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

[K2K]

As opposed to our 30 year old English striker that plays like he is 37?

Did I say play? I meant shoehorned

I think you misunderstood. I was being sarcastic with the 35 y.o striker thing, considering the effect that Larrson had here.

As for Rooney, you are wasting your time, you are preaching to the converted already.

 

[kafta]

If the reports are true, and its a one year contract on a free, then its really minimal risk for us. I think this way it really is a no-brainer.

I've never been his biggest fan, but there's no denying his quality.

 

[Randall Flagg]

What's the risk in football apart from cost? When that is removed this deal is the definition of no brainer.

Well I imagine his wages will be massive. So it would be a risk to offer him anymore than a 1 year deal obviously

 

[JoaquinJoaquin]

Well I imagine his wages will be massive. So it would be a risk to offer him anymore than a 1 year deal obviously

But you would imagine he would make a good chunk of that back in merchandise etc. He would easily be out top shirt seller next season.

 

[FC Ronaldo]

ZlatON or ZlatOFF?

 

[Paul the Wolf]

ZlatON or ZlatOFF?

ZlatON and MourONho

 

[Adebesi]

But you would imagine he would make a good chunk of that back in merchandise etc. He would easily be out top shirt seller next season.

Yeah but those shirts would mainly sell anyway, it's not like we sell a million additional shirts because of him.

The other risk is he doesn't work out but we persist with him in the hope he does, like we did for months with Falcao.

But I do think he's low risk.

 

[Ole90+3]

Eugh, please not another old slow striker.

My main concern with him is one that @Adebesi mentioned above - persisting with an over-rated, out of form striker.

My other main issue is that if we sign him, he will most likely be the only striker we'll sign. There's a list of about 10 I'd rather take a chance on.

 

[TrustInJanuzaj]

Eugh, please not another old slow striker.

My main concern with him is one that @Adebesi mentioned above - persisting with an over-rated, out of form striker.

My other main issue is that if we sign him, he will most likely be the only striker we'll sign. There's a list of about 10 I'd rather take a chance on.

If Mounriho is manager then do you really think he's just gonna persist with playing an out of form striker. If Ibrahimovic earns his stripes which I think he will then he will play.

 

[Ole90+3]

If Mounriho is manager then do you really think he's just gonna persist with playing an out of form striker. If Ibrahimovic earns his stripes which I think he will then he will play.

Ibra would be his baby though, so who knows.

I'm of the impression you need pace to be a top striker in this league, so the prospect of a 35 year old Ibrahimovic (a player I've never rated that highly) leading our attack doesn't fill me with promise.

 

[Treble]

People saying that there is no risk in signing Zlatan aren't exactly right. Signing Zlatan means that we are going to miss on some younger, yet to become world class forward and in a year or two we will have to change our play in attack once again because Zlatan can be Zlatan if and only if the attacking game revolves around him and he is the big boss. Barca didn't work for him and he wasn't great there because he wasn't the boss. Relying on a 35 y.o. striker to save us against Pep's Citiy and Klopp's Liverpool is not only very risky but may turn out to be very stupid as well. The short-term approach is highly risky in itself.

 

[An Irish Red]

Ibra would be his baby though, so who knows.

I'm of the impression you need pace to be a top striker in this league, so the prospect of a 35 year old Ibrahimovic (a player I've never rated that highly) leading our attack doesn't fill me with promise.

Bergkamp, Cantona, Drogba et al didn't have much pace. More recently we had Berbatov and he was alright.

I think we need a player with guile up front much more than we need a speedster really. Ibra would fit the bill there.

 

[Adebesi]

If Mounriho is manager then do you really think he's just gonna persist with playing an out of form striker. If Ibrahimovic earns his stripes which I think he will then he will play.

You make allowances for a period of adjustment. It would be insane not to. What, player with big reputation comes from different league, has an indifferent first few games and gets dropped, just like that?

 

[TrustInJanuzaj]

You make allowances for a period of adjustment. It would be insane not to. What, player with big reputation comes from different league, has an indifferent first few games and gets dropped, just like that?

Well if it's only afew games then of course he won't be dropped, but if it's half a season Mounrinho won't put up with that. The point is that Ibrahimovic has no risk at all, because he's free, on a short contract and if he flops we just drop him to the bench. The pace point is the only viable reason not to get him and even that doesn't make sense considering not every player in a team needs to be fast.

 

[Adebesi]

Berbatov is a good example actually, I can see Ibra having a similar kind of impact. That is to say, moments of brilliance, but fairly moderate overall.

The deciding factor for me here is the lack of better options.

 

[diarm]

People saying that there is no risk in signing Zlatan aren't exactly right. Signing Zlatan means that we are going to miss on some younger, yet to become world class forward and in a year or two we will have to change our play in attack once again because Zlatan can be Zlatan if and only if the attacking game revolves around him and he is the big boss. Barca didn't work for him and he wasn't great there because he wasn't the boss. Relying on a 35 y.o. striker to save us against Pep's Citiy and Klopp's Liverpool is not only very risky but may turn out to be very stupid as well. The short-term approach is highly risky in itself.

We have younger, yet to be world class players in abundance. The problem is that they don't have any older, world class leaders to look up to in our squad.

Whether Ibra arrives at his peak or a few years past it, the impact he will make off the field, in demonstrating to those youngsters the way a natural born winner conducts himself every day, will be invaluable.

Read the accounts of players like Beckham, Scholes, Keane and Rio when they are speaking of Cantona. Or more recent players when they talk of Ronaldo on the training pitch. That's the sort of character you are dealing with in Ibrahimovic

 

[Ole90+3]

Bergkamp, Cantona, Drogba et al didn't have much pace. More recently we had Berbatov and he was alright.

I think we need a player with guile up front much more than we need a speedster really. Ibra would fit the bill there.

Drogba wasn't slow, he was an absolute powerhouse, he could purely bully his way through a game. Ibra doesn't have many of the qualities that made Drogba one of the best PL strikers of all time.

Bergkamp and Cantona were probably the most technically gifted PL players ever - they also had pace all around them - something we don't.

Berbatov usually played as the creative player up front, with a faster striker ahead of him. I also consider him as a failure here considering the high expectations when we signed him.

 

[Adebesi]

Well if it's only afew games then of course he won't be dropped, but if it's half a season Mounrinho won't put up with that. The point is that Ibrahimovic has no risk at all, because he's free, on a short contract and if he flops we just drop him to the bench. The pace point is the only viable reason not to get him and even that doesn't make sense considering not every player in a team needs to be fast.

Well between a few games and half a season you have the uncertainty as to where Mourinho would draw the line, how eager he would be to be vindicated and how much he likes our other options, if this is the only striker we bring in.

But I don't completely disagree with you. You so no risk, I say low risk.

 

[Striker10]

Sheringham left us at 35 on the back of a quality season. A very underrated player who I wish we'd signed sooner. Ibrahimovic isn't the answer just by himself but we do have promising forwards coming through - and some have plenty of pace. Clearly we need to improve in a few areas so we'll see what United do in the summer.

 

[ottosec]

I like him, but I don't want him. Unless we can get rid of Rooney, I see no point of getting him.

 

[Kag]

Well I imagine his wages will be massive. So it would be a risk to offer him anymore than a 1 year deal obviously

Hence a one year + 1 kind of deal would make a lot of sense. If it's not working out after one season then pull the plug.

This is essentially a little bit like the Falcao loan in that we don't have a great deal to lose. Plus, he's currently better and fitter than Falcao, and in outstanding goalscoring form.

This really is a no-brainer given our current striking situation.

 

[PepsiCola]

Don't see why he'd be interested in joining us without the promise of Champions League football.

If he was to stay in Europe I'm sure his preference would be a club that could offer a chance of winning the CL.

 

[Treble]

We have younger, yet to be world class players in abundance. The problem is that they don't have any older, world class leaders to look up to in our squad.

Whether Ibra arrives at his peak or a few years past it, the impact he will make off the field, in demonstrating to those youngsters the way a natural born winner conducts himself every day, will be invaluable.

Read the accounts of players like Beckham, Scholes, Keane and Rio when they are speaking of Cantona. Or more recent players when they talk of Ronaldo on the training pitch. That's the sort of character you are dealing with in Ibrahimovic

.

This off the field impact is purely speculative. Ibra can be an example for the younger players only if he is a big success on the pitch. Rooney is supposed to be such an example: he is a bigger name in England than Zlatan and a United legend to boot! He's on the way to become our top scorer of all time! But he isn't great on the pitch any more. If Zlatan isn't a big hit on the pitch, the off field impact will be feck all.

We have young strikers but they are 18-20 y.o. I'm talking about someone 24-26 y.o. who is experienced enough but is yet to enter his prime. Short-term solutions lke Zlatan might backfire big time. While we rely on Zlatan and Rooney, Pep's City and Klopp's Liverpool will be well ahead in their rebilding and development.

 

[Touseef]

35 year old striker who has never played in England before.

What could go wrong?

Henrik Larrson?

 

[Henrik Larsson]

Berbatov is a good example actually, I can see Ibra having a similar kind of impact. That is to say, moments of brilliance, but fairly moderate overall.

The deciding factor for me here is the lack of better options.

Was going to make a very long post discussing the pros and cons and my expected outcome of signing Zlatan, but I see you just summed up my thoughts nicely. Zlatan would've actually done well if he came to the most intensive league in the world aged 34 after playing the Euro's and matched a prime Berba's performances. And I think there is a realistic chance he would't even reach that level.

 

[diarm]

.

This off the field impact is purely speculative. Ibra can be an example for the younger players only if he is a big success on the pitch. Rooney is supposed to be such an example: he is a bigger name in England than Zlatan and a United legend to boot! He's on the way to become our top scorer of all time! But he isn't great on the pitch any more. If Zlatan isn't a big hit on the pitch, the off field impact will be feck all.

We have young strikers but they are 18-20 y.o. I'm talking about someone 24-26 y.o. who is experienced enough but is yet to enter his prime. Short-term solutions lke Zlatan might backfire big time. While we rely on Zlatan and Rooney, Pep's City and Klopp's Liverpool will be well ahead in their rebilding and development.

Rooney isn't such an example and that has been clear for some time. Neither is Carrick, Valencia or Young. 24 year olds, unless they are of a Roy Keane type strength of character, aren't going to turn around the weakness in this squad. They are more likely to become part of the problem than the solution.

I want to see a personality up front, an experienced, older and top class influence at centre back and preferably a talisman in midfield. A young or mid 20's talent on the right wing added to that lot would complete a perfect window for us.

 

[Randall Flagg]

Henrik Larrson?

was very brief

He only got 3 goals too

 

[Treble]

Rooney isn't such an example and that has been clear for some time. Neither is Carrick, Valencia or Young. 24 year olds, unless they are of a Roy Keane type strength of character, aren't going to turn around the weakness in this squad. They are more likely to become part of the problem than the solution.

I want to see a personality up front, an experienced, older and top class influence at centre back and preferably a talisman in midfield. A young or mid 20's talent on the right wing added to that lot would complete a perfect window for us.

Well, I can't say that it will definitely not work but I'm sceptical: both about Zlatan at this age and in a completely different and stronger league and about short-term solutions as well. Time will tell, etc.

 

[Igor Drefljak]

There's a list of about 10 I'd rather take a chance on.

Who are

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Drogba wasn't slow, he was an absolute powerhouse, he could purely bully his way through a game. Ibra doesn't have many of the qualities that made Drogba one of the best PL strikers of all time.

"All time" being around two decades lol:

Drogba also doesn't have many of the qualities that have made Ibrahimovic one of the best players of his generation- namely the ability to drop deep and create, the technical brilliance etc.

Bergkamp and Cantona were probably the most technically gifted PL players ever - they also had pace all around them - something we don't.

And Ibra is one of the most technical gifted strikers of this generation. And you do realize the transfer window is still to open, right? We are allowed to add more players with pace. And that's exactly what the plan should be. Compliment the Ibra signing with pace and trickery in other areas. It works Lewandowski and Diego Costa.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Who are

I'd to see if they're actually players we can get or just players we could sign on FIFA.

 

[Adebesi]

Would also love to see a list of 10 strikers we actually have a chance of getting. Nothing with Muller or Neymar on it please.

 

[Revan]

And Ibra is one of the most technical gifted strikers of this generation. And you do realize the transfer window is still to open, right? We are allowed to add more players with pace. And that's exactly what the plan should be. Compliment the Ibra signing with pace and trickery in other areas. It works Lewandowski and Diego Costa.

Exactly. We have Martial who is rapid, Rashford who is even faster. Add a right winger who is fast (Griezmann, Sane etc) and we would have enough pace to complement Ibra.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Exactly. We have Martial who is rapid, Rashford who is even faster. Add a right winger who is fast (Griezmann, Sane etc) and we would have enough pace to complement Ibra.

I'd personally add two more attackers (other than Ibrahimovic) but the idea is to increase the pace of the team, not to make it a pre-requisite for every player we sign to have to be rapid.

Pace isn't our only problem.

 

[Revan]

I'd personally add two more attackers (other than Ibrahimovic) but the idea is to increase the pace of the team, not to make it a pre-requisite for every player we sign to have to be rapid.

Pace isn't our only problem.

If Rooney leaves, then yes, I think that we should sign two other attackers/wingers/No.10. Otherwise, I think that Ibra + an another would be fine. I mean, we would have Martial, Rooney, Ibra, new attacker in starting places in addition to Januzaj, Young, Rashford, Wilson, Mata and Lingard (obviously 2 or 3 of them would leave) which IMO is enough. Mourinho isn't a big fan of rotation.

Definitely agree that pace should not be a prerequisite for every player we want to sign. We need fast players, but we also need leadership and charisma, technically gifted players, goalscorers etc.

 

[Striker10]

Also forgot that Martial has already come out and said he'd like to play with him - maybe even mata too actually but it will left the dressing room and certainly help the young forwards coming through.

 

[acrebo]

Don't see why he'd be interested in joining us without the promise of Champions League football.

If he was to stay in Europe I'm sure his preference would be a club that could offer a chance of winning the CL.

He's spent 4 years attempting to do that - I'm not sure he could go to a club with more chance than them.

I could be totally wrong but I think he's left PSG to scratch an itch as opposed to bolster his trophy cabinet. It would make sense that the itch is proving he's good enough for the Premiership, having already played in Spain.

 

[Ole90+3]

"All time" being around two decades lol:

Drogba also doesn't have many of the qualities that have made Ibrahimovic one of the best players of his generation- namely the ability to drop deep and create, the technical brilliance etc.


And Ibra is one of the most technical gifted strikers of this generation. And you do realize the transfer window is still to open, right? We are allowed to add more players with pace. And that's exactly what the plan should be. Compliment the Ibra signing with pace and trickery in other areas. It works Lewandowski and Diego Costa.

What the plan should be (from a fan's POV), what the plan is and what will actually happen may be 3 very different things. I would be all for adding Ibra to the squad if we add pace on the right wing and also at #10.

 

[villain]

Ibra would be fantastic to guide and mentor Rashford and Martial.

Plus he has a presence about him, he's an absolute warrior.

The way our team depleted against West Ham and looked like little boys is what annoyed me more than the result. We need players who have too much pride to accept pitiful defeats, and are willing to battle on the pitch.

 

[dichinero]

I think you misunderstood. I was being sarcastic with the 35 y.o striker thing, considering the effect that Larrson had here.

As for Rooney, you are wasting your time, you are preaching to the converted already.

My bad