Don't think that's the main reason. Think he came partially due to Mourinho beside wanting to ply the trade in England.
Ibrahimovic or Cavani?
- Thread starter Sir Erik ten Hag
- Start date
Martial by a mile
Ibra. Also a (football) life’s dream of mine to have seen him in a United shirt
And to think Moyes got both Cavani and Kroos lined up, ready to be bought that 2014 summer...
Spot on. Zlatan actually ruined what was an all timer season from Pogba but our supporters dont care about what it was on the pitch, they care about the image and what it sounded like and because he puffed his chest out and said Lions bla bla he gets a free pass.
If Rashford missed those chances and cost us top 4 he would have been crucified. And before anyone tries to bring up the Europa League we shouldnt have been in it to begin with.
Cavani was worse but why would you use Cavani as your standard? Neither of them were at the standard of what a striker for the club should be ie Kane, prime Aguero.. etc so the entire discussion is worthless.
I really think Ibra's time here was overrated - I had a Facebook memory pop up recently where I posted about Zlatan constantly missing sitters. Cavani was frustrating due to his injuries, but he showed us exactly the kind of player we had been missing in that first season.
I always felt as though we had to accommodate Zlatan, whereas when Cavani did play, the other forwards could still play their natural game.
On pure productivity and trophies which is ultimately what professional football is measured on it’s hard to say it isn’t Zlatan, but applying a bit of context and your eyes, you could argue we played some of the most watchable football we’ve played in a decade whilst Cavani was with us during the COVID season.
On pure productivity and trophies which is ultimately what professional football is measured on it’s hard to say it isn’t Zlatan, but applying a bit of context and your eyes, you could argue we played some of the most watchable football we’ve played in a decade whilst Cavani was with us during the COVID season.
Cavani never did anything in big games, he scored against Soton x3, Everton x2, Fulham x2, Burnley, Spurs and Villa. Very few of those were game winning contributions either, he was basically good in the EL but then if you compare him to Ibra, we won it that year.
Ibra scored the winner in the Comm shield, EFL final winner, and basically scored vs everyone but Chelsea and Arsenal (he never played Arsenal in the league as was banned then injured). Most games he scored it was a winning goal or getting the draw. We were just way too over reliant on him.
Both came too late in their careers but one ended up top scorer and with 2 trophies, the other was 3rd top scorer and won nothing.
Had the circumstances been different, I could've said Cavani as I loved the way he pressed off the ball and his movement was phenomenal. But I can't forgive Cavani for his behaviour in his second season, where he declared himself unfit for multiple games to stay fresh for Uruguay matches.
Zlatan for his professionalism and some of his spectacular goals.
Wish we'd signed them both 5 years earlier.
Zlatan for his professionalism and some of his spectacular goals.
Wish we'd signed them both 5 years earlier.
I agree with all of this.
Ibra by an absolute mile.
It's not remotely close for me.
It's not remotely close for me.
All I can remember of Cavani is that he kept getting injured when he could have made a difference.
Then when it looked like he's ready for a new season, Ronaldo came and took his place.
Then when it looked like he's ready for a new season, Ronaldo came and took his place.
Zlatan.
Mostly because he nailed one on Mings for being taking a cheap shot and standing on his head.
Mostly because he nailed one on Mings for being taking a cheap shot and standing on his head.
Nah, he’s too consistently great to be over rated.
I get that his demeanour and attitude might put people off him, but there is no denying his talent and longevity.
He is amongst the all time greats of the game.
You start off with a strawman, go on to dismiss what Zlatan did in the EL because "we shouldn't have been in it to begin with" (which is just a great argument btw) only to finish off with saying that since they, in their mid-to-late 30's, weren't as good as two of the best strikers the PL has ever had the entire discussion is worthless.
It's almost impressive how terrible that post is.
I just wish we'd have signed Ibra when he moved to PSG in 2012. We did great, we got RVP that season, but a younger Ibra would have been amazing for us.
How we'd give an arm or leg to have either of them playing for us now. Would transform our team instantly.
They paid 50m for him and Thiago Silva, which seemed a lot of money for two players in their 30s. But they both had insane longevity which made that deal a bargain in hindsight.
Silva was 28 (technically even 27) at the time of the transfer.
I was just saying in the Cavani thread, he's one of the only transfers that was a hit post SAF, the other being Ibra.
Fair enough, not even that old for a CB. Still impressive he’s still going in his 40s mind.
Bruno Fernandes and Ander Herrera?
Cavani didn’t give a shite about playing for us, was often unavailable and all but two of his goals were scored behind closed doors. I don’t get why he’s so worshipped by certain sections of our fans, but I’m fairly certain it’s the innate desperation some of us have to share a deep connection with star players. See also: Schweinsteiger.
He was a better all round player than Zlatan and more suited to modern football, but Ibra did the biz for us consistently - which is a very rare thing to say about many United players of the last ten years.
He was a better all round player than Zlatan and more suited to modern football, but Ibra did the biz for us consistently - which is a very rare thing to say about many United players of the last ten years.
Zlatan.was better. That league cup final performance was legendary. But I did like Cavani two players I would of loved to have seen here in their prime.
Fernandes has been one of the worst United captains and I never rated Herrera.
Bruno’s had the biggest impact after signing than anyone I can remember. Made us unbeaten all season. And Herrera although not the best quality was one of them players that gave 100% every game and always got stuck in.
Bruno one of the worst United captains ? Oh, feck off. 
Zlatan easily, he performed better and had the aura. What I would give for such a talented technical yet physically menacing forward in our side now. I wish we got him when he was much younger, he was a Manchester United player for sure!
There's some genuinely amazing (baffling) takes in this thread. Even for redcafe
@pascell are you Uruguayan?
Bruno one of the worst United captains ? Oh, feck off.
Bizarre hatred for our best player post Fergie.
Yea for us Ibra was better, no doubt, but outside of united I agree, cavani is the better player.
That's funny because when he got injured people were saying it's a blessing in disguise and we might start playing better football. People forget just how turgid the football was under Jose that year
Zlatan by a country mile
Bruno one of the worst United captains ? Oh, feck off.
Nowhere near captain material, some have quickly forgotten the stunt he pulled at Anfield when we were getting spanked.
Out of curiosity who do you think were worse captains?Bruno one of the worst United captains ? Oh, feck off.
Zlatan and it's not even close. The guy was a rare talent even when he got older.
Watching back how much we spent on dross post Fergie, we could of signed him 2-3 years sooner.
Watching back how much we spent on dross post Fergie, we could of signed him 2-3 years sooner.
None. I think every player who's worn the armband have represented the club well on the pitch.
Shame about the injury to Zlatan, he was doing too much in that match. The rest of the team were making an easy game incredibly difficult.