Has always appeared that way, else why would Lukaku ask him if it's ok to take the number 9? He's been with us the whole time and will be our new number 10 I'm sure.
Zlatan Ibrahimović
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Has always appeared that way, else why would Lukaku ask him if it's ok to take the number 9? He's been with us the whole time and will be our new number 10 I'm sure.
Yup, something to that extent.
Whilst probably also having kept a group conversation with his teammates on WhatsApp – where it's at these days – to whom he's already communicated which jersey number is off limits, until his situation is clear.
It wouldn't surprise me.
I'll be absolutely fecking buzzing if Zlatan resigns with us, even for 6 months or whatever it will be. Zlatan is king
I'll be absolutely fecking buzzing if Zlatan resigns with us, even for 6 months or whatever it will be. Zlatan is king
Zlatan provides a good back up to Lukaku but if our wingers produce bad service as last season, even having Zlatan and Lukaku wouldn't help us in any way.
Yep, completely forgot about that. If that isn't proof he's coming back then nothing is.
We won't be fitting them together. That's quite clear. Lukaku might be more then just a goal poacher. However it's pretty evident where his instincts lie. Ibra on the other hand is far too slow to backtrack. Its evident that the latter will act as cover/competition for the former.
At age 35 Ibra should count himself lucky he will be at a top club.
at the level hes at last season Ibra would be a bonus to any club , compare and contrast with Wayne Rooney who is finished at any level at 32 , luck has nothing to do with , intelligence and self discipline , everything
Yeah, I'd be happy enough if Zlatan came back. I know maybe he doesn't suit the style of football that Jose wants to play but if we are needing a goal in the last 20 and Fellaini and Zlatan come on, not a good sight for the opposition.
If he'll accept a sub role that is.
If he'll accept a sub role that is.
I will crush you!
Ingrates!
I love Ibra. I am extremely grateful to what he did for us last season. However he's not first team material anymore, not with Lukaku around. You can't play them both.
I'm sticking to my guns on this one.Thanks for the memories Zlatan but no thanks.
Your guns are water pistols. Harmless but slightly irritating!
Yeah you can, I've heard this stuff so often about strikers not being able to play with each other.
If true, bar his influence in the dressing room I am struggling to see the positives. Will take game time away from Rashford and Martial from a central striking role and as we seen last season, our attack is quite static and slow as it is.
Last season his goals helped, no doubt. We should be aiming for a more fluid attacking line which Zlat cannot offer sadly. He is a legend, an icon of the game but he wont improve us as a team given that he wont be fully for until a month or so into 2018....
We need to focus on our supporting forwards more as this is our weakness
Last season his goals helped, no doubt. We should be aiming for a more fluid attacking line which Zlat cannot offer sadly. He is a legend, an icon of the game but he wont improve us as a team given that he wont be fully for until a month or so into 2018....
We need to focus on our supporting forwards more as this is our weakness
Our top scorer and top chance creator from last season, and you struggle to see the positives... ok.
Think of the team overall.
We'd be more fluid and balanced by improving our supporting forwards rather than being static up front.
Yes Zlatan scored lots of goals, but he also squandered lots also and slowed our play down to crawling pace making us to easy to defend against.
Don't you want a dynamic attack or happy to be predictable, one dimensional and slow up front?
Whilst I disagree strongly with your main points @Craig Ward, yes, I want a dynamic attack and am delighted that we have added Lukaku.
But sadly I watched us last season and don't see our wingers and midfielders suddenly transforming and providing a shit load more goals to propel us forward in the league, and that was our biggest problem last season. I had hoped (like hell) all Summer that we'd buy a winger or a Griezmann to fill this gap, but we didn't.
So now I hope that Martial, Miki et al can raise their game and along with Lukaku rip the league up. However, that said, I'd prefer to have the option of having Zlatan around, someone who'll along with Lukaku guarantee us goals and assists, just incase we suffer the same problems as last year. It's always best to have options, something we absolutely did not have last season.
Anything else is just blind faith in players that simply didn't do enough last year.
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At this point of his career Zlatan's character is pretty much known quantity. The fact that some people think he would be ok being a sub to Lukaku and sit on the bench most of the time is baffling. He has a huge ego and the utmost confidence in himself (I dont blame it for that, it has helped him in his career). IIRC he said he didn't want to go to MLS or China yet because he feels he can still play at the top european level, and by that I dont think he means being a sub. He wants to be the main man and will not settle for anything else.
I didn't see a dynamic attack and a bunch of goals from our other players when Ibra didn't play.
What? Didn't you see the month after Zlatan got injured and we went into hyperdrive?
Nope? Ok but the same players will this season though for sure.
As will Zlatan.I agree with that, think we will push to get a LW/ Forward before the window shuts too but not a clue who. Lucas Moura would be a good signing I think but no rumours for us at the moment regarding anyone other than Bale really.
It'd be hilarious if comes back and takes Lukaku's no.9 off him
He'll take the number 10 for sure.
Did you watch our games last season? He got worse as the season went on and missed some sitters that cost us
But it was Rashford upfront, not Zlatan. Two completely different types of players
I'd love him to make a cameo this season but I struggle to see how he'd fit into a front two with Lukaku. I'd expect it to be either-or
I'd love to see what happens if Ibra plays behind Lukaku.
Personally, I felt that with Ibra's creativity, he would've been better as a No.10. Our problem is that aside from an 18 year old, we did not have a striker, who Ibra could play behind. This season however, we do.
Take away his 28 goals and what would that have cost us?
That's not really how can you measure it, no? It's his job to score goals. It's the same as to say take away De Gea's saves, what is left....
My point is that some people are seemingly happy to concentrate on the negatives and ignore the positives. Sure he missed chances. All strikers do. Not all strikers are capable of scoring 28 goals (and I'm quite sure he'd have broken the 30 barrier but for injury).
People say they'd rather we play Martial and Rashford because dynamic something something. The fact is, neither has shown that they are capable of matching Ibra in the goal scoring department to this juncture. In fact, Martial in particular was so disappointing that he was dropped and publicly criticised by the manager. Yet he apparently still deserves to play for some reason.
Is it because he cost us 40 million plus, at this point, and Zlatan arrived on a free?
This is not a Martial thread but of course he should play. He's 21 years old! Give the young lads some time and allow them to have ups and downs. As for Ibrahimovic, I also felt his overall play let him down as the season went on. All in all, I thought he had an ok'ish season and expected more. I would leave that behind and move on
Every striker misses chances. Aguero probably missed more chances in single game vs Liverpool than Zlatan did the entire season. Zlatan's misses might have cost us more but only because other players were not chipping in as much as they should have. One player can only score so many.
As I stated above, I also felt his overall play declined. On top, you have different expectations when it comes to Zlatan than Martial or Rashford. He was always the first one to state he great he is but the longer the season went on, the more his form dipped
He should play because he's 21? How about performing to a standard that means he warrants a place? That is how it should be.
Imagine when we are chasing the game and a front three of: Fellaini, Ibra and Lukaku. No one can compete with that.
Well, that was also the fatigue factor. His minutes needed better management, and that's even more essential now. Some matches he should start, some matches he should be a substitute option.
There is a general perception that Zlatan won't accept a slightly less significant role. He definitely wouldn't have a few years ago. Today however, considering his age and injury, it might be the only way and it's possible that he feels the same way.
If at any stage, we had these 3 on the pitch, I guarantee you that our midfielders will attempt to pass the ball along the ground. It's an absolute certainty.
If Zlatan does return then we have no option but to play him in a front 2 with Lukaku because he won't accept a bench role. I think it could be a deadly partnership, similar to Zlatan with Cavani at PSG but the service from out wide has to improve otherwise it won't matter whether Zlatan is playing or not.
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