Potential Centre Back signing?

Scrappydog said:
I agree on De Ligt. Bigger risk than relying on Martinez for sure. Messed up backs can mean never playing top level or staying fit ever again. Will need to spend big on 3 defenders sometime soon.
Click to expand...
Next summer will be defensive rebuild, however can we afford to wait that long for the first CB though?
 
I'd love us to go after the likes of Schlotterbeck, Tapsoba, Ousmane Diomande, and maybe Goncalo Inacio.

All great passers and ball carriers just like Licha is, but overall bigger guys and generally more effective in the air.

Licha's injury record and lack of aerial ability, combined with De Ligt's injury record and Maguire's age and lack of pace, means we're probably going to need two CBs over the next couple of years.

Yoro and Heaven are great prospects, but neither are particularly great in the air, nor do they really have the passing range of Licha. It seems that ball playing defenders are going to be key in Carrick's build-up play, so we should be targeting that for sure, and we're going to need to replace Maguire and De Ligt's aerial prowess, possibly upgrading over Licha in that department too if we do sell.
 
I don't understand the obsession about getting a third midfielder and not adressing CB Issues. Tielemans Santos Mainoo are 3 starter level players for 2 free spots, Mount can cover and we got academy lads that can play there in case of injury crisis.
Licha and De ligt are not reliable, Maguire is also subject to injuries and won't be there next year, Heaven and Yoro inexperienced. We are one injury away of a disaster.
 
We have enough bodies that can all play CB, however 4 of them are effectively made of glass so that is a worry.

Ideally we would bring someone in but then that would mean needing to sell one of DeLigt, Martinez or Harry. Harry is the most dependable one on being available. Shaw and Nous obviously needed for full back positions. So DeLigt or Martinez who arguably when fit are the best pairing.

I’d quite like Lukeba but imagine we can’t afford that so we’d have to bargain shop somewhere.
 
Scrappydog said:
Don't think we will buy any defender this summer. Unless we can find a player like Lammens who plays somewhere in the back 4 from our scouts. Would be a great bonus.
Click to expand...

croadyman said:
I feel we are taking risk gambling on De Ligt fitness
Click to expand...

Scrappydog said:
I agree on De Ligt. Bigger risk than relying on Martinez for sure. Messed up backs can mean never playing top level or staying fit ever again. Will need to spend big on 3 defenders sometime soon.
Click to expand...
I think this is why we’re looking at signing Ben Nelson from Leicester lads as he is a big lad so great in the air and strong but also seems good on the ball and quicker than Maguire and De Ligt, almost a bit like a hybrid between Maguire and Stones although I’m not saying he’ll be as good as either as it’s all potential right now.
 
The holy trinity 68 said:
The club just did a CB rebuild 2 years ago, signing De Ligt, Yoro and Heaven, how many rebuilds do we need?
Click to expand...

Yoro and Heaven weren't a "rebuild" - they were promising young prospects who may or may not develop into being starting level CBs who can form the spine of a title challenging team. Meanwhile De Ligt seems to have chronic injury issues. If he can't play we need to replace him - it doesn't matter a jot if he was supposed to be a long term feature if he can't actually play.

Also, football squads need constant renewal.
 
Zumbi said:
Yoro and Heaven weren't a "rebuild" - they were promising young prospects who may or may not develop into being starting level CBs who can form the spine of a title challenging team. Meanwhile De Ligt seems to have chronic injury issues. If he can't play we need to replace him - it doesn't matter a jot if he was supposed to be a long term feature if he can't actually play.

Also, football squads need constant renewal.
Click to expand...
Bang on the money
 
Zumbi said:
Yoro and Heaven weren't a "rebuild" - they were promising young prospects who may or may not develop into being starting level CBs who can form the spine of a title challenging team. Meanwhile De Ligt seems to have chronic injury issues. If he can't play we need to replace him - it doesn't matter a jot if he was supposed to be a long term feature if he can't actually play.

Also, football squads need constant renewal.
Click to expand...
We paid £52m for an 18 year old CB, the club were not paying for a promising young prospect that may not develop into a starter, he was part of the rebuild and he should be expected to make the next step very soon.
 
The holy trinity 68 said:
We paid £52m for an 18 year old CB, the club were not paying for a promising young prospect that may not develop into a starter, he was part of the rebuild and he should be expected to make the next step very soon.
Click to expand...

Being expensive and being a young prospect are not mutually exclusive and there's never any guarantee that any player will develop into a starter - especially 18 year old CBs. We spent that much on him not because he was a proven, established CB, but because of his long term potential (and it can take a long time for CBs to come into their prime). Nonetheless, you're missing the point. It doesn't matter how you view our "rebuild" from two seasons ago - squads need constant renewal and if De Ligt can't get himself fit or if Yoro can't establish himself or if Martinez can't stay fit then we'll need new CBs. You don't ignore weak areas of your squad because of some "rebuild" you did a few years ago. Things change. Fergie continually rebuilt his squads - that's precisely how he maintained success.
 
Zumbi said:
Being expensive and being a young prospect are not mutually exclusive and there's never any guarantee that any player will develop into a starter. We spent that much on him not because he was a proven, established CB, but because of his long term potential (and it can take a long time for CBs to come into their prime). Nonetheless, you're missing the point. It doesn't matter how you view our "rebuild" from two seasons ago - squads need constant renewal and if De Ligt can't get himself fit or if Yoro can't establish himself or if Martinez can't stay fit then we'll need new CBs. You don't ignore weak areas of your squad because of some "rebuild" you did a few years ago. Things change.
Click to expand...
Beat me to it.

Struggling to see @The holy trinity 68's point here... do you not think we need to rebuild our defence?
 
Zumbi said:
Yoro and Heaven weren't a "rebuild" - they were promising young prospects who may or may not develop into being starting level CBs who can form the spine of a title challenging team. Meanwhile De Ligt seems to have chronic injury issues. If he can't play we need to replace him - it doesn't matter a jot if he was supposed to be a long term feature if he can't actually play.

Also, football squads need constant renewal.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry but Yoro was signed as a starter, no team sheds out £50m+ on a youngster who may not make it. It literally makes zero sense to spend that on potential, that's finished article material, most starting centre backs for any top CB isn't costing much more.

Heaven was the potential, hence why Utd snapped him up as he was out of contract, the lad they've just bought from Spurs is potential at £4m plus add ons. The young CB Nelson from Leicester who is 22 is potential but he's valued around £10m, that's what you spend on potential.
 
maximus419 said:
I'm sorry but Yoro was signed as a starter, no team sheds out £50m+ on a youngster who may not make it. It literally makes zero sense to spend that on potential, that's finished article material, most starting centre backs for any top CB isn't costing much more.

Heaven was the potential, hence why Utd snapped him up as he was out of contract, the lad they've just bought from Spurs is potential at £4m plus add ons. The young CB Nelson from Leicester who is 22 is potential but he's valued around £10m, that's what you spend on potential.
Click to expand...

Nonsense, he wasn't. De Ligt was also signed that summer, and Maguire, De Ligt and Martinez were all above Yoro in the pecking order the following season. Yoro isn't even a starter now.

Very obviously a 18 year old CB is not the finished article, no matter how much he cost. And no player is ever guaranteed to make it - clubs shell out huge amounts of money all the time on players who don't make it. All transfers are risky and unpredictable.
 
Zumbi said:
Nonsense, he wasn't. De Ligt was also signed that summer, and Maguire, De Ligt and Martinez were all above Yoro in the pecking order the following season. Yoro isn't even a starter now.

Very obviously a 18 year old CB is not the finished article, no matter how much he cost. And no player is ever guaranteed to make it - clubs shell out huge amounts of money all the time on players who don't make it. All transfers are risky and unpredictable.
Click to expand...

Maguire was being offered around, his career at Utd was very much over. It was only because Utd couldn't sell him and he wanted to stay and fight for his place that he stayed that summer.

Yoro was effectively signed as his replacement. The fact Yoro injured himself in his first friendly which kept him out for 4 months meant the club decided against trying to sell Maguire. With Martinez later getting a cruciate and De Ligt's record with injuries has meant Maguire has ironically become the most important defender at the club. Indeed Maguire can prob play on until late 30s because he's never relied on pace and he rarely misses a game.
 
maximus419 said:
Maguire was being offered around, his career at Utd was very much over. It was only because Utd couldn't sell him and he wanted to stay and fight for his place that he stayed that summer.

Yoro was effectively signed as his replacement. The fact Yoro injured himself in his first friendly which kept him out for 4 months meant the club decided against trying to sell Maguire. With Martinez later getting a cruciate and De Ligt's record with injuries has meant Maguire has ironically become the most important defender at the club. Indeed Maguire can prob play on until late 30s because he's never relied on pace and he rarely misses a game.
Click to expand...

Doesn't change the fact that he wasn't viewed as a starter when he joined, and he's still not a guaranteed starter now. De Ligt was signed as competition for Maguire and Yoro was signed as a longer term prospect. Dan Ashworth on Yoro's signing at the time:

"Leny is one of the most exciting young defenders in world football; he possesses every attribute needed to develop into a top-class centre-back. Having had such an excellent start to his career, we are excited to support him in reaching his immense potential here at Manchester United. This club has a fantastic record of developing young players, whether homegrown or brought in from elsewhere, and giving them the required guidance, time and patience to grow and flourish.".

That absolutely screams young prospect, not established starter. De Ligt was signed as the much more experienced and established CB signing that summer.
 
Last edited:
Is Charlie Cresswell to Rennes confirmed?
Given the modest €28 million fee, we ought to enter the race for his signature.
 
Today's The Dealsheet on The Athetic said Manchester have no plans to purchase any centre backs this summer.
 
dinostar77 said:
Today's The Dealsheet on The Athetic said Manchester have no plans to purchase any centre backs this summer.
Click to expand...
Always felt that was the case, very risky strategy though considering De Ligt and Martinez injury situations
 
We have De Ligt, Yoro, Heaven, Maguire and Martinez, before emergency cover in both Maz and Shaw. If by any chance we buy Tchouameni, he can play there as well. Therefore, we could wait a year unless an opportunity presents itself now
 
We aren't getting a centre back. I believe we need one, but there is absolutely no chance we sign one. We are approaching this transfer window like we've just won the league and need a few small tweaks. I think our lack of depth, aging squad and lack of managerial experience by Carrick will really expose this strategy as flawed once the season starts. You can cite the second half of last season all you like, but I think we all know that was done on vibes. If we keep it going and push on from where we are now I'll be gobsmacked. And it's not negativity - just realism and experience of watching United week in, week out for the last 40 years!
 
Unless one is on the way out, this is the last position I'd be worried about. Maybe RW as well actually.

We've got 5 players that primarily play there. 4 currently fit ones and one returning around November. On top of that we've got 2 full backs that can play there in an emergency.

Our whole CB unit was bought with the idea of playing a back 3 so we're stocked really well. Next summer you'd expect to see a shuffle up of it. Maguire, Martinez & De Ligt all with uncertain futures that they'll be here in 12 months time.
 
P-Nut said:
Unless one is on the way out, this is the last position I'd be worried about. Maybe RW as well actually.

We've got 5 players that primarily play there. 4 currently fit ones and one returning around November. On top of that we've got 2 full backs that can play there in an emergency.

Our whole CB unit was bought with the idea of playing a back 3 so we're stocked really well. Next summer you'd expect to see a shuffle up of it. Maguire, Martinez & De Ligt all with uncertain futures that they'll be here in 12 months time.
Click to expand...
There simply has to be second defensive rebuild
 
ali8karimi said:
I don't understand the obsession about getting a third midfielder and not adressing CB Issues. Tielemans Santos Mainoo are 3 starter level players for 2 free spots, Mount can cover and we got academy lads that can play there in case of injury crisis.
Licha and De ligt are not reliable, Maguire is also subject to injuries and won't be there next year, Heaven and Yoro inexperienced. We are one injury away of a disaster.
Click to expand...

If that's the logic (3 starter level players for 2 spots), we have 5 starter level players for 2 spots at CB. If you include Shaw / Maz, that's 7. Ultimately the balance has to be right in both positions.

I don't think we can get away without some physicality at CM. I also don't think the balance of CBs is right unless one of Yoro / Heaven steps up and locks down the starting spot. For me, LB, DM, LCB, backup CF are still needed.
 
P-Nut said:
Unless one is on the way out, this is the last position I'd be worried about. Maybe RW as well actually.

We've got 5 players that primarily play there. 4 currently fit ones and one returning around November. On top of that we've got 2 full backs that can play there in an emergency.

Our whole CB unit was bought with the idea of playing a back 3 so we're stocked really well. Next summer you'd expect to see a shuffle up of it. Maguire, Martinez & De Ligt all with uncertain futures that they'll be here in 12 months time.
Click to expand...
Agreed on all of that. A third midfielder and a forward both take precedence for me, and probably a new full back too if the club intend to use Dorgu in a more advanced role. Everything else can wait until next summer.
 
CM said:
Agreed on all of that. A third midfielder and a forward both take precedence for me, and probably a new full back too if the club intend to use Dorgu in a more advanced role. Everything else can wait until next summer.
Click to expand...
With Rashford looking like staying I'd say we're a bit stuck for reinforcing the LB position. Unless we never plan on using Rashford then Dorgu will likely play a lot at LB. A LW share between Cunha/Rashford/Dorgu is too many for 1 spot.
 
quadrant said:
We have 5 CBs for that reason. Normally you'd have 4.
Click to expand...
And none of them are good enough and/or proven enough and/or healthy enough. As long as at least one of Heaven or Yoro doesn't take a massive step forward CB position will be one of our weaknesses. Or at least a huge questionmark. This is a risky decision.
 
Hanky panky said:
And none of them are good enough and/or proven enough and/or healthy enough. As long as at least one of Heaven or Yoro doesn't take a massive step forward CB position will be one of our weaknesses. Or at least a huge questionmark. This is a risky decision.
Click to expand...
Prioritising a centre back ahead of a midfielder or left back is a bigger risk.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.