So not 5'4 and 120lb of Angel Gomes then? Which has been the subject of the discussion the whole time. This is just moving the goalposts.
Maybe if we had a Kahn in net, I'd be less worried about shortness through the middle. In the case of Onana though, ******** no. He sucks at commanding his box and taking crosses.
wtf? how am i sensitive over this? by making a counter point? you're not even trying to understand so forget it. we'll disagree then and move on
Fair enough. I feel you didn't get my point either in that it was never about a player individually or even in combination but about 3 of 4 in a key part of the pitch. Also not just about their height but their weight also and it was all specifically about adding Angel Gomes who is both (very) short and slight too. Something we have to balance over the squad. I have said numerous times I am fine with Martinez and Mainoo. For sure - agree to disagree and move on
perhaps that happened. my point with Frenkie was if we got him and presumably kept Mainoo it's still a small combo. overall i don't think the height should be a deterrent. it depends on the style as well. i recall Angel Gomes taking the avoidance route to physicality in the youth team. the unknown is if he is up for the fight physically if the team aren't in control or in specific unavoidable situations like corners. the point with land of giants was not that you made it but that we had all the physicality we wanted before and we still weren't good at corners in either box nor did we overrun teams with sheer physicality. not that it matters now anyway, i don't know that he'd even want to come back given the way he left
That is also why I was saying earlier in the discussion that I like the Arsenal and City approach in getting FBs that are CB capable (especially given our struggles this season). Means as well as the physical aspects they know how to jump, track, lean, shield etc. Again is about more than just height, gave the example of Walker who is a big guy but actually just 5'10. The two top teams in the league (who we should be aiming to reach their heights if you pardon the pun ) are clearly highly mobile, technical capable players are all pretty big teams. Not surprising they hold their own set-pieces etc. From their last lineups; Gvardiol 6'1 174lb Akanji 6'1 201lb Dias 6'1 168lb Walker 5'10 174lb Rodri 6'3 181lb Kovacic 5'10 172lb Tomiyasu 6'2 183lb Gabriel 6'3 172lb Saliba 6'5 203lb White 6'1 168lb Partey 6'1 170lb Rice 6'1 183lb https://www.espn.com/soccer/team/squad/_/id/359/arsenal https://www.espn.com/soccer/team/squad/_/id/382/manchester-city
Feck heights, we need a proper playing system which we don't have. This is one of the glaring aspect why ETH might get sack. There is no set of pattern. No playing style offensively or defensively. Bits and pieces.
I fail to see a time when height has been our problem defensively. I not saying we should commit to a short team or anything. I think the physicality and mobility are more important for us than height. Just to debate, yes Barca had a couple 6+ footers, but they were as soft as the 5'7 guys. They werent dominant in the air. They've rarely been bullied when going up against what one would consider physically aggressive teams. Leaving that aside, we need to completely rebuild our midfield. So any quality player should be considered regardless of height. Thinking well lose Casemiro, Eriksen, Sofyan.
Regardless of the height debate, I think one thing we can all agree on is we need to drastically drop our age in defense/midfield and increase our athleticism/legs.
You can't forget the greatest ever short CB in the air, Cannavaro. It is about timing, intent and understanding body mechanics. If Mags could emulate that, he would score loads more goals.
🔴🦅 Benfica trigger buy option clause for Álvaro Fernández, deal completed today.Álvaro signs with Benfica for the next five years.Manchester United will receive fee in the region of €6m.❗️ #MUFC will have buy back clause, matching rights and also sell-on clause. pic.twitter.com/YPQKnnBZ99— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 23, 2024 Alvaro sold to Benfica for €6m
Cup final today has shown that we have to go into next season with quality and depth in the spine of the team (CBs and 6). We can’t have just solid starters and backups that can’t play the preferred way. Need to buy a starting 6 and sign Amrabat for cover. Need two quality CBs with Varane leaving. This needs to be priority along with a LB and backup 9.
I would say sign Castillo Lukaba of RB Lepzig or Before Diakite of Lille as CB. I haven't seen them play or know anything about them. I do know France has a ton of depth and those guys are 21 and 23 respectively. That is one CB position then we have Kwabaly with Martinez. We just need to unearth one more. I am still in the sign Lavia for cheap from Chelsea. Yes he has been hurt all season like Malacia so it is a gamble but he is an enormous talent and worth at least a loan with option to buy. For 9 and LB give the kids a go and hope they can do it. The key is how many people we can sell.
Cause they have a glut of young talent and he is coming off injury. They may not want to but I think we can pry him from there.
Considering the season we've been through, I would think we'd want to avoid signing any player coming back from a big injury...
if chelsea don't want him, i'd gladly take Ian Maatsen. i'd still try for Mitoma as well and have him and Garnacho. Rashford and Antony can kick rocks
I dont mind the idea. Especially Antony. Im finding it difficult to process that this club actually has the balls to sell Marcus Rashford. I feel like even the Glazers may try and stop that one. No basis, just guessing. Also, if SJR believed changing improving the environment around Carrington and OT is the most important step in his early transition, does that same kind of thinking apply to players to? We can agree or disagree how good Rashford really is. What we do know, is that he is capable of far better. I find it hard to believe that Chelsea would just give away a young talent, locked down on a contract, just 1 year in. Even if they want rid, it wont be for cheap. They dont have to sell. They can loan him out for the next 2 or 3 years and increase his value, or attempt to.
i find it very easy to believe. they've done that before with Lucas Piazón, Kakuta, Kenedy and other youngsters. it's not new. have them for two full contracts, constantly on loan going nowhere fast. that doesn't even account for their bloated roster. there is already Cucurella and Chilwell too
Yes, thats fine. Im not gonna disagree with you about their mismanagement. WRT Lavia? It just doesnt seem like a realistic option for us.
On Lavia, Wilcox played a key role in his development. First at City in the youth team, then at So'ton. Wilcox could be keen on him and I think it's no coincidence he made his sale to So'ton a year before he agreed to take over there. IMO he's a big believer in him. The problem is Lavia, like Mount, won't come cheap. And like Mount, he could be riddled with injuries woes. The only way we might sign him this summer is through another Amrabat kind of deal, but I see that avenue as unlikely. If we really want him, IMO we'll have to wait another window before we do go in for him. I think at Chelsea his chances aren't great. He'll have a hard time breaking into the first team. Down the road, he could be an option for us.
If someone is willing to pay a high fee and if Rashford is willing to go, then am fine with him leaving. However those are some big ifs on both counts. The Arsenal links seem unlikely in terms of $$. His salary is pretty prohibitive to anyone but a big club. Would help massively with FFP and he is clearly very inconsistent. The Belfast issue and the walking around issues under Rangnick and Erik especially suggest his attitude is just not right for us. I think for himself he needs to get away from his Manchester based entourage. In his partial defence this season, Rashford output is a product of Luke Shaw - no coincidence they both had good seasons season before last. Shaw / Malacica not being available and the incredibly dodgy choices we have had to play at LB all season have been a hindrance.
https://www.skysports.com/football/...ested-in-signing-everton-defender-this-summer please don't. vastly overrated