Sadio Mane | LFC Player

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So many comments are losing sight of the most important things. There is all sorts of distracting talk of value and comparisons to other players, age and stats etc etc etc. However the most important things are being glossed over. Simply put his ability and this will have a fair amount of diversity among people. Personally I think he is one of the best players in the EPL with respect to his technical abilities and also his skill levels. The bit that makes him stand out is that he can do it all at pace and under pressure. People will be distracted by the fact he isnt at a big club but just looking at him in isolation I think he is up there with the best players in terms of his playing ability.

Right now he is better than Young, Depay, Januzaj, Valencia, Rooney and would easily improve our team if he replaced any of those players.

The fact he is playing for Southampton will blind many to that. He has also been pretty consistent last season and into this season. He has one of the best changes of acceleration around as well as being very quick. His changes of direction and pace while keeping the ball in control are right up there. He consistently finds intelligent incisive passes and isnt afraid to track back and shut down passing lanes. He can beat players with the ball at his feet with either pace or skill and has a nice passing range.
I think he will be at one of the big clubs somewhere in the world next season. The fact he hasnt yet played for a big club doesnt mean he wont look out of place at one. He looks to me to be the sort of player who could be bought by a team like Barcelona and not look out of his depth.
The most important factors are his ability with the ball. He is outstanding.

I would love him at Utd, he would immediately improve our squad and for me would be a starting player.

Unfortunately I think some other club is going to be the lucky ones to sign him.
 
devilish said:
This is a United forum so yes we're talking about United. I am perfectly aware that SA had sometimes done well with other EPL clubs. However we've yet to find one who did well with us without actually being a mercenary cnut of the highest degree. So unless a SA talent is truly special than Id like us to avoid them if possible

Also we're talking about SA players and not foreigners as a whole
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There are various topics on this forum that are not united related so excuse my confusion. And the posts on this page are not all specific to South American players.
 
Steven Seagull said:
There are various topics on this forum that are not united related so excuse my confusion. And the posts on this page are not all specific to South American players.
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You're posting in a thread about a player whose rumoured to be one of United's main targets, in a forum which was created by a United fan and which football topics which are mostly about Manchester United. Excuse me for the confusion too
 
I have decided today: he's good enough for a club like Man Utd. Whether a squad player or starter, he can do a job when needed. Real Madrid had guys like Callejon, Cheryshev, Jese etc doing a job for them when needed. Barca had Pedro last season, Bayern had Shaqiri doing a job when needed. And if he develops nicely he could be a starter.
 
He's definitely good enough, but where would he play? He's can't be a lone frontman - nothing would 'stick' to him. He's best playing off Pelle. Neither our system nor personnel enable that kind of pairing.

So he'd be shunted out wide where he could be effective, but is then in competition with, deep breath, Mata, Young, Memphis, Martial, Lingard, Perreira, Janujaz(?) and so forth.

I like him, but stopped wanting him when we got Martial. That role in the squad seems pretty filled now, imo.
 
Beachryan said:
He's definitely good enough, but where would he play? He's can't be a lone frontman - nothing would 'stick' to him. He's best playing off Pelle. Neither our system nor personnel enable that kind of pairing.

So he'd be shunted out wide where he could be effective, but is then in competition with, deep breath, Mata, Young, Memphis, Martial, Lingard, Perreira, Janujaz(?) and so forth.

I like him, but stopped wanting him when we got Martial. That role in the squad seems pretty filled now, imo.
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He can play as a second-striker, which is what LvG prefers behind his striker. I don't really see the problem finding a spot for him, he can play every position in the front four.
 
NoPace said:
Depends who the manager is going forward. Griezmann would do well out wide under lots of managers. Likely not LVG, though. But considering that if we signed him we'd have a forward line of Memphis-Martial-Griezmann I would think pressing high would make more sense, with us trying to get Martial on the ball to run at players and Griezmann and Depay getting between the fullbacks and CBs.

It's hard to find wingers who can beat a man or two like this LVG system demands. Bayern did find one in Costa. Hazard will be available but not to us. Di Maria didn't get a real chance for some reason.
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My post was on the comparisons between Griezmann and Mane, obviously Greizmann is an excellent player but stylistically he's much closer to Mata than he is to Mane and LVG has said we need speed and creativity (which I agree with) so I don't understand how people can talk down the signing of Mane by throwing around Griezmann's name. Mata would also be much more effective if he had Martial playing up front and could operate centrally instead of everyone shifted to accommodate Rooney.
 
Shark said:
I genuinely think he'll be a January signing. Just have a gut feeling and the fact we've already made enquires about him in the summer makes it more believable.
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Yeah. I get the feeling too. If we are anywhere near a title race, I would argue we have to sign him.
 
Steven Seagull said:
Is there really any basis for that? Maybe 15 years ago and before that but the culture shock is less now in the footballing bubble. I don't think there's much difference at all these days, and £35m stretches a lot further on the continent at the moment.
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Angel fecking Di Maria say hie
 
Mane has what we need right now and I feel that, under a less restrained manager, an attacking quartet that has him, Mata, Martial and the Memphis we saw at PSV could tear the league apart, really tear it a new one. My doubts only stems from the fact that So'ton would squiz us for much more than we gave them for Shaw and all things considered that sort of fee should get you an absolute world beater on the fecking continent.
 
goin4glory said:
Not sure why people insist on comparing Mane to Griezmann, he's closer to Mata than he is to Mane. LVG has said we need speed and creativity which is why the reported interest in Mane makes sense. Griezmann has excellent movement in the box and often operates as a 2nd striker + his finishing is fantastic but he's not stretching the play and beating full backs 1v1 which is what we need.
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goin4glory said:
My post was on the comparisons between Griezmann and Mane, obviously Greizmann is an excellent player but stylistically he's much closer to Mata than he is to Mane and LVG has said we need speed and creativity (which I agree with) so I don't understand how people can talk down the signing of Mane by throwing around Griezmann's name. Mata would also be much more effective if he had Martial playing up front and could operate centrally instead of everyone shifted to accommodate Rooney.
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Have you actually watched Griezmann? He has pace, he is creative, he is very much capable beating his man and his movement in general is excellent, not just in the box. He's productive like Mata is, but in what way other than that is he like Mata? Also, he's very good in other positions than behind the striker. This season he has played on the left and on the right, did well there just like he did behind their striker.

Admittedly I wasn't convinced by Mane last season and was quite harsh on his potential signing, since then he's proven me wrong this season. Most aren't questioning his quality or whether he's good enough though, it's just that we could do better than him IMO. Obviously Mane could prove to be a better signing than a bigger name, but di Maria'a and Falcao's failure shouldn't stop us from buying top quality.
 
bucky said:
Have you actually watched Griezmann? He has pace, he is creative, he is very much capable beating his man and his movement in general is excellent, not just in the box. He's productive like Mata is, but in what way other than that is he like Mata? Also, he's very good in other positions than behind the striker. This season he has played on the left and on the right, did well there just like he did behind their striker.
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All of this plus Griezmann is strong on the ball, not easily brushed off it when protecting it.
 
Devil may care said:
I fell asleep before the Southampton game kicked off, how did he play today?
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He played ok. 1st half was busy, had a hand in one of the goals. Wasnt his best game but he also didnt play badly. Hard to explain, not one of those great games but not bad either. 2nd half Bournemouth had far more of the ball so he wasnt as involved.
 
bucky said:
Have you actually watched Griezmann? He has pace, he is creative, he is very much capable beating his man and his movement in general is excellent, not just in the box. He's productive like Mata is, but in what way other than that is he like Mata? Also, he's very good in other positions than behind the striker. This season he has played on the left and on the right, did well there just like he did behind their striker.

Admittedly I wasn't convinced by Mane last season and was quite harsh on his potential signing, since then he's proven me wrong this season. Most aren't questioning his quality or whether he's good enough though, it's just that we could do better than him IMO. Obviously Mane could prove to be a better signing than a bigger name, but di Maria'a and Falcao's failure shouldn't stop us from buying top quality.
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We obviously have different standards for what we consider pace then. Griezmann isn't stretching teams with runs in behind in the same way a player like Mane does. I never argued against him being creative.

As for Mata he's also good in other positions and has played wide for both United and Chelsea. No 2 players are the same but when you compare the attributes Griezmann is much closer to Mata than Mane. Mane averages 2.5 dribbles per game while Griezmann only 0.8 and Mata at 0.6 which gives you an idea of how often Griezmann is beating his man as you claim. Mane is also caught offisde more which is another characteristic of a player who stretches teams.
 
goin4glory said:
We obviously have different standards for what we consider pace then. Griezmann isn't stretching teams with runs in behind in the same way a player like Mane does. I never argued against him being creative.
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Seems a strange thing to say given a significant portion of Griezmann's goals come in 1v1's and over the last season and a bit he undoubtedly scored more 1v1's than Mané. If that's not stretching teams in behind then I don't know what is.

I do agree Griezmann is more of a final third player though. Mané's dribbling from deep would add some much needed spark to our attack. Technically he is very good too but then Griezmann's on another level really.
 
Brwned said:
Seems a strange thing to say given a significant portion of Griezmann's goals come in 1v1's and over the last season and a bit he undoubtedly scored more 1v1's than Mané. If that's not stretching teams in behind then I don't know what is.

I do agree Griezmann is more of a final third player though. Mané's dribbling from deep would add some much needed spark to our attack. Technically he is very good too but then Griezmann's on another level really.
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Last season Griezmann got 22 goals with only 4 being from 1v1 situations and one of these is from a mistake when a defender is playing out of the back. Mata has a higher portion of his goals from 1v1 than Griezmann.
 
I'm inclined to agree with the sentiments posted above. As good a player as Griezmann is, I'm not sure if he's one that is extremely quick and competent in creating situations of magic in an otherwise exceptionally flat squad as ours. His role in a very methodical and efficient Atletico side is tailor made and he meets it excellently. And, I imagine, such would be the case, were we to first sign what it is we need here - a Mane-type player to do all the work this side lacks.
 
Think a a january bid is incoming. Di Marzio is convinced we are seriously looking at Felipe Anderson.
 
Think I would prefer Felipe Anderson. He seems even faster, and quite frankly we need an attacking player, besides Martial, who will scare defenders simply because of his brutal pace. Walcott has that, Valencia had that,and even though you know what is coming, it can be really hard to defend against. I wouldn't mind us getting either though.
 
Rossa said:
Think I would prefer Felipe Anderson. He seems even faster, and quite frankly we need an attacking player, besides Martial, who will scare defenders simply because of his brutal pace. Walcott has that, Valencia had that,and even though you know what is coming, it can be really hard to defend against. I wouldn't mind us getting either though.
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Mane is very very fast but Anderson has the quicker acceleration and is the better dribbler. Both will cost about the same.
 
Why you guys think we will be interested in him? And if you are so convinced do you think we will try in January already?
 
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Personally I'm not sold on either of them and I still don't like the fact Mane would have to piss off to the AFCON at a vital stage in a season.
 
I mainly watch games from the PL and Bundesliga. Sometimes games from La Liga if they are shown in the free TV (in General always including either Barca or RM). And of course one game each CL day.

Based on that similar Players are either not too realistic (Bale, Douglas Costa, Reus etc.) or not as good as Mane.
I think he could become our Douglas Costa.

However, 35 Mio Pounds does sound a bit exorbitant.
 
Rossa said:
Think I would prefer Felipe Anderson. He seems even faster, and quite frankly we need an attacking player, besides Martial, who will scare defenders simply because of his brutal pace. Walcott has that, Valencia had that,and even though you know what is coming, it can be really hard to defend against. I wouldn't mind us getting either though.
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Anderson has a bigger upside but mane is the safer bet.
 
I'd like us to take a punt on him. He looks to me to be one of the next breakout players that will end up at a big side. Even if he doesn't train on that much from here his pace and versatility would be very useful. He knows the league and you'd think the settling in period wouldn't be as severe as it has been for Depay, for example.

All that said, if in some fantasy world it was a straight choice between he and Griezmann I'd choose the latter, as he looks like he could turn into one of the best players in the world.
 
I'd say Mane would improve us a lot. Not convinced about Griezmann though. Isn't he quite lightweight and slow? He would probably be an improvement on Mata but not a huge difference I reckon.
 
Borys said:
I'd say Mane would improve us a lot. Not convinced about Griezmann though. Isn't he quite lightweight and slow? He would probably be an improvement on Mata but not a huge difference I reckon.
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Griezmann is an amazing player. Very fast on his feet too. Lightweight for me isn't a worry, heaps of lightweight players make it in the EPL
 
If we are in for him, its strange we didn't go for him in the summer and loaned Southampton Januzaj.
 
We definately need a winger who has blistering pace, takes players on and runs in behind. Whether that player is Mane or not, I dont know, but we do need someone on the right.

Lingard - Martial - Mane
 
Walters_19_MuFc said:
We definately need a winger who has blistering pace, takes players on and runs in behind. Whether that player is Mane or not, I dont know, but we do need someone on the right.

Lingard - Martial - Mane
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Yeah even LvG is saying that we need speedy, creative players on the wings. I think Mane ticks the fast player requirement but I'm not so sure about the creativity part but of course we also need to see which players are available and which aren't and than try to get the best option we can get.
 
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