I don't think De Ligt would have biggest impact, we don't have left footed right winger. That's one position which just upsets the balance of the team where we have to play players who just can't play that position.
What we need after seeing that squad announced to go tour.I’ll be very surprised if we sign five players this summer
Tyrell, Eriksen, De Jong, Martinez and Antony all in one window? That’s basically half a new team
Funny you would say that, because I thought the same. But watching their stats from CL gives another impression. Antony beat his man more often per 90 min (very similar success rate) and had way higher progressive distance carried. He also had more carries into the penalty area and made way more passes into the penalty area than Mane.
Weren't you a big fan of Grealish?
Tbf I haven't see his full performances in the CL, I did for Sancho and it showed his weaknesses quite a bit, I don't care enough to watch it for Antony. Hopefully it works out since we need a good RW but I can't shake the feeling from watching him play that he'll be more in the slower Mikhi style mould. From watching his 21/211 assists + goals the thing that stood out is just how poor the defending was. Most of the goals were him cutting inside and getting a free hit at goal.
What's the relevance? I still like him, he's said himself he's had to limit himself as Pep doesn't like the higher risk dribbling style. I think he would've been a better fit at United.
He has similar limitations to Sancho. He isn't pacy, doesn't leave defenders in the mud and his best quality is also picking great passes in the final third.
He is similar but I think most of his abilities are in general on a higher level, hence why I would've preferred him if given the choice between the two, and not say Grealish vs Mane. His dribbling I think is better than Sanchos - e.g. against Real when he came on in about 5 minutes he twice beat defenders and almost scored. He becomes more of a cog in that City side asked to do a specific thing, whereas I think for United he could've played more like he did at Villa and take on more of the creative burdnen. But anyway a pointless discussion since they both are where they are.
He does prefer the left, but if I remember the goal that won the tie, it came from him bullying an Ajax defender on a set piece that he had won with some strength and pace down the Ajax left off a goal kick.
I'm personally for the signing because he coped as basically the lone CB a fair amount of the time when they defended like a diamond, and I really think Maguire and Varane should be seen as one RCB since Maguire looks more comfy in possession there and Varane needs to probably only play once a week (and so many games thick and fast this season), but they did lose a tie they dominated because they couldn't create enough great chances and got done on the break.
oh please. Mane’s a bit of an overrated workaholic. There’s a reason he’s going for £35m
Not sure how you can score 120 goals over 6 seasons and be considered overrated.
If Richarlison is £60M then Ajax is going to think the same for Antony. I wish we'd move quickly with our business instead of trying to get bargains because I feel like that way you can hit them with a price they can't refuse before they see what's going on in the market. Ajax is in a position where they can wait so it's not looking good for us.
It's similar to Liverpool fans saying Joe Allen is the Welsh Xavi. Granted they hyped him up than bringing his quality down.
Also we are switching from being a low block counterattack team to a possession based/high press team. But that escapes some people....
To be fair Mané's goal scoring rate per 90 for Southampton didn't see much of a decline on his RB Salzburg days. While it's intuitive that a forward's production declines as they move up a level, Antony is already a proven Champion's League player and has loads of scope to improve his game given his age.
Not just United. Fans are pace-obsessed in general over here.
I blame FIFA. That game has screwed with the collective footballing understanding of generations of fans.
It shouldn’t but I just don’t think we will have the budget to add him.
I think it's dead more due to Ajax's asking price than anything else.
Wonder if we might still try for a free agent RW like Dembele/Dybala late in the window
Yeah I wonder too, I think we might move for Dybala depending on the Ronaldo situation. We're weirdly quiet on the attacker front outside Anthony.
Personally feel we should sign a left footed RW no matter what happens with Ronaldo, we haven't got one in the squad
Pace matters for wingers, that's the indisputable reality.
Amad
Talented lad but still very green.
Not really, Especially not if you define "pace" as "quicker than Antony".
It would seem they are not. DM has been ruled out and a dedicates striker was never mentioned, just "an attacking player".
Yes, really. I define "pace" as being able to outpace your fullback for take ons, which is something Antony can't do most of the time.
I don’t recall David Beckham ever beating a single full back for pace, to be honest with you.
