Zaha is the wrong profile for Jose's system.
Right Winger... Who do we go for?
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) and Imran (@Annihilate Now!) are here to discuss Amad saving our blushes in a win against Southampton as well as our now annual loss at home to Brighton. They discuss Amorim's post-match comments, revisit how mid-table we may or may not be, and discuss some transfer news.
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Yep and Lenglet, instead we sat by and watched them grab two bargains unopposed.
The falling-out with Sarri and Chelsea being linked with with Zaha is surely an indication that Willian is a goer for us.
It's going to be Willian, Alderweireld and Sandro on deadline day, isn't it...
It's going to be Willian, Alderweireld and Sandro on deadline day, isn't it...
What profile is that?
I mentioned it a few posts up. Zaha's movement is chiefly about getting past the last defender.
Mourinho's teams have always had a player who makes runs between the opposition defence and midfield to drag players out of position. It's a massive part of his philosophy: you win game by making no mistakes whilst forcing the other team to make their own mistakes (think about how he used Lampard, Ballack, Sneijder, Deco, etc).
In his first season it was Rooney and Mkhitaryan who did it. In his second season it was Mkhitaryan and Lingard. Mata is very average at it, which is why he was binned off at Chelsea and has tended to play second fiddle to players I've mentioned previously at United. It's also why Pogba never plays as a 10.
The instinct to move towards the ball is the exact opposite of what Jose wants in the hole. He needs the players behind the striker to pick up pockets that disrupt the opposition shape. That's why Fellaini is such a favourite. He pulls apart the other team's organisation.
Given the personnel we currently have, there isn't quite enough of that in the squad. Sanchez is decent at it, but Jose has clearly given him instructions to primarily play off Lukaku and make runs past him. I think we're going to see Fred as the most advanced midfielder this season, with either Lingard or Lingard 2.0 on the right. Willian is the one that most fits the bill. Not Zaha.
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I'm really hoping all the noises coming out of the club is just posturing to keep prices down and we have a right winger lined up. Someone, anyone we desperately need one.
It's been 4-5 years since we've had not even a good right winger but just an actual right winger full stop. Anyone under LVG & Jose who even came close to fitting the description of a right winger has been shipped out without getting much of a run there if at all, DiMaria, Zaha, Nani, Januzaj, Mkhitaryan.
Someone needs to tell Mourinho that the majority United fans who watched Fergusons teams for 26 years like wingers and wingplay.
That would be absolutely soul destroying. I'd give Young a run there before turn back Tony.
It's been 4-5 years since we've had not even a good right winger but just an actual right winger full stop. Anyone under LVG & Jose who even came close to fitting the description of a right winger has been shipped out without getting much of a run there if at all, DiMaria, Zaha, Nani, Januzaj, Mkhitaryan.
Someone needs to tell Mourinho that the majority United fans who watched Fergusons teams for 26 years like wingers and wingplay.
That would be absolutely soul destroying. I'd give Young a run there before turn back Tony.
Unless Willian can be brought in for a fee similar to what we paid for Matic (or under £50m) I’m not sure how keen I am on us splurging on a RW this window. It’s clear no top RWs are moving this window, and I think we could rotate between Lingard, Mata and Rashford there meaning we have time to identify a better option. Rashford played there in the youth teams and would be good at countering/option from th bench, whereas Lingard is good for the big games and Mata can mop up against the lesser teams we play. Him and Sanchez have clearly got a good understanding now, too.
For me, a CB and LB are probably more important places to cover, mainly because the options available are of a higher quality. Get in Alderweireld and Sandro and that’s a decent window there.
For me, a CB and LB are probably more important places to cover, mainly because the options available are of a higher quality. Get in Alderweireld and Sandro and that’s a decent window there.
We have 5 centrebacks and no right wingers, one position should clearly be a priority over the other. Centreback is the one position that didn't need reinforcing this window and yet its the one we seem to be concentrating on most for some bizarre reason.
If we go into another season with Mata and Lingard as our RW options we will struggle creatively down that side again. Lingard is way better centrally and Mata not only isn't a right winger he doesn't even bother playing there most of the time leaving Valencia double teamed all game.
I wouldn't mind Willian, but not for over 50 mil.
If it was £48m you'd be fine with it, but £52m would be unacceptable to you? What difference do you expect the extra £4m would make to your life?
I don't want Willian at all, but he's a much better right winger than Mertens, in addition to being (I believe) two years younger.
We have 5 CB, but how many are fit (literally and figuratively) for purpose? If you look at our play from the last few seasons, our inability to quickly move the ball from defence to midfield is killing our attacking build up play. Lindelof may get there, but as of now, we have no ball playing CB. Every other big team, bar Arsenal, can boast at least one. The pressure that this type of player would take off the likes of Pogba would be huge.
Imagine how effective our midfield would be if it could push its overall play up the pitch by 10 yards or so? That’s what Alderweireld would bring to our game.
I do think we need a RW, but don’t think it’s a position worth panic-buying for if Willian isn’t gettable this window for a reasonable price.
I get what you're saying mate and the idea that our centrebacks are affecting our attacking play has some credence but it's way overblown. Having basically no one able to play on the right and give us some genuine width and isolating Valencia in the process basically nullifies one half of our attacking play. That in my opinion is affecting our attacking play infinitely more than having a centreback who can pick a decent pass.
Thing is, who's available? You've got Willian - who I'd like us to bring in for the right price - but that's kind of it now. Dortmund have slapped a price on Pulisic it would seem, but Jose won't be going near him anytime soon.
I agree with you that it's a problem position, but I think a rotation of Mata, Lingard and Rashford wouldn't be disastrous in the short term. Our CBs however... honestly, bar Bailly, I don't think a single one gets anywhere near the first team squads of City or Spurs, maybe even Chelsea or Pool - which is seriously depressing.
Sanchez starts for Spurs, he ain't better than Smalling.
Well Willian is looking like the most likely option mostly because we've left it so late, for anything around £50-70m would be ok by me. But in all honesty for a club with United's resources very, very few wingers should be unattainable for this club.
For me personally it would be. Not only in terms of effectiveness but also in terms of entertainment i don't think i can make it through another season of watching Mata waddle up and down the right wing. For someone who grew up watching SAF's teams built around wingers and wingplay watching any combination of Mata, Lingard, Darmian and Valencia is brutal.
Lingard won me over last season centrally but he just isn't a winger, Valencia i think could have a bit of a resurgence if we did get a proper winger in to take some of the responsibility from him. And Dalot gives me a bit of hope from what i've seen.
I disagree slightly Smalling defensively at least is as good or close to anyone the other top teams have. He is atrocious on the ball though granted. But thats a discussion for another thread.
What do people think about the idea of Andreas Pereira at RW?
Maybe not ideal, but it doesn't look like United are going to bring anybody in at this rate.
Talented player, good dribbler and can work with the ball in tight spaces if asked to hug the touchline, and he's a good crosser too. Can also tuck in when needed and provide another body towards central midfield if United need a bit more control.
Maybe not ideal, but it doesn't look like United are going to bring anybody in at this rate.
Talented player, good dribbler and can work with the ball in tight spaces if asked to hug the touchline, and he's a good crosser too. Can also tuck in when needed and provide another body towards central midfield if United need a bit more control.
Bring back Sheasy and play him at RW! (sarcasm inside)
I like Pereira in the middle. I think Rashford is the best option for wide right, especially in a 4-3-3.
But I do wonder if Jose is planning to play 3-5-2 as our main system with Lukaku and Sanchez up top, Pogba, Matic and Fred as a double pivot, wing backs and a back 3. A number of signs point that way. I don't like it much as a system generally. 3-4-3 I could stomach but you need two defensive midfielders for that I think.
But I do wonder if Jose is planning to play 3-5-2 as our main system with Lukaku and Sanchez up top, Pogba, Matic and Fred as a double pivot, wing backs and a back 3. A number of signs point that way. I don't like it much as a system generally. 3-4-3 I could stomach but you need two defensive midfielders for that I think.
Pereira will hopefully be good back up in the middle and along with Herrera, Fellaini and McT that's not a bad midfield squad.
3-5-2 would seem to fit well with the players we currently have. It would help with the fact we have no natural wide players and help the players we do have play to their strengths.
Matic and Fred performing defensive duties in midfield freeing up Pogba to link up with Sanchez and Lukaku. Might not be traditional UTD set up but would give us a very strong team.
I don't think there is really anyone out there that's available that can do what we need. Pulisic maybe, but only maybe and that would be a bit of a gamble.
Liverpool got the RW snatch of the season with Shaqiri for £12m. Good squad signing that was.
I don't think anyone would be against that!
Let’s be honest with 6 days to go and nothing looking close that would be a spectacular week.
Don't know why we just don't get Brandt. He'd be perfect for Mourinho!
Comments like this always make me chuckle. Why do you care how much the club spends on a player? Why would any fan care? If it was coming out of my bank fair enough but its not. Spend away
Willian would be the best option because he's Mourinho trained and Premier League proven.
We could do worse than going for Angel Correra though. Not exactly a set the world on fire transfer. However, having played wide right in Diego Simeone's low block, counter attacking system, he could probably give Mou what he needs from that position.
We could do worse than going for Angel Correra though. Not exactly a set the world on fire transfer. However, having played wide right in Diego Simeone's low block, counter attacking system, he could probably give Mou what he needs from that position.
Hirving Lozano. Young, quick, skilfull and affordable (30m). Please don't compare him to Memphis Depay because they both play for PSV. Has Depay humiliate the world champions at the World Cup?
We aren't signing one.
yeah, i'm surprised this thread still has traction. Any news source linking us to players has only been CB's. What makes anyone think the last signing will be a RW'er?
Willian isn't available either as Barcelona alledgedly found out. If we have 50-70 million to spunk on Willian then we had it for all the other right wingers who've moved in these last two windows. Silva, Costa, Malcom, Mahrez etc. There's a bunch of wingers who'd be available for that kind of money if you care to dig a little deeper, Chiesa, Bailey, Pulisic (most likely), Oyarzabal, Zaha, Traoré. There's some risks in there for sure but out RW seriously can't get any worse.
I agree that our central defence is an issue, but that's our own doing IMO. Signing the likes of Bailly and Lindelöf has added more question marks than answers, It's puzzlibg to say the least that we've opted for more 'promise' in a position where we've had nothing but. An experienced leader such as Godin is what we've needed all along.
South Korea also "humiliated" the former world champions at the World Cup, as did 32 year-old Toulouse player Ola Toivonen. Lozano is one of those players who prefers playing on the left so he can cut inside on to his right foot, and he's pretty one-dimensional with it. He's alright, but plays more like an attacking centre-mid stuck out on the wing (i.e. Mata or Bernardo Silva, except right-footed, so prefers the left). He's nippy, but not rapid.
He also prefers the left.
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I was going to post something similar.
Imagine it’s deadline day and Chelsea want £55 million for him, would you not just pay the extra £5 million to secure the services of a good player in a position we desperately need?
I agree with what you have stated, but perhaps Jose wants us to be even more defensive, than we were last season.
Either that or he is hoping that if he can build a good defence, that the midfielders can move further up the pitch, to attack, rather than coming back to protect our defenders.
I was going to post something similar.
Imagine it’s deadline day and Chelsea want £55 million for him, would you not just pay the extra £5 million to secure the services of a good player in a position we desperately need?
exactly. we did the same nonsense last season with perisic at inter. we are utd. unfortunately we have to overpay esp when our own manager is letting the rest of the world we are desperate for players
How the feck do you manage to make a supposedly top team, or a side aiming to be a top team so completely lopsided.
Every bloody team in the league knows all we do is flood the left side, they've known it for the last year. Really can't believe how this hasn't been addressed yet.
It is gonna be infuriating watching us shuffle the ball around Young, Pogba and Rashford aimlessly on the left with the right wing totally free and no outlet there.
And to top it off, our biggest rivals who have the best right winger in the league in Salah buy an excellent back up for him in Shaqiri for £12 cnuting million.
We haven't a fecking clue what we're doing.
Every bloody team in the league knows all we do is flood the left side, they've known it for the last year. Really can't believe how this hasn't been addressed yet.
It is gonna be infuriating watching us shuffle the ball around Young, Pogba and Rashford aimlessly on the left with the right wing totally free and no outlet there.
And to top it off, our biggest rivals who have the best right winger in the league in Salah buy an excellent back up for him in Shaqiri for £12 cnuting million.
We haven't a fecking clue what we're doing.
The utter stupidity of not signing one is my guess.
We should really try for Zaha, him and Alderweireld would make this a pretty decent transfer window for us. We can focus on our full back situation next summer then.
Dembele seems to be available at the right price
Ditto Zaha who is fantastic these days
Mahrez was available
Shaqiri as well
Probably others
There are players available. If we get one who prefers to play left, well Sanchez is equally comfortable on the right so that doubles the pool of options.
Ditto Zaha who is fantastic these days
Mahrez was available
Shaqiri as well
Probably others
There are players available. If we get one who prefers to play left, well Sanchez is equally comfortable on the right so that doubles the pool of options.
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