Would suggest going for Koulibaly as City are busy with bigger things now,then I remembered we are still unable to shift deadwood off the wage bill.
Centre Back... Who do we go for?
- Thread starter Macern
- Start date
-
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.
We need a right winger first of all. No way Ed is going to sort out multiple positions at once. I rather get a new left back anyway.
Oh yeah that has been an issue for at least eight years maybe longer,in regards to LB think we will buy one next summer and same applies to DM too
Our injuries are a big worry though. Shaw, Bailly, Jones, Tuanzebe all with injury problems. You would ideally want to add 2 players and then sell 2.
Rojo and Jones out with one central defender in and one fullback in.
Smalling's coming back. So he'll be like a new signing.
Totally agree we have far too many injury prone defenders and it has certainly cost us at least one trophy last season.
Almost certain we will use the likes of Williams, Laird and TFM as backup FB options. Obviously we still need to shift Smalling & Rojo too before looking at bringing in another CB
Please not that line
Ben White and Konate.
White will cost Maguire fees next season and start for England in the Euros.
Get Konate as his partner and we are set for the next 7/8 years. Both relatively quick and can defend 1v1s against most players, both can pass, and take the ball out of defence.
White will cost Maguire fees next season and start for England in the Euros.
Get Konate as his partner and we are set for the next 7/8 years. Both relatively quick and can defend 1v1s against most players, both can pass, and take the ball out of defence.
Think Konate would be another next summer target because hasn't he been injured quite recently
Yes. Obviously. Wait to see how he is this season after a big injury. More like a player of his abilities and dimension.
The main problem at CB for MUFC is that Mengi (if developing well) is the only CB at the club with the physical and technical qualities to play in a progressive and possession-oriented side. He is quick and mobile enough to go 1v1 against most attackers, and got the technical abilities to pass and progress the ball. If he shows that the positional and mental aspect of his game is on point, then he should be given game time this season. The rest of our central defenders have obvious deficiencies in their game that makes them unsuitable to certain approaches on how to play, and especially in a high pressing, isolation inducing aka 1v1s, possession-oriented style of play. Which is how we should aim to play.
I think with the comments coming back about Rojo; Smalling not at Roma yet and Jones still hanging around we are unlikely to get a CB this window. I won't care too much about that as tgin full back cover and that RW hole needs to be plugged 1st.
Re Rojo, it could also argued be that Utd fed that story to the press to push for demand for Rojo. He's doing double sessions daily, removing any possible doubt that prospective teams had about his fitness could be the angle.I do think Smalling will move to Roma.
Read we are having trouble trying to do a deal for Upamecano.
He's not for sale this year and the rumour is he's holding out for Bayern next season, and why wouldnt he tbf. Makes sense as well with regards to him negotiating a reduced release clause as Bayern can be quite cheap and also like to dictate to players contracted to other clubs in the BuLi.
Yeah our only chance of getting him this summer was before he signed the deal but we left it too long
I think our best chance was when we tried to sign him up as a youth and we botched it by changing the deal re his accomodation and such. It is what it is though.
He can't be the only centre half in the world who can improve us who isnt called Kalidou Koulibaly though. The scouting team need to come through here as I can't think of a single CB who is definitely better than the options that we have, is available and is affordable.
Yeah we really shouldn't have offered him a flat then gone back on our word,if we would have explained the benefit of staying with a family first he might have got on board with the idea
I also think Smalling will be off to Roma now they have released funds following the sale of Schick, Rojo could well be another last minute deal whether that be on loan or sell. Jones, just don't know, there hasn't been any interest in him whatsoever, let's be honest who would with his injury record? TFM i don't think is good enough and should be on his way, Dalot clearly isn't fancied and if another LB comes in, his days are numbered as Williams will then be back up. A lot of work to be done!!
I really think another centre-back is vital just to cover any likely injuries to Maguire. He played too many games last season and we were fortunate he barely missed a game. Rojo could be possibly be kept just as cover. I'm not sure other available centre-backs can cover left side of the defence.
I don't think we will get a CB this season although I agree with you. We will most likely bring in a LB and keep Rojo, Tuanzebe, and young Mengi as backup for CB....
Oles comments about Mengi are very telling he is going to get games this year and he sees him as a starter in the next season or two . I'm all for this actually concentrate on a DM and a LB and RW we will have Maguire , Bailly , Lindelof and Mengi and Tuanzebe I think that'll be enough cover and get rid of Smalling, Rojo and Jones
If Axel stays clear of injuries, he ll be perfect partner for Maguire.
Mengi also has lot of potential
Mengi also has lot of potential
This.
I am not sure if anyone saw Ole's comments last night? He mentioned that De Ligt was captain at 18 and how highly he rates Mengi and he is waiting to see when he can introduce him into the team.
Has he ever stayed clear of them? For now it looks like the only spot he would be able to take in the squad is Jones his spot in the medical room.
Those injuries cant have been good for Axel either... look what years of injuries have done to Jones for example.
Would be brilliant if Tuanzebe, Bailly & Mengi were able to cover CB this season but just worry about Eric & Axel's ability to stay fit long enough
Signing a DM will depend mainly on how well Fred & McTominay cover Matic over this coming season
Last edited:
This.
I'd rather spend on a lb, as it seems Laird is out, again with an injury, so he won't be relied upon to give competition to AWB.
Could still get Telles I reckon
Laird and AWB are both RB but you have the right idea. United have 4 fit CBs and 3 injured. (Fit: Maguire, Linderof, Bailly, Rojo; injured: Jones, Tuanzebe, Shaw) We currently have no fit left-footed fullbacks.
With Laird I was eluding to the fact that Williams would need to be cover rb, as Laird injured.
But yea, we need natural left footers for lb, makes such a difference.
There have been a lot of complaints when it comes to Maguire and Lindelof. Maguire is slow and Lindelof passive and could easily be upgraded. Reading all this, one would think they would be easily replaceable. As it shows, it is not so easy to replace Lindelof with someone “definitely better”. Looking at last season, I wouldn’t even say that Koulibaly was substantially better. I think many fans, who don’t watch other football than United and highlights, underestimate Uniteds defence and overestimate how good everybody else is.
I can’t think of any available CB, at a good age, who would be guaranteed to upgrade the defence.
I just don't think that is going to happen.
Axel is still only 21 years of age, yet he has already had 4 lengthy injuries, I don't want to write him off, but there is a clear pattern emerging here.
And barely played. It’s not looking good, and the window of opportunity for him to stake a claim is closing. He needs to make an impact this season.
Yeah was so bloody frustrating he got injured in the warmup against Liverpool because looked like he was finally going to get his chance in an absolutely huge game
My guess is it's going to come from our youngsters. The centre back market is full of overpriced mediocre defenders. Imagine spending 100m on upemecano or coulibaly, both of whom have poor on ball balance and are prone to mistakes. Lindelof is average, but having him for one more season ( seeing how he develops too as he is young) and waiting for either Tuanzebe or Mengi to displace him until a more suitable alternative in the market becomes available for the right price. There is no Rio, Terry, Ramos, Nesta, Vidic, Kompany or Van Dijk in the current market that is available. Why waste 100m on mediocrity.
This is a big problem. He is not a youngster anymore. He has started 6 PL matches, and I think only one or two as Cb. Compare this to Rashford who is the same age. He has started 100+ PL matches.
He is not 21. He is 23 in two months.
Him and Daniel James are born 4 days apart. Alex has only played 40 senior games in his career to date. Can’t see him getting many games ahead of Lindelof this season, even if he could get fit.
Dogs are barking that he's going to City.
we should be all over signing him, excellent young defender, reads the game superbly and very good on the ball,
Garay is without a club atm 
Nobody...we clearly have a good enough first 11 to beat anyone.