Sofyan Amrabat | signs for United on loan

[croadyman]

Lavia should be the obvious target. People will say we don’t have the budget.

So the alternative is to fill the squad with mediocre shite, we’re taking sideways steps all the time.

What if he has already told us that going elsewhere as more concrete links to scousers,Chelsea or Arsenal. He would be my top choice but doesn't look remotely on.

 

[Laurencio]

I don't mind this guy, but, is it too premature to consider Mainoo as a cover for Casemiro? If yes, how far is he from breaking into the squad?

Not only I like what I'm seeing in Mainoo, but we could use these funds to top out on a striker.

Thoughts? (and pardon for the slight derail)

Mainoo is 18 and playing in one of the most physically demanding positions of the pitch. He's nowhere near ready to cover for one of the best defensive midfielders of his generation.

That said, it doesn't seem like we actually will be bringing in adequate cover for Cas anyway, because that would cost a lot more than 20M.

 

[Plastic Evra]

I will say you do make a very valid point about wanting to see less transfer targets who already have that connection to Erik

Yes, pragmatically so because I think as some point his clout / network / portfolio will probably be limited or exhausted. There's only so much Ajax players to sign.

I wouldn't dare to judge Amrabat but all the discussion about his optimum positioning makes me wonder if I wouldn't prefer a much more clear cut defensive midfielder as Casemiro cover.

 

[Castia]

What if he has already told us that going elsewhere as more concrete links to scousers,Chelsea or Arsenal. He would be my top choice but doesn't look remotely on.

Maybe but my point was if we can’t get the right quality of player then just wait until the right one is available or we get a bigger budget later on.

City needed a striker desperately. They couldn’t get their target (Kane) they didn’t go out and spunk money on a random player they waited and got Haaland.

 

[Rossa]

The ball moves faster than any player can.

How does that matter in a foot race or when being dribbled past because your feet are incapable of keeping up? Brilliant positioning makes up for most of it, but not all of it.

 

[Rossa]

Looked quick when he caught up with Mbappe to make tackle in World Cup semi final

If he is capable of that then great. Just reading that many argue he’s slow.

 

[Rossa]

His positioning isn’t great which is why he was racing all around the pitch committing sliding tackles in the World Cup. Made him look like an all action midfielder. The spaces he left in midfield were the same spaces he was then running through with the ball which then added to the impression of ball carrying midfielder.

——

I really don’t see what you guys are seeing in Amrabat. It’s a World Cup impulse buy six months after the event, normally you’d expect common sense a clear head to have kicked in by now. He’s certainly not adequate cover for Casemiro and isn’t even as good as the Fred we’re selling to fund his purchase and make space in the squad with.

He’ll be in the deadwood pile by November or even worse, getting game time because of the money we’ve spaffed on him.

Your user name checks out…

I’m not arguing either way about him. I am sceptical about signing another alow-ish player alongside Casemiro. Bruno is more than quick enough, but he’s everywhere and nowhere. I fear another season of being run through the middle.

 

[windycityfan]

Lavia should be the obvious target. People will say we don’t have the budget.

So the alternative is to fill the squad with mediocre shite, we’re taking sideways steps all the time spending years recycling in and out crap players instead of buying the right player in the first place.

You know what we should do if we can’t sign the right quality of player? Don’t sign anybody sell Fred promote Mainoo

Seconded, thirded and fourthed!

This endless loop of bargain shopping is holding the club back for years and not making a difference in climbing the table. If we're not buying class, don't spend it. It's like doing another Fred all over again.

Great post mate!

 

[Abraxas]

Fred isn’t adequate cover, but he’s better than this guy. It’s a backwards step.

They're completely different players. When I look at this guy's statistical profile it's telling me about somebody good in the build up. Available, consistent weight of pass, an eye for a forward pass from deep positions. In no world would Fred be described as having those qualities, but he does have some of his own.

It depends what the manager wants in a midfield option. If he's valuing the things Amrabat is good at then he makes sense as a cheap buy.

Personally it'd be McTominay out the door for me anyway not Fred. I think he's clearly the worse player and wouldn't be adding much with his profile now that Mount and hypothetically Amrabat come in.

 

[windycityfan]

Maybe but my point was if we can’t get the right quality of player then just wait until the right one is available or we get a bigger budget later on.

City needed a striker desperately. They couldn’t get their target (Kane) they didn’t go out and spunk money on a random player they waited and got Haaland.

Love your take. I absolutely agree with this. Either we bring in class, or keep the shite we already have for another season.

Unless or until we can bring in class, don't do it. Doubling down on more marginal talent is not how we climb the table and set up the club's future.

 

[bond19821982]

So again I will ask who should we sign

How's that his job or anyone's job for that matter. His opinion is that this guy isn't good enough . Does that mean he has to provide an alternative too ?

Not trying to pick up a fight, but I have seen lot of posts like this. Yeah, tell me what's our option ?

I don't know . Thought that's what scouts do.

 

[Trex]

Love your take. I absolutely agree with this. Either we bring in class, or keep the shite we already have for another season.

Unless or until we can bring in class, don't do it. Doubling down on more marginal talent is not how we climb the table and set up the club's future.

Except he's comparing this with City getting a first choice striker when it should be compared with city signing an Ake or a Kalvin Philips because that's the sort of signing it is. Do you think Casemiro would getting two red cards this new season. We're signing a squad player someone who can do a job when Casemiro needs a rest (domestic cup fixtures) and in case he's out injured. No team not even city have two elite talent in every role.

 

[croadyman]

Maybe but my point was if we can’t get the right quality of player then just wait until the right one is available or we get a bigger budget later on.

City needed a striker desperately. They couldn’t get their target (Kane) they didn’t go out and spunk money on a random player they waited and got Haaland.

I just have concerns about whether Mainoo has the capability to cover and partner Casemiro yet,that's the only reason I feel this could be useful signing for us as he has big game experience.

 

[mav_9me]

Apparently good Moroccon journalist

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Just to provide more information, this is presumably the original tweet. I can't translate it for whatever reason. Infact it doesn't translate any of his tweets.

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The guy originally tweeted something about this situation to which Romano replied

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m

 

[Rolaholic]

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[Chairman Steve]

This would be great on paper. He was a standout performer in the World Cup. ETH knows him from Utrecht so he knows what he’s getting.

I hope this won’t be another Schneiderlin. That was a hugely disappointing transfer when it came down to actually playing football.

 

[thomas porter]

He'd be a big upgrade on Fred, and would be very useful as both a backup option to Casemiro when he needs a rest/injured/suspended and great for big matches where we want to have a more physical midfield with Case and Amrabat together.

 

[Brightonian]

Superb choice of back-up/rotation for Casemiro. We must sign a #9 first and foremost but if we can do that and still find funds for Amrabat I'd call it one of our best transfer windows in terms of actually putting square pegs in square holes for a long time.

This is very persuasive.

 

[TheRedHearted]

Seconded, thirded and fourthed!

This endless loop of bargain shopping is holding the club back for years and not making a difference in climbing the table. If we're not buying class, don't spend it. It's like doing another Fred all over again.

Great post mate!

Another Fred is a little off. I get the idea of buying class or competitors, and Amrabat is 26. The plan may be that he could give us a lot and ten Hag things he fits

How's that his job or anyone's job for that matter. His opinion is that this guy isn't good enough . Does that mean he has to provide an alternative too ?

Not trying to pick up a fight, but I have seen lot of posts like this. Yeah, tell me what's our option ?

I don't know . Thought that's what scouts do.

We need a backup for casemiro and we are on a budget. If we had no set budget, sure.

as the video stats he actually is quite promising and his ability on the ball is strong, 95th percentile from what I heard. He’s a similar mold to casemiro in that aspect. Casemiro and Bruno can’t play every game - is Mount sliding into Bruno’s role when he rests, considering VDB never filled that role. Wish he would.

Except he's comparing this with City getting a first choice striker when it should be compared with city signing an Ake or a Kalvin Philips because that's the sort of signing it is. Do you think Casemiro would getting two red cards this new season. We're signing a squad player someone who can do a job when Casemiro needs a rest (domestic cup fixtures) and in case he's out injured. No team not even city have two elite talent in every role.

Exactly- we get overcharged as it is and this window specifically we knew we were on a budget. He’s the right age and his profile is right, good on the ball and also aggression.

I just have concerns about whether Mainoo has the capability to cover and partner Casemiro yet,that's the only reason I feel this could be useful signing for us as he has big game experience.

Mainoo gotta be eased in like garnacho was, whether casemiro starts and we are up I could see ten Hag put either one of amrabat or mainoo subbed on, or honestly both.

This would be great on paper. He was a standout performer in the World Cup. ETH knows him from Utrecht so he knows what he’s getting.

I hope this won’t be another Schneiderlin. That was a hugely disappointing transfer when it came down to actually playing football.

From what I remember Schneiderlins ability on the ball was poor and simple, not saying Van Gaals instruction and design wasn’t suited for him or not, but Schneiderlin was not the warrior type. I don’t remember seeing any aggression from him.

he won more possession than anyone else in the WC

he is calm on the ball and ferocious off, his energy as a sub would be great for breaking down plays at the end of matches.

I’m excited for it. The video covers it well

 

[Freak]

So if we get him and sell the obvious candidates then we could go into the season with the following as our midfield options which is pretty good.

Casemiro, Mount, Bruno, Eriksen, Amrabat, Mainoo/Mejbri

 

[Trex]

https://breakingthelines.com/player-analysis/player-analysis-sofyan-amrabat/
A nice read about his qualities.

 

[Rolaholic]

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[Adamsk7]

Hard to judge him from clips and the WC but he certainly looks like he’s capable of a good block and is an absolute unit.

As a squad player to give us more depth he looks decent.The eye test seems to suggest he’s at least better than Fred and McT as a 6 and that’s what we need. Would be handy against the likes of City

 

[USREDEVIL]

You have to be living in a cave to not know how good this guy is.

 

[Red Royal]

You have to be living in a cave to not know how good this guy is.

Excited about this potential signing. Much better than Sabitzer and McT

 

[Hoof the ball]

Also don't sell the guy short on the ball. He's very, very good in possession.

 

[Green Army]

Maybe but my point was if we can’t get the right quality of player then just wait until the right one is available or we get a bigger budget later on.

City needed a striker desperately. They couldn’t get their target (Kane) they didn’t go out and spunk money on a random player they waited and got Haaland.

There is a very fine balance to be struck between waiting for the perfect player and accepting second best. Liverpool waited for Tchouameni and lost out to Real, they didn’t buy second best and instead opted to wait another season for Jude Bellingham and lost out again.

Had Liverpool bought another Number 6 last season, the chances are they would have made up the couple of points on Newcastle, secured CL football and reduced the huge midfield rebuild job they are now undertaking.

Waiting for the perfect player has huge risks and just kicks the problem further down the road.

 

[golden_blunder]

I don't mind this guy, but, is it too premature to consider Mainoo as a cover for Casemiro? If yes, how far is he from breaking into the squad?

Not only I like what I'm seeing in Mainoo, but we could use these funds to top out on a striker.

Thoughts? (and pardon for the slight derail)

It’s like asking 18 year old Pogba to cover for Keane

 

[Svartzonker]

I really hope the links are true. The midfield group mentioned above (Bruno, Mount, Casemiro, Eriksen, Amrabat, Mainoo) is really versatile and we would finally have some quality depth.

We could easily play this guy against along with Casemiro and move Mount to the wings, while keeping Bruno in the midle.

This guy is a warrior. Good in posession too.

 

[croadyman]

The infamous whoscored lists discipline and concentration as two of his weaknesses

 

[amolbhatia50k]

As others have said it feels odd to target a 27 year old when our midfield could do with some injection of a younger profile player especially in deeper areas. But hopefully that means that someone like Mainoo will get more chances.

 

[Rolaholic]

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[NLunited]

Please can we have a sticky note in transfer threads pointing out players positions as its crazy how many think Amrabat is a Casemiro like player

Amrabat is a dm. Not every dm plays like Casemiro.

He played as a dm at Fiorentina in a double pivot and Marocco as a single dm.

 

[Irrational.]

First Moroccan to play for United?

 

[NLunited]

His positioning isn’t great which is why he was racing all around the pitch committing sliding tackles in the World Cup. Made him look like an all action midfielder. The spaces he left in midfield were the same spaces he was then running through with the ball which then added to the impression of ball carrying midfielder.

——

I really don’t see what you guys are seeing in Amrabat. It’s a World Cup impulse buy six months after the event, normally you’d expect common sense a clear head to have kicked in by now. He’s certainly not adequate cover for Casemiro and isn’t even as good as the Fred we’re selling to fund his purchase and make space in the squad with.

He’ll be in the deadwood pile by November or even worse, getting game time because of the money we’ve spaffed on him.

Or, he will look composed whenever he plays and putting in good tackles.

Your take is nuts after the WC this guy played.

 

[Trex]

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This Italian clubs so desperate for cash.

 

[bosnian_red]

My guess is Liverpool "gazump us" despite the fact that we probably won't even make a bid for him, as they need a DM desperately and we don't?

 

[dinostar77]

https://breakingthelines.com/player-analysis/player-analysis-sofyan-amrabat/
A nice read about his qualities.

Interesting read.

"...Statistically, Amrabat is genuinely one of the best distance passers in Europe, both in volume and accuracy. He’s adept at sitting deep and spraying passes all over the pitch whilst also providing the defensive reliability required of a deep-lying midfielder..."

 

[philippexyz]

My guess is Liverpool "gazump us" despite the fact that we probably won't even make a bid for him, as they need a DM desperately and we don't?

Exactly, i've been thinking for a couple of weeks now that this transfer will be hijacked. We are just so slow and sloppy in the transfer market. Amrabat will be another Kim Min Jae or Gakpo. I would not be surprised at all if he ends up at Liverpool soon.

 

[Sir Chapman]

I am not sure what to think about this. He is a warrior but playing wise, I doubt he would suit our system. However, as Casemiro’s backup, he would be decent.

On the other hand, Bayern is kind of open about selling Kimmich when a good offer comes in, so I’d love us to go for him, although this might be expensive enough.