It's truly laughable. I'd sign him up in a second, him playing behind Lukaku means goals aplenty, don't really see how anyone can argue with that. Mata/Mkhi can rotate on the right/back up James and have Martial/Rashford for the left. Width won't be a problem if Shaw starts hitting his potential and Valencia improves his delivery from the right. That team is title contending minimum, and could even be UCL semis at best next season.James Rodriguez | joins Bayern Munich | 2 year loan
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It's truly laughable. I'd sign him up in a second, him playing behind Lukaku means goals aplenty, don't really see how anyone can argue with that. Mata/Mkhi can rotate on the right/back up James and have Martial/Rashford for the left. Width won't be a problem if Shaw starts hitting his potential and Valencia improves his delivery from the right. That team is title contending minimum, and could even be UCL semis at best next season.At "any" price we should be going for Ronaldo, Messi and someone...
Well Messi is impossible and unrealistic, and I can't see Ronaldo leaving Real Madrid despite the occasional outburst from him about quitting the club.
Considering the sort of money being mentioned for Perisic, maybe we should spend a little extra and get James instead? Do they do totally different things?
We should sign both. Money cannot be limited this summer. We have to spend everything we can to build a team that will bring our Premier League title back home.
This is second season Mourinho. Give him all the best players and he'll guide us to glory.
With him, Lukaku and Martial in the same line up we'd easily concede 3 goals a game.
Aye and then there's Champions League and teams there are far more dangerous than Ajax kids. Woodward will have to be on top of his game this summer.
Why didn't it work out between him and Zidane? He was pretty decent in 14/15 and was part of that team that was on a winning streak when Bale was out.
as long as we score 4 goals with them I'm fine with it
How much of a say did Jose have in that signing?
Even if he did want Ozil at that time, he was very much the exception and not the rule.
Yes Mkhi can play as a #10 (and so can my grandma) but he is much more effective on the flank.
His first 2 seasons under klopp he was the #10. First season he finished 13 goals and 10 assist in 46 appearances (44 starts). Second season was terrible as he had only 5 goals and 5 assists in like 42 games. Klopp played him primarily as a #10
Under Tuchel, Mkhi was moved to the flank and Kagawa was the #10. He finished with 19 goals and 24 assists in 53 appearances(48 starts).
Ignoring the second season, Mkhi playing on the flank vs middle is 43 vs 23 goals+assists. That is like doubling his productivity.
I used to admire James, but he's not progressing that much over the years. I'd prefer the type of Reus and Sanchez, hardworking wingers, than this 'lazy' no. 10. Also, I'd want to see how Pogba progress to become our 'Lampard' in Mou's formation.
But then, I'd also be worried if James would end up on our rival, and capture his early form.
Polemic.
I mean that's just plain wrong. Martial tracked back a lot last season and as someone said on here earlier, James works harder than Ozil who thrived under Mourinho. Not wanting to sign James because of faith in our current crop of #10s is one thing but to knock the quality he would bring to our squad that scored the same # of goals as Bournemouth is truly baffling.
Nope, the second season he was thrown around the wings already and had shit statistics. The only season where he's played #10 for most of the games was the 13/14 season, then it was the wings in the second and finally Tuchel.
The #10 season was his first season in BVB/BL, you can say that it was his transition season, hence worse statistics, yet still pretty good.
Zidane just didn't fancy him. There are more than 11 quality options at Madrid which means some class players miss out. Like Morata, he's bode his time and performed when given the call off the bench. Can't really blame Zidane either for not wanting to break up a side as balanced and dominant as that team is.
Not for any realistic price, but Messi's release clause is 300m and Ronaldo can probably be bought for 130-150m.
Rummenigge was asked about him today and did not deny interest in him. Considering that we denied about anything reported about us lately, that's quite interesting to me.
He has been pretty decent since in my view. Maybe he just prefers Isco for the wider role in Bale's absence. But even if he does,it is not as though James has not still had significant impact when he has played. In La Liga, directly involved in 23 goals (11 goals and 12 assists) last season. More than any other La Liga midfielder, and interestingly, also more than either Benzema or Bale.
In total he has been directly involved in 52 goals for Madrid (25 goals and 27 assists) in La Liga since he joined Madrid, also more than any other La Liga midfielder during the same time-frame. Not bad for an out of favor bench warmer, who is usually played out of position eh?
I would have him here in an instant. Played in his proper position, this kid is a world beater in my view, and I would take him ahead of any of Madrid's other strikers. Bale and Ronaldo are obviously brilliant too, but Ronnie is a bit old for what he would cost and Bale far, far too injury prone. None of the others are a patch on James in my humble opinion.
Would be very surprised if Bayern raise the cash asked for him.
What exactly are you meaning to say by your use of this word?
I ignored his second season and only compared his first and 3rd season and the difference is too stark. of position
If Mkhi was best suited to playing as the #10, then why did Tuchel move him to the flank with so much success?
You dont get those kind of numbers playing out of position
The money itself is not the problem. It's more about the willingness to actually spend this much on a single player. But I guess we'll just have to go with the market. And it's not like we're not willing to take risks. We've spend up to 80 million on Sanches. Compared to that deal James doesn't look as expensive anymore.
I disagree with those claiming we need a rw. Valencia is covering the entire right flank from his rb position, so someone who drift in from the right, like Mkhi and Mata have done, is enough.
If we get Perisic, i can see Mkhi as a 10, think he'll do well there, even though some claim he wasn't great there in BvB.
I'd prefer James though.
-------------------Lukaku
Rash/Martial---James-----Mkhi
-----------Pogba----Herrera------Valencia
-------------------Defense
---------------------DDG
Works for me.
If we get Perisic, i can see Mkhi as a 10, think he'll do well there, even though some claim he wasn't great there in BvB.
I'd prefer James though.
-------------------Lukaku
Rash/Martial---James-----Mkhi
-----------Pogba----Herrera------Valencia
-------------------Defense
---------------------DDG
Works for me.
Generally speaking BVB's attacking players were/are quite fluid in their positioning so there's one thing, they interchange a lot so Miki's had a chance to roam a lot, even if he was 'on the wing'. Kagawa was played as a #10 in both Miki's 2nd and 3rd season, perhaps he preferred Kagawa there or he did it to accomodate Kagawa, no idea really. It's not really that he was played out of position on the wings, it's just that I don't really think that it matters much whether he plays in #10 or on the wings. If you're ignorning that his #10 season was his first at BVB, you cannot really ignore his output in the second season, when he was already played in his 'best' position, which would be on the wings. If you then take into consideration the two seasons that he's played on the wings and one season when he's played at #10, you'll get roughly the same stats per 90 I believe.
Bayern don't often go overboard but i don't think they are afraid to spend money on the right players, but i have to agree Perez is simply asking to much for any sensible buyer. I doubt Bayern's plans rest upon James either, so they will be in a much better position to sit tight and wait for pressure to build on perez and then pick James up for a more reasonable fee.
I have huge respect for Bayern and how they conduct their business. They are no fools, and if they are in for James, it's because they know something special when they see it. Robben was fantastic there especially considering he was similarly written off as another Madrid 'reject'.
Valencia legs has gone,if you notice properly Valencia attacking play is deteriorating game by game.
He is not a world class player but he would improve your side significantly. United has lacked creativity in the attacking midfield for some time, both Van Gaal and Mourinho have remarked upon it. Mata and Mkhitaryan are useful squad players for a club with United's ambitions but just not good enough or consistent enough to be relied upon as main sources of creativity and chance creation. James would be a substantial improvement on both and also younger.
I think he'll do alright for another season or two, will be assisted by the rw of course.
I rather we upgrade the #10.
If not, and we buy a rw, i think Mkhi can do a good job as 10.
4 words: De Jong Stomach Kick
Ancelotti worked with James at Madrid and if I'm not mistaken he scored like 17 goals that season and did quite well. Wouldn't be surprised if it was him pushing for the move rather than a club target, however if anyone can get the best out of James though it would be him. Could be a very shrewd signing when, like you said, everyone is calling him a Madrid reject
You meant Rooney, right?
Valencia is probably our most fit player. He plays worse every time he plays behind Lingard, which unfortunately he did a lot of later in the season.
At 31, his legs are far from gone as he is ridiculously athletic. He played a lot last season and looked a little knackered at one point, but less somthan a 23 year old Pogba.
Alaba and Martinez are not playing as midfielders though. But Rudy is there as well.
I don't want James at first, but I desperately want the club sign him now after Lukaku arrival.
He would be perfect to play along with a strong target man. World class crossing and finding goal chances after Lukaku bully opponents defender.
He would be perfect to play along with a strong target man. World class crossing and finding goal chances after Lukaku bully opponents defender.
Didn't predict him going to Bayern at all tbh. Gonna be great with them and will show his talent there.
Anchelotti will probably be moving to 4-2-3-1.
Anchelotti will probably be moving to 4-2-3-1.
Would have been a good signing if we'd done the same deal as Bayern.
The deal from Bayern is exceptional if true. Every club would agree to such a deal, but Real wouldnt have done it for us or PSG
Welp. Is it too late to hijack?
Smh. Bayern going get a two year loan for a 25 year old James, might be 30m max. While we going to get maybe 2 good years out of Perisic for 55m.
Smh. Bayern going get a two year loan for a 25 year old James, might be 30m max. While we going to get maybe 2 good years out of Perisic for 55m.
Ribery - James - Robben
Lewa
Lewa
That looks a great attacking side, with the problem of the age of the 2 wingers, though.
They still have Thiago behind them.
Knew Bayern wouldn't pay the money Real asked for. Cheap feckers. But good deal for them. No way they will buy him at the end of that loan spell
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