Still not 100% convinced on this one when his replacement is a perma crock. The only way I could get behind the signing of Mazraoui is if de Ligt is coming as well and AWB is the key to signing the pair. Although I’m not sure that’s the case with the relatively low fee we’d be receiving after AWB gets his cut.
Wan-Bissaka for sale | joins West Ham
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Mazraoui offers the passing/build up and attacking ability that is a bit more suited to our style of play.
Unquestionably AWB is the better defender especially 1v1 with a tricky winger but we’ll gain a lot from our ability to build up and create threat from deeper with him.
He’s also going to be back up to Dalot and Shaw and in terms of on the ball skill is a lot more similar to what they can offer (although lacks their physical profiles)
It does make sense as a squad option more so than AWB as it requires less tactical adjustment to go from Dalot to Mazraoui than it does Dalot to AWB.
Called it yesterday. Radcliffe has let West Ham obtain Todibo on a loan. I reckon there has been an agreement they would then buy Wan Bissaka from us at the asking price.
Never on a level good enough to play for a contender. Great sign that we’re starting to realize this and getting rid. On a bad day I would gladly give the young guys a run instead of him.
I mean in terms of the profile of player I agree he’s probably a much better fit for how we’re trying to play but it’s his availability that’s the real concern, even as a back up. I’d hate to be in the same position we were last season with the LB situation except on the right side where our first choice is out but then our back up is also unavailable because he’s injured. Then you’re resorting to either playing someone out of position, playing a kid from the academy or bringing in some emergency loan like we did with Reguilon last season. I really hope Dalot is as reliable as he was last season.
Mazraoui played more games than AWB last season.
AWB was back up to Dalot last season so it’s not surprising he didn’t play much, I don’t know where Mazraoui is in Bayerns pecking order though. Luke Shaw played the majority of games in ETH’s first season here, doesn’t mean he’s not very injury prone and unreliable.
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I think our position with Mazraoui in the squad is better than with AWB in that scenario though.
He can deputise better at LB whilst still offering some ball progression.
Also RB for me is less of a worry given that we could also play Yoro there if absolutely needed.
RB:
Dalot
Mazraoui
Yoro
LB:
Shaw
Malacia*
Mazraoui
Amass
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I also think it’s entirely reasonable to consider a position covered by 2 players who are specialists being able to play there with 1 other option as a not perfect or youth option.
I may be worrying too much about his availability. He’s definitely an upgrade on AWB in an attacking sense and may prove to be a real asset going forward and even if he’s not as good defensively having a better CB pairing may help mask that a bit. However it could become an issue if we have to resort to Lindelof and Maguire at the back again, which is highly probable given our injury woes at the back. I really hope we get over these fecking constant injuries this season but given our star signing has got himself injured in the second game of preseason and will be out for 3 months and our main striker 6 weeks, it’s certainly not a good start.
Looks like this will happen.
I think he’s been a decent player for us. Not what we wanted from a 50 million full back, but the fact that we paid this price is on us and not him. He has given a few superb performances across his five years and when it comes to shutting down a winger, he’s been usually reliable. His last game was a testament to that.
Ultimately, it’s his limited capability to contribute in our attacking play leading him to the exit door. We always hoped he would improve on it but it doesn’t look like it will happen.
West Ham, though, are getting excellent value. He is proven in the league, has mostly been reliable fitness wise and is reliable defensively. If they were signing him from another club, they would’ve been paying twice the price.
Good luck to Aaron.
I think he’s been a decent player for us. Not what we wanted from a 50 million full back, but the fact that we paid this price is on us and not him. He has given a few superb performances across his five years and when it comes to shutting down a winger, he’s been usually reliable. His last game was a testament to that.
Ultimately, it’s his limited capability to contribute in our attacking play leading him to the exit door. We always hoped he would improve on it but it doesn’t look like it will happen.
West Ham, though, are getting excellent value. He is proven in the league, has mostly been reliable fitness wise and is reliable defensively. If they were signing him from another club, they would’ve been paying twice the price.
Good luck to Aaron.
Wrong thread for that (Is there a thread) but West Ham must reach a european place with this squad.
Goalkeeper and left-back aren't fantastic but the rest of the Starting XI and the bench options are really good.
Starting XI: Areola - Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson - Soucek, Alvarez; Bowen, Kudus, Paqueta, - Füllkrug
Bench XI: Fabianski - Coufal, Mavropanos, Aguerd, Cresswell - Ward-Prowse, Rodriguez; Luis Guilherme, Cornet, Summerville - Antonio
Goalkeeper and left-back aren't fantastic but the rest of the Starting XI and the bench options are really good.
Starting XI: Areola - Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson - Soucek, Alvarez; Bowen, Kudus, Paqueta, - Füllkrug
Bench XI: Fabianski - Coufal, Mavropanos, Aguerd, Cresswell - Ward-Prowse, Rodriguez; Luis Guilherme, Cornet, Summerville - Antonio
More like Juve being their typical stingy self
I’d say several of their first XI players are better than anything we currently have in the same positions. They should definitely be getting European football.
Looked on their message board. Annoying how excited they are for Tobido when he should be ours. Hes their biggest signing in a while IMO. Ex-Barca, would have joined United and then they got him ahead of Juventus
Any reliable journalist corroborated this? Like fellas from The Athletic or BBC? Or even the likes of Romano and Plettenberg?
It's pretty crazy that you could reasonably argue that West Ham have a better balanced and more reliable squad than we do.
Especially if they get Wan Bissaka. We would be crazy to sell him to them, especially for the fees mentioned. He is stupidly underrated here.
Good luck to him but surprised people rate him.
He is not good defensively. There is more to defending than tackling and one on one duels. Lost count at how many times he has been caught at the back post, and once he loses that athleticism, his tactic of standing off players so he can put in a tackle won't work anymore. He's also a repeat offender when it comes to leaving a player onside.
But more importantly, he is terrible at any kind of progressive play, in the last few years, for years, he has literally been the pressing trigger for opposition. Take the hint guys, it's because he is not good enough on the ball. If you want United to play a proactive and attacking style of football, you cannot do it with a fullback like AWB, you need someone who can pass through the lines, dribble and link play to a higher standard. If you want us to play like a mid table team, than by all means, keep players on like AWB. I think in order to play for United, every player should have a good level of technical ability. Get rid of the ones who don't.
He is not good defensively. There is more to defending than tackling and one on one duels. Lost count at how many times he has been caught at the back post, and once he loses that athleticism, his tactic of standing off players so he can put in a tackle won't work anymore. He's also a repeat offender when it comes to leaving a player onside.
But more importantly, he is terrible at any kind of progressive play, in the last few years, for years, he has literally been the pressing trigger for opposition. Take the hint guys, it's because he is not good enough on the ball. If you want United to play a proactive and attacking style of football, you cannot do it with a fullback like AWB, you need someone who can pass through the lines, dribble and link play to a higher standard. If you want us to play like a mid table team, than by all means, keep players on like AWB. I think in order to play for United, every player should have a good level of technical ability. Get rid of the ones who don't.
AWB is known for making last-gasp tackles. That's not a positive sign for any quality defender. A decent defender should be difficult to beat one-on-one.
What AWB lacks are all the other aspects of defending... actually reading the game, being good on the ball (and full backs have more time on the ball than most players..) and influencing the game. He is a player who needs constant attention and guidance. He can't play, can't cross. Look at Carvahal, Kyle Walker, Hernandez, Dimarco. They are playing a different game to AWB.
I find it sad that many think he is a Man Utd type/quality player. AWB is what we have become, not where we need to be.
What AWB lacks are all the other aspects of defending... actually reading the game, being good on the ball (and full backs have more time on the ball than most players..) and influencing the game. He is a player who needs constant attention and guidance. He can't play, can't cross. Look at Carvahal, Kyle Walker, Hernandez, Dimarco. They are playing a different game to AWB.
I find it sad that many think he is a Man Utd type/quality player. AWB is what we have become, not where we need to be.
Yep. There's really not much in it between the two squads and they probably have a better manager too.
Yet missed 21 games due to 'injury' not that he was a back up to Dalot.
He deserves one for life.
He was back up to Dalot regardless of him being injured or not. Is he available more often than Mazraoui? Yes. The fact Dalot was very reliable for us last season meant AWB being injured wasn’t a massive deal because he was available to start every week anyway. Will he be able to replicate that again? We’ll have to wait and see, I certainly hope so, my only concern with Mazraoui is his potential availability if Dalot is out for any length of time. As I’ve said already though, I’m probably worrying about that far too much.
Unavailability due to injury last season, AWB 116 days compared to 83 days for Mazraoui would say different... Season before AWB 8 days Mazraoui 12 days, so pretty even.
Mazraoui is a perfect fit for how we want to play and can use him on either side of the pitch. Aaron is a specialist we don't often need and has played mainly due to lack of availability of a better option.
I'm fine with the club bringing in a more suitable alternative, there are more expensive options I'd prefer, but money is probably why we're not in for them.
According to Orstein the medical is to take place on Sunday or Monday. £15m fee
Looks like this is done too
Looks like this is done too
Ineos are not in charge of Nice this season, their shares have been temporarily transferred to a blind trust. If Ratcliffe is giving orders that would be fraud.
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Okay I will reword it, AWB missed more games through injury than Mazraoui last season.
15m so does that mean we are only really getting 8m because of the ridiculous 7m payoff?
We have a competitive back line now problem is Shaw and Malacia are injured so much
You can forget about the payoff if none of the reliable ones are reporting about it. If there was one at such a huge amount you bet either one of Ornstein or Romano would have reported it. Maybe not the exact amount but you would here about how we had to pay a "significant payoff".
Great news. He was probably the best of the bunch we need to sell but better one than none
Tears in my eyes, should never have signed someone so limited in the first place
£15m for AWB is an absolute bargain for a team like West Ham. He had to leave but would’ve liked £20m+ given he’s only 26.
I see no particular reason to believe the leak about the clause, but also no reason to think these people would know about it if it exists. It would be a private deal between United and Wan-Bissaka, and wouldn't have anything directly to do with the transfer. If Ornstein is getting his information from West Ham they wouldn't know, and if from United or Wan-Bissaka they wouldn't really have a reason to tell.
Must be Harry Potter casting spells then
I rate him high defensively, the best defensive full back in the league IMO.
Thing is United need to get to a dominant attacking and possession based team.
AWB never crosses, players don't trust him on the overlap and all he does is pass back.
Modern teams play inverted full backs and pack the midfield. Modern teams pin the fullback high up the field so the opposition winger can't fully commit forward. AWB is none of those things.
Good call actually. No doubt there was some dark art being practiced behind the scene.
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