With it now almost certain FDJ won't be joining United..Who are the alternatives?
There hasn't really been any players we've been linked to who are a decent alternative, and I find it shocking if ETH etc didn't have a back up plan? I mean maybe they didn't have one considering they've spent 10 weeks chasing a player who doesn't even want to join the club but I can't believe they'd take such a big risk.
I would have loved for United to sign Ruben Neves but seems no one is in for him as Wolves want upwards of 100m for him which is just silly.
Is there any others out there who are realistic that ETH might go for? It is an area which surely has to be addressed before the new season starts? You can't lose Mata Matic Pogba and replace them with Eriksen as good as he might turn out to be imo.
Are the youngsters up to the task?
Really would love to see United go out there and get another 2 in the CM area to help but just wondered who people think are suitable alternatives?
Who are the alternatives?
posted on 22/7/22
Well enough I suppose, mildly concerned at the idea of this mainland heat lasting another month and, beyond that, of it becoming the new normal for 3-4 months a year. It’s nothing like this in the Western Canaries, but I’m also under the impression that the trade winds are becoming somewhat less prevalent in recent times. Without them the islands would just be a western outcrop of the Sahara desert.
posted on 22/7/22
Oh sorry, your question...
It matters little in the grand scheme, but my one unfulfilled football dream would be to see Barça relegated. I’m not invested enough in LaLiga to put it above or ahead of my dreams.
posted on 22/7/22
comment by it'sonlyagame (U6426)
posted 6 minutes ago
Oh sorry, your question...
It matters little in the grand scheme, but my one unfulfilled football dream would be to see Barça relegated. I’m not invested enough in LaLiga to put it above or ahead of my dreams.
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Hahahahaha, fair enough.
Few tears would be shed outside Catalunya I expect
posted on 22/7/22
Where I think some of you guys are missing something is that he may be negotiating to cut his wage even further so he can stay at Barca.
Whether he can do it enough remains to be seen.
posted on 22/7/22
That might be, VC; it just seems hard to fathom why he’d be so adamant about staying somewhere he doesn’t seem to be wanted when he’s being offered the opportunity to work again under the one manager who’s been able to get him performing to his potential.
It could of course be that he thinks ETH is a grade A unt, which isn’t an unusual view for a young sportsman to have of his manager/coach, especially if the latter is a bit of a disciplinarian who pushes him out of his comfort zone.
posted on 22/7/22
...but in that latter scenario, why entertain the possibility in the first place?
posted on 22/7/22
That might be, VC; it just seems hard to fathom why he’d be so adamant about staying somewhere he doesn’t seem to be wanted when he’s being offered the opportunity to work again under the one manager who’s been able to get him performing to his potential.
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Maybe he just REALLY.doesn’t want to come to Utd
posted on 22/7/22
comment by it'sonlyagame (U6426)
posted 3 hours, 53 minutes ago
...but in that latter scenario, why entertain the possibility in the first place?
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That is the flaw in that scenario. I think there are flaws in all of them.
posted on 23/7/22
The Athletic has just published an article looking at alternatives should we fail to buy FDJ. It looks at players who are statistically most similar to him in terms of his key attributes used by ETH (ability to pick up the ball from defenders and dribble / pass the ball up the field, and being good at resisting the press).
Sangare of PSV is top of the list, followed by Porto's Vitinha. Among other players who haven’t been pucked up this season are Ruiz of Napoli and (wait for it...) Loftus-Cheek.
They also talk about our existing players and conclude that if we wanted to 'make our own FDJ' rather than buying one, Garner best fits the profile, but he would need to work on his ball carrying through crowded midfields, as he's more of a passer than dribbler.
https://theathletic.com/3433690/2022/07/23/manchester-united-frenkie-de-jong-alternatives/
posted on 23/7/22
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 3 hours, 49 minutes ago
The Athletic has just published an article looking at alternatives should we fail to buy FDJ. It looks at players who are statistically most similar to him in terms of his key attributes used by ETH (ability to pick up the ball from defenders and dribble / pass the ball up the field, and being good at resisting the press).
Sangare of PSV is top of the list, followed by Porto's Vitinha. Among other players who haven’t been pucked up this season are Ruiz of Napoli and (wait for it...) Loftus-Cheek.
They also talk about our existing players and conclude that if we wanted to 'make our own FDJ' rather than buying one, Garner best fits the profile, but he would need to work on his ball carrying through crowded midfields, as he's more of a passer than dribbler.
https://theathletic.com/3433690/2022/07/23/manchester-united-frenkie-de-jong-alternatives/
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Once those on that list who have already moved this summer and those who’ll certainly be staying put are ruled out, there aren’t that many options left.
Nunes appearing again though… He and Sangare are now being linked with absolutely everybody, and I’d guess it’s pretty likely that two clubs are going to get ahold of two very good players by the end of the window.
I wonder if United might be on with signing two or three more players if they weren’t holding onto hopes (and cash) for the two big outstanding targets.