Yep. I know it won't happen, but I'd love to see all three of Casemiro, Fred and Iqbal start the match. He was impressive enough in most of the preseason games that we should be looking for giving him the opportunity.
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I wouldn't play him from the start in this game. Maybe at home in the other two games
How has he been for u23's this season? Not been fortunate enough to see much of him and Savage, ironic the comments from @Herman Toothrot as I felt Iqbal was more of a carrier of the ball and that Savage was more a deeper dictator in pre season
Iqbal is the closest we have to Frenkie
I think he'll start. The training videos showed the entire "2nd team" training together: Iqbal, Garnacho, Elanga, Fred, Casemiro, Maguire etc.
Maybe he'll start them?
I like that for later games but Sociedad are no mugs, get points early so we can experiment later.
You might be right, I didn't notice Savage as much. As @dutchred said, he looked the most like FDJ, and feels to me that's where Eriksen is playing, even if with a different skill set.
As I've said before the only way to test him is to play him in a midfield two away against City or Liverpool (preferably with Lindelof as his midfield partner). If he does okay in that situation, he's the chosen one. If he swims, he swims and we don't have to sign Frenkie anymore at that point.
Yeah, I'm sure that would work out swimmingly
Why would Lindelof be playing in midfield anyway?Probably sub minutes at best to start with. Fred and Casemiro is a clear 2 to rotate in right now, though we could push Fred as a pressing more advanced midfielder and play Zidane next to Casemiro?
I will be absolutely astonished if he starts and pretty surprised if we see him at all. I hope he does start and if he does, I like your suggestion of playing him in the double pivot with Casemiro. And start Fred ahead of them and bring Bruno on at 60 mins. Probs need to play Sancho and Antony with Ronnie up top.
But who are we kidding?
To be honest I'd be disappointed if he doesn't get a look in vs Nicosia or Sheriff.
I could understand going stronger against Sociedad in the first game. Get the points on the table.
Yeah I really want to see him with the first team in a game that matters.
The thing is, these young guys have to play or they will never be ready. Experience is so important. Some of them stay boys until they’re well into their 20s and their career is just ebbing away. Too soon to say that about this lad of course but we have to get him out there somehow.
Barely played.
Is it? I'd probably rather he got senior games even if the level is low. There's still pressure there when playing for your country and plenty to learn. Hasn't always been easy for Hannibal with Tunisia and I'm sure he's learned a lot from it all for example.
I think so. He’s clearly learning from Ten Hag and being around the senior squad. I’m sure they have discussed it with him.
I love this fecking guy. If he follows ten Hag's guidance, he surely stands a good shot of making it here.
I think it’s a bit six of one half a dozen of the other. If there’s a chance at game time this season he may want to be prepared for exactly what he’d be doing, which it’s unlikely that Iraq will use him in the same way. He’s still young enough to round off the edges once he’s comfortable in what Papa Dutch wants of him as (presumably) the backup to Eriksen.
Ten Haag said that if he couldn't get de Jong he would look to train someone from within to do that job. I think it's Iqbal
Yeah I get that I suppose but personally I'd rather a youngster had to learn to take responsibility in a men's game and learn the finer points of the system with his club manager in between. I guess he'll be proven right if he can get a chance in the cups and grabs it with both hands but I'm very much of the bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush school of thought myself.
Where and when did he say this? Not doubting you, just want to know what was said.
and/or IqbalI don't think Mac has that sort of skill.I remember reading about it before, but instead of Iqbal, I think that player would be McTominator
He's already got Eriksen playing the connecting role with passing from the back. He's never going to have De Jongs dynamic ball carrying but for now I think he's found a balance.
Iqbal is a long term project. Whether it comes to fruition before we go in for De Jong or another midfielder again is the question.
Iqbal is a long term project. Whether it comes to fruition before we go in for De Jong or another midfielder again is the question.
Hopefully we see Iqbal in the League Cup.
He was born in Manchester so he could have played for England if he wanted but IIRC he‘s the one that opted not to
edit - “I feel that this is the right decision for me in my career. It’ll be such an honour to represent Iraq. My family are proud of me and I just feel that it’ll be a forward step in my career, playing in the World Cup qualifiers, in big games. It’ll be a massive honour.”
^from the club website: https://www.manutd.com/en/amp/news/...oin-up-with-iraq-senior-squad-25-january-2022
What he's up to these days?
This is looking like another stupid decision to keep him and have him rot. Should have gone on loan if we had no plan to give him some minutes.
Deserves some minutes based on pre-season.
Deserves some minutes based on pre-season.
What's with the impatience? He's like 18 or 19.
It doesn't help that we make such hard work of games like tonight that it prohibits us from giving minutes to the likes of Iqbal.
I agree. He hasn't even been playing for the u21s but still trained with the first team, which is even stranger.
The problem is that it is just wasting time. He has been fully promoted to the 1st team, so he is not even playing u21 games anymore, which is expected as he should have been probably on loan playing in the championship at least.
Right now he is playing no football at all, at any level and it is just a waste of time for him.
ETH needs to take a chance, and give players time based on merit rather than reputation. If he keeps playing the likes of Fred or VDB, then we will keep struggling.
Off to Middlesbrough on loan in January as Carrick's first signing over there, according to some ITK rumours among Boro fans. No idea how reliable but Carrick's appointment was also leaked very early among their fans as well.
Would be a good move for him. Decent level of football + working under a manager he already knows. Can't see him getting games in the second half of the season at Utd, bar the early FA Cup rounds perhaps.
Would be a good move for him. Decent level of football + working under a manager he already knows. Can't see him getting games in the second half of the season at Utd, bar the early FA Cup rounds perhaps.
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