He's distinctly playing DM tonight. Holding position and not using his CM traits.
The notion he can't play DM, well it's evidently false.
The notion he can't play DM, well it's evidently false.
Joao Neves
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As am I and sure we (Ireland) know we haven't hope.
Nah. The long ball.
McFred would look good against this Irish team. We're hopeless.
His ability to suddenly burst forward and play a pass at the end of it completely alters the pace of play.
Like Mainoo, he has a very mature style for someone so young.
Was more the revelling in his good performance. nothing personal!
Like Anderson attacking the space?
Oh man, he attacked the space like noone else, didn't he?
Like the look of him.
Yup!
Oh yes Ish! Those were definitely the days!Boss: attack the space
Those were the days!
I honestly don't have a strong prediction.
I don't know where Arsenal would sit in his mind vis-a-vis United but I think if City decide to pursue him that's where he will go. For both City and Arsenal I think its a less question of having the money (especially at a price point substantially below the release clause) and more a question of the degree to which their managers prefer a ready-made player.
Big up to Boss, but yes. Neves eats up the ground so quickly whilst keeping control and maintaining his balance.
That's incredibly hard to prevent especially so because he can turn on the afterburners as and when he feels like. Opens up the pitch for him quickly and effortlessly.
I'm of this opinion, and I don't think it's this big issue to have him at base of midfield in his first season if we can't afford a dedicated DM on top of purchasing him.
Throughout the course of a PL campaign, he'll get loads of minutes as a CM anyway as Mainoo's got no business completing a whole midfield campaign at his age. The two of them would see solid rotation outside of playing alongside one another.
Any smart agent is going to hold out until after the Euros, unless a City, and their dodgy dealings, come in and secure him before the tournament.
I don't agree re. major tournaments because they are the icing on the cake, making the asset even more valuable ala Enzo just last World Cup.
If Neves has an excellent Euros, he's going to be worth even more than he is now.
He should be signed. Bring him in with a proper DM. We can use Bruno as a false 9. We would also have the option to rest one of Mainoo or Neves and play Bruno as part of the midfield three. We'll still have Højlund as an option. Plenty of games for him. It's a very flexible approach.
Neves is a 6 in the same mould Carrick was a 6, people need to start understanding that a 6 isn’t just a destroyer that sits in front of the back four and breaks up play.
Exactly this, there are games where we could play Mainoo and Neves with Fernandes ahead of them then games where we could compact the midfield with hypothetically Mainoo and Neves being partnered by McTominay or Amrabat with Fernandes as a false 9 which takes the pressure of Hojlund having to start all the time at such a young age.
He's an amazing talent and I'm certain his abilities will translate well to the PL. I would love for us to sign him as we need a deep-lying playmaker like him to partner Mainoo (who's more of an 8). I also see some defensive solidity in Neves but I still fear we will get overrun with a midfield of him, Mainoo and Bruno.
Problem is, I don't see any player out there who possesses all the defensive, athletic and playmaking abilities we need. For me, Declan Rice fit the bill but that wasn't meant to be.
Problem is, I don't see any player out there who possesses all the defensive, athletic and playmaking abilities we need. For me, Declan Rice fit the bill but that wasn't meant to be.
Well if you weren't aware he's equally comfortable at DM as CM, this is the kind of game to assuage that.
He's played DM so sensibly and conservatively, you would think it's his specialist position.
He's eclectic, like Mainoo. They can slot in wherever as and when it's required.
He's played DM so sensibly and conservatively, you would think it's his specialist position.
He's eclectic, like Mainoo. They can slot in wherever as and when it's required.
Neves, Garnacho, Mainoo and Hojlund could make our future look the brightest its been in over a decade.
Exactly. Feels like too often our fans seem to struggle with the concept of depth and rotation, and there are always concerns raise with “we don’t need X player we have Y” when especially in midfield and defense you need to have 5 solid options between those 3 midfield spots (just like you need 4 solid CB’s)
I'm convinced that him and Mainoo would be able to play in a double pivot.
Me too. He can cover many roles for us in midfield, which makes the price tag more doable.
He is worth what Benfica are asking. I know we have been burned on big money signings but he is going to be worth it I promise.
Amad hopefully too
Have to say, he looks absolutely brilliant, which means he won't sign for us.
Chelsea will sign him.
It has nothing to do with his ability, I just think we need a bit more defensively. On top of that I don't know if we have the funds to be making purchases for the future, when we have things needing rectifying at present.
Have never watched the guy play but on the strength of this thread I’m fully on board!!
Sign him up!
Sign him up!
INEOS are still faffing around deciding if they can replace Ten Hag. Possibly ruining our chances of signing great talents like Neves this summer. It's a shame.
Really exciting young player, but (and this might sound quite abstract) I don't think he's the kind of player we sign.
I can see him somewhere like Barcelona or Chelsea and in ten years we would be saying "oh imagine if we'd signed him back then". Y'know?
I can see him somewhere like Barcelona or Chelsea and in ten years we would be saying "oh imagine if we'd signed him back then". Y'know?
Now he's staying, welcome Joao then?
Could even do this with Neves at 6 and get McTominay in the side going box to box and scoring goals.
Convinced more and more this is an very good signing.
Both can play anywhere in midfield to a high level, Neves looks a little more physically ready for the combative midfield role right now.
Fingers crossed. I'd take any of Neves, Y Fofana or A Onana.
From when Sir Jim was asked if there's one player United need and he responded with 'Paul Scholes', I had a feeling the club would target him.
Nowhere near a done deal but you'd imagine it gives us an indication of the type of midfielder ten Hag wants?
If “Sir Jim” is calling the shots we’ll be no better under him than Woodward.
I don't think he is. I just find it interesting how he, along with plenty of others, have stated that we could do with a ball player and it now seems we are targeting what could prove to be an elite ball player in the future. Yes, we have Mainoo, but someone who has that long range passing that Mainoo doesn't quite possess but Neves has in abundance. It would make for a great partnership, although some would argue it could be too lightweight.
Not seen too much of him to be honest just a few YouTube clips and yeah, looks tidy, but I would like to think/hope he’ll have no say on who we go after and let it be down to the “experts” he’s invested heavily in to make those decisions.