Bernardo Silva | Bouhafsi - 70m Euros, 5 year contract. Going to City CONFIRMED

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Don't say Silva looks like Mata. The only player that Silva looks like was called Figo. Same type of dribbling, same type field awareness, same pass accuracy.

Silva will be the best portuguese player after Ronaldo stops playing. The only problem Silva got is that he wasn't marketable. That's why Benfica never bet on him.
 
JJ12 said:
He's not a CM though is he. Doesn't he play as an inverted winger or attacking midfielder which could replace Sanchez or Ozil
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Maybe Ozil, but he plays from what I have seen on the left side of a midfield three ala Pogba.
 
Bruno Marques said:
Don't say Silva looks like Mata. The only player that Silva looks like was called Figo. Same type of dribbling, same type field awareness, same pass accuracy.

Silva will be the best portuguese player after Ronaldo stops playing. The only problem Silva got is that he wasn't marketable. That's why Benfica never bet on him.
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He surely doesn't look like Mata, his playstyle is pretty similar however (not exactly). Doesn't have to do anything about his movement. However i don't think that his movement has anything to do with Figo either..Figo looked a lot more darting with his ball on the feet, while Silva rather looks like a rabbit, sidestepping all the time.
Agree on the second part, best attacking player i'd add however. I think Silva's talent was already obvious before he joined Monaco, but that's just my humble opinion.
 
Celestiale said:
He is slower actually. His acceleration is good, but his top speed - hitting after 5m - is awful. Definitely not a player for counter attacking football, but great in tight spaces, which is what we need more anyway. But pretty similar to Mata, so not really worth spending a lot in my opinion. The one thing where he is clearly better is the defensive work rate, so he could probably mirror Lingard in that respect, that's the only reason i could think of, why Mourinho could be interested in him. He seems less intelligent then Mata though, less creative
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You could be right but what I think is, he has a lot more dribbling than Mata inside of him. Mata is one of my favourite players don't get me wrong but Mata is more of a facilitator than a creator. Bernardo, from what I've seen from him, is able to create more with the ball on his feet.

I like Bernardo, but I wish we could get a faster player. Somebody that has a similar playing style to Di Maria.
 
Donut said:
A more attacking version of David Silva. Similar to Isco. At least in my opinion

Some people say he's like Mata, which I don't get at all.
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Neither. Mata is more about movement and goals. Silva is more about influencing play and dribbling out of tight spaces etc.
 
If we're buying Griezmann this transfer makes no sense whatsoever.

But then we're also linked with James so maybe Mourinho wants 4-2-3-1..
 
Enigma_87 said:
If we're buying Griezmann this transfer makes no sense whatsoever.

But then we're also linked with James so maybe Mourinho wants 4-2-3-1..
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It does make sense. Griezmann to play behind the striker or as a no.9 while Silva can come from the flanks
 
Ijazz17 said:
Surely it's one or the other? Griezmann + Silva would easily set us back by 150 m. Silva also plays in a position where we are already stacked. DM has to be the highest priority this window.
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By far our biggest fault all season has been our lack of attacking thrust and scoring goals. For all the talk about defensive midfield, left back and central defence, we've got the second best defence in the league this season. Hell, other than Spurs (3 goals less) and Chelsea (four goals more), our defence is massively ahead of anyone else with City being next in line with a full 10 goals more conceded. Whereas our attack has scored over 20 goals less than any of the other top 6, and over 30 less than some.

I'd be very surprised if we don't make at least two big attacking signings. At least one will be a true goalscorer (which is where Griezmann comes in), the only question is whether the second will also be a goalscorer or whether he'd be a more creative force. Silva seems to fit more into the second category.

Sure, our defensive positions have their faults and I expect we'll strengthen at least one or two of them. But if we have to pick and choose where the big money goes, the defensive positions will likely be filled by relatively 'cheap' players. Alternatively, maybe we'll go big in a number of different positions now that Mourinho has had a season to really get a feel for what we need.
 
Cassidy said:
He plays on the right for Monaco
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Escobar said:
I have only seen him in CL games but Silva very often came from the flanks. As Griezmann is a bit everywhere, I am sure they find a way
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He plays on the right in that 4-2-2-2 of sorts system that Jardim plays, but IMO he's more of a playmaker or #10 that drifts wide. A bit like Sneijder of sorts.

Griezmann loves to drop deep or come from the exact right position like him. Considering we'll most likely play with a #9 in front of Griezmann it's hard to combine both of them in the same team.
 
Enigma_87 said:
He plays on the right in that 4-2-2-2 of sorts system that Jardim plays, but IMO he's more of a playmaker or #10 that drifts wide. A bit like Sneijder of sorts.

Griezmann loves to drop deep or come from the exact right position like him. Considering we'll most likely play with a #9 in front of Griezmann it's hard to combine both of them in the same team.
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We already play with the RW drifting in (Mata) with someone playing in the whole (Mhiki) a few times this season and it worked ok. As long as:

1. The RB is able to get forward and provide width (Maybe need a better player, but Valencia can do a competent job)
2. The no10/SS is able to make good runs and score a lot of goals (Greizmann can do this)

They would probably link up really well tbh
 
Cassidy said:
We already play with the RW drifting in (Mata) with someone playing in the whole (Mhiki) a few times this season and it worked ok. As long as:

1. The RB is able to get forward and provide width (Maybe need a better player, but Valencia can do a competent job)
2. The no10 is able to make good runs and score a lot of goals (Greizmann can do this)

They would probably link up really well tbh
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Agree on Valencia. He can do a good job there. Would prefer to have a LB who can do just as good job as him on the other flank.

If we buy Griezmann for me 4-3-3 would suit our team better. Ibra up top Martial/Rashford alternating for that LWF role, Griezmann on the right with Valencia overlapping and Pogba in the most advanced 3 man midfield line.

If we buy Griezmann we need a DM and probably another striker with Rooney sold. Buy another LB and we're sorted for next season.
 
Enigma_87 said:
Agree on Valencia. He can do a good job there. Would prefer to have a LB who can do just as good job as him on the other flank.

If we buy Griezmann for me 4-3-3 would suit our team better. Ibra up top Martial/Rashford alternating for that LWF role, Griezmann on the right with Valencia overlapping and Pogba in the most advanced 3 man midfield line.

If we buy Griezmann we need a DM and probably another striker with Rooney sold. Buy another LB and we're sorted for next season.
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Id like to see 2 up top tbh.

Griezmann playing off Rashford/Martial and then investing in other areas. Probably need a striker to be backup to Griezmann in that situation or maybe Ibra can get another year.
 
Cassidy said:
Id like to see 2 up top tbh.

Griezmann playing off Rashford/Martial and then investing in other areas. Probably need a striker to be backup to Griezmann in that situation or maybe Ibra can get another year.
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I don't think Rashford/Martial are close to being ready to lead the line. We definitely need a striker tho. Hate to see Rooney another year stinking up the joint up top and we're pretty much fecked if Ibra injures himself.
 
Enigma_87 said:
I don't think Rashford/Martial are close to being ready to lead the line. We definitely need a striker tho. Hate to see Rooney another year stinking up the joint up top and we're pretty much fecked if Ibra injures himself.
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They don't have to in a front 2, I hear your point though. I'd be happy with a new striker, playing 2 out of the 4.
 
Cassidy said:
They don't have to in a front 2, I hear your point though. I'd be happy with a new striker, playing 2 out of the 4.
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Indeed.

Either way I like either of Griezmann, Silva and James. Think they are top players and we would improve our attack immensely.
 
EyeInTheSky said:
I'm hoping either he (if there is any truth in the interest) or Griezmann will have the Cantona effect on us. A massive surge in confidence and expectation to produce consistent quality and threat.
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He isn't better then Micky, quite the opposite, Micky was a lot more influential in the Bundesliga then Silva in Ligue 1. And Micky didn't have the "Cantona" effect on us either. We bought plenty of stars with a lot more to show in their CV then Silva in recent years, and noone had the "Cantona" effect. We need proper tactics and a proper cohesion in the team, before that we can buy who we want.
Don't get me wrong, i like Silva, i follow him since the Benfica B days, i think he is a little wizard, but i'd much rather see him at AC Milan (my second favourite team), where he would be needed and help a lot more. If we feel somehow obliged to buy a Monaco player, it should really be Fabinho
 
Let's get both him and Griezemann. Even if we get the latter we lack that player who can wriggle out of all sorts of tight spaces and leave defenders in a twist. Silva appears to have that quality in his feet. Given Ibra, Rooney, Schneiderlin and Schweinstieger could be out come the summer, it could really give us room to maneuver. Mata might also be offloaded given we need attackers and he is neither a top player nor full of potential.
 
Rashford

Martial Mkhi Fellaini Greizmann Silva

Rooney Carrick

Jones Smalling

Romero
​
It's ON!
 
amolbhatia50k said:
Let's get both him and Griezemann. Even if we get the latter we lack that player who can wriggle out of all sorts of tight spaces and leave defenders in a twist. Silva appears to have that quality in his feet. Given Ibra, Rooney, Schneiderlin and Schweinstieger could be out come the summer, it could really give us room to maneuver. Mata might also be offloaded given we need attackers and he is neither a top player nor full of potential.
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Agree. They play different positions so there is no reason to pick just one. I wouldn't mind Mata being sold as well but I think we'll keep him as a bench option.
 
Celestiale said:
He isn't better then Micky, quite the opposite, Micky was a lot more influential in the Bundesliga then Silva in Ligue 1. And Micky didn't have the "Cantona" effect on us either. We bought plenty of stars with a lot more to show in their CV then Silva in recent years, and noone had the "Cantona" effect. We need proper tactics and a proper cohesion in the team, before that we can buy who we want.
Don't get me wrong, i like Silva, i follow him since the Benfica B days, i think he is a little wizard, but i'd much rather see him at AC Milan (my second favourite team), where he would be needed and help a lot more. If we feel somehow obliged to buy a Monaco player, it should really be Fabinho
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what the hell are you talking about? Who mentioned anything about "Micky"?
 
EyeInTheSky said:
what the hell are you talking about? Who mentioned anything about "Micky"?
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I just took him as fitting example. People should just stop thinking that any player can transform us into a world class team on his own.
Some people seem to think football works like Fifa: Player A had a better season then Player B of the own team -->switch Player A with Player B, and you get a better team.
That's not how real football works
 
Celestiale said:
I just took him as fitting example. People should just stop thinking that any player can transform us into a world class team on his own.
Some people seem to think football works like Fifa: Player A had a better season then Player B of the own team -->switch Player A with Player B, and you get a better team.
That's not how real football works
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No but you should think about the qualities that are missing specific for each set of players and system. We are in desperate need for someone who can carry the ball up the pitch and resist the ever increasing intensity of the high press in the premier league. Silva is that guy, he's only 22, almost impossible to tackle, has a wand of a left foot and would be a relatively easy puchase. Not to mention the set pieces and penalties a player who commits defenders like him can win a team, which have been non-existent for us this season.

We can't go into next season expecting Mkhi to start every game because he has shown absolutely nothing in the league to warrant it.
 
I'm going to try and stay out of the transfer forums this summer I think. At least this time I know we are in good hands. we finally have a manger these lads will want to play for and the chance to play with pogba and all these star signings will surely turn heads in the game. I can't wait to see the side next year when hopefully the football is much more entertaining than the transfer windows, which until recently have been a massive let down on the pitch, more or less.

I can't stand all the rumours and updates and pages and pages of absolutely nothing while millionaire sports people and their entourages decide whether to come and play here or not and internet nobidies achieve infamy through pretending to be ITK.... At the end of the day we pay some of the highest wages in the world and we are one of the best supported clubs, if our recruitment and management direction can finally match up to that then we will be more than fine. The Vidal and Thiago transfer sagas and all of our expensive flops have put me off caring who we get, as long as this manager wants them he'll know what to do with them. That's good enough for me at this stage.

I can't wait to finally come on here to compliment the performances and football on offer rather than worrying about which particular transfer will magically transform us into contenders again! For me this year it's Silva not greizmann I really want us to get. Either would be an upgrade on what we have seen over the last few years. Silva still hasn't plateaued whereas I think Greizmaan has (albeit at a very high level) I'd love to see some really talented youth brought in to fight the established players or else sent on loan for a year or two and sold at a profit or with a buyback clause if they don't make it here. It's better business.
 
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I see Silva as a slightly taller, slightly faster, better dribbling version of Mata. Doesn't really strike me as a player Mourinho would want as he isn't the fastest or strongest player. One thing he has in his favour is that despite not having those qualities he is tenacious on the ball. Personally I'd rather we targeted other players for the right wing.
 
ilovethisgameahahah said:
No but you should think about the qualities that are missing specific for each set of players and system. We are in desperate need for someone who can carry the ball up the pitch and resist the ever increasing intensity of the high press in the premier league. Silva is that guy, he's only 22, almost impossible to tackle, has a wand of a left foot and would be a relatively easy puchase. Not to mention the set pieces and penalties a player who commits defenders like him can win a team, which have been non-existent for us this season.

We can't go into next season expecting Mkhi to start every game because he has shown absolutely nothing in the league to warrant it.
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Problem is Silva only ticks half of those missing qualities. He is definitely not someone who carries the ball up the pitch, Lingard and Micky are both a lot better in that regard. I wouldn't say that he is some player to be specialized in resisting high press either - he just didn't have to show those qualities a lot in the French league.
I agree on the other aspects you mentioned..he can dribble in tight spaces, he can win set pieces. He is a so called Nadelspieler (no English word). But don't confuse him with someone darting through the middle of the park, he is pretty much the opposite of that
 
Bruno Marques said:
Silva will be the best portuguese player after Ronaldo stops playing. The only problem Silva got is that he wasn't marketable. That's why Benfica never bet on him.
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No. Benfica never bet on him because Jorge Jesus is a dumbass. Really simple.
 
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