The Pogba stories seem like they're essentially plants; pretty much every news outlet has carried the "Mourinho makes Pogba his priority" story in the past few days. It could be that the real target was Matuidi and the Pogba stuff is, as I've said in the past, just a favour to Raiola who wants to move Pogba to Real Madrid as soon as possible. I mean, after all, we have these quotes from the man himself less than a month ago.
Blaise Matuidi
- Thread starter Man-United
- Start date
Not a bad player by any means but not sure it'd be better than Pogba.
Di Marzio said Utd opened talks for Pogba. That's enough confirmation for me regariding Pogba. Also Castles a Mendes and Mou mouthpiece said he's our main priority. I still dont buy the Matuidi story. It was confirmed yesterday that he didn't leave the camp at all. Also only one journo from L'Equipe running with this story and nothing on L'Equipe itself. So for now I'm not buying it. Just yet at least.
I see. I thought he'd use 4-2-3-1 as in Sevilla. Wonder why Matuidi wants to leave tho.
He wouldn't be instead of Pogba, I'm sure Jose knows they're totally different types of players.
Apparently he wants to play abroad.
Emery was using 4-2-3-1 in Sevilla, assuming he'll continue to do so he needs a playmaker and 2 holding midfielders. However if it is like @JPRouve said and would go 4-3-3 depending on the players then yeah it's probably the best fit.
Perhaps there is something with Blanc leaving or he just wants experience playing abroad at this stage of career.
25 Mil Euro
(if true).If we can nail down the 4 signings, Mourinho wants, then it let us in a better position to pursuit side project = Pogba, additional replacement for out going players once Mourinho assess the squad.
could be after a last big paycheck then. Don't know what his salary is in PSG.
this will cause confusion then over the 4 target comment by Jose. Matuidi and not Pogba wont be popular.
That value is excellent. About time we get one of those excellent deals that usually Juve and Bayern make.Perhaps there is something with Blanc leaving or he just wants experience playing abroad at this stage of career.
25 Mil Euro
aye, thanks. So looking for a new challenge even betterNot really, he earns 12m€ per year.
Impossible to know his plan at this point in time. On the one hand, he says he won't change his philosophy but on the other hands he says he is flexible.
If Matuidi wants to be successful abroad one day, he has to move now as certainly advised by Raiola. He has joined PSG in 2011 and certainly needs a new challenge.
If he's a replacement for Fellaini or even Scheiderlin as part of Mourinho's supplemental market stuff then cool, but if he's the only CM we buy we'll not be much better off than last season in midfield.
To be honest I wasn't impressed with Schweinsteiger against Italy and he's injured again, I think him, Carrick and Rooney are going to be a problem for us in a league built on pace and power with a lot of teams using the press a lot now. I think for Carrick to be effective he needs two box to box CM's to shield him like Pirlo had at Juve, but if Rooney plays as a #10 in a 4--2-3-1 I think that'll screw him and leave little use for Herrera.
Verratti is quality, pair him with a strong DM and he shines in a 2 or 3 IMO. I hope we are looking at Weigl to replace Carrick next summer personally, he's brilliant in a role that usually requires an older player due to it's tactical and positional responsibilities.
To be honest I wasn't impressed with Schweinsteiger against Italy and he's injured again, I think him, Carrick and Rooney are going to be a problem for us in a league built on pace and power with a lot of teams using the press a lot now. I think for Carrick to be effective he needs two box to box CM's to shield him like Pirlo had at Juve, but if Rooney plays as a #10 in a 4--2-3-1 I think that'll screw him and leave little use for Herrera.
Verratti is quality, pair him with a strong DM and he shines in a 2 or 3 IMO. I hope we are looking at Weigl to replace Carrick next summer personally, he's brilliant in a role that usually requires an older player due to it's tactical and positional responsibilities.
Maybe we are making United a second home for martial. Bailly speaks French. Zlatan must speak it too and is it one of the 6 languages mkhitariyan knows?
To be fair that's one area that PSG are well stocked. Maybe #10 could be an issue if he decides to go 4-2-3-1, but if he uses 4-3-3 there is still plenty of talent there.
Or maybe Raiola should buy a house in Manchester. After this Summer probably 80% of his clients will be there.
To be honest, its a bit baffling why we extended carrick's contract, yes his type is hard to come by, but its a problem when we also have zlaten, rooney and bastian in the team is well, Yes its good to have experience, but I would not want Jose playing bastian, rooney, carrick and zlaten in one team. Next season hopefully bastian rooney and carrick will be moved on
It will be dissapoinring if its Matuidi, and not someone like pogba
What we know for sure is that his agent wants him to move.
worth a replay anyway. I think Sakho was on something in this video too.
The way i see it, Matuidi is a much more attacking box-to-box than Schneiderlin and imo the type of player we need in front of a pivot with another CM as the partner.
Him and Zlatan have already played together and Matuidi's runs in the box complemented Zlatan well, so that's also a plus.
I'm not sure how serious these rumours are, but he would be a great addition to the squad.
Him and Zlatan have already played together and Matuidi's runs in the box complemented Zlatan well, so that's also a plus.
I'm not sure how serious these rumours are, but he would be a great addition to the squad.
If this is in its advanced stages, then this has to be the 4th player Jose was talking about. No Pogba.
Especially when 3 of the 4's legs have gone and one of them can't stay fit for five minutes. I'm hoping the fact Jose chose to sign Carrick to 1 more year means he'll move Schweinsteiger on, the MLS might be a good fit for him now.
Agreed, if Matuidi is replacing one of the CM's in the squad and we still buy Pogba or another creative CM then it's good, but another water carrier is all we add it will be a let down.
From Pogba to Matuidi, classic Utd.
Di Marzio said theres been discussions so dont celebrate in Stockport there yet.
Matuidi is a very good player, wouldn't be disappointed with him at all.
too many contradicting reports on this. Dont think we will sign him.
Do you think we could be after both? I know we're having a bit of a love in with fat boy Riola but we'd be balls deep in him with 4 of his boys, not saying it's not going to happen but Mendes will be most peeved.
Why would Mendes be peeved? What's good for Jose is good for him.
I am convinced 80% of the posters on this thread haven't watched him play if a) they think he is technically deficient b) plays in a similar style/position to Scheiderlin c) means we can't sign Pogba as they play in similar positions and d) wouldn't be an upgrade on anything we currently have.
This is a guy who whenever PSG play Barca is always one of the best performers on the pitch along with Verratti and looks really comfortable in tight spaces, drives with the ball, excellent dribbling skills and yes his passing can be inconsistent but it is a darn sight more progressive than any of the midfielders we currently possess. Yes he is 29 but he is super fit and covers the pitch like a duracell bunny, he would be worth the £25m and would give us a good three years of football.
He's a quality proven player at CL and international level. Instant upgrade and he would complement Pogba well IF we were to sign them.
This is a guy who whenever PSG play Barca is always one of the best performers on the pitch along with Verratti and looks really comfortable in tight spaces, drives with the ball, excellent dribbling skills and yes his passing can be inconsistent but it is a darn sight more progressive than any of the midfielders we currently possess. Yes he is 29 but he is super fit and covers the pitch like a duracell bunny, he would be worth the £25m and would give us a good three years of football.
He's a quality proven player at CL and international level. Instant upgrade and he would complement Pogba well IF we were to sign them.
But it's true that Pogba and Matuidi play in the same area. Pogba is best on the left of a midfield three while Matuidi can only play as a LCM and he is also best in a midfield three. Pogba can be moved around though.
He is more of a Mourinho number 8 than Pogba.
Mourinho at Cheslea last year made an exception by putting Fabregas in the deeper role, but ideally he likes box to box engines like Khedira, Essien, Ramires, etc.
If we get Matuidi, we will be a lot more dynamic and solid in midfield.
If we get Pogba, we might not be as solid, but there's no doubt we will a lot more creative.
Either:
Matuidi Schneiderlin
OR
Schneiderlin Pogba
Mourinho at Cheslea last year made an exception by putting Fabregas in the deeper role, but ideally he likes box to box engines like Khedira, Essien, Ramires, etc.
If we get Matuidi, we will be a lot more dynamic and solid in midfield.
If we get Pogba, we might not be as solid, but there's no doubt we will a lot more creative.
Either:
Matuidi Schneiderlin
OR
Schneiderlin Pogba
Not sure I'd see it as a clear case of either him or Pogba, if true.
Mourinho clearly feels four players were needed and it would appear the last is a central midfielder. He wants that player in sooner rather than later and if Matuidi has been identified then he must think he's better than what we've got and can be a key player.
I personally think the Pogba situation has the potential to run and run. Typical transfer saga, could go deep into next month. Mourinho has said today he intends the fourth to be signed way before then. If we waited for Pogba, got into August and then failed to sign him, we've missed out on Matuidi (if we are interested) by then so we're stuck with rushing through a deal for one of the back-up targets, probably paying over the odds. By which time the season might also have started.
Bottom line is even if we sign Matuidi, I don't think it affects the pursuit of Pogba. Mourinho would probably rather have two of his own men and ship out Fellaini, Mata or Herrera etc if necessary.
This could be a case simply of not putting all our eggs in the Pogba basket. Signing a player who he believes can improve us irrespective of the Pogba situation.
Mourinho clearly feels four players were needed and it would appear the last is a central midfielder. He wants that player in sooner rather than later and if Matuidi has been identified then he must think he's better than what we've got and can be a key player.
I personally think the Pogba situation has the potential to run and run. Typical transfer saga, could go deep into next month. Mourinho has said today he intends the fourth to be signed way before then. If we waited for Pogba, got into August and then failed to sign him, we've missed out on Matuidi (if we are interested) by then so we're stuck with rushing through a deal for one of the back-up targets, probably paying over the odds. By which time the season might also have started.
Bottom line is even if we sign Matuidi, I don't think it affects the pursuit of Pogba. Mourinho would probably rather have two of his own men and ship out Fellaini, Mata or Herrera etc if necessary.
This could be a case simply of not putting all our eggs in the Pogba basket. Signing a player who he believes can improve us irrespective of the Pogba situation.
I've always liked Matuidi but to go from Pogba to him is a bit disappointing, even if Pogba was just paper talk.
I know that Pogba plays left side for Juve but I always felt he was playing within himself and the next stage of his development would be to have two midfielders behind him and he could move across the pitch more.
Additionally I've always considered Matuidi to be a true B2B midfielder who loves to track back and make surging runs in equal measure. For a static midfield like United someone like him is a godsend. . he's an electric player. Thats why I think he can complement Pogba quite well.
People saying United are doing their typical thing of going for someone like Pogba and end up with Matuidi are likely the same people who say the journos have no clue anyway. How do we know for sure we wanted Pogba and other big names. We probably made tentative enquiries and agents leak it to try and get other clubs to react or get their player a bigger contract.
Also, Matuidi isn't a bad player at all. Of course I'd prefer Pogba, but Matuidi is clearly a very good player. We've already done some fantastic business, let's wait and see what happens.
Also, Matuidi isn't a bad player at all. Of course I'd prefer Pogba, but Matuidi is clearly a very good player. We've already done some fantastic business, let's wait and see what happens.
Fundamental signing vs supplemental signing. We don't know for sure, just want to clarify that we would buy more than 4 fundamental players as long as these supplementary players become available and an upgrade on our players.
We want statement signing since SAF retirement. What if we see Pogba as our fundamental signing and Raiola (agent of both) leaked that Matuidi is also available. We can do well with Matuidi as supplemental signing to replace quite a few support players.
We want statement signing since SAF retirement. What if we see Pogba as our fundamental signing and Raiola (agent of both) leaked that Matuidi is also available. We can do well with Matuidi as supplemental signing to replace quite a few support players.