Nigel De Jong

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Devil may care said:
No, not particularly Allan, previously I listed McCarthy and Schneiderlin as options. I used Allan specifically in context of the points you made as he plays in Serie A and is the same height as De Jong, so a mirroring comparison.

Blind is good at recycling possession but a proper box to box CM he'll never be as he lacks the pace and athleticism, we have better options to play higher up than him already, he is ideal as a deep sitting #6 who protects the defense.
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I was kidding.

Are you telling me that we have the same players in mind, except Allan ? As for Blind I think that he is more than a recycler.
 
JPRouve said:
I was kidding.

Are you telling me that we have the same players in mind, except Allan ? As for Blind I think that he is more than a recycler.
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Yes I would say so, we share a similar view on the role needed and I guess the personnel, bar Allan and De Jong. Blind has some good passing in his game but he will always be a deep lying player that needs energy in front of him, to pair him with a destroyer ala the Matic/Fabregas duo wouldn't work IMO. To me the type of player to compliment him in midfield would have been say Vidal from 18 months ago or Schweini at his peak, someone who can pass and dictate as well, but has the physical box to box game, so all told Schneiderlin is probably the most rounded option for us and is PL proven.
 
Devil may care said:
Yes I would say so, we share a similar view on the role needed and I guess the personnel, bar Allan and De Jong. Blind has some good passing in his game but he will always be a deep lying player that needs energy in front of him, to pair him with a destroyer ala the Matic/Fabregas duo wouldn't work IMO. To me the type of player to compliment him in midfield would have been say Vidal from 18 months ago or Schweini at his peak, someone who can pass and dictate as well, but has the physical box to box game, so all told Schneiderlin is probably the most rounded option for us and is PL proven.
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I would agree with that.
 
Devil may care said:
Yes I would say so, we share a similar view on the role needed and I guess the personnel, bar Allan and De Jong. Blind has some good passing in his game but he will always be a deep lying player that needs energy in front of him, to pair him with a destroyer ala the Matic/Fabregas duo wouldn't work IMO. To me the type of player to compliment him in midfield would have been say Vidal from 18 months ago or Schweini at his peak, someone who can pass and dictate as well, but has the physical box to box game, so all told Schneiderlin is probably the most rounded option for us and is PL proven.
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Good point. I agree.
 
He's not a bad player but I can see why people are reluctant to see him here. He'd add literaly nothing in terms of attractive style. I wanted him before we signed Blind but I think Blind could easily become as good defensively as he is and will always offer more going forward because his on the ball ability is IMO superior.
 
He's a good ball winner as a #6, and I'd take him as a squad option, but not as a starter.
 
All he'd do is add a bit of defensive protection (not much, as he has regressed a fair amount) but be a huge detriment in zombie and limited passing in midfield. We cry and moan about how our tempo is at OAP-level but are happy to bring more immobile sluggish passers? Van Gaal's recent comments suggest he wants a box-to-box midfielder to rectify that, not another anchor to add to the problem. Won't happen.

Also, has he even been performing well for Milan? If he can't do well in Italy, what makes people think he'll do well for us? His stint at City was a while ago.
 
I'd only see it as a reasonable option if we are planning on letting Carrick go in the summer (His deal is up then, isn't it?). He could be a rotation option for Blind in the defensive midfield position. I'd still prefer we kept Carrick for another year or two. I've seen Milan only twice this season, but he doesn't look up to much. Alright at best, IMO.
 
Not this shit again, his legs have gone and he's a limited dirty fecker, we don't need him at all.
 
Hope not. Van Gaal should ideally be looking at someone who can play, both as a number 6 and 8, then buy a replacement for Carrick the season after next.
 
I try to about judging limited defensive midfielders too harshly. Often they get derided for their lack of ball skills and later grieved for their absence. City sure missed De Jong for a bit.

I see De Jong as limited--especially for a United player--but maybe one that could help out in his own way.
 
If the rumours are true (which they probably aren't) he'd be a backup for Carrick and Blind.

Carrick is getting older so he can't play everything and Blind might be needed at LB again next season (depends on the defender transfers we're going to make, I assume Rojo is 2nd choice). Someone with a little experience might be ok for a game here and there.

De Jong would make sense since van Gaal knows him, but I'm sure the club would have different alternatives. As long as he isn't a regular starter it'd be fine with me.
 
He looks quite scary....will scare a few poncy midfielders so I reckon we should sign him!
 
NL Max said:
If the rumours are true (which they probably aren't) he'd be a backup for Carrick and Blind.

Carrick is getting older so he can't play everything and Blind might be needed at LB again next season (depends on the defender transfers we're going to make, I assume Rojo is 2nd choice). Someone with a little experience might be ok for a game here and there.

De Jong would make sense since van Gaal knows him, but I'm sure the club would have different alternatives. As long as he isn't a regular starter it'd be fine with me.
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Apart from the fact he'd want big money in comparison to a player with potential who we could bring in to learn from the likes of carrick before they are retired and step aside. It makes no sense at all.
 
If United are signing a new holding midfielder, it should really be a long-term Carrick replacement like Schneiderlin, Gonalons, Busquets, Martinez etc rather than a stop gap the wrong side of 30. Having said that, my guess is that given Carrick's contract extension and Blind's decent form thus far, Van Gaal wont bother with a #6 this summer, and will instead focus on getting in a new #8.
 
NL Max said:
If the rumours are true (which they probably aren't) he'd be a backup for Carrick and Blind.

Carrick is getting older so he can't play everything and Blind might be needed at LB again next season (depends on the defender transfers we're going to make, I assume Rojo is 2nd choice). Someone with a little experience might be ok for a game here and there.

De Jong would make sense since van Gaal knows him, but I'm sure the club would have different alternatives. As long as he isn't a regular starter it'd be fine with me.
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He is essentially filling the role Fletcher had in our squad as the third #6. He makes perfect sense because van Gaal knows what kind of person he is and he already knows the system. A younger player not only wouldn't know the system, but it would hurt the younger player's career being third in the pecking order. With Blind being the backup #6 and our primary utility man, we need another player and de Jong checks most of the boxes.
 
beergod said:
He is essentially filling the role Fletcher had in our squad as the third #6. He makes perfect sense because van Gaal knows what kind of person he is and he already knows the system. A younger player not only wouldn't know the system, but it would hurt the younger player's career being third in the pecking order. With Blind being the backup #6 and our primary utility man, we need another player and de Jong checks most of the boxes.
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De Jong wouldn't be my first choice, but he indeed ticks many boxes and would give some backup for CDM. Buying a starter for that position wouldn't make sense, a de Jong on a free? Meh, it'll do I guess. If van Gaal thinks he still can add something I'm for it.
 
Say we are 2-0 with 20 mins to go, De Jong would be fine to sub on to try and maintain the lead.
 
No chance. It's a transfer that actually made sense last Summer as a short term solution but not now.
 
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