Danny Welbeck | Ornstein: Chelsea interested

[Van Piorsing]

Spectacular nostalgia. Carrick remembers playing with him.

 

[Garethw]

He’ll be injured within 5 minutes of signing for us.

 

[Superden]

the beeb article says they may look to offload that lad from strasbourg, Emegha, ironic after all that kerfuffle when they signed him and he could be out without kicking a ball for them..

 

[Russell_eire]

Almost too late, but could be a good option for a season, meaning other positions can be targetted.

 

[Revan]

The words of someone who has some weird agenda as there are quite literally not.

The point isn’t if there are better strikers out there. If course there are. But if there are ones who fit a very unique brief of being more towards the end of their career, low fee, low wages, experienced, a good professional, won’t kick up a fuss if not starting every week. (People point to Mateta, but he would want to be starting).

He also loves scoring against us, so that would be fixed.

There is not much agenda. Simply, I do not think that we should sign a 35 years old striker who is not good enough, and who wasn’t good enough 10 years ago. Similar to I wouldn’t want to sign Lindelof or Darmian to solve our defense problems.

 

[CasaStreets]

No brainer. I’ll be livid if we let him go to Chelsea.

Livid? need to increase your anger threshold

 

[IrwinwasbetterthanCarlos]

I’d be curious to know how many of the posters saying we should sign him are over 40. Once you’ve been through your mid 30s, and felt how steep and sudden your own physical drop off is, you might change your tune…

Anywho, if he was free, then why not. Might get another season, but pay a fee? You’re then looking at a 2 year deal minimum, which with fee and wages is going to cost £10m a season. Is a 37yo Danny Welbeck, which is what he’d be at the end of that deal, worth £10m a year? I’d say almost certainly not. And that’s as someone that has always had a real soft spot for him.

 

[Fully Fledged]

I honestly can't see what people see in him. Last season was his most ever goals at 14 in 40 games, he's not a striker. We need more goals in the team, not less.

 

[UnitedSofa]

 

[macheda14]

There is not much agenda. Simply, I do not think that we should sign a 35 years old striker who is not good enough, and who wasn’t good enough 10 years ago. Similar to I wouldn’t want to sign Lindelof or Darmian to solve our defense problems.

Saying there are several hundred better strikers is evidently a wild take. Only someone with an actual disdain for the player would say.

 

[Mcking]

Probably most of the strikers we could buy aren’t. So you say we shouldn’t buy another back-up striker?

I think Welbeck is low risk, had a great season, knows the premier league, would probably not demand to be the first striker, is probably not that expensive, his salary is probably not that high, he is a great professional, he could be a great rolmodel for all the young players we have, he doesn’t block the pad of younger players, he is from the area, he is from the academy, he looks like a great character for the dressingroom, he could move into coaching in the academy after he quits.

I think there are a lot of positives. But no I don’t think he is better than Mbeumo or Cunha. But don’t you think we need them in other positions with all the games we get extra.

I don't think we should be buying a backup striker. We were struggling to get Sesko into the team at many points last season. I don't see how it makes sense buying a backup for a striker that isn't even sure of his starting place. If we need another option instead of Sesko this season, then we just play the players that were making us start him from the bench.

 

[OverratedOpinion]

Couldn’t imagine that he would cost more than 5-6m

It will be interesting to see what the fee is but if it's anything under 10m then it would be criminal for us to not get involved.

 

[Russell_eire]

I’d be curious to know how many of the posters saying we should sign him are over 40. Once you’ve been through your mid 30s, and felt how steep and sudden your own physical drop off is, you might change your tune…

Anywho, if he was free, then why not. Might get another season, but pay a fee? You’re then looking at a 2 year deal minimum, which with fee and wages is going to cost £10m a season. Is a 37yo Danny Welbeck, which is what he’d be at the end of that deal, worth £10m a year? I’d say almost certainly not. And that’s as someone that has always had a real soft spot for him.

I'm 46, and I quit eleven-a-side and the boxing ring at 35, as there was a huge drop off in what my body could do. But I still think he could do a job in the squad for a year, seeing as it is hard to see what striker could come in to support those already there.

If it was a free, that would be ideal, but you're right that 10 million a year might be a bit much per goal.

 

[OverratedOpinion]

I’d be curious to know how many of the posters saying we should sign him are over 40. Once you’ve been through your mid 30s, and felt how steep and sudden your own physical drop off is, you might change your tune…

Anywho, if he was free, then why not. Might get another season, but pay a fee? You’re then looking at a 2 year deal minimum, which with fee and wages is going to cost £10m a season. Is a 37yo Danny Welbeck, which is what he’d be at the end of that deal, worth £10m a year? I’d say almost certainly not. And that’s as someone that has always had a real soft spot for him.

Comparing how we feel at 36 to a lad like Welbeck is like comparing apples and oranges. He's in shape like we couldn't imagine and he presumably does loads of things to keep himself limber.

He still looked stronger and faster than a lot of 20 year old prem players last season.

 

[CloneMC16]

Hijack and bring our boy back home!

 

[Fully Fledged]

Saying there are several hundred better strikers is evidently a wild take. Only someone with an actual disdain for the player would say.

Going on his league goals since 2010 when he went to Sunderland, 6, 4, 4. 2, 5, 1, 2, 6, 6, 5, 10, 13. Not the most prolific striker I've ever seen.

 

[Overhaul FC]

What would Chibo Odi learn from Welbeck? How to miss clear-cut chances every match.

I'm so glad Chelsea are signing him. So United fans can finally stop clamouring for him.

People forget why we finally sold him.

Chelsea are clearly signing him and Jordan Henderson purely to be uncles and role models to the awful squad and changing room they've assembled.

It says more about their squad and shitshow than it does about Welbeck or Henderson's current playing ability.

 

[macheda14]

Going on his league goals since 2010 when he went to Sunderland, 6, 4, 4. 2, 5, 1, 2, 6, 6, 5, 10, 13. Not the most prolific striker I've ever seen.

Several hundred. That would firstly mean he’s the worst striker in the prem. Then the worst in the top 5 leagues.

 

[CloneMC16]

Comparing how we feel at 36 to a lad like Welbeck is like comparing apples and oranges. He's in shape like we couldn't imagine and he presumably does loads of things to keep himself limber.

He still looked stronger and faster than a lot of 20 year old prem players last season.

Agreed. The average 40 year old is likely doing next to no exercise and is well out of shape. You can't compare random posters on here to an elite level athlete. Welbeck was still performing at a decent level last season.

 

[Fully Fledged]

Several hundred. That would firstly mean he’s the worst striker in the prem. Then the worst in the top 5 leagues.

Our scouts comb the world, and I'm sure there are a good few strikers out there who average better than 5.3 goals a season over the past 12 years.

 

[IrwinwasbetterthanCarlos]

Comparing how we feel at 36 to a lad like Welbeck is like comparing apples and oranges. He's in shape like we couldn't imagine and he presumably does loads of things to keep himself limber.

He still looked stronger and faster than a lot of 20 year old prem players last season.

Agreed. The average 40 year old is likely doing next to no exercise and is well out of shape. You can't compare random posters on here to an elite level athlete. Welbeck was still performing at a decent level last season.

How many sportsmen are at their peak post 35? Regardless of the specific sport, there’s a reason why.

Look at Lewandowski, a man famed for his physical conditioning. He’s off to MLS at 18 months older than Welbeck because he can’t do it any more. I love me some Welbz, but he’s not one of the finest forwards of his generation.

He’d have been a really smart signing, on a free, a year or two ago. Paying a fee for him now, as he’s approaching 36, would be dumb. Assuming that yesterday will continue into tomorrow, for a player in their mid 30s, is a huge gamble. Look how much Salah dropped off in one season for evidence.

 

[Yagami]

Apparently a lot of the 12/13 squad have kept in contact, and Carrick recently spoke about how he still talks to Welbeck when we played Brighton. If we do join the race for him, surely we can persuade him to join. He still says he supports us, too, and obviously has a lot of family here.

 

[OverratedOpinion]

How many sportsmen are at their peak post 35? Regardless of the specific sport, there’s a reason why.

Look at Lewandowski, a man famed for his physical conditioning. He’s off to MLS at 18 months older than Welbeck because he can’t do it any more. I love me some Welbz, but he’s not one of the finest forwards of his generation.

He’d have been a really smart signing, on a free, a year or two ago. Paying a fee for him now, as he’s approaching 36, would be dumb. Assuming that yesterday will continue into tomorrow, for a player in their mid 30s, is a huge gamble. Look how much Salah dropped off in one season for evidence.

No one is saying he's at his physical peak. But I very much doubt he's waking up with stiff knees and having those days I have when my body randomly just feels heavy when walking!

Depends on what the fee is. If it's a nominal fee of a few million then I don't see why not.

Look at it this way, there's every chance we could get a £5-6m loan fee for Zirkzee. If we could get Welbeck for that amount whilst also making some progress on eventually selling Zirkzee and having a better player up front next season, isn't that a good deal for us?

 

[DOTA]

I can't imagine we'll be signing Welbeck now it looks like Rashford is staying.

 

[Revan]

Several hundred. That would firstly mean he’s the worst striker in the prem. Then the worst in the top 5 leagues.

There are lots of good strikers in the other leagues. Especially better than a 35 years old one.

 

[Winrar]

I’d sign him just so he stops scoring against us in the last few years of his career.

 

[macheda14]

Our scouts comb the world, and I'm sure there are a good few strikers out there who average better than 5.3 goals a season over the past 12 years.

There are lots of good strikers in the other leagues. Especially better than a 35 years old one.

You said ‘several hundred’ not a god few, not lots. Several hundred.

 

[SungSam7]

I prefer Mbeumo to Welbeck. Considering all afcon players were not in form after returning I think Mbeumo played relatively well and can improve next season. I'm actually looking forward to it a bit.

Zirkzee is not good enough to be our number 2 striker for goals but he is a centre forward we should use to make our goals come from wingers instead if he stays.

He played maybe 2 games relatively well against Arsenal and City if Im remembering correctly. He was beyond poor any other game after that.

There was plenty screaming for Sesko to come on.

 

[IrwinwasbetterthanCarlos]

No one is saying he's at his physical peak. But I very much doubt he's waking up with stiff knees and having those days I have when my body randomly just feels heavy when walking!

Depends on what the fee is. If it's a nominal fee of a few million then I don't see why not.

Look at it this way, there's every chance we could get a £5-6m loan fee for Zirkzee. If we could get Welbeck for that amount whilst also making some progress on eventually selling Zirkzee and having a better player up front next season, isn't that a good deal for us?

It’s not about “stiff knees”, it’s about how fast the drop off can be. Again, just look at Salah’s last two seasons.

Just because he’s been good the last two seasons, doesn’t mean he’ll just carry on being good. That’s not how it works at that age. Again, if he was on a free, and it was a 1+1 deal, then sure, but adding a fee on top means it’s 2 years minimum and therefore too expensive.

 

[BorisManUtd]

Great career he's had. United, Arsenal, Watford, Brighton and now Chelsea. Solid PL striker. And been around for so long, got into our first team when Ronaldo was still around the first time.

Chelsea's obsession with Brighton is so weird.

Cucurella and Caicedo were good signings. Pedro is a good player as well. Even GK Sanchez is not as bad as he looked at some point. So they could've done lot worse than that I guess.

 

[lysglimt]

We have a net spend of £40 million so far - we can afford to sign better players than Welbeck

 

[WeePat]

Cucurella and Caicedo were good signings. Pedro is a good player as well. Even GK Sanchez is not as bad as he looked at some point. So they could've done lot worse than that I guess.

I don't think we've single dud from Brighton. Sanchez is the worst one and he's been serviceable but not an outright disaster.

The disastrous ones have been in the hierarchy - Winstanley in particular. Graham Potter too.

 

[Fully Fledged]

You said ‘several hundred’ not a god few, not lots. Several hundred.

I did say any figure, and a good few means a lot. I didn't give a figure because I don't know how have a better average than 5.3/ league goals in a season.

 

[golden_blunder]

We have a net spend of £40 million so far - we can afford to sign better players than Welbeck

We don’t need a more expensive player. We need someone experienced who can stand in for Sesko, help him and the other young forwards develop, and have a similar skill set. Welbeck offers all that and is homegrown

 

[Sandikan]

I honestly can't see what people see in him. Last season was his most ever goals at 14 in 40 games, he's not a striker. We need more goals in the team, not less.

But he actually scored more goals than all of our attackers did last year.
For Brighton!

He'd be cover at best clearly. But we all know that we're an injury or 2 from disaster in attack.
Sesko has already had a knock in pre season and if he's not suddenly become robust we're without a specialist striker.

 

[Posh Red]

But he actually scored more goals than all of our attackers did last year.
For Brighton!

He'd be cover at best clearly. But we all know that we're an injury or 2 from disaster in attack.
Sesko has already had a knock in pre season and if he's not suddenly become robust we're without a specialist striker.

I don’t really see it this way. For three positions, we currently have:

Sesko
Cunha
Mbeumo
Amad
Dorgu
Zirkzee
Rashford
Lacey
Thompson

So that’s nine players for three positions, and in the absolute worst case scenario, players like Bruno and Mount can fill in the attacking roles.

 

[Gavinb33]

Would he even want to come, maybe has been asked and he declined therefore we aren't going to bid, people assume we wouldn't have done our due diligence

 

[OverratedOpinion]

I honestly can't see what people see in him. Last season was his most ever goals at 14 in 40 games, he's not a striker. We need more goals in the team, not less.

Tbf he averaged a goal every 174 minutes in the league last season which is not half bad. Scored more than any of our forwards.

He's also a very good player with his back to goal and linking up.

The main reason people want him is because we know we aren't going to spend any real money on a forward and he would be dirt cheap and be a massive help for a season or 2.

People are mostly looking it as the idea of him Vs Zirkzee.

 

[Fully Fledged]

Tbf he averaged a goal every 174 minutes in the league last season which is not half bad. Scored more than any of our forwards.

He's also a very good player with his back to goal and linking up.

The main reason people want him is because we know we aren't going to spend any real money on a forward and he would be dirt cheap and be a massive help for a season or 2.

People are mostly looking it as the idea of him Vs Zirkzee.

Yeah he had an okay season with 13 league goals, and the season before that was a barely acceptable 10. Those 23 goals are doing a lot of lifting in his goal stats though, apart from those two seasons he's struggled to get 6 league goals a season. I see the romance of a United youth player coming home but we need better.

I don't think Zirkzee is good enough, but don't see Welbeck as the answer.

 

[OverratedOpinion]

Yeah he had an okay season with 13 league goals, and the season before that was a barely acceptable 10. Those 23 goals are doing a lot of lifting in his goal stats though, apart from those two seasons he's struggled to get 6 league goals a season. I see the romance of a United youth player coming home but we need better.

I don't think Zirkzee is good enough, but don't see Welbeck as the answer.

Again the season before it was about 1 in 2 accounting for minutes played.

In the Prem for someone we are talking about as a dirt cheap backup for a season that's great.

I'd rather sign someone like Watkins but I just don't see any world where that happens.