Lots of gossipmongering today suggesting that Inter are prepared to stump up the club’s asking price of EUR25m for Mike.
For me, it wouldn’t be terrible business for a soon-to-be 31 year-old player with two years left on his contract who isn’t in the manager’s plans. Would be a reported £70k per week off the wage bill too.
I’ve always liked Mike. He got absolute dog’s abuse from many of the usual clowns on here for years on-and-off, which from the date of his signing I always thought was grossly unfair.
The lad made some huge career jumps relatively late on, coming from non-league Maidstone, through Fulham to United, becoming our most important centreback (and arguably player) for a period under LVG and making over 30 England caps in the process. That in itself shows great determination and belief, and a personal desire to wring all of the talent at his disposal out.
And he developed a great proficiency in the air, is a lot quicker and smarter than he’s to this day given credit for being, and usually demonstrates a cool head and fantastic positional sense.
But he’s obviously not the kind of CB the manager wants us to be building our play from the back with, and if he doesn’t fit the model, he’s hardly likely to develop his game to be able to do so at this stage of his career.
I’ll be a little sad to see him go, but it makes sense for player and club for him to move on now. Hopefully, he has a successful end to his career wherever that may end up being.
Smalling to Inter
posted on 11/8/20
For £25m we can’t replace him.
posted on 11/8/20
We saw last night the difference when Lindelof and Matic came into the game.
With another CB who can pass the ball, it’s easier to get both of our CMs in behind the opposition front line.
It’s a large part of the reason why Smalling isn’t favoured by Ole, and why Bailly won’t be displacing Lindelof in the favoured XI.
posted on 11/8/20
I wonder if we’ll look at bringing in Ben White. Probably looking at about £30m to get Brighton to sell, which is a lot for a player that has never played in the premier league, but from what I’ve seen he’s a very good ball playing defender.
posted on 11/8/20
comment by Imran The King Khan (U10026)
posted 2 minutes ago
I wonder if we’ll look at bringing in Ben White. Probably looking at about £30m to get Brighton to sell, which is a lot for a player that has never played in the premier league, but from what I’ve seen he’s a very good ball playing defender.
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I haven’t seen him play, so I have no idea if he’s any good. But I know it’d really pess the Leeds fans off.
Get it done Ed.
posted on 11/8/20
I’ve not seen much of him, but you can tell he’s very good on the ball. How he’d deal with premier league forwards is another matter.
I guess the issue is that he’ll want to play regularly at this stage. Which is why staying with Leeds or returning to Brighton seems most likely. Also given there could be an opening on the right side of defence for England, he’s probably get more reasons to choose playing time over a back up role for United - Lindelof will be first choice next season.
But it would be funny to buy him just as a squad player when Leeds fans are desperate for him to be their starting cb.
posted on 11/8/20
Did Romagnoli sign a new contract at Milan yet?
He looks like just the kind of player we need to me.
posted on 11/8/20
Yeah he did. I’m not convinced he’s that grate really. Italy are at their lowest point in years as far as cb’s are concerned and he still struggles to really get in the national team.
He’d cost a lot of money and is a left footed, left sided, cb. I don’t think we need that given Maguire plays that side.
posted on 11/8/20
comment by Imran The King Khan (U10026)
posted 1 hour, 19 minutes ago
Yeah he did. I’m not convinced he’s that grate really. Italy are at their lowest point in years as far as cb’s are concerned and he still struggles to really get in the national team.
He’d cost a lot of money and is a left footed, left sided, cb. I don’t think we need that given Maguire plays that side.
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I’ve seen him play both sides. Looks great with the ball at his feet and like he would be both good competition for Lindelof and backup for Maguire.
Not sure about how strong he is in the air though.
CBs who can play and defend at the level we need are all going to cost a fortune. It seems like the game at the top level is moving on tactically more quickly than the professional game’s academies are producing the goods.
It’ll be a great shame if Tuanzebe can’t sort his injuries out, because he’s absolutely a player with the tools to be able to be do both. Mengi and Bernard both have the defensive abilities, but they aren’t at the same level with the ball at their feet as Tuanzebe was at their age.
Chuck EUR100m at Real for Varane?
posted on 11/8/20
Scotty McT for CB...
posted on 11/8/20
He’s always on the left, as far as I’m aware. He doesn’t look quick or aggressive enough for the prem. I’m wary of signing Italian players as there aren’t many that are really top quality and they don’t tend to settle too well out of Italy. I don’t think he’d be a necessary signing.
I don’t think there are any top quality cb’s on the market right now that would be worthwhile investments for us. We’ll likely go for a cheaper pick up to add depth in the position. Ole clearly likes Lindelof and Maguire as a partnership, and while our back four has limitations we’ve got a pretty decent defensive record with the main three playing all season. So we’ll probably keep our powder dry until a top quality cb comes around.
Left back is probably a bigger issue for us given William’s and Shaw are not proven, reliable performers.