[Kapardin]

Its' too early to say if he is a dud or not, but if we knew he needed the Mkhi treatment, we should have postponed his signing for next summer and spent the cash on a winger or FB instead which are the more pressing needs.

Not everyone can adapt like Bailly, but for his fee, you would expect instant impact. Not saying we shouldn't have targeted him at all, but think Jose missed a trick with this one.

 

[DannyDee]

Its' too early to say if he is a dud or not, but if we knew he needed the Mkhi treatment, we should have postponed his signing for next summer and spent the cash on a winger or FB instead which are the more pressing needs.

Not everyone can adapt like Bailly, but for his fee, you would expect instant impact. Not saying we shouldn't have targeted him at all, but think Jose missed a trick with this one.

I think this is the new reality of a 30m player. You can't expect an instant impact at a top 6 club. The other thing is, if we didn't get him now, who is to say another team wouldn't have bought him. Look at what Tottenham just paid for Davison Sanchez, who probably won't be in their starting 11 full time this year and was less proven than Lindelof (while probably having more potential though). Tottenham has less money than us by a wide margin. These prices are simply the new reality. VVD who is a CB in his mid-20's who should make an instant impact wasn't sold by a mid-table club when offered 60m pounds. Rudiger cost Chelsea 35 million and isn't a locked in starter.

 

[Silver]

Its' too early to say if he is a dud or not, but if we knew he needed the Mkhi treatment, we should have postponed his signing for next summer and spent the cash on a winger or FB instead which are the more pressing needs.

Not everyone can adapt like Bailly, but for his fee, you would expect instant impact. Not saying we shouldn't have targeted him at all, but think Jose missed a trick with this one.

How would postponing his signing made a difference? And it's not about cash... we could have signed fb and wingers despite signing Lindelof but the right ones weren't available.

And his fee doesn't mean anything, especially in this market. Bailly was a one-off - you hardly see defenders from other leagues adapting the way Bailly did especially in the top 6 clubs.

Reinforcing CB was a necessity especially with Smalling and Jones' injury records and Rojo being out for so long. Specialized CBs are more important than FBs.

 

[AgentP]

I'm all for being patient and giving him enough time. But since I have not seen him play for Benfica, I don't know what his real level is. The YouTube clips of his time at Benfica aren't too impressive as well. So will just have to take the word of our fans who have seen him play many times.

 

[Akshay]

Given Jose's statement about wanting a wingback for a 3-x-x formation, maybe Lindelof was brought in to be the central defender who distributes in a 3 man defense, like the role David Luiz plays at Chelsea. Obviously with Rojo out and Jones injury prone we need depth at centre-back anyway but I think Lindelof may get less playing time than planned because we didn't get a wingback who can facilitate the 3-5-2 or 3-4-3.

However, with finished articles like VVD being touted for £70m I'm happy with buying Lindelof at £30m and giving him time to develop. This is the market now.

 

[Godfather]

Forgot he existed. Well yeah let's give him time. Not impressed so far that's for sure though.

 

[Litch]

How about simply exercising some patience with Lindelof? He hasn't stepped in and cemented a starting spot, but he's a young defender at the very beginning of a transition to a much more difficult league. He seems to have some good attributes. With the form of Jones and Bailly, and the option of bringing in Smalling, we're not desperate for him to play now. Give the kid some time and support. Jose has a good eye for defenders. It's far, far too soon to write Lindelof off.

Stop being so sensible......

 

[RRCE]

Stop being so sensible......

Ha! I'll bring some hardcore irrationality next time.

 

[Tom Van Persie]

Jose was due a dud

Glad to see some people are still patient with new signings...

 

[7even]

Our friend Victor brought the form from the preseason back with him to the national team tonight. He received a match rating of 1 where max is 5 from the biggest Swedish newspaper. Admittedly 6 other Swedish players got ones as well but....

His performance against Bulgaria was really bad. Anonymous without self confidence and almost paralyzed. For those who's interested compare this guy to the confident Viggo Lindelöf who excelled against France in June just three month ago.

How about simply exercising some patience with Lindelof? He hasn't stepped in and cemented a starting spot, but he's a young defender at the very beginning of a transition to a much more difficult league. He seems to have some good attributes. With the form of Jones and Bailly, and the option of bringing in Smalling, we're not desperate for him to play now. Give the kid some time and support. Jose has a good eye for defenders. It's far, far too soon to write Lindelof off.

His problem is inside his head. He must realize that the United train don't have unlimited time with slow starters. In two three weeks it's CL games and he's supposed to bea starter in these games. Man up or face the consequences.

We are going to need to be patient. I think the fee and how quickly Bailly settled may have dramatically raised expectations for Lindelof. Let's see how he does in his first batch of competitive games for us. I trust Jose's judgement. Jones's play has really eased the need to rush him in, and Rojo should be back in Jan. His distribution skills will really help us in games we dominate possession.

The talent is there. He just needs to sort his mental weakness out of his head. Simple.

Glad to see some people are still patient with new signings...

Patient is gold but wait until he put up a performance like yesterday in a CL game and you will see United supporters who will go bananas. The guy I saw yesterday was a shadow of himself and I honestly don't understand why.

 

[Raees]

Given Jose's statement about wanting a wingback for a 3-x-x formation, maybe Lindelof was brought in to be the central defender who distributes in a 3 man defense, like the role David Luiz plays at Chelsea. Obviously with Rojo out and Jones injury prone we need depth at centre-back anyway but I think Lindelof may get less playing time than planned because we didn't get a wingback who can facilitate the 3-5-2 or 3-4-3.

However, with finished articles like VVD being touted for £70m I'm happy with buying Lindelof at £30m and giving him time to develop. This is the market now.

I'd rather pay full whack and get finished article like VVD especially as he is more likely to be pivotal in a title campaign etc and get us that money back not to mention he's a youngish player himself.

For me I don't understand this signing not because of doubts on his ability but there were other areas of the squad which needed investment like LB and RW.

 

[Shuriken]

Jose was due a dud

Last time around was Djilobodji, I think?

Glad to see some people are still patient with new signings...

I hear you, and of course we should be patient with new signings.

In this particular case though, I personally just can't see it further down the road either, at least not as a centre-back. He also lacks pace to make it as a full-back. The only position in which I can see him having a successful future as is defensive midfielder. Take note, all of this is in regards to his prospects at the very top. He's already proven (to some extent) that he can do it at one level just below the top.

And bear in my mind that I'm Swedish whilst asking this rhetorical question – but ffs, when was the last time a Swedish centre-back actually belonged at one of the giant clubs in Europe? You can make a minor case for Olof Mellberg, but apart from his brief stint at Juventus, no!

The last truly worthy Swedish centre-back was Patrik Andersson, around 15–20 years ago. And even Andersson, despite being perhaps the best centre-back Sweden has ever seen, didn't actually last that long at the very top, at Bayern or Barcelona, with all due respect to Borussia Mönchengladbach. Though to be fair, injuries played a major part in his specific case.

Before Andersson, there was Glenn Hysén, but that's three decades ago. From someone who's watched the Swedish national team for two of those three decades, we don't exactly have a track record of producing world class centre-backs, unless you view Jonas Olsson, Daniel Majstorovic, Teddy Lucic or Joachim Björklund as world class. It doesn't matter that Lindelöf went abroad at a pretty young age either, his core football education and values are strongly rooted in the Swedish football system/association, which has fallen behind for the past decade or so.

I didn't understand this potential acquisition when rumoured in January and I questioned it then too. I understand it even less now and question it even more.

If Rojo hadn't been out with long-term injury, we would've probably not even signed another centre-back. Incidentally, the rumours fading away in January actually did coincide with Rojo's good form. But ok, sure, depth in CB is always a good thing. Why management chose Lindelöf as the solution for that is beyond me though…

And to think that some actually penned him down as a starter when doing line-up previews for the season.

Our best centre-backs are Bailly, Rojo and Jones. Period.

 

[Aza Boy]

IMHO, the guy will never be able to become a key defender for us. And i don't recall Sweden to have a good top clubs defender, CMIIW. So what makes everyone here thinks he would be a great defender for us is beyond me.

Sweden known for their strikers and midfielders. Zlatan, Larsen, Brolin as my top 3.

Perhaps their best defensive player was Ollaf Melberg, and he was an average player at best.

Aurier is cheaper, and in overall offers levels of potential above Lindelof. And also, I rate Davinson Sanchez too, as I watched Eredivisie 2016/2017.

Lucky Spurs to have both of them, while we overpayed for this man.

Rather have big Harry Maguire, cheaper, decent technique, and EPL proven.

 

[ashgabat]

Glenn Hysen of (captain of) Liverpool (80s)!
Olof Mellberg of (captain of) Aston Villa (00s)!
Patrik Andersson(90s & 00s) of Bayern Munich and Barcelona!
Jonas Olsson (10s) of (captain of) West Brom!

There's been a few at least

 

[prtk0811]

Did he play somewhere or what and got exposed? Why all the fuss about a player who has not even featured elsewhere than preseason.

 

[DannyCAFC]

Not even on the bench. This was a favor signing for Ibra.

Davinson Sanchez (AJAX player that was shutting down Rashford) would have been a better signing.

Because spending £31m + committing to an extra £16m-£24m on wages just as a favour for a one-year signing is how football works...

 

[prtk0811]

Given Jose's statement about wanting a wingback for a 3-x-x formation, maybe Lindelof was brought in to be the central defender who distributes in a 3 man defense, like the role David Luiz plays at Chelsea. Obviously with Rojo out and Jones injury prone we need depth at centre-back anyway but I think Lindelof may get less playing time than planned because we didn't get a wingback who can facilitate the 3-5-2 or 3-4-3.

However, with finished articles like VVD being touted for £70m I'm happy with buying Lindelof at £30m and giving him time to develop. This is the market now.

The 352 or 343 is not our main system but for better balance against teams playing this system. Lindelof will pretty soon adapt to this league. He is a top class cb potential.

 

[prtk0811]

ll whack and get finished article like VVD especially as he is more likely to be pivotal in a title campaign etc and get us that money back not to mention he's a youngish player himself.

Nah, Lindelof is a good player and a prospect. VVD spends a lot of time on treatment table as well.

 

[Akshay]

Did he play somewhere or what and got exposed? Why all the fuss about a player who has not even featured elsewhere than preseason.

He played in Sweden's 3-2 defeat to Bulgaria yesterday.

The 352 or 343 is not our main system but for better balance against teams playing this system. Lindelof will pretty soon adapt to this league. He is a top class cb potential.

Yeah, I don't think it would have been the main system either, but it would have given our centre-backs more playing time and now we're less likely to use it. It's also probably the easiest position to slot in for a player unaccustomed to defending in the PL, because you have two others to cover for you.

A few months might be the time Lindelof needs to adapt, but once Rojo is back we'll have 5 defenders competing for 2 places. Hopefully he can still get the minutes he needs to develop. I agree he has potential.

 

[Android1974]

Given Jose's statement about wanting a wingback for a 3-x-x formation, maybe Lindelof was brought in to be the central defender who distributes in a 3 man defense, like the role David Luiz plays at Chelsea. Obviously with Rojo out and Jones injury prone we need depth at centre-back anyway but I think Lindelof may get less playing time than planned because we didn't get a wingback who can facilitate the 3-5-2 or 3-4-3.

However, with finished articles like VVD being touted for £70m I'm happy with buying Lindelof at £30m and giving him time to develop. This is the market now.

Isn't David Luiz always the central centerback in Chelsea's 3-4-3? I kind of agree with your theory, but then Lindelöf was used, except once, always as the right centerback in our 3-5-2, so… For sure, Mourinho wanted him because of his playmaking abilities (besides not allowing Guardiola to get him).

 

[Android1974]

A few months might be the time Lindelof needs to adapt, but once Rojo is back we'll have 5 defenders competing for 2 places. Hopefully he can still get the minutes he needs to develop. I agree he has potential.

Actually, when Rojo is back, we'll have 6 centerbacks (perhaps you forgot Tuanzebe). And also 5 fullbacks, 2 of which (Blind and Darmian) can also do a back three position in 3-5-2.

 

[Akshay]

Isn't David Luiz always the central centerback in Chelsea's 3-4-3? I kind of agree with your theory, but then Lindelöf was used, except once, always as the right centerback in our 3-5-2, so… For sure, Mourinho wanted him because of his playmaking abilities (besides not allowing Guardiola to get him).

Yep, it's the central slot I'm thinking of. I know Mourinho didn't use him there in pre-season but then we also played Pereira as holding midfielder once and I'm pretty sure that's not his best position either. So I'm putting it down to pre-season experimentation. Him and Blind are probably our most suited players for that central defensive position.

Actually, when Rojo is back, we'll have 6 centerbacks (perhaps you forgot Tuanzebe). And also 5 fullbacks, 2 of which (Blind and Darmian) can also do a back three position in 3-5-2.

I'm not convinced Tuanzebe will get many minutes at all and that's why I wanted him to go on loan. Agreed that we have lots of options for a back 3, but just very few options for the wing-backs which are essential to that formation.

 

[Aza Boy]

Did he play somewhere or what and got exposed? Why all the fuss about a player who has not even featured elsewhere than preseason.

Have you seen him against Bulgaria? It is Bulgaria for God sake. Current Bulgaria, not the team with legendary Stoichkov or Kostadinov or even Bojinov in it. He was shite. Against players from lower leagues. Talent ? What talent ? Go to Italy you will find 10 players better as CB than him for that price.

He had full preparation in pre-season, but he can not make it the first team. And Jose is just a human, he is not always right with the purchase.

 

[podurban2]

Did he play somewhere or what and got exposed? Why all the fuss about a player who has not even featured elsewhere than preseason.

He was shite yesterday.

 

[Shuriken]

Glenn Hysen of (captain of) Liverpool (80s)!
Olof Mellberg of (captain of) Aston Villa (00s)!
Patrik Andersson(90s & 00s) of Bayern Munich and Barcelona!
Jonas Olsson (10s) of (captain of) West Brom!

There's been a few at least

I mentioned all of those players and a few more in my previous post in this thread. Apart from Patrik Andersson and perhaps even Glenn Hysén, none of them were world class.

 

[prtk0811]

He played in Sweden's 3-2 defeat to Bulgaria yesterday.

And did he got Exposed?

Yeah, I don't think it would have been the main system either, but it would have given our centre-backs more playing time and now we're less likely to use it. It's also probably the easiest position to slot in for a player unaccustomed to defending in the PL, because you have two others to cover for you.

A few months might be the time Lindelof needs to adapt, but once Rojo is back we'll have 5 defenders competing for 2 places. Hopefully he can still get the minutes he needs to develop. I agree he has potential.

He's not back until jan, and i dont expect him to hit the ground running from where he left off because of that injury same as shaw. he'll need time too , and given smalling ans jones injury record he'll get that playing time and development time just fine.

5 options for 2 places in 4 competitions is great. We have to compete for all the trophies like mourinho likes. Depth is crucial. But lindelof's advantage is that he build from the back and that is a added plus in posession based football which might be crucial against top sides. Smalling just dont do that while rojo all but punts a long ball forward.

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

Good news, he's not completely shit.

 

[el3mel]

Good news, he's not completely shit.

Such a pass is the reason we supposedly signed him for.

 

[AdNani]

IMHO, the guy will never be able to become a key defender for us. And i don't recall Sweden to have a good top clubs defender, CMIIW. So what makes everyone here thinks he would be a great defender for us is beyond me.

Sweden known for their strikers and midfielders. Zlatan, Larsen, Brolin as my top 3.

Perhaps their best defensive player was Ollaf Melberg, and he was an average player at best.

Aurier is cheaper, and in overall offers levels of potential above Lindelof. And also, I rate Davinson Sanchez too, as I watched Eredivisie 2016/2017.

Lucky Spurs to have both of them, while we overpayed for this man.

Rather have big Harry Maguire, cheaper, decent technique, and EPL proven.

What does Swedens prior defenders have anything to do with this? Extremely strange logic, had Armenia produced a creative midfielder before Mkhitaryan?

 

[GeorgieBoy]

What does Swedens prior defenders have anything to do with this? Extremely strange logic, had Armenia produced a creative midfielder before Mkhitaryan?

We discounting Andy Murray as a No.1 tennis player too considering Scotland had no decent players beforehand?

 

[AdNani]

We discounting Andy Murray as a No.1 tennis player too considering Scotland had no decent players beforehand?

Actually probably best discount Federer as well due to their being no players of note from Switzerland before him either...

 

[K2K]

Patience people.

Give the guy a chance.

 

[Obiorahking_]

He had full preparation in pre-season, but he can not make it the first team.

He has Bailly Jones and Smalling to compete with. Nothing shameful about that especially considering he recently turned 23.

 

[Obiorahking_]

but ffs, when was the last time a Swedish centre-back actually belonged at one of the giant clubs in Europe? You can make a minor case for Olof Mellberg, but apart from his brief stint at Juventus, no!

The last truly worthy Swedish centre-back was Patrik Andersson, around 15–20 years ago. And even Andersson, despite being perhaps the best centre-back Sweden has ever seen, didn't actually last that long at the very top, at Bayern or Barcelona, with all due respect to Borussia Mönchengladbach. Though to be fair, injuries played a major part in his specific case.

Before Andersson, there was Glenn Hysén, but that's three decades ago. From someone who's watched the Swedish national team for two of those three decades, we don't exactly have a track record of producing world class centre-backs, unless you view Jonas Olsson, Daniel Majstorovic, Teddy Lucic or Joachim Björklund as world class. It doesn't matter that Lindelöf went abroad at a pretty young age either, his core football education and values are strongly rooted in the Swedish football system/association, which has fallen behind for the past decade or so.

What does someone's nationality have to do with their quality? Stupid post.

 

[Rossa]

Patience people.

Give the guy a chance.

Of course we will all give him a chance, but I just don't see the point in buying him. With Bailly, Smalling, Jones and Rojo we already have 4 starter quality defenders in our team. In addition, we have Tuanzebe and Fosu Mensah who both seem like great prospects. Particularly Tuanzebe looks like a tremendous CB in the making.

What other teams have 5 CBs that could walk into any top 6 team in the league? It all seems a little unnecessary - and I don't quite see how Lindelöf gives us much more than any of the other four alternatives; furthermore, he will, due to his price tag and being a Mourinho purchase, demand playing time ahead of our two prospects. I know that's not the best argument seeing as the best players will play. However, he is still in the making for the PL, just as Tuanzebe is, and he isn't an immediate upgrade over Smalling, Rojo, Jones and certainly not Bailly.

As I said, I don't see the point of him. I genuinely hope that I'm proven wrong though!

 

[ThanksBoss26]

Patience people.

Give the guy a chance.

This.

Not every player hits the ground running here. I fact three of our best centre halves ever took a few months; Pallister, Stam and Vidic.

Think he'll start against Basel and a decent game would do him the world of good.

 

[Rossa]

What does someone's nationality have to do with their quality? Stupid post.

Yep - agree with that. Currently, Norway are rubbish all over the pitch, but we still had some pretty darn good defenders in the past. Bratseth, Henning Berg, Ronny Johnsen, and even that idiot Riise were all great players.

That being said - good wingers from Norway - riiiiight.

 

[Rossa]

This.

Not every player hits the ground running here. I fact three of our best centre halves ever took a few months; Pallister, Stam and Vidic.

Think he'll start against Basel and a decent game would do him the world of good.

Even Rio was a little shaky when he first played for United, right?

 

[Obiorahking_]

Of course we will all give him a chance, but I just don't see the point in buying him. With Bailly, Smalling, Jones and Rojo we already have 4 starter quality defenders in our team. In addition, we have Tuanzebe and Fosu Mensah who both seem like great prospects. Particularly Tuanzebe looks like a tremendous CB in the making.

What other teams have 5 CBs that could walk into any top 6 team in the league? It all seems a little unnecessary - and I don't quite see how Lindelöf gives us much more than any of the other four alternatives; furthermore, he will, due to his price tag and being a Mourinho purchase, demand playing time ahead of our two prospects. I know that's not the best argument seeing as the best players will play. However, he is still in the making for the PL, just as Tuanzebe is, and he isn't an immediate upgrade over Smalling, Rojo, Jones and certainly not Bailly.

As I said, I don't see the point of him. I genuinely hope that I'm proven wrong though!

We were at one point without 4 CBs. Mourinho is smart to take precaution for the next season by getting another one.

 

[Rossa]

We were at one point without 4 CBs. Mourinho is smart to take precaution for the next season by getting another one.

That was a freak incident. You can't stockpile just in case of anomalies like that. Either way, Tuanzebe has looked up to the challenge whenever awarded with a chance, and we all know that TFM can play there as well.