Sofyan Amrabat | signs for United on loan

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OverratedOpinion said:
Hargreaves was never intended to be cover. He was expected to be the main man in our midfield and we chased him for over a year.
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Not sure if I'd say 'main man' either. We had Scholes, Carrick and Hargreaves, and most likely we expected to pick two of the three in each game with all of them ultimately playing about the same amount. Which ideally is what we should probably be looking for again. Obviously if two of them end up being significantly better then they will end up playing more often (particularly in the bigger games), but it's then up to the third to force his way back in.

Hargreaves ended up not really working out in central midfield but was great for us out on the right for the one year he did stay fit.
 
People seem to be incapable of understanding rotation and quality depth. But then they’ll whine about how loaded City is and how their bench can be starting XI players for any other side in the league.

I’m not sure how people can have debates about whether, for a cheap price, this signing is a waste when the alternative is Scott McTominay starting at the base of our midfield. Blows my mind, especially considering we can probably move the latter for close to the same fee
 
Paul778 said:
I agree completely with the above with the addition of one thing - substitutions. We are now in a world where 5 sub a game is permanent.

The last 20 mins of games is the most taxing performance and stamina wise and the ability to mix up your midfield with a lower overall team impact reaps massive dividends over a 60+ game season.

Previously our only options here were McFred. To have Mainoo, Amrabat, Erikson as the candidates is a massive step up.
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Substitutes are definitely needed who don’t decrease our quality but keep or even increase it. Since it looks like McFred will leave with a good offer, our new midfield rotation may be completely new, and the names mentioned are a huge upgrade.

After seeing Mainoo yesterday again I am quite confident he can get games this season. He’s been excellent for his age already. What I like most is that he takes this tiny risky spaces where no other player would take due to risk of losing the ball and still manages to control the ball and delivers a perfect short/long pass. I really hope ETH will play him more often.
 
NLunited said:
I don’t know man, I think he could be the best man on the field for a WC semi-finalist playing as a defensive mid.
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See your point but international tournaments more often than not do not show the actual level of players. And for what its worth, Marokkos football was pretty rough to watch. Granted, they did the right thing considering the level of players they had and who they came up against but still. They defended deep and countered quickly. Which is fine but it isn't what United is trying to go for.

RedStarUnited said:
Do people forget Fergie did a similar signing when he bought Hargreaves. He was coming in to cover for Carrick and ended up playing a crucial role.
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Didn't he play this crucial role often at RB? He was a different player to Carrick and Scholes. Not really competition iirc. I guess Fergie knew he had to prepare for a post-Scholes time, thats how I interpreted the deals for Ando and Hargo.

Valencia Shin Crosses said:
People seem to be incapable of understanding rotation and quality depth. But then they’ll whine about how loaded City is and how their bench can be starting XI players for any other side in the league.

I’m not sure how people can have debates about whether, for a cheap price, this signing is a waste when the alternative is Scott McTominay starting at the base of our midfield. Blows my mind, especially considering we can probably move the latter for close to the same fee
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Maybe that isn't the main point for the people you are arguing against. Amrabat is a good player and he certainly could be of use for us but before we pick pieces for the gallery, I think we have to make sure that every part in the engine room is solid. Casemiro is the only player in our squad with a not-neglectible defensive output. Look at Amrabats fbref and compare it to Casemiro. Amrabat could play instead of Bruno or Mount or Eriksen, but he cant play instead of Casemiro if we don't want to be open through the center.

We've chosen Mount as a progressor. Now the next step should be a DM kind of player - happy if he could provide more but he needs to be at least good defensively and have big potential to be great.

(Personally, I am a fan of Amrabat and probably would have went for him instead of Mount)
 
MadDogg said:
Not sure if I'd say 'main man' either. We had Scholes, Carrick and Hargreaves, and most likely we expected to pick two of the three in each game with all of them ultimately playing about the same amount. Which ideally is what we should probably be looking for again. Obviously if two of them end up being significantly better then they will end up playing more often (particularly in the bigger games), but it's then up to the third to force his way back in.

Hargreaves ended up not really working out in central midfield but was great for us out on the right for the one year he did stay fit.
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I wouldn’t say he didn’t work out in CM. He just didn’t end up playing there that much. Injury was part of it and competition for places and, of course, he played well on the right when asked to do it.

The injuries did for him but he was bought so that there was genuine competition for places in the midfield.

That’s what EtH is trying to do throughout the squad imo (why wouldn’t he?), which is why it gets on my wick when people post things like “he won’t come here just to be back up” or he won’t come “unless he accepts being back up”. This is just not how it works if you’re serious about building a strong squad. We need a surplus of quality in every position with guys battling for a place in the team, every week.
 
OrcaFat said:
I wouldn’t say he didn’t work out in CM. He just didn’t end up playing there that much. Injury was part of it and competition for places and, of course, he played well on the right when asked to do it.

The injuries did for him but he was bought so that there was genuine competition for places in the midfield.

That’s what EtH is trying to do throughout the squad imo (why wouldn’t he?), which is why it gets on my wick when people post things like “he won’t come here just to be back up” or he won’t come “unless he accepts being back up”. This is just not how it works if you’re serious about building a strong squad. We need a surplus of quality in every position with guys battling for a place in the team, every week.
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Yeah I see him as that DLP partner for Casemiro in the big away games and can cover in others when he needs a rest as well
 
croadyman said:
Yeah I see him as that DLP partner for Casemiro in the big away games and can cover in others when he needs a rest as well
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Yeah, and if Case drops his level he’ll have to sit one out from time to time. I think the squad, and the team, would benefit a lot.
 
Sandikan said:
People genuinely quoting his age of 27 as if it's some sort of problem.
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Would prefer a slightly younger target purely on the basis that they’d have better re-sale value in 3 to 4 years if we wish to move them on - ideally for a profit which we need to get better at.

Otherwise there’s a good chance we’re in a situation like we are with Fred, where the player is 30/31 with a year left on his deal and we’re struggling to get £10m back.

My ideal option would be Caqueret as he’s 23 (perfect age arguably), has the intensity in his game to play Prem and can come in as a DLP or 8. Only thing he lacks is the strength and stature of Amrabat.

Certainly don’t think Amrabat is a bad option, but I can see why some have expressed a concern for his age when it comes to selling him on down the line.
 
Rolaholic said:
French-Moroccan journo claims we've signed him

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His account does look like kinda legit (not that I can read arabic or french).

Doesn't mean it's necessarily true, but he's really sticking his neck out with out with this one. Would be a weird story to release unless he thought he had a lead.
 
In earlier tweets he's been photographed along Amrabat with quotes like "I told you I knew him" like he had been questioned about it... remains to be seen if there's anything but horse shit or actual knowledge
 
Bogga said:
In earlier tweets he's been photographed along Amrabat with quotes like "I told you I knew him" like he had been questioned about it... remains to be seen if there's anything but horse shit or actual knowledge
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he’s pretty much put his reputation on the line for that tweet. Will be interesting
 
The original photoshop was made by this guy yesterday:


So it's definitely not a real-life reveal like the ones Fabrizio Romano does.

Could just be this journalist spotting the image and thinking it could be a good way to get attention. The caption under the tweet even says it's a way to get people to follow you! :lol:
 
The journalist has pics of him hanging out with the player.



Hopefully it’s true.
 
Devil You Know said:
The original photoshop was made by this guy yesterday:


So it's definitely not a real-life reveal like the ones Fabrizio Romano does.
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What? Romano uses photoshopped pics.. almost always.. unless he is tweeting after the official announcement and the pics are official
 
Rolaholic said:
Upgrade on McFred
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Undoubtedly, a very shrewd signing i reckon.
Dannn411 said:
He will play a lot and will probably play in the big games by the time we get overrun against another good team with only one DM.
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Erick might opt for having both him and case on the pitch against opposition in the caliber of city but I have inkling that it would be too negative of a set up but either way as you said he'll get plenty of play time so not a worry on that front.
 
Would be the perfect cover/competition for Casemiro, and also play the role alongside him in big games. Big upgrade on McT.
 
What I've seen I like, I don't think he'd be a starter but from what I've seen I think he's an upgrade on Fred and Mctominey.

Let's hope it's true.
 
Don't believe it for one second. Not saying we won't sign him in a month or so but if we sign another midfielder before we sign a single striker then I'll be very surprised
 
If true, I hope it means DVB, Fred and Mct are about to leave the club.
 
laughtersassassin said:
Don't believe it for one second. Not saying we won't sign him in a month or so but if we sign another midfielder before we sign a single striker then I'll be very surprised
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I won’t be. We badly need a backup to Casemiro. Striker as well of course but when a good deal like that opens up you take it.
 
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