Hannibal Mejbri - Manchester United Player
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Just how well did you get to know him?
The expectation for next season is crazy sometimes. Already being hyped at 17 before even get first team bench or starting XI game. Not many midfielder CM/DM at 17 & 18 can play good number of games in top tier league. Even when you reached 19, you'll still need to play alongside top or world class midfielder to help to take off the pressure from your shoulder.
Fletcher is a good example that he only started getting lot of playing times at 19 but playing alongside Scholes & Keane together. Pogba is also a good example that he only started getting lot of playing times at 19 but playing alongside Pirlo & Vidal. I predict something similar to Mejbri & Garner.
Fletcher is a good example that he only started getting lot of playing times at 19 but playing alongside Scholes & Keane together. Pogba is also a good example that he only started getting lot of playing times at 19 but playing alongside Pirlo & Vidal. I predict something similar to Mejbri & Garner.
I'm I the only one that doesn't really see it with him? He doesn't exactly have a sparkling touch when compared to the other players. Seems to work hard but not seeing pogba level of touch and ability.
I felt like that at first, largely due to my own expectation. When you buy a midfielder for that fee from abroad, who wears the 10 shirt, you lazily expect a certain profile of player I think. A little Pogba, Zidane type of player. I suspect if I finally got to see an academy Fabregas after hearing the hype, my initial reaction may be a little confusing too.
That said, I definitely see it now. It took me a little while, but he’s so mature and graceful on the pitch.
Seen him play only once. What type of player is he ?
Plays 8 and 10. For the reasons @mancan92 mentioned, I don’t see him as a natural 10 in the long run. He’s very talented, but not necessarily the most extreme type of individual brilliance like a young Pogba or Morrison etc - so I can’t see him as a very top level 10 personally.
I think he’s an 8, probably in the Saúl mould. He’s tough and energetic, has an excellent passing range and gets up and down the pitch. In terms of intelligence, he seems to think quickest on the pitch. Can drop a shoulder and turn away from a player, play a good one-touch short game, play good longer passes too. Not much of a goal threat yet though.
I'm quite opposite to this sentiment. His touch looks great to me and he's in the technical mold, seems to be a hard worker and has great spirit which isn't always something one would see at first in a technically leaning player.
Really? When you actually look at his touches. You don't see any real brilliance. Even in his highlight reel compare it with pogbas at the same age for example and he looks like just a workman like player. Not saying he isn't very good and wont just he doesn't have that sparkling technical ability you expect from hyped youngsters.
I watched a number of games he played at Monaco too and his touch, technique and vision were incredible for a kid his age.
I also watched Pogba in most games he played in our academy and I wasn't nearly as impressed as i've been with Mejbri. Pogba was inconsistent in our youth teams and alot of games passed him by. People can post YouTube highlights and argue Pogba was this and that but the truth was he was very up and down in the youth team and I would describe him as a moments player for that period.
Mejbri is a old school playmaker type that has the ability to dictate the game from central areas. Eventhough i'd describe him as a playmaking #8, i'd say he could be developed as a all round midfielder who can dictate from deeper. At Monaco he was deployed alittle deeper to what we've seen at United and was regularly involved in advancing/distributing play from deep from the games I watched. He also has fantastic work rate and a real hunger to win the ball back which is a real bonus for a flair player with his reputation. I'm actually pretty confident he's gonna become a mainstay in the United midfield in the near future if he can stay clear of injuries. The only thing that worries me is the petulance he displays at times which could see him sent off or amass too many yellows. But he's in capable hands at United and i'm confident that any issues he has will be ironed out.
When someone passes the ball to him, he controls the football and then passes the football to another player
Someone wearing the same shirt i hope? Some players do struggle with that concept.
Reminds me of Modric, but with a bit more tenacity. Definitely has a bit of the devil in him, but that's no bad thing. Carries the ball very well and has a really good passing range. Perhaps his skills are more subtle than Pogba's, yet they are still all there in abundance like a young Fabregas.
Or option C, doing a Fellaini which involves either
1) running the ball off the pitch for no apparent reason
2) kicking the ball out of play for no apparent reason
I think he will probably be on the cusp of the first team without making the step up next season. A long EFL cup run could do him wonders for minutes. (If it's played at all)
He will fulfill the same type of role as Fred and Mctominay in that of an attacking 8. I'd probably see him as behind those 2 and Pogba, plus Matic for the position he will likely get minutes.
Hoping Garner gets a loan as he needs minutes rather than being 5th choice which isn't too bad for a first year stepping up, but Garner is at the point he needs experience against fully grown men.
He will fulfill the same type of role as Fred and Mctominay in that of an attacking 8. I'd probably see him as behind those 2 and Pogba, plus Matic for the position he will likely get minutes.
Hoping Garner gets a loan as he needs minutes rather than being 5th choice which isn't too bad for a first year stepping up, but Garner is at the point he needs experience against fully grown men.
He is a class talent, I remember 1 game in the latter season he put on about 5/6 clear chances for the striker in about 45 minutes.
He has a rare mixture of flair and steel and the ability to dribble as good as he can pass. While he obviously still has a lot of work to do he is a clear talent to me. Reminds me of a younger Fabregas.
Every time I see him, I think the same. His touch, simple pass and move. Who knows how he will end up but boy am I excited to see him in first team.
I will go with you guys on what kind of player he is. Just based on the videos I've seen of him and a couple of matches. I don't know how to clearly describe it but he doesn't seem to have that elite control of the ball that you see from other top talents. Seems to have a great brain and engine though.
Have you seen Florent da Silva? Do you rate him higher than Hannibal?
Just to add to your post.
From what I've seen thus far from him at Monaco and at United. The play goes through him and he's the orchestrator/conductor that sets the tempo of the game which is a very special trait to have for a young player. Against Leeds in the FAYC he was constantly fouled to disrupt his rhythm which inturn would've disruped the whole dynamic of the collective but he wasn't phased and imposed his game which was great to see.
Do you mean top midfielders talent? Cause I could name you a lot of wonferkids his age who had worse ball control than Mejbri. The best of them all in recent time : Kylian Mbappe to begin with
Both players are very highly rated and it's difficult to say who will end up the better player. But from what I've seen of the Lyon youngster he looks a very graceful player with a potentially great passing range. Currently he has 12 months to run on his Lyon contract and thus far Lyon have been unsuccessful in getting him tied down to a new one. The youngster wants assurances from the club regards minutes in the first team which seems to be the stumbling block. United have been credited with a very serious interest in the player too.
Yeah compared to other attacking players of elite ability. Also I completely disagree with Mbappe at Monaco he may be a little inconsistent but his technical ability was always sparkling. Plus he had ridiculous physical aspects. Watching a young Mbappe I don't think is comparable.
I reckon Hannibal and Laird (If he doesn’t go out on loan) will start making the first team squad next season. Bench at least for EL/LC matches with some minutes coming to them. How they take their chances is anyone’s guess. Hannibal looks as close to nailed on as anyone I’ve ever seen in the youth but obviously the jump up is huge and midfield is the hardest position to just come into and run a game.
Excellent post. Thanks for the insight. I completely agree - including the bits about Pogba. Hannibal really excites me as it's not often you see this level of tenacity and willingness to get stuck in from such a technical player.
It is still too early for him for the first team, maybe in a year or two. I can see why some think he isn't a great talent, he is not really a highlight player. But he has some special ability that you can't learn past a certain point. He will transition very well into senior football in the future.
I have fully bought into the hype with this lad. In all of the highlights and compilations that I've seen he is constantly getting kicked because the opposition can't get the ball off him. Of course it could be that the video editors just failed to include all the times that he was easily dispossessed or hit the ball straight out of play, but I am choosing to ignore that. I don't want anything to get in the way of my muppetness.
I think the comparison made above by Remember the Geese and Adam-Utd of Modric and Fabregas are accurate.
I think the comparison made above by Remember the Geese and Adam-Utd of Modric and Fabregas are accurate.
Yep this is what really sold it to me that he is going to have a huge future.
There's been plenty of talented players that don't have fight in them, but if anything this made him demand the ball even more. He's actually quite aggressive in a similar way Scholes had that nasty streak to him.
I think Ole will really like him.
You could have heard the same criticism about Mbappe before that 2017 season. Technically flawed, too reliant on pace. Did that stop him? No.
I also massively disagree with you here, a LOT of the very hyped young attacking players have significant technical flaws. Not everyone is a Jadon Sancho.
But he wasn't technically flawed. Mbappe has always had elite technique even could take set peices etc at that level. He also had that little extra magic in his feet. Add to his ridiculous physical assets that's why he's already one of worlds best.
Mbappe has never had elite level technique, you don't play the way he did against us in that return leg of 2019 if you're elite technically.
Compared to young attacking players out of France he was below Dembele in that aspect when both were emerging and he's even further below someone like Rayan Cherki.
The list of great young forwards prospect with just slightly above average technique is endless, you don't need elite technique to be a promising player or to be world class.
Yeah, because Mbappe had a bad game along with PSG once against United, he's technically below Mejbri, Dembele, or Cherki.
Technique is not just dribbling (against kids in the case of two of the three names), but that concept seems to go over a lot of heads. Mbappe is technically better than Mejbri, Dembele, and especially Cherki right now. The reasons? His first touch is better, especially in how he uses it to beat the closest marker right away, his ability to carry the ball at record-breaking speed (similar to his run against Argentina) past defenders is something none of those players bar Dembele can do, his technical level of finishing is beyond all of them as well. Dembele's technique is nowhere near as consistent as Mbappe, but can have higher peaks in his crossing and dribbling, and that's about it. Cherki may surpass them all, but that's still a very long ways away, and it's ridiculous to even say he's above Mbappe in any regards.
Mbappe techniqe has always been in question. Its why he plays from wide, away from the tight spaces.
Xavi called him a physical player, there's nothing wrong with that.
Xavi called him a physical player, there's nothing wrong with that.
Cherki is far ahead of Mbappe when it comes to technique, even at age 16. His first touch is better, his close-control of the ball is better, his weak feet is better, he takes better set pieces already andYeah, because Mbappe had a bad game along with PSG once against United, he's technically below Mejbri, Dembele, or Cherki.
Technique is not just dribbling (against kids in the case of two of the three names), but that concept seems to go over a lot of heads. Mbappe is technically better than Mejbri, Dembele, and especially Cherki right now. The reasons? His first touch is better, especially in how he uses it to beat the closest marker right away, his ability to carry the ball at record-breaking speed (similar to his run against Argentina) past defenders is something none of those players bar Dembele can do, his technical level of finishing is beyond all of them as well. Dembele's technique is nowhere near as consistent as Mbappe, but can have higher peaks in his crossing and dribbling, and that's about it. Cherki may surpass them all, but that's still a very long ways away, and it's ridiculous to even say he's above Mbappe in any regards.
You will never see him make the mistakes Mbappe made that night, just like you'll never find a single game in Hazard's, Neymar's or Messi's entire careers where they were as clumsy as Kylian vs United return leg
Technical skill has little to do with age.
Now as far as Dembele is concerned, his decision making definitely is more inconsistent than Mbappe's but his technique? Again he is two footed, better dribbler, more prone to moment of magics and unlike Mbappe he's better with the ball at his feet than when making runs and getting great service.
Mind you I never said Mejbri has better technique than Mbappe I used Mbappe as an example that elite technique isn't necessary to be world class
Said it before, but I can’t imagine he’ll be very pleased if we sign Bellingham and fast track him into centre midfield. Developing two 17 year old centre midfielders at the same time is almost unheard of, and Bellingham will likely be given favour due to price tag and nationality. I can’t see either getting games in other positions too.
I completely disagree with pretty much everything you just wrote, not to mention the overblown reaction to one game Mbappe had against United but yet you overblow what Cherki has shown at youth level as if that's a valid comparison, just strange. Cherki looked absolutely awful against PSG just a few months back against the big boys, and he's supposed to at his age despite his enormous potential. He's nowhere near the finished product or someone you can compare to what Mbappe has done technique-wise at the pro level against actual professionals.
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Umm either yiu haven't watched much of Mbappe or you are seriously overrating others. Technically he is elite. His first touch is perfect most of the time his actual manipulation of the ball is elite his dribbling is elite his ability in tight spaces is elite aswell as his ability to run with ball at pace.
He plays on the wings because that's where best to utilise his skill set best. You can play through the middle as he showed for monaco but you put him on the wing because you want him on the ball as much as possible.
Are people actually doubting Mbappe's technique here? Jesus! Technique isn't only dribbling and passing (he isn't even poor at either).
His finishing is obviously world class (that's technique) which makes him the player he is, his pace with the ball makes his "dribbling" style look kick and rush while he runs at full pelt because he's that fast, in tight spaces his dribbling is good enough.
The obsession here with dribbling being the only sign of technique is absolutely baffling - Mbappe absolutely shits on Dembele and most other players.
His finishing is obviously world class (that's technique) which makes him the player he is, his pace with the ball makes his "dribbling" style look kick and rush while he runs at full pelt because he's that fast, in tight spaces his dribbling is good enough.
The obsession here with dribbling being the only sign of technique is absolutely baffling - Mbappe absolutely shits on Dembele and most other players.
How was he completely awful? Did you even watch that game or you're running on narrative here? PSG had something close to 75% ball possession, he was man marked by 2 players, still had severals good dribbles and produced a pass that led to Terrier's goal.
Friendly reminder that at his age Mbappe was getting bullied by National 2 defenders, scoring only 2 goals in 10 games at that level.
I'm not overblowing anything, even in his game against Nantes he showcased more technical ability than Mbappe ever did, Mbappe doesn't break people ankles the way Cherki did that game, he's not two-footed and he sure as hell doesn't dictate the pace and way to play of his entire team, that's Neymar and Di Maria.
What has Mbappe done technique wise? What is this narrative you're re-writing here? Mbappe is not technically elite, he's not someone you'll ever compare to Hazard,Messi or Neymar who are the golden standart as far as technical attackers goes;
Again I challenge you to show me a single technically elite footballer being as clumsy on the ball as Mbappe was in that return leg against us, he literally tripped over the ball at some point and a meme video was made of his game because of how terrible he was all night.
Either YOU haven't watched much of Mbappe or we just don't have the same definition of what "technically elite" means.
Technically elite : Hazard,Neymar,Messi to me, not Mbappe who'd rank at least 5th behind Dembele,Griezmann,Fekir and Pogba amongst our 23 world cup winners when it comes to technique