Sofyan Amrabat | signs for United on loan

[OrcaFat]

I really don't understand getting hung up on a transfer based on whether there's been reported interest from other clubs or not. What gets reported in the media about transfers is notoriously unreliable, and only ever covers a fraction of what actually goes on behind the scenes between players, agents and clubs. There's all sorts of informal and unreported contact where a club will sound out a player's interest in a move, or enquire about the rough terms/affordability of a deal etc with the selling club. For all we know other clubs may have enquired and been told he's only interested in a move to another league, or that the selling club only wants to sell outside the league. Using the fact that there hasn't been certain media reports as some kind of metric for gauging a transfer is just odd. It tells you little to nothing about whether a particular player is a sensible transfer option for our squad and our manager.

I agree.

Some people are more naturally sceptical than others. That particular poster is interested in stats etc and has been quoting Amrabat’s poor “defensive numbers” and poor fbref profile as reasons for doubt. The lack of publicised interest from other clubs is a confirmation, of sorts, that Amrabat can’t be particularly good, just as his stats show.

I’ve seen Amrabat a few times and that was how I formed my positive opinion of him. It’s a baffling idea to review that based on metrics that really don’t paint an adequate picture of a player’s attributes. Daftest “metric” of the lot must be “lack of media rumour about other suitors”. For a start, the few media updates on Amrabat state that he only wants Utd and also there was a report that Bayern were interested.

You can start off behind a wall of scepticism and find ways of building it higher. If they were to say, I saw him and didn’t rate him, I’d be more inclined to take note. But, hey, sometimes these folk turn out to be right! I’m usually a bit more optimistic and, often, I have to backtrack later.

 

[Zumbi]

I agree.

Some people are more naturally sceptical than others. That particular poster is interested in stats etc and has been quoting Amrabat’s poor “defensive numbers” and poor fbref profile as reasons for doubt. The lack of publicised interest from other clubs is a confirmation, of sorts, that Amrabat can’t be particularly good, just as his stats show.

I’ve seen Amrabat a few times and that was how I formed my positive opinion of him. It’s a baffling idea to review that based on metrics that really don’t paint an adequate picture of a player’s attributes. Daftest “metric” of the lot must be “lack of media rumour about other suitors”. For a start, the few media updates on Amrabat state that he only wants Utd and also there was a report that Bayern were interested.

You can start off behind a wall of scepticism and find ways of building it higher. If they were to say, I saw him and didn’t rate him, I’d be more inclined to take note. But, hey, sometimes these folk turn out to be right! I’m usually a bit more optimistic and, often, I have to backtrack later.

Very much agreed with all of that. Of course, every transfer is a risk no matter how big the name or pedigree etc. God knows we’ve been burnt enough in the past with very well established and sought after talents not living up to their billing.

The only thing that really matters to me this transfer season is whether Ten Hag is convinced by a player and if it addresses a pressing weakness in our squad. So far I think he’s got the big personnel decisions right (Ronaldo and De Gea plus a bunch of deadwood out, upgraded midfield, added a young and very promising 9, promotion of Garnacho and Mainoo etc) and so he’s earned enough trust to continue building the squad how he sees fit. That’s the only way that we’ll really get a chance to see what his and his team’s ceiling can be.

On the face of it Amrabat’s profile seems to make a lot of sense and addresses some really obvious deficiencies in our midfield. We haven’t had a proper deeper lying playmaker who is comfortable on the ball and can control things through an extensive range of passing since Carrick. And we’ve clearly missed that sort of profile in lots of matches where we’ve exerted no control or composure from the middle. From what I’ve seen it looks like he’ll add a bit of bite and mobility too. Given our budget constraints under the Glazers, I’m happy enough with that for the time being, although as always, the proof will be in the pudding.

 

[OrcaFat]

Very much agreed with all of that. Of course, every transfer is a risk no matter how big the name or pedigree etc. God knows we’ve been burnt enough in the past with very well established and sought after talents not living up to their billing.

The only thing that really matters to me this transfer season is whether Ten Hag is convinced by a player and if it addresses a pressing weakness in our squad. So far I think he’s got the big personnel decisions right (Ronaldo and De Gea plus a bunch of deadwood out, upgraded midfield, added a young and very promising 9, promotion of Garnacho and Mainoo etc) and so he’s earned enough trust to continue building the squad how he sees fit. That’s the only way that we’ll really get a chance to see what his and his team’s ceiling can be.

On the face of it Amrabat’s profile seems to make a lot of sense and addresses some really obvious deficiencies in our midfield. We haven’t had a proper deeper lying playmaker who is comfortable on the ball and can control things through an extensive range of passing since Carrick. And we’ve clearly missed that sort of profile in lots of matches where we’ve exerted no control or composure from the middle. From what I’ve seen it looks like he’ll add a bit of bite and mobility too. Given our budget constraints under the Glazers, I’m happy enough with that for the time being, although as always, the proof will be in the pudding.

Very well said.

 

[Real Name]

Where are we with this?

 

[croadyman]

Where are we with this?

Waiting to sell Donny & Fred

 

[Adnan]

Where are we with this?

I think things should move once we have moved a few players on.

 

[croadyman]

I think things should move once we have moved a few players on.

Utd doing multiple deals at same time,my goodness what is this madness I am seeing

 

[nainaisson]

Utd doing multiple deals at same time,my goodness what is this madness I am seeing

It's like ordering everything you like at a restaurant because you know someone else is paying the bill.

 

[Tony Clifton]

Hot take: we're not really in for Amrabat.

Amrabat is just a smoke screen for another midfielder — whom we will seal if and when we sell either McTominay, Fred, DVB…or all of them.

 

[croadyman]

Hot take: we're not really in for Amrabat.

Amrabat is just a smoke screen for another midfielder — whom we will seal if and when we sell either McTominay, Fred, DVB…or all of them.

Tchouameni or Lavia hijack possible?

 

[Tony Clifton]

Tchouameni or Lavia hijack possible?

Look…if I speak I am in big trouble. I have nussing to say.

 

[Bogga]

Look…if I speak I am in big trouble. I have nussing to say.

We have a saying here in Sweden... "If you say A, you gotta say B"
So spit it out mate!

 

[croadyman]

Look…if I speak I am in big trouble. I have nussing to say.

Would prefer first one as feel we have out own version of Lavia in Kobbie

 

[NZT-One]

I really don't understand getting hung up on a transfer based on whether there's been reported interest from other clubs or not. What gets reported in the media about transfers is notoriously unreliable, and only ever covers a fraction of what actually goes on behind the scenes between players, agents and clubs. There's all sorts of informal and unreported contact where a club will sound out a player's interest in a move, or enquire about the rough terms/affordability of a deal etc with the selling club. For all we know other clubs may have enquired and been told he's only interested in a move to another league, or that the selling club only wants to sell outside the league. Using the fact that there hasn't been certain media reports as some kind of metric for gauging a transfer is just odd. It tells you little to nothing about whether a particular player is a sensible transfer option for our squad and our manager.

I agree.

Some people are more naturally sceptical than others. That particular poster is interested in stats etc and has been quoting Amrabat’s poor “defensive numbers” and poor fbref profile as reasons for doubt. The lack of publicised interest from other clubs is a confirmation, of sorts, that Amrabat can’t be particularly good, just as his stats show.

I’ve seen Amrabat a few times and that was how I formed my positive opinion of him. It’s a baffling idea to review that based on metrics that really don’t paint an adequate picture of a player’s attributes. Daftest “metric” of the lot must be “lack of media rumour about other suitors”. For a start, the few media updates on Amrabat state that he only wants Utd and also there was a report that Bayern were interested.

You can start off behind a wall of scepticism and find ways of building it higher. If they were to say, I saw him and didn’t rate him, I’d be more inclined to take note. But, hey, sometimes these folk turn out to be right! I’m usually a bit more optimistic and, often, I have to backtrack later.

Apparently, my standpoint seems to be a little too complex for you guys...

So again - I am not hung up. I am NOT skeptical of the player in general (would have went for him instead of Mount to be honest), I am skeptical of his defensive abilities. As I haven't seen him play, I have to rely on other methods to gain information. Be that stats or the interest a player is generating in the transfermarkt. I am fully aware, that those alone don't give a definitive answer but together with things other people report, it creates a picture. A picture that underlines his abilities with the ball as a progressor but there isn't much talk about him being good or very good defensively.
And only to set things straight - your position rely on "I've seen 4 or 5 games of him" and "I really trust the manager on this", lets not act as if there is a world of difference on that front to stats and transfertalk on my end, if we want to talk about substance.

By the way: apparently, Atletico is also in the mix, partly dating back to June (Link). The player is believed to have said, that he likes La Liga, likes Atletico and would like the opportunity to play for Simeone. So a) him now saying he wants United might doesn't mean too much and b) you could have saved yourselves a rant about how unsuitable it is, to use transfer rumors to evaluate a player - something I never did, but again, maybe my standpoint was too complex or not transported well enough.

Lets hope he joins soon enough and we can get rid of McFred and Donny.

 

[Zumbi]

Apparently, my standpoint seems to be a little too complex for you guys...

So again - I am not hung up. I am NOT skeptical of the player in general (would have went for him instead of Mount to be honest), I am skeptical of his defensive abilities. As I haven't seen him play, I have to rely on other methods to gain information. Be that stats or the interest a player is generating in the transfermarkt. I am fully aware, that those alone don't give a definitive answer but together with things other people report, it creates a picture. A picture that underlines his abilities with the ball as a progressor but there isn't much talk about him being good or very good defensively.
And only to set things straight - your position rely on "I've seen 4 or 5 games of him" and "I really trust the manager on this", lets not act as if there is a world of difference on that front to stats and transfertalk on my end, if we want to talk about substance.

By the way: apparently, Atletico is also in the mix, partly dating back to June (Link). The player is believed to have said, that he likes La Liga, likes Atletico and would like the opportunity to play for Simeone. So a) him now saying he wants United might doesn't mean too much and b) you could have saved yourselves a rant about how unsuitable it is, to use transfer rumors to evaluate a player - something I never did, but again, maybe my standpoint was too complex or not transported well enough.

Lets hope he joins soon enough and we can get rid of McFred and Donny.

Your arguments really weren’t complex. This isn’t rocket surgery over here. It’s just football transfers.

And you did seem hung up on the lack of interest from other clubs. Why else would you keep mentioning it? That’s all I responded to and my point on that still stands.

 

[CG1010]

Ambarat may not be just a backup for Casemiro but also for Martinez. Not in the sense of playing CB but adding playmaking abilities in the team when Martinez is missing, seeing that the latter basically steps up and Casemiro drops back when we have the ball.

 

[croadyman]

Ambarat may not be just a backup for Casemiro but also for Martinez. Not in the sense of playing CB but adding playmaking abilities in the team when Martinez is missing, seeing that the latter basically steps up and Casemiro drops back when we have the ball.

Yeah you could be right on that

 

[Rolaholic]

 

[SoCross]

Get this over the line and it’s been a fantastic window.

1. De Gea replacement and arguably upgrade
2. A mobile, more physical version of Eriksen
3. A striker with so much room to grow and who can contribute immediately

This signing would bring in Casemiro cover and more depth in midfield. Amazing.

A CB/experienced striker signing would be icing on the cake.

 

[DJ_21]

Get this over the line and it’s been a fantastic window.

1. De Gea replacement and arguably upgrade
2. A mobile, more physical version of Eriksen
3. A striker with so much room to grow and who can contribute immediately

This signing would bring in Casemiro cover and more depth in midfield. Amazing.

A CB/experienced striker signing would be icing on the cake.

I agree. Think a CB is very important. Lindelof isn’t bad but what happens if martinez and Varane are both out. I mean we can play Shaw as LCB at a push but then we waste the threat down the left. Signing Kim would have made this transfer window a lot better.

 

[BuzzKillington]

Hot take: we're not really in for Amrabat.

Amrabat is just a smoke screen for another midfielder — whom we will seal if and when we sell either McTominay, Fred, DVB…or all of them.

I really really hope this is the case. Also we usually have a dark horse transfer up our sleeve that comes out of nowhere so hopefully this is the smokescreen for that.

 

[2 man midfield]

As long as we don’t sign 6 players this summer this was always going to be the case

 

[OrcaFat]

Apparently, my standpoint seems to be a little too complex for you guys...

So again - I am not hung up. I am NOT skeptical of the player in general (would have went for him instead of Mount to be honest), I am skeptical of his defensive abilities. As I haven't seen him play, I have to rely on other methods to gain information. Be that stats or the interest a player is generating in the transfermarkt. I am fully aware, that those alone don't give a definitive answer but together with things other people report, it creates a picture. A picture that underlines his abilities with the ball as a progressor but there isn't much talk about him being good or very good defensively.
And only to set things straight - your position rely on "I've seen 4 or 5 games of him" and "I really trust the manager on this", lets not act as if there is a world of difference on that front to stats and transfertalk on my end, if we want to talk about substance.

By the way: apparently, Atletico is also in the mix, partly dating back to June (Link). The player is believed to have said, that he likes La Liga, likes Atletico and would like the opportunity to play for Simeone. So a) him now saying he wants United might doesn't mean too much and b) you could have saved yourselves a rant about how unsuitable it is, to use transfer rumors to evaluate a player - something I never did, but again, maybe my standpoint was too complex or not transported well enough.

Lets hope he joins soon enough and we can get rid of McFred and Donny.

Hey! You said you weren’t posting here any more!! Leave it to us simpletons.

 

[NZT-One]

Your arguments really weren’t complex. This isn’t rocket surgery over here. It’s just football transfers.

And you did seem hung up on the lack of interest from other clubs. Why else would you keep mentioning it? That’s all I responded to and my point on that still stands.

Read my post, I was asking if my standpoint was too complex not the arguments. As I said, you act as if I was against the player and would only hold his limited interest (if we want to call it that) against him. But I didn't. I look at his stats, I read the reports, I look at the clubs interested over the years. And it gets me skeptical about his defensive qualities. I ask around here, what makes people optimistic and there is one guy who has seen him "4 or 5 times" and you, who "trusts the manager". And suddenly I am the weird boy because I'm still unconvinced about his defense.

And regarding that "not enough interest from other clubs" - you're arguing against something that hasn't been said - you are only taking one thing from the post and call me hung up. On that basis, I could call you hung up based on your trust in the manager. Wouldn't make sense as well.

Hey! You said you weren’t posting here any more!! Leave it to us simpletons.

I feel triggered and misunderstood. And I didn't call anybody a simpleton.

 

[OrcaFat]

Read my post, I was asking if my standpoint was too complex not the arguments. As I said, you act as if I was against the player and would only hold his limited interest (if we want to call it that) against. But I didn't.

You're arguing against something that hasn't been said - you are only taking one thing from the post and call me hung up. On that basis, I could call you hung up based on your trust in the manager. Wouldn't make sense as well.


I feel triggered and misunderstood. And I didn't call anybody a simpleton.

Hey, friend, it’s all in good humour.

 

[sglowrider]

 

[Chief123]

Amrabat is the smokescreen. Caicedo will be the deadline day signing.

 

[croadyman]

Amrabat is the smokescreen. Caicedo will be the deadline day signing.

Definitely not got the money for him

 

[Chairman Steve]

Amrabat is the smokescreen. Caicedo will be the deadline day signing.

If that happened, I’d be expecting news about Qatar or INEOS owning us to follow shortly after. It is a somewhat plausible and wildly optimistic theory that we do have new owners but we’re operating under the guise that the Glazers are staying so prices aren’t jacked up and so that we can keep within FFP limits.

 

[croadyman]

If that happened, I’d be expecting news about Qatar or INEOS owning us to follow shortly after. It is a somewhat plausible and wildly optimistic theory that we do have new owners but we’re operating under the guise that the Glazers are staying so prices aren’t jacked up and so that we can keep within FFP limits.

If that was the case we would go for Kane too

 

[Roboc7]

Amrabat is the smokescreen. Caicedo will be the deadline day signing.

There is something that doesn’t quite add up, either he’s not available for as cheap as is made out or he’s more of a backup to another signing. I know we have to get players out the door but if the fee is only 25m I don’t think it would be a deal that would have to be put off for so long.

I don’t think we can stretch to Caceido but there maybe are 1 or 2 others ahead of Amrabat if we can raise more money from sales.

 

[mav_9me]

Amrabat is the smokescreen. Caicedo will be the deadline day signing.

Yep. The unnamed club who bid 80+ was us. That's why Chelsea are not getting him.

A man can dream

 

[Levi1]

Yep. The unnamed club who bid 80+ was us. That's why Chelsea are not getting him.

A man can dream

I have a feeling it was Western Ham

 

[croadyman]

There is something that doesn’t quite add up, either he’s not available for as cheap as is made out or he’s more of a backup to another signing. I know we have to get players out the door but if the fee is only 25m I don’t think it would be a deal that would have to be put off for so long.

I don’t think we can stretch to Caceido but there maybe are 1 or 2 others ahead of Amrabat if we can raise more money from sales.

Who are you thinking?

 

[Plastic Evra]

I don't think it's that far-fetched the club would prefer to have confirmed transfers out on the books before making a move.

But maybe they want to keep some flexibility with whatever remaining funds they have or will get to not miss any last minute opportunities that could happen on the market.

Lavia is supposedly attainable for 50-60m£. Not the same profile as Amrabat but possibly an interesting addition.

 

[Alemar]

Definitely not got the money for him

Why? So far our net spend is relatively modest, below 140m, and that’s without envisaged Maguire proceeds.

 

[Roboc7]

Who are you thinking?

I don’t know I just wonder if ETH had 50-60m to spend would he still want Amrabat. We’ve been linked with Lavia and Onana, not to the extent of Amrabat but maybe that changes with more funds.

The scousers also float around a theory about Tchouaméni being available if Madrid move for Mbappe. Now I know they talk nonsense and I think that’s far fetched for us but I think there are still a lot of potential big moves still to happen this window.

 

[FrankWhite]

Did he really just drop the player we spent £55M and gave the number 7 shirt from the lineup in all of his analysis?

You can see that like most, statmanDave still stuck in last season's vision of our team rather than what it appears the manager is trying to implement this season. No saying we won't play with 2 sixes at all, just that our default will be more 2 eights and six.

 

[Bojan Djordjic]

Amrabat is the smokescreen. Caicedo will be the deadline day signing.

Would kind of love if we made one really left-field high risk-high reward type signing for this position. Feel its been a while since we bought some unfancied player and they burst to stardom while playing for us. Someone like Arthur Vermeeren, Gourna Douath, Redondo Jr, André would be really cool. Zaire Emery at PSG would be insane but doubt even PSG would be that negligent when it came to letting him go.

 

[DJ_21]

I don’t know I just wonder if ETH had 50-60m to spend would he still want Amrabat. We’ve been linked with Lavia and Onana, not to the extent of Amrabat but maybe that changes with more funds.

The scousers also float around a theory about Tchouaméni being available if Madrid move for Mbappe. Now I know they talk nonsense and I think that’s far fetched for us but I think there are still a lot of potential big moves still to happen this window.

I think if we sign any more players it’s most likely gonna be Amrabat, Pavard. Not to expensive and stays within our limit. Depends who els we sell though and for how much. There’s players like Bailly, Fred, VDB, possibly Mctominay who all could be sold.