Also not convinced that Pogba in particular is suited to playing as a #8 alongside a #10. I'd sooner see us continue with a system more akin to the one we're currently using.
James Rodriguez| Is considering his options
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Also not convinced that Pogba in particular is suited to playing as a #8 alongside a #10. I'd sooner see us continue with a system more akin to the one we're currently using.
I agree, it's why I'd only be interested in Griezmann if Jose feels he can get as much out of him as the RWF in a 4-3-3. Pogba is unique, a #8/#10 hybrid, we should be building the team around that, not shoehorning in #10's and SS while shackling him deeper in a 2 man midfield.
All this stuff about formations is bs. It all comes down to wether he'd be given enough freedom of movement or not. If he does, he's going to be terrifying. United could sign him and play either in martial's or mhky/mata's place and he'd thrive. The whole team would be better thanks to him. He runs his socks off every game, too. Ancelotti played him in a midfield three with kroos and modric and he was great there too. Any position you put him in the front 3, he'll be fantastic.
If chelsea sign him, the 2016/17 premier league title race is done and dusted
If chelsea sign him, the 2016/17 premier league title race is done and dusted
Carlo also played him as a classic winger when you went 442 with Bale out the season after you won the CL too, if I remember correctly? People here (and elsewhere tbh) are really underestimating his adaptability.
Yeah it's not like arsenal signed Sanchez as a striker
That said I'm not convinced that he would fit in to a Jose formation... bit like mata
In my mind, it's a little bit confusing that everyone seems to agree that his best season was two years ago, when he played as a right midfielder in a 4-3-3 formation. But somehow James is a 10 and can't play well in another place.
Let's face it, those formations and their roles doesn't matter that much. You can put James isntead of Ander and the team will improve drastically. Or even in the LW instead of Martial/Rashford/Whatever. James has an outstanding football IQ and the technique to make the diference in the last quarter of the pitch with pure fantasy. No one else has that last touch(in our team, at least). He's the perfect launcher. A type of player Jose would love to have, I'm sure.
Let's face it, those formations and their roles doesn't matter that much. You can put James isntead of Ander and the team will improve drastically. Or even in the LW instead of Martial/Rashford/Whatever. James has an outstanding football IQ and the technique to make the diference in the last quarter of the pitch with pure fantasy. No one else has that last touch(in our team, at least). He's the perfect launcher. A type of player Jose would love to have, I'm sure.
They are not, not because Costa and Hazard are in excellent form means they are about the same level. Neymar is a better player than Hazard, Costa and Suarez are both top3 strikers in the world, but I think Suarez has showed over the years that he just has that extra bit of class, he's the best striker in the world although Costa is having an excellent season and is undoubtedly a world class striker, huge fan of him.
The gap between Costa and Suarez is even greater than the gap between Hazard and Neymar.
Suarez has been incredible for 3-4 years now.
Chelsea bound?
Hope not. He really is a luxury player like Ozil. Screams of a galatico signing. No way can he fit in this current Conte 3-4-3 set up. Do not need.
Well if Chelsea are buying him like most Chelsea transfers I fully expect them to be in talks at 12.05, signing announced at 12.10 and paraded on the Chelsea site at 12.11 like most Chelsea transfers.
We aren't signing him. The media hyping it up just as they did last summer when we were linked and nothing came of it.
I wouldn't class him as a standout talent for real, but he still a really good player. Needs the team built around him to get the best out of him.
Wouldn't suit us at all.
He would be a better alternative to Oscar for Chelsea, I can also see him potentially at City but they already have de bruyne, Arsenal really don't need another attacking mid....So he will naturally end up there.
Wouldn't suit us at all.
He would be a better alternative to Oscar for Chelsea, I can also see him potentially at City but they already have de bruyne, Arsenal really don't need another attacking mid....So he will naturally end up there.
In his first season he was our best player while spending most of it playing essentially in the same role pogba's playing for united right now. He'd be a massive improvement over pedro/willian, hell, he'd be an improvement over hazard.
I say this again, if chelsea sign him, they win the title.
He could happily play in the front 3 or as a CAM behind 2 strikers. While he's not known for his work rate he's certainly not lazy. Conte won't stand for that.
This thing about workrate is complete bs. He's regularly among the teams top runners in miles per game, his defensive contributions in terms of interceptions and tackles are comparable to modric's and kroos', he tracks back, presses, he's a very adaptable player with great mentality. He'll do what his manager wants him to do, and do it well
I think they will win the title with their current clientele.
Good player but as ohers have said - no thanks. We dont need another 10 (unless its Griezman).
I think I read someone called him the south american Craig Bellamy.
He has a rocket of a left foot & is an excellent playmaker but his lack of pace, close control & dribbling ability are a massive hindrance against the best teams. He's a slightly better version of Mata.
That just sounds ridiculous, he hasn't hit the heights he was expected to, but he's a much better player than that.
I reckon it's definitely Chelsea with that crazy oscar money burning a hole in their pocket.
He'll be a very good signing no doubt. It's strange enough to see a mega signing like this in January though. The players usually take until the end of the first season to properly bed in. I also think Greizmann would be the better signing for us as it's pretty clear hes a united supporter and their top level is quite similar
He'll be a very good signing no doubt. It's strange enough to see a mega signing like this in January though. The players usually take until the end of the first season to properly bed in. I also think Greizmann would be the better signing for us as it's pretty clear hes a united supporter and their top level is quite similar
Is James even faster than Ozil/ Mata or Silva? I highly doubt he can play in the RW position for us. We need pace and power in that position. Sanchez would fit so so well there. Just bid 80mn in summer for him.
I think it's less about pace and more his work rate. Does James have the excellent work rate that both Pedro and Willian have to help Moses when we don't have the ball? He's already a bit vulnerable since he's not a natural wingback so it's important for that right sided forward to help.
Talented but lazy. Talented but slow.
That's the diagnosis from the RM fans I know.
That's the diagnosis from the RM fans I know.
I wouldn't want him.
If he's really coming to England, it's a massive surprise to me. Don't think he fits in well here and honestly can't think of a team that really needs him. Arsenal maybe if they've given up on keeping Sanchez?
Yeah, now. Ask them about his first season
It simply can't be us.
I really hope we don't sign him. Too much of a luxury player honestly.
Yeah if that was true then he wouldn't be in this predicament.
But it is true. ZZ is relucant to play with a number ten because he needs to protect his defence. I feel that this situation is somewhat unfair because James is a player that when played provides enough for him to warrant an starting XI... But it's Real Madrid where nothing makes sense, so yes, I mantain, we were interested in him back in 2010-2011 when he was at Porto, I would have loved to have him back then and I'd love to have him here right now.
PS: The faster we get someone who can force us get rid of Rooney, the better.
He was dropped as soon as Zidane took over. Was doing very well before that to be fair to him
The spot he is directly competing for atm is Lucas at RW and I'm sorry to say he does not come close to Lucas' 13km avg distance covered per game, his defensive work rate and what he provides going forward at the same time.
Lucas provides tactical balance as well as flexibility. There is a reason he plays more than anyone else under Zizou.
James can't compete for a CM spot either because Kroos, Modric, Isco and Kovacic are all better in the CM position because they are willing to work both ends in the same game and they do not unbalance the team tactically like James does.
And when Bales comes back he sure isn't better than him either, so where does he play?
He's a good player but he should have left in the summer, we need a back up at DM not another playmaker. Move him on and give his minutes to Asensio.
I have good feelings about player moving from Real, there were so many players who triumphed in one way or another after leaving Los Blancos. Men such as Seedorf, Makelele, Morientes, Cambiasso, Walter Samuel, Higuain, Huntelaar, Oezil all made huge impact at the new clubs, especially trio Eto'o - Sneijder - Robben became the crucial factor at their arrivals directly helping their new clubs to successfully conquer the Champion League. Of course Di Maria is an exception, but just minority, and I could see at his first step on Old Trafford pitch, his mind didnt belong to us but somewhere nearing England which was his dream destination that moment and is his home now.
About James, he is versatile, very quick at decision-making, i think he will have no problem to adapt with us and with Premier League's intensity. This season United once used to play 4231 formation with Mkhitaryan as left-wing against Feyenoord, and Mkhitaryan just sparkled in this 4-0 win. So with both James and Mkhitaryan's versatilities as no 10 and both wings, we can easily line up. It can be Mkhitaryan (LW) - James (RW) (can rotate with Martial in case he found his form) in usual 433 formation. And when Carrick is not available, we can start 4231 formation with the midfield including trio Martial (L)- James - Mkhitaryan (R)/ Martial (L) - Mkhitaryan - James (R) and Pogba come deeper, combine with Herrera in behind.
Finally if looking this season closer, we find that all our Latin and half-Latin guys including Valencia - Rojo - Herrera - DG were playing with phenomenal form, even Romero could join this group with 100% ratio 3 clean-sheets/3 matches. This is truly Mourinho's effect, so there will be no suprise if one upcoming Colombian of our squad will make his mark here under Jose's management
About James, he is versatile, very quick at decision-making, i think he will have no problem to adapt with us and with Premier League's intensity. This season United once used to play 4231 formation with Mkhitaryan as left-wing against Feyenoord, and Mkhitaryan just sparkled in this 4-0 win. So with both James and Mkhitaryan's versatilities as no 10 and both wings, we can easily line up. It can be Mkhitaryan (LW) - James (RW) (can rotate with Martial in case he found his form) in usual 433 formation. And when Carrick is not available, we can start 4231 formation with the midfield including trio Martial (L)- James - Mkhitaryan (R)/ Martial (L) - Mkhitaryan - James (R) and Pogba come deeper, combine with Herrera in behind.
Finally if looking this season closer, we find that all our Latin and half-Latin guys including Valencia - Rojo - Herrera - DG were playing with phenomenal form, even Romero could join this group with 100% ratio 3 clean-sheets/3 matches. This is truly Mourinho's effect, so there will be no suprise if one upcoming Colombian of our squad will make his mark here under Jose's management
feckinell
Id take him gladly
I hope if PSG get Draxler that doesn't mean this isn't still on for them. Would rather he stayed away from the PL as I don't think we'll get him personally.
There's talk in Spain Flo wants to use him in a swap deal(plus money) for dybala next summer. Don't think it will happen, but a man can dream 