Has Telles improved physically? 'Cause all i remember from his spell at inter was attackers blowing him 20 feet away anytime they bumped him. Just too weak to play at that level in that position(everything else was average too)
Alex Sandro
- Thread starter davidmichael
- Start date
Anyone concerned by the possibility of us potentially starting with Young, Smalling and Valencia next season?
Mourinho talked about investment in defence but even if we sign Alderweireld Mitten mentioned a re-assignment of funds from LB to ST. So two defensive signings but only 1 started with Dalot a substitute.
I think where we will fall foul is not investing in enough players that will instantly improve our first 11. As much as I hate to say it City’s model has been focused around a signing better than what is on the field.
Thoughs?
Mourinho talked about investment in defence but even if we sign Alderweireld Mitten mentioned a re-assignment of funds from LB to ST. So two defensive signings but only 1 started with Dalot a substitute.
I think where we will fall foul is not investing in enough players that will instantly improve our first 11. As much as I hate to say it City’s model has been focused around a signing better than what is on the field.
Thoughs?
Inter bought a lot of promising youngsters in the recent years, but being such a disfunctional club on and off the pitch, they rarely perform and get then sold for peanuts, only to become good players elsewhere.
Many go on about LB/RB as though we had the worst defensive record in the league. YES they’re definitely positions we need to “improve” of on but it was clear to see, that our attack/midfield needs more work. If a Bale/AG has became available, then we definitely should prioritise them over LB/RB.
Inter were good for a large chunk of that season. Even Santon was performing. He was wanted by Mancini who had him at galatasaray and rated him, but could barely stay on the pitch in serie A. Good left foot, and nothing else, and waaay too physically weak, in a league that isn't nearly as physical as the PL
For me our defensive record hasn’t been because of the sum of the parts - ie. the individual players - but the way we play football and are set up.
Likewise our attackers individually aren’t defunct - their goals record is because of us playing a compact, low risk, tactical way.
For me I’d rather look in isolation at the individuals and ask - are they good enough for a club of United’s stature and would they start for our domestic and international competitors. Besides DDG and potentially Bailly (when fit) nobody else would. So for me, our strong defencive record currently would be imperious using this system with better individuals.
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I’ve come to the conclusion that there’s nothing in these rumours and that actually we’re not looking for a LB at the moment
This is what I keep trying to tell people. They don't seem to be able to grasp this. People say they will want Griezmann or Bale, but I try saying that it won't matter if we do. If Valencia and Young are the full backs then we won't win shit. Then i'll get blank stares back and five minutes later it's "We should go for Bale" People are completely oblivious to how vital it is.
Hopefully Mourinho realises how big an issue the full back areas are. Alex Sandro, for me, would be a more crucial signing than Bale or Griezmann
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If on August 10th Ashley Young is still our first choice LB, then 100% Mourinho will be in his last season because United wouldn't even be getting into the top 4.
You can think I'm overreacting, but you can bookmark it. Hopefully it's a non issue and a proper LB is signed.
It's not doom and gloom. If you have rubbish players, you're unlikely to win things. It's how football works. With different full back we would have won the FA Cup, the amount of times those two wasted our attacks was unreal. United looked like a different machine last season when Valencia and Young both didn't play. Unfortunately Mourinho has a problem with Shaw. Darmian would have proved better than Valencia with a run in the team and a bit of faith showed in him too.
That's not what I meant. Someone who watches him almost every week said he is not good enough yet.
Although he does look good, we don't really need another young FB when we already have Shaw, TFM, Dalot and Mitchell.
We need proven quality at LB because Valencia can maybe hold the fort for another year but Smashley and Shaw are just not good enough if we want to compete.
Unfortunately, I feel the same in regards to Sandro. Seems like another one of those where our name is always linked but there’s nothing credible in our interest.
Wouldn’t say he plays “really well” he was just solid at what he was doing. Had a few bad performances and some good defensive ones. My biggest issue with him is that he just won’t go at space probably because he isn’t left footed but even Darmian would go down the outside and put a ball in with his left. Young just kills so many good openings that I would prefer Shaw started or get Sandro in. Put Young at RB where hopefully he’ll feel more comfortable going on the outside and deliver better and faster balls.
You’re right about the wide partner thing, on the odd occasion when he goes inside and a player wide he just ignores them. Not the only one in the team to do that tho as Matic is one of the worst offenders.
There’s not many - if any at all - talking like we need to improve at full back because we were weak defensively. Everyone’s up in arms with regards to their contributions in attack.
I think left back needs addressed immediately, as does right wing. With any other position we can afford to be more patient and get the ‘right’ player, but for those two areas we need to buy. So if the players wanted for they positions aren’t going to come we need to look at, essentially, bringing in lesser players to fill the voids.
If we can get Sandro then great. If not, start working down the list of physically competent, natural left footers and get someone in sharpish. Leave all the delaying and back and forth over prices etc. for Alderweireld, a Fellaini replacement, a backup striker or a little bit of stardust. Get the full back in without pissing around. There must be several good left backs who would be interested in, and attainable for, Manchester United.
I don't believe that.
If you look at all the players that have been linked with us, most of them are LBs.
There has been talk since the end of last summer.
Rose, Ghoulam, Tierney, Sandro have all been linked to us.
Now yes some of those rumors may have been just BS but there is way too much smoke for there to be no fire.
IMO we are just monitoring the situation now.
This is true in case of RW, CM, LB & CB
RW - our targets are most probably Bale / Willian
Bale we are waiting to see what Real does, what their new manager would want to do with him
Willian too we are waiting to see whether Conte stays or goes
CM - we are waiting for Fellaini. The offer is there and as Mourinho said numerous times, we will sign a CM if and when Fellaini leaves.
We may have already talked to SMS or some other midfielder.
CB - we are waiting for Levy to lower his demands. If he had accepted our 50 million bid, Toby would have gone to the WC as a United player.
At the same time, we are looking at other CBs
LB - we are waiting to see what Juve does.I think we have already spoken to Sandro but since Juve have no LBs, we may have to wait till he refuses to sign an extension or till Juve signs a new LB.
Same as other positions, I'm sure we have back up targets lined up, like Telles.
This could be what is happening or the sudden availability of Bale has made us reconsider our plans.
If Bale is indeed available for say 100 million, we may change our targets and focus on cheaper alternatives.
He was good for the first half of the season or so. After he missed those few games in the middle of the season, he never seemed to really get going again.Nailed the LB spot ahead of Blind, Darmian and Shaw. Had 2 goals and 7 assists from LB. Was usually one of our best players in the big games. Played well enough to get praise from practically all corners of the media world, with hardly any detractors. He made the England squad, most likely being a starter at the WC too.
Yep, he definitely did not have a good season
So with all this talk here is Sandro of then?
I do agree that our defensive record is because of the team effort more than purely individual contributions.
Also yes, if we had better, who Jose completely trusts, his tactics would slightly change more. I mean even compared to his first season with us to last year, you can see some difference in tactics.
It’s never been a priority signing in terms of getting it done pre-World Cup. It’s likely we’re trying to get a couple of players wrapped up who are set to play in Russia before turning our attention to players like Sandro.
Honestly get that RB from Sociedad and play Dalot LB. Two young, talented hungry players.
Likely not. But he is on the wanted list so we'll spam in hope.
Yep! Think I'll lose my sh¡t if Young and Valencia are our first choice full backs next season
If no other FBs are added, I hope Dalot and Mitchell can win the FB jobs in preseason. Valencia and Young simply can't provide the attacking support necessary for Mourinho's narrow attacking formations. Spending hundreds of millions on attacking quality with no width provided by fullbacks and wingbacks squanders a lot of the club's resources, imo. Liverpool proved a team can compete with young, inexperienced fullbacks and wingbacks providing width in attack.
Same thoughts here. Reports that sandro will sign new contract and big fee issue with toby not looking good for us. Of course we maybe have other transfer targets but those two would really upgraded our backline
Why does this keep showing up? It's clearly not gonna happen nor does United seem interested.
Castles again.
Wonder who our other options are.
I think Juve and United are both bluffing in regards to Darmian and Sandro. We all know what every party wants in this situation.
That's my fear. I'm not sure there are many out there.
Usually with Mourinho transfers, it has felt like there's always more than one option per position. Matic/Dier, Lukaku/Morata, Lindelof/Keane etc. With the LB position, there's no real links to anyone. I'm a tad bit worried Mourinho see's this as a luxury upgrade and will only go for Sandro if on the cheap.
We're actually going to go into the season with Valencia and Young as our starters aren't we...
I don’t really understand this.
If we got Sandro for £50m and received even £10m in return for Darmian I’d consider that excellent business.
Are we penny pinching on what is possibly our most significant upgrade? It’s like us is it?
If we got Sandro for £50m and received even £10m in return for Darmian I’d consider that excellent business.
Are we penny pinching on what is possibly our most significant upgrade? It’s like us is it?
I wouldn't call that excellent business. Darmian was voted in the Seria A team of the year before he left and regularly plays for the Italian national team, so £10m is definitely below his market value. In terms of transfer fees excellent business would be selling Darmian for say £15m and getting Sandro for £45m. In terms of squad strengthening though, I agree.
No idea how you can make those two claims with any real certainty whatsoever.
For all we know, it could possibly happen, and we are interested.
Yeah, it’s more than the financial element. Upgrading to one of the best left-backs in the world for net £40m as opposed to missing out completely.
I’d describe your scenario as fantastic business. Maybe just semantics.
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Meh I'm bored of this saga.
To the Philipp Max thread! After only finding out about him today, I'm now convinced he's on route to be Messi's level of LBs.
To the Philipp Max thread! After only finding out about him today, I'm now convinced he's on route to be Messi's level of LBs.
Not semantics. Your OP was spot on - getting rid of Darmian and getting Sandro would perfect - and a net 40m I would be happy to pay.
Not semantics. Your OP was spot on - getting rid of Darmian and getting Sandro would perfect - and a net 40m would should be happy to pay.
We have to improve the weakest positions and squabbling over 10m to miss a player like Sandro would be disgusting. We do not have a LB.
60m euros isn't that much imo. I'm a bit desperate to see this being completed as i really like him, and he would fit us perfectly.
45m + Darmian for him would be good business.
45m + Darmian for him would be good business.
It seems that we are working to a budget. Whether we like it or not, City moved the bar on prices for full backs last season and what we’re seeing with Sandro is being deemed the going rate.