Joao Neves

I’d be delighted with Neves plus a physical DM. Neves and Mainoo in a double 8 would be a fantastic foundation for a potentially world class team to build from. Could see them running rings around teams, popping it off to each other and being impossible to dispossess. We would need different profiles in the squad of course, both at the back and the front of the midfield, but as far as the bit in between goes, can’t ask for much more.

And also, 5’9 is not 5’5 - you can definitely play CM in the PL at 5’9.
 
NoPace said:
A world class side doesn't have to have 11 world class players in it. A chaotic, physically gifted very good striker doing lots of work like Nunez can easily slot into a world class side. I said the attacking mids and the sum of the parts of the side overall was world class, which I'd define as a top 6-7 or so side in the club game, which I think that team would be with the players all 2-3 seasons post-Benfica moves, and really the issue is Joao Felix being far more talented than he is productive, not Nunez, who is a handful. He's not winning any beauty contests out there, but he is an effective player.
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Got it, I still disagree any team can be world class while having Darwin Nunez up top. Any world class team I’ve heard of has a world class striker. I think your idea of world class is well, not world class.
 
TheRedHearted said:
Got it, I still disagree any team can be world class while having Darwin Nunez up top. Any world class team I’ve heard of has a world class striker. I think your idea of world class is well, not world class.
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Eh, I happen to have just watched the Milan-Ajax 1995 final and Milan's strikers were miles short of world class or even Nunez's level, and they won a strong Serie A the year before with the same guys and runner-up in the CL that year. I think it's definitely possible to have a world-class team without a striker, but yeah maybe we interpret the term differently.

I think Nunez does a lot of really useful things, I guess I rate him even with his wildness.
 
Rozay said:
I’d be delighted with Neves plus a physical DM. Neves and Mainoo in a double 8 would be a fantastic foundation for a potentially world class team to build from. Could see them running rings around teams, popping it off to each other and being impossible to dispossess. We would need different profiles in the squad of course, both at the back and the front of the midfield, but as far as the bit in between goes, can’t ask for much more.

And also, 5’9 is not 5’5 - you can definitely play CM in the PL at 5’9.
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Pretty sure David Silva and Bernardo Silva have easily put the 'short guy in midfield' thing to bed. If you're technically gifted then you can make up for a lot of physical issues but from what I've read/seen of Neves he's also quick and resilient so that helps.
 
Rozay said:
I’d be delighted with Neves plus a physical DM. Neves and Mainoo in a double 8 would be a fantastic foundation for a potentially world class team to build from. Could see them running rings around teams, popping it off to each other and being impossible to dispossess. We would need different profiles in the squad of course, both at the back and the front of the midfield, but as far as the bit in between goes, can’t ask for much more.

And also, 5’9 is not 5’5 - you can definitely play CM in the PL at 5’9.
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Agree completely, I’d love us to bring Varela in as well as Neves.
 
Is he more impressive than Enzo was for Benfica?

Enzo was massively rated on this forum to the same extent as I've seen with Joao Neves - and that he's a must buy. Obviously Chelsea stumped up the money after his impressive World Cup - and whilst he's been good for them, I don't think he's been worth the outlay just yet. He is however still young - and will likely get better. I'm just wary of the club spending £100m+ when we have some many weaknesses elsewhere.
 
parmenio said:
That is absolute EPL superiority drivel. Like a lot of leagues most Portuguese players have a release clause. Joao is just starting out. He literally the world at his feet but he’s very young and just starting out. However Benfica are the biggest club in Portugal by far. The are very solid financially in recent years selling Enzo, Darwin and Goncalo. Joao has a well known release clause a club either pays it or not. Up to any buying club pay it or don’t. Benfica don’t want to sell. If Silva goes in the summer Joao won’t . Rui Costa has said they will sell 1 in the summer not both. Joao won’t rock the boat to get a move as Benfica is his team and he’s living the dream. When he does move will be with clubs blessing.
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The EPL is superior though so how is it drivel? Any team buying from Portugal is taking a risk that the player looks class at that level but that wouldn't translate to the absolute highest level. It's the same as a premier league team buying from the Championship. Will a team choose to pay it - probably. In the same way that teams overpaid for almost all of the players you listed in your rant and they have thus far not all translated to being as successful playing more difficult opposition consistently.
 
Mainoo +



Would be an incredible double 8. Or even Mainoo 6/Neves 8. But yes please.
 
Rozay said:
Mainoo +



Would be an incredible double 8. Or even Mainoo 6/Neves 8. But yes please.
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Yep.
I have to admit, my head says no at 100m, but my heart says absolutely. Him next to Mainoo, two teenagers in midfield, would fit class with our tradition of playing talented youngsters.
 
This makes the Mount signing even more bizarre and frustrating. We should’ve signing the next generation of talent not wasting on Chelsea rejects. Instead it’s driven us into an FFp corner.
 
The Irish Connection said:
Yep.
I have to admit, my head says no at 100m, but my heart says absolutely. Him next to Mainoo, two teenagers in midfield, would fit class with our tradition of playing talented youngsters.
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I understand the sentiment, but he looks special and made for the PL. 100m or 60m - makes no difference over a 10 year career really, the more important thing is to get the right player. It may turn out to be an unmissable opportunity this summer to get in early.
 
redNATION said:
This makes the Mount signing even more bizarre and frustrating. We should’ve signing the next generation of talent not wasting on Chelsea rejects. Instead it’s driven us into an FFp corner.
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Ratcliffe's comments are encouraging about finding the next superstars rather than going for the current ones. If United are going to become serious title contenders in the latter part of the 20's, it'll be the result of finding and nurturing young players. It's always worked for United and they've lost their way recently. Mainoo, Garnacho & Hojlund are a good start but it needs to be built upon.
 
Rozay said:
I understand the sentiment, but he looks special and made for the PL. 100m or 60m - makes no difference over a 10 year career really, the more important thing is to get the right player. It may turn out to be an unmissable opportunity this summer to get in early.
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I agree. What I like most about him is his off the ball work and intensity despite(?) having great technique with passing and dribbling. Reminds me a bit of Keano in that sense.
But there will be a lot of pressure on him at the supposed price tag.
 
The Irish Connection said:
I agree. What I like most about him is his off the ball work and intensity despite(?) having great technique with passing and dribbling. Reminds me a bit of Keano in that sense.
But there will be a lot of pressure on him at the supposed price tag.
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Agreed, he has the lot in terms of intensity and technique. He’s an impressive ball-winner and ball-user.

I agree that there would be pressure at 100m, especially at this club, but that is the way it is. We would also need to manage that pressure. He’s be a long-term investment, and we still have other midfield options. To start with, no reason why he needs to start every game with players like Mount still around looking for minutes. We can afford him some space to develop I think.
 
His FBref profile* looks really promising -- lots of greens and high percentiles in the right sort of stats I want to see in a midfielder, take-ons and passing stuff especially: https://fbref.com/en/players/c2a15a27/Joao-Neves

* With the caveat that he plays in a dominant side in a weaker league and I think FBref compares teams outside of the "big 5" leagues against the "next 14".
 
davidmichael said:
Agree completely, I’d love us to bring Varela in as well as Neves.
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Like Enzo Fernandez before him, think we have missed the boat and he would be costly now, saw a fair few links with both before they went to Portugal. Barely seen Benfica but in an assuming way have found him very impressive. Physically strong, decent technique and vision, good engine and his positioning and reading the game defensively always seems to be right. Porto basically bought an Argentinian regen of Declan Rice for £8m odd potentially
 
Walters_19_MuFc said:
If we do buy him, then I'd like to see:

Bruno (Advanced Playmaker) Neves (Playmaker)
Mainoo (Deep-Lying Playmaker)​
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If we buy him I'd like to see him and Mainoo as our midfield covered by a destroyer with the adequate stamina and physique.
 
Crimson King said:
This is far too lightweight for the EPL.
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I would think we'd also bring in a DM or keep Casemiro around, so really it's Bruno as a #10 backed up by Mount, then 2 of Neves (or another CM), Mainoo and a more traditional #6 rotating. If that requires selling McTominay financially, I think it's still worth it. We have 3 our 5 midfielders for next season, barring a shock Mount sale. We need 2 more, one of whom has to be a #6 and neither can be a #10.
 
Last year when Barca won the league, Frenkie was the "DM", alongside Gavi and Pedri.
 
Brightonian said:
Sure. But in the PL Guardiola - the guy whose legacy a Frenkie-Gavi-Pedri type midfield still is, really - made damn sure to have Rodri.
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Liverpool doesn't always play with a DM either. When Endo doesn't start, MacAllister and Szobo's work rate is often enough. I'm not against signing a DM for reasonable money, but I am definitely against passing up Neves if our scouts think he's special just to keep the balance of replacing Casemiro like for like.
 
Brightonian said:
Sure. But in the PL Guardiola - the guy whose legacy a Frenkie-Gavi-Pedri type midfield still is, really - made damn sure to have Rodri.
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I was looking at Rodris season heat map earlier. He seems to be everywhere, not just holding. Think stones is trusted to step into vacated DM roles when city have the ball a lot.
 
Signing Neves would surely be at the detriment of Fernandes. If two 8's is the intention, that should be including Mainoo either side. When it comes to retaining possession at 18 he already blows Bruno out the park in this regard.

If you go two 8's and a 6, Amadou Onana would suffice.
 
I honestly can't see us parting ways with Bruno yet. And you can't play a midfield 3 of Bruno, Neves and Mainoo. We won't bench Mainoo for a 100m signing and we wouldn't spend 100m for a rotational player. So, signing Neves wouldn't make sense for now.
 
aeh1991 said:
I honestly can't see us parting ways with Bruno yet. And you can't play a midfield 3 of Bruno, Neves and Mainoo. We won't bench Mainoo for a 100m signing and we wouldn't spend 100m for a rotational player. So, signing Neves wouldn't make sense for now.
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I completely disagree. Chelsea won the CL in 2021 with a midfield of Kanté and Jorginho. In many ways, Joao Neves has some similarities with Kanté as being very good af winning the ball back. He is also very good aerially despite his height. The only real problem I see with that midfield is a lack of experience. However, this can be coached on and off the field by the manager and the leaders on the pitch (and in the squad).
 
If the CAF wants him, we should stay clear. 90% on here wanted Rodwell to be our next captain.

Never trust the CAFs view on players
 
davbon said:
I completely disagree. Chelsea won the CL in 2021 with a midfield of Kanté and Jorginho. In many ways, Joao Neves has some similarities with Kanté as being very good af winning the ball back. He is also very good aerially despite his height. The only real problem I see with that midfield is a lack of experience. However, this can be coached on and off the field by the manager and the leaders on the pitch (and in the squad).
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Also lacks height, which in our case could be a big issue because we already have a vertically challenged CB in Martinez. Liverpool can get away with playing short players because their CBs are physical beasts, so were Chelseas.
 
aeh1991 said:
I honestly can't see us parting ways with Bruno yet. And you can't play a midfield 3 of Bruno, Neves and Mainoo. We won't bench Mainoo for a 100m signing and we wouldn't spend 100m for a rotational player. So, signing Neves wouldn't make sense for now.
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I am 100% in the Joao Neves club. However I honestly don’t think our finances are there this summer for a £100m signing. We have just too many holes to fill. He’s a special player no doubt I’d have him on a par with Mainoo but we need far more than just 2-3 players come the summer. I’m not sure he’ll move this summer anyway he’s still very young. Another season minimum at Benfica will help him loads. Silva this summer, Joao next ?
 
aeh1991 said:
I honestly can't see us parting ways with Bruno yet. And you can't play a midfield 3 of Bruno, Neves and Mainoo. We won't bench Mainoo for a 100m signing and we wouldn't spend 100m for a rotational player. So, signing Neves wouldn't make sense for now.
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Alan Hansen vibes every time i hear this. Makes me want to see it even more.
 
Our FFP limitations and other positions are more of a priority. So based on these 2 factors alone I can bet my house we sign him for 100m+ in the summer
 
Having never watched him for 90 minutes, I was expecting someone a little more defensive minded.

But watching that youtube link above (which is never a good way to judge a player) I'd be reluctant to go with a midfield trio of Mainoo/Neves/Bruno in most games. It looks way to offensive?

Unless the common thinking is you'd need to add another player along with Neves in the summer, but I can't see that happening either tbh.
 
ManRed said:
Our FFP limitations and other positions are more of a priority. So based on these 2 factors alone I can bet my house we sign him for 100m+ in the summer
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Sir Jim's cash injection of £300m has eased our FFP position, although we will definitely still be mindful of it. I can't see us spending 100m on a single player for some time.
 
Makes sense only if we’re absolutely certain he will be top class. Ideally I don’t want us to spend big on a single player.
 
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