Thomas Meunier

[The Nani]

Meunier Being called better in attacking threat than Wan Bissaka has put me some question mark. I’m looking at the stats that his biggest output in a season was 4 goals & 4 assists in Ligue 1 17/18. That’s considered low for the hype of his attacking threat.

I watched Wan Bissaka and I must say he’s a very talented right back & I’m certain Sir Alex would have been all over him, quick, can dribble, still young, defensively looks matured and if there is room improvement I think he can improve his attacking output. £40m for him would have been a better option than £20m for Meunier if 4 goals & 4 assists is all his best output in Ligue 1. We are talking about a 40m that gives you a 10 years right back position.

Jaysus, the lack of context with stats posted on this forum is infuriating at times.

Yeah, Meunier's best for PSG is 4 goals and 4 assists... in 16 bloody starts!

I'd say that's some output!

AWB is an extremely limited player on the ball. But yeah, since he's young and British, let's sign him and expect him to magically go up a few levels which were never in his locker.

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

Jaysus, the lack of context with stats posted on this forum is infuriating at times.

Yeah, Meunier's best for PSG is 4 goals and 4 assists... in 16 bloody starts!

I'd say that's some output!

AWB is an extremely limited player on the ball. But yeah, since he's young and British, let's sign him and expect him to magically go up a few levels which were never in his locker.

If that’s the case, that’s where the issue is. He has never reach more than 20 league games in a season, and every season PSG just keep signing a new right back instead of using him regularly.

Not sure with AWB is extremely limited player on the ball, he’s not scared of dribbling. His dribbling per game is 1.8. Meunier had 0.3 this season & 0.8 last season. He has room for improvement in his end product. You look at Evra, he’s not a great crosser but he’s not limited on the ball because he can dribble the ball & not scared of doing it.

 

[The White Pele]

I was tipping this signing last week but felt a bit stupid for doing so as there hasn’t really been any speculation linking us to him previously. It was more wishful thinking due to his age, quality and contract situation.

Now that there is some noise on this I certainly hope it has some substance. Could be a very good solution for us in a problem position at a reasonable price.

Dalot can serve as backup and I’d like to see us move for Ryan Sessegnon as an option at LB.

That would hopefully sort out both full back positions for next season whilst leaving money to invest in central defence and midfield.

 

[Aloysius's Back 3]

Seems a bit of an Arsenal signing to be.

A player that has gotten a 'world class tag' from arguably a few matches, if that. Being Belgian surely has make shifted views of him to some.

 

[Judas]

Seems a bit of an Arsenal signing to be.

A player that has gotten a 'world class tag' from arguably a few matches, if that. Being Belgian surely has make shifted views of him to some.

You can say that but he’d still massively improve us.

 

[Since96]

Exactly, which is why we'll read stories about Woodward turning them both down because he had his heart set on Kimmich and Varane, neither of whom he'll come anywhere close to signing, despite offering to pay a quarter of a billion pounds for them.

I agree, adding to what you said, the need at this moment isn't 'the new next Vidics and Ferdinands' but seasoned players with impressive track records of consistency and reliability and a 'team player'.

 

[Suv666]

Seems a bit of an Arsenal signing to be.

A player that has gotten a 'world class tag' from arguably a few matches, if that. Being Belgian surely has make shifted views of him to some.

And because he plays for a world class team like PSG. If he was playing at Lyon or Rennes, the opinions on him would be widely different. That being said I've seen him play a couple of times and he's pretty going foward good, certainly much much better than Young, no matter what the stats say. But I'd rather we sign a fullback who's defensively solid, Meunier is lacking in that department.

 

[Suv666]

That stats are skewed because Young is given so much space as we dont have a RW. Young is our primary crosser of the ball, just watch the games against PSG and Barca, obviously he's going to create more when he's the only one attacking from the right. Meunier plays with a proper winger in front of him like every team in Europe.

 

[Lash]

You can say that but he’d still massively improve us.

Yeah, I mean we really have to remember where we’re at right now...

Also I don’t want to be spending a shit tonne on this position.

 

[Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber]

You can say that but he’d still massively improve us.

Only offensively. Defensively he isn't much better than Dalot right now. We'd need a superman 6 to protect a fullback like him

 

[Fer]

I like Wan Bissaka, bit if we are going to play diamond formation, the fullbacks are the ones who gives width. So Meunier would be a better choice considering he can put good crosses and it seems he works well with Lukaku.

 

[LuckyScout78]

I definitive like him as a right and as a full player as whole. His skills is really good and if 3 is average. Meunier is definitive a 4.

And i have watch him enough, that i believe that he can do a good job as dcm player or one of the cm player. I easily pick him over Matic in a 4-3-3 formation. Like this.

Herrera - Meunier - Pogba.

Meunier is the type of player that can lift up the pace of the ball and passing. Meunier definitive knows and can handle really good and precise quick football.

If the price is good. Why not?This boy doesnt panick by the high aggresive press from the opponent teams.

If you want a fast, precise and good football, special attacking football. Like Jadon Sancho

Meunier - RB

Sancho - RM

A really good right side with those 2 options. And again, i believe he can a decend good dcm/cm option too. A box to box, who lift of the pace of the ball and game if needed.

 

[harms]

Dalot can serve as backup and I’d like to see us move for Ryan Sessegnon as an option at LB.

He has played a total 3 games as a left back this season.

 

[Shinjch]

I just don't think he offers the drive that you want from that position ideally. He wouldn't be my preferred option.

 

[Zlatattack]

Is he perfect - No.
Is he much better than anyone else in that position we have? - Yes.

I don't think perfect is available on the market right now. There are players who are perfect in the role, but unlikely to join us right now.

He'll defintely improve us, at lower cost the AWB, so lets go for it.

 

[Fer]

I wouldn't mind Meunier and AWB competing for the RB position. But I guess Young will continue as cover.

Any of them would improve what we already have.

If we can't sign any of them. Who would be your 3rd choice?

 

[Spielmacher]

If we can't sign any of them. Who would be your 3rd choice?

Ricardo Pereira from Leicester. Pretty sure he'd be expensive though, his contract runs until 2023. I'd prefer him over Meunier actually, proven PL quality in a back-four.
Can't say I watch a lot of Ligue 1 though.
Wan-Bissaka looks the best of the three to me. I think AWB's attacking output is underrated, because he plays in a very conservative team, where he doesn't get a lot of attacking responsibility. His attacking-play is actually decent, he is a converted winger after all.
I could see us going for AWB, as long as the price isn't too crazy (<50M). We did a similar thing when signing Shaw and it turned out more successful than most of our other transfer investments.

 

[settembrini]

Wan-Bissaka looks the best of the three to me. I think AWB's attacking output is underrated, because he plays in a very conservative team, where he doesn't get a lot of attacking responsibility. His attacking-play is actually decent, he is a converted winger after all.

He completed 7 dribbles against Everton. Seven! From full back. Yes his end product needs to improve and he could do with being less careless on the ball but his potential is incredible.

 

[Spielmacher]

He completed 7 dribbles against Everton. Seven! From full back. Yes his end product needs to improve and he could do with being less careless on the ball but his potential is incredible.

Yes, maybe it's also a bit of a yo-yo effect, people think because he's very good at defending he can't be a good attacker as well, because most players are like that.
I say if his attitude is good we should get him.
Simply "don't want to harm Dalot's future" isn't a good enough reason to get Meunier instead.
I just hope Spurs don't sign AWB, while we fund him for them, by taking Trippier of them, would be pathetic.

 

[Andi Latte]

I could see us going for AWB, as long as the price isn't too crazy (<50M). We did a similar thing when signing Shaw and it turned out more successful than most of our other transfer investments.

Well, after four of years it did...

Don't get me wrong, i am all for us getting AWB but citing Shaw as a positive example doesn't really help your reasoning

 

[TwoSheds]

Yes, maybe it's also a bit of a yo-yo effect, people think because he's very good at defending he can't be a good attacker as well, because most players are like that.
I say if his attitude is good we should get him.
Simply "don't want to harm Dalot's future" isn't a good enough reason to get Meunier instead.
I just hope Spurs don't sign AWB, while we fund him for them, by taking Trippier of them, would be pathetic.

Yeah Trippier would be a classic Ed signing, past his best and not even particularly good to start with - but he was shiny in a world cup!

I'm a big Meunier fan but would also be very happy with Wan Bissaka if that's what the club scouts and coaches reckon is the better option. Or even, feck it, why not both. Sack Rojo and Darmian off for good, get Dalot as cover for left back (plus I think Meunier can play left side too maybe?). Would at least give Shaw some competition to worry about, and meanwhile we'd have quality players competing at RB/RWB/RM no matter what. If we got Sancho too it would be full muppet overload, but with actual logic underlying.

I really think we need to show we mean business this summer, both to our own players and to the world. The best way to do that would be to sort out the defence in a big way (ideally 2 CBs in addition to whatever we do at full back), and add to that a little bit of firepower and intelligence up top and in midfield e.g. Eriksen, Sancho, Brandt or whoever.

 

[ArjenIsM3]

Either AWB or Meunier for me. Both have pros and cons.

 

[The Nani]

He completed 7 dribbles against Everton. Seven! From full back. Yes his end product needs to improve and he could do with being less careless on the ball but his potential is incredible.

We have enough players who run out of ideas and/or quality in the final third already.

That’s the problem with signing AWB and why so many would prefer Meunier.

 

[Stubble]

AWB or Meunier both fine.

AWB would be great for games against the top half teams where defensive cover is key.
Dalot fine for other games where attacking is more important and defence less so.
Between the 2 we would have good cover including for LB.

I'd just give up if we sign bloody Trippier ...

 

[friendlytramp]

Utd fan

 

[settembrini]

We have enough players who run out of ideas and/or quality in the final third already.

That’s the problem with signing AWB and why so many would prefer Meunier.

I can understand why people would want a full back who is good in the final third but Meunier is not that player. As I've shown multiple times in this thread the fundamentals of his attacking game don't even compare favourably to Young. It's like people saying they want to buy Trippier because of his good defending.

I also think the major reason why people want us to sign a right back for their attacking is because they've watched United play for years without a good right winger. They are trying to solve a problem with the current team by thinking we need someone to do something in the space that Lingard and Mata leave there. A good right winger solves that problem and having a defensive monster like Wan-Bissaka at RB would give us more options in the sort of attacker we could use in that position.

 

[Stubble]

Sign him. Just the right age to let our RB prospects develop and would come fairly cheap with so many other areas of the squad requiring upgrades.
AWB would be another great albeit more expensive option.

 

[bosnian_red]

Hes very good going forward but very meh defensively. Defensively our fullbacks would look a lot better next to better centerbacks though. Think his signing makes sense as he is versatile, physically suits the premier league, and his age being good for Dalot to develop normally under without instantly giving up on him like if we got Wan Bissaka. Also he'd cost like £25m which isnt much at all these days.

 

[Mcking]

I can understand why people would want a full back who is good in the final third but Meunier is not that player. As I've shown multiple times in this thread the fundamentals of his attacking game don't even compare favourably to Young. It's like people saying they want to buy Trippier because of his good defending.

I also think the major reason why people want us to sign a right back for their attacking is because they've watched United play for years without a good right winger. They are trying to solve a problem with the current team by thinking we need someone to do something in the space that Lingard and Mata leave there. A good right winger solves that problem and having a defensive monster like Wan-Bissaka at RB would give us more options in the sort of attacker we could use in that position.

Liverpool have wingers, their fullbacks can attack too.

 

[The Nani]

I can understand why people would want a full back who is good in the final third but Meunier is not that player. As I've shown multiple times in this thread the fundamentals of his attacking game don't even compare favourably to Young. It's like people saying they want to buy Trippier because of his good defending.

I also think the major reason why people want us to sign a right back for their attacking is because they've watched United play for years without a good right winger. They are trying to solve a problem with the current team by thinking we need someone to do something in the space that Lingard and Mata leave there. A good right winger solves that problem and having a defensive monster like Wan-Bissaka at RB would give us more options in the sort of attacker we could use in that position.

The stats you posted prove nothing other than Young has put in eleventy billion unsuccessful crosses this season.

Meunier is streets ahead of Young as a footballer.

 

[beingshe7don]

Meunier may not be a bad buy. He seems to be able to cross the ball and isn't all that bad when defending. However, not sure if that's worth overlooking Wan Bassaka.

 

[mariachi-19]

This signing gives time for Dalot to develop without needing to be relied upon and for a reasonable fee. Shrewd signing

 

[settembrini]

The stats you posted prove nothing other than Young has put in eleventy billion unsuccessful crosses this season.

Meunier is streets ahead of Young as a footballer.

You mean stats like these?

Meunier's crossing accuracy this season: 19%
Young's crossing accuracy this season: 22%

Another blow for Meunier fans in their war against reality

 

[JPRouve]

You mean stats like these?

Meunier's crossing accuracy this season: 19%
Young's crossing accuracy this season: 22%

Another blow for Meunier fans in their war against reality

This is actually a meaningless stat because it takes into account corners. Now for example Walker has 17% and Robertson 16%. Also concerning a previous point, Young and Meunier creates 1.2 key passes per game this season, the interesting part is how they do it, a little bit more than a third of Young's key passes come from set pieces while all of Meunier's come from open play.

 

[SER19]

This signing gives time for Dalot to develop without needing to be relied upon and for a reasonable fee. Shrewd signing

Id take Coleman for 2 years if dalot is to develop properly.

 

[Hoboman]

Average fullback with decent cross. Buy Wan-Bissaka and forget about all those Trippiers and Meuniers.

 

[Havak]

If this signing happens, I think it is exactly what it says on the tin. A very competent player, with good experience, at a reasonable price that can be trusted in most games and allows Dalot to develop at a steady pace. There are a lot of full backs I want us to look at, but this one seems to make the most sense. Wan-Bissaka would probably be my preferred signing, however. Whatever happens, Young needs to be the fourth choice full back next season or I think I will lose my mind.

I will be surprised if the club don't go with Meunier and Alderweireld as some cheap, experienced options and then try to develop our younger talent at the same time. Some may not agree with this strategy, but it is certainly an understandable one that improves our defence in the short-term and gives a time to organise some youth development and get it right this time (3+ years). The other option is of course to just get Wan-Bissaka and De Ligt and hope they are as good as they seem to be, but it will cost a lot more and is probably more of a risk. I will be supportive of either strategy personally as I think both will get us moving forward.

 

[laughtersassassin]

Think he would be a good signing but when you could get AWB it screams stupidity to me.

I know we have Dalot but some players you don't pass up imo.

 

[settembrini]

This is actually a meaningless stat because it takes into account corners. Now for example Walker has 17% and Robertson 16%. Also concerning a previous point, Young and Meunier creates 1.2 key passes per game this season, the interesting part is how they do it, a little bit more than a third of Young's key passes come from set pieces while all of Meunier's come from open play.

Your first point is simply wrong, the stats I posted are for open play crosses. whoscored.com shows crosses from open play, corners and free kicks in separate categories and the former cannot be comprised of the latter.

Your second point confused me for a while as the numbers you were giving for Meunier were significantly better than what I was seeing but then I realised you were including all his game as a wing back, including for Belgium, to boost his numbers. I'm going to be charitable and assume you didn't realise this and were unaware that Meunier had played that position more times than he has full back this season while the clear majority of Young's games were at right back. Obviously your data is therefore skewed but luckily whoscored also lets you filter performance data via position. Here are the numbers for key passes (per 90 minutes) from the games that both players played at right back.

Meunier: 1.1 total, 0.4 from crosses, 0.7 from other.
Young: 1.9 total, 0.9 from crosses, 0.6 from corners, 0.4 from other.

Clearly in favour of Young who has more than twice the rate of key passes from crosses as Meunier.

p.s. I just want to remind people that I don't think Young is a good attacking full back. He was an okay one this season until he signed his new contract and has been hopeless since. I am not writing these posts to argue he's great and we should be keeping him or anything like that, just to illustrate how shockingly overrated Meunier is that people believe he's a strong attacking player despite all the evidence.

 

[SuperiorXI]

Every season you get players like AWB having their breakthrough season (remember Milinkovic Savic last season?!) and seemingly everyone wants them. I feel this is a mistake. Meunier is the more sensible signing since he has been tested at a high level for a number of seasons now and can be judged over a longer period of time. Weighing in the price too and the profile of the player (i.e. he's a United fan), it's a no-brainer.

For me AWB would be riskier than Meunier, it all depends on whether AWB can replicate his breakout season form.