And how likely are those 4 transfers in one window?
Nikola Milenkovic
- Thread starter Adnan
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Nik (@Rood) and Imran (@Annihilate Now!) discuss United's fantastic win away against Athletic Club in the semi-final of the Europa League.
They also pick out the positives of United's 4-3 loss away at Brentford, and Nik reviews a day out at Old Trafford watching Manchester United Women qualify for the Champions League.
Getting Sancho and Haaland is definitely unlikely but if United board wanted to show some sort of ambition especially if United end up 2nd and with a trophy, that could possibly happen. I mean that would get us sorted in those positions for about 7 years given those players want to remain at the club. Also, in Haaland, you get someone whose value will only increase which gives you a huge profit on your investment. Anyway, I can only dream. I can't think of any striker in world football whose as clinical as Haaland. The guy needs a half chance and he'll score.
Not seen much of him, is he a significant upgrade on Lindelof?
if he's only got a year left on his contract then 30m is way too much, should be looking at Telles money
That’s why I said £20-£30 million mate, think Telles was £15 million wasn’t he ? Milenkovic is 23 years old though and still not in his prime so I’d imagine he’d cost a bit more than Telles.
He's stylistically different to Lindelöf, so putting him in the lineup alongside either Maguire or Lindelöf will allow us to play higher up the pitch and deal with the opposition's pace better. If anything, I'd compare him directly to Bailly, and in that sense, he's just taller than Bailly but not necessarily better.
A taller injury-free version of Bailly would be ideal.
I'd consider him a slight downgrade to Bailly. He doesn't sense danger as well as Bailly does, and he tends to ball-watch more often than not.
Sounds perfect
He's 23. He can get better. He has the potential to be a great centre back. Given how he started off (as a right back), I'm not surprised with his current defensive weaknesses. Having said that, it's the same exact problem that both Upamecano and Koundé have, so he's not alone in that sense.Sounds perfect
Thanks for the feedback, appreciated. I just worry why we are even interested if he is defensively questionable, we have a few like that already.
Looks like a squad option if we're actually interested.
Apart from the story that arose when Jose went to watch an international involving Serbia and there was talk that he was looking at Milenkovic I have seen nothing substantial that we have any interest in him. So now he is nearing the end of his current contract and that combined with constant speculation about Lindelof not being good enough and The fitness of Bailly a link to Utd is formed.
Ole seems really happy with Victor and they are in negotiations with Eric so I think there is nothing here so let us move on to something with a little bit of credibility.
No defender is flawless. Every defender has their role to perform, and if they do well enough, then they have to hope that the others perform their role. In Milenkovic's case, he performs his RCB role well enough, and his weaknesses are covered by Fiorentina's back 5 setup. Since he's mainly played as a right full back in a back 4, he'll take a bit of time to transition to a CB role, but the fundamentals are there (for a stopper, ball-winning role), so he's not going to be terrible.
I'd expect this as well. He's pretty comfortable as a right back as he's played there for a couple of years (more than both Lindelöf and Bailly), so he'd be a serviceable option there, too.
Getting owned here by Jota. Out jumped for headed goal and then completely loses him for second.
In both cases, the ball goes to the far side, and Milenkovic loses awareness of what's around him. I'm surprised that he hasn't gotten better at that especially since he's played as an RCB for a good period of time.
He's not having a great game do far. Lost Jota for both goals, looks slow.
First time I see him play so can't make a judgment but it's not a great first impression.
First time I see him play so can't make a judgment but it's not a great first impression.
To be honest, if you want to see what his weaknesses are, then this is the match to watch. In fairness, that's the problem with starting a senior football career as a full back. He doesn't have the same defensive instincts as other central defenders. Still, he has time, so he can still improve on that front.
Considering he is up against largely Prem level players here, it gives us a fair idea of how he will do.
He was pretty decent vs Ireland but crap today. His partner Stefan Mitrovic isn't brilliant either, so you can take that into account.
This is a great game now by the way
He was pretty decent vs Ireland but crap today. His partner Stefan Mitrovic isn't brilliant either, so you can take that into account.
This is a great game now by the way
Is he fast? Because if he’s not I don’t really see the point.
Sounds like everything I feared he’d be
He's fast for a 6'5" player. He's no rapid defender like Upamecano or Koundé, but for his height, he can keep up with quick players.
Not particularly
Just got sent off for a dumb lunge
Looked like a yellow card offence to me. Would like to see it again.
And he just got sent off
I've seen yellows given for worse challenges, but technically, that's a red. He went in with his studs, and his studs caught Danilo's Achilles tendon.
We've already got Maguire to be the big physical presence. I think we need a Rio, to partner our Vidic so to speak. Not that Maguire is anywhere near Vidic level, but you get what I mean. I think Upamacano is probably Bayern bound and I have reservations about Kounde, he's a bit lightweight for me, and we've already got one Lindelof! Although granted I have seen very little of them, from the players we have been linked to I'd favour Torres or Konate. Fofana at Leicester is one to keep an eye on, but the PL tax is heavy. France have an absolute embarrassments of riches at CB don't they.
Sorry to take the thread off topic. I heard Milenkovic had a bit of a mare today.
If he is available on a free then sure worth a punt, but if you are spending big money then you are actively buying a taller but less talented Lindelof.
He wouldn't be a bad Bailly replacement, though. Even if Bailly stays, he'll give us added depth and be the more aggressive, athletic defender that we'll need against certain opponents.
Also, you're really underselling his pace. There's a reason he started off playing as a right back for the first couple years of his senior career. He's faster than both Lindelöf and Maguire.
He is absolutely faster than Maguire. I'm not convinced he's faster than Lindelof. Definitely better in the air than Lindelof though
Well being better than Lindelof in the air aint some achievement, i mean guy ducks.
From what I've seen on him at Fiorentina, he's faster than Lindelöf. Victor compensates for that by doing a better job of blocking the dangerous running lanes and leading the dribbler away from the box.
Nikola Milenkovic is no improvement on what we have already; it would be a big mistake if we wasted our budget on him. I'd be surprised if the rumours are not from his agent looking to drum up interest from Premier League teams.
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So it's been decided on here that he's not good enough - or what we need - and Konate is heading to Liverpool. Who's left, Torres? Think the Caf also decided Koundé was not good enough either. Anyone else, Ben White? Is he as good as Leeds' desperation to sign him?
They're all an improvement just varying degrees. Caf decided Upamacano isnt good enough after we played against him but hes good enough to go to the european champions. Nobody is going to be good enough to all posters
Yeah, Upamecano was the one I wanted. And I'm certain he'll change peoples opinions here when he starts winning titles with Bayern over the next decade. Shame that. We came close to signing him much earlier in his career, and I think we also were scouting Varane when he was at Lens.
Yes we were heavily linked with Varane just after we signed Phil Jones. Seemed like we might not need another young CB, but as it turns out it would have been a good signing
I've got good news for you mate. We signed 16 year old Willy Kambwala from Sochaux, who like Upamecano at the time is one of the biggest talents in his age group. Sadly he's injured at the moment, but I'm very excited with his potential.
Yes. Tale of two very very different careers.
I know mate
The youth recruitment and the running of the academy is by far the best thing about United recently - it matches the ambitions befitting a big club. He will take a while to get there though and we need a partner for Harry. Your favourite seems to be heading to Liverpool though