This guy is my dream signing but I don't think it will ever happen. Barca are his dream club and he seems to have won over Xavi.
Frenkie de Jong - Part 2 - Chase Harder.
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Majer's role is more like young Modric. A playmaker playing closer to forwards. He can dribble, but not comfortably dropping deep to build up with the defenders. I don't think he has the potential to become a world class player, or to make a transition to CM like Modric.
Sucic from the little I see is kinda special, too but different. FdJ has the mentality of recycling possession, take control of the game more, even if it means he drop into the defense. Sucic can dribble, carry the ball well too but he's more of a Kroos type, that he loves a crossfield pass, and take a pop at goal than going for control. Doesn't feel Sucic do the running, and tackle as much as FdJ does in defensive phase. Another Kroos similarity. Also Sucic maybe just a project player right now though. Not sure he can hit the ground running with all the adaption. A great prospect to pick up if possible, but unlikely seeing RM Modric connection and ambition to be Kroos' direct replacement.
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If there's any chance of convincing de Jong to join in the summer he would still be the player I'd pursue. If not him it has to be a player who shares similar traits but I can't think of anyone of that profile who is as good or might be available in the summer. One of the better alternatives would be someone like Kovacic but I doubt Chelsea would want to sell to us and he's approaching the dreaded 30(!)
The fact that we got as far as agreeing a fee with Barcelona last summer shows there is (was) encouragement from their side to do the deal, at least. It's a different story if there's no interest whatsoever from the player's side but I'd be surprised if ten Hag was courting him for the majority of last summer if there wasn't even a remote possibility of the transfer going through.
The fact that we got as far as agreeing a fee with Barcelona last summer shows there is (was) encouragement from their side to do the deal, at least. It's a different story if there's no interest whatsoever from the player's side but I'd be surprised if ten Hag was courting him for the majority of last summer if there wasn't even a remote possibility of the transfer going through.
Hes a free agent this summer. So theres a chance if ETH did want him there wouldnt be a fee to pay.
A random thought, if you cant get frenkie and need an alternative, would you favour a midfielder who likes to operate in the right half space rather than the left half space?
Left half space is favoured by bruno and rashford. Hence bruno has 4 assists this season for rashford through that left half space.
Whereas we dont tend to get many goals or assists through the right half space where antony likes to cut in and operate.
Someone like nicolas barella (very different profile to Frenkie, more of a ball winner) who prefers the right half space could link up well with antony. Also as antony needs an overlapping right back to get the best out of him. Someone like barella would be an insurance policy if antony and said right back got caught up field.
Just a thought.
Left half space is favoured by bruno and rashford. Hence bruno has 4 assists this season for rashford through that left half space.
Whereas we dont tend to get many goals or assists through the right half space where antony likes to cut in and operate.
Someone like nicolas barella (very different profile to Frenkie, more of a ball winner) who prefers the right half space could link up well with antony. Also as antony needs an overlapping right back to get the best out of him. Someone like barella would be an insurance policy if antony and said right back got caught up field.
Just a thought.
His contract is up in 2024, he still has a year left.
Thanks for correction.
I think so, but in a slightly different way. His long passing has improved a lot, like you can see in the Sevilla goal (and an earlier assist on Raphinha), but they're still different types of players. Frenkie will be more of a carrier.
Also, he beat prime Modric back in 2019, I guess, though one game doesn't make a season.
We signed De Jong in my dream last night snd it felt so real at the time 
I think last season was our chance to sign him, now it appears he has established himself as the first choice player, which was expected with his talent. It will all depend how willing Barca are willing to sell him, but even then as we saw last summer, he was not interested in moving, so despite agreeing a fee for him, we could not get him over the line.
Its surprising there is not a single player in the world closer to his style of play and be just as good. Maybe somebody in Brazil or Argentina, after all only what 9 months ago Benfica bought Enzo, so there will be gems like him, we just need to scout properly.
Its surprising there is not a single player in the world closer to his style of play and be just as good. Maybe somebody in Brazil or Argentina, after all only what 9 months ago Benfica bought Enzo, so there will be gems like him, we just need to scout properly.
He's absolutely the player we need to partner Casemiro (and can play Casemiro's role when he misses a game). ETH is right about that. But it's hard to see it happening and it's no good having a player who doesn't want to be here.
Have to wait and see what the Qataris have up their sleeve.
Have to wait and see what the Qataris have up their sleeve.
I actually bumped in to him after the Real Sociedad game in San Sebastian. He was with his girlfriend. I'm not kidding
Did you at least plant a kernal of an idea of moving to utd in his head?
How does his passing and playmaking compare to Eriksen? I’m aware of his press-resistance and dribbling ability.
I was exhausted cos I had been walking the Camino all day and I was distracted by his gf who is *chefs kiss*
Agree, and we are in a position right now where we don't need someone who is necessarily a first choice option right off the bat. Eriksen is more than good enough to be our starter next season as long as we have adequate backup options who can deputize for him. I would be fine with us going for someone who is cheaper (hopefully) in that 19-21 year old age and not yet at a top side given that we likely will be spending big money on a striker this summer.
I'd say it's inferior, but he has the potential to up his game.
Eriksen's final ball is WC but he started out as an attacking mid so it's only Natural that it's where his forte lies.
Eriksen is superior because most of his career he made his trade by being an attacking play maker.
I would even say Eriksen delivery edges Modric, and Kroos. Both also came from a more advanced position before transiting into deeper midfielder player.
FdJ is the most natural between players in discussion in playing closer, between defenders. Taking the ball directly from GK and imitate passing, movement, carry it into attacking phase. That is something very few player possess, or able to develop overtime. Busquet used to be the best at it (not great with running with the ball due to his lack of pace), but he's getting worse. Casemiro for all his great attribute, is not comparable.
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Yeah Barella is an interesting shout,looking very much like we will have to find a different profile to De Jong because no one else has that dribbling ability through midfield
I actually think FDJ + Casemiro is too defensive. I mean sure he's comfortable under pressure and can receive the ball from defenders, and carry the ball. But his passing is not very incisive and he doesn't control a game in the way Eriksen would. What happens when teams sit back against Casemiro and Fdj with Bruno at 10?
We bring on Eriksen for the second half
We won’t be signing FdJ now he’s won over Xavi, but in the event we did, Eriksen doesn’t just cease to exist.
The way he just dribbles through an entire midfield from his own box is mental. It looks so easy.
Don’t play Bruno at 10…
Would have been of great help today when our defense just kept passing it among themselves
We bring on Eriksen for the second half
We won’t be signing FdJ now he’s won over Xavi, but in the event we did, Eriksen doesn’t just cease to exist.
Yeah definitely will need to look elsewhere
If Kovacic wanted to leave to us, I think they would. He would be a great alternative to FDJ. In fact I'd rather say Osihmen and Kovacic than a cheaper striker and FDJ.
He would be awesome too but these Italians rarely leave.
Would they sell a third midfielder to us
I think Barella would be a replacement for Bruno rather than Eriksen. And we have been quite good from the right half space with Bruno drifting wide. He does that typical KdB third man run these days quite a bit.
Well with the qataris as owners everything would be possible. Barella is a fantastic player and considering his surname it would be the perfect signing to bring home while Jones is going the other way. Maybe we can ask him to carry Phil out of the door
The moment has passed.. He is on the verge of reaching his final form in Barcelona right now, they will not let him go anymore..
I doubt it, they still owe him money don't they?
But it was only a dream, that’s all it ever was…We signed De Jong in my dream last night snd it felt so real at the time
You were everything, everything that Hag wanted (that I wanted)
It was meant to be, supposed to be, but we lost it (we lost it)
And all of the memories, of muppet trains just fade away
All this time you were pretending
Forced us into Over spending
Oh oh oh
So much for my happy ending……
It was meant to be, supposed to be, but we lost it (we lost it)
And all of the memories, of muppet trains just fade away
All this time you were pretending
Forced us into Over spending
Oh oh oh
So much for my happy ending……
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Not following barca this season. Is he getting really good these days?
Getting a lot of praise.
Oh well Barca better pay up his salary then.
This fecker and Pedri will run rings round us.
Nah Casemiro will sit on ‘em!
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