Alert: Transfer Window Talk!

Discussion in 'Manchester United' started by benni..., Oct 14, 2021.

  1. Ruud v.Nistelrooy 10

    Staff Member

    Jamaica
    Jun 4, 2006
    Antilla
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Jamaica
    OK Sabitzer confirmed to have been deal sheeted before 11pm. so there is 50 minutes or so to get that done.

    it shouldn't have been this late but cross your fingers the club figures it out
     
  2. Deadtigers

    Deadtigers Member+

    Jul 23, 2015
    Independent Republic of the Bronx, NY
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Ghana
    He is a guy that can properly sub for Cas while also doing a lot of progression, so McT can continue to hide and chase
     
  3. Pulp

    Pulp Member+

    Feb 13, 2013
    TO / CA
    I’m impressed that we’ve made two smart decisions this window with Weghorst and Sabitzer. Two areas of need, but not backing ourselves into a corner by overspending on anyone, and not going after the wrong profiles either.

    Short term loans that give us flexibility to reassess in the summer. It gives me belief that the front office has a clear picture of who they want to go after for the long term once the season ends.
     
  4. JamesA

    JamesA Member+

    Dec 7, 2004
    Victoria
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    upload_2023-1-31_16-25-44.png

    It's official.
     
  5. Sofabloke

    Sofabloke Member+

    Dec 24, 2003
    Mu
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    0 out of 10 for the window from the Glazers whose mismanagement and vamping leaves us with no money. The wages for those loanees incoming is not new money and more than covered by Ronaldo wages I believe.

    Given the constraints placed on the window by the Glazers., good / essential to get Weghorst & Sabitzer.

    So 7/8 for EtH & those who did the deals to make something of it hopefully.
     
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  6. MizzouMUFC

    MizzouMUFC Member+

    Apr 10, 2010
    Places
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Normally I’d be pissed as well but I’m willing to forget about this window as long as those old ********s sell the club before summer and never set foot in Manchester again.
     
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  7. CybrSlydr

    CybrSlydr Member+

    Columbus Crew
    United States
    Jun 30, 2013
    Casper, WY
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Don't forget we got Butland too...
     
  8. johno

    johno Member+

    Jul 15, 2003
    in the wind
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    --other--
    Hold up/link play is useful. It just isn't useful in CFs against bunkers unless there's someone else providing pressure on the last line of defence. Dropping deep and bringing others in is most useful in transition.

    We may have had players who occupy CBs and failed to break down blocks in the past but we've ALWAYS had players who like to do layoffs and drop off. Unless you are older than me and actively watched United pre-Yorke and Sherringham, then you don't know a United team without a CF that likes to link play.

    The reason having a CF that occupies CBs and makes vertical runs is now more useful than say when we had Cavani is that we have a structure to build up and get the ball to dangerous positions that make those runs a threat, thereby creating space behind the player making them.

    Elanga is wanted by BVB, PSV and other teams with better talent ID than United. I know people don't like him but the reason he's good is that he can provide Dan James-like output in the defensive game and actually provide threat in attack at multiple positions. He's not one of the 50 or so 20yo players who can be a starter for United and be an important player. He's a kid who is our 3rd CF when one of our CFs is injured and he can be our 3rd or 4th option at LW and RW. That's useful. I think at BVB he'd probably start 10 matches and play every match as an impact sub that he didn't start.

    He's a good player, he gives us some of what we miss in Eriksen. He's got a much better engine and he'll help defensively and in the pressing game. He does not however help us a great deal in build up. He's going to be super useful when we are able to play out of the press. He's an 8 who does 8 things very well. He's not as clever off the ball as Eriksen is, but he should make Casemiro's life easier.
     
  9. johno

    johno Member+

    Jul 15, 2003
    in the wind
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    --other--
    For a team that has spent crazy, ludicrous money, Chelsea's squad has glaring holes at CF, DLP/DM and even positions they have covered, there's a real question as to how the parts fit together.

    Just based on profiles, I have no idea what type of football those assembled players are supposed to play.
     
  10. benni...

    benni... BigSoccer Supporter

    Nov 23, 2004
    Chocolate City
    Keeper

    Back4

    Enzo
    Kante/Kovacic
    Gallagher

    Kai/mudryk
    Felix
    Sterling/mount

    Runners around felix and enzo
     
  11. johno

    johno Member+

    Jul 15, 2003
    in the wind
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    --other--
    Sorry, I wasn't clear. I could put an XI together (probably 2) but based on the players they have acquired in the last 3 windows, I have no earthly idea how they want to play.
     
  12. Sofabloke

    Sofabloke Member+

    Dec 24, 2003
    Mu
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Potter ball obvs ;)

    [​IMG]
     
  13. Naboomagnoli

    Naboomagnoli Member+

    May 31, 2007
    Except he wasn’t in the end lol. I’ve seen people play that angle on twitter before the window shut, thinking it was funny since no concrete offers had been made.

    These clubs asking for a loan at the end of the Jan window does not mean the same thing as them asking for a loan/transfer in the summer. And that’s when it even goes through!

    I won’t go through the rest as I cba to keep debating the merits of hold-up play against blocks. Feels self evident to me, especially looking at the profiles of player we have in other positions who would interact with our 9. We’ll agree to disagree, and see which profile of player Ten Hag goes for in the summer. I imagine he’ll be consistent with his general preference, but who knows, maybe he’ll side with you this time.
     
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  14. benni...

    benni... BigSoccer Supporter

    Nov 23, 2004
    Chocolate City
    Brobbey
     
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  15. Naboomagnoli

    Naboomagnoli Member+

    May 31, 2007
    #3115 Naboomagnoli, Feb 1, 2023
    Last edited: Feb 1, 2023
    Indeed. Hold-up play.

    Like, if the choice was hold up play OR being a 9 who makes 9 runs then that’s a different discussion. But it’s not. It’s whether hold-up play is useful against a block. And clearly Ten Hag thinks so, but we’re in too deep for opinion changes now.
     
  16. TitoTata

    TitoTata Member+

    Jun 26, 2014
    They will phase Sterling out now
     
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  17. johno

    johno Member+

    Jul 15, 2003
    in the wind
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    --other--
    The folks at the Athletic reported that there were discussions but ETH was reluctant. I think I understand why too. Elanga (for us) is our 3rd 9. Wout can't play all the games and AM9 has been injured for most of the season so in effect, Elanga is the only backup 9 that is fit. That's not a player you let out on loan when you have games every 3 days. I'm not interested in selling Elanga regardless. He cost nothing. I'd love a loan for him to continue to develop, but he's the new Jesse. Multiple positions, pressing monster who loves the club and will do whatever the manager asks. I love that for a squad player.

    Who ETH goes for in the summer has nothing to do with whether coming deep as a 9 is helpful against teams who are defending the box. ETH does have a type though... big physical strikers with box presence. I think he'd love an allrounder but if it comes down to it, size, pace, movement and goals will probably be what he targets.

    I agree w/ the Brobbey shout. I quite like him.
     
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  18. johno

    johno Member+

    Jul 15, 2003
    in the wind
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    --other--
    Phase him out? They just bought him.
     
  19. SyedZada

    SyedZada Member+

    May 14, 2008
    Santa Clara
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    So last transfer window.
     
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  20. SF19

    SF19 Member+

    Jun 8, 2013
    At Ajax, EtH was at home without a classic CF (David Neres), but later found one in Haller. I think EtH is flexible, but I also think he leans towards a bigger body to lead the line if he had a choice. The only thing is it will be hard to find another Haller whereas it will be easier to find another Neres.
     
  21. Naboomagnoli

    Naboomagnoli Member+

    May 31, 2007
    That’s funny, because we were talking about hold up & link-up play. Not dropping deep as a 9, which is not the same thing!

    The example we were talking about with Weghorst as a reference - yes he can drop deeper and have players move in behind him. But most of his good work for us has been as our highest player, laying off to an inverting winger / midfielder running up the pitch. The extent to which Weghorst gains us territory and helps pin opposition back has been really valuable, and yet he still offers us good movement inside the box which frees up players arriving late.

    Brobbey too. He plays very high up, he’s technically very poor but he uses his physicality intelligently to aid his hold up play and contribute positively to a technically superior team.

    No, my problem with Osimhen is not that he doesn’t drop deep. It’s that he is in the 3rd percentile for passes attempted by strikers. He has 1 more pass attempted per game (13.44) than Jamie Vardy (12.48), who is rock bottom of the top 5 leagues. I don’t think Ten Hag wants that sort of player - I think he wants somebody who will hold the ball up well and will be able to get our technical players closer to good shooting / final ball areas.
     
  22. johno

    johno Member+

    Jul 15, 2003
    in the wind
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    --other--
    I'm enjoying this back and forth. I think we are getting to the crux of the matter now. I think you can hold the ball up and link play in advanced areas but it is most useful (hold up play) when it is done via a longer pass. It is how you advance the ball when you are playing over or through the lines.

    When I say dropping in reference to a CF holding up the ball and linking play, I don't mean just inside his half or even 40 yards from goal necessarily. The most frustrating thing about Martial is that he's been unable to curtail his winger instincts to receive the ball to feet. When we get the ball into the final third, AM won't make runs to goal unti/unless the ball goes wide. It is that lack of vertical movement that causes congestion in zone 14. So I guess I can communicate better. Nothing wrong with hold up play and bringing others in... it doesn't matter what kind of defence you are playing against BUT against teams who sit deep it is especially important to have vertical runs in the box to create space for cut backs and for your attackers to have room to shoot and create.

    I think I can agree that VO has a weakness when it comes to being involved in the play but he's just trying to get on the end of things. I'm not that bothered by it. I'm not saying either of those is bad, I'm happy we have a player who gets on the ball a bunch and can bring others into the game. I'm also happy that we have someone who stretches the field. I guess my compromise is I think we should have both options.
     
  23. TitoTata

    TitoTata Member+

    Jun 26, 2014
    IMG_0629.jpg
     
  24. Naboomagnoli

    Naboomagnoli Member+

    May 31, 2007
    34BBA6F3-9C03-4E8D-9B91-C073F847821E.jpeg

    Inevitable this summer. So good.
     
  25. SF19

    SF19 Member+

    Jun 8, 2013
    @Naboomagnoli and @johno

    There's a third way: running the ball.

    At Napoli, long balls tend to get played to Osimhen, but often times players charge with the ball at their feet from within the half and then into the opposition final third. Kvara, Politano/Lozano, Zielinski, and Anguissa all drive forward like this to great effect. Lobotka has played more regularly and essentially replaced Fabian Ruiz, but he couldn't be more different from him. He is more of a classic holding mid. He makes a lot of sideways passes, provides an outlet, and breaks up play. He doesn't play the ball forward in a meaningful way, rather he let's others do that. The key though is when the team breaks forward like this, the players are very direct, there is no let it up in play like we see with Antony (or as was the case for Napoli before with Insigne).

    Where Osimhen is effective is as a wrecking ball. He creates a lot of chaos in the final third and that creates openings or puts opponents off balance enough to force mistakes.
     
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