Kieran Tierney

[Adnan]

I somewhat agree but he is a great signing in a position where we need a top player. Alternatively we spread it around like we did with Matic, Miki, Lindelof and Lukaku. Not sure which is better long term.

Dybala would have fantastic marketing potential and the inflated price that we'd have to pay for him would be worth it in the long run for a 24 year old potential superstar.

 

[VancouverUtdFan]

Sessegnon or Tierney?

Tierney quite easily. He’s 20 years old and already has 2 CL campaigns under his belt, is an undeniable leader with immense talent who’s ready to start at a bigger club. Sessegnon is 17 and no way does he guarantee being a starter for United/Mourinho at that age and in all likelihood would take a couple years if all things go according to plan.

...as for Sandro, I’m against getting him for such a crazy fee. Only a player like Marcelo is worth that imho. Sandro doesn’t really wow you, he’s just a sound player that does things right but he won’t win you a game or drastically change the outcome / he’s not a game changer by any means. And like others have said, I think it’d be smartest for United to not spend so much at LB, get someone like Tierney who can duke it out with Shaw for the starting spot and create healthy, internal competition, while saving that LB money to spend up front which is what we need to invest the most in AKA top quality attacking talent.

 

[A9X SJ]

Just need to take the risk I watch the SPL (Celtic) most weeks I think he would be able to cut it at the top level in England

There have been a few players to ply there trade in the SPL & make it in the Premiership of late

Wanyama
Robertson
Van Dijk
Arteta (Retired)
Davis
Forster

 

[SambaBoy]

He's definitely worth getting if we can agree a reasonable price. That might be easier said than done because I can't see him demanding a move like the others who have left Celtic have done, they are normally foreign players who seen Celtic as a stepping stone in the first place. Tierney is a local lad and a fan of the club, doesn't mean he won't leave just mean I can't see him handing in transfer requests etc therefore it gives Celtic a better bargaining positions when it comes to a transfer fee.

 

[Mcking]

Just need to take the risk I watch the SPL (Celtic) most weeks I think he would be able to cut it at the top level in England

There have been a few players to ply there trade in the SPL & make it in the Premiership of late

Wanyama
Robertson
Van Dijk
Arteta (Retired)
Davis
Forster

All of them made it via a weaker team where they had little pressure, competition and ample time and patience. That is not the case at Utd where Tierney will be expected slot in from day 1. It's for the lad's good though maybe we should take a punt for a low price.
We should really start making this sign-and-loan-back thingy; Sessegnon, Malcom, Tierney etc are all players we could sign and loan for long-term preps.

 

[Adnan]

All of them made it via a weaker team where they had little pressure, competition and ample time and patience. That is not the case at Utd where Tierney will be expected slot in from day 1. It's for the lad's good though maybe we should take a punt for a low price.
We should really start making this sign-and-loan-back thingy; Sessegnon, Malcom, Tierney etc are all players we could sign and loan for long-term preps.

All of them made it via teams that were willing to give them that opportunity.

 

[Mcking]

All of them made it via teams that were willing to give them that opportunity.

They made it at teams that were willing to give them the opportunity to play on a consistent basis, right their wrongs and get better, even when out of form and playing poorly.

 

[Adnan]

They made it at teams that were willing to give them the opportunity to play on a consistent basis, right their wrongs and get better, even when out of form and playing poorly.

So did we with Jones, Smalling, Rojo etc

 

[Camy89]

Would love for this guy to come to United. He's young, he's fast, he's a smart player. Very talented guy, maybe a little raw in places, but definitely has the potential to step it up.

What's more, when I went to see Celtic v Patrick Thistle at Parkhead last year (I was supporting Thistle of course due to my allegiance with Aberdeen), we were standing outside the stadium waiting on a taxi/chatting and he just walked past us to get picked up by his mum and dad. Slightly surreal, but reminded us actually how young the guy is.

 

[Bastian]

He's the type of player we'd regret not signing. Wouldn't like to see him picked up by our rivals. It's a conundrum with regards to Shaw, it's not exactly likely we could have both and both be satisfied with their game time.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Would love for this guy to come to United. He's young, he's fast, he's a smart player. Very talented guy, maybe a little raw in places, but definitely has the potential to step it up.

What's more, when I went to see Celtic v Patrick Thistle at Parkhead last year (I was supporting Thistle of course due to my allegiance with Aberdeen), we were standing outside the stadium waiting on a taxi/chatting and he just walked past us to get picked up by his mum and dad. Slightly surreal, but reminded us actually how young the guy is.

There seems to be contrasting views on this. You say he's fast while some Celtic fans say he's not that fast

 

[Camy89]

There seems to be contrasting views on this. You say he's fast while some Celtic fans say he's not that fast

He's not Salah type fast, but he's fast enough for me. When he gets going, he's shifting, but often he makes a great pass before he gets fully up to speed. As far as I'm concerned, if he's quick enough to get past a player or two, then have the ability to feed it into Pogba or Lukaku etc, i'm happy, and he can, so i am.

 

[Mcking]

So did we with Jones, Smalling, Rojo etc

You are missing the point, when Jones and Smalling joined as youngsters, we had Vidic and Ferdinand. We don't have that luxury for Tierney now. If he doesn't hit the ground running, we would be looking to upgrade on him. It's taken Smalling and Jones 5-6years to establish themselves and we are yet to win the league with them as starters, and winning the league is our goal right now. We surely can't wait a similar long period for Tierney. For every Smalling and Jones, there's a Memphis btw.

 

[Adnan]

You are missing the point, when Jones and Smalling joined as youngsters, we had Vidic and Ferdinand. We don't have that luxury for Tierney now. If he doesn't hit the ground running, we would be looking to upgrade on him. It's taken Smalling and Jones 5-6years to establish themselves and we are yet to win the league with them as starters, and winning the league is our goal right now. We surely can't wait a similar long period for Tierney. For every Smalling and Jones, there's a Memphis btw.

The point is we have shown patience with many players currently and in the past. We're a club that shows patience and Vidic and Evra are two example of players who had a bad start at the club that were given time. Luke Shaw currently is another example.

 

[Ødegaard]

Would prefer spending big on Alex Sandro and have Shaw as a rotation alternative to Sandro.

 

[Mcking]

The point is we have shown patience with many players currently and in the past. We're a club that shows patience and Vidic and Evra are two example of players who had a bad start at the club that were given time. Luke Shaw currently is another example.

We do show patience at times, but at what cost? We don't have a luxury of patience anymore.

 

[Adnan]

We do show patience at times, but at what cost? We don't have a luxury of patience anymore.

We never had the luxury of patience when we signed Vidic and Evra. But no matter who we sign they're gonna take time to settle.

 

[Bastian]

Would prefer spending big on Alex Sandro and have Shaw as a rotation alternative to Sandro.

Ideally, yes. But would you feel the same if we'd be looking at 70m budget in January and 150m in the summer? Spending 70m on a left back wouldn't be the best decision.

 

[Ødegaard]

Ideally, yes. But would you feel the same if we'd be looking at 70m budget in January and 150m in the summer? Spending 70m on a left back wouldn't be the best decision.

Yes, I would.
I'd much rather spend 70 million on getting a world class left back than getting a ok attacking-outlet, and save that acquisition for when we have more cash to spend. Getting a player like Alex Sandro in who can provide good crosses and attacking in his own right from that position is one thing, but stable quality at the left would give Martial/Rashford more freedom going forward. I also think it's inevitable that Young won't be here for many more years to come and Shaw is a big question-mark, so we need to address both flanks in relatively short time, so getting one out of the way while Valencia is still going seems best in order to not have too much going on at the same time at a later point in our defense.

Who could you get for 70 million in January that would be good improvements on our first team from creative/box to box midfield and more attacking positions?

If we got Alex Sandro, we could still keep Shaw. We just wouldn't be fecked if Shaw didn't reach his potential or get rid of his injuries.
If we got Tierney for example, we'd have two talented players but we'd have to hope that either establishes themselves as a top class left-back. I'd much rather we have one nailed on and one with potential.

Naturally, if a player capable of making us less fecked from midfield when Pogba is out would be available and that also could work in a 3 with Pogba & Matic, I'd also consider that as a good option (random example in Pjanic).

Edit:
To add to this, I think Alex Sandro's experience as a wing-back at Juventus is a tactical bonus as well for Jose, as he reportedly wanted Perisic for a role similar to that.

 

[Ødegaard]

@Bastian
In a perfect world for me, we'd sign Alex Sandro now in January, sign Özil & Sanchez* on free-transfers & spend big-money on a top class midfielder to play alongside Pogba that is able to take Pogbas role when Pogba needs a rest.

If none of Lindelöf, Smalling or Jones can make a suitable partner for Bailly during the next season, I'd sell one or two of Smalling and Jones, promote Tuanzebe for the squad-place & sign a quality defender to be the definitive partner for Bailly after that season.

* I "know" Sanchez is going to City, but I'm just adding more quality on a free in order to justify spending big in midfield and defense over attack. Their age also means that they can bring experience where Rashford & Martial will bring youth and talent.

 

[Bastian]

@Ødegaard

It's not like I wouldn't want an elite left back. Don't get me wrong. And I'm of the opinion that we need a much more significant transfer budget if we are to seriously compete, not just for the Prem, but in Europe. But, if we are restricted to an annual budget of 150m (for whatever reason) that would mean Jose has about 70-80m for January and another 150m for next season. Of course, this is a hypothetical at this stage, but if we've got 220m all in all to spend, I'd rather pick up Tierney who looks much more promising than Shaw did IMO, bearing in mind that we're a top class midfielder and right sided attacker short. And we might need to sign a right back for next season too, unless Jose deems TFM to be ready for that position competing with Tony (who probably doesn't have more than 1 more season as first choice).

So, I wouldn't be unhappy with him, I'd just worry that would mean we'd compromise on getting up to speed for next season.

 

[Bastian]

@Bastian
In a perfect world for me, we'd sign Alex Sandro now in January, sign Özil & Sanchez* on free-transfers & spend big-money on a top class midfielder to play alongside Pogba that is able to take Pogbas role when Pogba needs a rest.

If none of Lindelöf, Smalling or Jones can make a suitable partner for Bailly during the next season, I'd sell one or two of Smalling and Jones, promote Tuanzebe for the squad-place & sign a quality defender to be the definitive partner for Bailly after that season.

* I "know" Sanchez is going to City, but I'm just adding more quality on a free in order to justify spending big in midfield and defense over attack. Their age also means that they can bring experience where Rashford & Martial will bring youth and talent.

That's exactly it. Ozil is the only bit of true quality we can hope to persuade on a free, which means, for proven top level players, we are looking at a minimum of 70m type of figure, if not much more than that. If, again, this is academic, our total budget for the next 2-3 transfer windows (including the January ones) is 200-220m (+ whatever we can make up in sales) that's maybe two elite players and the rest being promising youngsters or players that aren't really great, but still good. Whether we are after Ozil, and whether we can get him, makes a lot of difference in terms of what other deals we can get done in the market.

 

[Charles Miller]

I dont know this player tbh. Is he really good? I confess i'm a bit worried because we seem to be the only giant club that refuse to accept the reality of the modern football that the full backs need to be among the best players in the squad and spend to get top players in those positions.

 

[Ødegaard]

@Ødegaard

It's not like I wouldn't want an elite left back. Don't get me wrong. And I'm of the opinion that we need a much more significant transfer budget if we are to seriously compete, not just for the Prem, but in Europe. But, if we are restricted to an annual budget of 150m (for whatever reason) that would mean Jose has about 70-80m for January and another 150m for next season. Of course, this is a hypothetical at this stage, but if we've got 220m all in all to spend, I'd rather pick up Tierney who looks much more promising than Shaw did IMO, bearing in mind that we're a top class midfielder and right sided attacker short. And we might need to sign a right back for next season too, unless Jose deems TFM to be ready for that position competing with Tony (who probably doesn't have more than 1 more season as first choice).

So, I wouldn't be unhappy with him, I'd just worry that would mean we'd compromise on getting up to speed for next season.

I can see why you'd want to put that 70 million (or most of it) into the summer pot as more players are available then. I can also understand that you'd want Tierney if you see him as more talented than Shaw (and more ready to play right here and now), I have no idea about Tierney. All I know is that Sandro is top class right now and I worry that we'll end up in a circle of not getting top players in if we continue to opt out of a chance of buying a world class player due to a hunt for another potentially world class player.

I think we have 4-5 (depending on if a CB cement their place as a Bailly partner that isn't injured 365 days a year) problem areas:
Left back fairly immediately as we have Darmian (not good), Young (old and in form, but not starting 11 material) & Shaw (talented but injury-plagued).
I think that due to Shaw's talent, we should shaft Darmian & Young if that helps us land Alex Sandro or another top class left-back. it sorts that area.

CB I think Bailly is and will be class for us, but I've lost faith in Jones ever going a season without serious injuries, so while I'm not against keeping him in the squad I don't want us to rely on him to have a performing central defense. Lindelöf if he puts on muscle and gets his head straight would be good as he seems good on the ball. Smalling is good enough for a squad-role for sure, but with Tuanzebe on his way in (and TFM for those that think of him as a CB) we're better off reducing numbers by 1-2 and upping the quality. Luckily that means we get some money from the area to spend on the area, like with LB.

Right back from 1-3 year forward as Valencia will need replacement at some point, but he's still going strong and is a machine that isn't breaking down right away. I have faith in him as a first choice for now so I wouldn't be against a Tierney/Shaw like signing to be his understudy until he loses it. Don't see it as stressing but would prefer to not have 2-3 changes in our main back-line at the same time, which is why I think solving LB now is a grea thing to do while we can still have Valencia going.

Second CM with high-quality passing-abilities and the ability to withstand pressure in order to not leave us crippled when Pogba is out injured or tired. I think Herrera, Lingard & Fellaini are good options to have, but I'd hope for us to either drop Fellaini or Herrera if there is a CM out there that can play at a high level together with Pogba & Matic or just with Matic.
I'd like to see TFM as a DM/DLP like Matic myself, so I don't have big worries at that spot (especially as I think Pogba can play DLP, despite being best at b2b, if we have enough quality around and in front of him).

The last is our right-wing/general creativity in attack needing a bit higher quality. Again, Lingard is playing well, Rashford & Martial are very talented and Mkhitaryan should be producing better if he manages to settle in, but I don't think we should leave the right-wing at least up to chance. I'd like to see us have some quality to throw off the bench. If that means we go back to benching one of Martial/Rashford then I'm all for it, but it either means we need a good right-winger to be on the bench or one to make the position his own.

Once these things are sorted, I think our first XI will be up there with most of the top clubs. Of course all of this won't happen within one year. I'd expect it to take 2-3 years and at the end of that we'd need to have changed out Valencia & Matic or at least made them secondary-choices instead of first-choices.

That's exactly it. Ozil is the only bit of true quality we can hope to persuade on a free, which means, for proven top level players, we are looking at a minimum of 70m type of figure, if not much more than that. If, again, this is academic, our total budget for the next 2-3 transfer windows (including the January ones) is 200-220m (+ whatever we can make up in sales) that's maybe two elite players and the rest being promising youngsters or players that aren't really great, but still good. Whether we are after Ozil, and whether we can get him, makes a lot of difference in terms of what other deals we can get done in the market.

Yeah, I think Özil on a free (but not Sanchez) would move us more towards needing a right-winger of high-quality that would cost a lot. But I still think Özil alone on a free and additions to LB and central-midfield would be enough to take us up a level even if we didn't get a proper right-winger that same year. Of course we could also go for Özil, Sandro & a right-winger and hope that Pogba won't be injured or tired for crucial parts of the season, or that Martial & Rashford develops enough to keep us able to break teams down when Pogba is out. Özil can play out wide and drift in after all. Which is why I wouldn't really see it as a huge issue if we didn't get Sanchez (though It'd fit perfect with the assumed budget).

Put simple, I just think we need a LB and a new creative outlet, either from out wide, alternative & partner for Pogba or a more central playmaker like Özil. The rest can wait to some extent and quality comes before quantity for me at this point, as we seem to have tons of players to just put on somewhere.

 

[Bastian]

@Ødegaard

I've not seen loads of him, but from what I've seen him he looks a very gifted player, quite relentless in attack. He's got trickery too.

With regards to transfer strategy, I just wonder, if we aren't in for Ozil (or if he doesn't fancy it), that leaves us needing an attacking player for the right wing and a central midfielder, and those positions I'd rather not compromise on.

Ideally, we sign a left back, a central midfielder, a right sided attacking player (maybe even a workhorse winger) and potentially a 2nd striker. If we go for Dybala, for instance, than that has to be 100m+.

But of course, who'd be unhappy with an elite signing..!

 

[Mcking]

We never had the luxury of patience when we signed Vidic and Evra. But no matter who we sign they're gonna take time to settle.

If the player is good. For Tierney, it's no guarantee - it's either we wait or we bin him. If we wait for him a long time and he ends up being bang average afterall, that will be many years wasted on our part.

 

[Bestietom]

At the end of the day it is down to Mourinho who he wants. I think Tieney is worth a shout, but keep Shaw also. Mourinho probly prefers Rose as he has the Premiership experience. We will have to wait and see.

 

[Devil may care]

Can he also play RB?

 

[poleglass red]

Can he also play RB?

surprisingly for his attributes he hasn't looked great playing right back the few times I've seen him there. He can do a job at centre half, and has also played left side in a back 3, but left back is his position. if we sign him, that's where he'd play.

 

[Devil may care]

surprisingly for his attributes he hasn't looked great playing right back the few times I've seen him there. He can do a job at centre half, and has also played left side in a back 3, but left back is his position. if we sign him, that's where he'd play.

Gotcha, I was just wondering if we were seeing him as cover/competition for both fullback roles.

 

[Bwuk]

He can play right back at a push, but better only on emergencies. When he’s played there for Scotland it shows he’s not a right back, he comes infield too much.

 

[red4ever 79]

Looks a good young player. Strong in the tackle, good positional awareness. Can drive forward into space. Would like to see him here competing for the LB slot

 

[Adnan]

McDonnell from the Mirror who is the Manchester correspondent for the outlet is reporting that we will move for Tierney if we can't strike a deal for Rose from Spurs.

 

[Adnan]

How does he compare to Robertson who Liverpool signed and had a fantastic game against City?

 

[izec]

Rather have him than Rose. Sandro would be even better.

Sandro > Sessegnon >= Tierney > Rose

 

[#07]

 

[SerenityValley]

Is Castles supposed to be good? I ask because The Daily Record spend all season trying to sell Celtic’s players and there’s something in the article that reeks of that.

Also, he says that Mourinho prefers players that can play across a number of positions butnive also seen articles that say he prefers specialists.

 

[Kostov]

If we plan on selling Shaw and keeping Young, Tierney might be the best long term option. That way next season Young/Tierney can share the LB position while the boy settles.

 

[Lawman]

If we plan on selling Shaw and keeping Young, Tierney might be the best long term option. That way next season Young/Tierney can share the LB position while the boy settles.

Be so much better if we had an Evra at 31 ish so Tierny could come in as you say and settle for a season. The boy is such a good player it’s worth the risk but I think a Sandro would be a safer option due to experience and performance levels. Although won’t be disappointed with Tierny he’s a star.

 

[Pink Moon]

How does he compare to Robertson who Liverpool signed and had a fantastic game against City?

He's definitely better than Robertson.