I think you were adamant and said/called it in the Kim thread. You better not be right again you bast**d!You misunderstood me. It's not about us being slow. We already signed Onana and Mount before the pre season tour starter! That's both clean and efficient.
It's about it not being a priority and us having a budget to contend with. I don't see us doing anything big after hojlund and would need some significant movement to sell Maguire or McTominay to do more in defence or midfield. We still have to shift fred, Elanga and Henderson just to get Hojlund anyway, and Van de Beek will probably also leave. We have to deal with budget restrictions and squad size restrictions (not necessarily rules, moreso what Ten Hag wants to work with... Managers don't like big squads).
Yeah and there is a lot of the same logic in this deal as that, albeit this is at a much lower price point so could be wrong. Kim was at 45m which didn't make sense given Varane, though that had some logic in terms of Varane being injury prone while Casemiro isn't.I think you were adamant and said/called it in the Kim thread. You better not be right again you bast**d!
We need more midfield variety in the team. As much as I would love to see more of Hannibal and Mainoo this season, I'm still not convince by adding just Mount alone.
maybe he just backs himself to get into the team?Yeah and there is a lot of the same logic in this deal as that, albeit this is at a much lower price point so could be wrong. Kim was at 45m which didn't make sense given Varane, though that had some logic in terms of Varane being injury prone while Casemiro isn't.
Amrabat is turning 27 in August, is he going to come be a backup to Casemiro, a guy who plays literally every game he is fit for? Ten Hag also is building towards a more attacking 433 where Mount and Bruno will start ahead, amrabat can rotate in there of course, but that's all he'd be. Signing for a club at age 27 where you'll be backup to Casemiro and then compete with Eriksen to be backup to Mount is a weird decision.
Maybe he just wants to join a big club and doesn't care about the backup role. More money and all that, and his reputation isn't like Kim Min Jae where he'd start for most big clubs. Fine. But from our point of view, we'd just have to sell all of McTominay, Fred and Van de Beek first for it to make sense from a squad numbers perspective (really, 2 of them have to go regardless and McTominay is the one who needs to go for Amrabat). Otherwise we have too many senior players in midfield who just aren't getting game time and that's not good for morale. I don't see much indicating McTominay will go, so I assume we don't sign anyone in midfield until that changes. And besides, a backup to casemiro role is a hard sell unless it's a younger player who can learn and take over.
Ten Hag would see him as someone who plays in the casemiro position. Footballers are confident but they aren't that deluded. He'd get games yeah but I'm sure he has good club options where he plays more than competing with Eriksen to be backup to Mount or backup to Casemiro. Though like I said, could be he's ok with that role. A bigger question is our current options, and like I said, if McTominay stays, this isn't happening.maybe he just backs himself to get into the team?
there’s many paths into the starting 11, even non obvious ones for example Bruno or Mount could play out wide replacing Antony or Sancho which opens up space in the middle. I think he’d get plenty of game time
He won’t be “okay” and EtH wouldn’t sign him if he was. He will expect to be able to get into the team at least some of the time. Which is the kind of player we need if we’re going to buy someone and if we have any ambition. Managers want genuine competition for places.Ten Hag would see him as someone who plays in the casemiro position. Footballers are confident but they aren't that deluded. He'd get games yeah but I'm sure he has good club options where he plays more than competing with Eriksen to be backup to Mount or backup to Casemiro. Though like I said, could be he's ok with that role. A bigger question is our current options, and like I said, if McTominay stays, this isn't happening.
He's not a backup for casemiro, thats the narrartive that people on here are pushing. Hes a mutlifacitated player who can break a press, carry the ball, keep possession and pass the ball alot.This deal doesn't make any sense to me. Why are we chasing a 27yr old to be a rotation/back up option for Casemiro. Case will play every game and by the time he gets to the end of his contract, Amrabat will be almost 31. We should be looking to improve the age profile of our squad, better to look for a younger option as rotation DM for Case. Someone who will hit their prime just as Case winds down. There's a reason that smart clubs these days are looking to acquire players in the 22-24 age range. Arsenal have done good work to totally change the age of their squad and will have a team that is peaking just as Guardiola leaves City. As much stick as we give Chelsea on their transfer business, they've also made sure their squad has a younger profile. If the rationale is that he's worked with Ten Hag before, we might as well shut down our scouts and only look for players that have played for ETH before. As much as I back ETH, only chasing after his former players is a recipe for disaster in terms of the future.
He's not a backup for casemiro, thats the narrartive that people on here are pushing. Hes a mutlifacitated player who can break a press, carry the ball, keep possession and pass the ball alot.
ETH isnt looking for 5 years time, he's looking to create the best team he can for right now. The medium/long term view is for sporting directors etc.
Amrabat would fit the age profile of the squad which is around 26 years old.
So amrabat..He's mostly played as a 6 right? He's effectively a destroyer, who is strong in the tackle and keeps possession well. I think that is basically the profile of a back up for Case since the squad doesn't have a natural replacement. It's not like Amrabat is going to play as a 8, in the system ETH is going to deploy. Well, Murtough or whoever is the sporting director should make sure that the profile of the next midfielder is towards the younger end. It's not like the academy has a potential great no 6 lurking in the wings, so rather use the cash that would be going to Amrabat and target a Lavia type profile. Take Liverpool for example, Klopp is also looking to win now and they've basically replacing their whole midfield with younger replacements. Madrid only bought younger midfield types. Typical United we're not thinking for the now and the future.
Think you are describing him well. Fbref is supporting it: LinkHe's not a backup for casemiro, thats the narrartive that people on here are pushing. Hes a mutlifacitated player who can break a press, carry the ball, keep possession and pass the ball alot.
ETH isnt looking for 5 years time, he's looking to create the best team he can for right now. The medium/long term view is for sporting directors etc.
Amrabat would fit the age profile of the squad which is around 26 years old.
That improves our midfield options and probably net positive financially, taking wages into account.If we buy him, get rid of Fred, McTominay and VdB immediately. Mainoo is available as well to fill in.
Definitely wouldn't be confident the bolded part is true. Casemiro was obviously brilliant for a good chunk of last year but he was honestly ropey as fook by the end of the season despite lots of breaks while he served suspensions. He's getting older and while he was never lean, he seems to be carrying a bit of timber. Once his mobility declines, he could go the way of Matic and he's nowhere near as press-resistant or as good at passing progressively as Matic was. Think he'll need to be managed a bit better although I too would prefer if they had someone younger with the potential to wrest the role off Casemiro in a couple of years.This deal doesn't make any sense to me. Why are we chasing a 27yr old to be a rotation/back up option for Casemiro. Case will play every game and by the time he gets to the end of his contract, Amrabat will be almost 31. We should be looking to improve the age profile of our squad, better to look for a younger option as rotation DM for Case. Someone who will hit their prime just as Case winds down. There's a reason that smart clubs these days are looking to acquire players in the 22-24 age range. Arsenal have done good work to totally change the age of their squad and will have a team that is peaking just as Guardiola leaves City. As much stick as we give Chelsea on their transfer business, they've also made sure their squad has a younger profile. If the rationale is that he's worked with Ten Hag before, we might as well shut down our scouts and only look for players that have played for ETH before. As much as I back ETH, only chasing after his former players is a recipe for disaster in terms of the future.
I don’t know man, I think he could be the best man on the field for a WC semi-finalist playing as a defensive mid.Think you are describing him well. Fbref is supporting it: Link
His scouting report is damning though. Do not want. He certainly has his uses, but now we brought in Mount so, there is no reason to go for the Luxury version of progressive midfielder only to get the budget version in as well. I'd take him for free but we certainly shouldnt prioritize him or a player like him before we bring in somebody who is capable of deputizing for Casemiro on the defensive side of things.
I don't get how he isn't a backup for Casemiro. Deepest midfielder for club and country in all the games I've seen.He's not a backup for casemiro, thats the narrartive that people on here are pushing. Hes a mutlifacitated player who can break a press, carry the ball, keep possession and pass the ball alot.
ETH isnt looking for 5 years time, he's looking to create the best team he can for right now. The medium/long term view is for sporting directors etc.
Amrabat would fit the age profile of the squad which is around 26 years old.
Your oversimplfying things. Example if we are at home against Luton Town (just promoted), why would we play casemiro? ETH could in theory use amrabat instead for that game, as we would be expected to dominate posession and keep luton pinned down with our high line. Amrabat would be more useful than casemiro in that example for ball retention and circulation. Not to mention better passing.I don't get how he isn't a backup for Casemiro. Deepest midfielder for club and country in all the games I've seen.
Bruno, Eriksen and Mount for the 2 higher midfield spots, Casemiro backed up by Amrabat and Mainoo getting all the minutes left over as the 6th guy.
I'm not sure we disagree. Amrabat is a different option in possession to Casemiro, and I could see them closing out games together at times, but he'd come in and be Casemiro's backup. Not sure I see them playing together much from the start, but yeah it's possible.Your oversimplfying things. Example if we are at home against Luton Town (just promoted), why would we play casemiro? ETH could in theory use amrabat instead for that game, as we would be expected to dominate posession and keep luton pinned down with our high line. Amrabat would be more useful than casemiro in that example for ball retention and circulation. Not to mention better passing.
Or we could be at arsenal away and a double pivot of casemiro and amrabat is needed to help contain arsenal from playing through us in the middle.
Amrabat is a different option for ETH, we need that in our midfield. He would give us something we havent had since carrick retired. Thats not a backup player, its a different option.
Exactly! This is what I was referring in one of my previous posts. I see Amrabat as a different additional option but not someone who will play day in day out. He will add more quality to our midfield and we have various options since McFred will probably leave. Although this may sound logical to leave Casa out against a weaker team and put both on against a stronger team, I do not think that ETH would do that. ETH has his main players and Casa is one of them. He is too important and beside Bruno he is the main player in midfield.Your oversimplfying things. Example if we are at home against Luton Town (just promoted), why would we play casemiro? ETH could in theory use amrabat instead for that game, as we would be expected to dominate posession and keep luton pinned down with our high line. Amrabat would be more useful than casemiro in that example for ball retention and circulation. Not to mention better passing.
Or we could be at arsenal away and a double pivot of casemiro and amrabat is needed to help contain arsenal from playing through us in the middle.
Amrabat is a different option for ETH, we need that in our midfield. He would give us something we havent had since carrick retired. Thats not a backup player, its a different option.
How about a straight swap with Fred plus money from us?Tweet
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Hargreaves was never seen as cover surely.Do people forget Fergie did a similar signing when he bought Hargreaves. He was coming in to cover for Carrick and ended up playing a crucial role.
Yeah that's exactly how I see it as wellYour oversimplfying things. Example if we are at home against Luton Town (just promoted), why would we play casemiro? ETH could in theory use amrabat instead for that game, as we would be expected to dominate posession and keep luton pinned down with our high line. Amrabat would be more useful than casemiro in that example for ball retention and circulation. Not to mention better passing.
Or we could be at arsenal away and a double pivot of casemiro and amrabat is needed to help contain arsenal from playing through us in the middle.
Amrabat is a different option for ETH, we need that in our midfield. He would give us something we havent had since carrick retired. Thats not a backup player, its a different option.
Yeah he's hardly in his mid 30sPeople genuinely quoting his age of 27 as if it's some sort of problem.
I agree completely with the above with the addition of one thing - substitutions. We are now in a world where 5 sub a game is permanent.Exactly! This is what I was referring in one of my previous posts. I see Amrabat as a different additional option but not someone who will play day in day out. He will add more quality to our midfield and we have various options since McFred will probably leave. Although this may sound logical to leave Casa out against a weaker team and put both on against a stronger team, I do not think that ETH would do that. ETH has his main players and Casa is one of them. He is too important and beside Bruno he is the main player in midfield.
There will be games where we will have more possession players with a strong offensive approach, but still keeping Casa on the pitch. Casa gives this calmness in the midfield which ETH wants, and last year you could see when he was missing couple of games due to the red card, how vulnerable we were and running like headless chicken in midfield.
Hargreaves was never intended to be cover. He was expected to be the main man in our midfield and we chased him for over a year.Do people forget Fergie did a similar signing when he bought Hargreaves. He was coming in to cover for Carrick and ended up playing a crucial role.
Gonna be 30 in 3 years. Don't want!People genuinely quoting his age of 27 as if it's some sort of problem.
No, Hargreaves and Carrick were too different types of player.Hargreaves was never seen as cover surely.
If we were signing a 21 year old people would be saying “we’re blocking the way for Mainoo!”People genuinely quoting his age of 27 as if it's some sort of problem.
