Frenkie De Jong - Part 3?

MadDogg said:
Legally Barca didn't do anything wrong so he wouldn't have been able to put lawyers on to it. Morally is a different story, but we know that Barca are a morally-bankrupt club.

Barca were in financial trouble and De Jong agreed to help them by changing his contract to get paid very little (relatively speaking) in his first couple of seasons but then his wage would increase so he'd get that difference paid back to him in his last couple of seasons. Barca then turned around halfway through his contract and said thanks for helping us and playing for cheap, but now either feck off so we don't have to pay you what you agreed to postpone, or stay on your original contract and forget about the money you postponed. Either way De Jong was down over £15m from the years that he'd agreed to play for cheap, but if he'd agreed to move to another club or agreed a new contract he wouldn't have had a leg to stand on to get it.

I respect that he refused to let Barca get away with their bullshit, and just stayed there on his contract so they have to honour it. If we heard about that in any other industry we'd be cheering for the worker not allowing the big company to screw them over.
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That is a fair assessment. Can't shake the feeling it won't work for us though.

Besides, I think we need a younger version of Casemiro more. And with Mount returning from injury, Mainoo's potential and all the noise around J. Fletcher. I think a quality DM or even two if Casemiro leaves in the summer should be the priority for building our midfield.

Beyond that, how would you use Frenkie, if he were brought in? And what would be your ideal signing in midfield? (player or position even...)
 
croadyman said:
Worth the big investment?
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I’ve been following him since we were linked a few months back and I honestly think so.
He has great tenacity and is good at getting to second balls. A great dribbler and passer too.
De Jong would have to be on massive wages whereas Neves wouldn’t, and it would be a joy to watch two 19/20 year old talents together in our midfield for hopefully many years.
 
The Irish Connection said:
I’ve been following him since we were linked a few months back and I honestly think so.
He has great tenacity and is good at getting to second balls. A great dribbler and passer too.
De Jong would have to be on massive wages whereas Neves wouldn’t, and it would be a joy to watch two 19/20 year old talents together in our midfield for hopefully many years.
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I agree with this but would also love to keep Casemiro for at least another year if we go down this route.
 
The Irish Connection said:
I’ve been following him since we were linked a few months back and I honestly think so.
He has great tenacity and is good at getting to second balls. A great dribbler and passer too.
De Jong would have to be on massive wages whereas Neves wouldn’t, and it would be a joy to watch two 19/20 year old talents together in our midfield for hopefully many years.
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Perhaps Bruno should take his big pay day to Saudi I think. He’s at the right age for it. I reckon if he does take that offer De Jong would be a fine replacement to play higher up the field.

Something more in an iniesta mould to give us more control in games having Neves, Mainoo and De Jong all three have tenacity and composure.

Could work
 
I feel if we can’t get the Gaitan deal over the line we should seriously consider this.
 
Redivy said:
He isn’t great at interceptions or tackling or clearances or aerial duals. He isn’t quick in transition defending and is slow at covering for defenders if they push up in attack.

You don’t need a physical beast like Onana, but you need a player that can effectively close down space and get stuck in.

And when De Jong himself was asked about playing the deep midfield role, his exact words were “I need freedom of movement”.

So whilst you consider him an ideal fit, I’d compare it to us trying to play Pogba in that same role when he was clearly not suited for it.
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just no..... Unless you haven't ever watched De jong play you can never conflate his prefference for freedom with lack of positional sense ala Pogba. Especially when De jong literally came to prominence and made a name for himself in a two pivot system at Ajax, under ETH with him as the deepest midfielder 90% of the time. The freedom De jong is referring to is being able to switch positions with his midfield partner and attack. Even switch positions with center backs and inverted fullbacks. It has absolutely zero to do with "lack of positional discipline" nor 'l have no desire to play deep" and everything to do with his football schooling at Ajax.

De Jong is the embodeiment of an old school libero. The type of player who used to rotate between defence and midfield running things. Which is you watch closely is pretty much how Mainoo has been performing. Being the deepest, some times being in the back, then switching with one of the fullbacks and at times with Bruno himself.
 
Move on. He's just not into us.

Have some degree of self respect. We want players who want to be here.

Graham said to SAF once "If a players feels like he's doing you a favour, he'll train and play like he's doing you a favour"
 
Crashoutcassius said:
We would just be leaving an 18 year old who is not a defensive misfielder to do the entire defensive job that currently the greatest ever defensive midfielder cannot do alone.
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You are jumping to conclusions, we would need a DM as well.
 
For those that don't want him, I think today is showing why he'd be a fantastic addition to the team. We are crying out for players who can keep the ball under pressure.
 
Redivy said:
He isn’t great at interceptions or tackling or clearances or aerial duals. He isn’t quick in transition defending and is slow at covering for defenders if they push up in attack.

You don’t need a physical beast like Onana, but you need a player that can effectively close down space and get stuck in.

And when De Jong himself was asked about playing the deep midfield role, his exact words were “I need freedom of movement”.

So whilst you consider him an ideal fit, I’d compare it to us trying to play Pogba in that same role when he was clearly not suited for it.
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De jong literally made his name in a double pivot system as the deepest midfielder. The notion he is anything like a Pogba let alone poor at interceptions and transition defending is laughable. When he talks of freedom he is reffering to his football education at Ajax. Where he literally performed the role of a libero. Protecting his defence without the ball, whilst rotating positions with cbs, his midfield partner and inverted fullbacks when with it. Even exchanged roles with the AMs at times. It has little to do with not wanting to be the deepest midfielder. Nor having poor positional sense. Its infact because of his impeccable understanding is positioning and space that he can play that way

Currently in our side Mainoo plays in similar fashion.
 
AndySmith1990 said:
Sounds sensible. Already strong teams get even stronger, whilst we pass up on quality players and put all our eggs in the basket of an 18 year old with a handful of games
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For what it’s worth as I couldn’t work out whether you were being facetious, I’d want De Jong - I just don’t see us doing it with the minimal transfer budget we have. I think we’ll prioritise another position.
 
Why is this still a thread, De Jong clearly has never wanted to come here.
 
I understand he is in an excellent player but in the 30/35 games I have watched him play I don't think I have ever seen him truly excel, had decent games but never exceptional. Wrong games or maybe I am just looking for the wrong things.
 
Casemiro to Arabia. De Jong in. Bring back the double pivot with Mainoo.
 
Why are people against this? Yes we’ve got Mainoo but what happened to having a good ‘squad’ not just good starting 11. City have pure quality for there central positions. He’d be a massive upgrade to our midfield options and we need legs in there with Casemiro getting on a bit. The more quality the better.
 
Can't wait for us to sign him and him announcing "I always wanted Man United":drool:

Then followed by him immediately turning into another ball is lava player:(
 
Son said:
Perhaps Bruno should take his big pay day to Saudi I think. He’s at the right age for it. I reckon if he does take that offer De Jong would be a fine replacement to play higher up the field.

Something more in an iniesta mould to give us more control in games having Neves, Mainoo and De Jong all three have tenacity and composure.

Could work
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I like Bruno to be honest.

But I would say that it would be a risk spending 100m on Neves. He’s very talented but it’s still a step up to the premier league.

If De Jong could be got for around 50m, it might be a better use of funds. You could also add a solid defensive midfielder to the squad in addition to De Jong for similar money to just Neves on his own.

I’m not sure.

Anyway, good win today. Let’s see what happens.
 
I wanted Matheus Nunes before City snapped him up just to stop us getting him, but I can't understand people saying FDJ wouldn't be the perfect fit alongside Mainoo. They'd absolutely run riot for years and years together.
 
Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber said:
De jong literally made his name in a double pivot system as the deepest midfielder. The notion he is anything like a Pogba let alone poor at interceptions and transition defending is laughable. When he talks of freedom he is reffering to his football education at Ajax. Where he literally performed the role of a libero. Protecting his defence without the ball, whilst rotating positions with cbs, his midfield partner and inverted fullbacks when with it. Even exchanged roles with the AMs at times. It has little to do with not wanting to be the deepest midfielder. Nor having poor positional sense. Its infact because of his impeccable understanding is positioning and space that he can play that way

Currently in our side Mainoo plays in similar fashion.
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Will have to agree to disagree. I watch Barca quite regularly and I’m never impressed with his defensive contributions. He is a GREAT player, but I would want him next to Casemiro, not to replace him. What you’re talking about is his play in a completely different system to anything we have or do play.

Mainoo is probably my favourite player, and someone I want us to build the team around, but it’s quite obvious even in todays game that he probably isnt ready for a bigger defensive role in the team yet, and that’s normal because he is still a teenager.

If he comes, then great, but if it was up to me I’d look elsewhere.
 
BarstoolProphet said:
Can't wait for us to sign him and him announcing "I always wanted Man United":drool:

Then followed by him immediately turning into another ball is lava player:(
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I can't name one defensive midfielder active right now who can progress the ball like him from a deep position. Tbf I don't watch too much football. We would have to do reverse miracles to turn him into a ball is lava player.
 
I start to think De Jong would not be able to match the intensity needed in the EPL. Watched couple Barca's games this year and his intensity is just nothing special . Yes when balls are around he is quite silky and able to connect play well , but off-ball wise his defensive support is either not helping or caught out of position . If he played along Mainoo and Bruno , the midfield is too light-weight and can't recover balls .

If we do want a No.6 who can carry balls and add defensive strength to our current squad , then M. Kone would be much better choice .
 
Redivy said:
Will have to agree to disagree. I watch Barca quite regularly and I’m never impressed with his defensive contributions. He is a GREAT player, but I would want him next to Casemiro, not to replace him. What you’re talking about is his play in a completely different system to anything we have or do play.

Mainoo is probably my favourite player, and someone I want us to build the team around, but it’s quite obvious even in todays game that he probably isnt ready for a bigger defensive role in the team yet, and that’s normal because he is still a teenager.

If he comes, then great, but if it was up to me I’d look elsewhere.
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Alright
 
Is he really a DM though? I don't think he's that good defensively.
 
Getting absolute pelters from the Barca fans for that performance last night and for the entire season if we’re being honest.
I’d take this as a bullet dodged and move on
 
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