Watching Romero for the first time tonight for Atalanta against Juve.
He loves throwing himself about into tackles doesnt he?
He loves throwing himself about into tackles doesnt he?
Potential CB Options
- Thread starter croadyman
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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.
Romeros actually 23 though vs Botman whos 21. At 23 hes probably close to the finished article whereas at 21 Botman definitely has some development left. Botmans also left footed, Romero is right footed. We dont currently have a left footed CB. We were consistently linked with left footed centre backs, predominantly Torres, until all the Varane links started appearing which just screams Joel Glazer and Ed Woodwards influence. I really think the next centre back we sign should be left footed. Obviously that being said there are other players out there, Torres or Badiashile for instance.
Weird styyle. Barges in like a Black Friday parent after the last Elmo doll.
That'd typically be the case with more attacking players, but defenders tend to mature at around 27-30 (see Koulibaly, Thiago Silva, van Dijk, etc.). In recent years, the only defenders that I've seen peak at younger ages were Piqué, Varane, and Marquinhos, all of whom were either very skilled on the ball, very athletic, or both.
Given that Maguire has always played on the left side for us, I'm expecting him to continue there, which is why we're currently being more strongly linked with Varane and Koundé rather than Pau Torres or another left-footed centre back. If you ask me, I'd rather get a more aggressive, athletic defender to allow us to play higher on the pitch and partner up with one of Lindelöf or Maguire, and there are numerous options for that.
From what I have seen of the players in (A) I would definately be in camp (b). Botman looks average, Badiashile looks nowhere near ready and Zagadou also looks pretty much average to me. DOnt know the other two personally. Also not impressed much at all by Pau Torres or Kounde from what I have watched.
Have always liked Marquinhos, but we have been linked every summer and just dont see it happening. Koulibaly I worry about the age. For me personally if its (A) its Fofana but the fee is crazy or if its (b) its Romagnoli....he is my ideal signing simply for the cost. I do like Romero too, but tbh only seen him a couple of times and wasnt watching him directly to really pay attention to him. I think a lot of the finding the "one" problem is that there arent actually that many great centre backs about at the moment, not available ones anyway. Upamecano was the obvious one for some time but personally I dont think much of a lot of these highl rated centre backs at the moment. Is a plethora of good young players about at the moment, centre back I think has the least though
Personally dont get this obsession with left footed centre backs, how many have we actually ever had? Blind and Rojo, spring to mind, neither were very good. Was Vidic left footed, Johnsen, Pallister? Its about the partnerships for me and balance, not which foot they use. There arent even that many left footed centre backs full stop.....if we are going down that route though....Romagnoli. Badiashile is noweher near ready and personally Torres is a left footed Lindelof and I dont mean tht as a compliment either, dont get the fuss about him at all (I did say that to be fair about Diaz at Benfica)
Not sure I agree with that at all. Silva was arguably th ebest centre back in the world at Milan, probably his best years were there, he left there at 25. Koulibaly is 29 and has been one of the best cb in serie a for 5-6years now. In the case of Van Djik is it him peaking or just playing with better players at a big club, is debatable. Marqhuinos is 27 and has been a top defender for years but is actually showing more constistency and awareness now and is a better defender because of hit. Pique also very much peaked in his late twenties.
Apart from Varane, personally I think you have got all these players the other way round in terms of peaking.
Rewind 6 months and put the name Kabak instead, not seeing how everyone raved about him so much a year ago. I do think Konate is good though, but always much preferred Upamecano
Few pundits were raving about him recently and talking him up for England. I dont see it at all msyelf, but of coruse with England we dotn seem blessed in the centre back department at the moment. The one I do like is Godfrey, but he would be way too expensive now as they paid a fair whack for him anyway
I agree. Watched a few Lille games this season mainly to watch Soumare. There are many centre backs I would rathr sign over him, dont think he is any better than what we already have on the bench personally. Just an old fashioned lump of a centre back if I was being hyper critical, god please no. Rather the likes of Joachim ANderson over him who is decent but again just absolutely not
I havent seen enough of Milan the last couple of years, someone mentioned a lot of Milan fans not rating him now. He was overhyped as the new Nesta/Baresi when he broke through but a lot of big clubs seem interested.
I think he ticks a lot of boxes (not all boxes I think need ticking) but ...left footed, leader, organiser, good on the ball, decent pace, great price due to his contract running down. Never thought he was as good as made out to be, but very good none the less...I cant believe he has declined so much in two years when he is just 27? Have seen the likes of Ancelotti talk highyl of him and he certainly knows his defenders. Of course this is based not on the alst coupel fo seasons but from what I have seen before, but £25m seems a great deal to me in comparison to some of these other defenders we are linked with, especially when we may be paying some big fees elsewhere postionally
It matters if you want to be a good possession side as a left footed CB on the left has better passing angles than a right footed player. The game in England wasnt particularly technically advanced until more recently (hence lengthy Spanish domination in Europe until more modern coaching methods started arriving) which is probably why we werent seeing any real emphasis on left footed centre halves. Guardiola obviously thinks its important having 2 in his squad and im pretty confident he knows his stuff.
Sounding like an old fuddy duddy, this is exactly what I am not overly enthused with in the premiership at the moment. Of course Guardiola has been fantastic and successful in the permiership, but why are all these other teams, managers and fans obsessed with trying to be Barcelona/City clones too.
Technically of course the game has improved the last few years building the ball from the back, but there is an obsession with possession football and all things Guardiola that I fear if it continues, the premiership will lose its indentity to a degree.
From a purist level, of course there is a lot to be admired, but football is supposed to be about entertainment. I am far more entertained by a high tempo team like those of Fergie/Wenger. Last seasons Liverpool were also nearer to this than possession football, they were just labelled with a similar style due to there high press. And talking of Liverpool, which signing made the biggest difference to that side the last two seasons and now he has been injured they have struggle? Van Djik a right footed centre back playin gont he left side. Man CIty defence has been the best it has been in my opinion for some time and they have a great partnership....They signed a centre back personally i didnt rate, playing on the left side of the centre back partnership...Dias, he is right footed. I think there is over analysing going on, I think it is nonsense, get the best defender and partnership not bloody angles they can pass the ball out from.
Thiago Silva left for PSG at the age of 27 on July 2012. He was starting to be recognised as one of, if not, the best in the world at around the start of 2011. Koulibaly was looking promising at 2015, but he really got going at 2016 when Sarri's Napoli were at their best. In that case, I'll give you Koulibaly as he was 24-25 at the time. On Piqué and Marquinhos, we can agree to disagree, though I do remember both defenders being very well-regarded at the ages of 23-24.
My point is that I don't want to rule out a defender getting better just because they're 23 years old.
Completely agree with the last line and younger. I do think unlike cm though that a lot of the younger talents being touted, though I agree of course are not the finished article....are not actually all that good. A good 10+ young cm I rate, I think of all these cb, though I havent seen a huge amount of most of them, more like 2 or 3 I think would be really good signings
That makes the two of us, and that's even when I give some the benefit of the doubt!
I think defending has become more specialised and demanding, so everyone has to play a part, not just the 6 defensive players. That's why it's gotten harder to find complete defenders coming up.
Give me a Vidic clone every time. If there was a Vidic-type, maybe with a little more flat-out pace and quickness, then that'd be ideal. I have no idea who fits that mold but thats what I would go for. I would want two dominate CBs who are going to bully players and set the tone for the spine of the team.
Right now we have one CB that is close to that, and then we have a male model who while occasionally is decent and can hit a decent long ball over the top to Rashford, he can also get shouldered by a teenager. And not a Rooney type, man-child teenager, but just a kid who can outmuscle one of our starting CBs! Disgraceful! I hope the other lads roast him mercilessly for that!
Zagadou is the one I want.
Is that because his name sounds like Agadoo, sinch, and makes you sing a little song in your stupid head?
Yes, sinch, it is.
Is that because his name sounds like Agadoo, sinch, and makes you sing a little song in your stupid head?
Yes, sinch, it is.
Surprised there is no mention of Caleta-Car. Looks very interesting. Probably more of a Vidic-type, but also looks two-footed and like a really good passer of the ball.
What's people's opinions on Varane?
I thought he had been struggling the last few years.
I thought he had been struggling the last few years.
This is all for most of us I assume discussing players on the basis of limited viewing, highlights and so on, though the contributions of posters who follow other leagues more closely and have a better basis is pure gold. I'm not one of them, but for what it's worth, it's hard not to be impressed by what you see of Kounde in highlight reels. He looks so quick, aggressive and confident - strong on the ball, excellent tackles - just how you envisage a top United CB.
Ben White though. I just don't see it with him. That's one player I have watched a good deal, but he doesn't seem anything very special to me that would warrant putting him in the same bracket with Kounde, Varane and other targets being discussed. What am I missing?
Ben White though. I just don't see it with him. That's one player I have watched a good deal, but he doesn't seem anything very special to me that would warrant putting him in the same bracket with Kounde, Varane and other targets being discussed. What am I missing?
Does anyone know much about Gvardiol?
I know he has got a recent transfer so a move to us won’t be possible- but is he good?
I just like to keep an eye on the future left footed CB’s that maybe available to us.
I know he has got a recent transfer so a move to us won’t be possible- but is he good?
I just like to keep an eye on the future left footed CB’s that maybe available to us.
As much as I’d love Varane I can’t really see it happening so for those that watch La Liga who’s the better option between Kounde and Torres? The latter I’ll get a look at in the final but that will only be one game.
You'll only be able to tell Torres apart from Lindelof through his shirt.
Seriously, he totally looks like he's Lindelof's little brother.Yeah for those reasons I’m not sold on Torres. When we replace Lindelof it should be a clear upgrade. I just don’t see it with Torres yet. Maybe he will convince in the finalYou'll only be able to tell Torres apart from Lindelof through his shirt.
Too young to make the step up to United, one for the future but a long long way to go yet,
The fact that RB kept him out on loan speaks volumes about his readiness, definitely worth keeping tabs on but I don't see anything world beating about him currently.
No idea but I do know Kounde can play right back. He is also on the short side for a CB but apparently has a good leap.
Not particularly good and injured quite a lot.
Do we want both of our first choice CBs to turn 29 next season? I'd rather have someone a bit younger to play alongside Maguire.
Cristian Romero should be main priority. A top 5 CB in Italy this season.
Would be very happy if we got any of Varane/Kounde/Torres
In my opinion, priority should be DM, RW and then CB. Probably also a RB, but I would imagine that is a different price from the other positions.
I would not be surprised if we have to wait a year for one of these positions to be covered, and if so I would wait with a CB. If we get a good DM and a good RB our defence will looo more solid too. Furthermore, it will probably give us a few options with three at the back.
I also think Milenkovic could be worth a punt if we cant afford one of the more expensive CBs. Considering his contract situation he would probably be a player we could easily sell in a year or two if he dont work out.
He is very different from our current options, and probably one of the most impressive CBs available without the ball. Statistically he looks very impressive. I was disappointed with him when I saw them against Portugal, but then again, I remember even Vidic having poor games before we signed him. At 23 he will probably improve. He is also very rarely injured and very experienced already.
I would not be surprised if we have to wait a year for one of these positions to be covered, and if so I would wait with a CB. If we get a good DM and a good RB our defence will looo more solid too. Furthermore, it will probably give us a few options with three at the back.
I also think Milenkovic could be worth a punt if we cant afford one of the more expensive CBs. Considering his contract situation he would probably be a player we could easily sell in a year or two if he dont work out.
He is very different from our current options, and probably one of the most impressive CBs available without the ball. Statistically he looks very impressive. I was disappointed with him when I saw them against Portugal, but then again, I remember even Vidic having poor games before we signed him. At 23 he will probably improve. He is also very rarely injured and very experienced already.
The centre back options in the market seem disappointing to be honest. I do not think Pau Torres (too much like Lindelof), Kounde (too small) and Varane (form has been bad) will be good fits for us. I'd rather we go for a no nonsense type - maybe Skriniar, Milenkovic, Romero or Botman? But too much smoke is coming from the Torres/Kounde/Varane links.
Honestly think any of them will work well with Maguire but do understand the concerns
To follow up on that, across the Big 5 European-leagues, only Fonte has a higher success ratio on tackle attempts on opponents trying to dribble past him. His success ratio is 71 %. Milenkovic makes 1,13 attempts per 90 min. Maguire is at 53,8 % from 0,77 attempts. Lindelof is at 57,1 % from 0,73 attempts.
He also wins 77 % of his aerial duels and makes (wins 3,47 per 90 min). Not quite as good as Maguires win ratio of 77,5 % (wins 4,28 per game). But certainly a lot better than Lindelof who is at 65,7 % (wins 2,40 per game).
In general, Milenkovic is a more proactive and dominant defender than Lindelof in every aspect of the game. He makes more tackles and blocks, a similar amount of clearences and a bit fewer interceptions. But more importantly, his success ratio is higher. He is probably a player who is both a good option to Lindelof and someone who would complement him. He is also well accustomed to playing RB and RCB with three at the back.
He is quite decent on the ball too.
At 23, with one year left of his contract, he would be a low risk signing we could easily move on. Rarely injured too. Would make sense.
First things first, I need to work on my spelling!
I'm not among those who put a CB at the top of my shopping list but if we're going in for a CB I'd want one that bullies opposing forwards, not one who gets bullied by them. Lindelof is a bit underappreciated here but there's no denying that he's been a bullying end of several forwards who have scored important goals against us.
Our CBs have done well to avoid red cards this season but we're very weak in defending set pieces. I don't have the wherewithal to analyze how many goals we've conceded on set pieces but it has to be well above average for the six clubs. Cut that down to less than average and our goals conceded would be fairly impressive.
The fact that even most non-defenders in our team struggle with defending set pieces tells me that this is either a problem with their focus/attitude or a problem with our half-zonal-marking approach. Even if we get better defenders, we'll still struggle with set pieces if we change nothing about our approach to them.
I quite like him. I don't really trust CBs who can't head the ball (Lindelof, Bailly, Kounde) - Caleta-Car is one of the aerially strongest CBs in Europe. Not completely sold on his passing ability from the admittedly little I have seen of him, though.
Aerially strong, a strong tackler, and an overall aggressive defender, Caleta-Car is a player who can excite the fans with his style. Despite not being that great on the ball, he's no liability like Smalling is; people had doubts over Skriniar's ability on the ball, but he's not done so badly in Inter's back 3.
My main concern with him is on how tunnel-visioned he gets with his defending. Because he's so committed, he can potentially be easily bypassed if the opposition disrupt our defensive shape, sort of like Smalling, Skriniar, Joe Gomez, Koundé, and Kabak.
If Juve miss out on the CL it might be worth trying for De Ligt, expensive as it might be. Would sort us out for years.
I quite like the look of Milenkovic and for 25m we'd be able to secure other positions. He can also play RB
I haven't watched him and I'm cautious of judging him based off highlights especially when no one's really talking about him given his price tag. Anyone that watched him this season with a review?
I haven't watched him and I'm cautious of judging him based off highlights especially when no one's really talking about him given his price tag. Anyone that watched him this season with a review?