Watching him
Sofyan Amrabat | signs for United on loan
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Watching him
Backup option incase mount deal falls through? Been a utd operating procedure for a while to have a alternative deal lined up.
He's not Modric (or De Jong even), but his short passing under pressure looked good enough, and not just sideways either, at the WC; plus he's able to break through lines or dribble out of trouble pretty consistently (and with PL level robustness)
I watched him a fair bit for Fiorentina as they were my main lens for serie A until 2 seasons ago. His on the ball ability was just about good enough for them and they're mid table. Yes he absolutely did have a good world cup, and stood out as a combative hard worker in a combative hard working team that sat behind the ball. But thats where he's at. He can do that. He's no better than McTom and Fred on the ball
Wouldnt be so strongly linked with barcelona if that was the case.
Some passing stats
What though? First touch, dribbling, passing? He's clearly better than Fred and Scott at passing and I'd say his first touch is better. Doesn't carry the ball like them and is not a presser like Fred, but much more defensive minded positionally than both of them.
@Idxomer post doesn't seem to paint someone not good on the ball.
Because of deliberate cherry picking
Technical, mobility, anything other than running/working and playing standard passes. He's average if not under par for mid table Fiorentina
Again he worked hard at the world cup and stood out with that in some hard fought success for his country as the team sat back and tried to fully shield against the opponent's attacks and pressure. Fiorentina try to play a little bit more being a mid table team
I think Mandragora and Castrovili are both more talented players although Castrovili didnt play much last season and the season before his own form wasnt great. What he showed before that were materials that he can be one of Fiorentina's best players. They are however different types of player to Amrabat, who is legs and passing recycling while both of them do less of that and do more getting forward and supporting play towards the box.
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Isn’t he a destroyer? Rather us sign a young deep lying playmaker to be our backup DM.
Can it not be said, this is by design for the more positionally aware player to be the base. Whilst in that position attacking metrics might be the last thing to focus on especially when playing for a team like Fiorentina.Because of deliberate cherry picking
Technical, mobility, anything other than running/working and playing standard passes. He's average if not under par for mid table Fiorentina
Again he worked hard at the world cup and stood out with that in some hard fought success for his country as the team sat back and tried to fully shield against the opponent's attacks and pressure. Fiorentina try to play a little bit more being a mid table team
I think Mandragora and Castrovili are both more talented players although Castrovili didnt play much last season and the season before his own form wasnt great. What he showed before that were materials that he can be one of Fiorentina's best players. They are however different types of player to Amrabat, who is legs and passing recycling while both of them do less of that and do more getting forward and supporting play towards the box.
Yes as said, they play different roles as they play together. It doesnt change that he's not that impressive for them and that if Fiorentina were going to improve their midfield it would be replacing Amrabat rather than his partner Mandragora.
I wouldn't be getting excited about his Morocco world cup performance. That was great but not altogether relevant for a club like us. Morocco just sat back and scrapped. It was a good platform for somebody to run around putting out fires. Lumping the ball out of play or winning a throwin was considered good for Morocco at various times in that tournament, to put it in context. Compare to playing at a packed Old Trafford and being expected to win every week.
Not saying he's a shit player by any means but if I was a scout I'd be more interested in what he does week in week out and I'd almost be discounting that stuff.
Not saying he's a shit player by any means but if I was a scout I'd be more interested in what he does week in week out and I'd almost be discounting that stuff.
I think I’ve got your logic. It would more likely be the case anyway.
My take on his importance in his on field role might differ from yours here but I agree he is the likelier to get sold first, unless he makes it clear to the club he is there for the long haul and lower his ambitions.
They're just trying to cash in on the world cup hype while people still remember him as his value goes down over time. Mandragora is on the opposite trajectory and will be the one with ambitions to play in a title challenging team. Same with Castrovili if he can sort out his availability issues from this season - very skillful dribbler and looked on course to be Fiorentina's best player post Chiesa sale
Yeah I agree, don’t see Fiorentina getting bigger fees for him after this window. In my opinion makes him a must sell now.
World cups are really deceiving, most games are against poor opposition. National teams football is at least one step down clubs football, teams don't even train together properly plus besides 8-10 teams, most are purely average or below. Because of the stage the fame gets amplified but it's not the best way to rate a player.
Now, I have never watch Amrabat in Serie A but it seems he was not rated before it. Thats why my reservations about signing him.
Now, I have never watch Amrabat in Serie A but it seems he was not rated before it. Thats why my reservations about signing him.
He'll be on TV on Wednesday in the Conference League final with Mandragora and Bonaventura against Rice, Paqueta and Soucek.
Looks an outright, no-nonsense DM to me in the games I've seen recently. Fiorentina play a front-foot pressing game and leave him on his own to guard the midfield against the obvious counters.
Looks an outright, no-nonsense DM to me in the games I've seen recently. Fiorentina play a front-foot pressing game and leave him on his own to guard the midfield against the obvious counters.
If the fee is low, it seems like a good idea to bring in a boring DM in his prime to backup Casemiro who will be happy being his backup.
The Fiorentina fans seem to rate him as a really solid starter who has improved a lot.
I think McTominay's biggest problem as a 6 for us was his inability to read danger, even more so than his mediocre passing or not knowing where pressing was coming from. An affordable sturdy DM to play 20 games a season while Casemiro rests or is suspended or hurt seems like what we need, unless we're going to spend huge on someone who can cover as a 6 and compete for a starting spot as an 8 like Rice or Caicedo.
The ideal would probably be to spend 15-20M on the next Casemiro like Madrid did 10 years ago, but if we're not going to do that, then this seems fine.
The Fiorentina fans seem to rate him as a really solid starter who has improved a lot.
I think McTominay's biggest problem as a 6 for us was his inability to read danger, even more so than his mediocre passing or not knowing where pressing was coming from. An affordable sturdy DM to play 20 games a season while Casemiro rests or is suspended or hurt seems like what we need, unless we're going to spend huge on someone who can cover as a 6 and compete for a starting spot as an 8 like Rice or Caicedo.
The ideal would probably be to spend 15-20M on the next Casemiro like Madrid did 10 years ago, but if we're not going to do that, then this seems fine.
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Should we really be buying a player based on his WC performance? How has that worked out in the past?
Will be watching him with interest tonight.
I theory this is a really good signing, affordable and a position we need a deeper squad.
He was great in the world cup but I can't pretend to have seen him outside of that.
I theory this is a really good signing, affordable and a position we need a deeper squad.
He was great in the world cup but I can't pretend to have seen him outside of that.
Stinging indictment.
He's looked great against West ham so far. Quality dm performance
I like this style as a #6. Real authority. Running the game early on the ball, marking Paqueta tight.
Liked the look of him at the World Cup and like the look of him here. Always seems calm and assured. Also seems like he could do that combo of playing alongside Cas and also covering for him when needed? We were rumoured to be in for him in January. Could be an astute option again as his price presumably wouldn’t be too over the top.
Nah, he isn't better on the ball than either Fred or McTominay 
Looks hard as nails as well. Always available for a pass too
Soyfan… vegetarian name
He was excellent every single time I've watched him. Not sure what Ekeke is on about.
At this moment he is showing up how overhyped and overpriced rice is, give me this guy at united for a fraction of the price rice would cost on top of half the wages
Composed so far. Very composed.
Shite from West Ham so far though. No real pressure on him.
Shite from West Ham so far though. No real pressure on him.
He's quality... And Would cost half the price of Rice.
Composed and always available for a pass makes him an upgrade on both Fred and McTominay. Looks good defensively too.
He is a dm and they don’t come with hype. If a dm is getting hyped up, he is definitely doing thing outside of his parameters and that can be tricky.
The dm is always the last player to get accolades in a team but also the most noticeable absentee.
The dm is always the last player to get accolades in a team but also the most noticeable absentee.
Yet he is far superior to either of them as a dedicated 6. The biggest hole we have in our squad when Casemiro is missing. For that reason alone I'd take him over either of themNah, he isn't better on the ball than either Fred or McTominay
Light years above the level of Rice
It was sarcasm. Of course, he's better on the ball than either of them and as a 6 it's no comparison really.
If you didn’t know much about the players on the field tonight and someone told you « there’s a defensive midfielder playing that is valued at £100m and sought after by top clubs », I’m not sure you’d say Rice is that player…
Amrabat is clearly the better player
Amrabat is clearly the better player
This thread just highlights how people only watch players on the ball, but not what they offer off the ball and defensively.
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