Good article on the Athletic profiling 'ideal' transfer targets, specifically at right back and right sided attacker. Fortunately for those on the wrong side of the pay wall, there's a Tifo video summarising the article. Here are the links for those who want to check it out:
https://theathletic.com/3392185/2022/07/01/manchester-united-transfers-gnabry/
https://youtu.be/327IBgnCgUY
And here's a short summary for the lazy:
This is part of the 'Sensible Transfers' series which looks at what a team most requires and (with recourse to player data) identifies good targets to address these needs. For United it looks at right back, midfield and attack.
Right back: Ten Hag could do with someone with technical quality who is strong on and off the ball like his Ajax RB, Mazraoui, who has joined Bayern. They mention Ethan Laird as having a lot of promise but needing more experience, and come up with two other suggestions:
Jeremie Frimpong, who joined Leverkusen from City's academy. An excellent, but pint-sized attacking full back. He's recommended, but they plump for Lyon’s 19 year-old Malo Gusto as an even better option. Also great going forward but a bit more robust in defence (and three inches taller).
Secondly, they discuss the midfield, and basically decide not to make any recommendations on the basis that ETH is not wedded to a particular shape (double pivot or single DM with two 8s) but rather focuses on having the right blend of attributes across the midfield and good chemistry between the selected players. So the right targets depend on who ETH buys first and who he thinks will complement that player.
Finally, attack. Decides to focus on right sided attack because left is better covered and while we could do with a central striker, Ronaldo we play most of the time, so the added value is less. They talk about Ziyech as a creative attacking player who is good at ball progression, gets a good volume of shots, presses with diligence and intensity, and understands Ten Hag's tactical demands. However, their first pick is Serge Gnabry. The article praises his broad attacking threat, "which is not just described by his goals and assists numbers, but also his capacity to beat defenders, penetrate attacking areas, and be regularly available as a passing option within the attacking zones. He’s able to be productive and progressive with the ball but also quite secure with it." It notes that he can also play anywhere across the front line - a quality that could be useful if Ronaldo is out or if we switch Sancho to the right. He would also add intelligent and industrious pressing when we're out of possession - another prerequisite. The article describes him as one of the game's outstanding wide forwards at the moment, and this could be a good time to buy him, aged 27, with one year left on his contract and a suggestion he might not renew.
To be honest, I've not seen either of the right backs play, but it's nice to read about potential targets that aren't constantly in the rumours. Gnabry has really impressed me at Bayern over the last two-three years. Not a bad shout in my opinion.
Signings for the right side
posted on 1/7/22
Berba
I’m a little surprised United haven’t been all over Raphinha (or maybe they have, and we just don’t know about it&hellip.
Looks like he may be on his way for less than Antony’s asking price, and I know which of the two I’d want.
posted on 1/7/22
comment by And... Rosso... Though its... Yeah and... That... (U17054)
posted 2 minutes ago
Berba
I’m a little surprised United haven’t been all over Raphinha (or maybe they have, and we just don’t know about it&hellip.
Looks like he may be on his way for less than Antony’s asking price, and I know which of the two I’d want.
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All the talk about him has been Barcelona and more recently, Chelsea, so we may have made enquiries and realised it was a no go, or haven't bothered, or have other preferred targets already. But he's a brilliant player, and having played regularly under the intensity of Bielsa, I have thought he'd be attractive to us given our players have consistently demonstrated the exact opposite traits.
posted on 1/7/22
comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by And... Rosso... Though its... Yeah and... That... (U17054)
posted 2 minutes ago
Berba
I’m a little surprised United haven’t been all over Raphinha (or maybe they have, and we just don’t know about it&hellip.
Looks like he may be on his way for less than Antony’s asking price, and I know which of the two I’d want.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
All the talk about him has been Barcelona and more recently, Chelsea, so we may have made enquiries and realised it was a no go, or haven't bothered, or have other preferred targets already. But he's a brilliant player, and having played regularly under the intensity of Bielsa, I have thought he'd be attractive to us given our players have consistently demonstrated the exact opposite traits.
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Yeah, all of that.
posted on 1/7/22
comment by And... Rosso... Though its... Yeah and... That... (U17054)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by And... Rosso... Though its... Yeah and... That... (U17054)
posted 2 minutes ago
Berba
I’m a little surprised United haven’t been all over Raphinha (or maybe they have, and we just don’t know about it&hellip.
Looks like he may be on his way for less than Antony’s asking price, and I know which of the two I’d want.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
All the talk about him has been Barcelona and more recently, Chelsea, so we may have made enquiries and realised it was a no go, or haven't bothered, or have other preferred targets already. But he's a brilliant player, and having played regularly under the intensity of Bielsa, I have thought he'd be attractive to us given our players have consistently demonstrated the exact opposite traits.
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Yeah, all of that.
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I don't know who I'm trying to kid to be honest. More likely that our scouts have never heard of him.
posted on 1/7/22
comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 51 minutes ago
comment by And... Rosso... Though its... Yeah and... That... (U17054)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by And... Rosso... Though its... Yeah and... That... (U17054)
posted 2 minutes ago
Berba
I’m a little surprised United haven’t been all over Raphinha (or maybe they have, and we just don’t know about it&hellip.
Looks like he may be on his way for less than Antony’s asking price, and I know which of the two I’d want.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
All the talk about him has been Barcelona and more recently, Chelsea, so we may have made enquiries and realised it was a no go, or haven't bothered, or have other preferred targets already. But he's a brilliant player, and having played regularly under the intensity of Bielsa, I have thought he'd be attractive to us given our players have consistently demonstrated the exact opposite traits.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah, all of that.
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I don't know who I'm trying to kid to be honest. More likely that our scouts have never heard of him.
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They went to watch him for Leeds once and came back raving about Dan James.
posted on 1/7/22
comment by And... Rosso... Though its... Yeah and... That... (U17054)
posted 2 hours, 30 minutes ago
Berba
I’m a little surprised United haven’t been all over Raphinha (or maybe they have, and we just don’t know about it&hellip.
Looks like he may be on his way for less than Antony’s asking price, and I know which of the two I’d want.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Antony > Raphinha
posted on 1/7/22
comment by Darren The King Fletcher (U10026)
posted 32 minutes ago
comment by And... Rosso... Though its... Yeah and... That... (U17054)
posted 2 hours, 30 minutes ago
Berba
I’m a little surprised United haven’t been all over Raphinha (or maybe they have, and we just don’t know about it&hellip.
Looks like he may be on his way for less than Antony’s asking price, and I know which of the two I’d want.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Antony > Raphinha
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You reckon? I haven’t seen enough of him then.
posted on 1/7/22
Raphinha’s the left footed Willian. Antony’s the left footed Neymar.
posted on 1/7/22
Might be worth keeping an eye on the progress of Marcus Edwards next season if we don't bring in an attacker this summer.
posted on 1/7/22
comment by The Red Side™ (U11275)
posted 58 minutes ago
Might be worth keeping an eye on the progress of Marcus Edwards next season if we don't bring in an attacker this summer.
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Not one for me TRS, tbh.
There are other attackers at Sporting I’d take in front of him, most notably Pote.
Saw him at Portimonense in the run in and he didn’t stand out.