Eric Bailly | BBC say signing is imminent

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I can only go off his YouTube compilation as I've seen very little of him, but he looks like an absolute animal and physical specimen.

Right up Mourinho's street, though I can see him being raw and rash at times and I'm not sure just how well he'll compliment Smalling. Two physical beasts with pace to burn, but not a hell of a lot of passing ability between the two.
 
He was carded in 13 games out of 21 early in the 2015/16 season, but there are signs of progress as well - Bailly was not booked once in his final 13 appearances.
 
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United Pro said:
Or we perhaps replace the injury prone ones with new ones, where Rojo would surely be the first name out. Saying that I feel that a fair few of the may be down to LVG's training regime, which piled on injuries this season.
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Even that didn't work.

Shaw came to us recovering from a long-term injury. Got injured again if I recall, before his leg was broken. Probably injury-prone too.

Rojo has had his fair share of injuries too. And when he plays his performances are lack-lustre. A journeyman whose here for the big pay packet only. No passion.
 
VP89 said:
What would it mean for TFM if Bailly is a RB signing? Valencia would probably be the cover for RB ahead of him, and I'm not sure how many games he's played as a defensive midfielder - but he'll have even more competition there too.
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Think Valencia might go, not realky a Mourinho FB.
 
Can't say I saw the lad play only from the YT vids but hopefully he's better than Rojo, who also looked good in vids and at the WC, rash aggressive defender, "good" with the ball... I'd also prefer someone who can pass a bit more than just driving forward with the ball, that we already have in smalling but perhaps we're signing baley because he can operate as a rightback too..
 
LS17 said:
Quite pleasing to see that there was absolutely no media reports about this or rumours up until a day before his medical. Hopefully it's a sign of a change in strategy rather than us being linked in the media for months beforehand.

No idea about him but seems to be rated well by those who have seen him. Judging by reports of Blind not being wanted and this guy being signed (who supposedly isn't as fantastic on the ball), a definite change in style is coming from last year thankfully.
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just typicaly good woody's performance
 
forevruntd said:
He was carded in 13 games out of 21 early in the 2015/16 season, but there are signs of progress as well - Bailly was not booked once in his final 13 appearances.
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So what you're saying is he's tough AND smart?

Just kidding, can't wait to end up with no CBs when him and Mike get sent off.
 
MP1711 said:
Think Valencia might go, not realky a Mourinho FB.
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Hmm. I'd have thought Valencia's build + work rate would make him viable for cover on the wing at least. We are really poorly stocked by way of right wingers. We have no natural right wingers available barring him.
 
VP89 said:
People saying 30m EUR is the going rate for a player like him.. but that amount for a player with only 40 appearances in La Liga is still a bit toppy.
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Stones had only played like 40 matches for Everton. only 20 ish in the Prem during14/15. Yet was regarded as one of the most promising talents in the world last summer, 40-50mill value..
 
Stactix said:
Stones had only played like 40 matches for Everton. only 20 ish in the Prem during14/15. Yet was regarded as one of the most promising talents in the world last summer, 40-50mill value..
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Yeah, and thats still widely regarded to be a stupid price even when we consider English premium.
 
Most of us know that Mourinho wants to have pure pace and power at the back. So, signing Bailly who seems to be quick and strong makes sense. One doesn't need to watch him 40 times to know he has raw strength and United need some of that at the back. He seems to have that no nonsense attitude when going in for a tackle, with a combination of ridiculous speed and reasonably comfortable on the ball.

That being said, Drogba and Essien were physical types of players, and it took them each a season to grow into the players of impact they were. Diego Costa was a really physical player that had a great first year and then trailed off so who knows.

United fans should be happy about a signing being completed so fast. CB was one of the most needed position, and after Euros transfer market will be a mess, so 30m for the starting CB of Manchester United seems to be a fair price that has some legit value. Football has become a global business and you have to pay big bucks for what you want.
 
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032Devil said:
We need 5 or 6 central defenders with all the injuries we've been having in the last few years.
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I agree.
We have consistently had many injuries to defenders for the past few years, so this should now be expected, as part of our plans.
Unless Jose (like LVG before him), intends to use youth players to cover the injury crisis, which is almost guaranteed to occur.
 
I'm not as concerned about his passing as others are. Yes his passing accuracy statistic is poor for this season but if you watch his highlight videos he seems to be taking a lot of risks to try and start counter attacks (something which Mourinho would look for imo). His passing accuracy for the 14/15 seasons was fine and people who actually knew about the player prior to his links with us don't seem to think it's a weakness of his. For example here's a scouting report from February 2015 which praises his ability in possession.

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/blog/scouts.../eric-bailly-tipped-for-the-top-at-villarreal
 
VP89 said:
Yeah, and thats still widely regarded to be a stupid price even when we consider English premium.
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Oh of course, I regard him as being massively overrated. He could be world class one day but hes been shyte this season.
Thats the thing with Football no guarantees.
If you don't take risks, you will get sweet feckall!
Eric could flop or could be world class!
Rashford or Martial could win the baloon d'or next season or could be extremely underwhelming, no guarantees.
 
Sunny Jim said:
More importantly i pray to God all Martials clauses are met as it means we win shitolads and plyer hits Messis standadrs.
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Weren't they very realistic? Like 10 appearances for France, 25 appearances for United which will have been met already.
 
Stactix said:
Oh of course, I regard him as being massively overrated. He could be world class one day but hes been shyte this season.
Thats the thing with Football no guarantees.
If you don't take risks, you will get sweet feckall!
Eric could flop or could be world class!
Rashford or Martial could win the baloon d'or next season or could be extremely underwhelming, no guarantees.
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Yeah. Cant complaining about the transfer itself given he has the key skills and I trust mourinho with defenders.
 
032Devil said:
Even that didn't work.

Shaw came to us recovering from a long-term injury. Got injured again if I recall, before his leg was broken. Probably injury-prone too.

Rojo has had his fair share of injuries too. And when he plays his performances are lack-lustre. A journeyman whose here for the big pay packet only. No passion.
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Sorry I'm going to have to disagree with everything you've just said. Shaw wasn't injured before he joined us. In fact, according to transfermarkt his last injury before joining us was in February 2013. He of course got injured in pre season. But that was after LVG had said Shaw wasn't fit and had put him in a different training regime. (Link to the site I was referring to: http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/luke-shaw/verletzungen/spieler/183288).

And in terms of Rojo, he has been injured a fair few times at United, but again he was injured a lot less at Sporting and Spartak Moscow before that. He may have pushed for a move to United for the better wages, but I don't agree with the lack of passion. He is always on social media raving about how he loves United and how "Rojo is red". Whether he is good enough is another question altogether.
 
Sarni said:
Weren't they very realistic? Like 10 appearances for France, 25 appearances for United which will have been met already.
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Yeah, they were all on the basis that he didn't completely flop/break his leg and never recover. Apart from one about the balloon door shortlist - which it's probably fair to say if he becomes one of the top twenty odd players in the world we'll be getting our money's worth.
 
Yorkeontop said:
It will suck when he leaves for the AFCON but Jose has worked with African players in the past with great success to say the least.
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Ah good point. When did we last sign an African player for our first team? Manucho is the closest I remember..
 
He will play the left CB over Blind, not sure why people are thinking he will be at RB.

Fosu Mensah/Darmian/Valencia/Varela/Bailly is plenty of back up options anyway.
 
Just watched a few videos and he looks very good, I 100% trust Mourinho in the defensive department.
 
MP1711 said:
Think Valencia might go, not realky a Mourinho FB.
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Not really a full back full stop.

He does well there at times and i wouldn't mind him staying as a back up but really we need better there for the first XI.
 
I watched him play only once, that was against Liverpool. Didn't notice him at all except when he was down holding his thigh. Didn't even know his name at that time, remembered that only because I read he was injured in that game.

Jose's record when it comes to defensive signings is very good and also he had plenty of time to scout player to prepare for the season. So I have good feeling about this signing. Smalling and Bailly must be the quickest CB pair in the league.

Finally good to have a manager who can sign defenders without worrying about right foot or left foot.
 
Assuming this goes through I'm just excited we're signing a defender whose focus is defending. I've had enough of 'playing it out of the back', 'composure with the ball in his own box' and 'has the confidence to take a touch in a dangerous position'. I want a defender whose sole purpose is to ensure the opposition don't get chances. Even if the media don't faun over it - looking at you Stones. This obsession with trying to do things the Pep way has swept the premier league, and all it really does is gift stupid goals to the opposition.
 
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