City have an amazing first 11. They can afford to prioritise squad depth. For us, it's more important to tackle the obvious holes in the first 11. We have been hearing nonstop that we are restricted by FFP, so I feel the focus on getting our priority targets should be paramount.
Not the right comparison. Mount is an England international playing for a high profile rival in the EPL. He won't come cheap or would be on small wages like Malacia. This is not a punt but a pretty decent sized investment and for a player who would want regular playing time. The two situations are not alike at all.
Was referring to AWB
He can play as an 8, but does not mean he is good there. Wout also plays as a 10 but that does not make it a good idea to play him there.
I know. I care little about nationality but a poster claimed we only like dudes with fancy names other Anglo names
We paid similar for Martinez and he wasn't a bigger priority than a CDM.
We also got Martinez before we got a CDM (and the latter was widely seen to be a bigger priority).
Mount will be taking Eriksen's place. The same outlets that initially linked him to us (The Athletic and The Telegraph) said he was being signed as a #8.
That's a silly comparison. The fact he worked good as a left sided midfielder doesn't mean he isnt good as a number 8 too. Even if he worked good as a left sided midfielder doesnt mean he was glued to a byline and only went back and forth on the left side..
Mount is surely more useful defensively than Eriksen? I don't know if a midfield of Bruno - Casemiro - Mount is strong enough to not get overrun, but it stands more chance than if Eriksen was in there,
of course, defensively better and you dont need to sub him at a 60 minute mark.
Awesome, replacing a bloke who couldn't get in the first team.
Now you are making up points I never made to counter it. I never said he stuck to the byline. Rashford doesn't do it when he is on the left.
Similar to Kovačić.
If you think he's being signed to sit on the bench and rotate with Bruno then this part handily sums up your post.
And?
I hope he is better there than what the Chelsea fans say about his play in that position. I feel Kovacic is a much better fit for us in that regard if we want someone to replace Eriksen.
You assumed he'd be a Rashford deputy which is silly. He's not an attacker, that much I can tell you. By the byline comment I meant even when he played on the left side he roamed down the pitch which tells you he can work as a number 8 just as easily and midfield is his position anyway, he said it himself.
Martinez was specifically bought as a starter as a left sided CB because ETH wants his left CB to be very comfortable with his left foot while passing. He was always brought in as a starter in his preferred position.
He's 29 and I don't think he's as effective off the ball. I also don't think he's as decisive in the final third as Mount is.
It's clear that Mount has been brought in as an 8 for us, and that is also an integral position for Ten Hag's system. Other posters have explained this to you as well. Why do you keep assuming he's a 10 for us?
I’m in the same place. Always perceived him as a good squad player at a big club or possibly a player of significant impact at a mid-table team but I now reckon he’s a top 10 midfielder in England.
I said he had his best performances in the position Rashford plays in. You are now claiming that he is a #8 though his best position so far is completely different.
Not sure how true that is, but it looks like Kovacic is going to City at a replacement for Gundogan anyway.
I am assuming nothing. I said his best position and performances have not come as an 8. No one has offered any stats to claim he will be a great fit there. His POTY season were always further up as an attacker.
When the first reports came out, I was dubitative but after thinking about it. On paper his strengths are ones that you would attribute to a box to box, he has generally been good at moving the ball and busy defensively, he is also a pretty good athlete and turned 24 in January.
Ok. What best performances are those and in which formations?
Based on what some random Chelsea fans you read said, whereas my look through that Chelsea forum in recent days saw other Chelsea fans saying he was less effective out wide.
I am not claiming to be an expert on Mount but I will definitely take the opinion of people who have seen Chelsea more than me. I doubt any of us have watched him play more than Chelsea fans, so random or not, they will have a more informed opinion. Would you not agree?
His best position is set by the manager, and he see's him as an 8.
