Sean Longstaff

[Zoo]

The only question mark against Longstaff is that, unusually, he has not progressed through England’s junior development teams. “Sometimes you have players who aren’t in the system but they develop later,” said Benítez.

“I saw Sean in training [for Newcastle’s Under-23s] and I saw how good he was technically, he was doing right-foot, left-foot finishes into the bottom corner. His vision is good, there are just a few things he has to improve but he listens to us and is learning quickly. He’s someone who is normally calm under pressure and that’s a good thing for a midfielder.”

 

[NJM78]

So I’m assuming based on this thread that a lot of United fans watched all his games. I only watch Newcastle twice a season, when we play them.

 

[Scholsey2004]

Any reason why he has no England caps at youth level?

I wouldn't read too much into that. A lot of players don't get noticed by England youth teams, especially when they're from non premier League sides. I think James Maddison barely had a sniff til he was at Leicester for instance.

 

[Dante]

From what I can gather in this thread...

Positives:
Good on the ball
Good passer
Good engine
Intelligent

Negatives:
British

 

[luke511]

From what I can gather in this thread...

Positives:
Good on the ball
Good passer
Good engine
Intelligent

Negatives:
British

It's turned into borderline racism against the British

 

[manuchamp88]

That is a mid table team. Everyone is completely overrating these players in our squad and some that we are linked to or have already signed. James, McTominay, Longstaff should be no where near our first 11 in my opinion. Squad players yes, but going a season with a team like that is shocking for man uniteds standard.

Maybe you're right but from the sounds of it, it's quite possible.

 

[Ballist1x]

Since when? We've hardly ever done that apart from raiding Arsenal that one time.

Well apart from Cole, Yorke, Berbatov, Carrick, Veron, Cantona.

Only ones we missed out on really were Gasgcoine and Shearer.

 

[manuchamp88]

I dont think SMT/Longstaff are ready for starts and you still need to replace James / Rashford/Pogba(he is leaving) with top quality players if you have any ambition to get into top4. this team can still finish in top6 though.

If Lukaku/Pogba leaving then we seriously need to buy 4/5 quality players in this window to fill in front 6 postions.with 250+ millions on players sales I would go for at least one from each row below

Felix/AG/Werner/Haller/
Richarlison/Pepe/Sancho/Benjwein/
Bruno/Van Beek/Maddison/Erickson
Rabiot/Barrella//Aouar/Harvertz
Ndombele/Neves/

I know this but this is Ed Woodward in charge. We're half way till the start of our tour and we've only signed 1 youngster. How likely do you think it is we'll properly upgrade the team by July?

 

[saivet]

I wouldn't read too much into that. A lot of players don't get noticed by England youth teams, especially when they're from non premier League sides. I think James Maddison barely had a sniff til he was at Leicester for instance.

Yeah there are few like that but I believe Maddison had been in the u21 squad while he was at Norwich. Not a regular but he was on the radar.

Looking at his club stats it makes sense why he hasn't to be fair. Only 11 appearances this season and last season he was on loan in League 1, so not even been exposed to Championship football.

 

[Suv666]

I've got to hand it to Woody. Man's a genius. We're making midtable level signings and the fans are convinced that its a good idea. Genius

 

[MetoTTT]

It's turned into borderline racism against the British

Maybe that just means a lot of british players are overhyped and overpriced.

 

[Drainy]

Imagine the reaction these days if we wanted a Kluivert profile/level player and ended up with a Dwight Yorke.

Sometimes you don't get the best quality player for whatever reason but you look at the fit for what you want and get the best available - sometimes it works out often it doesn't - thats football.

We've not even bid for this player yet, by the way! He does seem like he could be a good player once he matures so if we do sign him - why not see how he does first?

 

[Raoul]

I've got to hand it to Woody. Man's a genius. We're making midtable level signings and the fans are convinced that its a good idea. Genius

Half of Fergie's players were mid table signings who were part of league winning sides.

 

[3KDré]

Mane was a ‘midtable’ signing who is now one of the best wingers in the world.

 

[Scholsey2004]

Yeah there are few like that but I believe Maddison had been in the u21 squad while he was at Norwich. Not a regular but he was on the radar.

Looking at his club stats it makes sense why he hasn't to be fair. Only 11 appearances this season and last season he was on loan in League 1, so not even been exposed to Championship football.

That's what I meant by 'barely had a sniff'. I think there's more of a system focus with England and its youth teams now as well. Obviously that's good for those who fit the system but means players who don't will probably not get picked at all.

 

[MetoTTT]

Half of Fergie's players were mid table signings who were part of league winning sides.

Agree. But since he left we're specialist to bring some very good to excellent players and turn them to shite.

 

[NJM78]

Imagine the reaction these days if we wanted a Kluivert profile/level player and ended up with a Dwight Yorke.

Sometimes you don't get the best quality player for whatever reason but you look at the fit for what you want and get the best available - sometimes it works out often it doesn't - thats football.

We've not even bid for this player yet, by the way! He does seem like he could be a good player once he matures so if we do sign him - why not see how he does first?

Dwight Yorke was a very good proven player when we bought him. I kind of get what you are saying but a guy with 9 premier league games is a huge risk. What about Perez, ki or Matt Richie. Players who have played a lot of league games and are probably some of Newcastles best players. We would all turn our noses up at them.

 

[VP89]

Mane was a ‘midtable’ signing who is now one of the best wingers in the world.

Wjinaldum a good example of a midtable signing too. Granted he had more experience but if I remember correctly he wasn't even playing centrally for Newcastle when Liverpool transformed him?

 

[Fer]

Can he play as CDM? Or is he more likely to be the replacement for Herrera?

 

[MetoTTT]

Wjinaldum a good example of a midtable signing too. Granted he had more experience but if I remember correctly he wasn't even playing centrally for Newcastle when Liverpool transformed him?

That proves again a good plan and a good manager could do wonders for a team.

 

[Keeps It tidy]

Wjinaldum a good example of a midtable signing too. Granted he had more experience but if I remember correctly he wasn't even playing centrally for Newcastle when Liverpool transformed him?

He won player of the season in Holland, won a league title with PSV and scored 11 goals in his one season with Newcastle. Liverpool did not transform anything.

 

[Keeps It tidy]

Half of Fergie's players were mid table signings who were part of league winning sides.

And with the exception of Smalling all of them were much more proven than someone like Longstaff before the club signed them.

 

[NJM78]

He won player of the season in Holland, won a league title with PSV and scored 11 goals in his one season with Newcastle. Liverpool did not transform anything.

I touched on this before, he also looked by far Newcastles best player..he wasn't some random with a handful of appearances.

 

[Raoul]

And with the exception of Smalling all of them were much more proven than someone like Longstaff before the club signed them.

Proven is in the eye of the beholder. If our coaches and scouts have been watching and assessing him then they are qualified to make the call.

 

[Coleyoscar]

Proven is in the eye of the beholder. If our coaches and scouts have been watching and assessing him then they are qualified to make the call.

I would be delighted if he turns out to be a world beater. It's possible that the people who have managed to source a succession of expensive world beaters who underperform could suddenly identify a bargain youngster who becomes a star. Possible but unlikely I would have thought.

 

[roonster09]

Yeah there are few like that but I believe Maddison had been in the u21 squad while he was at Norwich. Not a regular but he was on the radar.

Looking at his club stats it makes sense why he hasn't to be fair. Only 11 appearances this season and last season he was on loan in League 1, so not even been exposed to Championship football.

Same with AWB, he played for England U20s after making Crystal Palace debut and had decent second half of the season.

 

[In Rainbows]

Have to say, you guys are reaching with the Mane, Wijnaldum, or Fergie's successful past signings comparisons. This is more similar to Nick Powell.

Why does it make more sense to spend money on he, but not give Garner a try? He barely has anymore PL experience than Garner. So knowing that we're going for a punt, and not a proven starter, why not give Garner that chance?

 

[Green_Red]

I'm worried by our transfer approach this season. The last 5 years have been high profile player but the wrong fit. Not we're trying to sign the right fit, but mediocre. I dont think this is going to end well. We need to make a couple of solid starting XI signings soon. Preseason cant be far away.

 

[BlahRules]

Buying Longstaff with another good midfielder would be okay but if it’s just him then it will be a risk, I hope it works. I remember when we signed Carrick which was an underwhelming signing, never thought he would make a massive impact at first, so who knows.

 

[Green_Red]

Have to say, you guys are reaching with the Mane, Wijnaldum, or Fergie's successful past signings comparisons. This is more similar to Nick Powell.

That's exactly who I thought of when I read this news. An important factor when you sign a player for Man Utd should be "is he better than what we have?". This kid is good enough, but not better than anything we currently have. Waste of a signing.

 

[Gandalf]

Have to say, you guys are reaching with the Mane, Wijnaldum, or Fergie's successful past signings comparisons. This is more similar to Nick Powell.

Why does it make more sense to spend money on he, but not give Garner a try? He barely has anymore PL experience than Garner. So knowing that we're going for a punt, and not a proven starter, why not give Garner that chance?

Garner will get his chance but he is hardly ready to play week in and week out all season. Like with every other position in the team we need competition and when it comes to the younger players you know there will be some misses so you don't want to put all your eggs in one basket. If Garner turns out to be a stud we can easily sell Longstaff if he becomes surplus to requirements but the opposite is also true, at least this way you have 2 chances to get it right.

 

[Keeps It tidy]

Proven is in the eye of the beholder. If our coaches and scouts have been watching and assessing him then they are qualified to make the call.

You guys trust the scouts now?

 

[NJM78]

Buying Longstaff with another good midfielder would be okay but if it’s just him then it will be a risk, I hope it works. I remember when we signed Carrick which was an underwhelming signing, never thought he would make a massive impact at first, so who knows.

Carrick joined Scholes, Giggs, Fletcher and had two outstanding forwards in Ronaldo and Rooney who would fire us to the league title under the greatest manager of all time. Longstaff would join McTominay Fred, Mattic and Pereira ( Pogba who knows?) With Rashy as our main forward and no chance of winning the league. Huge risk like you said if bought alone and if Pogba leaves a huge risk if bought with only one other midfielder.

 

[Raoul]

You guys trust the scouts now?

The players haven't been the problem - the managers, their systems, and ridiculously impatient expectations from the fans are. Fergie has already shown you can win the league with the likes of Smalling, Jones, Young et al, so maybe we shouldn't reflexively sneer at under the radar signings. Some of them will work out, others won't.

 

[In Rainbows]

Garner will get his chance but he is hardly ready to play week in and week out all season. Like with every other position in the team we need competition and when it comes to the younger players you know there will be some misses so you don't want to put all your eggs in one basket. If Garner turns out to be a stud we can easily sell Longstaff if he becomes surplus to requirements but the opposite is also true, at least this way you have 2 chances to get it right.

But the point is that Longstaff is another player who isn't a guaranteed starter. So using that against Garner doesn't work. We still need a quality midfielder to replace Matic.

I'm suggesting that we buy that midfielder, and let Garner develop under that player and our other midfielders. If Garner isn't ready for PL football, how is it that Poch was able to play Oliver Skipp at 18 years old? He rarely played, but he still played a very small role which would be less likely if Longstaff were here.

And this is the one time I feel the "we overrate our youth players" doesn't work as we're comparing him to Longstaff, a player who has only played 11 PL matches.

 

[Mark1361]

At the moment we are team in free fall. So buying player of this quality will fit in perfectly for us. I guess we have to get use to buying second rated player. Ole will be lucky to last until Jan at this rate. no marquee players again. Only buying rubbish players on a hope they become stars. Will never happen. The best signing for us will be Ed getting sacked and Glazers selling to Oil rich Country.

 

[BlahRules]

Carrick joined Scholes, Giggs, Fletcher and had two outstanding forwards in Ronaldo and Rooney who would fire us to the league title under the greatest manager of all time. Longstaff would join McTominay Fred, Mattic and Pereira ( Pogba who knows?) With Rashy as our main forward and no chance of winning the league. Huge risk like you said if bought alone and if Pogba leaves a huge risk if bought with only one other midfielder.

It was not as rosy as you are making it out to be during that summer window. Scholes looked to be in the decline and had an injury with his eye the season before.

Fletcher was potential and even then we never thought he would come good but did couple of years after Carrick already being in the team.

Ronaldo was very inconsistent and Rooney was good then. Giggs was not ripping full backs to shred, he started to lose pace.

When Carrick was signed, he allowed scholes to shine and furthermore he allowed us to play quick counterattacking football. Along with shoring up the defensive side as well.

I am not saying Longstaff will make the same impact, it’s a massive risk but you sometimes with football you never know.

 

[VP89]

He won player of the season in Holland, won a league title with PSV and scored 11 goals in his one season with Newcastle. Liverpool did not transform anything.

I touched on this before, he also looked by far Newcastles best player..he wasn't some random with a handful of appearances.

He wasn't a central midfielder for Newcastle. That's what I was eluding to by transforming a player. He came in to adjust to a central midfield box to box player for Liverpool.

 

[Suv666]

Half of Fergie's players were mid table signings who were part of league winning sides.

Midtable signing along with experienced world class players. You cant expect a kid who hasnt played a single season in the PL to perform on a high level week in week out. Its madness. Fergie relied on young talent, yes but there were figures in the dressing room to mentor them. Zero margin of error present right now at Utd. Even the likes of Rashford who is a top talent gets slaughtered on here because we dont have the time to nuture and polish young talents. Longstaff and James will be ridiculed for every mistake they make which is normal for a young player.

 

[luke511]

For 25 mil this is going to be the signing of the summer. Fight me I.R.L