Yeah we definitely don't need that.
Bernardo Silva | Bouhafsi - 70m Euros, 5 year contract. Going to City CONFIRMED
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Would be a class signing, even though he isn't a classic winger like what I think we need more anyway, he is way more suited to playing on the right wing then Mata or Miki right now anyway. Also suits us more then Griezmann probably.
Thanks. I haven't seen much of him but surely this looks like a player who could be useful for us?
I've edited my initial post.
If we tweak our nominal formation a bit, he can be excellent in tandem with Griezmann. When you have a talismanic and prolific scorer like the latter in your team, you can even field young Rashford as a consistent starter. Maybe something like this:
The only player who'll have to make an adjustment is Pogba in a Koke-esque role - reckon that might just be his best position because he's close to the inside left channel and it doesn't call for defensive work centrally - though it will place a greater burden on the wingback who'll have to excel in both phases of the game because Pogba's not a great defender on the flank yet. Apart from him - Rashford thrives when he's playing with another forward because he's not mature enough to lead the line alone, Griezmann is in his perfect role off a pacy/hard working 9, and Bernardo is in his nominal right sided floater/wide midfielder position for Monaco.
Forwards like Griezmann and Rashford thrive on movement, and Bernardo could really open up games when they run behind defenders or into channels (samples from a recent game vs Lille):
Not to mention Pogba when he surges forward from his left midfield position:
The only player who'll have to make an adjustment is Pogba in a Koke-esque role - reckon that might just be his best position because he's close to the inside left channel and it doesn't call for defensive work centrally - though it will place a greater burden on the wingback who'll have to excel in both phases of the game because Pogba's not a great defender on the flank yet. Apart from him - Rashford thrives when he's playing with another forward because he's not mature enough to lead the line alone, Griezmann is in his perfect role off a pacy/hard working 9, and Bernardo is in his nominal right sided floater/wide midfielder position for Monaco.
Forwards like Griezmann and Rashford thrive on movement, and Bernardo could really open up games when they run behind defenders or into channels (samples from a recent game vs Lille):
Not to mention Pogba when he surges forward from his left midfield position:
Thing is though he doesn't lose the ball. He brings all that to the game but is honestly one of the best players I've seen in a long time at keeping possession and progressing attacks quickly. I've watched him take the piss out of City and Spurs over 4 games, I don't think he'll struggle at all. That inside right position Jose has forced on the team looks like it was designed for him.
Monaco to be fair have walked the league and scored, what 150 goals? How many assists or goals has the guy gotten? How much of their expansive play is down to him or the fact he has great talent and runners ahead of him?
I could make the same argument about prime Iniesta. All you have to do is watch and see that the stats don't matter, they're quality players. Like I said though, he will only get better.
As good as Iniesta is/was and I'm a huge fan, he wouldn't of been rated as high if he played for Juve or Bayern etc.
If we tweak our nominal formation a bit, he can be excellent in tandem with Griezmann. When you have a talismanic and prolific scorer like the latter in your team, you can even field young Rashford as a consistent starter. Maybe something like this:
The only player who'll have to make an adjustment is Pogba in a Koke-esque role - reckon that might just be his best position because he's close to the inside left channel and it doesn't call for defensive work centrally - though it will place a greater burden on the wingback who'll have to excel in both phases of the game because Pogba's not a great defender on the flank yet. Apart from him - Rashford thrives when he's playing with another forward because he's not mature enough to lead the line alone, Griezmann is in his perfect role off a pacy/hard working 9, and Bernardo is in his nominal right sided floater/wide midfielder position for Monaco.
Forwards like Griezmann and Rashford thrive on movement, and Bernardo could really open up games when they run behind defenders or into channels (samples from a recent game vs Lille):
Not to mention Pogba when he surges forward from his left midfield position:
I like this, however it limits the position a fair number of our players could play in.
Martial wouldn't be seen on the left anymore (not necessarily a bad thing)
Mhki and Silva would be competing for the same spot.
Mata becomes pointless.
Lingard would struggle to ever play (again not a bad thing but new contract and all that)
Extremely light on numbers in cm with Pogba moving wide.
Found this a little underwhelming.
He was a world beater for Spain in the tournaments not just the club teams. Iniesta would have been rated as highly as he is at any given club.
Sorry that just proves my point, he wouldn't be so highly rated if he didn't play for Croatia or Italy.
Spain were a phenomenal team.
In these clips he runs at players and turns. Something mata cant do.
My muppet transfer. Having someone with his ball control would be immense when teams press us. That video of where 3-4 City players were pressing him and couldn't get the ball off him is class.Aye, we'll need a bit of a shake-up in terms of personnel to make that setup work. But if you look at the players who'll be suited to it (skillset wise), we could transition to it over a season or two. eg. Pereira could also play in the Pogba-esque left midfield position as his relief while bringing a different set of features (that's the position he's frequently played at Granada). And wrt. the lightness in midfield, that has to be sorted one way or the other with the departures of Fußballgott + Schneiderlin, and the age-related decline of Carrick, so might as well address that in the summer by bringing a couple players in. The biggest question mark hovers over the left wingback spot - the player would have to be defensively astute, but also good at stretching the flank - can't think of many realistic options that can do that at a high enough level.
So, are you saying Xavi and Pirlo won't be rated as highly at a not so dominant teams? They are one of the important cogs in the wheel that creates the motion. Both of them advanced their respective teams' path to greatness.
This is nonsense.
Modric is rated highly and doesn't have the best stats yet plays for Croatia.
Hear generalisations are growing tiresome.
Firstly, Manchester United are an attacking team. We have been 'free flowing' or whatever on a number of occasions this season, and failed to score the goal or 4 we should have, largely due to poor quality in he final third. It is a myth that we have been some conservative Van Gaal side all year. We have often lined up with very offensive line-ups, with an entire front 6 of players who should be a goal threat, however, they haven't been.
Secondly, the big, bad Premier League isn't the only league that allows physical contact in the world. That's some notion that has been perpetuated for years and become fact. French football, like German football, Italian football and South American football has plenty of physical contact. In fact, I can barely think of any player who has come from Ligue Un and struggled with the physical side of the game. Also, PL football is generally not that good in terms of quality and a talented technician will probably stand out far more here than abroad. He could easily be one of the best players in he League. Silva ran tings around the PL for years, and I doubt he'd have looked as dominant if he'd stayed in Spain.
Lastly, Ben Arfa also looked like a world beater on many occasions here. Playing for Newcastle. He took the piss out of many a big and strong English defence.
We can only get one Monaco player this year, and I think it's got to be Fabinho. There are no decent alternatives at DM (that I'm aware of), so going for him has to be the priority.
As much as I like Silva I think there are alternatives that are just as good and at least one that's PL proven. At his best, Mahrez matches him in most things, plus he has better end product (I also think his numbers would improve in a possession team). Leicester would be willing to sell, so it makes more sense than overplaying our hand with Monaco in the Summer and ending up without any sort of decent Carrick replacement.
As much as I like Silva I think there are alternatives that are just as good and at least one that's PL proven. At his best, Mahrez matches him in most things, plus he has better end product (I also think his numbers would improve in a possession team). Leicester would be willing to sell, so it makes more sense than overplaying our hand with Monaco in the Summer and ending up without any sort of decent Carrick replacement.
Seriously?
I think he's magnificent. He'll be World Class without a doubt.
Is he rated as high as Iniesta? Is he playing for the current best club team perhaps.
My over arching point here, Bernardo looks good because of how Monaco play and set up. We are not Monaco and won't be anytime soon. I don't think he is the right player for us.
The Iniesta thing is a side point. He'd be a phenomenal player in most sides, yet he wouldn't be as good as in THAT Barca team.
As a "highlights reel" I see him beating a man and it cutting. I see him doing a skill in the box yet no goal or assist, I see a lot of "pretty" play yet barely any actual product. He cuts back onto his left, checks back onto his right and then that's it...
Technically he is very very good. But seems to me that his highlights consist of beating the same man twice forty yards from goal.
What about Bernardo Silva makes you think he'd solve our inability to score goals? We've been free flowing and creating chances (something he does apparently) but cannot score.
Is he a goal scorer? A finisher of chances? Or most likely would he create some chances and our lack of finishing would still be an issue?
The youtube brigade is out again. We have well and truly entered silly season.
Edit: Just a hint, Bernardo isn't a winger. He is like Iniesta when used on the left wing by Barcelona and Spain.
Edit: Just a hint, Bernardo isn't a winger. He is like Iniesta when used on the left wing by Barcelona and Spain.
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Yeah maybe over a season or 2 we could move towards it. I think it would require building towards a 433 this summer though to get the squad set to move to that the summer after.
I have serious doubts Mourinho is looking to do that though seeing as we're consistently linked with 10s more than any other position.
It's called playing football mate. Some people are brilliant at it. Like Bernardo.
There's a time and place for stats, and things, and there's a time to just watch someone playing football really well.
What's all this on Twitter about Real Madrid entering the race for him?
I am not saying he's not a great footballer, he's clearly talented and it's nice seeing someone with talent.
Is he what we need? Not convinced.
Who would you rather?
Ronaldo and Messi wouldn't be rated so highly had they played for Spurs. Great point.
So what? A lot happens to create a goal before a goal and assist are registered. Without "pretty" plays goalscorers are often of not much use.
France were mainly poor and Pogba(Juventus player at the time) was hyped to incredible level.
Great question!
Personally I'd prefer Bale yet I know he's injury prone so in my head Mahrez.
Cheaper, league proven, yet again there are question marks over temperament etc.
It's really hard to select a player...outside of Silva, who would you put forward?
Sorry for interfering in this discussion, but can you tell me better the criteria you want in our new attacking player ?
Meh I disagree.
He's not an out and out winger but he does go on the outside quite a lot and is brilliant at opening up space for the attacking fullback. Not disagreeing but before anybody says we need width, he does offer width tough he does like to come inside also. Another thing is that defensively he's very sound and covers his side of the pitch well.
If you think about how we've used our right sided attacker this season, coming inside quite a bit with Valencia bombing forward, the position looks tailor made for Bernardo.
Not interfering at all mate! I'd say someone with a higher return of goals and assists. Bale or a Leicester title winning Mahrez.
Someone who is a real threat out wide.
Bernardo. I love him.
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