In order to accomplish what? How are you going to combine Pogba and MS on the pitch?
Sergej Milinkovic Savic
- Thread starter R'hllor
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Why would Madrid need SMS? They already have Ceballos, Kovacic, Llorente, as well as Casemeiro, Kroos, and Modric. Don't see the point of adding another CM.
Real Madrid have a superior midfield to us and they apparently want him. That's why they win so much they don't have the attitude of "we have already have x players so we'll stick with what we have" they heve the attitude of wanting to always strengthen regardless of how good they are.
To be honest both us and Real being linked to him seems to be Lazio and his agent pumping up the price.
Real need Milinkovic-Savic even less than we do. They're not going to bench their midfield 3 for (Modric, Kroos and Casemiro) anyone unless they can get Kanté as replacement for Casemiro. And if Lopetegui goes with 4 midfielders if they jettison Bale or Ronaldo he has Isco and Asensio in that attacking midfielder role. Oh and they have Kovacic as cover for many of those positions.
You're right that Real sometimes buys players that don't fill a need, but they do so when they have a commercial/marketing value of consequence (Bale, James Rodriguez). Milinkovic Savic is not a 30.000 shirts sold on the first day kind of guy.
He's got Juventus or Bayern written all over him.
Can’t see Real spending that sort of money on SMS. He’s not exactly a global superstar is he?
No. This seems to be coming from the Italian end, which is no surprise given that Lazio are apparently keen to sell and are trying to drum up a bidding war by leaking 'stories' to the press. My guess is they'll do well to achieve half this €150m fee and he'll end up at Juve.
Savic has been linked with Madrid, but I think he will end up at Juventus (if they can't sign Golovin)
SMS is a top midfielder, but for 150m, I would prefer to sign Thiago AND Mahrez.
SMS is a top midfielder, but for 150m, I would prefer to sign Thiago AND Mahrez.
Isn't Mahrez to MCFC a done deal or can it be hijacked?
Griezmann didn't go to Barca and Fekir didn't sign for Liverpool. So anything can happen.
I think it can be hijacked, but Mourinho prefers someone like William.
Mahrez to City is not a done deal yet...
Link: https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/6579919/riyad-mahrez-man-city-leicester-news/
Link: https://www.manchestereveningnews.c...-news/man-city-transfer-riyad-mahrez-14804415
IMO Mahrez would be ideal for us.
I'd be happy just signing someone with potential, if we do choose to sign another CM. Fred/Pogba/Matic is a very good midfield on paper looks well balanced. Would quite like Mahrez but he's supposedly all but confirmed as a City player.
He is very far from being good enough to play for Madrid.
This one is a pipe dream. Same as all other high profile hot prospects like Sandro. Their teams slap a high price and there's nothing you can do barring fortuitous circumstances.
Plus let's be real we already have players in his position that are dead cert to start every game when fit. You don't buy players of this profile as squad options
Plus let's be real we already have players in his position that are dead cert to start every game when fit. You don't buy players of this profile as squad options
What a bizarre outlook you have. Goalkeepers and centre halves can’t be small, full backs and no.10’s can’t be tall... come on, you can’t believe that? Sure, the vast majority of central defenders are tall, but is it impossible for a smaller player to excel there? No, of course not - see Cannavaro, Puyol, Mascherano, Cordoba. The idea that being a particular height is a prerequisite for playing in a particular position is completely wrong. Do all the people of a certain height have the same build, the same inclinations and the same physical, technical and mental qualities? No. So how on earth can you make such a sweeping generalisation?
Players like Gourcuff, Pastore and, most obviously, Zidane were/ are both tall and natural no.10’s. Fellaini’s regular role at United could easily be described as that of a no.10, and Milinkovic-Savic has been playing in pretty much the same position as Fellaini last season. Another player linked to us, Talisca, seems to be widely considered a no.10 as well.
Aspects of Sergej’s game reminds me of the likes of Zizou, Berbatov or Ibrahimovic. He is similarly graceful, technical and inventive - facets I wouldn’t associate with the word ‘brute’. I’m not saying that description is insulting, merely that it isn’t a word I would associate with the player I have seen. He just seems a bit too silky to be called a brute - but then perhaps it just ties in with your general inability to fathom that a player who is abnormally tall can suit a creative attacking role.
Surely asking me to watch that video was a joke? I didn’t see him starring at the U20 World Cup but from those clips he clearly played high up the park. He demonstrated everything which I previously mentioned I’ve observed - qualities which allow him to be effective from a no.10 position. You contradict your own opinion twice, giving an example of another no.10 with his height while attempting to refute the notion that someone so tall could play there, and then championing a compilation video in which he performs in the role you are aiming to disprove his suitability for. If that was the last time you seen Savic, why do you have it in your head that he’s a deeper midfield player? Do you have any video’s which demonstrate his strengths when playing deeper? The reason I asked is because I have seen little of the player and was interested. He has occupied an advanced position on the occasions I have seen and the way in which he made an impact in those games was through receiving the ball high, and I struggle to imagine him excelling more than he has been by taking away his capacity to influence the game in that way.
Looking at a potential transfer to United, I think an argument could more readily be made for him coming in with the view of him as a no.10/ advanced no.8. With Fellaini being the equivalent player in a potential United lineup and possibly leaving it is easy to see him as a direct replacement, and upgrade, stylistically if not in squad pecking order. Lingard is a good alternative option at no.10 and provides very different qualities to Savic with his perpetual movement and runs, but beyond that who could potentially play there? Mourinho has shown no interest in using Mata or Rashford in that role - Sanchez perhaps, but it would appear the left wing starting position is the plan for him. Signing Savic would provide us with a creative outlet on the ball in that area of the park, which Lingard simply can’t - he would hopefully add a little touch of class.
With Fred coming in, I would say we are ‘bottom heavy’ in midfield currently. Looking at our options, Matic and Herrera can occupy the holding role (Fred too?), Fred, Herrera and Pogba can play in the deeper/ conservative no.8 role in a traditional midfield two or three, and then Pogba and Lingard can occupy the more advanced position in a midfield three but Pogba isn’t comfortable in a no.10 role leaving just Lingard there.
Jose likes to play with a no.10, is partial to a 4-2-3-1, and did use a combination of Matic-Pogba-Fellaini last season so is not averse to playing without a more nimble, mobile midfielder. He spoke last season about midfield being the area where we need to improve, as well as the need to replace outgoing/ unavailable players. Mourinho is usually very honest when speaking publicly regarding things of that ilk. Is it outside the realms of possibility that we follow the large outlay on Fred with a potentially even larger outlay on Milinkovic-Savic? I wouldn’t be overly surprised, and could see Jose convincing the board to spend on players who won’t necessarily play every game but give him a much stronger pool of players from which to pick and choose depending on the requirements of individual matches.
The Lazio prospect is crucial to his nation’s chances and now has the opportunity to prove himself as a real box-to-box midfielder. There is his willingness to put a foot in, the physicality that is earning him a reputation as one of Serie A’s hardmen
he scored 14 goals and provided three assists in all competitions in the 2017/18 season. What will set him apart is whether he is able to take games by the scruff of the neck in Russia and provide in both attack and defence.
A concern among United fans might be how he would fit in alongside Paul Pogba and Fred. Indeed, he does bear similarities with both midfielders
In Serbia’s last warm-up game against Bolivia, which they won 5-1, Milinković-Savić played alongside Matic in a two-man midfield.
https://www.thesportsman.com/articl...nited-transfer-target-sergej-milinkovic-savic
he scored 14 goals and provided three assists in all competitions in the 2017/18 season. What will set him apart is whether he is able to take games by the scruff of the neck in Russia and provide in both attack and defence.
A concern among United fans might be how he would fit in alongside Paul Pogba and Fred. Indeed, he does bear similarities with both midfielders
In Serbia’s last warm-up game against Bolivia, which they won 5-1, Milinković-Savić played alongside Matic in a two-man midfield.
https://www.thesportsman.com/articl...nited-transfer-target-sergej-milinkovic-savic
Yeah, as i said, he played as an attacking midfielder for Lazio. It's not that he doesn't put in a shift defensively, but his qualities are best used in the attacking midfielder role. He's at his best in the 3/4 area and in and around the box, so that's where he should play if you want to get the best of him
He's literally the player Mourinho dreams of as a #10. A combination of Ozil and Fellaini
He's literally the player Mourinho dreams of as a #10. A combination of Ozil and Fellaini
Looks a real talent
That's Mourinho's wet dream, right there
Great post, he looked good for Serbia the other day with some silky smooth skills and nimble footwork, look forward to seeing more from him at the WC, I don't see why it would be bad for Jose to have to pick from SMS, Pogba, Herrera, Matic, Fred and than having Mctominay and Lingard in the mix as well. Guy looks like a real talent that if keeps on evolving will be a force to reckon with. Definetly someone I would not mind seeing Utd get but at the same time there are so many promising looking midfielders around these days that might do a great job for far lesser money even though every player is priced at ridicioulus amounts right now, according to Lazio and rumours they want nothing less than 150 for Savic
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Could play him as the 1 in a 4-3-1-2 and have one of Rashford or Lingard up front and running around Lukaku.
Three in midfield of Pogba, Matic and Fred.
Three in midfield of Pogba, Matic and Fred.
Good luck playing a diamond with Young and Valencia..
Good player but not 100m worthy let alone 150m. This money can be used to strengthen 3 other positions in the team at least.
Dalot and Sandro
Would be a terrible fit for our team.
I know you can't go off one national team game, but it's no surprise that it's probably yet another hype train. Somehow even clubs get caught up in these sometimes.
He's looks to me like a poor man's Pogba. That's not meant as any insult.
After a deep dive into his career (YouTube and 2 WC matches) I'd still like to add him but not for €100mm of the Glazer's money.
After a deep dive into his career (YouTube and 2 WC matches) I'd still like to add him but not for €100mm of the Glazer's money.
Wouldn't pay more than 20m for him based on today performance. Did absolutely feck all, got bullied easily.
He's also just like Pogba. I don't see how these two could play n the same team
He's also just like Pogba. I don't see how these two could play n the same team
Dalot and Sandro
We should be securing Sandro and a RW before considering another midfielder IMO
I think his performances at club level its a better indicative of his quality than international football. The wc is in the end of a season and many times the players are in disfunctional teams. Messi for example.
More and more I watch of him, more I question where he’d fit in for us? Good player. Good potential. Not ready for us.
Absolutely abysmal today. It’s a first time I’ve seen him play and safe to say I wasn’t impressed.
Another online myth. Steer well clear.
I rather go for Kovacic.
Told you after WC price will drop. Or valuation w/e
He would be someone to look for if Mourinho has a system in mind that had Pogba but Pogba no longer wanted to be here. Similar but not as talented, less of a creator/more a scorer. Fitting pogba and SMS together would be dumb though. Wouldnt work.
If that was Pogba, there would have been 50 articles by now about how he failed to dominate the game against the Swiss.
Good player, but not as good as his role model. How could he ever live up to his 150m prize tag hype?
Good player, but not as good as his role model. How could he ever live up to his 150m prize tag hype?
And how could we every live down having paid it?
For 150million it better be guaranteed that we are signing the best mid in world football who can slot into the team beautifully.
Unfortunately, Modric is not for sale.
Very true.
It seems strange that people would criticise what we get from Pogba but big up Sergej. Not saying Sergej's a bad player, he's clearly very good. However, imagining that he is going to 'fix' our midfield is a bit far fetched. He's younger than Pogba so he has more to grow. However, right now, he's nowhere near Pogba's level and is most certainly not a £100m player.
Avoid! Isn’t worth anymore than £60m.