He'll fracture his wrist signing the contract.
Aleksandar Dragović - defender - possible target?
- Thread starter Kant-ona
- Start date
He'll fracture his wrist signing the contract.
Only Rocky can hurt him.
That's fair.
True, I still can't judge Rojo, still deserves a bit time. Smalling is a "ok" defender to be honest, wouldn't blame him for our problems and Jones is probably on the same level, but has his brainfarts here and there. The others are not good and our defence as a whole unsettled unit is a problem. But I think Smalling/Rojo and maybe even Jones beside a really class-CB could drastically improve our defence. With Schar and Dragovic I am not sure, wouldn't be shocked if the other defenders drag them down to their level
Good. Missed 3 games in 13/14, 3 games in 12/13 and no game in 11/12. No big issues in Austria either. But you just know we will turn him into a crock
If it really happens I change my profession and become a scout (since I started this thread before the whole saga began and it was my first and so far only thread here.)
The other defender would be Smalling or Rojo, at least for now, then come summer when we will surely sign a world class CB then Dragovic, Smalling, Rojo and whoever survives the chop between Evans and Jones will fight it out to be the first choice beside the new man. It would be irresponsible for LVG to leave the CB and FB situation as it is right now. We should have already done something to address this precarious position, this month, instead of adopting shit formations continually to cover a substandard backline.True, I still can't judge Rojo, still deserves a bit time. Smalling is a "ok" defender to be honest, wouldn't blame him for our problems and Jones is probably on the same level, but has his brainfarts here and there. The others are not good and our defence as a whole unsettled unit is a problem. But I think Smalling/Rojo and maybe even Jones beside a really class-CB could drastically improve our defence. With Schar and Dragovic I am not sure, wouldn't be shocked if the other defenders drag them down to their level
Imo this is exactly what the doctor ordered, a cheapish CB with potential to grow, top that with utility journeyman FB then the immediate needs of the team would be sorted giving us the best possible chance to finish strongly.
Who?
I haven't read all those rumours, are we talking about a move in January? If so, then I agree with you, but like you said we should still add another top class option. But I wouldn't be happy if Dragovic is our summer option and we won't sign anyone else. Smalling, Jones and Evans are all unreliable crocks, so one of them is a sure goner in the summer (Evans how it looks now and makes the most sense with his age too), but I wouldn't mind if we get rid of Jones too and Dragovic takes his place then. Top class CB/Rojo/Dragovic/Smalling and McNair/Blackett as 5th option sounds good for me.
We should sign him so that we have two central defenders who are both trying to look a bit taller by the means of their hair.
He looks like an Eastern European mobster. Also has a good name. Sign him up.
Ffs we need top bracket players not more squad players which will increase the wage bill. Hummels/Varane/Godin/Silva/Kosienly are the centre halves we should be buying.
I hope this happens. Sick to death of being linked with same handful of never gonna sign names. It's about time the net was cast a whole lot further. Another huge positive is that a lesser known would have less pressure and more time to settle
I agree, we need a top defender. However, it's January. The big names usually sign for new clubs in summer. And in regard of the month Dragovic would be a fantastic signing. You call him a squad player? Maybe he is. But he is - in my opinion - much better than a player like Evans - who could leave the club pretty soon. So this transfer could strengthen the squad - before we sign a defender like Hummels in summer.
(And there is still this little chance that an "unknown" player signs for you and becomes a new star.)
We all want that from us fans to LVG and Woodward, but those guys are not available now and we really need a CB with our current options injured half f the time and playing poorly the other half.
We can't afford not to sign any CB this winter, imo.
Anyway, if this transfer happens, it will show again how clueless the English press is when it comes to United transfers. They have no idea what we are doing, just throwing random names out there and hope they guess one.
While I don't necessarily disagree with the premise of buying absolute top quality, everyone starts somewhere. The guy is a good prospect, just 23 years old and has the skillset to develop into a quality defender. Vidic wasn't rated as the finished article or the best center back in Europe when we bought him from Spartak Moscow lest we forget. Thiago Silva was playing in Brazil at a similar age after medical concerns at Porto and largely underwhelming performances. Godin was an unremarkable defender for Villarreal.
Not saying he will replicate that standard but the January transfer window generally provides little scope for world class additions as selling clubs look to preserve their own interest, especially the ones currently in Europe or vying for league spots. And if Dragovic can provide some assurance in the backline, it's better than standing pat with what we currently have in terms of personnel. If the club's management feel he's the best available alternative and this addition turns out to be the difference between European qualification or missing out as a consequence of defensively frailty, then I for one am all for it.
Shit just got real, instagram breaking the news again it seems, first him following our players now these wünsche.
You'd imagine we'll be adding some more ready made quality defenders in the Summer, so if we sign this lad, and with Rojo improving by the game, things suddenly aren't looking very good for Evans/Jones/Smalling.
This sounds pretty concrete already.
I'm quite chuffed. First Austrian to (possibly) play for the first team of Manchester United I think.
I'm quite chuffed. First Austrian to (possibly) play for the first team of Manchester United I think.
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I don't see why we need a called "top CB" necessarily. Beyond 2 none of them seem guarantees of success anyway.
If Dragovic is as good as some are saying, commanding presence aerially and a leader then i guess get him and chop Evans. Then we should have good bunch of CB's.
If Dragovic is as good as some are saying, commanding presence aerially and a leader then i guess get him and chop Evans. Then we should have good bunch of CB's.
I would fecking love to see a fellow countryman at United, and he's our only top tier player alongside Alaba as well. I remain skeptical whether this transfer goes through, but he'd be a big improvement on Smalling and Evans, especially on the ball.
Looks like a big handful, which is exactly what LVG said we don't have at CB. I'd still prefer to buy some leadership back there but any upgrade on Jones & Evans would be a step forward.
I'd like us to sign him, if only because I've never seen him play and know nothing about him, so the first game would be a real surprise.
There is room for improvement but Our existing defenders aren't half as bad as some make out.
All part of odd growing fascination for big name players.
All part of odd growing fascination for big name players.
"No significant weaknesses"
Might change when he is expected to the play-maker against teams with ten men behind the ball.
They are, however, constantly fecking injured!
True but then We bought Rojo and Shaw without any injury history and even they are injured mostly this season on and off.
That is also very true.
@vuc will have a new Serbian, kind of, to *** about
Dragovic now, in summer a more experienced CB, one of Godin/Hummels ideally, and we have a fantastic defence.
The only problem is that when we signed Vidic, we had Rio who was one of the best in the world. When Milan signed Thiago Silva, they already had Nesta. However, now instead of Rio, we have a bunch of mediocre crocks.While I don't necessarily disagree with the premise of buying absolute top quality, everyone starts somewhere. The guy is a good prospect, just 23 years old and has the skillset to develop into a quality defender. Vidic wasn't rated as the finished article or the best center back in Europe when we bought him from Spartak Moscow lest we forget. Thiago Silva was playing in Brazil at a similar age after medical concerns at Porto and largely underwhelming performances. Godin was an unremarkable defender for Villarreal.
Not saying he will replicate that standard but the January transfer window generally provides little scope for world class additions as selling clubs look to preserve their own interest, especially the ones currently in Europe or vying for league spots. And if Dragovic can provide some assurance in the backline, it's better than standing pat with what we currently have in terms of personnel. If the club's management feel he's the best available alternative and this addition turns out to be the difference between European qualification or missing out as a consequence of defensively frailty, then I for one am all for it.
I don't have any idea how good is this player and he probably will become one of the best. But, many people (including me) think that now it is time for proven quality, players who pretty much gives you instant results. The likes of Hummels or Diego Godin.
We have experimented quite a lot on that repart, but all four of Evans, Jones, Rojo or Smalling are far from top quality (at least currently, who knows how they will develop). I think that it isn't the time to add an another defender of that calibre (a lot of potential but who knows). We could experiment when we had Rio and Vidic by signing Jones/Smalling and promoting Evans and it went pretty bad. Now we're in a far weaker position, and if the experiment fails, so does our defense. And any chance for improvement.
Excited about this. Love the medium-fame punts like Vidic, Evra, Hernandez when they come off!
I am same.
Plus not like our big established signings in recent times have set the world on fire.
Nah, that youtube video said he has no weaknesses, so surely that's not even remotely possible
If this happens it will probably mean two of Evans/Jones/Smalling to be sold in the summer, if we also buy a experienced defender, which we must assume.
@Revan
All fair points, but there is an underlying theme with those type of players :
Hummels - Will Dortmund let him go now instead of trying to salvage their season ? Might be a little unrealistic but it's only halfway through the Bundesliga season and they're just 12 points behind CL position despite being in the relegation zone.
Godin - He's the lynch-pin for an Atletico team alternating between Miranda/ Gimenez at RCB. Is performing well in both La Liga and in Europe with a real chance to come close to or even repeat last season's travails. Will they sell him now ? How can we incentive any such move ?
I think the best time to pursue that caliber of established, undoubtedly world class player is in the summer. And since we aren't privy to the scouting/ recruiting/ negotiation process, who knows maybe Dragovic is a stop gap or a depth addition in the long term with substantial turnover and reinforcement of adequate quality in the summer.
All fair points, but there is an underlying theme with those type of players :
Hummels - Will Dortmund let him go now instead of trying to salvage their season ? Might be a little unrealistic but it's only halfway through the Bundesliga season and they're just 12 points behind CL position despite being in the relegation zone.
Godin - He's the lynch-pin for an Atletico team alternating between Miranda/ Gimenez at RCB. Is performing well in both La Liga and in Europe with a real chance to come close to or even repeat last season's travails. Will they sell him now ? How can we incentive any such move ?
I think the best time to pursue that caliber of established, undoubtedly world class player is in the summer. And since we aren't privy to the scouting/ recruiting/ negotiation process, who knows maybe Dragovic is a stop gap or a depth addition in the long term with substantial turnover and reinforcement of adequate quality in the summer.