Reminds me of Busquets. Apparently has €70m release clause, why aren't we interested? Seems like he's City bound.
Rodri | Man City player
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik and Imran hold a long overdue conversation about United's awful league form with 1 win in 7. They discuss a disappointing draw at Bournemouth, a not so disappointing draw against Liverpool and a crushing defeat at Chelsea - Is time nearly over for Erik Ten Hag?
Then in a special second half of the pod, Nik welcomes Natalie ( https://twitter.com/natalie_17) to discuss the fortunes of Manchester United Women as they booked a place in the FA Cup Final after a historic first ever win vs. Chelsea.
That's probably one reason why
Shows the difference in ambitions. One is on a constant lookout to strengthen the squad before key players become a liability (in this case Fernandinho), the other has absolutely no structure in the market and can't stop flogging dead horses.
Well it may be worth seeing who we target first surely?
Also, the key problem for us is that we don’t get to the stage where ‘key players become a liability’. All of our key players are fecking 23. And as a result, are liabilities for a different reason. The older players who need replacing are not even key players and are not good enough. That’s the main problem. We would be a far better team if our older and younger players swapped age! The younger players are more talented than the senior ones but don’t have the experience. The olders are experienced and average.
We never replaced our key players from the previous generation. The likes of Rooney, Van Persie, Giggs, Scholes, Carrick, Vidic, Neville, Rio.
Well you’re right there. I mean we have tried, but they haven’t cut it.
Isn't that the fault of the club?
Has any other team had such a horrendous recruitment success rate as us over the last 6 years? Arguably only one truly successful signing in that time, Zlatan.
Rodri, Neves, Ndombele, Bruno.... any 3 of these 4 we need to sign if Herrera and Pogba leaves, 2 of these if only 1 leaves.
Well ‘the club’ is so broad. I mean, yea, it’s the fault of the club. But pinpointing the reason why many good players haven’t delivered is probably a complicated task. I don’t think all the players we have signed have necessarily been far worse, if at all, that those signed by rival clubs.
Surely if this was true, the fact we've spent the second largest amount would mean we wouldn't be scrapping for 4th spot?
City and Liverpools signings have been considerably better than ours. Spurs have been better. Ours and Chelsea's have been similar, but I think they slightly edge it, same with Arsenal.
Their signings being better than ours and them signing better footballers than us are two different things. I mean, some of them have, but on the whole, not to the extent the table reflects.
After all, we’ve been as good as City and Liverpool since we changed manager, and we didn’t have to add any players to do that. They haven’t delivered, but they are not all rubbish. The ‘put him in the City team and he would be much better’ saying is one I’ve read a lot over the years. That’s been the issue. Spurs have arguably gotten more from Son and Eriksen than we have from Martial and Pogba, but that doesn’t mean we signed the wrong two.
City are in for everyone. It doesn't matter if they get one wrong, move them on in a couple of years later and forget it. We have to be abit more careful.
Okay yeah, that's fair. So the signings not being successful is more down to the management and structure of the team?
But there are examples that show the opposite, Van Dijk cost £15m more than Lindelof and Bailly. I know which Id have preferred. Fabinho over Matic. Sane over Memphis. Firmino over Lukaku.
But I guess the argument then is that if we'd have signed those players, they wouldn't be performing to the same level.
I've only seen highlights of Rodri, although he's got night & day quality on the ball between him and matic, wouldn't he still be quite immobile in the defensive side of midfield considering he has a very similar build to matic?
Thomas Partey would suit our midfield more in my opinion, the reason why City have struggled in getting a replacement for Fernandino is because of his creative contribution in attacking play, he's able to express that because of the system that pep plays.
On the other hand, Matic's role in our formation has always been to shield the defence, he has never been relied upon to dictate the tempo of play like Fernandinho does. You could almost argue he's city's most important midfielder.
We shouldn't have a policy of copying what city do, the philosophy and coaching between our respective clubs is not even within touching distance of each other.
I've always said it, some players will simply look better for Liverpool / City because they go for attributes, we seem to just go for whoever is available in a given position without taking into account the demands of how they contribute to a system / formation.
That's why we have an imbalance midfield of Matic, Pogba and Herrera. An imbalance of no natural wide players, bringing in Zaha to Depay to Di Maria. Striker like Lukaku who offers nothing to attacking phases of play.
This highlights the need for a DOF, because everything the DOF does is contingent with the ethos of the club, irrespective of who the manager is. We need continuity in what the club wants 5 years from now so that finances and efforts are not wasted. A short summary of what David Gill was to this club. We cannot replace Sir Alex but we can adequately replace what Gill brought to the table.
Thomas Partey would suit our midfield more in my opinion, the reason why City have struggled in getting a replacement for Fernandino is because of his creative contribution in attacking play, he's able to express that because of the system that pep plays.
On the other hand, Matic's role in our formation has always been to shield the defence, he has never been relied upon to dictate the tempo of play like Fernandinho does. You could almost argue he's city's most important midfielder.
We shouldn't have a policy of copying what city do, the philosophy and coaching between our respective clubs is not even within touching distance of each other.
I've always said it, some players will simply look better for Liverpool / City because they go for attributes, we seem to just go for whoever is available in a given position without taking into account the demands of how they contribute to a system / formation.
That's why we have an imbalance midfield of Matic, Pogba and Herrera. An imbalance of no natural wide players, bringing in Zaha to Depay to Di Maria. Striker like Lukaku who offers nothing to attacking phases of play.
This highlights the need for a DOF, because everything the DOF does is contingent with the ethos of the club, irrespective of who the manager is. We need continuity in what the club wants 5 years from now so that finances and efforts are not wasted. A short summary of what David Gill was to this club. We cannot replace Sir Alex but we can adequately replace what Gill brought to the table.
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Probably because it’s not as simple as that. Why would he be interested? He’s playing for an elite team, who he just joined, and if Man City are interested then he is wanted by another elite team.
Great player, however Ndombele would be a better fit for us. Physicality has to be taken in consideration when building our next great midfield cause I doubt we're going to have an ultra technical one. If counter attacking is going to be a big part of our DNA going forward the likes of Ndombele would be invaluable.
Yea that’s how I see it. Of course, some of the players rivals have bought are actually better. It just hasn’t worked.
Okay. But how do you suppose we convince him to come to United over City?
There's one answer. Money. We offer to pay more of it to him, his agent and his club.
But then we end up in a situation like with Sanchez or Fred where they're getting paid more than they probably would be at another of the top 6 clubs. And then if they dont hit the ground running and instantly play at their best, it seems like wasted money and a good thing City didnt offer as much.
https://metro.co.uk/2019/04/04/manc...-clause-sign-rodrigo-atletico-madrid-9111483/
https://www.marca.com/en/football/spanish-football/2019/04/03/5ca4b5f7ca474191128b4668.html
Crap sources of course but i would be surprised if we weren't looking into it. It is of course also very difficult to get him when he is already happy were he is (i think) and has a number of europes best clubs lined up to persuade him.
This idea that our scouting network is full of gimps isn't going to die anytime soon is it?
https://www.marca.com/en/football/spanish-football/2019/04/03/5ca4b5f7ca474191128b4668.html
Crap sources of course but i would be surprised if we weren't looking into it. It is of course also very difficult to get him when he is already happy were he is (i think) and has a number of europes best clubs lined up to persuade him.
This idea that our scouting network is full of gimps isn't going to die anytime soon is it?
Rodri would be my nr. 1 choice DM this summer, and I think an upgrade to Matic is extremely important to improve our team. Stop believing the crap about him being City-bound, just because he is one of 20 midfielders being linked to City. Fred and Alexis Sanchez looked far more City-bound, but ended up in the red side of town. Do you think other teams stay away from Jadon Sancho since he is United-bound, just because shit newspapers write about him going coming here every day?
Feels like only a year or two ago Saul Niguez was the must have midfield player from Atletico. Is he not that good?
Edit: Dodgy source but maybe still some interest?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/f...gn-128m-Atletico-Madrid-star-Saul-Niguez.html
Edit: Dodgy source but maybe still some interest?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/f...gn-128m-Atletico-Madrid-star-Saul-Niguez.html
This is getting ridiculous now, he only moved last summer so why didnt we go for him when he was at Villarreal?
Honestly we can't keep doing this..
They are different type of players. Saul would be my preferred Herrera replacement but his release clause is a bit ridiculous.
Rodri would be a Matic replacement.
Yep. For £17m. Now he's going to cost City £60m. Great business by Atletico.
Honestly this club is gonna drive me to drink
But the same club are literally in a position to buy who they want whenever they want. You can not compete against a club which is basically one of the richest countries in the world.
There also was a Bayern rumor two weeks or so ago. Martinez is hitting his form again, so it might be nothing.
MUFC does not want to compete, the goal is £££.
Signed a 10 year contract or something.
Because we are not the only football club allowed to sign players?
Because Mourinho loves matic
How does the OP know we aren't interested?
He is born in Madrid and played for Atletico when he was younger so it was probably an easy decision for him.
Would be awesome if we get him.
Him & Rabiot together in central midfield would make us serious title contenders for sure.
Him & Rabiot together in central midfield would make us serious title contenders for sure.
Saul has a contract until 2026. Which was a nine year contract when he signed which would suggest to me that he intends on staying there for a long time. Either that or Atletico are trying to keep his value sky high. At the moment he has £130m release clause.
Also will be great business for City or whoever else he potentially signs for if he fulfils his potential.
Agreed. He's a perfect fit at the base of Guardiola's midfield, unfortunately.
I have been talking to my mate who's a City supporter about him and he really wants him there and think's like you that he will be perfect there, which is unfortunately where I think he will go if he moves in the summer.
Thought this was going to be a thread about Giggs' brother 