He didn't get called up for the WC Qualifiers but he did play in 3 friendlies over the summer.
The future of Hannibal Mejbri - will he get a real chance this season?
- Thread starter Bastian
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Agree with folks saying Fred missed the interception there, it doesn't seem like he did anything special.
Anyway, I think the last young player I wanted to see succeed this bad was Rafael. He really should be starting all the league cup / FA cup games. I know we get shit draws in the early stages and Ole is desperate to win something but he has to give Hannibal and VdB a chance in the Westham game.
Maybe even in the PL if we're leading comfortably at 60 mins or so.
Anyway, I think the last young player I wanted to see succeed this bad was Rafael. He really should be starting all the league cup / FA cup games. I know we get shit draws in the early stages and Ole is desperate to win something but he has to give Hannibal and VdB a chance in the Westham game.
Maybe even in the PL if we're leading comfortably at 60 mins or so.
Was there any footballing reason he wasn't called up for the qualifiers, or was that because of covid/quarantine considerations?
The Grealish comparison begins and ends in the final third, when Hannibal has been used in a more advanced role. So I can understand why people would make that comparison. But when you see him used in midfield where his role is to help with the build up phase from deeper and to then get forward and link defence to attack and be that creative hub who is the pulse of the team, then he reminds of a Luka Modric. And that just shows what a talent he is, who has many strings to his bow. I personally believe he should be used as a playmaking #8 next to a DM who is defensively strong.
But like I said before, we're talking about potential here and potential isn't always realised. But I must admit I'm very excited by his potential and he's the best young talent to come through the ranks since Ravel Morrison, who again is a reminder to us all when it comes to huge talented players who fall by the wayside.
He was called up along with Omar Rekik from Arsenal, but the clubs refused to let the players travel.
Fair enough. Seems he'll be in a bit of a pickle at least until January if we don't plan to give him minutes. U-23's aren't a good place for him anymore - being so much better than your so-called peers can lead to mishap - i.e. them kicking seven heaps out of you. More than concern about his temperament, the worry - for me at least - is some oaf finally nailing him proper and causing injury.
I think he’s a brilliant prospect but we have so many options ahead of him it’s hard to see where he’ll get his chance.
as an 8 in CM is my hope.
I think Hannibal dummied to step in-front of Fred, which tempted Fred to lunge in, and then opened his body up to receive it on the back foot, once he was sure Fred wasn't getting to the ball due to the pace of the pass
It's quite hard to be sure from that clip because of the poor camerawork, but why else would Fred just lunge in and miss a straight pass?
Even then, he’s got Pogba, McTominay, Fred, Matic & VdB whod play in the pivot ahead of him.
We have a lot of very talented youngsters but a very bloated first team squad.
I'm not sure .. you might be right.
I think you're correct. Hannibal gets his foot to the ball before Fred and flicks the ball around him. The below vid is slightly better in quality.
Not in the matchday squad apparently.
Will take a while before he is.
Damn... considering we're short in that area with McFred missing it would be a perfect opportunity to give him 30-45 minutes if we've killed of the game by HT/60 min
Yeah I would have preferred him to Elanga in there just because it seems like we have more cover in the attacking areas and less in midfield.
Might be in line for a bench spot vs Young Boys.
Lets hope...
Doubt it. Who is dropping out?
I doubt it too. Would be pleasantly surprised if he's there.
I'm very excited by Hannibal, think there's a chance he could be something special but it is just that for now, a chance. I do think if Pogba was to leave in the summer then Hannibal might be afforded the opportunity to replace him, they can both play either in midfield or coming off the left. It's potentially huge boots to fill but I don't think confidence seems an issue.
I think we also have to remember that midfield is the hardest possible position to try and get quality minutes for a young player. It's not easy to come in as a 18/19 year old and look the part in centre midfield.
It's a shame tonight's game is against West Ham I'm not sure we'll get to see him get minutes, I think against championship or lesser opposition we may have got to.
I think we also have to remember that midfield is the hardest possible position to try and get quality minutes for a young player. It's not easy to come in as a 18/19 year old and look the part in centre midfield.
It's a shame tonight's game is against West Ham I'm not sure we'll get to see him get minutes, I think against championship or lesser opposition we may have got to.
Would have been an absolute opportune time to include him in the squad. Rio was right, to a degree, though it is of course Ole's decision. Jones on the bench instead of Mejbri. Terrible.
Side note: That defensive pairing of Lindelof and Bailly has been proven, time and time and time again, to be diabolical.
Side note: That defensive pairing of Lindelof and Bailly has been proven, time and time and time again, to be diabolical.
I thought that by his recent low standards, Mata actually did OK tonight. What I can't understand though, is why we are paying him £170K per week and giving him minutes on the pitch when we have the likes of Hannibal and Elanga.
Surely any minutes Mata gets would be better served given to the younger lads?
Surely any minutes Mata gets would be better served given to the younger lads?
There isn’t a chance we’re paying Mata £170k a week and he’s still here because he’s a great pro who can pass on a lot of experience to younger players
Mejbri is injured
This is what his old manager said recently
He has now been backed to break into Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's first team by his former Paris FC coach Reda Bekhti, who likened him to United legend Paul Scholes.
"The Premier League requires a lot of athleticism and a strong physical capacity. He can still grow more muscle. If he passes this milestone and does not pick up any injuries, he will win over [Solskjaer] I am sure. He can become a future Paul Scholes at Manchester United. He has all the qualities in midfield to become a leader."
I didn't know that. Thought he sat out the last U23s game because of suspension.
He has now been backed to break into Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's first team by his former Paris FC coach Reda Bekhti, who likened him to United legend Paul Scholes.
"The Premier League requires a lot of athleticism and a strong physical capacity. He can still grow more muscle. If he passes this milestone and does not pick up any injuries, he will win over [Solskjaer] I am sure. He can become a future Paul Scholes at Manchester United. He has all the qualities in midfield to become a leader."
I didn't know that. Thought he sat out the last U23s game because of suspension.
The kid has absolutely everything in terms of toughness, drive and technique. As 23's fans would know, it was absolutely horrid how much he got taken out, kicked and manhandled in each game. He had the record for being most fouled. That stuff would have made him even more determined and showed the opposition who they were targeting. I will be disappointed if he doesn't get a chance in firsts. He just has it all and hoping Ole will start to give him some minutes at the end of games if he can.
Does Ole give youth really a chance? So far, he hasnt imo. He plays Greenwood but that is a no brainer
I get the same feeling with Hannibal that I had with Greenwood. Then again, I had the same high hopes for Andreas so who knows.
He seems to be unfortunate with timin gof injuries. I think last year it looked like he was about to get a chance and injury came? Whether he would have last night who knows, but the game was cring out for somebody of his ilk in midfield, would have been the perfect opportunity for him from the bench in the second half.
Despite three fantastic signings this last window, I felt a real sense of dissapointment for our chances this season. The failure to sign not even one cm let alone two I felt and feel will count against us this season and not see us win any trophies again. We are already seeign this in games so far where we have struggled in periods of games even that we have won easily in the end such as Leeds and Newcastle.
I really dont see anything but squad players in the double pivot area and I include Pogb ain that as I just dont trust him there, much prefer him from the left without defensive responsibilities. Matic still offers us something as a squad player this season, Fred I have never been convinced by, VDB didnt want us to sign thought he would just be an average squad player and he is so far not even really doing that. McTominay is the only one I have some hope there for the right partner.
This is why for me I hope Hannibal gets chances even at his tender age as I feel he can offer us something different and or real quality, but only opportunities will show if he is ready or good enough to take the step up and it is important too if Pogba is to leave that we know if a replacement is already ready, we will never know that from him playing U23 games all season
No, he doesn't and I've said it several times: in the last 1-2 seasons he has been extremely careful. He's probably the only manager in the league who doesn't play youth prospects in the League Cup, yet he is going out.
He rather plays Mata (who wont be here next summer) than encourage young talents to keep pushing. He has a rather strange way to trust certain players
Right. How many youth players did Chelsea, West Ham, Spurs play last night? City were playing League one opposition, have loads of injuries, and their front 5 were all first teamers.
Fans moaned that we have no quality off the bench, or Bruno etc looked tired at the end of the 2020 season. Then wonder why we have no space to play the kids. The likes of Matic, Lingard, DVB need minutes.
You just accidentally left out that their whole back four and one midfielder was youth players, half the team. You can give minutes to players who need minutes AND play some youth players. It's not one or the other, City pretty much did just that. The truth is that we have too many deadwood players still, and our squad is too large. Mata is a good example, and he directly takes playing time from Hannibal and Elanga for example.
Laptorte, Stones, Zinchenko and Rhodri are all injured. I’m sure we’d have used younger players if we were in the same position. Again, they also played League One opposition, so Pep knew he could rest Dias, Cancelo etc.
I will agree about Mata. But who would you have taken out for Elanga. Minutes for Sancho and Lingard have to be a bigger priority.
Step forth my lad, you'll be appreciated now.
Let's hope so, if the rumours are true.
Honestly thought this lad should have been given a lot more minutes last season, along with Elanga. Players like Mata, Pogba and Lingard should have moved on, also Martial.
The potential for Hannibal is huge, and I think he will (if given the chance) replace either Fred or Mctominay, and be a better bet for us than VDB.
Did not know Ragnick has a reputation of giving youngsters chances.
He's away with Tunisia until mid December, that's if they do well though.
FIFA Arab Cup? And then the AFCON? At least he'll get regular first team games...