shabz
Full Member
I think if we are after him we should go all out his window. He won't be cup tied and beside an emerging Lindelof we could have some consistent stability at the back.
Signing Koubilaly is one signing I am fine with pursuing without a DoF or permanent manager. There is universal agreement that we need a top class CB, and he is the best defender in the world who is potentially on the market. No manager is not going to want him.
You sell Rojo and Bailly, neither of whom are anywhere near the required class, sign KK, and have the homegrown Smalling, Jones and Tuanzebe as back ups.
We can get a combined 40m pounds for those two. 15 for Rojo, 25 for Bailly, and splash about 90m on KK. A net spend of about 50M on him is a no brainer.
Yes I saw it. He’s been a good servant, and I think he’s a good player. Much better than Rojo and Bailly.Phil Jones as Backup? Did you see the game today? He needs to GO asap
He's better than Bailly and Rojo, and is homegrown. I'd keep him.Phil Jones as Backup? Did you see the game today? He needs to GO asap
60 million for those 2 combined is a wee bit optimistic.Agreed. I'd give Jones a new contract and he'd be an adequate backup CB
We should get about 60 million for both Rojo and Bailey and whereas Jones we won't get a penny.
Never really though of that homegrown thing but that is a good point. In an ideal world he’d be moved on as I mean he just isn’t fit enough long enough to be relied upon.He's better than Bailly and Rojo, and is homegrown. I'd keep him.
The rest of the team has stepped up.
The defence is a clear weakness and i don't believe the existing players there will make a solid unit without intervention.
Make the offer now. It could be the difference between top 4 or not. After today we've seen Ole has some smarts as well as making the team happy.
Also if we leave it to the summer we will be battling with far more clubs to get him.
Just get it done.
Wrong way round. Koulibaly is a clearly superior defender, most of Van Dijk's game is physical (regularly makes positional errors and has lapses in concentration).He's definitely not as good as Van Dijk, not as good in the air and he slide tackles way too much which is never a good sign for a defender. Much better than what we've got but if people are expecting a Van Dijk transformation they'll end up disappointed.
If he can settle right in it's not an issue. Big if, but he looks like the type that could do it.Top defender who I'd be happy to sign, only slight downside is that he'll be 28 in the summer if we do get him. We signed Rio and Vidic both when they were around 25, so ideally we'd have gotten Koulibaly in when he was a bit younger, but not many other top CB options available currently.
Yeah that's nonsense, sorry. Koulibaly just got shown up and cost them CL qualification.Wrong way round. Koulibaly is a clearly superior defender, most of Van Dijk's game is physical (regularly makes positional errors and has lapses in concentration).
Van Dijk is regularly shown up against top quality players, Koulibaly on the other hand regularly pockets top players. Van Dijk is perfect for this bum rush, physical league.
You must have slept through that game. Salah got one sniff the whole game which was a botched regulation save by Ospina. Napoli on the other hand missed 3 or 4 sitters which would have got them the away goal to go through. Not to mention him being excellent against Liverpool and PSG in other games.Yeah that's nonsense, sorry. Koulibaly just got shown up and cost them CL qualification.
Yeah you've just totally made that up. I remember watching that game absolutely fuming at how little such a good attacking team created. They had one sitter late on which Milik had saved, other than that they annoyingly did nothing.Napoli on the other hand missed 3 or 4 sitters which would have got them the away goal to go through.
The bolded 2 will cost best part of £150M easily, not exactly bargain basement stuff, and I am guessing TA is Alderweireld? He's declining and would be coming here for a last big payday, not the mindset or profile we need IMO.This is why clubs would get ruined, if run by fans. We have to be realistic here. We have some areas in the squad to strengthen. CB, LB (back up), RB, CM and RW.
We can’t just go and afford to splash obscene amounts on players. If we were a CB signiaway from competing for the league, I’d love for us to go out and spend €100m on Koulibaly. However, the reality is we’re not. We need to strengthen in other areas too.
For January, if we could, I’d sell Rojo, Jones & Darmian and then bring in TA, De Ligt & De Jong.
De Ligt & De Jong are going to give you more of an investment. TA for £25m for 18 months to two years is fine.The bolded 2 will cost best part of £150M easily, not exactly bargain basement stuff, and I am guessing TA is Alderweireld? He's declining and would be coming here for a last big payday, not the mindset or profile we need IMO.
Don't get me wrong I'd be ecstatic if we signed de Ligt and de Jong but you started out like you were about to go on a budget kick, that outlay on two players who are still unproven to a degree is massive. Alderweireld would be a waste of money, you have to factor in the wages he'll be wanting, he's declined a lot this season and he's poor in the air, something we struggle with all of the time without Smalling. If de Ligt and de Jong came here they'd be coming for the "project" we present as they'll have offers from the elite of Europe, Alderweireld is a pure Schweinsteiger situation only minus any love for United, just the huge salary we'd offer for a player that isn't suited to partner Lindelof and who has regressed a lot.De Ligt & De Jong are going to give you more of an investment. TA for £25m for 18 months to two years is fine.
I'd keep Jones first. I don't know why Rojo is at the club. At least Bailly has potential.Yes I saw it. He’s been a good servant, and I think he’s a good player. Much better than Rojo and Bailly.
I'm not sure if you are being sarcastic or serious. Is that mean't to be impressive or? He should be taking the ball off him easily there while standing up. Makes a nice highlight but really not impressive.Nothing wrong with a slide tackle in a controlled,timed manner.
You’re clearly either a WUM or live in cloud cookoo landI'm not sure if you are being sarcastic or serious. Is that mean't to be impressive or? He should be taking the ball off him easily there while standing up. Makes a nice highlight but really not impressive.
And you are clearly clueless if you think slide tackling all the time is a sign of top defending.You’re clearly either a WUM or live in cloud cookoo land
Yes I saw it. He’s been a good servant, and I think he’s a good player. Much better than Rojo and Bailly.
Jones is not better than Bailly and he needs to go based on his injury record alone. Smalling and Lindelof are the 2 CB's we should focus on keeping.He's better than Bailly and Rojo, and is homegrown. I'd keep him.
Exactly, we have a great chance of top 4 now its just that our defense cannot be relied on. We need to move aggressively for a top CB but it'll be worth itThe rest of the team has stepped up.
The defence is a clear weakness and i don't believe the existing players there will make a solid unit without intervention.
Make the offer now. It could be the difference between top 4 or not. After today we've seen Ole has some smarts as well as making the team happy.
Also if we leave it to the summer we will be battling with far more clubs to get him.
Just get it done.
The latest argument is that we should keep him because he is homegrown. Such bullshit if you ask meIm amazed people think Jones is worth keeping, his positioning and concentration are poor, he often lets the player he’s marking get goal side which results in a risky last ditch recovery tackle. Set pieces his concentrations lower league standard. Charging out of defence to make challenges leaving huge gaps, ball watching and not dropping back in, the list goes on
Teams target him he’s that bad, he had his teammates and De Gaea to thank for digging him out as well as poor Spurs finishing. He was just as bad against Newcastle the first 15 minutes he looked league one level
All I can think of is the people who want him to stay have no defensive nous as it’s a baffling thought process.
To be fair, Jones has been better than Bailly for the last 18 months. Injury-wise there isn't much between them either.Jones is not better than Bailly and he needs to go based on his injury record alone. Smalling and Lindelof are the 2 CB's we should focus on keeping.
Koulibaly got owned by Salah....looked like Boateng against Messi.You must have slept through that game. Salah got one sniff the whole game which was a botched regulation save by Ospina. Napoli on the other hand missed 3 or 4 sitters which would have got them the away goal to go through. Not to mention him being excellent against Liverpool and PSG in other games.
Van Dijk on the other hand was lucky not to get sent off for a dangerous tackle on Mertens that cleaned out his shin and ankle.
I don’t think you’re necessarily wrong, but surely if the opportunity to sign Koulibaly comes up it should be taken regardless of managerial situation. Surely there’s not a manager out there who wouldn’t want to work with him next season, especially compared to what we have right now?I can't see us paying a big fee for any player this month.
If Ole was to get the job permanently then Woody may sanction a transfer this month otherwise it will be in the summer.