Zlatan Ibrahimovic |United Player | See the thread in the United Forum

Should we sign Ibra on a free this summer ?

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Powderfinger said:
The doubts are pretty simple to understand: In the history of the Premier League, how many good seasons have ever been achieved by a striker 35 or older? Sheringham for United is arguably one. I'm not sure how many more.

Zlatan is Zlatan. He is a one-of-a-kind player and so different rules, including with respect to human aging, really might apply to him. His last season at PSG was certainly plenty good, even if against very weak opposition much of the time.

But I don't know how anybody couldn't have serious doubts when considering the track record of older strikers in the Premier League. 35 is fecking old for a striker, unless you're just hanging around Serie A like Totti/Toni. Even legendary ironmen strikers like Shearer or Wright (or Raul for that matter) were basically done by 35.
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Some of the french posters here who watch Ligue 1 regularly have said they think Ibra is in his best physical condition since he went to PSG.

It's strange how he's having his best season at 34 but it seems like he certainly has at least a year or two left at the top. I don't think the PL has ever had a 35 year old playing at such a high standard so you can't really make the comparison with other old players.
 
I've changed my vote,to yes

I've been swayed. And as many have said a one year contract is barely any risk

If it doesn't work it's not the end of the world


He better not do anything crazy though
 
Any risk goes out of the window with the fact he's free, no reason at all not to get this done.
 
I think it's either us or Arsenal. I can see Wenger being very tempted as he'll satisfy the hordes of angry Arsenal fans demanding a world class striker without having to shell out a big transfer sum.
 
Attila said:
Some of the french posters here who watch Ligue 1 regularly have said they think Ibra is in his best physical condition since he went to PSG.

It's strange how he's having his best season at 34 but it seems like he certainly has at least a year or two left at the top. I don't think the PL has ever had a 35 year old playing at such a high standard so you can't really make the comparison with other old players.
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He's not playing at a high standard though. It's this part of the argument I find baffling.

It's not just that the French League is poorer than the EPL, it's the gap between PSG and the rest. That's what's crucial.

I don't see how it's possible to measure his performances when he's the striker for a team that's way ahead of the rest.
 
shaggy said:
I think it's either us or Arsenal. I can see Wenger being very tempted as he'll satisfy the hordes of angry Arsenal fans demanding a world class striker without having to shell out a big transfer sum.
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Maradona10 said:

Sorry for the repost above. Here are some quotes with an actual source. Not related to above though. I love the smug cnut, we have too many nice players, he will bring balance to the squad by increasing its cnut quotient.
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Disagree completely, I imagine someone with his personality would be one of the nicest people you will know if you know him. He's cocky, but defiantly charismatic. Would absolutely love him here, he would entertain us not only on the pitch but off it too. Like you say, he's a character and we need characters.

EDIT: I'm guessing you mean he is not nice on the pitch to opposition players which I agree with but couldn't care less :)
 
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Dobbs said:
He's not playing at a high standard though. It's this part of the argument I find baffling.

It's not just that the French League is poorer than the EPL, it's the gap between PSG and the rest. That's what's crucial.

I don't see how it's possible to measure his performances when he's the striker for a team that's way ahead of the rest.
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Well his international record is also pretty good and would also suggest he's gotten to a higher level in his 30s
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Attila said:
Well his international record is also pretty good and would also suggest he's gotten to a higher level in his 30s
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It's a good record but we can't be using international football to measure where a players at. Look at Rooney's international record over the last two years. There's little resemblance to his club form.

I just don't see how anyone can dismiss the fact he's not playing in the top four leagues. It's major.

Even worse is his team arguably could win any league in the world but is featuring in the fifth best. A huge disparity. It's like sticking our 2008 team in the Portuguese League and being amazed when Ronaldo scores 80.
 
shaggy said:
I think it's either us or Arsenal. I can see Wenger being very tempted as he'll satisfy the hordes of angry Arsenal fans demanding a world class striker without having to shell out a big transfer sum.
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Would they pay him what he'd want with their wage structure? I can't see it. They'd have players knocking on the door left and right looking for big pay increases.

We seem a likely option. A chance to get the big name Woodward craves.
 
MyOnlySolskjaer said:
Wonder what Bouhafsi has to say.
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Probably nothing.

Why would Raiola confirm anything at this stage, especially confirming negotiations with a club where the current manager probably doesn't want to sign this player? What Raiola says officially now shouldn't mean much as long as LvG is still in charge.
 
Sweden aren't at the Euros right? This should be done as soon as we get Mourinho.
 
Attila said:
Well his international record is also pretty good and would also suggest he's gotten to a higher level in his 30s
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It's better than pretty good. His strike rate is (or maybe was until very recently) the best in international football over the last few years. It's remarkable given the dross he has to play with for Sweden these days..
 
Dobbs said:
He's not playing at a high standard though. It's this part of the argument I find baffling.

It's not just that the French League is poorer than the EPL, it's the gap between PSG and the rest. That's what's crucial.

I don't see how it's possible to measure his performances when he's the striker for a team that's way ahead of the rest.
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For most of Ronaldo's time at Madrid the gap between them, Barca and the rest was huge. Real Madrid have scored more goals in La Liga this season than PSG have in Ligue 1.
 
izec said:
Yeah they were in the same qualifying group. Portugal qualified directly and Sweden went to the barrage, right?
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Ah maybe thats it... well hopefully it will still be done quickly :lol:. Anyway the Zlatan would have been a big miss for the competition. I still remember when he scored that volley vs France in EURO 2012, what a goal.
 
Dobbs said:
It's a good record but we can't be using international football to measure where a players at. Look at Rooney's international record over the last two years. There's little resemblance to his club form.

I just don't see how anyone can dismiss the fact he's not playing in the top four leagues. It's major.

Even worse is his team arguably could win any league in the world but is featuring in the fifth best. A huge disparity. It's like sticking our 2008 team in the Portuguese League and being amazed when Ronaldo scores 80.
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This year wasn't competitive at all it but last season's table looks a bit closer. Payet got good stats that year and managed to continue it in the PL so I guess we just need to hope Ibra will do the same. I don't follow Ligue 1 at all though so if anything in the table is misleading sorry

Payet
7 goals and 16 assists last year for Marseille in 36 matches (Marseille scored 76 goals)
9 goals and 12 assists for West Ham in 30 matches

Ibra
19 goals and 6 assists in 25 matches (PSG scored 83 goals)

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Nanook said:
For most of Ronaldo's time at Madrid the gap between them, Barca and the rest was huge. Real Madrid have scored more goals in La Liga this season than PSG have in Ligue 1.
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Yeah and they've still only finished second, only two points ahead of third.

PSG are 31 points ahead of second. Their defence, which nobody would claim to be great, has only conceded 19 goals. Only one more than A Madrid!

There's really no comparison between the two leagues. As well as the overall quality being much different a team like Madrid has nothing like the dominance PSG have.
 
Zlatan. For free. Who are you people, who actually don't want this? I mean, how gloomy can you possibly get?

"Well, Scarlett Johansson is trying to touch my weiner. But she is on the wrong side of 30, and is yet to prove herself in the french indie-flick industry. I'll pass. Too risky."
 
Dobbs said:
Yeah and they've still only finished second, only two points ahead of third.

PSG are 31 points ahead of second. Their defence, which nobody would claim to be great, has only conceded 19 goals. Only one more than A Madrid!

There's really no comparison between the two leagues. As well as the overall quality being much different a team like Madrid has nothing like the dominance PSG have.
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That's not standard, it was a freak season.
 
Dobbs said:
Yeah and they've still only finished second, only two points ahead of third.

PSG are 31 points ahead of second. Their defence, which nobody would claim to be great, has only conceded 19 goals. Only one more than A Madrid!

There's really no comparison between the two leagues. As well as the overall quality being much different a team like Madrid has nothing like the dominance PSG have.
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The only difference between PSG's dominance and Real's is there's two other teams that can keep up with Madrid. The other 17 teams are just as far from them as the 19 Ligue 1 teams are away from PSG. Real Madrid have picked up more points and have scored 33 more goals than PSG in the last two seasons.
 
Attila said:
Some of the french posters here who watch Ligue 1 regularly have said they think Ibra is in his best physical condition since he went to PSG.

It's strange how he's having his best season at 34 but it seems like he certainly has at least a year or two left at the top. I don't think the PL has ever had a 35 year old playing at such a high standard so you can't really make the comparison with other old players.
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The guy is a freak of nature so I wouldn't be surprised if he came here and banged in goals like crazy.

All I'm saying is that its inherently very risky to sign a 35-year-old striker to play in the most physical football league in the world, even if that striker is Zlatan. I think it would probably be a good gamble on balance for United - I would take him at Arsenal for sure, although we'd never pay the wages so that's not happening - but it is very much a gamble. He could be great and fire you toward the top of the table. He could also prove badly off the pace, become a massive headache for Mourinho, and also limit your tactics, especially in terms of pressing without the ball.
 
JarleA said:
Zlatan. For free. Who are you people, who actually don't want this? I mean, how gloomy can you possibly get?

"Well, Scarlett Johansson is trying to touch my weiner. But she is on the wrong side of 30, and is yet to prove herself in the french indie-flick industry. I'll pass. Too risky."
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How did you get promoted? Unreal.

One of the worst anologies I've seen.

Ibra coming would basically be everything which is wrong with the squad recently, and old player stopping youth getting through. You think he would be happy sitting on a bench?

For Free? Oh, he is agreeing to play for free is he? He'll demand mega wages too. His one year wages could be better spent, probably on a transfer fee and wages for someone for a year.
 
Dobbs said:
Right and is it just a coincidence that during this freak season his goal tally has doubled(I think) at 34 years old?
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No, he just has been totally healthy this season, Di Maria joined PSG and Lucas has improved immensely. PSG have been better offensively this season.

And it has nothing to do with the league, Lyon have been better than PSG in the second part of the season.
 
Nanook said:
The only difference between PSG's dominance and Real's is there's two other teams that can keep up with Madrid. The other 17 teams are just as far from them as the 19 Ligue 1 teams are away from PSG. Real Madrid have picked up more points and have scored 33 more goals than PSG in the last two seasons.
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Well having Barcelona and A Madrid in your league is quite a difference. In addition the gap isn't the same. Check the leagues. 31 points below PSG is second place. The same points difference from Madrid takes you to sixth.

Then there's the respective quality of the leagues. There's really no comparison here.
 
JPRouve said:
No, he just has been totally healthy this season, Di Maria joined PSG and Lucas has improved immensely. PSG have been better offensively this season.

And it has nothing to do with the league, Lyon have been better than PSG in the second part of the season.
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There's no link between PSG being utterly dominant this season and his stats sky rocketing? Come on.

Whatever standard you play at, even at amateur level, if one team is miles ahead of everyone else the striker will bag loads.
 
One Night Only said:
How did you get promoted? Unreal.

One of the worst anologies I've seen.

Ibra coming would basically be everything which is wrong with the squad recently, and old player stopping youth getting through. You think he would be happy sitting on a bench?

For Free? Oh, he is agreeing to play for free is he? He'll demand mega wages too. His one year wages could be better spent, probably on a transfer fee and wages for someone for a year.
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Rashford isn't at the level required to be leading the line for a team which hopes to win the title. Plus he is 18 and putting that kind of pressure on him would be unfair. Ibrahimovic coming for a couple of years would be better for him
 
One Night Only said:
How did you get promoted? Unreal.

One of the worst anologies I've seen.

Ibra coming would basically be everything which is wrong with the squad recently, and old player stopping youth getting through. You think he would be happy sitting on a bench?

For Free? Oh, he is agreeing to play for free is he? He'll demand mega wages too. His one year wages could be better spent, probably on a transfer fee and wages for someone for a year.
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Who would he be stopping getting through? Rashford is 18 and shouldn't be playing every week, he should be used the same way City use Iheanacho. We desperately need more goals and that means we require a striker, if we buy Lacazaette/Morata/Lukaku for example then Rashford really is stuffed because they are all yet to even reach their prime. Ibra would give Rashford a 2 season period to naturally work his way to being a regular without the pressure of being relied on to be a main goal scorer.
 
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