No it is 34-35-36, 31 or 32 is not mid 30s in my opinion. Anyway we all made our points clear, thanks for the discussion mate and good night!
Do we really need a new CB, if so who?
- Thread starter Mark Pawelek
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No it is 34-35-36, 31 or 32 is not mid 30s in my opinion. Anyway we all made our points clear, thanks for the discussion mate and good night!
No white text? Whatta?
I think Blind is one of the more intelligent and probably more tactically astute defender/midfielder in the squad at the moment. Yes, he made mistakes and I think was it vs Watford where he had one of the worst games. He still held himself well against the likes of bigger players than him earlier in the season where critics thought he would really struggled.
Williams, Huth or Fonte could add some well needed experience to our team. Proven in the PL as well. I would have them over Jones/Rojo in my United squad and even first XI.
Maybe he can, with more time, matches to learn on the job. However, do fans give him time? Can fans accept another season, or 2 seasons of panic, disorganized defense?
Bringing a leader (I reconsider and think that what I actually think is someone who can lead, command, organize the defense, not so much of a experienced one) is to solve the problem right now.
I have been expecting this post, finally it is here. Yes, it is all Blind's fault, yes.
Actually I like Kompany, but there is no chance, and he is injury proned now.
One of the few positives for us last season was how organized the defense was. While Blind completely over exceeded my expectation last season I am excited to see Smalling play next to a strong, physical, athletic CB like Bailly instead of someone who is physically limited like Blind.
I do not how reliable is this journalist:
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho targets experienced centre back as next priority
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho targets experienced centre back as next priority
If Smalling and Bailly can stay fit, we should be fine. I don't trust Jones at all. Blind can fill in once in a while. We should sell both Jones and Rojo and get one experienced CB in. We should stay well clear of John Stones though. Not at all worth the money being quoted.
People who post a lot in the transfer forum really don't like Smalling for some reason. I've noted it the previous two summers. When the football is on and he's playing everyone likes him and then it's summer and the transfer window opens and his reputation nose dives.
Gimenez if we can get him. I think he will be one of the best centre backs in the world in a few years.
Kolo Toure is an 'experienced centre back' right? Won titles too.
Duncan Castles is viewed essentially as Mourinho's mouthpiece. That article was probably more of less dictated by Mourinho. So very reliable, I would say.
Whoever this experienced centre back is gonna be, you would think it would be someone who is not at the highest level but is solid, reliable and somewhat of a bargain - someone looking for a last hurrah.
I understand this is contradictive towards the article, which claims we are after someone who will start most matches and that Smalling, Bailly and Jones will compete with each other to be this guy's defensive partner.
But then, if he was going to be a regular starter, how was this 'experienced centre back' not considered one the 'Nucleus of Four Key Signings Needed'??
Oh dear.
Out of interest, given what you've just said: does that mean Phil Jones should have carers to dress him everyday?
With regards to Bonnucci, does anyone think it may be a slight concern anyway that he plays in a back 3 for club and country?
He's pretty versatile, he'll be fine if we get him - which I don't think we will.
I would have gone for Koulibaly but he seems to be off to Everton or Chelsea.
Everton shouldn't come in the way of us signing him. As for Chelsea and Conte, we may have to part with a few millions more.
It's a shame Ashley Williams isn't going cheap.
Yes but think he needs to have played in the Prem for a few seasons (whoever he is?) how about Ryan Shawcross??
So the rumours going the rounds on Twitter is Shkodran Mustafi is available for just €25 million.
Why don't we go for him, cheap as chips plenty of experience and would be a solid option for our CB options only 24 too so plenty of years ahead of him
Why don't we go for him, cheap as chips plenty of experience and would be a solid option for our CB options only 24 too so plenty of years ahead of him
There won't be many better defenders available in this market than Mustafi good player, good age and a good price surely G.Nev would know a thing or to about him.
aye that's great deal for whoever pulls it up. Excellent age as well and will surely develop under Mourinho
Would definitely go for Mustafi under these circumstances!
Already a proven CB, good age, good mentality, way better than Jones and Rojo and at least as good as Smalling/Bailly. Would improve our options at CB significantly.
Already a proven CB, good age, good mentality, way better than Jones and Rojo and at least as good as Smalling/Bailly. Would improve our options at CB significantly.
From the rumours I was reading looks like arsenal might be interested. I really hope we are too because I've seen more than enough of rojo and Jones. Mustafi would be very good for us.
I think Arsenal were in for him last year as well, so maybe there some truth in it. Would not like to see him in another PL team apart from us.
We should definitely be in for him. The competition will drive up the price though. None of the big clubs will be interested in him since they are all well stocked. One of City, United and Arsenal is his most likely destination if he leaves this season.
I feel like the only reason Mustafi is even being mentioned is because people think €25m is good value for him.
While that might be true, I honestly don't see him as an upgrade on any of Smalling, Bailly or Blind. Unless we can attract someone of significantly better quality, I'd rather save the money and promote one of the youngsters like Tuanzebe or Williams.
While that might be true, I honestly don't see him as an upgrade on any of Smalling, Bailly or Blind. Unless we can attract someone of significantly better quality, I'd rather save the money and promote one of the youngsters like Tuanzebe or Williams.
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Mustafi 100%
Too much obsession with Pogba.
We need a CB in and we need to ship the likes of Rojo and Jones.
Too much obsession with Pogba.
We need a CB in and we need to ship the likes of Rojo and Jones.
I think RW is more pressing.
There doesn't seem to be many good options available.
There doesn't seem to be many good options available.
It's damn good value in this overpriced market, we'd be stupid to not persue him at that price
Mustafi is a very capable defender and he's a definite upgrade on blind, rojo and jones, Mourinho already spoke about how he wants specialist players so blind could be finished at CB now but having 3 specialist CB's in smalling, mustafi and Bailly would be good enough, with tuanzebe and Williams behind.
We just signed Mkhitaryan
I don't know if Mustafi is a leader or not, but we badly need one.
I'm willing to give Bailly time as he's new and we know nothing of him, but bar him our CB options are poor.
I'm willing to give Bailly time as he's new and we know nothing of him, but bar him our CB options are poor.
We were tied for least goals conceded in the league right? I think Smalling and Blind did a great Job especially when you consider:
-We were missing our star left back Luke Shaw for a majority of the season
-Our new RB was failing to replicate his performances in Italy
Also keeping in mind we just signed Eric and we are going to set up a lot more defensively under Mourinho.
-We were missing our star left back Luke Shaw for a majority of the season
-Our new RB was failing to replicate his performances in Italy
Also keeping in mind we just signed Eric and we are going to set up a lot more defensively under Mourinho.
Our defense was protected by 2 defensive midfielders most of the time and by very conservative passing last season.
I don't think Smalling + Blind are as good as we might like to think.
I don't think Smalling + Blind are as good as we might like to think.
This is what I mean. There's this fixation with finding value in the market ahead of addressing the true needs of the squad. The emphasis should be on what qualities the player can bring that we currently lack, not the transfer fee (within reason, obviously).
It really isn't much of an achievement to be seen as an upgrade on Jones or Rojo, who will either be limited to few first team opportunities or sold. The questions that should be asked of Mustafi are whether he's an upgrade on our current first team players, a top-tier talent or possesses the leadership traits that we lack in defence at the moment. I think the answer to all of those questions is no.
Blind has reportedly been put up for sale and would be unlikely to feature much as a CB in a Mourinho side anyway. Bailly may not be ready yet, Rojo and Jones aren't good enough. The reason the defence conceded so few goals last season was as much to do with the safety-first football employed by Van Gaal as the performances of the defenders. Defensive frailties were often exposed against better quality opposition (vs Champions League and Europa League opponents, we conceded 13 goals in 10 games, for example).
In short, yes, we need a CB.
Possession is a form a defense itself. It's a rough analogy but, as we say here in American football, "the best defense is a good offense."
We will not set up to retain the remarkably high possession and passing statistics of the past couple years, and, as such, a strong CB pairing is crucial. I don't think Blind will be a part of that pairing in the years to come.
I would love a player like Godin, we need a guy like him that really takes control and knows what he is doing. It won't happen i know.
Ashley Williams is on a completely different level, but he still have that presence about him which i think we need. I'm not saying it should be him, but someone with the same characteristics.
Ashley Williams is on a completely different level, but he still have that presence about him which i think we need. I'm not saying it should be him, but someone with the same characteristics.
Wes Morgan? 
What about Shawcross?
What about Shawcross?