Man Utd January '06 Transfer Targets and Rumours Thread

Moutinho would be a good aquisition, but I think Manuel Fernandes is a little better at this point. Manuel Fernandes is also a little more attack oriented.

But Moutinho is a very realistic option......if Sporting chose to let him go.

 

I think people often underestimate Diarra's ability in going forward. For Lyon, he doesn't really need to go forward because of Juninho and Tiago, but that doesn't mean he can't play a more box-to-box type of role.

 

Ballack with either Moutinho or Manuel Fernandes is not nearly defensive enough. We need somebody to anchor down the midfield like Keane di in the 90s, and none of those 3 players can do that. If we got Ballack, Fernandes or Moutinho AND somebody like Diarra I would be elated... but we don't have enough money, even if we offload Scholes, Fortune, O'Shea, Miller & Keane. Not unless we get Moutinho or Fernandes, as well as Diarra for exceptional prices, anyway.

 

Keane was better defensively than Ballack in his prime, and when he was partnered with Ince, that duo was far more physical & defensively adept than Ballack--Moutinho/Fernandes would be.

 

Well Moutinho and Manuel Fernandes are still very young. They are both 19 years old. So Manchester United could develop them even further....

Moutinho plays more of an attacking midfeilder though, something like Deco....But Manuel Fernandes Natural position is Central Defensive Midfeilder. He plays it very well for Benfica, and also he scores long range bombs....

 

Investing in youth like that is a little scary for me, apart from long-term ambitions. Shouldn't we be looking for something closer to an end product right now?

 

Someone with their prime years ahead of them would be ideal...someone like Diarra.

 

It is a little risky, i would say Moutinho is a greater risk then Manuel Fernandes.....Fernandes is going to be a player.

 

I know, and I wouldn't mind getting Manuel Fernandes (although I don't think Moutinho is really all that necessary, as we have Fletcher & even moreso, Jones there for the future). The thing with MF is that I don't think he is quite ready for this level just yet. If we were to get somebody in their prime who he could eventually usurp in a few years (e.g. Gattuso) then fine, I have no arguments whatsoever, except that we probably cannot afford it. Still ,I wuld love to see this depth at CM next season:

DM/CM: Diarra (or) Gattuso (or) somebody of similar calibre, Manuel Fernandes, Smith/Obi Mikel (just down to the principal)
AM/CM: Ballack, Jones/Fletcher

That would mean offloading Scholes, O'Shea, Fortune & Miller on top of Keane, who is a foregone conclusion to leave, because that is the only way we could possibly come anywhere close to being able to afford Ballack, Fernandes & a DM/CM with the pedigree to take us back to the top.

 

Obi is more of an attacking midfielder. He usually thrives alongside a more defensive player.

 

Really? I had heard he was more defensive - never seen him, myself. Well, I guess that leaves more options in the AM position, but only makes the DM/CM position all the more pressing... Smith is OK as a 3rd or 4th option there (in addition to being a 4th or so option on the wing & up front), and because of this I think he could be an incredibly valuable squad member. He is not good enough to start in any of those roles for us apart fro mduring an injury crisis, however. And we aren ot currently suffering any kidn of injury crisis at DM/CM.

 

I haven't seen him for Lyn, but I watched him in the U20 World Cup for Nigeria. This player called Sani Kaita was the defensive midfielder, whilst Obi was the playmaker for the team. That kid has amazing ball control...once he has the ball, it sticks to his feet like glue and often players just bring him down to get it off him. Very good vision and a good range of passing too. I just wish he wasn't so full of himself.

 

Flecther is for sale ............................



















http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Darren-Fletch...oryZ2914QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

I dont know about you guys, but Obi reminded me of Vieira but pushed into the attack more often.

 

lolol
Now thats funny

 

No one's bidded more than 5.50. I guess Newcastle don't know he's up for sale as yet

 

What's the deal with this kid, is he coming to Utd? I know there's a thread but I hadn't seen it up in a while.

 

We're still waiting for Blatter to realize what his job is supposed to be.

 

I would love to seee a marscherano and MF pairing. ALthough I think this would be a huge risk. In a few years time they should pan out. Just a thought.

 

I think that people in general underestimate the physical nature of the EPL

 

fernande sis more attack oriented?!?!LMAO moutinho used to be a cam, now hes used in a deep laying playmaker role and he learnt how ot intercept plays and stop opposing attacks..

well even italian fans are calling moutinho the pirlo of portugal, however him and to a lesser extent manny fernandes are not suited to the epl, i dont want them ruined like viana

 

I'm pretty sure it's all kissing babies and handshakes at photo ops...... God forbid FIFA did anything to uphold the integrity of the game.......