can cover RB and DM as well if need be. During Fergie years we always had 5 CBs of which few were able to cover more than one spot in the team. No reason to not have that now, we need depth and Lindelof looks like an amazing prospect that's already capable of playing top flight football. All of our current CBs, despite Jones and Rojo being amazing at the moment to the joy of all of us, are suspect in one way or another. Being injury prone or having dip in form. Baily is still unknown quantity on that matter but he did get two injuries already this season and will also be away for ACON...
On top of that I would want a Carrick cover in January too. Someone who will stay backup for that position after summer too once we (most likely) splurge some cash for long term Carrick replacement.
Most of them are just frightened of a Bailly mark II who would send their darlings back to where they belong to
I really don't know if this is the right move for either United or Lindelöf.
You have to understand that Lindelöf only has played in a starting role for Benfica since the middle of last season. He hasn't completed a whole season in a starting role yet. He was fantastic when Sweden won Euro under-21 2015 (as a RB) and last season when Benfica played in CL, but has not been any special in the national team. He has been playing, and been okay, but not in any way a world class defender. His position in Benfica is perfect for him, he gets to play in a decent level week after week, and also in CL every season. He can as a talent, which he still is, develop in his own pace, without to much pressure, to hopefully become a world class defender. But to go to United, where you compete with Jones, Bailly, Smalling and Rojo is risking everything if he doesn't get minutes on the pitch, which is definitely not certain he will. And for United, to not buy a world class-ready defender and only a player who maybe will become one (and definitely needs to play to be able to become one), is very risky. And ones again, Lindelöf has only played in a starting role in Benfica since the middle of last season.
Lindelöf is not a world class defender, he is a talent, and he can become one, but his chances to that is a lot bigger in Benfica than in United.
You have to understand that Lindelöf only has played in a starting role for Benfica since the middle of last season. He hasn't completed a whole season in a starting role yet. He was fantastic when Sweden won Euro under-21 2015 (as a RB) and last season when Benfica played in CL, but has not been any special in the national team. He has been playing, and been okay, but not in any way a world class defender. His position in Benfica is perfect for him, he gets to play in a decent level week after week, and also in CL every season. He can as a talent, which he still is, develop in his own pace, without to much pressure, to hopefully become a world class defender. But to go to United, where you compete with Jones, Bailly, Smalling and Rojo is risking everything if he doesn't get minutes on the pitch, which is definitely not certain he will. And for United, to not buy a world class-ready defender and only a player who maybe will become one (and definitely needs to play to be able to become one), is very risky. And ones again, Lindelöf has only played in a starting role in Benfica since the middle of last season.
Lindelöf is not a world class defender, he is a talent, and he can become one, but his chances to that is a lot bigger in Benfica than in United.
Can he play as RB?
No idea about him, as I didn't really with Bailly, but if there's a type of player Jose is good at getting right then it's a CB, and that's good enough for me.
He can play as a RB as much as Bailly can play as a RB. He is fast, and okay with the ball. He is actually a bit like Bailly when it comes to moving the ball up the pitch. A bit less aggressive maybe, and definitely not as good yet. But like Bailly, its not his natural position. And in my opinion its honestly better to buy a real RB for 20 million (who is more a natural technician and offensive player) than a fast CB for 40 million and play him as a RB.
This is a very good summary of his overall play. You can see that he is a modern defender. Fast, pretty good with the ball, and very aggressive. (Very much like Bailly, but not as good imo). His biggest strength is probably the way he can move the ball up the pitch from his CB-position, create space and also create chances from through balls. The way he does it around 3:00 is very typical of his play.
But you can also see a bit of risky tackles, and runs out of position. Im also a bit skeptical how strong he really is when hes in nick duels with strong defenders or strikers.
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Mourinho just love converted fullbacks (Gallas, Chivu, Ramos, Ivanovic). If you ask me, I believe that all Mourinho wants is a defence made up of reliable defenders who show up and do the job on a week in week out. United hasn't been able to have a regular defence ever since Vidic-Rio-Evra left the club. I can't blame him on that because consistency brings stability
Well then i honestly think Bailly would be a better pick to play as a RB (who is mostly a better version of Lindelöf) and instead buy another world class defender, and not a talent, for the money that United would have spent on Lindelöf.
From that video he does seem to be an unusually incisive passer for a CB. Maybe it is to suit a direct style of play. If we do sign any defenders I expect some(one) have asked to leave.
If he is going to come in and improve the team then Im all for it. No one has any idea how long the Jones/Rojo partnership will last and if we buy him and it gives more options then all the better.
Cheers mate
I think Mourinho realises if he wants to imrpove the quality and tempo of our football than he needs centrebacks who can actually move the ball up the pitch and play a decent pass. In that aspect of the game Smalling, Jones and also Rojo are absolutley horrible. Bailly is miles better in that regard and I think Lindelöf is another step in that direction. In modern day football you need your defenders to do a little more than just stand on the right position and hoof the ball away when they get it.
Ive literally just seen this Youtube video on this page,
He looks like a Jones replacement if Im honest, seems to be quick on his feet and quite strong in the tackle, no-nonsense kind of CB, also seems to be in the mould of Jose's favourite kind of players- BIG.
Seems like Jose is building a monster back line which I have no qualms with, the only issue is these kinds of players ability to make runs in the oppositions half.
He seems to have the ability like Bailly to pass the ball from a central position either behind the defence or down the channel.
We certainly need those kinds of players, Perhaps were missing a bigger trick here, he could be being bought to sit in as a CDM, musch like Kurt Zouma was in the earlier Chelsea days, I dont think he has the composure of passing ability to replace someone like Carrick but he definitely has the physicality.
He looks alright but much like Bailly, he coul dbe on the cusp of making the push to being top class. We seem to buy players in that era of their careers these days. Its pretty cool.
He looks like a Jones replacement if Im honest, seems to be quick on his feet and quite strong in the tackle, no-nonsense kind of CB, also seems to be in the mould of Jose's favourite kind of players- BIG.
Seems like Jose is building a monster back line which I have no qualms with, the only issue is these kinds of players ability to make runs in the oppositions half.
He seems to have the ability like Bailly to pass the ball from a central position either behind the defence or down the channel.
We certainly need those kinds of players, Perhaps were missing a bigger trick here, he could be being bought to sit in as a CDM, musch like Kurt Zouma was in the earlier Chelsea days, I dont think he has the composure of passing ability to replace someone like Carrick but he definitely has the physicality.
He looks alright but much like Bailly, he coul dbe on the cusp of making the push to being top class. We seem to buy players in that era of their careers these days. Its pretty cool.
O Jogo, is it a reliable source?
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Hasn't Valencia been one of your best players this season? Why spend £30m+ on a CB who happens to be able to play RB in that case? And what happens with Smalling who just a few months ago was one of the better CB's in the PL? Is he done?
Could he be converted as a Carrick replacement?
Valencia is 32 next August. We are going to have to replace him relatively soon.
I thought Smalling had a really good first half to the season in 2016/2016 but obviously José doesn't seem to hold him in the same regard. It's unfortunate for Smalling but we have the money to splurge on anyone we want (Even though we're not in the CL), and we can buy CBs like Lindelof if we so desire.
Angry and confused at this link.
I don't know Lindelof, so I have no opinion about him but I know Fabinho and he is really good, I would love to see us sign him to replace Valencia.
To be honest I'd have Smalling at Chelsea. Think Conte could work with him quite easily.
Feck right off.
Original post you quoted is unsubstantiated. Smalling was first choice until he got injured.
Waste of money
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