Never heard of this guy and never watched him play. Yer man Michael Cox from Zonal Marking was talking about him today and described him as a bit like Moutinho and a bit like Javi Garcia. Which is a weird combination. If he takes the best bits of both he could be awesome. If he takes the worst bits he'll be a midget donkey.
William Carvalho
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I'm all for that, as I've said a few times, I'm concerned at how soft we are in the middle generally. Any sitter can't be useless with the ball though.
Another bonus with Carvalho is that, bidding war aside, despite a considerable fee, he could probably be secured for about 40k per week tops I'd imagine.
I think this is top quality player that we can attract without Champions League football.
Sometimes all this 'must play in the CL' talk gets on my wick a little bit. Teams like Arsenal have fought for years to make it as an absolute must, although in recent years, they haven't even been in it to realistically compete. I know there is a money issue, but a lot of teams just turn up every year and go out in the second round or whatever. It's just a 'taking part' sort of thing. I know there are small clubs from small leagues who relish it obviously so they can compete with teams they never get a chance to, but 'good' teams from top leagues - like a Leverkusen for instance - I think 'who gives a feck if you miss out for a year or so?' Again, I know money is everything, I'm just putting it aside for a minute. A Leverkusen 'must' have CL footy every year, so they can make up the numbers effectively.
Anyway, to link it to a more pertinent point, the same goes for players. I think if you have the potential to be what I'd class a 'top' player, you would want to 'win' the CL, not 'play in it'. I'd still join United over a Sociedad, Leverkusen, Everton or Spurs if I were one of those players. I'd stick my neck out and say maybe Arsenal too. I'd think I'm more likely to go to the very summit of the game with United than those, as opposed to just compete at a good level.
I'm on a Caf scouting mission tonight, watching him against Olhanense. I'll feed back, and if anyone wants a river, let me know.
For the Commonwealth!
PM if you don't mind mate, might pick it up after the Barca game.
5-0 to Barca! Messi breaks another record...can't be bothered to take it to the La Liga thread.
Carlos Mane is playing too, who has also attracted a lot of interest. Just scored I think.
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Just to feed back, having watched the game on Saturday night. It was the first time I watched him over 90mins The links have been quite continuous, so I thought I'd do a bit of research.
Firstly, he's big and strong (obviously), and I'd like us to sign one of those. I was keen to observe his mobility and passing/on the ball ability. I observed that Sporting are not like other continental (or at least not like the Spanish sides) teams in that they don't really buld through the middle. Everything was wide, which wasn't good for my case study! However, when Carvalho got the ball, he passed it well, long and short, with either foot. He almost never played a pass backwards, and while his passes were forward and positive, he didn't really play the 'Valencia pass' to the touchline either. He'd either play it in to the 10, or over the top to the 9. He played a couple of very good through passes, and generally releases it quickly.
He also has good technical ability from what I saw. If he won the ball off a player, he had to skill to drop a shoulder nd quickly skip away from the second player to make space for the pass. I didn't really see him run with the ball or carry it over a distance, so I can't speak of his ability to do that, nor did I see him shoot.
As for his speed/mobility - I didn't get an opportunity to really see him stretch his legs so can't give a definitive on that. My first opinion is that he isn't rapid, although he is no Fellaini either in that even if he is not fast, he is agile and does not look clumsy. He can turn quickly enough with or without the ball. If I were to compare, I'd say his mobility is similar to a Paul Pogba. His strength is impressive, and once engaged in a 50/50 tussle, he is likely to come out on top. He's the sort you could see standing up to Yaya.
He operates largely in a defensive area, and I didn't see him getting into the box to support an attack or anything, except at corners.
He looks confident in his ability, and I'd certainly say he is worth another look. He's only 21 too, and I'd say has the chance of becoming a very good player. Is the sort of profile we should look to bring in now to cover and probably replace Carrick in the near future too.
Firstly, he's big and strong (obviously), and I'd like us to sign one of those. I was keen to observe his mobility and passing/on the ball ability. I observed that Sporting are not like other continental (or at least not like the Spanish sides) teams in that they don't really buld through the middle. Everything was wide, which wasn't good for my case study! However, when Carvalho got the ball, he passed it well, long and short, with either foot. He almost never played a pass backwards, and while his passes were forward and positive, he didn't really play the 'Valencia pass' to the touchline either. He'd either play it in to the 10, or over the top to the 9. He played a couple of very good through passes, and generally releases it quickly.
He also has good technical ability from what I saw. If he won the ball off a player, he had to skill to drop a shoulder nd quickly skip away from the second player to make space for the pass. I didn't really see him run with the ball or carry it over a distance, so I can't speak of his ability to do that, nor did I see him shoot.
As for his speed/mobility - I didn't get an opportunity to really see him stretch his legs so can't give a definitive on that. My first opinion is that he isn't rapid, although he is no Fellaini either in that even if he is not fast, he is agile and does not look clumsy. He can turn quickly enough with or without the ball. If I were to compare, I'd say his mobility is similar to a Paul Pogba. His strength is impressive, and once engaged in a 50/50 tussle, he is likely to come out on top. He's the sort you could see standing up to Yaya.
He operates largely in a defensive area, and I didn't see him getting into the box to support an attack or anything, except at corners.
He looks confident in his ability, and I'd certainly say he is worth another look. He's only 21 too, and I'd say has the chance of becoming a very good player. Is the sort of profile we should look to bring in now to cover and probably replace Carrick in the near future too.
Just seen that A Bola are reporting that we again had scouts at the game on Saturday, and it is the 12th time this season we have had Carvalho watched.
I think he is a strong target for the summer if all these scouting missions are true. Moyes is reported to like to get a good look at his targets before making a move. I suppose we will know shit has gotten really real when one of the three wise men are spotted at a Sporting game.
I think he is a strong target for the summer if all these scouting missions are true. Moyes is reported to like to get a good look at his targets before making a move. I suppose we will know shit has gotten really real when one of the three wise men are spotted at a Sporting game.
Nearly every top club has scouted him this season. Anyone who thinks we will get him for under £22m is needing a reality check. This guy will cost some serious money.
Hes going to be a top player though. Definitely suited for us
Good man.
Considering the number of times we've scouted him, there has to be serious interest. Looks like the kind of player we need too.
This is the sort of player that I could see wanting to come here ahead of other big clubs that may be involved. Our previous ties with his club should potentially smooth any deal, should it happen.
Thanks for that scout report. I've not had a chance to see him play in a match. He certainly seems like a player we need. We can't have the likes of Sidwell strolling through our midfield like the red sea parted
This is the kind of player I hope we target this summer. Not as high profile or expensive as Vidal et al. but good enough to strengthen us right away and potentially top class down the line.
Precisely. Our 'defensive' midfielder out of our two needs to be meaner than Carrick or Fletcher quite frankly.
While Fulham's second goal was pretty much Vida's fault, I still believe it would not have been scored if Carrick was Yaya Toure instead. Sidwell basically just knocked him over in their 50/50.
I think we could do with a Carvalho and then a more high profile option if possible. Injury permitting, I would certainly encourage a move for Gundogan, and I believe we have a fair chance of getting him too. It doesn't appear he'll be renewing, and any interest Dortmund have in Kagawa may help us greatly, and make his net cost negligible.
Carvalho and Gundogan would give us a good blend of strength, energy, control and creativity I think, and could probably be achieved for about 50m.
I don't think that goal should be blamed on Carrick at all; if anything, it looked like a free kick. It was a terrible, terrible pass from Vidic. Even if Carrick was Toure, why would you put anyone in that sort of position to begin with? Sometimes clearing the ball away is OK. Considering that Vidic gave away some easy clearances throughout the match, it made even less sense to try the difficult in the 93 minute.
I certainly wouldn't object to that. So the rumors regarding Gundogan's back were rubbish then?
Someone on here was saying the other day that Gundogan said it isn't true that his injury is career threatening. It's inflammation that they can't get rid of at the moment.
Cheers.
Hargreaves always described himself as a picture of health too.
Looks a good passer for sure and not overly negative. His first touch, mobility across the ground and ability to run with the ball... need to be looked at further. We need to invest in a very technically gifted DM, or CM's in general.. I wouldn't want to just sign a tall rangy player to add to the negative overrated lumps we already have in midfield.
I do agree with you, and I did say that I think the goal was Vidic's fault. That doesn't mean that from then on it could not have been avoided.
If we lost the ball which led to a goal because Vidic or Smalling failed to control what was effectively a poor pass to them, we can agree that the pass was poor. Vida/Smalling would also not be to blame. That doesn't mean that the same goal may nor have been scored if, hypothetically, Vidic/Smalling were Juan Mata instead, who may well have controlled the ball, moved it on, and then turned to his teammate and berated him for the poor pass. Pass is still poor, but goal is not scored. For me, this is similar to my Carrick/Toure comparison. Toure perhaps turns around and shouts at Kompany after having to push Sidwell out of the way and clearing the ball, Kompany holds his hand up and apologises, and City still win the game 2-1, having survived a 'late scare'.
The fact that Vidic was to blame isn't even the whole point. The ball could have fallen the exact same way through various means. Vida could have headed it against Bent and caused it to drop in the same place. It doesn't really matter as far as Carrick is concerned. The issue is that we wouldn't have an 8 year old girl in midfield on the basis that, whether the ball breaking in a particular way is her fault or not, when she so happens to find herself in such a duel, she will lose to often. Now Carrick isn't an 8 year old girl, and Vida should have cleared the ball, but Michael isn't strong enough for me, and as a result, perhaps not 'good enough' to be great at midfield defending. De Gea is a top keeper because he's not only able to save shots he was expecting.
I definitely get what you mean, even if I don't think Carrick should even share the blame for that goal. Carrick is fairly big, but he doesn't have a big presence on the pitch. I've seen him outmuscle Toure once or twice, but mostly he doesn't seem to have that in his game - he's more a less mobile and a lot larger Xavi than a mini-Toure. We know that Fellaini can boss any player, so we may still have that player in our squad.
Any midfielder, even Yaya Toure, is likely to lose a shoulder to shoulder challenge if he is standing still and his opponent gets a run at him. Not the best example to use if you think Carrick isn't good enough defensively.
Which is a great idea. As Carrick will be 33 next season and wont be able to be the extra legs for center midfield playmaker.
Wow he's a huge lad. I'm going to watch him closely in the World Cup, that is if he's a starter in the Portugal team
We must buy him before the World Cup
Just get it done now Woody, have him signed up before he goes and runs a muck at the world cup.
I think whoever we sign is going to struggle in a 2 man midfield if he's partnered with Carrick. I love the guy, but for us to function well i think we need 2 new signings there.
I've never seen him play but its about time we brought in a big african central midfielder, I think it's important to always have at least one in your midfield, most of the great sides always have one, unless you're lucky enough to have a midfield full of Germans or Spaniards.
He's Portuguese.
EDIT: Born in Angola apparently.
EDIT: Born in Angola apparently.
Manchester United transfer boost as William Carvalho's club close in on his replacement
David Moyes has had the 21-year-old Sporting Lisbon and Portugal international midfielder watched at least eight times as he prepares for summer splurge
Moyes' new Car? United scouts regularly watch Sporting Lisbon midfielder William Carvalho.
Manchester United have been given the green light to land Portugal starlet William Carvalho after his current club Sporting Lisbon identified the 21-year-old's replacement.
Midfielder Carvalho has a £37.5million buy-out clause in his contract, and Sporting have signalled they are ready to cash in on him by lining up Portuguese neighbours Estoril’s Goncalo.
Sporting believe they can land Goncalo for just £410,000, so making a massive profit on Carvalho’s sale.
David Moyes is an admirer of the Angolan-born Carvalho - who has represented Portugal at every level from Under-17s up - as he plans his overhaul of United.
He features on the Scot’s lengthy summer shopping list and the Old Trafford giants' first-year boss boss has sent scouts to watch him at least EIGHT times.
The most recent was at the start of this month, when Moyes had Carvalho studied during Sporting’s goalless draw with Academica.
United would not be willing to pay Sporting’s hefty release clause however and would hope to negotiate a lower price - even though the player still has four years left on his deal.
Sporting, meanwhile, will play hardball, encouraged by reported interest in Carvalho from Real Madrid and Barcelona.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footb...ter-united-transfers-william-carvalho-3163699
I've not seen much of him but the little I've seen + the hype makes me worry that someone else might get him. If he becomes anything like an Essien or a Yaya type player...I want.
The thing I like about him is his confidence on the ball, I can't work out whether it's because he doesn't get pressed as much in that league or whether it's because he's a big fecker that knows how to take a touch to get into a position to use his body to protect the ball while keeping his head up and knowing where his outs are but it's certainly encouraging.
The only thing I'd worry about is his mobility. Our attack needs someone who can press in the opponents half but also get back quickly rather than expecting one of the quicker attackers to.
The only thing I'd worry about is his mobility. Our attack needs someone who can press in the opponents half but also get back quickly rather than expecting one of the quicker attackers to.
I've seen him many times (TV channel Sportdigital) this season
I'm a big fan of him.....i know just the portuguese league......but he's brilliant......a Busquet's type of player
I'm a big fan of him.....i know just the portuguese league......but he's brilliant......a Busquet's type of player
As much as I would want us to buy this type of player, with the acquisition of Fellaini last Summer, I just think our main priority now should be to buy a ball-playing midfielder or box to box general. That said, Moyes could be looking for both; a midfield enforcer and ball playing midfielder, however, I personally can't see that happening.
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