I don't mind with those terms or anything but holding is not Bakayoko strength. Different atributes, and the comparison is tiresome, but Bakayoko's role is similar to Fellaini in midfield 2 or midfield 3. Yes he does defensive work, but not that impressive in a role of holding, calmer influence, but robust, stiffle opposition midfielder. He was tried as holding mf at times, but more meh than yay. He may work with midfield of Herrera & Pogba like Fellaini, but may not bring the team to the next step. This point is personal take, of course.
- Status
I think there is a reason both conte and Mourinho want him more than fabinho. Maybe they see something in him which we mere mortals dont see. I have been contemplating as to why no one has already signed Fabinho and there are plenty of teams who can do with him(city,us, chelsea,Liverpool,atleti,barca,) and many might need him as a fullback even. still no one is able to pay what monaco wants for him.
He has some qualities of a good DM - passing range, composure, tackling ability, physicality. But he lacks the tempo and work rate that mourinho expects from his players and positionally he's very average. I would be surprised if mourinho signs him.
Sky are saying we're not interested.
Only seen him a few times but he has not looked special at all. Happy to pass. Would rather buy Ndidi or someone like that.
Take out his physicality and he will struggle.
Pfft, Hardly a trustworthy source these days, since SkyBet, their motives are questionable, and their sources are twitter.
Positionally average seems to imply he will be incompetent as a DM. For that role, surely his positioning and reading of the game have to be spot on, otherwise isn't he just another CM who can't be trusted to shield the back 4 on his own merit?
There is a huge difference between doing a defensive role next to a proper DM, and being competent and capable of fulfilling the same role on your own. As someone else pointed out, Fellaini has done that job next to Carrick, but if you need a proper DM next to you to be effective, you are clearly lacking something vital.
Sky sources on this probably are from us as I think it's Chelsea putting out that we're interested to make it look like they got one over on us and make it even for us getting Lukaku, there's only 3 midfielders (Nainggolan, Dier and Matic) we've consistently been linked with that seems genuine and Bakayoko has always seemed set for Chelsea.
think he'd look decent with kante or fabregas.
did impress me v city
did impress me v city
I agree - missing 'not' in my initial post.
What I meant to post was - Bakayoko is not good enough as a holding DM.
Am i missing something here? After being consistently linked with Morata, we signed Lukaku who had also always seemed set for Chelsea.
I completely agree with you. Thats why I wrote that I would be surprised if we signed him. Though he does have some good qualities like his physicality, ability to keep the ball and his underrated passing ability, he does lack a key ingredient i.e. defensive awareness/ positional awareness. Moreover, because he plays at a slower tempo he can't make up for a lack of positional awareness through his work rate.
In my opinion he would suffer in a fast paced game at DM, especially against top/fast paced sides just as Yaya does. (Maybe all this didn't come across from my first post, but I'm not in favour of us signing him as a DM)
Last edited:
Maybe you're right and I certainly don't want him as a DM at United, but to say "take out ---- from his game and he'll struggle " is not an argument. That could be applied to many players who are currently considered very effective.
Very true, it's not a reasonable argument to dismiss a player's best attribute and then judge them speculatively without it. Yeah that Messi, take away his left foot and he'll be shite.....!
Really average and limited player
Hoping his move to Chelsea is wrapped up soon so we can stop being linked. Big fat no thanks.
Yet your alternative option is looking like Dier......
Not really, no. I seriously doubt we will be getting Dier and it's not as if Spurs will sell him anyway. Still though, once we steer clear of Bakayoko, I'm fine with that.
We're unpredictable nowadays it's great.
What I meant with that is that once another team manages to avoid the physical battle, then he's a bit lost. If a team plays around him and he cant impose himself, he is not an added value to the team
Played half the season with injuries, but was still one of the best midfielders in CL. He even played the game just days after breaking his nose. Jose would like this resilience. I think most people are judging him wrongly and what he's done has been admirable. He's actually quite a trooper.
I think the question people are asking, rightly so in my opinion, is that is he the best fit for what we already have. I don't know if people are questioning his ability, and if they are they're likely doing it based on the game v Juve. He is a very good midfielder.
For me, the CM we sign this year has to get the best from our best player, Pogba. That's the biggest criteria we should have. I'm not sure if Bakayoko does that, or has the potential to do that.
No, he's not good as Pogba, and he's not exactly what we need.
That's the same as According to man at bus stop... and in Tesco...
Dier at 50mil would be better for us than Bakayoko at 35-40mil. Dier played the role/position we need. PL proven. Fitter while Bakayoko has been struggling with injury lately.
Please don't get me wrong. Dier is down the list of options I like us to sign. Bakayoko is just worse fit for us IMO.
The only problem being Bakayoko is on sale. Dier is not on sale unless someone pays a ridiculous amount to Levy
We don't need Bakayoko. We need Fabinho and I don't think we are in for him. We were pursuing Dier and Matic and neither of which will happen, so we'll end up getting Fabinho instead. We are not in for Bakayoko. It's all paper talk to make Chelsea feel good about "beating" United to the signing of Bakayoko since the Lukaku debacle.
SSN and the times say fee agreed (between Monaco and Chelsea)
That doesn't strike me as a particularly threatening midfield though. Only one, fairly immobile creative outlet to defend against.
have been hugely unimpressed by most Monaco players I've seen in the past two years...
That's Monaco colours btw
Please nooooo
if we gazump Chelsea againBut he's in Manchester....
What a troll, already love this guy!
What a troll, already love this guy!
Please nooooo
He doesn't follow ManUtd. He is signing for Chelsea and having good time trolling few on twitter. Have to say I like him.
If a player we were about to sign was trolling our fans I doubt I'd be that impressed tbf.
Yeah, he is trolling
Massive attention whore. Even he knows he'll get more attention talking about United than Chelsea
- Status