DomesticTadpole
Doom-monger obsessed with Herrera & the M.E.N.
Don't anybody dare. He has a lot to learn yet and nobody in this team to teach him.The Athletic Club defender Unai Núñez is a good "cheap" option.
Don't anybody dare. He has a lot to learn yet and nobody in this team to teach him.The Athletic Club defender Unai Núñez is a good "cheap" option.
It's not a short term solution, we'd still have 4 young players who can play in that position, but it's a chance to give them the opportunity to learn from & play alongside a more experienced player whilst they still can. Eventually the 4 young cbs we currently have would (hopefully) be at a better level than they are currently to take over both starting spots.The last thing we need is another short term solution.
What do you think about Škriniar from Inter?
His performances with Inter this year have been great, brilliant on the ball- I've seen him confident enough to make runs in midfield with it. Can score goals (3 so far in all comps. in comparison our current CBs have 2 between them this season).
His success rate this season is 91.6%, passing being one of his best attributes, can throw long-balls on the wings as well as direct down the middle towards the #9.
Edit: Two days ago his agent spoke to a Slovakian website and when asked about interest from Man Utd, Barcelona, Man City and Real Madrid he said that Inter turned down an offer between £52.5m to £57m from one of those clubs without specifying.
From what I've seen this season I think he's ready to step up, especially if he carries on like this until the end. If it wasn't for Handanovic and Skriniar so many Inter draws would have turned in losses.
Happy with Jones as well.I'm happy with Jones. Need the Jones-Bailly partnership back again.
18 goals conceded in 25 games, I don't think Mourinho will buy a centre back.
I really hope we dont sign another center back. We were poor at the back against Spurs but i think we've looked ok this season, signing yet another defender is a waste of resources which could be utilised better elsewhere
Don't think we need one. There are many more pressing issues.
Agreed. We need to upgrade our fullbacks and midfield not CBs. We can even sell some CBs without replacing them. If we are to add someone to the CB position, we can get De Vrij on a free from Lazio as our ball playing CB before selling Blind and maybe Lindelof too. We have more than enough quality and quantity at CB as it is.Don't think we need one. Jones had a really bad day on Wednesday; but he and Bailly with Rojo and Smalling are better than most clubs and even then we have LindelovTuanzabe/TFM/Blind (if still around) as cover - we can get rid of one and not even have to replace. What we need is some protection in front in the big games - so a holding/DM should be our priority.
Varane's fitness history is pretty terrible too. He's basically the French Phil Jones, who is only just now having a relatively injury free season for the first time.In all seriousness I’d be happy if we got someone like a Varane in and try to keep Bailly fit.
The others are hit and miss in terms of fitness
I still think jones has the makings of a Steve Bruce type but is hasn’t proven reliable enough yet with staying fit
Basically what’s the point of having 5 cbs when 3 of them aren’t fit and the other 2 are imho physically too weak to play Cb
Either him or don’t bother signing one.Milan Škriniar.
The only reason our defensive record is so good is because of de Gea. I think most would agree on that. He's probably tested more than most other top GKs, too, because time and time again I see opposition teams waltz through us.Why would most people agree? Because we lost a game?
Jones and Smalling are two of the best defenders in the country. We have one of the best defences in Europe.
Harry fecking Maguire is better than neither. Jesus.
Do most really agree? I certainly don't. The options at centre back are really good. Jones has had an outstanding season, Smalling is a very good defender and Rojo was the best defender in the squad last season before his injury. That is before taking the big money summer signing into account and an extremely talented youngster in Tuanzebe.It seems that most agree with the need for a proper center back to partner Bailly in the future. With Lindelöf still being young and not quite ready yet, Smalling/Jones just not good enough and Rojo too inconsistent, it wouldn’t be a big surprise if United spend a decent amount to bring in a new center back in the summer.
Who do we go for?
Some candidates:
David Luiz
Sokratis Papastathopoulos
Kamil Glik
Kostas Manolas
Kalidou Koulibaly
Samuel Umtiti
Ezequiel Garay
José Giménez
Mateo Musacchio
Ömer Toprak
Stefan De Vrij
Jonathan Tah
Eric Dier
Daniele Rugani
Matthijs De Ligt
Lucas Hernández
Alessio Romagnoli
Harry Maguire
Milan Škriniar
I don’t watch that much football outside the Premier League, but from what I know, my personal preference would be Manolas or Koulibaly (if top tier players like Boateng aren’t available)
@Damien or any other modmin, a poll with some of the main candidates would be greatly appreciated.
Sadly, Varane is turning into a bit of a crock as well... For the past 1-2 years he has been constantly haunted by various injuries. He still has a decent number of games played but that is something to be wary of.In all seriousness I’d be happy if we got someone like a Varane in and try to keep Bailly fit.
Gimenez is not good on the ball. No point replacing Smalling with someone who has the same weakness in his game.Gimenez.
One of Smalling or Jones can go, IMO the latter.
Really like him. For some reason, he reminds me of Vidic.His performances with Inter this year have been great, brilliant on the ball- I've seen him confident enough to make runs in midfield with it. Can score goals (3 so far in all comps. in comparison our current CBs have 2 between them this season).
His success rate this season is 91.6%, passing being one of his best attributes, can throw long-balls on the wings as well as direct down the middle towards the #9.
Edit: Two days ago his agent spoke to a Slovakian website and when asked about interest from Man Utd, Barcelona, Man City and Real Madrid he said that Inter turned down an offer between £52.5m to £57m from one of those clubs without specifying.
From what I've seen this season I think he's ready to step up, especially if he carries on like this until the end. If it wasn't for Handanovic and Skriniar so many Inter draws would have turned in losses.
I agree that there's not many great CBs around. However that its silly. Skriniar would shit on Jones.We probably have the best depth at the CB position in Europe right now. A lot of guys people here are mentioning are not even better than Jones.
I have not seen enough of Skriniar to have an opinion but, look at some of the names on the OP David Luiz, Glik, Garay, De Ligt, Dier, Toprak, Maguire, Hernandez, etc. If people are mentioning names like that they want us to sign any CB.I agree that there's not many great CBs around. However that its silly. Skriniar would shit on Jones.
I have very mixed feelings myself. On one hand Jones and Smalling had been here long enough for us to judge that they are not United's first team level. If you put these guys alongside the various Stam, Johnsen, Rio and Vidic they will stick out like a sore thumb. On the other hand they aren't as shit as many portray them to be. In my opinion they stick in that grey area between first team and utility players. My biggest issue about the two is that they are growing old and yet they still seem to make mistakes 18 year olds do. Don't take me wrong, they aren't retiring anytime soon. However at this point in time, maturity should kick in to compensate to the slow decline physical aspects of their game. There's little maturity/football brain power in those two.I have not seen enough of Skriniar to have an opinion but, look at some of the names on the OP David Luiz, Glik, Garay, De Ligt, Dier, Toprak, Maguire, Hernandez, etc. If people are mentioning names like that they want us to sign any CB.
We really need better ones to be fairWe don't need any more center halves
What I was thinking if he doesn't sign a new deal. Levy would still fleece usAlderweireld, if Spurs will sell him. Hopefully not David Luiz.