You want an argument it seems. I'm just saying he looked very good last night and given that we were linked with him at 100m before, perhaps he was in a bad place after that and isn't now. That's all.
Centre Midfielder Transfer Links
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In the latest edition of the United Hour Podcast, we interview Duncan Drasdo of MUST - covering ticket prices, new stadium, INEOS and what fans should be demanding from our club.
Also, due to technical issues we couldn't put a notice up for the previous episode which was about the game against Bournemouth and other stuff. If you'd like to listen to it, click here.
Mainoo must be a £150m player after the City game then.
No I don’t honestly, but he’s absolutely stunk the place out all season and a nice 24 minute cameo doesn’t negate that.
I’d be extremely hesitant to even drop 60m on him right now, especially so if he’s so fragile that a potential move can mess up his form for 4-5 months.
You haven't paid attention then. He's been decent since the start of November and looked like his usual self since December.
You're not fragile if you run the midfield for Brighton in the PL as a 21 year old. But we know already that failed dream transfers can impact footballers' performances, similarly to how failing to land "the dream job" for normal working people can affect us.
Must be, yes.
You sure you’ve been paying attention?
He played 3 games in December in the Premier League and was pulled after an hour in two of them. Was pretty crap against Liverpool in particular and did very little v West Ham (hence why he was pulled).
Then he hasn’t played again until his 24 minute cameo last night.
If that’s him back to his usual self, that’s not looking good.
I'd be very surprised if Baleba went anywhere else other than Utd this summer. He offers physicality that we are sorely missing in our midfield.
As for the other CM signing, that I think will be more difficult as Wharton and Anderson have many suitors.
As for the other CM signing, that I think will be more difficult as Wharton and Anderson have many suitors.
Rumour mill linking us to Noah Sadiki. Asked around in the hidden gems thread if anyone had watched him play in more than two games (which is all I’ve seen), don’t think I got a response. Any Sunderland fans on the caf?
AFCON games don't count then? May as well just ignore Amad's performances there too in that case. Casemiro is also regularly pulled after an hour, still putting up great performances. Baleba is a CDM so if Brighton are chasing a goal, they can put on a more offensive minded midfielder that is more of a goal threat which they did in the West Ham game and Brighton ended up scoring a last minute winner. It helps listening to what Brighton fans are saying instead of just looking at the stat websites too. They watch every game by him so it makes more sense to read what they have to say as opposed to United fans.
Not when judging how well a player is performing at Premier League standard no.
And as I said, in the Premier League he has been in rotten form, including December.
Just been looking at possible, balanced options on cost, availability, likelihood etc. I think this would be a very good option to build our midfield for next season:
Baleba £80m~
Garner £20m~
Neves Free~
Obviously keeping Mainoo. Sell Ugarte, loan out some of the younger players. Maybe keep Casemiro for one year (lower salary) or have Collyer as the fifth choice.
I'd wager we should sign a left sided forward and replace Zirkzee/Hojlund with an experienced striker. If we're in the Champions League we might be able to do all of this and spend a similar amount as we did last Summer (£200-250m).
Baleba £80m~
Garner £20m~
Neves Free~
Obviously keeping Mainoo. Sell Ugarte, loan out some of the younger players. Maybe keep Casemiro for one year (lower salary) or have Collyer as the fifth choice.
I'd wager we should sign a left sided forward and replace Zirkzee/Hojlund with an experienced striker. If we're in the Champions League we might be able to do all of this and spend a similar amount as we did last Summer (£200-250m).
He’s still not playing well enough to justify anything like the fee Brighton would want for him in the summer though which is the big issue now. He’s been better recently after a really bad start but unless Brighton are willing to accept 60m, I don’t see how he can be a legitimate target.
Really interested what the club does as the two midfield players we get linked to a lot are probably not likely to sign for us. Anderson because City seem very interested and Baleba because of the fee.
This is where I am. We have made so many errors in the transfer market with big signings and this feels like another one potentially.
I get people say his head was turned but hes been awful for club and country and you could say has shown weak mentality. This feels like a big money flop who we keep getting told we have to be patient with as hes young while he's stinking the place out.
Anderson would be the dream as he's ready now but it wouldn't be surprising to see him go to city
Well he doesnt so its a bit moot
Gross is back to babysit him. Brighton are also 12th, so far from when they were one of the better teams in the division
Anyone impressed with Alex Scott for Bournemouth last night?
Looks decent. Think city are also sniffing around him
Wouldn't surprise me, looked really good on the ball and seemed really dept at winning it back.
Looks like he has 2 years left on his deal, could be a bargain to be had, for someone who could really develop, only 22 & has 65 PL appearances & 85 in the championship.
Liked him at Bristol.
I think he's probably not elite talent though. He's basically stepped up into the prem very well, but not added a great deal to his game. He seems like someone who carries the ball well and get's stuck in, but probably not good enough on the ball for a top team - yet, anyway.
I think all the tools are there, looked more of a breaker and recycler of possession might be the role hes being asked to play.
I think he's worth a punt, for a reasonable fee for a rotation with potential to compete for the starting as a second CM signing.
As an alternative I’d go for Hackney from boro, really like the look of him and he also could develop into something special.
Could be worth it, if anyone will know it's Carrick.
Yeah, I think that's definitely his role within the team and he carries the ball well up the pitch.
I think it's always good to target english talent, so certainly never adverse to it. I think he's a bit too similar in Mainoo in that regard though.
I think he has more room to grow.
Was unfortunate with injuries in his first couple years at Bournemouth and it’s only really this season that he’s nailed down his place. He’s technically very good and has great work rate off the ball. I see him as being a solid player for a top 6/7 side but probably not a starter for a top 2 or 3 team.
My guess is he either ends up at City as a squad player if they lose out on Anderson or he goes to Spurs (who I think he supports). For some reason I just can’t picture him in a Utd shirt.
Not seen either in a good while, was never a big fan of RLC but would have taken Ndidi at one time
Bottom of the barrel stuff that
Because it's not true
A lot of the times we have blamed manager X, Y or Z for the clubs failures but more often than not, its the board and owners that let us down. They have always been the common denominator.
You’re in with a very good chance to secure CL football and the names we’re being linked with are RLC and Ndidi. Its a joke. A serious big club goes out and gets a proper player in now to make a right run at it.
Instead we’ll miss out on the CL and then it will be slightly tougher to attract the type of player we want in the summer. The cycle will repeat. INEOS and Glazers are the problem, we could get whoever in as manager but if we keep making the same mistakes, we’re going to keep getting the same results.
You’re in with a very good chance to secure CL football and the names we’re being linked with are RLC and Ndidi. Its a joke. A serious big club goes out and gets a proper player in now to make a right run at it.
Instead we’ll miss out on the CL and then it will be slightly tougher to attract the type of player we want in the summer. The cycle will repeat. INEOS and Glazers are the problem, we could get whoever in as manager but if we keep making the same mistakes, we’re going to keep getting the same results.
No serious player will join a club with no permanent manager and a front office not known for maintaining footballing direction. That is why the likes of Ndidi or Loftus-Cheek are loan options this jan. Till we appoint a permanent boss don't expect any movement on bonafide long term midfield targets.
That's true about the injuries, I thought he had a bit more in his locker in the ball, but not seen that yet. Perhaps that comes with a bit more confidence.
Garner will cost 30m even with one year left.
I don't think we can attract Tier 1 players anymore but I think we can still attract Tier 2 players even without a manager. If true, we're looking at temp solutions until Baleba & co are attainable in the summer.
the career risk is greater for those. Imagine you join United and the next full time boss "ain't having you". Honestly I think only loans, frees or youth are truly available to us this January.
He did last season. He has already shown he has potential to be a great player. He just turned 22 so inconsistency is to be expected. That being said, I don't think we should prioritise him over other midfielders, especially for the price. Would much rather go for Anderson as midfielder priority, and I doubt we can afford both.
Most likely in that region yeah. But if we can manage to secure Baleba & Garner for in the region of £100m I think that would be great business - especially if we did get Neves on a free. I expect all three of these names will divide opinion, but I think they're realistic and would be an improvement.
As you say, it will be much harder to secure the tier one names, but perhaps if we're in the Champion's League and the manager/coaching staff is a big draw as well, we might be more attractive of a proposition than you think.
Realistically, who out of the Top teams needs midfielders?
Arsenal have plenty, Pool could come into the race if they don't secure Szoboslai extension, Chelsea have Enzo i Moises, City could if they see Rodri failing to come to form....
Real and Barca are secured. So is Bayern.
The others? The italians are stint, if it's not a loan they're out.
That's basically it. City or Liverpool could be our competitors for Andersen and/or Wharton.
We actually can. We will have the same cash to spend on midfield next summer like we did on attackersxthis past one. Possibly even more. We should easily be able to afford two 80+ m pounds midfielders if we choose to.
Didn’t we have to open additional credit accounts in order to afford last summers transfer?
City and Liverpool yes. Can't rule out Chelsea as there are rumours that they may allow Enzo to leave this summer. Madrid want a elite passer in their midfield. Linked to Enzo and Wharton for that role.
You can't rule out Bayern as they are Bayern.
At that price point there aren't many realistic suitors. But the competition would be fierce for their services regardless
Not much of an improvement on Ugarte is he?