Could be a blessing in disguise, this.
Jermain Defoe on a free transfer
- Thread starter The red panther
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No. feck No.
With all due respect for the man, we're Manchester United!
With all due respect for the man, we're Manchester United!
Some of you owe an apology to the guy who said we should sign Andy Carroll.
Exactly, yet people want to spend big money on Hernandez to get him back, when we could get Defoe who would probably settle for 4th choice to come on and turn a game for us.
Defoes stats make a great case for him, I don't understand all the hate
I would not want Chicharito back and he was one of my favorite players when he was at the club. And I doubt I am alone in that. Plus Chicharito is a player of a much higher caliber than Defoe.
Why wouldn't you want a proven regular Premier League goalscorer on your bench? Just look at the problems we are having right now, Martial and Rooney were terribly uninspiring on Sunday, there will be games when we need a proven goalscorer to come into the matchday squad and get on the pitch for 15-20 minutes to change a game. All for FREE?
15 goals in a season would make him our second highest scorer this year, wouldn't it?
He couldn't be any worse than Fellaini to bring on as a sub in the last 10 minutes to try and nick a winner.
He couldn't be any worse than Fellaini to bring on as a sub in the last 10 minutes to try and nick a winner.
One of the may reasons I hate the term free transfer. Defoe would not be for free. Zlatan was a free transfer but, he was one of the most expensive signings of the summer in the PL. If Zlatan really was free every club could afford him. Back to your point it is cute that people think our only problem is finishing. Our build up play could also use some massive improvement and Defoe would not help us much there.
And that is why people ever think stuff like this is a good idea. People are some hyperbolic about Rooney and Fellaini that some really think literally anyone could do better than them. But, really we could do worse it is possible.
Funny as I was thinking about it recently. Think he'll be an astute addition to the squad on a one year contract.
A new top striker, Rashford & Defoe would be good options for the position when we are going for a league challenge & CL challenge. This year showed how we have lacked the presence of a genuine goal scoring striker besides Zlatan in the squad. Defoe can be a useful to come in late in games or start some cup games. Will also fill in the home grown quota.
A new top striker, Rashford & Defoe would be good options for the position when we are going for a league challenge & CL challenge. This year showed how we have lacked the presence of a genuine goal scoring striker besides Zlatan in the squad. Defoe can be a useful to come in late in games or start some cup games. Will also fill in the home grown quota.
The way I remember Defoe is as a good goal scorer when on form. But usually offer very little else and can be frustrating when in possession. I'd rather play Janssen than him who would do more for our overall play and count on goals from midfield.
He is a great at what he does, but got obvious weaknesses in possession based systems imo.
He is a great at what he does, but got obvious weaknesses in possession based systems imo.
Feck no.
We need to stop with this papering over the cracks mentality. Sign top notch attackers and let them duke it out.
We need to stop with this papering over the cracks mentality. Sign top notch attackers and let them duke it out.
Firstly, Defoe would not command the wages that Zlatan did. You know what I mean when I say free. He wouldn't cost anything in transfer fees, whereas another backup striker like Hernandez, would cost a transfer fee. I didn't think I'd have to sit here and explain the difference between paying transfer fees and not. Defoe would be free (in transfer fee terms) so it would free up funds in other areas.
Secondly, I didn't say that our only issue is finishing. I Think that part of our problem is finishing in certain games. Another problem is only having Rashford and Martial next season as recognised strikers, we need 4. So why not spunk a big load on 1 attacker, and bring Defoe in as the second.
Thirdly, saving money by not spending any money on Defoe's transfer, we have more money available to spend money on players to help us build up play like you say.
I just don't see the negative to signing him.
The argument to that is United create way more chances than Sunderland. How many chances does Rooney need before he scores? Now how many does Defoe.. Defoe would of had atleast 10 goals, possibly even more than he currently has at Sunderland with the amount of chances we create. All those home draws which were complete domination with 15+ shots on target yet we fail to convert due to poor finnishing. Defoe in my eyes would become our flat track bully if he signed. Remember we play 60+ games a season.
Defoe has scored 15 PL goals this season which sounds great.
But 5 were pens.
And the other 10 goals were all scored from inside the area from 64 shots taken inside the area (his 26 shots from outside the area resulted in zero goals). So his conversion rate of non-penalty shots taken inside the area is about 15%, which is average; no better than many of the various United attackers who have been criticised for woeful finishing this season, with the exception of Pogba who's finishing has been spectacularly bad, Rooney and Lingard.
But 5 were pens.
And the other 10 goals were all scored from inside the area from 64 shots taken inside the area (his 26 shots from outside the area resulted in zero goals). So his conversion rate of non-penalty shots taken inside the area is about 15%, which is average; no better than many of the various United attackers who have been criticised for woeful finishing this season, with the exception of Pogba who's finishing has been spectacularly bad, Rooney and Lingard.
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May as well sign Carroll, Adam, Downing etc while we're at it. If this is the level we're aiming for now.
How much do you think? Remember this is coming to United as a proven goal scorer
I don't know why you expect that of Rooney at all, he has no pace, positioning, accuracy, first touch and little passing ability, Rooney has missed at least 3 open nets/1v1 situations and he barely starts or plays, he's been terrible for 3 years now and again he's one of our highest paid players, for Christ sakes Martial had to hit the ball off of him last season for him to get a goal!Defoe has only scored 9 goals from open play and barely scored in the second half of the season so I don't really think there's all that much between current state Defoe and current state Rooney. Rooney also has barely played up front and has had to settle with just being another cog in the machine rather than have the team built to get the best out of him like Sunderland do with Defoe. Put Rooney in a team that's built to get the best out of him and where he is starting up front every week and taking all penalties and I'd expect him to have double figures for the season, while also adding more to the team than Defoe in terms of assists and set pieces. He has 7 as it is for us while very rarely playing up front. That's not even to mention that it's likely Defoe's productivity would lessen as he goes from starting every game to playing 1 in 3 or 4.
I agree the difference in wages would be huge which is why I said most of those things applied to Rooney only
Defoe has been scoring around 15 goals for years now for Tottenham too. I'll give you the set piece one, but as we've seen Rashford is getting better at them and we have Mata/Pogba for them too. Sure his productivity might lessen a bit and maybe he doesn't score 15 goals, but 10, he'd still be one of our top scorers. He has also played a bitpart role in the past and done decently for tottenham. Plus and a big plus, he's literally a third of what Rooney is in terms of cost. Maybe you just really like Rooney and I get it, even though he betrayed this club in 2010 he has done a lot for it for sure, but there's no denying Defoe is a far better player at the moment, I love Rooney I really do, but I'm also not blind by bias either.
We have to upgrade our team somehow and swapping out Rooney for Defoe is an upgrade in almost every way bar being a club legend and having that stature to encourage the dressing room. Also I don't know if you've watch Rooney or not this season (doesn't seem like you have) he shows you what stats don't, that he's slow, late to every ball, has no awareness outside a range of around 5 yards, no first touch, no shooting accuracy. If you just watch the 2 players play, it's definitely night and day, either you need to open your eyes when you watch United games that Rooney features in or start watching United at all, because honestly if you're willing to keep Rooney over bringing Defoe in on a free then you obviously do not watch either play.
The only good thing about defoe is his shooting ability. The guy can hit em hard with zero backlift.
He'll be wanting to stay in the England squad/get to the world cup - playing 3/4th choice backup with us won't get him there.
I wouldn't have a problem with it. We play a lot of games. We have a lot of young players. He's got great experience and still knows how to score - even for teams that don't create much. I think it could be a smart move. Just as an extra body and you know? If we had him this season - especially in some of the home games we might be higher up the table. As a short term option to beef up the squad, I don't think he'd be a poor option.
Take him on a free - we'd be daft not too. 0-0 with 20 mins to go Defoe would be a great option off the bench.
Also - we have struggled this year due to lack of depth. He'd be another option.
Also - we have struggled this year due to lack of depth. He'd be another option.
Don't get me wrong, I agree Rooney is terrible these days for a club like ours. I just think that if he was to play for a team that was built around him his scoring record wouldn't be all that much off Defoe's. Basically swap Rooney for Defoe this season and I think their goal records would be almost reversed. I'd have Defoe on around 10 for us and Rooney on a little bit more than that for Sunderland.
Defoe's record in his second spell at Spurs was 4, 24, 9, 17, 15 and 10 in all competitions. One very good season, two good, two average and one terrible. That's when he wasn't an automatic starter though so anything more than 15 is really good tbf. But to expect him to do similar at his age now when he'll be facing packed defences and getting even less minutes than he did at Spurs is a bit too optimistic, imo.
I agree we have to upgrade our team, significantly. And this is barely an upgrade at all. Sign a quality player instead and have our current options play the role you want Defoe to play, rather than signing a player that will never be more than a decent bench option for us. If you can't trust a player to play the most important matches for the club then what's the point of signing him?
You couldn't be further wrong about me liking Rooney btw, I've disliked him for years and wanted him gone since the Moyes season. I just try to be objective.
Would of made sense in January - not now.
Like you said we need more than just an upgrade from Rooney to defoe, which I agree with, however, that's why I think we should also sign a world class striker too. Rashford, Defoe and this world class striker should be able to get enough minutes between them. Just Defoe isn't enough I'll agree with That, but we definitely need more than just a world class option and Rashford as he's still growing and as we saw, having just that didn't help us too much in the goal scoring aspect.
I'm surprised that some say no. Why? he offers a style of play (forward) that we don't have. he'll cost peanuts, and it will be a great challenge for him. Zlatan, Henrik Larrson... experienced forwards have a role to play at United. Look at Teddy Sheringham... his age when he joined us?
Defoe would be excellent at United. He wouldn't play every game, could pass on LOADS of advice to the youngsters... and he WILL SCORE GOALS.
That's just my personal opinion. I would love us to buy Jamie Vardy too. These players are proven premier league quality, and they are nothing but pure No 9's. I love them.
Defoe would be excellent at United. He wouldn't play every game, could pass on LOADS of advice to the youngsters... and he WILL SCORE GOALS.
That's just my personal opinion. I would love us to buy Jamie Vardy too. These players are proven premier league quality, and they are nothing but pure No 9's. I love them.
I see what you did there.
Defoe wasnt good enough for a top club in his prime let alone now
fecking hell
In january he wasn't a free player and Sunderland would not have let him go because they need him, this summer he is.
In january we also had Zlatan, now we don't
I really don't see how this would have made any sense in January
Doesn't really matter if he was free or not in January, as he wouldn't have been very expensive, especially if he pushed for a move.
Also, in my opinion, it was obvious we needed a short term stop-gap to support Ibrahimovic this season. Defoe could have been a great option in January as he is proven in the league and wouldn't cost a bomb.
But now as we approach the summer with a much wider pool of better quality, younger strikers, signing Defoe wouldn't make much sense in my opinion.
Agree with this.
You left out the part where Defoe started all those games and Hernandez did most of those goals off the bench. But okay.
So you don't want to start Rashford, and you think Martial should be 3rd choice?
I'd take him as a 3rd choice behind a new experienced striker and Rashford. The trouble with a one striker system is keeping several players happy. That probelem can be mitigated a little with players who can play wide as well, but having an older player without a huge expectation of game-time is another option.
Depends if Defoe would be up for that, but I reckon he would. Global super brand and all that. I don't see why everyone is so dead against it for a freebie.
Depends if Defoe would be up for that, but I reckon he would. Global super brand and all that. I don't see why everyone is so dead against it for a freebie.
Which is why this transfer wouldn't work. If we were to get him, he would be say third choice at best. But why would Defoe want to come here and sit on the bench for a season at his age, especially with the world cup next summer.
Money
That is a fair point.
He might want to come to be on the bench in order in the hope of getting a big trophy to his name.
This is how we ended up with Young and can't get rid anymore.
So...NO!
So...NO!
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