Odion Ighalo - 6 month loan deal done

[Marzo]

He may turn out to be shite, maybe he tears it up, BUT IT IS A LOAN ! Why are some freaking out, we need a back up and really have nothing to lose from this deal.....it is better than nothing.
Give the man a chance , a chance of his lifetime, and if he really wants it, he will give his all.
Support the man and who knows, maybe he is the type to break his nose or toe to score!

 

[swedishgloryhunter]

Why compare to lukaku when lukaku has said in a interview that he wanted to leave after a couple of games. I mean have you forgot the toxic stuff he pulled at the end.

 

[sglowrider]

A very good deal. Costs next to nothing, EPL proven. And no obligation to buy if it doesn't work out.

This.

Not sure how everyone cant see the big picture. Instead being hysterical about 'the level we are at now.'
With the original target, Haaland gone, and with Rashford maybe out for the next couple of months, this is the best case scenario.
We have some breathing room and we regroup in the Summer.

 

[DBT85]

Solid advice about less outrage, mate, but you are seriously comparing Ighalo to Carrasco? Ighalo has been playing in farmer's league in China, for three years so is completely unfit for EPL and will take months to get in shape, if he can at all. So - how is he going to help us in the rest of the season? And before China he spent 4 years in shite Watford, two out of those in Championship, not PL. So - when exactly was he remotely close to the quality we need?

Have you seen a photo of ighalo recently? He's not gone pot bellied out there. Sure maybe he might not have the same sharpness of someone coming from an EU league, but he's hardly Shaw.

 

[Art Vandelay]

Jamie redknapp says it smacks of desperation.
Jamie redknapp is a gobshite.

Jamie Redknapp has the communication and critical thinking abilities of a watery shit that someone has missed the toilet with. The only time he should ever be listened to is if you intend to laugh at his pathetic word farts. He literally doesn't know what the word literally means.

 

[roonster09]

There has been speculation from Spain and Italy but I've played there and now want to play in England.

I don't think I will be moving but I'm not sure I'd say no if United called. They were my team growing up. I loved watching Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke on TV. They were my idols and playing at Old Trafford has always been a dream.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p03dttrv

Back in 2016

 

[The Purley King]

Decent player but a bit streaky in front of goal.
I think he’ll do well for us.
Utd fan too counts for a bit.
Happy with this as a stop gap very good business.
Wonder what price he’ll be be in fantasy footy !!

 

[sglowrider]

I hope he didn't forget how to be fast and deadly on his retirement vacations in China.

He has been on his winter break since the first week of December.

 

[Dante]

I’m curious, why?

Why I have doubts? Because I didn't rate him particularly highly when he was last in England.

More to the point, he's another striker on our books whose box-play is far from his biggest strength. As an alternative to Rashford and Martial, all he offers is inferiority. I would have preferred someone with a different toolset to give us a change off the bench. But I guess Ole has a preference and our options were limited.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

Have I missed the official announcement?

 

[Ranchero]

Solid advice about less outrage, mate, but you are seriously comparing Ighalo to Carrasco? Ighalo has been playing in farmer's league in China, for three years so is completely unfit for EPL and will take months to get in shape, if he can at all. So - how is he going to help us in the rest of the season? And before China he spent 4 years in shite Watford, two out of those in Championship, not PL. So - when exactly was he remotely close to the quality we need?

It's to appease the fans, I think until the summer. But for goodness sake, we should have been working on a replacement for Lukaku for months. This should not have been left as a last minute thing. And yes, the Rashford injury has pushed this all forward, but really this was a priority position last summer.

 

[NewGlory]

Did Lukaku want to stay? No.
Was Lukaku a negative influence on the dressing room, which includes some very bright youth prospects? Yes.
Does the signing of Ighalo alleviate the pressure from Martial and especially Greenwood having to perform? Yes.
Is Ighalo going to help prevent the burn out of Martial, Greenwood and James allowing us to rotate? Yes.

It's a no risk signing, he's not going to be expected to bag a serious amount of goals, so if he doesnt theres no harm done. As things stand we're not in top 4 but if our two new signings help us achieve top 4, then it'll be seen as a great bit of business.

Calm the feck down and get behind the team.

You are completing missing the point. Nobody is advocating that Lukaku should have stayed. But when you let Lukaku go, you have to replace him at least with something equal. Ighalo is not even in the ballpark of Lukaku, not just now, but he was never even close to Lukaku's level. This is a fecking embarrassment.

 

[Ranchero]

Why I have doubts? Because I didn't rate him particularly highly when he was last in England.

More to the point, he's another striker on our books whose box-play is far from his biggest strength. As an alternative to Rashford and Martial, all he offers is inferiority. I would have preferred someone with a different toolset to give us a change off the bench. But I guess Ole has a preference and our options were limited.

I can't believe Ole, who didn't want a Lukaku kind of player, goes and gets in someone who is just that, and nowhere near as good even when fit.

 

[SilentWitness]

Have I missed the official announcement?

It's on BBC as a full article that it's completed, pretty much done at that stage.

 

[Marzo]

Spoiler

Yep Lukaku cost 75 million, this is a loan!

 

[crossy1686]

Solid advice about less outrage, mate, but you are seriously comparing Ighalo to Carrasco? Ighalo has been playing in farmer's league in China, for three years so is completely unfit for EPL and will take months to get in shape, if he can at all. So - how is he going to help us in the rest of the season? And before China he spent 4 years in shite Watford, two out of those in Championship, not PL. So - when exactly was he remotely close to the quality we need?

Carrasco has been playing in China also.

He won't play this weekend but we don't play again for two weeks, giving him time to acclimatise to the UK again, I reckon he'll play some part against Chelsea. If he scores a few key goals that win us a couple of games then he was 100% worth it and that's it really.

Oh and he's not in bad shape either...

 

[Van Piorsing]

He has been on his winter break since the first week of December.

Should be at least fresh and injury free then.

 

[sglowrider]

Okay, anyone who doesn't think this is an act of desperation isn't living in the real world. It has taken us till deadline day to replace Lukaku who left in the last transfer window. We have had the best part of six months to sort a replacement...and we really should have forward planned before the Belgian actually left in any case. Now we are scrambling around unceremoniously to find anyone to fill that huge hole up front.

We have ended up with a 30-year-old striker whose best season for Watford is well behind him, and who at his best still basically a B-Division Lukaku ( to be painfully honest). It all makes our sidelining of Lukaku in favour of Rashford (who doesn't see himself as a striker anyway) all the more baffling. Because there is no question Lukaku would have stayed had he had the confidence of Ole.

Now Ole has to ask himself if he honestly thinks Ighalo is a better bet than Lukaku.

Now having said all that, I went the guy to tear it up. I will be 100% behind him and hope he shows his best form for us. Nobody really loses. He has six months to impress. For us it is a stop gap till the summer, or I hope it is.

But really how we got to the position where we had to go for Ighalo, shows how poor we are at recruitment planning. It really is all over the place. Even the Bruno signing which we are all excited by, was such a farce before we finally got it over the line, for more than we would have paid if we had gone for it during the summer.

Anyone it is Ighalo a go go and he will get my vote at the least. It will give Martial the kick up the butt that he so rightly needs. It is a plan B.

Haaland was Plan A. But hey-ho

 

[Virror]

Why is everybody talking about Lukaku, he was both fat and toxic for the dressing room. Ighalo is fit and wants nothing more than to be here.

 

[dove]

To all crying people here - who did you expect us to sign on 6 month loan in January? Ronaldo? There is pretty much 0 choice. It’s 6 month loan ffs, if he is shite then whatever but he might just score a few goals and help the team. We got nothing to lose really so stop moaning.

 

[Tiber]

Honestly can't remember a thing about him, but hopefully he can make a positive contribution

 

[holdsteady]

You are completing missing the point. Nobody is advocating that Lukaku should have stayed. But when you let Lukaku go, you have to replace him at least with something equal. Ighalo is not even in the ballpark of Lukaku, not just now, but he was never even close to Lukaku's level. This is a fecking embarrassment.

By all accounts it seems that Ole thought he had that replacement in Haaland but the club screwed him over. This is a short term fix. We'll likely sign the long term solution in the summer.

 

[Ranchero]

Let's be clear, Lukaku only downed tools, when he was told Rashford (who doesn't see himself as a striker) was the first choice striker. Cause and effect. He wanted out because he was not wanted. A bit like Angel Di Maria.

 

[Charles Miller]

Some of our local clubs here had a better window than United.

 

[Dve]

You are completing missing the point. Nobody is advocating that Lukaku should have stayed. But when you let Lukaku go, you have to replace him at least with something equal. Ighalo is not even in the ballpark of Lukaku, not just now, but he was never even close to Lukaku's level. This is a fecking embarrassment.

As others have pointed out, it´s not a replacement for Lukaku, it´s a 6 months loan deal while we´re searching for a replacement for Lukaku.

 

[morbidsaint]

He is a solid striker. I don't see a problem with this at all. And maybe this is a subtle kick up Martial nonchalant fecking ass.

 

[Zlatattack]

I'm glad we got someone. We need the bodies.

 

[MileHighRed]

He may turn out to be shite, maybe he tears it up, BUT IT IS A LOAN ! Why are some freaking out, we need a back up and really have nothing to loose from this deal.....it is better than nothing.
Give the man a chance , a chance of his lifetime, and if he really wants it, he will give his all.
Support the man and who knows, maybe he is the type to break his nose or toe to score!

This 100% we can't lose!

 

[Okey]

But seriously, some amzingly OTT reactions to this. I mean...how does anyone think this is replacing Lukaku??? If Rashford didn't get injured, we wouldn't even be looking for a striker. It's a 6 month loan deal for a Prem proven striker. We're not signing a player to take us to the next level. We're a Martial injury away from throwing in the towel upfront. This looks like a sensible deal, at a time when it was almost impossible to get anyone you'd really want in.

 

[Oldyella]

Cant believe people are so bent out of shape about a loan deal.

 

[charlenefan]

But seriously, some amzingly OTT reactions to this. I mean...how does anyone think this is replacing Lukaku??? If Rashford didn't get injured, we wouldn't even be looking for a striker. It's a 6 month loan deal for a Prem proven striker. We're not signing a player to take us to the next level. We're a Martial injury away from throwing in the towel upfront. This looks like a sensible deal, at a time when it was almost impossible to get anyone you'd really want in.

Because people are stupid

Yes anyone reading this who thinks Ighalo is Lukaku's replacement you are stupid

 

[izec]

Think it is an ok deal. People expected Lewandowski by the looks of it.

The only striker i would have preferred that moved this window was Piatek, but he would have been around 30m expensive and i dont think we wanted him for that money. Bakambu was available as well, but they look on a similar level going by their scoring records.

He is definitely better than Rondon or Slimani. And he chose United over Spurs or Inter, so that is nice. PL proven as well. I dont see any downsides. If he is motivated and stays fit, he could surprise quite a few people on here. Thought he was good at Watford most of the time.

 

[Ranchero]

Haaland was Plan A. But hey-ho

Actually Ighalo was probably less of a Plan B, more a Plan G

 

[Svartzonker]

I can't believe Ole, who didn't want a Lukaku kind of player, goes and gets in someone who is just that, and nowhere near as good even when fit.

Lukaku wanted to leave and we are not keeping a 70 mil player on the bench as a backup.

Such a stupid post.

 

[The Purley King]

But seriously, some amzingly OTT reactions to this. I mean...how does anyone think this is replacing Lukaku??? If Rashford didn't get injured, we wouldn't even be looking for a striker. It's a 6 month loan deal for a Prem proven striker. We're not signing a player to take us to the next level. We're a Martial injury away from throwing in the towel upfront. This looks like a sensible deal, at a time when it was almost impossible to get anyone you'd really want in.

Amen

 

[ColvaleGoa]

Like Many said above , Ighalo is a fan of the club. He will be over the moon at signing with us. He definitely won't be a mercenary who is here for the money..if anything he will be here to prove himself and see if he can get a permanent contract.

I don't know he will be a prime RvN , but I don't think we will moan about his workrate. I think he will work his socks off. Let's just hope he gets the rub of the green and he can score a few. Let everyone laugh at him, We need to get behind this lad. If it doesn't work out, hey ho.

 

[SCJY]

Lukaku wanted to leave and we are not keeping a 70 mil player on the bench as a backup.

Such a stupid post.

It's not the only one from that poster you replied to. It's been a whole shower of shite for a while now.

 

[Macca7]

If he's half as good as he was for me on FIFA 17 ultimate team we're onto a winner. Bossed it for me until i got a few coins

 

[Kostur]

Rather him than King I think, especially given the moronic sums thrown around.

 

[hobbers]

He scored 40 in 100 for Watford and so far in China he's scored 46 in 74 appearances. Obviously it is China so that means almost nothing.

People are being dim if they think this is a Lukaku replacement. This is emergency cover for Rashford and nothing more, not our next no.9 for feck sake.

I'm as critical of Ole as the next guy. And it certainly hasn't escaped my attention that two of the three strikers we've shown interest in were Norweigan, and Ighalo played for Lyn. Shows Ole has absolutely no breadth when it comes to player scouting. Signing King on a permanent deal would have been irretrievably shit management really, and the fact he even tried is unforgivable. But we had to get a body in on loan and at least we got someone with presence, who's a poacher, who has good form for scoring goals even if it's been in a shit league for the last couple of years.