Do you think he's stepped up a level this year or that he's just playing out of his skin for a contract? It could certainly make a lot of sense for us but we can't afford yet more passengers in the squad.
Potential RB Options
- Thread starter Dante
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Do you think he's stepped up a level this year or that he's just playing out of his skin for a contract? It could certainly make a lot of sense for us but we can't afford yet more passengers in the squad.
Well, Tifo Football agrees with you:
They also recommend RB Leipzig's Konrad Laimer as an option at DM, but that's for another thread.
I definitely dont have the feeling he is playing out of his skin for a transfer... He has been very consistent for a long while now, also last year before his injury he was very very good.
There are two things you have to consider though which circumstances at Ajax are in his favor which wont automatically be there in a new team.
- He has a very very good understandig with Antony at right wing. You can see for both Antony and Mazraoui that when either is not playing, the other provides a little less threat then when they are on the pitch together.
- Mazraoui is definitely solid defensively: good pace, good position, good tackle, but what sets him apart as a right back are his technical footballing qualities. At Ajax he plays in a system which allow him to display those skills. He plays high up the pitch, has freedom to end up in midfield centrally or overlap his right winger (someone like Alvarez (dm) will be always there to cover), and gets the ball in his feet a lot. There is also almost always a lot of movement around him to give the pass. Ten Hag puzzles towards a team where all players play in their strenghts, Mazraoui being no exception. Im yet to see how he will perform when he gets into a team with less capable manager or a manager with a more frigid playing style..
I'd love a set of full backs and wingers who are all comfortable both cutting infield or going down the outside and crossing. The coaching at Man Utd seems to ask them to be totally one dimensional because it's only really Shaw who ever seems to cut infield from full back positions, and Sancho and Greenwood only ever seem to do it when they're on the opposite wing to where the managers always seem to start them (i.e. on their natural foot for crossing). The rest of the time it's "wingers cut in, full backs overlap" and it's totally predictable for the opposition.
No doubt the coaching will remain shit with our board in charge but if the full backs took some initiative (like Shaw does from time to time) it might at least alleviate the boredom of watching us to some extent.
A shame we didn’t sign him
A shame
A shame
I never rated Trippier so im not bothered by his Newcastle signing.
Rafa ripping Digne today.
Anyone up for it? I'd see what they want for him.
Anyone up for it? I'd see what they want for him.
pretty sure Digne is a left back, and not the kind to routinely be able to play both sides
How has Max Aarons (Norwich) progressed? He seemed a good prospect but he’s 22 so you’d have expected him to have got a move to a bigger club by now
He is expensive at 25m but would improve us from day one. A lot. AWB is quite useless going forward. Ralf's system cannot work well wo an attacking threat down the right. Trippier and a CDM would have made all the difference, not 72m Sancho.
He looks like a Laird.
Laird looks ideal for Rangnicks system. Better defender than Aaron’s and more natural in attacking areas than AWB. Shame we haven’t recalled him and thrown him into the team.
A better defender ? Based on what exactly ?
I think he meant Max Aarons. Anyhow most of RB on top 10 club in the league would do better than Bissaka for us. Would do a direct swap with any of them. Sad how England produce ton of good RBs and we got the shit end of the stick. We got one of the most expensive one too.
I really hope Laird works out, looks a super player.
Based on Aaron’s being a poor defender and looking much more like a wingback than an actual right back who can defend and attack, Aaron’s is a joy to watch attacking but lacks a lot when forced back to defend.
In fairness Sancho was signed to play in front of AWB which bizarrely we have barely seen still. Given the club gave Ole a new contract in the summer is it pretty clear they weren't planning for "Ralf's system" anytime soon.
Also if we'd paid £20m+ for him in the summer you can bet your bottom dollar the FIFA virgins would have been crying in the performances thread about us buying another player over 30.
I thought you were referring to AWB , my bad.
Never understood why some of our young players are classed as super. I’ve not seen any young players at Utd which I think “he is an super player”. Unless you are judging them on u23 football.
Not sure you can say Laird is any different to be honest yet. Will have to see how he does at Bournemouth.
Laird has looked great at every level he’s played. I find it difficult that anyone who watched Mason coming through didn’t think he looked a super prospect.
Bit harsh expecting players who only play u23 and expecting them to look super anywhere else
He has better fundaments to work with. Generally owned his side of the pitch at Swansea. Aaron’s has looked good going forward and suspect defensively throughout his career, including his times in the league Laird is now playing in. Time will tell who ends up better.
If you swapped Laird and Aarons for AWB and Dalot, it wouldn't make the team any worse.
I'd take James Ward-Prowse as a right wingback. His ability to cover midfield would also be a massive bonus.
In a 4-2-2-2, the wingback positions are the playmakers more than the CMs. With his delivery and leadership ability, I think he'd be a great option.
The tricky bit would be convincing him to join us in that position.
In a 4-2-2-2, the wingback positions are the playmakers more than the CMs. With his delivery and leadership ability, I think he'd be a great option.
The tricky bit would be convincing him to join us in that position.
Aren't Wolves trying to bring in Traore to fulfill that same role at Spurs as well
JWP actually played there at times yesterday. So he's relatively proven at it.
I really like Digne, but we primarily need strengthening on RB.
We should sign both. Antony is a smashing player. We will loan you Amad for 2 seasons in return and send Dalot your way.
Has he ever played in a back 4? Not sure I'm buying it.
I will probably get slaughtered for this due to the Liverpool connection but we should seriously be in for Neco Williams if the stories of Klopp being willing to do business at 10M are true. He is every inch the modern fullback with a tremendous engine and great attacking instincts both in terms of his creativity and an eye for goal himself and yet he can also do the job defensively which so many attacking full backs cannot. For an added bonus he is just as comfortable on the left as he is on the right so would provide versatility to the squad and has been trained through the academy to play a high intensity pressing game. He is also Welsh which trumps the Liverpool connections because he is one of Gods chosen people.
Ethan Laird.
Nowhere near good enough.
Mazraoui contracts up at Ajax in the summer. A not bad shout?
He is fecking rubbish, easily the worst one of the academy lot in their first team squad.
It would be fkn stupid to go for Lampety before giving Laird a chance.
Why aren't we giving Laird a chance? Feels like he's been being punted on here for about a year now. Sure we could recall him any time?
No modern manager will want AWB in his team and Dalot is not it either. Makes sense to get in a first choice RB and bring Laird back as a squad player.
I'm not sure Lamptey is the answer though, he seems quite injury prone and I don't think I've ever seen him in a back four.
Get Rudiger on a free, play a back three of Rudiger, Varane & Maguire with Shaw and Lamptey as WBs.
Every time I’ve switched on to catch Garner for Nottingham I usually find myself impressed by Nottinghams loanee Djed Spence.
If Middlesbrough don’t go up could he be a cheap option for our RB, is he good enough?
If Middlesbrough don’t go up could he be a cheap option for our RB, is he good enough?
Laird is still rather unproven not so? Hardly surprising