Dries Mertens

Scored another brace yesterday. His 30th goal of the season, with 13 assists to boot. A goal every 99' across all comps, every 96' in the league.

D6p72sx.png


I believe he's 6th in the goals per minute ratio (for the top 5 leagues) behind Messi, Cavani, Lacazette, Lewandowski and Aubameyang and 10th in the European Golden Boot rankings.
 
Funny isn't it. I don't think anyone expected him to have such a good season. Patience can work out...
 
Another goal and 2 assists today in Napoli's 5-0 win away at Torino (Belotti's team)

Let's all admire the minutes-per-goal, the shots-on-target % and the assists as well.. (source BBC)

JiSZuR1.png
 
izec said:
Think he will sign an extension
Click to expand...

I reckon if we move for him, he'll come. He just turned 30 last week, this is his last big contract most likely. He won't turn down the chance of a decent paycheck. Also he's mates with De Bruyne and has visited Manchester few times before. He'll have plenty of Belgian mates about with Fellaini, KDB, Kompany etc.
 
Can't see a striker as small and weak without express pace working out in the league.
 
does Dzeko perhaps put things in perspective....

you don't have to be a Batistuta or a Weah to score 25 goals plus in Serie A?

particularly when you play for Juve/Napoli/Roma?

maybe I'm being harsh
 
buckooo1978 said:
does Dzeko perhaps put things in perspective....

you don't have to be a Batistuta or a Weah to score 25 goals plus in Serie A?

particularly when you play for Juve/Napoli/Roma?

maybe I'm being harsh
Click to expand...
I'm completely unconvinced on Mertens succeeding here if we signed him but Dzeko was a laughing stock last year. Confidence plays a huge part, especially for a striker and he's shown at Wolfsburg and City at times that he is a great scorer at his best.

I do think a lot of midtable Serie A teams have hit the beaches mentally because it was obvious Pescara and Palermo weren't going to survive, meaning a lot of teams didn't have much to play for.
 
I know we've been linked to him but I think this is just to angle for that contract extension. I don't think he fits the profile of what we're looking for.
 
buckooo1978 said:
does Dzeko perhaps put things in perspective....

you don't have to be a Batistuta or a Weah to score 25 goals plus in Serie A?

particularly when you play for Juve/Napoli/Roma?

maybe I'm being harsh
Click to expand...
I think you are, a bit. Doesn't Lukaku prove you don't have to be a Thierry Henry or Luis Suarez to bag 24+ in the PL?

FWIW, Dzeko is hardly a bad player. 48 PL goals in 115 games (66 starts, 49 appearances subbed on) -- his City record works out to something like a goal every 140~ minutes.

Whether Mertens would succeed in the PL or not is a slightly different matter, I feel.
 
buckooo1978 said:
does Dzeko perhaps put things in perspective....

you don't have to be a Batistuta or a Weah to score 25 goals plus in Serie A?

particularly when you play for Juve/Napoli/Roma?

maybe I'm being harsh
Click to expand...

Dzeko wasn't bad for City. He had a respectable goal scoring record for City usually 15 league goals in 30 appearances in all his seasons at City. Miles better than Bony.
 
Bojan11 said:
Dzeko wasn't bad for City. He had a respectable goal scoring record for City usually 15 league goals in 30 appearances in all his seasons at City. Miles better than Bony.
Click to expand...

Was also very good for Wolfsburg during their title success.
 
Mertens wouldn't be a bad 3rd option to have as a striker. But there doesn't seem to be any concrete talk about this happening.
 
Steven7290 said:
He's not slow by any means. Great technique, can dribble well, and is not exactly a CF. Think a Coutinho with a lot more goals in him.
Click to expand...
He doesn't have express pace. didn't say he was slow. He's no Coutinho thats for sure. They've used him as a CF this season.
 
buckooo1978 said:
does Dzeko perhaps put things in perspective....

you don't have to be a Batistuta or a Weah to score 25 goals plus in Serie A?

particularly when you play for Juve/Napoli/Roma?

maybe I'm being harsh
Click to expand...

Maybe we should reverse statements and questions today?
 
Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber said:
I'd still prefer him in wide areas or as a 10 if we ever bought him. Creativity and goals he has.
Click to expand...

I agree with you. He would give you another option and he wouldn't cost too much. 15-20M would be enough to price him away from Napoli. The other thing is that he doesn't seem to be someone who has a big ego which could work well with Mourinho.
 
VorZakone said:
Funny isn't it. I don't think anyone expected him to have such a good season. Patience can work out...
Click to expand...

It's not patience as much as a position switch, though, right? He's playing as a 9 and putting up bigger numbers than he did as an LW. Same as a guy like Arsenal's Perez did at Deportivo and uh, Henry and probably a bunch of other dudes I can't remember at the moment.
 
beingshe7don said:
I agree with you. He would give you another option and he wouldn't cost too much. 15-20M would be enough to price him away from Napoli. The other thing is that he doesn't seem to be someone who has a big ego which could work well with Mourinho.
Click to expand...
And the dude is good with his defensive shift. He'd suit us and Mourinho incredibly well and unlike Bernardo Silva, James Rodriguez and Willian, the dude is a goal scorer
 
We should sign him on a 2-year contract. This will give Rashford enough time to stake his place.
 
Mertens is having a sensational season in this role benefiting a lot from Napoli style of play that creates spaces thanks to a very technically gifted and agile attacking lineup that are exploited by sudden vertical plays and diagonal runs by the top three. He would not suit MU current style of play I think.he could play as a winger though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.