http://www.espnfc.com/blog/scouts-n...lowdown-on-manchester-uniteds-transfer-target
Great article. Tells you everything about him.
Great article. Tells you everything about him.
Aleksandar Dragović - defender - possible target?
- Thread starter Kant-ona
- Start date
Decent spotlight on him, I'd say.
"For instance, he lost a couple of aerial duels, conceded a free kick and was turned under the ball on two occasions by Zlatan Ibrahimovic during the first half of Austria's Euro 2016 qualifying draw with Sweden last September."
Well, it's hard to not look weak against Zlatan.
I still can't really understand the sentiment that you have to be a towering, built like a brick privy colossus to play defense in the EPL. Paired with another athletic type of CB Dragovic would probably do well pretty much anywhere. I'd certainly prefer his smart defending over the hectic and sometimes downright panicky stuff Smalling and Evans produce on a regular basis. But hey, as long as they win headers...
Also, he's still to turn 24. Plenty of time for a CB to reach his peak.
"For instance, he lost a couple of aerial duels, conceded a free kick and was turned under the ball on two occasions by Zlatan Ibrahimovic during the first half of Austria's Euro 2016 qualifying draw with Sweden last September."
Well, it's hard to not look weak against Zlatan.
I still can't really understand the sentiment that you have to be a towering, built like a brick privy colossus to play defense in the EPL. Paired with another athletic type of CB Dragovic would probably do well pretty much anywhere. I'd certainly prefer his smart defending over the hectic and sometimes downright panicky stuff Smalling and Evans produce on a regular basis. But hey, as long as they win headers...
Also, he's still to turn 24. Plenty of time for a CB to reach his peak.
Yet, what we need right now is not somebody who's above average and will get better in time. We already have that in Smalling and Jones and Rojo. We need an established and disciplined defender. One who can hold his own and can lead the backline. Dragovic only inspires memories of Vidic but the difference was Vidic was already the best defender in his league before he joined us.
I admit, he has a great name but beyond that he's not substantially better at anything that our own defenders have at the moment. Maybe the passing is a notch above but bot much more than that.
Hes better than Jones and Evans, and I'd say hes better than Smalling too
Dragovic
Ivan Drago + Nemanja VidIC
Sure a hit !
Ivan Drago + Nemanja VidIC
Sure a hit !
Thing is, Smalling and Jones are not really "above average" in my eyes. They are as average as it gets. I'd rate Dragovic as already better than both and Evans with potential to grow even further.
Smalling is a good player, he just can't stay fit consistently.
On this analyze, it reminds me a lot of Rojo, especially in lapses of concentration, aerial duels...
I would say there are hardly any defenders whose problems are not described with "lapses of concentration", isn't that right? Cause it is human, I guess.
Rojo is a lot more aggressive in the way he approaches defending than this guy.
Its used to describe CBs who for most of the game look like they are doing a good job and then suddenly they let themselves down with an error that lets in an opponent. Someone like Smalling will do that maybe 1 time in 5 or 10 matches. Players you describe as having "lapses of concentration" will do it more like every 2 matches
Dragovic doesn't do it every 2 matches.
Ye this. Like the article says, he'd be the sort of player you'd want next to an aggressive, front foot defender like Rojo, or even Jones, as it states that he reads the game well and likes to drop off. I guess it be something like Rio and Vidic.
I would personally want someone proven but, in my opinion, it's so much better when we buy a player without much hype, that goes onto be top class, i.e. Vidic, Evra.
Explaining the term, nothing to do with the player
Nothing new with this guy? With Chelsea and Arsenal picking up the pace in reinforcing their respective squads, so I expected at least something of an addition among the defenders.
I like his profile BTW. He would certainly be a solid upgrade on Smalling and McNair in the role of the "supposedly" cool-headed defender playing with the more proactive guy (Rojo).
I like his profile BTW. He would certainly be a solid upgrade on Smalling and McNair in the role of the "supposedly" cool-headed defender playing with the more proactive guy (Rojo).
Don't think he would be a real upgrade to the team
If we are buying new defenders buy a top player like :Hummels, Marquinhos, Laporte, Varane, Howedes etc but not some serbian player from Ukraine whose never had a sniff of top football. I don't know alot about the guy but I do know it is highly unlikely he'll just march right into our team and proves to be an instant hit. These players need time to adjust and in the middle of the season is not the right time to start experimenting and changing things if there is no prospect of immediate improvement. Could end up like just another piece of deadwood before we know it because we didnt set the bar high enough.
If we can't buy top players that aren't going to improve us immediatley than I think we beter buy nobody. Already enough mediocre players in the team that can't pull their weight especially in our defence. That said I do hope we won't regret signing anybody this window because getting top 4 is a life or death matter this season.
If we are buying new defenders buy a top player like :Hummels, Marquinhos, Laporte, Varane, Howedes etc but not some serbian player from Ukraine whose never had a sniff of top football. I don't know alot about the guy but I do know it is highly unlikely he'll just march right into our team and proves to be an instant hit. These players need time to adjust and in the middle of the season is not the right time to start experimenting and changing things if there is no prospect of immediate improvement. Could end up like just another piece of deadwood before we know it because we didnt set the bar high enough.
If we can't buy top players that aren't going to improve us immediatley than I think we beter buy nobody. Already enough mediocre players in the team that can't pull their weight especially in our defence. That said I do hope we won't regret signing anybody this window because getting top 4 is a life or death matter this season.
All of those top names you mentioned would also need to adjust and likely would struggle at first if signed in Jan.
It not like Hummels is exactly in the form of his life right now, hes been injured and playing like shite from what I have seen this season.
On top of that, we need more than 1 CB signing, I don't see why this guy couldn't be one of them along with a Hummels or whoever else.
1st highlighted part: Yeah, God of CBs Höwedes. Good luck signing the others you mentioned...
The 2nd one speaks for itself... pointless post.
Oh, when it comes to sniffing top football: Dragovic was part of the Basel team that knocked United out of the CL in 2011/12.
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Because I don't see Dragovic being that much beter than Smalling / Jones / Rojo
We need quality not quanity
You just admitted that you know almost nothing about him, how can you tell if he's better or worse than anybody? Smalling strikes me as bang average and Jones has been living of his "future worldclass" hope for 2 seasons now. Dragovic could bring some seriously needed calmness and composure, with and without the ball, to the United defense. He wouldn't cost the world and has potential to grow. The fact that he's "some serbian" shouldn't hinder him, either (especially since he's austrian).
Much better option than to pointlessly pursue Hummels who doesn't want to leave or Varane, whom Real will never sell as long as a member of their staff has some brainfunction left.
Marquinhos has hardly played at PSG and is a benchwarmer over there, so is Varane, Laporte is ours if we just pay his release clause and Hummels is not nearly as unattainable anymore as he used to be, Dortmund is in the relegation zone, No champions league next season, probability even of not being in the Bundesliga anymore, a big offer for one of their players will always make them think as they will need to be looking out for their finances come next year.
And Howedes is not the god of cbs but he'd be a million times beter for us than a 23 year old unexperienced and unproven player from Ukraine...
A few years ago, Vidic was also just some Serbian player playing in Russia.... Just saying.
I can't see Dortmund getting relegated and Hummels has already said that he has no intention of leaving with or without CL football. Varane won't leave because he is already class and will get his games in the future. Real aren't that stupid.
This is just ignorant dribble. He is neither unexperienced, nor unproven. You just haven't heard his name before looking into this thread, I assume.
These weird assumptions that players have to come from or play in a certain country is utter nonsense.
Where does this sudden boost of Höwedes reputation come from, anyway?
This is just ignorant dribble. He is neither unexperienced, nor unproven. You just haven't heard his name before looking into this thread, I assume.
These weird assumptions that players have to come from or play in a certain country is utter nonsense.
Where does this sudden boost of Höwedes reputation come from, anyway?
How do you know Hummels doesnt want to leave ?
and yes just realised he is austrian not serbian got seriously confused with the ic in the name
I can't tell if he is beter or worse than anybody and that is exactly the problem. I dont want to end up with another Smalling or Jones type of player. If we buy somebody he has to be a clear improvement and with this guy I dont know I have serious doubts. I think some people are so fed up with our defenders they think everybody must be an improvement over them.
How do you know Hummels doesnt want to leave ?
and yes just realised he is austrian not serbian got seriously confused with the ic in the name
I can't tell if he is beter or worse than anybody and that is exactly the problem. I dont want to end up with another Smalling or Jones type of player. If we buy somebody he has to be a clear improvement and with this guy I dont know I have serious doubts. I think some people are so fed up with our defenders they think everybody must be an improvement over them.
Hummels states so whenever asked. Not even the usual "in football, things change fast" stuff either. There has been nothing to fuel any transfer rumors in... well, ever I guess.
I've been watching Dragovic quite often in the last 5 years and he's a completely different type of player from Smalling or Jones. High ceiling, still young altough experienced (CL). You should watch him and make up your own mind instead of just rejecting him on the basis that he's not playing in La Liga or the EPL.
You don't know nothing about him, but hes not better than Smalling / Jones / Rojo
OK well, I will say he is already better than Jones and Smalling, I haven't seen enough of Rojo to comment on that.
How do you know Hummels doesnt want to leave ?
and yes just realised he is austrian not serbian got seriously confused with the ic in the name
I can't tell if he is beter or worse than anybody and that is exactly the problem. I dont want to end up with another Smalling or Jones type of player. If we buy somebody he has to be a clear improvement and with this guy I dont know I have serious doubts. I think some people are so fed up with our defenders they think everybody must be an improvement over them.
His parents are Serbian
A few years ago we had SAF in charge and our team was working like clockwork
The expectations are totally different, right now we are desperate for a real defensive improvement that could actually kickstart our entire team, back than we had the luxury of brining a new player slowly in a team that didnt need tthat player to function properly.
I'am afraid expecations will be to big on this guy and we need somebody more proven this time around. Once our team is actually back on track we can start looking at these kind of players again. But right now serious and immediate improvement is what we need and I doubt this guy will bring it in the time space of half a season.
You think bringing in an out of form Hummels (hes been very shite this season) and paying £37m for him would kickstart our season
I have no idea how shite Hummels has been this season, I'am talking about the hummels I saw in the world cup and anyway it is beside the point I'am saying we should go for top quality player at the back. Hummels was just an example if it is true that he has been utter shite than perhaps we should not go for him and you can cross him off my list with examples. Still other players out there that would be an immediate improvement beside Hummels.
Smalling bang average?? Easily our best defender in the squad and above his peers at his age in the prem and Europe, bpl winner and proven CL experience in big games. I would also say he has been our best defender this season when fit, all while trying to fit LVGs 352.
Now you would prefer to replace that experience with an unknown quantity, throw him into the most competitive league in the world, while asked to galvanise a struggling defensive line, reading the scout reports he offers nothing to the team, we need dominating CB in the vein of Nemanja not a composed CB which we have already.
Contradictions at transfer season bug me at the best of times, sadly your post illustrated the madness knee jerk fans that support our club.
Good thing that I'm not a knee jerk United fan, then (see left).
As I said, to me he is not an unknown entity and I think he'd fit into your team rather well. He wouldn't light up the sky and wouldn't transform your defense into a stronghold outright, but from watching him play ever since he started in Austria for my austrian favorite's team bitter rival (I also followed Basel a bit) I'd rate him higher than Smalling (being your best CB this season doesn't change my view on him), Evans and the current Jones. That's all.
But by all means, don't sign him. I'm sure he'll find another good club in a top league soon that would pay his surely not overly huge fee and get an already good CB with more potential. Just don't get mad if none of the "dominating", top CBs end up with United next window.
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Whilst I think Smalling is a good player, you are really overhyping him there. He is 25 and there are quite a few CBs playing in Europe 25 or younger that are better than him. Yes he has won the BPL but so what? He hasn't had a full season as a starting CB for us in a title winning season so it doesn't really mean much that.
So we have a poster who admits to not seeing Dragovic play but that doesn't stop him from saying he isn't good enough. then turns around and admits to not seeing Hummels play this season but still wants us to fork out 40mil for him.
Early favorite for transfer muppet of the year?
Early favorite for transfer muppet of the year?
Seems like a good way to make sure we get good value in the transfer market imo.
First time I've been online since Thursday, but very surprised not to see this bumped. I watched the full 90 of Everton vs Kyev and he was absolutely outstanding in that game. If he is producing that level of performance regularly, then there is little surprise at all the interest.
On the market for €15m too reportedly, and I'd certainly want us to follow up the interest based on what I saw. Not everyone needs to cost 40m, these kinds of signings often turn out to be bargains.
On the market for €15m too reportedly, and I'd certainly want us to follow up the interest based on what I saw. Not everyone needs to cost 40m, these kinds of signings often turn out to be bargains.
Planned to watch the game but was busy.
Outstanding you say? Care to elaborate?
I like these kind of singings over the bling bling 40 million quidders.
He was very composed on the ball, looked more like a midfielder. Defensively did a good job, but his partner didn't look all that and got bullied by Lukaku all game.
That's because the "bling bling 40 million quidders" we buy are players we don't even need.
He was comfortable on the ball as has been said, but was also very aggressive and proactive in his defending which I liked. He looked a real leader too and was holding the defence together almost. He seemed very fast too, or at least was quick in the tackle and to spot danger. Even Townsend was raving saying how despite defeat he was a top player who had done his reputation no harm.