The Ongoing Serie A, La Liga, All English Football, Champions League Thread - - - - - - Part 44

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[DeadPresident]

Saw that myself, as well as Vardy's tackle. Never a red and ridiculous that it's stood.

It's a shame but I see Blind being sold in the summer. Jose was quick to move him from CB, he's now behind Darmnian as the LB back-up and when Carrick is rested we play 4-2-3-1 rsather thasn plugging him in as the #6. I'm hoping we keep with 3 man midfield and I really want to see Pereira and Fosu-Mensah intergrated fuylly next season as 2 options, meaning we'll just need that elusive Carrick replacement.

Yeah, I think we've seen who the guys are that are on the chopping block. Blind, Memphis and Schneiderlin are unfortunately the most likely. The disappointing part for me is that I'm pretty sure Blind and Schneiderlin (and probably Memphis too) will end up going to other clubs and playing very well. I haven't seen much of Pereira during his loan but Fosu-Mensah is definitely showing promise. Whoever Carrick's replacement is I would hope he's a player of established quality rather than a Lindelof type future prospect.

Martial is making the right noises about his consistency issues, hopefully Jose's tough love approach has the same effect on him that it had on Mkhitaryan. I think we will need another wide forward option though as Memphis is going and we can't keep using Rooney and Mata wide IMO. We have Mkhi/Martial/Lingard so one more will round ity up nicely and playing time shouldn't be an issue as the first sub is almost always an attacking wide player, so everyone will get plenty of minutes.

I hope, yeah. His style is unfortunately just very one dimensional at the moment, he'll need to adapt and learn a bit more about his position to really develop. Another quality wide forward would seem necessary if Memphis leaves, yeah. The Griezmann murmurs have resurfaced, I could see that coming off since the marketing and endorsement rights at this point probably pay for all these players twice over and makes exorbitant prices almost irrelevant.

Those 3 home results and the nut kicks against Arsenal abnd Everton have made the season very hard, but it was worth it to usher in the more fluid, attacking football we have seen, and I think those results toughened up the players as well.

Yeah, they did seem to get a bit more steely after those. Even if we get victories against all the minnows during December our match in January against Liverpool will be the first proper litmus test for the team. We'll know if they've turned a corner if they can get a victory there.

Barkley's was the worst of the recent ones but our own Rojo should have seen red twice as well, yet they did Vardy and his was the tamest of the bunch, it's no wonder the managers get so frustrated with the lack of consistency.

Yeah, Rojo definitely should've walked. And the officials need to start nipping these challenges in the bud ASAP, otherwise it's really just a matter of time before someone gets pole-axed and there's another Luke Shaw type injury where a player is out for almost a year, or more.

 

[DeadPresident]

Wait. You said Ibra up top, with Mata in behind. Mkhitaryan and Martial on the wings. And 3 midfield behind them. so basically a 3-4-3 formation?

You're right, my mistake, I unfortunately don't think United should go for a 3-4-3. I'd probably forfeit Mata and have the front 3 be Martial-Ibra-Mkhitaryan with that midfield 3, Pogba and Herrera both have elements of #10s in their game.

 

[Iceman]

Can't wait for all these matches in a short space of time after Xmas!

 

[Slade W]

Can't wait for all these matches in a short space of time after Xmas!

I am looking forward to Liverpool vs City.

 

[Iceman]

I am looking forward to Liverpool vs City.

Winner gets to be no.1 challenger to Chelsea!

 

[DeadPresident]

I'd put money on City getting caned as things stand, or another tight-ish affair like the Arsenal vs City match. But I feel like Liverpool's attack are a lot more dynamic and threatening than Arsenal's, their entire team works hard, not just one of their wide players.

 

[Iceman]

Chelsea are opening up a bit of a lead now. I'd like to see them lose a few as the race would suddenly be totally on again with a few teams involved.

 

[idiot09]

You're right, my mistake, I unfortunately don't think United should go for a 3-4-3. I'd probably forfeit Mata and have the front 3 be Martial-Ibra-Mkhitaryan with that midfield 3, Pogba and Herrera both have elements of #10s in their game.

Agreed. I think Carrick should be the pivot, and we should get another DM as a deep lying playmaker, or just play Blind there.

Have Herrera,Pogba, Mata and Fellaini as the two midfielders playing ahead.


Mkhitaryan,Lingard,Martial and Rooney as the wide forwards, and Ibra and Rashford up top.

 

[idiot09]

I am looking forward to Liverpool vs City.

Which team do you support?

 

[DeadPresident]

Agreed. I think Carrick should be the pivot, and we should get another DM as a deep lying playmaker, or just play Blind there.

Have Herrera,Pogba, Mata and Fellaini as the two midfielders playing ahead.


Mkhitaryan,Lingard,Martial and Rooney as the wide forwards, and Ibra and Rashford up top.

I'd say Rooney and Fellaini should only be make-shift considerations until the end of this season, unfortunately they just don't contribute enough against decent opposition to warrant inclusion if United are going for a title. I think the spending is only going to ramp up in the next couple of transfer windows if the Lindelof deal and the Griezmann rumors are any indication.

 

[idiot09]

I'd say Rooney and Fellaini should only be make-shift considerations until the end of this season, unfortunately they just don't contribute enough against decent opposition to warrant inclusion if United are going for a title. I think the spending is only going to ramp up in the next couple of transfer windows if the Lindelof deal and the Griezmann rumors are any indication.

Yeah ofcourse. I would see Rooney and Fellaini in the summer. Probably get Perreira in the team instead of Fellaini and give him a shot. I wonder if Mata can play well in a midfield 3 without a two man pivot behind him.

 

[Iceman]

I'd say Rooney and Fellaini should only be make-shift considerations until the end of this season, unfortunately they just don't contribute enough against decent opposition to warrant inclusion if United are going for a title. I think the spending is only going to ramp up in the next couple of transfer windows if the Lindelof deal and the Griezmann rumors are any indication.

Anything more to the Griezmann rumours recently? That one would show huge ambition.

 

[Slade W]

Which team do you support?

Real Madrid. I watch other leagues and teams too though.

 

[DeadPresident]

Anything more to the Griezmann rumours recently? That one would show huge ambition.

Over the last two days after the Lindelof interest seemed to be going around the Griezmann talk increased again, with Mourinho apparently trying to get a deal in place for the summer now already.

It's possible this is just the papers getting chatty again because Atletico aren't doing that well, but Simeone's future is quite uncertain so I could see clubs capitalizing now by trying to tempt players away. It would be a pretty huge statement by Mourinho, yeah. I think he's going to go all-out to try and make people forget about last season's Chelsea blip, if he gets United into the CL and legitimately competing for trophies pundits will be singing his praises again.

 

[idiot09]

Anything more to the Griezmann rumours recently? That one would show huge ambition.

Cant get excited about Griezmann. Just dont see where he fits in United's 4-3-3 formation. Is he really a striker that can lead the line like Ibra? He certainly shouldnt take Mkhitaryan's place on the right. Ehh.

Over the last two days after the Lindelof interest seemed to be going around the Griezmann talk increased again, with Mourinho apparently trying to get a deal in place for the summer now already.

It's possible this is just the papers getting chatty again because Atletico aren't doing that well, but Simeone's future is quite uncertain so I could see clubs capitalizing now by trying to tempt players away. It would be a pretty huge statement by Mourinho, yeah. I think he's going to go all-out to try and make people forget about last season's Chelsea blip, if he gets United into the CL and legitimately competing for trophies pundits will be singing his praises again.

You ever see Lindelof play? What kind of centreback is he? Is he worth the reported 38M?

Real Madrid. I watch other leagues and teams too though.

Cool.

 

[Iceman]

Over the last two days after the Lindelof interest seemed to be going around the Griezmann talk increased again, with Mourinho apparently trying to get a deal in place for the summer now already.

It's possible this is just the papers getting chatty again because Atletico aren't doing that well, but Simeone's future is quite uncertain so I could see clubs capitalizing now by trying to tempt players away. It would be a pretty huge statement by Mourinho, yeah. I think he's going to go all-out to try and make people forget about last season's Chelsea blip, if he gets United into the CL and legitimately competing for trophies pundits will be singing his praises again.

He could really enhance Utd I think with the right tactics and team setup. Hope Mourinho can pull it off.

 

[Iceman]

Cant get excited about Griezmann. Just dont see where he fits in United's 4-3-3 formation. Is he really a striker that can lead the line like Ibra? He certainly shouldnt take Mkhitaryan's place on the right. Ehh.

No not lead the line. I hope that Rashford will eventually replace Ibra and be the main man up front. Having an all out DM would give the luxury to have more than one playmaker behind Rashford, and they could also pitch in with goals. They might have a top spare player beyond the 11 with this setup but they're going to need that over the course of the season.

 

[DeadPresident]

Cant get excited about Griezmann. Just dont see where he fits in United's 4-3-3 formation. Is he really a striker that can lead the line like Ibra? He certainly shouldnt take Mkhitaryan's place on the right. Ehh.

Griezmann links up very well when he plays off the center forward, I doubt he'd take up a wide position with Mourinho necessarily. I think he'd be employed as a #10/second striker most likely in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

You ever see Lindelof play? What kind of centreback is he? Is he worth the reported 38M?

Nah, never watched a game of his before, at least not where I was actually assessing his performance specifically. Seen some highlights and he appears to be solid in the air and he times his challenges well. Apparently Mourinho was at a CL game between Benfica and Bayern where Lindelof played, so if Mourinho personally attended a game and still made this call I'm assuming he's comfortable with the kid's prospect.

In terms of style he seems similar to the in-vogue ball playing CBs that seem so popular now, he's a bit more technical and comfortable with dribbling than the conventional CB. In all honesty I see Lindelof as the alternative to Stones, who Mourinho wanted at Chelsea just before his departure.

He could really enhance Utd I think with the right tactics and team setup. Hope Mourinho can pull it off.

It would be interesting to see him in the PL. I'm not 100% convinced yet, but Simeone is a task-master just like Mourinho so Griezmann is used to having to contribute defensively. He has put up some good stats these past couple of seasons and performed well for France at the Euro, so I doubt he'd be a flop. Considering United's ability to pull off signing Ibra and Pogba I think the "allure" of playing for the club and Mourinho are in full swing, if Mourinho actually wants Griezmann I doubt it'd be too difficult for Woodward to get it done.

 

[idiot09]

So basically you're proposing something like :

-------DM----Pogba
Mkhi--Griezmann--Martial
-------Rashford

 

[idiot09]

The problem I have with Griezmann in a no 10 position is(basically where Mata plays) ..... that means Pogba is part of a midfield pilot. And Pogba is better in a mid-3 than in a 2 man midfield. I would rather they spend that much cash in buying a creative wide player to provide width, and a long term replacement for Carrick. Those are more immediate needs than a flashy #10.

 

[Iceman]

So basically you're proposing something like :

-------DM----Pogba
Mkhi--Griezmann--Martial
-------Rashford

As one of a few setups to rotate throughout a championship-challenging season, yes. In the above the DM in that formation would need to be very disciplined and stay back all game and I'd rather Pogba had the freedom to go forward when he wanted. So maybe the above would work better when Pogba was rested and you had the likes of Carrick (he'll be too old but an equivalent future player) and Herrera in those 2 positions. Then when Pogba plays one of the others (Mkhi--Griezmann--Martial) takes a turn to not start and come on as sub. That way when any one player gets injured the team doesn't automatically get weaker.

 

[Iceman]

The problem I have with Griezmann in a no 10 position is(basically where Mata plays) ..... that means Pogba is part of a midfield pilot. And Pogba is better in a mid-3 than in a 2 man midfield. I would rather they spend that much cash in buying a creative wide player to provide width, and a long term replacement for Carrick. Those are more immediate needs than a flashy #10.

I always forget to account for Mata as I've had him as a definite one for the exit door as soon as Mourinho came in. t: I agree on Pogba. And you might be right when it comes to prioritising funds and where best to spend big if buying only one big player. My comment is more that I think Griezmann would be a big statement and definitely improve Utd's squad and title credentials, while at the same time buying a top creative wide player might add more value in one transaction given who Utd already have in Griezmann's position, like you say.

 

[DeadPresident]

So basically you're proposing something like :

-------DM----Pogba
Mkhi--Griezmann--Martial
-------Rashford

The problem I have with Griezmann in a no 10 position is(basically where Mata plays) ..... that means Pogba is part of a midfield pilot. And Pogba is better in a mid-3 than in a 2 man midfield. I would rather they spend that much cash in buying a creative wide player to provide width, and a long term replacement for Carrick. Those are more immediate needs than a flashy #10.

Something like that, yeah. I think Mourinho is trying to get United's squad quality up to the level of the likes of Madrid, Bayern, Barca, etc. Griezmann is a versatile player, so he could play behind a striker, he could play as the striker, or out wide. I think Mourinho is going to keep spending, especially since United will likely only sell Schneiderlin and Memphis if they recoup the majority if not all of their transfer fees.

I wouldn't be surprised if Mourinho even plays Griezmann as the most advanced player in a midfield three. The same way Barcelona always had Busquets (6), Xavi (now Rakitic, 8) and Iniesta at 10 I could see United having Carrick (and the replacement) as the 6, Pogba as the 8 and Griezmann as the 10 in a midfield three. Something to remember is even though Griezmann is an attacking player, his work rate under Simeone is very high, so he wouldn't exactly be a luxury player in the vein of Mata. He would likely track back and help his midfield out.