Christian Eriksen

[Spielmacher]

Herrera and Mata are much better players and I don't use the word "much" lightly.

Mata in particular has had an impact on the Premier League Eriksen could only dream of matching.

I'm all for an open discussion, but it seems you're massively underrating Eriksen. Could be bias that I think he's better than both, but it's certainly closer than you think. Regarding Mata, it's evident to see that he's been very inconsistent in his time here, he often loses the ball and poor performances were overshadowed by goals, I'm really not convinced, if he were good enough Van Gaal would play him as #10 despite the "second striker" talk.

Same thing goes for @Jev, how can you claim that' he's found his level when he's clearly Spurs' best player in most games and only 23?

He is still yet to kick on to the very top level, maybe he's still getting used to the league, like Ozil was, maybe it's because he plays from the left more often than centrally. He is still 23, plenty of time to become top drawer but I don't see him being better than Mata or Herrera right now..

I consider him the best option out of those three for our No. 10 position.
I think his Spurs teammates don't help him enough, there's been good linking-up between him and Kane last season and partly this season, but the others hold him back IMO, especially their midfield this season.

 

[m1y2]

I'm all for an open discussion, but it seems you're massively underrating Eriksen. Could be bias that I think he's better than both, but it's certainly closer than you think. Regarding Mata, it's evident to see that he's been very inconsistent in his time here, he often loses the ball and poor performances were overshadowed by goals, I'm really not convinced.

Same thing goes for @Jev, how can you claim that' he's found his level when he's clearly Spurs' best player in most games and only 23?

I consider him the best option out of those three for our No. 10 position.
I think his Spurs teammates don't help him enough, there's been good linking-up between him and Kane last season and partly this season, but the others hold him back IMO, especially their midfield this season.

he struggles with the tempo and physicality in the league, he offers nothing in terms of defending like Herrera so overall he is not better player either.. Mata is very productive player of similar mould like Erricksen who is not currently better but that's my view of him, he's got tme on his side. Their midfield is settling down and Erricksen is just back in the team but like Mata from wide, it's not his game

 

[Spielmacher]

he struggles with the tempo and physicality in the league, he offers nothing in terms of defending like Herrera so overall he is not better player either.. Mata is very productive player of similar mould like Erricksen who is not currently better but that's my view of him, he's got tme on his side. Their midfield is settling down and Erricksen is just back in the team but like Mata from wide, it's not his game

Herrera is clearly better in defence, compared to Eriksen right now, but attacking-wise Eriksen offers a lot more IMO.

 

[K2K]

If you mean Herrera or Mata, then I disagree. Plus, it's not certain that Pereira will become Eriksen's level or even better.

Of course he's not as good as James or Silva, but I already mentioned that the only players that would be better aren't available, if Isco becomes available, I'd prefer him, obviously.

On what objective basis is Eriksen better than Mata?

 

[Spielmacher]

On what objective basis is Eriksen better than Mata?

Biggest thing would be creating chances, playing through balls, it's creativity that we really lack IMO.

Edit: Sorry, think I misunderstood your question. Well, it's always hard to compare two players, especially in two different teams with different systems and maybe I'll change my mind if Van Gaal decides to use Mata as #10 and he shines there, currently I can only imagine both players at our No. 10 position and there I think that Eriksen is a better fit and therefore a better player for us.
Both players struggle with the physicality of the league, but Eriksen doesn't get knocked off the ball as often as Mata does, it really frustrates me to see this with Mata. Eriksen is a good presser, not as good as Herrera though. He is bad at tracking back, I'll admit that. What he would bring to our attacking play would be creativity, that's the key word, he can play great passes, all types of passes and is an immense threat at freekicks and corners. Overall, Eriksen would just be the better fit for the position, as it looks many on here disagree.

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

Biggest thing would be creating chances, playing through balls, it's creativity that we really lack IMO.

It's rather difficult to distinguish if our players aren't creative enough or if they have instructions not to be creative and rather retain possession and wear down the opponent out than penetrate defences with incisive passes. When you see our players like Bastian that haven't even had a single attempt on goal 10 games in, you get the feeling that he has instructions to play cautious.

If you look at Ander Herrera and his initial start at United, he was dropped for playing too risky for quite a long while and it was only until 2015 that he really got going in the team.

What's to say Eriksen wouldn't have a similar role to Mata in conserving ball possession?

 

[Spielmacher]

It's rather difficult to distinguish if our players aren't creative enough or if they have instructions not to be creative and rather retain possession and wear down the opponent out than penetrate defences with incisive passes. When you see our players like Bastian that haven't even had a single attempt on goal 10 games in, you get the feeling that he has instructions to play cautious.

Yes, it is difficult, but there's no way that Van Gaal instructed him to lose the ball right in front of our defence and he's done that numerous times this season, instead of taking the easy pass he tried to take on his opponent or hold the ball, probably with the eye of beating his man and therefore creating something, but he couldn't, Mata, alongside Memphis, really has been the most frustrating player for me this season, apart from his moments of magic of course.

What's to say Eriksen wouldn't have a similar role to Mata in conserving ball possession?

Obviously there's a chance that Van Gaal would play him on the wing, I wouldn't be a huge fan of this, as a number ten though, I don't think that problem would occur.
Same thing with Mata really, I think the main reason Mata doesn't play as our #10 is that he's physically not strong enough and could lose the ball too easy in the middle of the park.

Actually, pretty pointless to discuss, as there's not even rumours of Eriksen right now. Priority should be a winger anyways.

 

[Jev]

Same thing goes for @Jev, how can you claim that' he's found his level when he's clearly Spurs' best player in most games and only 23?

I've probably watched him more than most on here pre-Spurs and there's just hasn't been a lot of progress in his game in the last two/three years. He's an important player for Spurs but if you took away his set-pieces, he'd be just a good player, not a standout player. I don't think he has enough creativity and penetration to operate as a number 10 at a higher level than his current. Although I'd be interested in seeing him transform into a Modric type CM. He certainly has the lungs.

 

[Nickosaur]

Not a huge fan of Eriksen. Always strikes me as a good, not great, type of player.

 

[K2K]

Biggest thing would be creating chances, playing through balls, it's creativity that we really lack IMO.

Edit: Sorry, think I misunderstood your question. Well, it's always hard to compare two players, especially in two different teams with different systems and maybe I'll change my mind if Van Gaal decides to use Mata as #10 and he shines there, currently I can only imagine both players at our No. 10 position and there I think that Eriksen is a better fit and therefore a better player for us.
Both players struggle with the physicality of the league, but Eriksen doesn't get knocked off the ball as often as Mata does, it really frustrates me to see this with Mata. Eriksen is a good presser, not as good as Herrera though. He is bad at tracking back, I'll admit that. What he would bring to our attacking play would be creativity, that's the key word, he can play great passes, all types of passes and is an immense threat at freekicks and corners. Overall, Eriksen would just be the better fit for the position, as it looks many on here disagree.

I do not necessarily agree, but I can see your pov. The thing is that Mata has a very high output for us, in terms of goals and assists, and in a team with our non-prolific forwards that is something I feel is more vital.

Eriksen is a decent player, but overall I don't really think we should be going for him(With one of the factors being Daniel Levy, and the incremental cost will not be worth the improvement he'll give, if any). Herrera and Mata have hardly been given chances to claim a 10 spot with LVG, but both have proven in the past that they're are brilliant players there. Mata at Chelsea and Herrera at Bilbao.

 

[Speak]

Mata isn't good enough for where United want to be. And neither is Eriksen, at this moment.

 

[iBoss]

Too similar to Mata imo. Great player though, without him Spurs have no chance of top four.

 

[Spielmacher]

I've probably watched him more than most on here pre-Spurs and there's just hasn't been a lot of progress in his game in the last two/three years. He's an important player for Spurs but if you took away his set-pieces, he'd be just a good player, not a standout player. I don't think he has enough creativity and penetration to operate as a number 10 at a higher level than his current. Although I'd be interested in seeing him transform into a Modric type CM. He certainly has the lungs.

I did watch him at Ajax a lot, but you're right, he didn't improve as hoped since he's in England, you could write that down to a few factors though and I still think he'll fulfill his potential.

He's better than most Spurs players, so there's no way that Spurs is his level, you have to agree there.

Modric is good at everything, he even can tackle and has great defensive positioning, I think that's what Eriksen lacks and I'm not sure he could develop it.

 

[Spielmacher]

Mata isn't good enough for where United want to be. And neither is Eriksen, at this moment.

Let's hope the "Isco wants to leave Real" rumours are true then.

 

[manunited1919]

Here is a player that could reliably provide the service Lukaku needs to shine.

 

[Invictus]

Here is a player that could reliably provide the service Lukaku needs to shine.

Please don't bump old transfer threads unless there are updates, or concrete links (in which case a new thread would be more appropriate anyway).