I meant to say that I wouldn't lose sleep over missing out on them like I did with Griezmann.
Romelu Lukaku | United confirm deal subject to medical and personal terms
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They couldn't afford Pogba last season and they're throwing in pathetic offers for the worlds best keeper De Gea. They needed to sell Ozil to make up for the big 80m they spent on Bale.
Madrid always throw away their toys to make way for the new flavour of the month. They never buy big without selling big.
This is Fax Marchine Returns 2.0. As with de gea.
Chelsea and United will bid bid bid and at the end of the window Everton will keep him amidst the confusion. That's the risk we and Chelsea run. Well played Everton.
Chelsea and United will bid bid bid and at the end of the window Everton will keep him amidst the confusion. That's the risk we and Chelsea run. Well played Everton.
Feck Phil. He doesn't interview the quality of names that the British press do yet I wouldn't trust the British press at all.
Sky have freaking G Neville working for them and work closely with the biggest names in world football yet their Sky sources banner is up there with the Daily Star.
But Phil is different. He interviewed Robson and Dunphy.
Sky have freaking G Neville working for them and work closely with the biggest names in world football yet their Sky sources banner is up there with the Daily Star.
But Phil is different. He interviewed Robson and Dunphy.
Not exactly sure thats the reason. Perez and Raiola dont deal I heard. Maybe Pogba didnt want to go there? Could have been a variety of reasons. I seriously doubt money was the ONLY sticking point. Anyways they havent sold James yet. Bet they will find someone late in the window to pay at least 50-60m for him.
He was watching Jimmy Floyd Haselbenk??? There was no one better to watch? Do not want.
I would rather James over Morata to be honest. If we could get him for 40-50m, that would be a good deal for us.
What? James over Morata even if we didnt get Lukaku?
probably better for his self esteem he doesnt
I think his self-esteem is fine. I don't think he's as bothered by the abuse, as people (like me) who defend him are.No. Lukaku and James ideally.
Morata just won't be a good fit at United in my opinion. He doesn't strike me as a United player like Lukaku does. And I had the same feeling about Memphis and Schneiderlin.
They had no reason to spend so much on pogba when they still had Modric and Kroos.
We needed Pogba more and were willing to spend more.
I still dont think we need to so spend so much on a #10. It isnt a pressing concern. I think the wings need immediate reinforcement. Mkhi, Mata and Perreira can all play the #10. Our wings are shit with not many options. Plus Mou might still want to get Griezmann next year.
I'd agree with that. Realistically, who would you go for?
Better? Yet nobody made a move for him for a few seasons now until this window, to Arsenal.
I don't think there is any doubt that Lacazette is a good striker but Lukaku is younger, PL proven and qualifies as homegrown. Hence the bigger price. Also wasn't Laca 53mil?
Dembele would be my first option. If not Lemar, Mahrez and Costa are still available for around 50m.
53m Euros which is 45m pounds.
The wing is better covered, as we have Rashford/Martial on the left and Mkhi on the right.
Mata is the only true #10 and he lacks pace and physicality. Mkhi is not a true #10 and had his best season at Dortmund drifting in from the right flank (in fact e struggled in his earlier seasons at Dortmund when Klopp used him as a #10). Pereira is not even up for discussion imo.
What we need is a creative 10 that would be able to feed Lukaku consistently and contribute a few goals himself.
Rashford is going to be playing as a striker this year and I hope we stop switching him around and keep him as a #9. Thats where his future is. We need two players for each position. ST - Lukaku/Rashford, LW - Martial/?, #10 - Mata/Pogba, RW - Lingard/Mkhi, CM - Fellaini/Perreira, CDM - Herrera/Carrick.
That just means that people rate the likes of Lukaku/Morata better for them to be valued at around 70m and over.
Paraphrasing you: the wing is better covered, as we have… no wingers! Even if Mourinho likes a extreme-forward there, the other guy should be a real winger, like Di María in Real Madrid. Of course our playmakers can play on the right, because they drift inside with Valencia entering. But we don't have much firing power there, nor proper crosses.
Dembele would be an even bigger signing than Lukaku and I'm not sure he's attainable for us. As in he might prefer one of the big two Spanish clubs. Would obviously take him in a heartbeat, though. I'd have reservations about Costa and Mahrez, attitude wise and I don't know enough about Lemar to comment.
Is he? You mean he isn't going to play? Or that Mourinho is buying Lukaku to eventually bench him? No way. Or we feature two forwards at the same time, or one of them (Rashford, Martial) is starting on the left. After Zlatan's injury, when Rashford started upfront, his sub was Martial.
Ahh, that's where I've went wrong. Cheers.
We won't get a number 10 this summer as we're feeding the spot being Lukaku to Griezmann next summer, and I think they will link up pretty fine.
The shape of our first XI by the end of next summer will be great. I'm enthusiastic about it from now on.
The shape of our first XI by the end of next summer will be great. I'm enthusiastic about it from now on.
I think Mou would have learnt his lesson from not resting his stars last year with fatigue setting in during the 2nd half of the season. I think Lukaku will obviously start more games than Rashford but the later will definitely have a big role to play off the bench, especially in big games. With his speed coming on late on when others are tired, he will be the difference maker. But other than that I can only see Rashford starting CC, FA Cup, UCL group games once we are qualified (so games 5 and 6) and games against bottom half teams. If we were so confident in Rashford, we wouldnt have gone and spent 75m for another #9. We would have got someone like Hernandez who could have been backup to Rashford.
Seriously which planet have you been on? The past 2 seasons, Rooney days as a footballer is over. Did you watch Carrick's testimonial game just a few weeks back. Playing against retired players at that. Playing in midfield should have saved his career because his body can't work anymore to play anywhere else but of course Mourinho put a stop to that early on last summer. It's not about the transfer fee. It's his wages which most clubs can't afford to pay him. Wake up and open your eyes.
A nice video of Lukaku's 37 goals for Belgium in 56 appearances.
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Its almost 5am in UK. Meyers said early tomorrow morning. Does that still mean around 9am?
Thats why we wanted Perisic as unglamorous as he may be. But at the prices quoted I'm not sure it's a good value considering his age. 29 next year.
no clue, but i'd imagine the clubs want to announce rooney and lukaku to get the biggest media splash? Something like mid-morning?
We won't get a number 10 this summer as we're feeding the spot being Lukaku to Griezmann next summer, and I think they will link up pretty fine.
The shape of our first XI by the end of next summer will be great. I'm enthusiastic about it from now on.
I would expect Mata to play as a #10 if Jose wanted one but I don't think we'll use that formation often. It will be 433 with Pogba taking a more advanced position IF we sign a DM. If we don't sign a DM and Carrick is not playing, then formation would change. Herrera behind Pogba and Fellaini was used a lot last season.
Mourinho plays with a very small rotation, and the only way Rashord will get extended minutes is as a LWF. He will occasionally play as a CF if Lukaku/Morata is absent.
I expect Lukaku+Rashford+Martial to be rotated for the CF+LWF spots.
On te other flank would like see Mata+Mkhi+new player rotating for the #10+RW spots.
Pogba will not be playing as a #10> He is not one and Mourinho ddoesnt see him as one
Di Maria was not a 'real winger' at Madrid but was more like an extra AM as he was playing on his wrong foot and drifted centrally to join Ozil.
Mourinho likes one winger to be like a WF, presenting a more direct goal threat (CR7, Pedro, Schurle etc) while the other is more like an AM (e.g Di Maria, Willian). Both are expected to drift centrally while the fullbacks will provide width. In our case, Martial/Rashford will be the WF while Mkhi will be the AM. Each are well suited to the role Mourinho usually expects.
For the #10, Mou likes a player that is an AM/trequartista with ball and a CM without it. Unfortunately there are not many such players and this might be the position that limits the team going forward. Mata is just not suited to it. so we will have to sign a very attack minded CM or a very high workrate AM. Particularly if we get Lukaku, we need someone to feed him consistently for us to get the best out of him.
That's I expect too currently and said it multiple times. I'm sure we will get a DM after Lukaku deal done, and may be before our first pre season match.
Mou has enough experience coaching in the PL and I doubt he will change the philosophy that has brought him so much success.
He believe in playing your best XI every game unless they are suspended or injured and expects his players to be fit enough to play 2x a season. The argument is that it breeds a high level of understanding and cohesiveness that makes for a better tuned team. Mou making unforced changes are usually signs of being unhappy with the particular player or apply a specific scheme against an opponent.
Mourinho has gone to lengths to adapt Pogba to playing deeper. I doubt he will suddenly decide to push him forward.
Mourinho has played with a #10 since his 2nd season at Inter. I doubt he will stop now when there is no compelling reason to do so.
I fear we could still be none the wiser this time next week
Thinking about it now, I'm a bit bothered by the price since he only has what, 2 years left on his contract ?
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