Antoine Griezmann

[Ekeke]

Pretty sure it was Mourinho who wasnt too keen on Lukaku and got rid of him. I like Lukaku personally.

It was, but that doesn't mean that Jose doesn't now like him more than he did then. Lukaku has improved and isnt the same young player he was, and Mourinho hasnt always trusted many young players. We can see that as with Mata, Mourinho might like a different player in a different environment and time, as well there might not be a lot of other options out there with the same skillset.

Personally I think he's good and would do fine, but most likely we'd have to pay way too much for him. But we should be used to that by now, if not one player it'll be another player for that over the top fee.

 

[PlayerOne]

We all thought he knew his plan for Pogba, but it took around 3 months of tinkering and playing him in a flat 2 man midfield with Fellaini beside him.

I do think that's down to the lack of pre-season too, Mourinho didn't have a chance to mess around with the system and he had to it while playing league games. Brining in four new players into the team isn't easy to do either, too many changes at once. I can't see Mourinho making that mistake again.

 

[Fortitude]

Slightly mixed feelings now after initially being excited. Reading @Fortitude and @Invictus makes you worry if this really is a sensible buy, all things considered.

I'm 100% behind building the side around Pogba and anything that might hinder his level of performance is a major concern.

Looks like this one has a chance of happening, so fingers crossed myself and anyone else who has doubts, are wrong and it all works out with us getting the best out of both players.

 

[Tiber]

Going to be a good summer....

 

[Danillaco]

More chance of Ashley Young winning the World Cup with Slovenia.

O ye, of little faith.

 

[LFC-Fans]

Jesus, I actually reckon this deal might happen.

What are you lot like aye?... you're almost worse than City.

 

[Tiber]

Jesus, I actually reckon this deal might happen.

What are you lot like aye?... you're almost worse than City.

JUst imagine what we could do with an owner that put money into the club rather than sucking it out like a leech

 

[Mr Pigeon]

Jesus, I actually reckon this deal might happen.

What are you lot like aye?... you're almost worse than City.

"The friendly Liverpool fan"? You're just a big meanie. We're buying this guy and also Ronaldo and Messi so we can play six up front with Mkhitaryan, Martial and Ibrahimovic as well.

 

[Tiber]

Going to be a good summer....

So what is our new word for 2017? GriezOn? Meh

 

[LFC-Fans]

JUst imagine what we could do with an owner that put money into the club rather than sucking it out like a leech

Your signings last summer made me realise just how much pulling power you have. Honestly? Its on par with Barcelona and Madrid. If not better than Barcelona's, but behind only Madrid. If you had an Arab owner. My god. I dont even want to think about it.

"The friendly Liverpool fan"? You're just a big meanie. We're buying this guy and also Ronaldo and Messi so we can play six up front with Mkhitaryan, Martial and Ibrahimovic as well.

Jesus. Can you image that against Klavan and Lovren?

 

[2 man midfield]

I just don't get why we weren't in for him at Real Sociedad. It's like Vidal all over again.

 

[Tiber]

I just don't get why we weren't in for him at Real Sociedad. It's like Vidal all over again.

Stop with this twisted logic. Next you will be saying we should have skipped POGBACK and just gave him a contract when we had the chance

 

[NoLogo]

Have we signed him yet?

 

[Adebesi]

So what is our new word for 2017? GriezOn? Meh

GriezmOn, surely. The M makes all the difference.

 

[Tiber]

GriezmOn, surely. The M makes all the difference.

It really does

And if we are going to do this deal by paying the release clause please can we:

1. Not use any fake spanish lawyers
2. Not leave it til the last moment possible and miss the deadline (i know this doesnt have one) like fellaini. If we are going to pay the set fee do it at the start of the window

 

[Danillaco]

GriezmOn, surely. The M makes all the difference.

AntON?

 

[Rozay]

Just find it hard to be enthused. I don't honk he's as good as some make out, and this is why the whole formation argument is so relevant. If we were talking of a Neymar or Bale even, their individual attributes are such that they are threatening in any attacking area. They can fit in wherever.

Griezmann won't run away from anyone with either skill or speed, and isn't a hold up player either. This means that he is more likely to range from brilliant to ineffective depending on how he is deployed. I don't buy this 'with a player like him, you just buy him and worry later'. Him improving the team is dependent on the system in my opinion.

 

[Tiber]

Just find it hard to be enthused. I don't honk he's as good as some make out, and this is why the whole formation argument is so relevant. If we were talking of a Neymar or Bale even, their individual attributes are such that they are threatening in any attacking area. They can fit in wherever.

Griezmann won't run away from anyone with either skill or speed, and isn't a hold up player either. This means that he is more likely to range from brilliant to ineffective depending on how he is deployed. I don't buy this 'with a player like him, you just buy him and worry later'. Him improving the team is dependent on the system in my opinion.

Hard to be enthused about signing Antoine Griezmann? For a team that has struggled to finish in the top 4 multiple years in a row? Wow some United fans really have been spoiled.

 

[Dave1812]

It will come down to what the player wants to do not Atletico because he has a release clause pay that its up to the player. My opinion is can see it happening.

 

[Nickosaur]

AntoiON GriezzmON

 

[Adebesi]

Hard to be enthused about signing Antoine Griezmann? For a team that has struggled to finish in the top 4 multiple years in a row? Wow some United fans really have been spoiled.

I dont know if I would frame it that way. We are playing at the very top end of the market, and while we are all more optimistic than we have been for years, we are still playing catch up. We do need to sign the very best, but we also need to make sure we get the most out of the players we bring in because the margins at this level are small. Plus, I dont think its spoilt to say a galactico policy where we buy great players regardless of whether they are what we need is spoilt. You could make a case that demanding the most reputable players, without due consideration to how they are going to fit in, is more spoilt.

I mean, I always feel compelled to preface any comments on these subjects by admitting my ignorance because 95% of what I am saying is informed by what I read - not just from other posters but from journalists, pundits and friends who watch foreign football more than I do. But I get the sense someone like Aubameyang would be a better fit for us.

 

[Fortitude]

Hard to be enthused about signing Antoine Griezmann? For a team that has struggled to finish in the top 4 multiple years in a row? Wow some United fans really have been spoiled.

I really don't understand posts like this. You snippet what you want from it and literally ignore the crux, and then call him spoiled.

There are valid reasons, pointed out constantly throughout this thread, as to why a number of posters are not sure about Griezmann even if they acknowledge him as a great player.

 

[Rozay]

I dont know if I would frame it that way. We are playing at the very top end of the market, and while we are all more optimistic than we have been for years, we are still playing catch up. We do need to sign the very best, but we also need to make sure we get the most out of the players we bring in because the margins at this level are small. Plus, I dont think its spoilt to say a galactico policy where we buy great players regardless of whether they are what we need is spoilt. You could make a case that demanding the most reputable players, without due consideration to how they are going to fit in, is more spoilt.

I mean, I always feel compelled to preface any comments on these subjects by admitting my ignorance because 95% of what I am saying is informed by what I read - not just from other posters but from journalists, pundits and friends who watch foreign football more than I do. But I get the sense someone like Aubameyang would be a better fit for us.

Thank you, answered that for me!

 

[Ixion]

I'm lurking in this thread, occasionally popping in wanting to believe, praying to Woodward. I'm ready.

 

[Devil may care]

I can see Jose's dilemma, this side doesn't score enoiugh goals, it's why we are in 6th, but ideally we'd add the goals from the RWF or LWF but Neymar and Bale aren't going to happen. On the other side of the coin I'm sure needing to play 2 CM's with Pogba irks Jose as when he looks at Pogba's attributes he probably feels he should be able to doiminate in a 2 and allow Jose to use a #10/SS.

 

[Adisa]

Same...question is why sign him then instead of spending 80-90 million on someone else that actually fits us?

Griezmann is one of the most adaptable forwards you will find. Also, I have the feeling Mourinho's long term plan would be to play him up front ans part of a roaming front 3.

 

[Sparky Rhiwabon]

Why do clubs always seem to dismiss January as an option for major transfers like this? Is it because they are so complicated that there is physically not time to get the deal completed? We saw how long Pogba dragged on for. Surely, it would be better for us to have him now. Or is it that Griezeman would only come to United if we were qualified for the CL?

 

[Rozay]

In summary, I think Griezmann is a top player, but his talents are such that he'd improve he will only improve us in certain conditions. Similar has been said about Pogba, and the two systems conflict one another. If it were Messi, you could play him on the right and still improve the team considerably. Not sure that applies to Griezmann, although hopefully I'll be proven wrong.

 

[Adisa]

A lot of the assumption that we can't fit him in, is based on the myth that Mourinho only plays one type of forward in none type of system. Pogba played on the left of midfield in Juve and a lot of the time, resembled a left midfielder in a 442. I see no reason why he can't play that role again. It would allow the left forward to operate more centrally.

 

[Devil may care]

Griezmann is one of the most adaptable forwards you will find. Also, I have the feeling Mourinho's long term plan would be to play him up front ans part of a roaming front 3.

What makes you think this? Just a genuine question as Jose has favoured a big striker with strong hold-up play for the last decade or more.

 

[cyberman]

Pogba isn't good enough in front of goal to be dismissing what Griezmann would provide in terms of creativity, goals and assists.
A slightly lesser Pogba and Griezmann that can work well together is better than having Pogba at 100% on his own, anyway it's clear as day to me that Griezmann will be a false 9 with our widemen tucked further in as inside forwards.
We'll get our width from our fullbacks since it can't be a coincidence we are linked with a new leftback and the rightback from Benfica.

 

[cyberman]

In summary, I think Griezmann is a top player, but his talents are such that he'd improve he will only improve us in certain conditions. Similar has been said about Pogba, and the two systems conflict one another. If it were Messi, you could play him on the right and still improve the team considerably. Not sure that applies to Griezmann, although hopefully I'll be proven wrong.

We struggle to score! All of our goal scoring burden rests on the shoulders of a 35 year old.

 

[rpg]

Just stick him in Martial place and he won't possibly do any worse than Martial. Then stick him in Ibra place halfway through the season and let Martial Rashford fight it out on the left wing.

 

[Philadelphian]

I do think that's down to the lack of pre-season too, Mourinho didn't have a chance to mess around with the system and he had to it while playing league games. Brining in four new players into the team isn't easy to do either, too many changes at once. I can't see Mourinho making that mistake again.

He did have half a season to watch Juventus past and present, however, and still got it wrong.

 

[Fortitude]

Pogba isn't good enough in front of goal to be dismissing what Griezmann would provide in terms of creativity, goals and assists.
A slightly lesser Pogba and Griezmann that can work well together is better than having Pogba at 100% on his own, anyway it's clear as day to me that Griezmann will be a false 9 with our widemen tucked further in as inside forwards.
We'll get our width from our fullbacks since it can't be a coincidence we are linked with a new leftback and the rightback from Benfica.

Aha! An interesting discussion point!

Factoring in that Pogba is not near what it's assumed he will become with the correct nurturing, is that a good thing? Impeding his development begs the question of why buy him in the first place, no?

 

[EyeInTheSky]

So what is our new word for 2017? GriezOn? Meh

almost had it. GriezmON

 

[Tiber]

Depay being shipped off to France just to free up the 7 shirt?

 

[Philadelphian]

Pogba isn't good enough in front of goal to be dismissing what Griezmann would provide in terms of creativity, goals and assists.
A slightly lesser Pogba and Griezmann that can work well together is better than having Pogba at 100% on his own, anyway it's clear as day to me that Griezmann will be a false 9 with our widemen tucked further in as inside forwards.
We'll get our width from our fullbacks since it can't be a coincidence we are linked with a new leftback and the rightback from Benfica.

Pogba has hit post 7 times and put probably twice as many assists on a platter which Ibra and others have missed. Christ. Pogba should have multiple 20/20 seasons if played in his natural position.

Martial would probably lose out to Griezman until Ibra leaves and Martial/Rashford will have the chance to fight for the open spot. Also think Mhki could move into Herrera's role, meaning Martial - Ibra - Griezmann for a year.

 

[IrishRedDevil]

Lets skip froward and think about the video we will release when we sign him, as a follow on from Pogback.

I propose a video of Woody sitting on his throne calling Griezmann, who will answer United's call with his famous hotline bling celebration.

 

[cyberman]

Aha! An interesting discussion point!

Factoring in that Pogba is not near what it's assumed he will become with the correct nurturing, is that a good thing? Impeding his development begs the question of why buy him in the first place, no?

I always point to Neymar. He isn't at his best on the left and wants to play central but with him playing there Barca have the greatest attacking threat of the modern era.
I don't think it's healthy for us to play a system that's so reliant on one player, especially moving forward in the big (hopefully) CL games. We've seen how disjointed we are when Pogba is marked out of the game or is under par.
People say Paul can't play in a midfield two but with Griezmann as a support striker it can be overall a variation of a 3 man midfield, put a destroyer to lessen Pogba's defensive resposibilities and have Griezmann has someone to play off of when going forward.