Antoine Griezmann

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At Inter, Jose regularly played Etoo down the right coming in, and it worked very well. Greizman can play that wide-foward role, or a no9; need more players of his class in this team. Him, a replacement for carrick, and a commanding CB, and we're sorted.
 
Devil may care said:
You mean Griezmann playing as the #9? I just don't see that working in truth, and he's really been at his best when playing off a proper #9 that can hold it up for his second man runs.
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Agreed, Griezmann plays best as a secondary striker, but then Pogba will have to play in a 2 man midfield. This hasn't worked on many occasions this season because the player alongside Pogba hasn't been defensive enough to allow Pogba the freedom to roam forward. But when he plays with Carrick (like the game against Feynoord), it can work. That's because Carrick not only sits deep, but also takes a large share of the deep lying playmaking responsibility. We currently don't have another midfielder who does specifically that, so unless Carrick is expected to start most games next season, we'll need a Carrick replacement if a Griezmann/Pogba combination is to truly work.
 
Could use him as an inside forward maybe.

Martial/Mkhitaryan --- Ibrahimovic/Rashford --- Griezmann/Mata

He might function well like that as a left Inside Forward cutting in and switching around constantly with the others. It's not his ideal position but I think a player of his quality could make it work.
 
bosnian_red said:
Not the main 9, but like a diamond maybe. Martial and Griezmann up top, martial leading and griezmann dropping off him and Mata or Miki in the hole (and the other in the 3 man mid next to Pogba). Obviously wouldnt be a rigid attack at all, and griezmann, martial and the 10 would take turns rotating between drifting wide and staying central, sometimes the wing backs providing width, sometimes Pogba drifting left, etc. Its definitely possible but thats the only way to get them all out there at their best. Plus in Mourinho's style, his wingers do drift inwards all the time and dont play as wingers at all, more just extra players in the half spaces where he could excel.

Obviously, for another 100 mil we would want an obvious need (holding mid) or that leading striker to replace Ibra, someone like Aubameyang. But if Mourinho has a way to fit him in, and he is eager to join, then why not? Considering we do have the money. As long as we cover the main needs, Griezmann here would only make us better.
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Looking at how we played last night, with the 4 in behind Ibra romaing all over the place we might be able to make it work, I don't see Jose using a diamond or the 3-4-3 to really get the most out of Griezmann, but I agree it would be the most logical route to go if we bought him. I just can't shake the feeling that it's a crazy amount of money for a player who wouldn't automatically be in his best position, usualy when you lay out that type of money you are building your team around the player or you at least have the spot open that is his best position.

United Pro said:
Agreed, Griezmann plays best as a secondary striker, but then Pogba will have to play in a 2 man midfield. This hasn't worked on many occasions this season because the player alongside Pogba hasn't been defensive enough to allow Pogba the freedom to roam forward. But when he plays with Carrick (like the game against Feynoord), it can work. That's because Carrick not only sits deep, but also takes a large share of the deep lying playmaking responsibility. We currently don't have another midfielder who does specifically that, so unless Carrick is expected to start most games next season, we'll need a Carrick replacement if a Griezmann/Pogba combination is to truly work.
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I am not convinced Pogba is suited to a midfield 2 yet either, but I do think he's upped his workrate recently and now Carrick is in we are seeing him playing with that bit more freedom, getting that holding CM in is without doubt the priority in the summer as like you say it not only provides the defensive safety net but shares the playmaking role. So in one way it is hard to truly gauge how he'd play with Greizmann should he get the chance to do so with a proper holding midfielder, something he hasn't had the chance to do for France as when paired with Matuidi he is tasked with playing the deepest a lot of the time.
 
United 17/18

----------------De Gea----------------
Valencia----Bailly----????----Shaw
------------------???------------------
--------Herrera-------Pogba--------
Mkhitaryan--Griezmann-----Martial

:drool::drool::drool:
 
charlenefan said:
United 17/18

----------------De Gea----------------
Valencia----Bailly----????----Shaw
------------------???------------------
--------Herrera-------Pogba--------
Mkhitaryan--Griezmann-----Martial

:drool::drool::drool:
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Valencia will be 32 next season, we need to get that position sorted out.I don't think Darmian is the answer.
 
He'll be brilliant if he ever came. Either as the 10, false 9 or even as an inverted winger
 
If it's true that he has a release clause that United are willing to meet, couldn't United just activate that in January rather than waiting until Summer?

Then again, I doubt Griezmann would want to jump ship mid-season

As for likeliness of this happening, we signed Pogba so why not? Any club willing to pay the money stands a chance
 
I like him but not what we need. Verratti all day long for me......
 
Devil may care said:
So in one way it is hard to truly gauge how he'd play with Greizmann should he get the chance to do so with a proper holding midfielder, something he hasn't had the chance to do for France as when paired with Matuidi he is tasked with playing the deepest a lot of the time.
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Closest comparison would have to be Pogba's combination with Dybala last season, which was brilliant. Saying that I'm fairly sure Juventus played a 433 formation, so yes it would be hard to predict.
 
Devil may care said:
£89M for a player that doesn't really fit with our current £89M player seems a waste to me, don't get me wrong, Griezmann is class but I just don't see him and Pogba ever being able to play their best in the same team.
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Why not? Isn't it Payet that's affecting Pogba's play for France rather than Griezmann?
As long as Pogba isn't sitting too deep then I don't see a problem.
 
Great player who I believe Mourinho tried to sign for Chelsea a year or 2 ago or at least that's what some journalists were suggesting, not sure where or how he'd fit in to be honest but although a bit tenuous, maybe that's why we're hearing a few comments regarding Martials "attitude" and chances not being taken.
 
United Pro said:
Closest comparison would have to be Pogba's combination with Dybala last season, which was brilliant. Saying that I'm fairly sure Juventus played a 433 formation, so yes it would be hard to predict.
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Juve are still playing 3-5-2 a lot, which provided Pogba and Dybala with a defensive cocoon behind them.

cyberman said:
Why not? Isn't it Payet that's affecting Pogba's play for France rather than Griezmann?
As long as Pogba isn't sitting too deep then I don't see a problem.
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Griezmann ends up in Pogba's space a lot but I think perhaps the biggest issue is being paired with Matuidi that restricts his game more than either of the attackers. I think the genuine question mark though is over whether Pogba can operate in a 2 man midfield with a #10 in front of him as he's not the best defensively and the #10 can cramp his attacking game.
 
bosnian_red said:
Not the main 9, but like a diamond maybe. Martial and Griezmann up top, martial leading and griezmann dropping off him and Mata or Miki in the hole (and the other in the 3 man mid next to Pogba). Obviously wouldnt be a rigid attack at all, and griezmann, martial and the 10 would take turns rotating between drifting wide and staying central, sometimes the wing backs providing width, sometimes Pogba drifting left, etc. Its definitely possible but thats the only way to get them all out there at their best. Plus in Mourinho's style, his wingers do drift inwards all the time and dont play as wingers at all, more just extra players in the half spaces where he could excel.
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Don't think Martial is clinical enough to be the man spearheading our attack
 
Devil may care said:
Looking at how we played last night, with the 4 in behind Ibra romaing all over the place we might be able to make it work, I don't see Jose using a diamond or the 3-4-3 to really get the most out of Griezmann, but I agree it would be the most logical route to go if we bought him. I just can't shake the feeling that it's a crazy amount of money for a player who wouldn't automatically be in his best position, usualy when you lay out that type of money you are building your team around the player or you at least have the spot open that is his best position.



I am not convinced Pogba is suited to a midfield 2 yet either, but I do think he's upped his workrate recently and now Carrick is in we are seeing him playing with that bit more freedom, getting that holding CM in is without doubt the priority in the summer as like you say it not only provides the defensive safety net but shares the playmaking role. So in one way it is hard to truly gauge how he'd play with Greizmann should he get the chance to do so with a proper holding midfielder, something he hasn't had the chance to do for France as when paired with Matuidi he is tasked with playing the deepest a lot of the time.
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Yeah, like you say, it's a crazy amount of money for someone who wouldn't easily slot into the team. Like he walks in, but there's a lot of adjusting to be done to get our 2 100m players to perform basically, and the only way to do that would basically be to do away with wingers entirely and have 3 attackers who rotate around as said before. Also as you say, with a proper holding mid like Carrick, pogba does look a lot better.

No doubt in my mind that we'll go for him though, get the feeling that Mourinho wants something like this for next season as his main 11 for the majority of games:
De Gea
Valencia Bailly Gimenez Shaw
Holding-mid Pogba
Mata Griezmann Mkhitaryan
Ibra
​
Obviously with Ibra's age, maybe he hopes Martial adapts to his style more and then he can slot in up top for Ibra. Same with Shaw getting back to his best under Mourinho. Someone like Herrera would be the first option off the bench or someone who comes in all the time whenever it's a tougher game, or away game to make it a more solid midfield, alongside pogba and the new holding mid, while one of mata/miki/martial or ibra/griezmann (probably not since he's gonna be the big buy) drop out. So in that case, I really can see it working, but at the same time, the one obvious thing that our entire season next year can hinge on is getting that holding position right. Replace Carrick properly, and we can get the best out of Pogba and someone like Griezmann at the same time (and allow us to play both Miki and Mata as well). Get it wrong and we'll be disjointed as always.
 
izec said:
Must be @GE 's successfull petition finally reaching the club and Mourinho.
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Only a few of us rode the wave from early. Now the doubters and people that laughed at us and called us "mental" are riding it with us.

The dream will soon become a reality my friend.
 
bosnian_red said:
Yeah, like you say, it's a crazy amount of money for someone who wouldn't easily slot into the team. Like he walks in, but there's a lot of adjusting to be done to get our 2 100m players to perform basically, and the only way to do that would basically be to do away with wingers entirely and have 3 attackers who rotate around as said before. Also as you say, with a proper holding mid like Carrick, pogba does look a lot better.

No doubt in my mind that we'll go for him though, get the feeling that Mourinho wants something like this for next season as his main 11 for the majority of games:
De Gea
Valencia Bailly Gimenez Shaw
Holding-mid Pogba
Mata Griezmann Mkhitaryan
Ibra
​
Obviously with Ibra's age, maybe he hopes Martial adapts to his style more and then he can slot in up top for Ibra. Same with Shaw getting back to his best under Mourinho. Someone like Herrera would be the first option off the bench or someone who comes in all the time whenever it's a tougher game, or away game to make it a more solid midfield, alongside pogba and the new holding mid, while one of mata/miki/martial or ibra/griezmann (probably not since he's gonna be the big buy) drop out. So in that case, I really can see it working, but at the same time, the one obvious thing that our entire season next year can hinge on is getting that holding position right. Replace Carrick properly, and we can get the best out of Pogba and someone like Griezmann at the same time (and allow us to play both Miki and Mata as well). Get it wrong and we'll be disjointed as always.
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I think you've laid it out pretty much how it will go if we get the CL spot required to get Griezmann. Part of it probably comes down to Jose feeling we need another goal supply in the team, Ibra is going to be 36 next season and the #9 pool is pretty shallow right now, so we need to get a second source of goals from another position and while Mata and Mkhi can chip in they wont put up the kind of numbers Griezmann can.

The 2 key aspects will be Pogba continuing to develop his defensive game, and most importantly of all that holding CM who will be disciplined and sit in front of the back 4 to give the attack a safety net, but at the same time have the passing game to feed them so we can keep pressing high. It's a big risk to take with the price Griezmann wil cost on top of the DLP we'll need shell out for, but it seems like the gamble we are likely to take in order to get some much needed prime world class firepower into the side.
 
Devil may care said:
I think you've laid it out pretty much how it will go if we get the CL spot required to get Griezmann. Part of it probably comes down to Jose feeling we need another goal supply in the team, Ibra is going to be 36 next season and the #9 pool is pretty shallow right now, so we need to get a second source of goals from another position and while Mata and Mkhi can chip in they wont put up the kind of numbers Griezmann can.

The 2 key aspects will be Pogba continuing to develop his defensive game, and most importantly of all that holding CM who will be disciplined and sit in front of the back 4 to give the attack a safety net, but at the same time have the passing game to feed them so we can keep pressing high. It's a big risk to take with the price Griezmann wil cost on top of the DLP we'll need shell out for, but it seems like the gamble we are likely to take in order to get some much needed prime world class firepower into the side.
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I think a goal scorer should take precedence over issues like balance simply because goals change the tone of matches and the course of a season. This is what I have come to appreciate over the last few weeks and watching Madrid win two CLs in three seasons despite not having the most balanced or performing team. So I would rather we blow our load on Griezmann, create a functioning/prolific forward line and somehow patch up the midfield with TFM, Carrick and Herrera taking turns to support Pogba if we can't find the right priced DM.
 
As usual a little bit of bullshit. He was asked about PSG and said that he wasn't interested by the Ligue 1 for the moment and that he would only move in La Liga or eventually the Premier but that he wasn't interested to move at the moment.
 
A 4-2-3-1 formation with Antoine and Mkhi on the wings would scare even the best defensive sides in the world if he comes, and if Martial starts performing in the striker role we could have one of the best attacking sides.
 
Mourinho has been experimenting with a 433, but it's clear he favours a 4231. Griezmann would be a perfect 10/second striker in a 4231, especially if we play with false wingers at the sides like Mata, Lingard, Mkhitaryan and Rooney, who can all drop deep and help retain possession of the ball, whilst the 10 focuses on making runs in behind the striker.

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He's my dream signing for the summer. Not just a big signing for the sake of it, but a player we need who would genuinely add a great deal to our attack.
 
Get an absolute worldie of a holding passer (Weigl) and stick Griezmann up top with Ibrahimovic with Pogba linking the latter two with the former. Martial on the left and Mkhitaryan/Mata on the right with Rashford and Rooney off the bench. Some kind of a 4-1-3-2. It's quite attacking but we can sacrifice one of the wide players for another midfielder like Herrera or Schneiderlin or Fellaini when the big games come around to play 4-3-3 or a 4-4-2 with none of the middle 4 being wingers (as Atletico usually do).
 
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