Seems so snoby for people to dismiss a player because he doesn't fit the current big names as someone that can't be a very good player for us. Personally think only players that can come even close to winning the CL for a club would be Messi or Ronaldo can be ones to win it all every year. Otherwise if there is a player, like ADM, they are probably great for that season or two. While Reus, Bale, Griezmann would be star players, I don't think they would be the one to win us the CL every year. There is no reason Mane in the right team could not put together a great season or two - he is showing considerable progress and still quite young.
Yep, so snobby. There's a reason why clubs like Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Real Madrid - that have been consistently competing at the highest level of European football for about half a decade now choose to go for players like Neuer, Lewandowski, Costa, Neymar, Suarez, Bale, Isco, James and co. And that after they had a superb, somewhat experienced spine with Schweinsteiger, Lahm, Ribery, Robben, Messi, Xavi, Puyol, Iniesta, Ronaldo, Benzema, Ramos. We like to define United as a Top 3 or 4 European club in that company, then let's act our size instead of targeting above average Premier League players.
We need to build the spine of the team first, Mane is not the kind of player to do that, then we need to supplement the spine with more world class players, then we can have good squad options to be solid contributors - which is what Mane represents. Our attack already has 2 developmental players in Martial and Memphis, Rooney is fading, and Mata can't play the conductor role at the highest level. We need someone who can drag the team to another level, and ease the burden on the young talents. Or do we need to add a player with next to zero European experience, one that plays in the Cup of Nations, and is still somewhat inconsistent to the mix? You argue that Mane in the right team could not put together a great season or two.. Why aim for that? Why not get someone who can give you 5+ world class years? Is money an object? Is ambition?
Valencia wasn't seen as a player that would win us the CL but, in those first few years, before he lost all his confidence in taking players on, he was a beast for us and helped us compete to win it all. Mane can be very similar and he doesn't seem to be lacking in confidence. In Memphis we have a player might just be that super star and possibly now Martial. Mane could just be a very good player that gives us that extra speed, pace and goal threat that could make the others shine even more.
Yep, Antonio Valencia is so not a great example. Valencia was coming into a team with peak Van der Sar, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Carrick, Rooney, Scholes, one that had won the league titles on the trot, reached two European Cup finals in a row, and was being managed by Fergie. How is that comparable to the team we have now? Where is the experienced spine? Where is the success that bred confidence? Or should we summarily dismiss those factors and treat his transfer in isolation? Also, Valencia has been rather poor outside of his first season when Rooney was on fire, and the 2011/ 2012 season where he provided 13 assists in the league. Apart from that, in 6+ years, he has never managed more than 3 assists and 2 goals in a league season.
Great return for £16 million. Meanwhile, someone like Arjen Robben moved to Bayern in 2009, and has been arguably one of the Top 5 attackers in Europe through the same time frame. David Silva moved to City in 2010 for £24 million, and he has been one of the best players in the league for the better part of a decade. Which was wiser? Valencia, or Robben/ Silva. Which is what Mane and Griezmann/ Bale is analogous to in terms of overall quality.
I don't understand where the vitriol is coming from.
Nuh uh, there's really no need to exaggerate.
noun
cruel and bitter criticism.
Most of the criticism, apart from being mild - isn't even directed at the player, but a potential transfer to United, when we could could instead target someone substantially better, with room for even more exponential growth. I for one have nothing against Mane. Just don't want him at United. Maybe Liverpool will sign him like they did with the rest of the Southampton lot (bar the only world class talent in Shaw).
