I expect the same too to be honest. Chelsea's reluctance to pay Lukaku's price tag as well as us with Morata seem too obvious of a factors here. I see your point about Lukaku being Mourinho's type of striker and don't necessarily disagree. However, I can't see him buying two strikers that would expect to be starters like Lukaku and Morata would be.
Romelu Lukaku | United confirm deal subject to medical and personal terms
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No, he didn't. Lukaku wanted more game time. He was the one who requested to leave and when Everton appeared with good money, Chelsea sold him.
Why would I be worried? If my name was Marcus Rashford I would be.
Chelsea will buy a top center forward whether it's Lukaku or not. Not sure you'll find many Chelsea fans who would be devastated to see him go to United.
The perspective of reverting back to old school 4-4-2 with so incredibly expensive strikers, while at the same time not exactly world beaters, isn't giving me goosebumps but shivers instead...
Can't see this. Probably just a Raiola play as mentioned, to put pressure on Chelsea to get the deal done.
In fairness, neither Cole nor Yorke were world beaters, but it worked out alright regardless!
Very interesting guys. How do you think you'd line up?
Lukaku up top with Morata on the flank or as number 10?
Lukaku up top with Morata on the flank or as number 10?
Agree, especially with Rashford and Martial already in our squad. Jose has only ever played with one striker, so I can not see that changing now - We will only sign one.
Possibly 3-5-2
We are not signing two strikers....
Don't think the stories are credible.
I'd imagine they'd be both up top though.
Not sure of the system. Doubt Jose would use a classic 442. Maybe he'd switch to a 3atb.
In fairness, neither Cole nor Yorke were world beaters, but it worked out alright regardless!
Yeah, however it happened almost 20 years ago under SAF. I hope it's just another weekly portion of silly transfer stuff.
We might. The one thing we actually need is firepower.
With Ibrahimović leaving and Rooney basically finished at life, we could do with two strikers to replace them.
Having said that, I'd be chuffed with just Morata.
One of the big reasons it worked alright is that most of our opponents in the PL also played a 4-4-2 system which made controlling the midfield and supplying those two far more straight forward than it would be today. Generally speaking the PL was inferior tactically and technically than it is today. There is a reason why we have a collection of the best managers in the world working here now and none of them play that system.In fairness, neither Cole nor Yorke were world beaters, but it worked out alright regardless!
Yeah, they were both mobile, agile players and had Giggs, Scholes and Beckham behind them and Solksjaer for backup.In fairness, neither Cole nor Yorke were world beaters, but it worked out alright regardless!
Morata + Lukaku would be a guaranteed disaster.
And yet Leicester were able to win the league a year ago playing it. You don't need three men in midfield in about 70% of fixtures.
Lakaku and Morata seems overkill to me and a huge risk. Also spells the end for someone else.
What make's people think we're getting Lukaku AND Morata? Surely it's one or the other. I know Jose wanted two forwards but that was with Greizmann in mind to play as a hybrid 10/support striker. Morata and Lukaku are both 9's.
Yes out of a gazillion far more successful teams over the past decades, let's pick the exceptional once in a century achievement as the example to follow. Very logical indeed. What next? Leicester won the league also shopping from the lower leagues and the scraps off PL teams, why don't we do that too then?
We have plenty of nimble attacking midfielders who could play behind them. Morata isn't all about aerial prowess; he can drop off and get involved if needed.
Lukaku would be the most advanced. Very unlikely, but could see the logic behind it on paper.
If the tactics these days are so much better why are the performances of English teams in the CL so much worse?
Well the team who have won the most premier leagues played that formation. We did it when we last won it. I've no idea what you're talking about there. The very fact that a team of very little talent was able to win it playing that formation would point toward it being quite useful. Not the shite you're spouting.
Never said better did I? If you put more emphasis on controlling the midfield, it doesn't make it a better tactic, it just makes it more difficult for your opponent without also committing more to the midfield. Also we are talking here about the '90s. English teams at that point were maybe even worse than now. One CL final in that decade, only us have reached the semi final in the '90s for goodness sake how is that better and no one did again until Liverpool in 2005. How is that better?
What about that time he played a Champions League final with Milito, Pandev and Eto'o leading the line? Funny…
Let's not get carried away.
Until anyone holds a United shirt with their name on the back and smiles, it's not happening.
Until anyone holds a United shirt with their name on the back and smiles, it's not happening.
My memory serves me badly then. I do apologise.
No it doesn't point to that unless you are using the most simple minded analysis even by internet forums standards. We did not play the version of 4-4-2 I was talking about for over a decade now. Even since Ruud van Nistelrooy we started with moving Scholes up and playing varied versions of 4-4-1-1 or 4-5-1. People put way too much emphasis on the formation anyway. Atlético Madrid technically played a 4-4-2 and reached a CL final but the way their wingers were playing and the level of their defensive line meant they were compact enough anyway. The 4-4-2 that Cole and York played in was nowehere near that and it is the one I am saying benefited greatly from the tactical setup of PL teams at the time, not to mention the crossing quality of Beckham and Giggs, therefore, it is difficult to see it working today without those two factors.
Leicester example proves that it's possible, but there is depth beneath the surface. They've had a tailor made personnel to suit this formation, were lucky with injuries, also league's top teams suffered synchronized season long form drop. We can't count on any of these factors to work in our favor and I can guarantee you that even if winning to league in 2 or 3 years might seem far fetched but optional, we'd stand no chance in CL.
Monaco reached the semi-finals playing an attacking 4-4-2, so why not?
Hmmmm......
A story that works for both Everton - put the skids under Chelsea to give them a shedload of money; and Utd - hey Real we might not buy Morata.
All a bit convenient if you ask me.
A story that works for both Everton - put the skids under Chelsea to give them a shedload of money; and Utd - hey Real we might not buy Morata.
All a bit convenient if you ask me.
No worries mate. I think with the frustration about English teams in Europe, people tend to forget that the '90s and up until mid '00s, our teams were if anything worse. Arsenal's invincibles and their other top teams from 1998 and 2002 to put it into perspective made one quarter final appearance in all those years.
Lukaku was once touted as Drogba's replacement. I think Jose would take him now seeing how he has developed. Without Ibra, we have lost our target man. He would bring variety to our attack. I would have no issues if Jose wants to sign him.
@Theonas do you think Premier League sides would have done better or worse than they have done in the CL over the last 10 years if they'd played 4-4-2? Genuinely curious.
Anyway...that's my 3 posts. Good night sirs.
Anyway...that's my 3 posts. Good night sirs.
I'd love the firepower but could be difficult with the system Jose uses.
The manager has to figure out how we get back to scoring 70+ goals a season. Since 2013 it's been dire.
I can see Morata expanding out game more to get goals from others but all he's doing is replacing Ibra and might not score as much. Rooney was a nothingburger. United is used to having considerable firepower.
The manager has to figure out how we get back to scoring 70+ goals a season. Since 2013 it's been dire.
I can see Morata expanding out game more to get goals from others but all he's doing is replacing Ibra and might not score as much. Rooney was a nothingburger. United is used to having considerable firepower.
Very good player on his day but I'm still 50/50 on him.
Lukaku once called Mini Drogba, and Mou loves Drogba very much. He is the type of Mourinho needs.
He is going to be in the top of his games. And being young also proven in EPL, his reselling value will also be good.
If 2nd EPL Goalscorer valued lower than Madrid bench warmer, the world must be in the process of being end.
He is going to be in the top of his games. And being young also proven in EPL, his reselling value will also be good.
If 2nd EPL Goalscorer valued lower than Madrid bench warmer, the world must be in the process of being end.
I don't think is happening. Everton want Chelsea to push the deal and ManUtd show Madrid they have options.
These are just leaks, would be very much surprised if we sign 2 #9s, Morata will leave Madrid to be undisputed starter elsewhere and Lukaku won't go to any club to play rotational role as that's the reason he left Chelsea years back.
These are just leaks, would be very much surprised if we sign 2 #9s, Morata will leave Madrid to be undisputed starter elsewhere and Lukaku won't go to any club to play rotational role as that's the reason he left Chelsea years back.
There are no similarities in Drogba's and Lukaku's game. They are very much different players, only similarity is they are strong players and played for Chelsea.
I expect Morata is the one we'll take but having both would hardly be overkill - we need some strikers. Especially given Mourinho's lack of faith with Martial up top.
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