Dejan Lovren

Ekeke

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So this guy has been an amazing buy for Southampton. In the summer most of the top English clubs have at least a space if not a direct need to sign an improvement at CB and if you look at the Premier League, Lovren is head and shoulders above the other candidates to go to one of the top clubs and have a defence built around him. He's 24 so its about the perfect time for a big move too. Southampton will think differently and so he will cost a lot of money with a very high likelihood that there will be a bidding war.

So which of the top clubs wont be in for him this summer, where will he end up? And can Southampton keep him for one more season? If we went for him could we realistically convince him to come here instead of Chelsea, City and even those likely to finish ahead of us like Arsenal?

There will be a couple of foreign alternatives of course but a lot of clubs, like ourselves, seem to overvalue being "premiership proven" and since he sticks out like a saw thumb he must be on the radar
 
Ekeke said:
So this guy has been an amazing buy for Southampton. In the summer most of the top English clubs have at least a space if not a direct need to sign an improvement at CB and if you look at the Premier League, Lovren is head and shoulders above the other candidates to go to one of the top clubs and have a defence built around him. He's 24 so its about the perfect time for a big move too. Southampton will think differently and so he will cost a lot of money with a very high likelihood that there will be a bidding war.

So which of the top clubs wont be in for him this summer, where will he end up? And can Southampton keep him for one more season? If we went for him could we realistically convince him to come here instead of Chelsea, City and even those likely to finish ahead of us like Arsenal?

There will be a couple of foreign alternatives of course but a lot of clubs, like ourselves, seem to overvalue being "premiership proven" and since he sticks out like a saw thumb he must be on the radar
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:lol:
 
He's excellent at reading the game and organising those around him as well. I remember Gary Neville raving about him on one MNF. Had him in his team of the season (first half) too.
I reckon we will go for someone cheaper given the money that will need to be spent elsewhere.
 
Ekeke said:
There will be a couple of foreign alternatives of course but a lot of clubs, like ourselves, seem to overvalue being "premiership proven" and since he sticks out like a saw thumb he must be on the radar
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I've not seen enough of Lovren to comment, but I saw this type of stuff said about the likes of Hangelaand and Shawcross in the past. The less said about them, the better.
 
Started off brilliantly, had a massive dip in form and seems to be getting back to his best again.

I was surprised when Southampton signed him with no competition - it seems anyway.
 
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Croatia played 35 year old Simunic, who plays in their league, ahead of him through almost whole qualifiers because Lovren was always poor for them and Lyon, his poor wasn't good enough for him be starter for them, even though their defence is their weakest link in last few years, they played Corluka out of position ahead of him. Most of their fans don't like him because he made some stupid mistakes for them quite often. Media mocked him quite often while he was at Lyon, so I wouldn't bet on him being that great just after good 6 months, I won't be surprised if he ends up as one season wonder.
 
Well he's certainly not perfect and could indeed be a "one season wonder" in the premier league. Thing is he's still miles above the other youngish CBs in the league like James Tomkins/Winston Reid so someone will go for him
 
Amar__ said:
Croatia played 35 year old Simunic, who plays in their league, ahead of him through almost whole qualifiers because Lovren was always poor for them and Lyon, his poor wasn't good enough for him be starter for them, even though their defence is their weakest link in last few years, they played Corluka out of position ahead of him. Most of their fans don't like him because he made some stupid mistakes for them quite often. Media mocked him quite often while he was at Lyon, so I wouldn't bet on him being that great just after good 6 months, I won't be surprised if he ends up as one season wonder.
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I must agree with this, his good form has been surprising to me. He's always been too rough for the Ligue 1 and as a result he's always troubles with referees. He seems to be enjoying it in England, it corresponds to him but we'll see how long that lasts.
 
I like him, made a thread on him a few months back in the FF. Very good on the ball too, as in midfielder level of 'good on the ball'.

That said, I'd like to see Smalling and Jones myself. I feel they have been developed poorly as centre halves since coming here, and it's basically now or never if they will be first team regulars here I think.

#SmallingPlusOne
 
Ekeke said:
Well he's certainly not perfect and could indeed be a "one season wonder" in the premier league. Thing is he's still miles above the other youngish CBs in the league like James Tomkins/Winston Reid so someone will go for him
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To be fair though, that is Tomkins and Reid. Lovren has looked good and he was crucial to them and their defensive record during the beginning of the season, but i think Wanyama was also a part of that despite being limited in other parts of his game.

I think it would be Arsenal who would maybe go for him.

United: Smalling/Jones/Evans - 2 of them should be your partnership as they're good enough ability/potential wise.
City: Nastasic/Kompany.
Chelsea: Cahill/Terry - Zouma will replace Terry probably.
Liverpool: Agger/Sakho/Ilori - 2 of them might be their future plus they are well stocked in depth experience wise.
Arsenal: Koscielny/Mertesacker - Lovren to replace Mertesacker?
Spurs: Chiriches/Vertonghen.

Sakho, Smalling, Jones, Evans, Nastasic, Zouma, Chiriches i think all look like they could be really good players at least once they hit their peak.

Not to mention other talents like Stones with us.
 
Moyes chasing Lovren as he bids to rebuild United defence


Manchester United are monitoring Southampton central defender Dejan Lovren as David Moyes looks to rebuild his back-four.

Stalwart Nemanja Vidic has already confirmed he is moving to Inter Milan on a free transfer in the summer while Rio Ferdinand is out of contract at the end of the season.

Moyes knows replacing the experienced duo will be a key component of the club's summer transfer strategy and Lovren has emerged as a potential target.

The Croatian has impressed for the Saints this season, making 23 appearances for Mauricio Pochettino's impressive side.

And his displays have not gone unnoticed by United spies whilst making their regular checks on Lovren's team-mate Luke Shaw.

Whether or not Southampton would entertain selling the 24-year-old remains to be seen given his impact since arriving from Lyon in the summer.

However, it is understood Lovren would give major consideration to leaving St Mary's should United formalise their interest. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...nited-defence-Monaco-say-Falcao-not-sale.html
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I'd take him. He has good leadership and organisational qualities which we might need at the back in the absence of Vidic and Rio. I really want us to promote Michael Keane too.
 
He may be more than good but I still feel we can afford someone better from a very top of the shelf.
 
If Rio and Vidic leave this summer we'll need two with all the injuries we get. Wouldn't mind Lovren providing we get someone else who is as top bracket as possible.
 
ISSYNAZAR said:
If Rio and Vidic leave this summer we'll need two with all the injuries we get. Wouldn't mind Lovren providing we get someone else who is as top bracket as possible.
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Don't think you need 5 defenders of that quality. You'll probably get 1 and then promote another from within.
 
BarneyLFC said:
Don't think you need 5 defenders of that quality. You'll probably get 1 and then promote another from within.
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I'm not convniced we have much quality in defence myself. I don't rate Smalling as a long term successor to the older pair whilst Evans has only started 25 games in the league in one season in his entire career here.

Only time I'd agree with Alan Hansen where an overhaul in defence is needed.
 
ISSYNAZAR said:
I'm not convniced we have much quality in defence myself. I don't rate Smalling as a long term successor to the older pair whilst Evans has only started 25 games in the league in one season in his entire career here.

Only time I'd agree with Alan Hansen where an overhaul in defence is needed.
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I'm the opposite, I don't rate Evans but think Smalling will be brilliant.
 
I think Evans is excellent and I think being the most senior CB will elevate him a notch. Him, Smalling and Jones do all pick up quite a few injuries though. I think Lovren would be a good fit.
 
If the price is right we should take him. Let us not forget that we have other positions that need to be strengthened + we already have Evans, Jones, Smalling and Keane there.
 
Agreed, if the price is more reasonable than the likes of Mangala (which it seems to be) go for it. If they're asking too much and theres genuinely a player of similar quality somewhere else for less, then take the chance and get them instead
 
If Southampton loose Shaw which seems odds on, osvaldo who they seemingly want to get rid of, lallana as well has been linked with a move away that would probably generate close to 50m

certainly enough to mean they wouldnt need to sell lovren

and with chambers and gallacher coming through plus players they could buy with the funds from sales they could be a decent side again next year (perhaps even with UEFA football depending on the rest of this year)
 
Van Piorsing said:
He may be more than good but I still feel we can afford someone better from a very top of the shelf.
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Some parts are "baby-steps" though, if we signed 3 top class midfielders, a wing back and also a winger... we could afford to sign a "very good" defender, as we would be outscoring the opponents anyway (look at Liverpool or City this year), Bayerns defence is a bit frail at times but they dominate football matches.

The following summer United could go shopping for real defenders, there's cheap options like Ginter who I'd prefer anyway, he has a huge future and buying a player at age 20, long career, well worth it.
 
TheNewEra said:
Some parts are "baby-steps" though, if we signed 3 top class midfielders, a wing back and also a winger... we could afford to sign a "very good" defender, as we would be outscoring the opponents anyway (look at Liverpool or City this year), Bayerns defence is a bit frail at times but they dominate football matches.

The following summer United could go shopping for real defenders, there's cheap options like Ginter who I'd prefer anyway, he has a huge future and buying a player at age 20, long career, well worth it.
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Not this summer, but next summer?

If so, thats just nuts man, sorry. We need 2 top-class CB's to replace Rio & Vida because Jones & Smalling aint up to it. And Evans gets injured brushin his teeth ffs..

This has been a nightmare of a season for our defence & its been ropey for about 3 seasons (including this one). The only reason we won the league last year was that we scored more goals than the other team i.e. RVP. We were leakin left, right & center. Not to mention the season before when we were even more shite. We lost the league on goal difference. That Everton match still haunts me as the day we truly fecked up the league. 4-2 up, Evra (i think) had the chance to make it 5-2, missed the chance & then its 4-4.

Nah man. Defence & Mid-field need major surgery now. 2 CB's, 2 LB's (if Evra & Buttner leave - both arent up to it), and a RB. All top-class or potential top-class players are needed!
 
Red Hand Devil said:
Not this summer, but next summer?

If so, thats just nuts man, sorry. We need 2 top-class CB's to replace Rio & Vida because Jones & Smalling aint up to it. And Evans gets injured brushin his teeth ffs..

This has been a nightmare of a season for our defence & its been ropey for about 3 seasons (including this one). The only reason we won the league last year was that we scored more goals than the other team i.e. RVP. We were leakin left, right & center. Not to mention the season before when we were even more shite. We lost the league on goal difference. That Everton match still haunts me as the day we truly fecked up the league. 4-2 up, Evra (i think) had the chance to make it 5-2, missed the chance & then its 4-4.

Nah man. Defence & Mid-field need major surgery now. 2 CB's, 2 LB's (if Evra & Buttner leave - both arent up to it), and a RB. All top-class or potential top-class players are needed!
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It's not nuts, look at lots of top teams right now, they got an attack that wins goals first, then they get the defence second, if you get a solid defence first, then you are automatically chasing games, rather than putting the opposition on the back foot.

There are players like Ginter united can get for £10M or so this summer, still need time to bed in.
 
TheNewEra said:
It's not nuts, look at lots of top teams right now, they got an attack that wins goals first, then they get the defence second, if you get a solid defence first, then you are automatically chasing games, rather than putting the opposition on the back foot.

There are players like Ginter united can get for £10M or so this summer, still need time to bed in.
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Yeah & they're the same teams that everyone says their defence needs sorting pronto.. Dont mean to be smart, but you're allowed to multi-task in the summer transfer window tho - buying defenders, mid-fielders & attackers.

Lets not end up like Arsenal. A club thats been needing additions in defence for seasons on end. They needed a defensive mid-fielder yet bought Ozil. Needed a striker aswell...Nada!

Barca's the same - always buyin attackin players, but got away with due to the possession they had. Then they came up against a team like Bayern last season who whooped them.

Ginter's a good shout by the way, but i've my own wishlist too...
 
Red Hand Devil said:
Yeah & they're the same teams that everyone says their defence needs sorting pronto.. Dont mean to be smart, but you're allowed to multi-task in the summer transfer window tho - buying defenders, mid-fielders & attackers.

Lets not end up like Arsenal. A club thats been needing additions in defence for seasons on end. They needed a defensive mid-fielder yet bought Ozil. Needed a striker aswell...Nada!

Barca's the same - always buyin attackin players, but got away with due to the possession they had. Then they came up against a team like Bayern last season who whooped them.

Ginter's a good shout by the way, but i've my own wishlist too...
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Thing is though, realistically in the summer the top defenders are going to be snapped up, pretty much every big team in Europe needs defenders.

That's why I believe Moyes stated he wants to see "what the lads can do" and will look "within" so maybe players in the youth academy too.
 
TheNewEra said:
Thing is though, realistically in the summer the top defenders are going to be snapped up, pretty much every big team in Europe needs defenders.

That's why I believe Moyes stated he wants to see "what the lads can do" and will look "within" so maybe players in the youth academy too.
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Thats why the ground work is being done now man. Put offers on the table for club & player & then its all sweet at the end of the season to sign on.

No chance we should hold our breath for gems from the academy at this point in time. We need top-notch now. We've only had Evans come through in defence that can hold his own & even then - he wouldnt get into the other top european teams & thats the quality we need - Rio & Vida MKII.

Its no surprise we were so dominant in Europe & domestically by havin the best CB partnership in the world. Evra was quality then also. We need to get back to that level & improve mid-field excessively too!

United need to spend the shit out of it now. They've spent feck all in areas we were desperate to upgrade, yet were bringin in shitloads in sponsorship partnerships. I hope we spunk £300m+ on players - that'll be us set for God knows how many years...

Give me the United Debit Card & i'll go friggin shoppin!
 
Red Hand Devil said:
Thats why the ground work is being done now man. Put offers on the table for club & player & then its all sweet at the end of the season to sign on.

No chance we should hold our breath for gems from the academy at this point in time. We need top-notch now. We've only had Evans come through in defence that can hold his own & even then - he wouldnt get into the other top european teams & thats the quality we need - Rio & Vida MKII.

Its no surprise we were so dominant in Europe & domestically by havin the best CB partnership in the world. Evra was quality then also. We need to get back to that level & improve mid-field excessively too!

United need to spend the shit out of it now. They've spent feck all in areas we were desperate to upgrade, yet were bringin in shitloads in sponsorship partnerships. I hope we spunk £300m+ on players - that'll be us set for God knows how many years...

Give me the United Debit Card & i'll go friggin shoppin!
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There's 200m in the summer, and probably 100m a year after that until it's ready with the shirt deal and kit deal, if we buy young age 24 and under its dominance for years so it's worth it.
 
TheNewEra said:
There's 200m in the summer, and probably 100m a year after that until it's ready with the shirt deal and kit deal, if we buy young age 24 and under its dominance for years so it's worth it.
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Shirt deal kicks in this summer - £53m per year from Chevrolet & kit deal of £65m per year kicks in 2015/16 season. Thats shitloads!

Not to mention Nike was part-funding the Ronnie transfer during the summer. Why wouldnt they part-fund a summer shoppin spree this summer, when a successful United team on the pitch will rake it in for them even more than they are already...

Also man, we'll get quite a few quid in from players leaving - transfers & no wages to pay.. It all adds up dude!
 
TheNewEra said:
There's 200m in the summer, and probably 100m a year after that until it's ready with the shirt deal and kit deal, if we buy young age 24 and under its dominance for years so it's worth it.
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I was under the impression that the £200m was spread out over multiple transfer windows.
 
TheNewEra said:
It's not nuts, look at lots of top teams right now, they got an attack that wins goals first, then they get the defence second, if you get a solid defence first, then you are automatically chasing games, rather than putting the opposition on the back foot.

There are players like Ginter united can get for £10M or so this summer, still need time to bed in.
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There cant be many attacks better in quality and strength in depth than:
Rooney, RVP, Janauzi, Mata
Hernandez, welbeck,Nani,Kagawa
Henriques, Keane, Zaha, Powell

what we need is midfielders who can win / retain the ball and play it into the forwards plus defenders who can contain the opposition so that getting 1 or 2 golas will be enough to win most games without having to bang in three or four - which in europe and against top teams is not sustainable.
 
Talk that he has handed in a transfer request today after hearing of interest in him from top clubs and not happy that Pochettino has left.

I suspect he'll end up at Liverpool with his 2 former team mates but it would be worth us getting in the mix, strong defender and still young.
 
pocco said:
I still have nightmares about his performance against Spurs.
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I do recall him being very rash in the box at times, takes some risks with slide tackles.

Just seen a stat that he's 2nd on misplaced passes in own half, with 109, only behind Jedinak who had 123. I can't see that ending well with Liverpool's favoured tactic of building from the back, being good on the ball is crucial for a centre-back if you play this way.
 
He's a lot better on the ball than Skrtel and Sakho so it'll be a significant improvement even if he needs to do better himself
 
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