Haaland is better than Benzema, although the latter is overqualified as a back-up. Benzema being a team player is 100% irrelevant in this context.
Benzema is probably the best generalist on the planet. In the other hand, Halaand in a specialist who is, while being a work in progress, probably the best at what he does. The question is what does the team need and in which direction do we want the team to develop? I'd go with the complete team which has Halaand at the top, but it would be interesting to see if two can coexist.
As good as Benzema has been playing, I just think it would be criminal to pass up on signing Haaland for the sake of Benzema. If Mbappé is essentially Benzema's replacement then fair enough, no need for Haaland. But if the plan is to have two quality forwards, then let it be Mbappé and Haaland.
Was a complete idiot believing in Dortmund. That first half of the season should have been clear for him to request a move away. Hope he can a Casemiro sort of trajectory and turn his career around. You never know.
How can he turn his career around when he still doesn't know what he is on the pitch? Those years at Dortmund was the time he should have explored (and realized) he can't get into this or any top side as a 10.
We should have done better as a club. You invest that much in a player, you need to impose your opinion on his career path particularly when he's that young. The wrong loan move kills a player's career. We're seeing something similar with Kubo as well.
Isak didn't get a look in at Dortmund and had had a pretty good career since. Reinier has the talent to do the same. Benfica/Porto aee usually good for young players. Dortmund are so stacked in attack and has vets like Reus too so it's sink or swim right away pretty much.
The thing is with all these reports that were looking to transition into speed and power as a core foundation, where does that leave all these skinny skilled players?
Agreed, management is giving too much freedom to these kids. Choosing destination of loan etc. Happened with Odegaard too.
I hope we aren't transitioning to speed and power without any skill, i won't enjoy watching that, i'd like to think skill will be part of that core foundation too, it has to be, we aren't Watford ( no disrespect intended)
I love how this works two ways, in that no one believes neutral fans are sitting and watching Monaco league matches week in and week out, but also that Pogba was brilliant in Juventus YouTube clips as well
CAMs are a luxury most top teams have moved away from. Reinier's best chance of making it is by developing into a 9.5 like young Benz.
If you remember I said this almost two years ago when we were linked to him... Before Dortmund came.... before people actual thought Dortmund weren't playing him because they wanted to tank his value and get the kid from us for free (or the low) lol!
Vinicius is one of the fastest players in the league. Kubo's peak is probably being a player like Özil at best. I've yet to see something from Kubo in terms of interpreting a useful role on the field that would make me believe in him having a career at the very highest level.
If we get Haaland and Mbappe, double pivot could be the main option like YS said. Vini has to play a lot of games next season with his current progression. Haaland, Mbappe, Benz and Vini in starting XI looks like luxuary on paper, but Mou made a similar line up work with 4-2-3-1. Ozil, Ron, young Benz weren't exactly hard working. Case is a better DM than Khedira. Fede/Camavinga can do defensive work like Xabi and are more agile. If Vini could track back like Di Maria did, that line up can work. Get a back up RB and another CB. Benz can play off Haaland as 9.5.
But then again, how can we drop Kroos? He might be the one half of double pivot alongside Casemiro. Hopefully Carlo is around for next season and can make a crazy line up work like 2014-15 until Modric got injured.
Next year will have a WC in the middle of it. You’ll need a very deep squad to deal with the fatigue and injuries. So could work with everyone around for 1 year.
Worrying about playing time next year with the World Cup smack in the middle of the season seems ridiculous. Which one of you posters are volunteering to carry the oxygen tanks for Benzema and Modric next year? These two are at the end of the careers despite their high performance levels. Neither are going to be worried about playing time with a WC on the horizon. Chances are Madrid will be left with only a fraction of their squad in full health after the WC.
📝 — Paul Pogba is out of contract in June and sources close to the player say he has shown no inclination to sign a new deal with Manchester United #mufc #mujournal [@samuelluckhurst]— United Journal (@theutdjournal) October 18, 2021
Even if he signs its obvious he'll let December roll on to be able to receive other offers to compete with Manchester United's offer.
Tchouameni's ex agent: "I was working with the agent of a French Real Madrid player, who put me in contact with them in 2018. Real Madrid became interested in his profile . At this time, said agent speaks for the first time with Florentino Pérez about Tchouameni, " "He is a very intelligent player . Before having those interests (Inter and Madrid) I had received others from many European clubs , several big teams, but he did not want to leave Girondins at that time. He knows the history of the clubs and yet, had his feet on the ground." "Madrid and Barça showed interest, but Real Madrid was the most interested. At that time I also informed Atlético, but they did not show interest. Now surely they want to have him, "he says with a laugh. "Where do I see him in the future? I can't say everything, but he will end up in Spain or Germany . He would fit well in Spanish La Liga football." https://www.marca.com/futbol/real-madrid/2021/10/19/616deaca22601da60e8b459d.html 1448945456948580353 is not a valid tweet id