The search for a left back...

RooneyLegend said:
Ismaly, Gosens, Alaba
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Interesting list.
£m​
Contract​
With​
Name​
Age​
Injuries​
Days Lost​
Matches Lost​
% Lost​
47​
Jun 21​
Bayern Munich​
David Alaba​
28​
30​
531​
78​
16%​
15​
Jun 23​
Shakhtar Donetsk​
Ismaily​
30​
10​
283​
29​
7%​
19​
Jun 22​
Atalanta​
Robin Gosens​
25​
4​
46​
7​
2%​

Alaba - The best of the 3. Too expensive. Contracted to Bayern so hard to get. Too many injuries.
Ismaily - Plays in a weaker league - so realistic target. Brazillian so possible visa issue. After Fred would we risk bringing him in aged 30?
Gosens - Weakest but youngest with best injury record. Atalanta doing well in Seria A in 4th place. Not so fast, but he can tackle.
 
how hasn’t anyone mentioned Telles? If we want an instant upgrade Telles is your man, great going forward and solid defensively and supposedly available
 
Shaw is good enough for now, but we might be needing another option soon. Shaw can't play every game, and I don't see Williams as an adequate back-up or an option to start consistently when Shaw is unavailable. I'd try to bring in Tagliafico, Telles or any left field option that would offer something different to Shaw. Looking at our current squad, it is definitely light at full back.
 
Adnan said:
He would cope fine.
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RooneyLegend said:
He'd do well, he can defend and is a fierce competitor.
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I'd never even heard of the lad until about 18 months ago when I watched Atalanta to see how Hans Hateboer, who I rated, was getting on at the time when we were linked with numerous right-backs. But Gosens looks the better footballer, and by quite some distance.

He's 26 in a week or so, and having watched him a lot this year it's a surprise he's not capped at International level yet, maybe he's just undecided on whether he wants to play for Germany or Holland, or maybe neither want him!

Be interesting to see what his next career move is, I can imagine him at somewhere like Stamford Bridge.
 
Class of 63 said:
I'd never even heard of the lad until about 18 months ago when I watched Atalanta to see how Hans Hateboer, who I rated, was getting on at the time when we were linked with numerous right-backs. But Gosens looks the better footballer, and by quite some distance.

He's 26 in a week or so, and having watched him a lot this year it's a surprise he's not capped at International level yet, maybe he's just undecided on whether he wants to play for Germany or Holland, or maybe neither want him!

Be interesting to see what his next career move is, I can imagine him at somewhere like Stamford Bridge.
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My apologies, the message to you was a accident. I've never seen the player play either.
 
Mark Pawelek said:
Interesting list.
£m​
Contract​
With​
Name​
Age​
Injuries​
Days Lost​
Matches Lost​
% Lost​
47​
Jun 21​
Bayern Munich​
David Alaba​
28​
30​
531​
78​
16%​
15​
Jun 23​
Shakhtar Donetsk​
Ismaily​
30​
10​
283​
29​
7%​
19​
Jun 22​
Atalanta​
Robin Gosens​
25​
4​
46​
7​
2%​

Alaba - The best of the 3. Too expensive. Contracted to Bayern so hard to get. Too many injuries.
Ismaily - Plays in a weaker league - so realistic target. Brazillian so possible visa issue. After Fred would we risk bringing him in aged 30?
Gosens - Weakest but youngest with best injury record. Atalanta doing well in Seria A in 4th place. Not so fast, but he can tackle.
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Alaba has been in the Bayern side for 10 years, which need to be considered with your injury stats. He’s lost an average of 7.8 games a year in reality.

He also only has one year left, which is worth bearing in mind when speaking of price. Then he’s also a top player in 3 key positions, which needs to be considered when deciding best value.

Then lastly, he’s also, by some distance, the best player of the three.
 
Juan Bernat still hasn't signed a new contract. He's got a year left and he's a quality player. We should've signed him after he left Bayern
 
criticalanalysis said:
Just how common are these surnames?!

Feels like we've had players of quality with these surnames for the last 20 years.
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Quaresma is only the second one I can remember after Ricardo Quaresma (no affiliation between the two)

The others are pretty common surnames in all honesty:lol:
 
Andersons Dietician said:
He’s made of glass but he’s good going forward not good as a defender. It seems all anyone wants is a winger playing as a LB so we might as well sign Leroy Sanè.
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STAY AWAY. His ceiling is the Portuguese league...trust me.

He can attack decently but is god awful at defending.
 
SportingCP96 said:
STAY AWAY. His ceiling is the Portuguese league...trust me.

He can attack decently but is god awful at defending.
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I think people underestimate the value of solidity in defence for a full back. Unless he is made to play a role where he barely has to defend, he'd look out of his depth most times. Many people won't love it when our left back is leaving gaps and getting beat for fun especially with Rashford rarely helping out these days.
 
Rozay said:
Similar to how Saka has featured up the whole left-side, could we potentially sogn and convert a player into a LB? I know the caf is famously against playing players’our of position’, but it’s such a specialist role with limited quality options.
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Saka has one year left of his contract. How about him?

Would probably be very difficult, but we should push hard for talents like him.
 
Schmeichel's Cartwheel said:
Digne from Everton could be a shout. Telles from Porto also, probably cheaper too.
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Digne is a good call, I was desperate for United to sign him when he was 17 and looked a Worldie.

Think Everton would screw us over if we went for him now, they'd want at least £50m which is way too much for a non-priority position.
 
Rozay said:
Anyway, I’m thinking a player like Dwight McNeil. I think he could make a great LB potentially. He has a great size and engine, a fantastic delivery too. He could be a utility option, but ai don’t think he’s good enough to join a top club as an outright forward player. I think between LB/LWB, LW and even CM, which I think he has the potential to play, he could be a top player.

I haven’t focused too much on his defensive game, but I think if you have the athletic attributes, full-back is one of the easiest roles to learn. We have had former wingers playing at full back for ages ourselves, and I imagine almost all top full-backs are former wingers anyway.
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Would be interesting for sure. He is a well-rounded player without any noticeable weaknesses. Good crossing and passing. The question is how much Burnley would demand for one of their most important players? £30m +?
 
I like Jamal Lewis when Norwich go down. Always great having a Northern Irishman at United too.
 
In numbers we have enough cover at fullbacks; AWB, Shaw, Williams, Dalot and Laird(Next season)...
However, both our starting fullbacks are better defensively than in the attack. Shaw's have been more active in the box over the last few games and gotten himself into some potentially dangerous positions, however, the final delivery has on average not been good enough. AWB is great defensively, but his efficiency on the ball is not good --> ability to control the ball, passing ability and decisions etc... Given how much space and time they have gotten in the final third over the last games one wonders what a fullback with better crosses/passes would have been able to do? And as seen from last night in how effective it was for Southhampton to stop us from progressing the ball through the middle, the need for fullbacks that are able to contribute in the build-up is vital for next season. AWB and Shaw are not good at this.

Based on what I have seen from Laird, he is comfortable with this, as much of the build-up for the u18s two seasons ago was on the right side. Williams can do it, but he makes some risky passes that are susceptible for interceptions (as seen last night). Dalot has the technical and passing abilities but seems to struggle to stay fit...

The need for a fullback that is better at passing, crossing, helping in the build-up or even functioning like a wide playmaker like Chilwell would make our team that much harder to stop...
 
I quite like Reguilón. Not sure what his transfer availability is though - he is on loan but has a contract at Madrid until 2023.

Theo Hernández looks good too, but also seems quite settled now in Milan.

Alex Telles has a wand of a left foot and only has a year left on his deal.

Another option might be someone like Robert Skov at Hoffenheim, who can play in multiple positions (including both wings) and could be a very useful LWB/utility man.

All four pose a threat going forward, which is something we severely lack in the fullback positions.
 
Infra-red said:
I quite like Reguilón. Not sure what his transfer availability is though - he is on loan but has a contract at Madrid until 2023.

Theo Hernández looks good too, but also seems quite settled now in Milan.

Alex Telles has a wand of a left foot and only has a year left on his deal.

Another option might be someone like Robert Skov at Hoffenheim, who can play in multiple positions (including both wings) and could be a very useful LWB/utility man.

All four pose a threat going forward, which is something we severely lack in the fullback positions.
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Check out Kostas Tsimikas. An interesting option that played very well for Olympiakos against Arsenal at the end of February.
 
Telles has been linked with PSG. We'd need to move quick.

Are there no options in the Championship or the clubs going down?
 
I'd much rather let Williams develop he's 19 and if you get another player in it'd be for what, 2 years?

Williams can develop and learn from the wingers at the club how to attack, and learn from the defenders about defending too, he's at one of the best clubs to develop.

We also have Shaw who is 25 but he's starting to come along now, maybe full back isn't such a huge concern.

I'd honestly say see how Brandon develops and how shaw is next year, but focus on a RW, a striker potentially (but perhaps not needed) a CB and a CM so the drop off between the midfield and the bench isn't so noticeable.

If the following year Shaw isn't hitting the heights required then think about a fullback right now I just don't see the viability.

Weeks ago I thought perhaps it was a priority but it's really not.
 
TheNewEra said:
I'd much rather let Williams develop he's 19 and if you get another player in it'd be for what, 2 years?

Williams can develop and learn from the wingers at the club how to attack, and learn from the defenders about defending too, he's at one of the best clubs to develop.

We also have Shaw who is 25 but he's starting to come along now, maybe full back isn't such a huge concern.

I'd honestly say see how Brandon develops and how shaw is next year, but focus on a RW, a striker potentially (but perhaps not needed) a CB and a CM so the drop off between the midfield and the bench isn't so noticeable.

If the following year Shaw isn't hitting the heights required then think about a fullback right now I just don't see the viability.

Weeks ago I thought perhaps it was a priority but it's really not.
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I think you underestimate the importance of having at least on fullback that is an asset on the ball. Both in the final third, with crosses, passes and finishing ability, but also in the build up. Look at the match yesterday and see how easy it was for Soton to stop us progressing the ball by controlling the middle. We can't have both our wide players drop deep every time and leaving Martial alone against 3 players up front... Need more ways to get the ball into the final third and having two fullbacks that are ineffective on the ball is a problem, regardless of their defensive ability. One is fine, two is not.
 
I think I've said it before... It is beyond me that no club still pickup up Tagliafico from Ajax for 25 million euro's.. If United need a left back he would be an absolute no-brainers as far as Im concerned.. Same holds for Chelsea, Atletico, Spurs, Inter..
 
We’ve apparently just agreed to sign a 17 year old LB from Real Madrid’s academy. Hopefully he follows the trend of recent quality full-backs that Real Madrid have produced recently.
 
Theo from AC Milan. That guy is going to be some player. Keep an eye on him. Energy to burn.
 
Rozay said:
We’ve apparently just agreed to sign a 17 year old LB from Real Madrid’s academy. Hopefully he follows the trend of recent quality full-backs that Real Madrid have produced recently.
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I think signing him probably means no new leftback now which I'm happy with. Hopefully the young Majorcan can live upto his potential and challenges Shaw for a place in the first 11 in the near future.
 
Tagliafico is a relatively cheap alternative: Prima age, can tackle like a man, can assist and score and is a warrior: he isn't afraid to get into duels, despite his length. In dutch media he's being linked with Leicester if Chillwell leaves, when he goes there for 25m we are crying here next season "we should have bought him" etc
 
future2future said:
Tagliafico is a relatively cheap alternative: Prima age, can tackle like a man, can assist and score and is a warrior: he isn't afraid to get into duels, despite his length. In dutch media he's being linked with Leicester if Chillwell leaves, when he goes there for 25m we are crying here next season "we should have bought him" etc
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Apparently Chelsea are going for him now rather than Chilwell. Havertz, Werner, Ziyech, Tagliafico would be an amazing window, even more so when you consider most of their squad is in its infancy.
 
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