Antony | Here we go! €100mill, contract until June 2027, option 'til 2028.

[OpenIntrovert]

Antony gives the ball away quite a bit and he's not strong enough. Ralf aptly pointed out our teams biggest weakness is we lack strong /athletic players. Explains why
united hasn't played well a full 90mins for the last 2 seasons. It's always a terrible first 45 while the opponent tires or a terrible second half as we run out of gas.

It depends on the system and what type of tactics is going to be used. Ralf was looking at the gegenpressing system which requires high stamina and strength for the players. Obviously the players do require a high fitness level but it does not need to be the gegenpressing type.

As for ETH, what he probably expects from the players is their work rate in tracking back to defend and covering their spaces so that they are compact during the opponent's attack. With the right formation, he can reduce the need for the attacking players to constantly run up and down the field. Anthony is still a good fit based on that. However I am not sure if we are really interested in Anthony and we already have ample attacking wingers.

 

[Mainoldo]

The flaw with that logic is that Ralf himself was one of the biggest weaknesses

I’m still waiting for the majority to admit he was abit shite.

 

[Kaushal]

He looks really good, but it also seems like Raphinha is just a PL proven version of him, available for a similar price.

For £50m I'd much rather go with the proven option.

If you had seen enough of Raphinha, you would know that he has many flaws in his game which doesn’t justify the £50m price tag of him either. He is wildly inconsistent, bad in possession and no room for improvement as he would be 26 this year and is already a finished product. He will give you moments sure but he is still so unpolished.

Antony just turned 22 this February, 3-4 yrs younger than Raphinha. He is still developing and has a level or 2 to hit yet. Raphinha’s development is done yet it leaves so much to be desired. The only thing Raphinha has over Antony is physicality and that may prove to be difficult in the beginning for Antony but I’m sure he would cope.

I like Raphinha too but if we can get one I think Antony would be a better option. Now, I’m not saying Antony would be world class but I think he would be good, plus as I said he has some levels to go and that’s seals it for me.

 

[Mainoldo]

I'd prefer the Champions League proven option who plays ahead of Raphinha for Brazil and costs less.

Is that technically true?? If I do my Google’s and you’re wrong can you get a 48 hour time out?

So they both made their debut at the same time. Both have the same number or caps with Raphinha scoring 1 goal more. So was pretty much a very bold statement.

 

[pascell]

Ten Hag seems keen. I think he may have seen some full matches.

But some on the Caf are transfer experts, especially when they form their opinion after watching 4 minute long highlight videos on YouTube.

 

[STYLOISRED]

Antony actually only played 21/34 league games last season, was he injured for a period?

From what i read he was injured/unfit and mostly played from the bench in the first half of the season before cementing his place in the side as the season went on.

 

[jamesjimmybyrondean]

It depends on the system and what type of tactics is going to be used. Ralf was looking at the gegenpressing system which requires high stamina and strength for the players. Obviously the players do require a high fitness level but it does not need to be the gegenpressing type.

As for ETH, what he probably expects from the players is their work rate in tracking back to defend and covering their spaces so that they are compact during the opponent's attack. With the right formation, he can reduce the need for the attacking players to constantly run up and down the field. Anthony is still a good fit based on that. However I am not sure if we are really interested in Anthony and we already have ample attacking wingers.

You can say that for any other position bar DM

 

[OpenIntrovert]

You can say that for any other position bar DM

Yup and CM (we only have 1 CM which is McTominay). Makes sense why the midfield is prioritized for new signings.

 

[Yakuza_devils]

How is our records signing South American players?

 

[sewey89]

He feels like an exciting player, a Nani type player, where you're never sure what he's going to do. I think we've missed that, particularly in the last year

 

[Van Piorsing]

How is our records signing South American players?

Very good point, perhaps unintentionally.

Maybe it's time to stop fearing the past and finally change the tide and make good choices there. Btw, if Tevez stayed at United he could be still key player for long years.

 

[Dinghy]

He's a much more complete footballer than any of our other wingers. He's got flair, pace, football intelligence, works hard defensively and got a decent cross on him. Most of our wingers over these last ten years been lacking big time in some of these areas. Just need a new RB and we'll look so much better down the right.

 

[Redcy]

Antony gives the ball away quite a bit and he's not strong enough

And yet all the stats show you are wrong, his big strength is that he does retain possession well, and manages to get the ball back in defense. So you know there is that.

Funny thing is we have lots of wingers but none that trackback like Antony does, and neither Sancho nor Rashford are particularly strong in possession. 40m does seem a lot, I think whats interesting is when you look at Haller for 31m, that actually sounds about right. If you watched lots of games you can see how average Haller is, and he is definitely benefiting from a tier 2 league defense, as it happens I think Dortmund will suit him well as the German leagues also seem to have weaker defenses. Antony's stats are low, but watching quite a number of games I think he could improve that with the right midfielders and strikers with him.

 

[Redcy]

I’m still waiting for the majority to admit he was abit shite.

Do they not, something we agree on, he was a lot shite

 

[Devil_forever]

And yet all the stats show you are wrong, his big strength is that he does retain possession well, and manages to get the ball back in defense. So you know there is that.

Funny thing is we have lots of wingers but none that trackback like Antony does, and neither Sancho nor Rashford are particularly strong in possession. 40m does seem a lot, I think whats interesting is when you look at Haller for 31m, that actually sounds about right. If you watched lots of games you can see how average Haller is, and he is definitely benefiting from a tier 2 league defense, as it happens I think Dortmund will suit him well as the German leagues also seem to have weaker defenses. Antony's stats are low, but watching quite a number of games I think he could improve that with the right midfielders and strikers with him.

We just paid £73m for Sancho on ridiculous wages. I don’t see how Antony is such a downgrade on Sancho. If anything I think Antony will suit us better.

 

[croadyman]

He has so much talent but appears to miss that killer instinct. Ronaldo - although younger and much more talented - was like that at first so we know that things can evolve in that regard. ETH probably feels that he can still improve there.
[/QUOTE

Yeah I feel he can improve and pretty sure that Erik thinks he is able to do that too

 

[Daslogisch]

From what i read he was injured/unfit and mostly played from the bench in the first half of the season before cementing his place in the side as the season went on.

He was a starter in the first part of the season as well, but Ten Hag was rotating much more because Ajax still had Neres and of course Ten Hag didn't want Antony to wear out in the first part of the season. So he was subbed off most matches and sometimes not in the starting eleven. That was not about his quality though.

 

[MUFC OK]

Oh, if life was just so simple like that. As just because they have proven themselves at one club does not mean they will thrive here, as just a couple of my head, Torres, wow at the numbers hit for Liverpool, damn who's this guy after he went to Chelsea and Robbie keane was also a failure there unlike at Spurs and the best cases of us I can think of, Gary Birtles back to back EC/CL winner and regular goalscorer at Forrest, utter failure here and for the younger fans, we all remember Sanchez's numbers at Arsenal and what he didn't do here, or even Mata to a degree compared to what we saw him do at Chelsea.

Torres and Sanchez were both finished by the time they joined Chelsea/United. I wasn't around to see Gary Birtles. There's also the likes of Mane, Mahrez who were PL proven. Sir Alex frequently signed the best players from other PL teams, think Yorke for example.

It's a bit of a toss up between Raphinha and Antony for me, I'm just keen that we don't massively overpay when other clubs can acquire Ajax's best assets with relative ease and for reasonable fees. A £50m gamble is not what we need right now.

 

[MUFC OK]

Ten Hag seems keen. I think he may have seen some full matches.

Of course and we clearly need to back the manager primarily, but what ETH cant possible know yet is what it takes for a player to succeed in the PL.

 

[bosskeano]

Very good point, perhaps unintentionally.

Maybe it's time to stop fearing the past and finally change the tide and make good choices there. Btw, if Tevez stayed at United he could be still key player for long years.

this signing would be vastly different simply b/c the manager knows the player and hte player knows the system and style of play

 

[AndySmith1990]

Of course and we clearly need to back the manager primarily, but what ETH cant possible know yet is what it takes for a player to succeed in the PL.

The PL proven line is one of the most annoying cliches thrown about by English football fans and English pundits

 

[MUFC OK]

The PL proven line is one of the most annoying cliches thrown about by English football fans and English pundits

In our case, it's probably not the worst thing to bring in players who should be more adapted to the league. Do we really want to spend £50-60m on someone like Antony only to be saying this time next year that hopefully his second season is much better as he needed to adapt to the league?

 

[Van Piorsing]

this signing would be vastly different simply b/c the manager knows the player and hte player knows the system and style of play

Won't deny, system manager having in disposal two system players like Sancho & Antony as attackers makes me a happy camper.

 

[MUFC OK]

Won't deny, system manager having in disposal two system players like Sancho & Antony as attackers makes me a happy camper.

Both like to cut inside, good job we've got world class attacking fullbacks to provide the width.

 

[Andycoleno9]

In our case, it's probably not the worst thing to bring in players who should be more adapted to the league. Do we really want to spend £50-60m on someone like Antony only to be saying this time next year that hopefully his second season is much better as he needed to adapt to the league?

Pl proven is a huge BS. Our last 3 PL proven players bought were Maguire, AWB and Alexis. All 3 were bad/awful signings

 

[Van Piorsing]

Both like to cut inside, good job we've got world class attacking fullbacks to provide the width.

Hmmm... this will require some intensive work in the training grounds.

Wondering what Ten Hag's judgement will be after pre-season on that department.

 

[Trex]

In our case, it's probably not the worst thing to bring in players who should be more adapted to the league. Do we really want to spend £50-60m on someone like Antony only to be saying this time next year that hopefully his second season is much better as he needed to adapt to the league?

You could see it that way or you see it from the point of view that he already knows the managers demand.

 

[Rozay]

Both like to cut inside, good job we've got world class attacking fullbacks to provide the width.

If we don’t want them to cut inside then play a left-footer on the left-wing and a right-footer on the right. With the proposed inversion, that will always happen.

 

[Andycoleno9]

Bookies giving same odds as for De Jong. 1/4. This is done. Close thread.

 

[Rolaholic]

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[pocco]

If true, given his talent and potential, then this signing would fall under absolutely perfect for what I hoped we'd achieve this summer. Everything we want: determination to play for us, talent, potential to improve, decent fee. It would be incredibly frustrating if we don't get this deal done. He even plays for a club that, right now, we probably have the best relationship with out of any club in the world.

 

[Strootman's Finger]

I’m still waiting for the majority to admit he was abit shite.

I won't, because he wasn't. The club was, the players were... you can't blame Ralf for their shortcomings.

 

[Telsim]

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Isn't this guy a non-source?

 

[roonster09]

In our case, it's probably not the worst thing to bring in players who should be more adapted to the league. Do we really want to spend £50-60m on someone like Antony only to be saying this time next year that hopefully his second season is much better as he needed to adapt to the league?

We signed players like AWB, Lukaku, Matic, Sanchez, Schneiderlin, Fellaini, Mata. All were PL proven but they weren't good enough for the money and wages they were paid.

PL proven is nothing, big thing is how good our set up is and how good the team is to compliment each other.

 

[LawCharltonBest]

Latest Dutch sources don’t look good

Might have to make a transfer request

 

[FootyGirl88]

Maybe we should move on to another target

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[Berbaclass]

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[Mainoldo]

I won't, because he wasn't. The club was, the players were... you can't blame Ralf for their shortcomings.

There normally is a correlation with crap managers and crap results.

But I get all your points. I suppose two things can be true at the same time.

 

[JuriM]

70-80m, below that Ajax doesn't want to sell at all.

 

[Raw]

Ridiculous price.