It'sa me Matteo! - The Darmian Thread

Darmian is a fine squad man, but except for just a couple of appearances at the very beginning of his United career he's been fairly anonymous. Sometimes pretty bad, usually just ok. Good enough to make the bench but not good enough to beat a converted winger for the job at RB and offers far too little going forward to be our first choice at LB.

I can hear it now...Darmian's play has suffered because of how Memphis was mistreated by both Van Gaal and Mourinho, right?

 

Darmian was our player of the month when he first arrived then he adapted to our style of play and went downhill. Having Mata ahead of him has definitely not helped. Did you ever watch him for Italy or Torino?

 

Darmian was sabotaged by LVG

 

A pity he has not been able to sustain his Torino and early United form. Not having a viable option in front of him really. As things stand, he's clearly still more effective on the right than he is on the left and until the end of the season, he really should be Valencia's stand in at RB.
Still would like to keep him beyond this season, with the hopes a viable option on the right flank is brought in and the real Darmian returns.

 

I think he'll leave as well. His current status has hurt him with the national team. And that should be enough of an incentive to leave. Wanting him to stay is definitely more in the realm of wishful thinking at this point.

 

Darmian is happy at United.

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/manchester-united-transfer-news-darmian-13096866

 

I didn't rather him be a backup than a starter. I hope he can find some form next year. He's useful as he can play both FB spots, but he has GOT to add something going forward.

 

he won't, or rather he can't. he'll be mourinho's 3rd defensive full back.. and that's ok.

 

I'm ok with a guy who stays at home 85% of attacks. But there are opportunities for an incisive overlap 2 or 3 times a half that can lead to real opportunities and also give the other team pause when attacking.

Even Jose's stay at home RB at Chelsea (Bane) was a threat going forward.

 

Darmian got married today to hs long term gf, congratulations to him. Schneid, along with his lady were in attendance.

 

Darmian is happy at United and not looking to leave.

www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/10957283/man-utds-matteo-darmian-says-he-is-not-seeking-a-return-to-italy

Which is good news because he's going to be needed at LB.

 

Matteo needs to raise his game this season.

 

www.eplindex.com/80418/manchester-united-cannot-afford-sell-darmian-summer.html

With Shaw not available to start the season, Jose will have to turn to Darmian as his first choice LB. And even when Shaw does return, Darmian will still get more than enough opportunities. But he is as good an insurance policy there is, not just at LB, but pretty much anywhere across the back, should circumstances dictate it.

 

Darmian is happy to play anywhere.

www.goal.com/en/news/darmian-happy-to-play-anywhere-for-man-utd-after-being/or2sh2b7raca175lz0zsx9fm1

 

Jerry Jones

 

A player badly overlooked by managers and fans alike (Mourinho despite his BS about him being his "reliable" man hardly ever played him). He has shown this season that he can trusted as a backup option and is one of the best pure defenders we have.
Being able to play anywhere across the back makes him all the more valuable as a squad man. And if he's fine with that role, here's hoping he stays beyond this summer.
This was actually one of Woodward's smart moves, in not accepting a pittance for him. And with how short we are supposed to be at FB, it's all the more reasons to try and hold onto him.

 

Depth is never a bad thing and if he won't push for a transfer than he is good to have around. Maybe we sell Tony V in the summer and promote him to back-up on the right, with Dalot first choice.

 

I think part of his problem here has been that he's a square peg in a round hole as far as the squad is concerned. He's a defensive-minded RB. The two most important factors to best utilize a defensive minded FB on one side is to first have a FB on the other side who is a big attacking threat so that you can play with a slightly lopsided back 3/back 4 hybrid where one FB plays like a hybrid CB and the other like a hybrid WB (Chelsea often have this dynamic with Azpilcueta and Alonso, acknowledging that Azpilcueta is still much better going forward that Darmian). The second way is to have an attacker who likes to stay wide on that side so that the FB isn't needed as much to fill that space in possession.

During Darmian's time here we haven't ever achieved either of those - we've had consistently weak attacking play from LB and the right-sided attacking play has been a consistent black hole filled exclusively with players who prefer to move central from that spot. I still like him but I think he's best used as a RCB in a back 3 or as a RB opposite a very aggressive LB in an unbalanced back 4 as discussed and as I don't see either of those coming to pass here I don't think we'll ever see his best.

 

That sounds good in theory. I think however that he's not a defensive fullback. He played wingback. I think he's just broken by lack of playing time and confidence.

 

Per Di Marzio, there is no real concrete interest from either Juve or Inter, and it does not look he'll leave this month. Pretty much confirms Ole's recent claims that there would be no movement this month.
La Gazetto also made it look like he was available in the cheao, which did not really make sense in itself, since they held out for their set price all summer.

 

Guessing we'll be in for another "will he or won't he" leave the club this summer. If he does leave, then so be it but as far as I'm concerned, there are plenty of other players I'd rather get rid of before him (defenders especially). We'll see what happens there, I guess.
Sidenote, Darmian looks like Tom Holland's big brother in that interview...

 

Despite how poorly his time has gone here, he has handled it with the utmost professionalism.

 

Going for £1mil or thereabouts according to reports.