Marko Arnautovic

[beingshe7don]

The fact of the matter is that when Sanchez, Mahrez and Lucas Moura were available in the same window, we should have gone after Mahrez at the very least since he was premier league proven and is a good friend of the french speaking contingent in our team and would have gelled on pretty well. Mahrez is the RW we needed. We wouldn't have needed to pay him that much in wages and broken the wage structure. Not only did we buy Sanchez, we ruined the form of the other players and stagnated the development of Rashford and Martial who were getting game time in tandem and improving.

As for Arnatovic, he's a decent player but we've got a few of them right now in the team. We really need to get rid of mediocrity in the team
Fellaini, Jones, Matic, Smalling, Young, Valencia and Sanchez need to leave ASAP

And we could go ahead and buy 2 CBs, RW, CM, ST

De Ligt and Skriniar/ Romignali
O Dembele/ Pulisic
Frankie De Jong
Cavani/ Icardi and give Mason Greenwood a few min in the team as ST.

 

[Freak]

Just get him.

 

[Mcking]

Every person in the world knows what Shaqiri stands for, back at Stoke and now for Liverpool's bench. Average player with a few super goals every season, not jealous and wouldn't want him at United.

He is talented. Was just inconsistent at Stoke. Talented players tend to be inconsistent at average teams. He is doing very well with Liverpool.

 

[Devil may care]

I want Mourinho out and I want to see us move away from target strikers and towards a fluid front 3 too. But, Arnautovic is not just a target man, he would fit any system.

Regardless he's also nothing special and has always had a questionable attitude, hence why he's at a mid table side as he hits 30. If we are to move to a fluid front 3 we could actually use what we have more efficiently without the need to shell out massive amounts on another striker, the system of play and lack of creativity in midfield will hurt any front 3 we play. The only way I could see buying a player like Arnautovic is as a back-up striker and since West Ham just bought him they aren't going to sell him for back-up money, I'd rather try and build a fluid front 3 out of what we have and monitor the development of players like Richarlison, Gomez and Jovic before making a decision, especially since we have to factor in Sanchez and Lukaku for at least another 18 months IMO.

 

[sugar_kane]

We've had rotten luck in recent years with players who have had questionable attitudes, especially those that have agitated for a move from their current club.

I'm not convinced going for Arnautovic is a sensible idea.

 

[Handré1990]

All of you who say no thanks to this guy, have you seen him in other games than against us? He was excellent in that game, and has been in the other three games I’ve seen him in. His link-up play is on a different level to Lukaku, and he is very good at heading and getting a shot off in tight situations. He has excellent technique and really puts up a fight in every game.

He’d fit in perfectly for Mourinho, kind of like a Zlatan light with more mobility, and I’m sure he’ll be useful for the next manager too. Yes, please!

 

[Mcking]

All of you who say no thanks to this guy, have you seen him in other games than against us? He was excellent in that game, and has been in the other three games I’ve seen him in. His link-up play is on a different level to Lukaku, and he is very good at heading and getting a shot off in tight situations. He has excellent technique and really puts up a fight in every game.

He’d fit in perfectly for Mourinho, kind of like a Zlatan light with more mobility, and I’m sure he’ll be useful for the next manager too. Yes, please!

I watch him, and I don't see any weakness. The kind of striker that would be perfect for any system. A combination of Zlatan and Firmino. I'm all in.

 

[RedSky]

His highest goal scoring season is 11 goals for fecks sake, as a 29 year old that's fecking awful as a first choice forward. He also takes significantly more shots than say Lukaku and scores very few (bad conversion rate).

Now when you look at our team stats this season:

Manchester United Goals Scored: 20, ranked joint 6th
Manchester United Total Shots: 157, ranked 7th
Manchester United Shots on Target: 72, ranked 2nd
Manchester United Shots on Target to Goals Scored: 28%, ranked 14th
Manchester United Shots to Goals Scored: 13%, ranked joint 5th

So when you look at the above what does that tell you? We're one of the best at getting shots on target, but our finishing is very poor. We're testing the keeper but with timid shots (Pogba has the most shots in the team with 36, Lukaku on 20, Martial on 14, Sanchez 13, Lingard 11). Now to put the above into perspective... Pogba has scored 3 goals, 2 are penalties. So therefore 34 of his shots are not penalties and he's scored 1 goal. That's our problem right now. Telling Pogba to pass the ball to a team mate who's better at shooting.

 

[Mcking]

His highest goal scoring season is 11 goals for fecks sake, as a 29 year old that's fecking awful as a first choice forward. He also takes significantly more shots than say Lukaku and scores very few (bad conversion rate).

Now when you look at our team stats this season:

Manchester United Goals Scored: 20, ranked joint 6th
Manchester United Total Shots: 157, ranked 7th
Manchester United Shots on Target: 72, ranked 2nd
Manchester United Shots on Target to Goals Scored: 28%, ranked 14th
Manchester United Shots to Goals Scored: 13%, ranked joint 5th

So when you look at the above what does that tell you? We're one of the best at getting shots on target, but our finishing is very poor. We're testing the keeper but with timid shots (Pogba has the most shots in the team with 36, Lukaku on 20, Martial on 14, Sanchez 13, Lingard 11). Now to put the above into perspective... Pogba has scored 3 goals, 2 are penalties. So therefore 34 of his shots are not penalties and he's scored 1 goal. That's our problem right now. Telling Pogba to pass the ball to a team mate who's better at shooting.

He only just started playing as a center forward. RVP's highest goal scoring season was 11 too, until his penultimate season at Arsenal.

 

[Handré1990]

I watch him, and I don't see any weakness. The kind of striker that would be perfect for any system. A combination of Zlatan and Firmino. I'm all in.

Good shout, actually! He does cover quite a lot of ground for someone his size. I agree with you, think he’d help our other attackers (bar Lukaku, of course ) to the next level. Particularly Martial would work well with him imo.

 

[Robbie Boy]

Every person in the world knows what Shaqiri stands for, back at Stoke and now for Liverpool's bench. Average player with a few super goals every season, not jealous and wouldn't want him at United.

Spot fecking on and most said as much even before he was linked with Liverpool.

 

[Siorac]

As an Austrian and someone who followed Arnautovic since his early days, I can say that there are even two reasons why he isn't playing for a top side at the moment. After his first big transfer to iInter Mailand(he actually won the championsleague there under José) he was injured most of the time and had pretty much no playing time. After his short spell at inter he was always the best player on the pitch and he was indeed a world-class talent. But like many players his attitude held him back. He lost his motivation to train properly and was often in the news for his antics of the pitch.

Then he went to England and became a father and that changed the man. He started to work hard and mature mentally and once again he was the best player at stoke and now at West Ham. The ability was always there, and talent as output wise he should have been playing at the top level for his hole career but his injuries at his young age and his behavior of the pitch lead him to where he is now.

I'm totally convinced that he would be a top player for our team. Look what he did in West Ham pretty much on his own. He's over the flanks and despite him being of the physical, Mourinho type, he's main strength is his technique over his body. The red flags who ones surrounded the man are gone and he is definitely ready to play for a top side.

Like I said, he might be one of the exceptions. But at his age, considering the age profile of our squad, I'd steer clear unless he's really dirt cheap.

 

[RedSky]

He only just started playing as a center forward.

Played the majority of last season as a CF and the few before that in Martials role as a wide forward. In any case, Lukaku doesn't really play CF for us as he's constantly having to drift wide to get the ball (all of our CFs struggle to get the ball on a regular basis). His last 4 seasons his conversion rate has been: 15.5%, 10.0%, 15.7%, 2.3%. If he's really, really cheap then he might be ok to bring in (although that would mean less games for Rashford).

In my opinion the problem isn't our CF's, it's our style of play and lack of quality supply. Granted Lukaku has been in bad form this season, but so is Sanchez and Rashford. Why are all of our Strikers struggling and why would a new one magically fix this? I don't think it will. It might do if the player is of exceptional quality like a Ronaldo, Lewandowski etc. But Arnautovic would struggle just as much as our current strikers are with the service he'd get here.

 

[MadDogg]

His highest goal scoring season is 11 goals for fecks sake, as a 29 year old that's fecking awful as a first choice forward. He also takes significantly more shots than say Lukaku and scores very few (bad conversion rate).

Last season was the first time he was played as a proper striker I believe so not quite as bad as it sounds.

Ultimately I expect he wouldn't score as much as Lukaku would for us. But he would hopefully allow the rest of our attack to build around him much better than Lukaku does. Kind of similar to when Saha took over from RVN. Ruud would obviously score more than Saha could ever dream of, but Saha was better for our team as a whole.

However as I said before, I tend to think he'd be used mostly on the right if we did sign him, and I don't rate him there and hope we'd look elsewhere.

 

[Roboc7]

West Ham would want about 50-60m for him, given his age and fact he wouldn’t be a guaranteed starter signing him makes no sense.

There is a limit to what the owners are going to spend every season and the money could and should be spent better and on other areas of the team.

 

[Naz]

Utd need to be in the Champions League next season to rebuild the team, but I don't think they are going to make it regardless of how much they spend in January. They are fast approaching the point of no return.

The plan may have been to replace Mourinho as and when a credible coach becomes available but in the meantime Utd are beginning to look like Mission Impossible. Who in their right mind would take Utd on when they need to replace almost the entire squad outside of the top 4? Utd will have to gamble on someone like Eddie Howe.

Utd will have to gamble in the transfer market. Arnie is not a bad shout but he's old and has an injury issue with his knees. However Utd's need is very short term. I can see a bid, but whether West Ham would sell is debateable. It would have to be stupid money. Dembele is a better bet.

 

[red4ever 79]

Another example of everything wrong with the club if this would turn out to be true. Bang average player approaching 30. What with this and the news coming out that Ashley Young may get a year extension, in addition to Fellaini being retained, worrying times for Utd both on the pitch and off the pitch

 

[prateik]

He has 68 goals in his senior career. 68 goals and he will turn 30 before the end of the season..

That is pretty unimpressive.

 

[ash_86]

He's a younger Mandzukic. Very good technically and can strong. I'm all up for it

 

[Josh 76]

This club has no direction. It reminds me so much of the Brexit fiasco.

We will sign Him for 50m in January on a 5 year contract worth 200k plus a week. Then Mourhino will leave in the summer and the new manager will be stuck with him and due to his high wages, won't be able to get rid. Sound familiar?

 

[JSArsenal]

He only just started playing as a center forward. RVP's highest goal scoring season was 11 too, until his penultimate season at Arsenal.

This isn't true regarding RVP. He scored over twenty goals for us three times in his last four years at the club, unless you're talking premier league goals. Then you have to take into account that Van Persie never played more than 30 premier league games in a single season until his final season with us. That isn't even taking into account how many of those 20-28 games he started. He always had a good goals to games ratio

Arnautovic on the other hand appears far more regularly and scores at a lesser rate

 

[CA1]

I've wanted him for a while because he's a good player.

However, word on the street is he's struggling with a chornic knee problem and is playing through it with injections. So regretfully I may have to pass.

People who think he's a big lump are absolutely clueless though.

 

[Mcking]

This isn't true regarding RVP. He scored over twenty goals for us three times in his last four years at the club, unless you're talking Premier League goals. Then you have to take into account that Van Persie never played more than 30 Premier League games in a single season until his final season with us. That isn't even taking into account how many of those 20-28 games he started. He always had a good goals to games ratio

Arnautovic on the other hand appears far more regularly and scores at a lesser rate

What?

 

[the chameleon]

I don't mind him as squad option. But only if we sell Lukaku and get another striker. He can't be a replacement for Lukaku and he can't be used as another tall option with Lukaku. Only if he's the only tall attacking option.

 

[devilish]

He is the type of signing mou will sign for good money only to forget about him after a couple of months

 

[JSArsenal]

What?

That he only scored 11 goals in a single season for us before his penultimate season. Although I realized midway through my post that you might have been referring to premier league goals only.

 

[RedMachine03]

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[redIndianDevil]

Well he has a big contract, West Ham will demand 80m probably.

 

[AlecHDR]

How much will we pay for a 4 months worth of good performances before the inevitable slump? Did Sanchez and Matic teach us nothing?

 

[groovyalbert]

How much will we pay for a 4 months worth of good performances before the inevitable slump? Did Sanchez and Matic teach us nothing?

We'd be lucky to get the initial 4 months.

Such an uninspiring rumour which just cements our approach to other big teams as not wanting to try and play similar football, and just offer something to counter it.

Might as well get Ibra back for the rest of the season.

 

[Adnan]

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If people read what Burt has wrote in his piece about our interest in Arnautovic. You will see that he's saying, we will monitor his performances for the remainder of the season but casts doubts on a deal even being done at the end of the season.

 

[Dolf]

Can you ever imagine City buying Arnautovic? No.
So thats why we shouldnt go for him either if we ever want to win the league again

 

[Adnan]

Can you ever imagine City buying Arnautovic? No.
So thats why we shouldnt go for him either if we ever want to win the league again

The difference is, City have worked their way into a position where they don't need to.

 

[shamans]

Would be a hell of an upgrade on Lukaku. I am still gutted we didn't go for Shaqiri as annoying as his personality is

 

[Alabaster Codify7]

This would be a fittingly midtable signing for a midtable team, to be fair.

 

[Alabaster Codify7]

And he's pushing 30. Ticks all the boxes, then. Give him 150k a week.

 

[Dolf]

The difference is, City have worked their way into a position where they don't need to.

Worked? You mean bought, and we need to do the same.

 

[Kapardin]

Not a bad idea. He could be our Shaqiri. We do need some squad players of a better quality than Lingard. Make sure it isn't above 100K a week though.

 

[Adnan]

Worked? You mean bought, and we need to do the same.

Yes they did throw money at it, which Mansour has in abundance. But Mansour put people in charge like Tixi who had experience from his time at Barcelona on how to steer the ship in the right direction. We should get in someone of a similar ilk. Because throwing money around without any vision hasn't worked out too well.

 

[Mainoldo]

Benefits Mourinho, don't see how he benefits United in the long run though. Unless we want him to lead the line next season when we play more fluid football? Therefore no.