How much are Cunha and Mbeumos stats padded by penalties? Don’t really know as I don’t ever bother looking at XG etc.

comment by FFS Mike. (U1170)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by The Gentleman Entrepreneur (U13709)
posted 1 minute ago
Do we think Amad is better as a wingback than a 10? I think he can be a WB in Europe but in the prem he looks better as a 10. I could be wrong but I just think he looks less effective there - especially defensively.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I dunno, I’ve kind of been more impressed with his attacking games when he’s played as a RWB, been able to get fully involved in one two’s up and down the line and then in the space left by the opposition when he gets to overlap, meaning he’s running at their box more often rather than just being squared up at the edge of their box for a standing start 1v1.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I hear you. I think you get more time/space as WB but when I think about that last minute goal against liverpool - he doesn't get into that position as a WB.

comment by Diafol Coch 77 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 JA606 Class Act (U2462)
posted 15 minutes ago
I'd have Amad as RWB but in a lop sided version of 343. Have Mazraoui as the RCB and you have cover that side that could pretty much make it a back four. Dorgu has the physical attributes to go up and down the opposite flank.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Dorgu actually has good chemistry as a RWB and with Amad at 10. Would love to see more of that tbh but looks unlikely.

Sorry, podcast I was referencing is Devils in the Details.

Talk of the Devils is the Athletic's United podcast, which is a lot more fun, and less geeky.

comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 12 minutes ago
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Do you not think it's fair to say he's probably at the level Mane was when he was at Southampton?

comment by The Gentleman Entrepreneur (U13709)
posted 56 seconds ago
comment by FFS Mike. (U1170)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by The Gentleman Entrepreneur (U13709)
posted 1 minute ago
Do we think Amad is better as a wingback than a 10? I think he can be a WB in Europe but in the prem he looks better as a 10. I could be wrong but I just think he looks less effective there - especially defensively.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I dunno, I’ve kind of been more impressed with his attacking games when he’s played as a RWB, been able to get fully involved in one two’s up and down the line and then in the space left by the opposition when he gets to overlap, meaning he’s running at their box more often rather than just being squared up at the edge of their box for a standing start 1v1.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I hear you. I think you get more time/space as WB but when I think about that last minute goal against liverpool - he doesn't get into that position as a WB.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He wouldn’t, but Mbuemo or Cunha could? With Amad attacking all game from deeper. Or we have Amad as the forward, and buy a PL proven or better from abroad new RWB, because I can’t face another season of Dalot there.

Merry - yeah, I think their overreliance on stats means they are less equipped to think about how players change, and could develop / have different output in the future.

Mike - apparently he had 15 non-penalty goals + 5 pens. That's still great output. The xG overperformance / anomaly was on the 15 npg

Cheers RR.

Seeing both him and Cunha in the starting line up, with either another proven scorer up top or someone who is there to get the best out of those two, plus the likes of Amad chipping in I would be more confident in us actually converting some of the chances we already create, as well as creating a few more for themselves.

Just really don’t know how Bruno fits in if those two do both come as the 10’s.

Can we really afford to lose the midfield battle every week with him and 1 other sitting in there?

If we sell Garnacho, Rashford, Antony and Sancho then the net spend for these two players could well be negligible and we'll have improved the first XI quite a lot IMO. With players at a good age too. With a lot of youth potentially coming through it's important to get experience.

This would be the signing of the summer for me

comment by FFS Mike. (U1170)
posted 15 seconds ago
Cheers RR.

Seeing both him and Cunha in the starting line up, with either another proven scorer up top or someone who is there to get the best out of those two, plus the likes of Amad chipping in I would be more confident in us actually converting some of the chances we already create, as well as creating a few more for themselves.

Just really don’t know how Bruno fits in if those two do both come as the 10’s.

Can we really afford to lose the midfield battle every week with him and 1 other sitting in there?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I wonder if we're seemingly spending now to cushion the blow of Bruno leaving?

comment by FFS Mike. (U1170)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by The Gentleman Entrepreneur (U13709)
posted 56 seconds ago
comment by FFS Mike. (U1170)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by The Gentleman Entrepreneur (U13709)
posted 1 minute ago
Do we think Amad is better as a wingback than a 10? I think he can be a WB in Europe but in the prem he looks better as a 10. I could be wrong but I just think he looks less effective there - especially defensively.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I dunno, I’ve kind of been more impressed with his attacking games when he’s played as a RWB, been able to get fully involved in one two’s up and down the line and then in the space left by the opposition when he gets to overlap, meaning he’s running at their box more often rather than just being squared up at the edge of their box for a standing start 1v1.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I hear you. I think you get more time/space as WB but when I think about that last minute goal against liverpool - he doesn't get into that position as a WB.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He wouldn’t, but Mbuemo or Cunha could? With Amad attacking all game from deeper. Or we have Amad as the forward, and buy a PL proven or better from abroad new RWB, because I can’t face another season of Dalot there.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
That's fair. if we are going to have a WB, let's have an attacking one. He is very good and beating his man and creating chances in the box. could be very exciting.

If we become a better team having Amad as RWB shouldn't be a massive problem defensively as hopefully he'll be forward helping pin the opposition back.

I'd rather see that risk in our play than have a flat back five. A RCB comfortable defending the flanks and we'd be OK IMO.

Obviously you also need a good squad to compete as well so there's still plenty of game time for all.

The only concern is Amad himself, you would really have to hope he would buy into the role and the good for the team, he seems level headed for now, but if he sees himself as a future top forward/winger then he’d be sacrificing ‘stats’ for the near future at least till Amorim is sacked. Fair play to him, when he’s been there he’s defended when needed and not been one to shy away from that side of the game.

I'll feel a lot more confident about next season if we can add a massive upgrade to midfield.

comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 11 minutes ago
Merry - yeah, I think their overreliance on stats means they are less equipped to think about how players change, and could develop / have different output in the future.

Mike - apparently he had 15 non-penalty goals + 5 pens. That's still great output. The xG overperformance / anomaly was on the 15 npg
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Irrespective of whether Mbeumo would be able to replicate this season just gone, he massively improves the physical floor of the team, he's a better attacker than anyone we have in those roles (with Amad's potential not being far off - though I think he's looked better at RWB for us actually) and he's versatile enough that he'd still have a home in the team if we adopted a different formation.

I think finding a PL-proven player that ticks that many boxes (plus others like his fitness record) would be hard to come by. I'd also seen a video profiling Mbeumo that argued he's pretty decent as a target when playing longer balls. Given how many times we resort to trying to bypass the opposition's press by going long, only to give the ball straight back because the forward players can't make it stick, having someone higher up that helps us beat the press in a direct way is attractive. It may also add some legitimacy to the Mitrovic links.

comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 1 minute ago
I'll feel a lot more confident about next season if we can add a massive upgrade to midfield.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
And a facking keeper

Would having full backs that actually attack/make the opposition defend, and attackers that can actually control a ball and sustain pressure/possession further up field mean our midfield wouldn’t quite look as terrible and constantly overworked? They could probably get away slightly more (against teams around us in the bottom half) with just focussing on winning the ball and feeding the attacking players.

comment by Michael Scofield (U11781)
posted 37 seconds ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 1 minute ago
I'll feel a lot more confident about next season if we can add a massive upgrade to midfield.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
And a facking keeper
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We need Agent Onana to stay til Mbeumo signs on, then we can bin him!

comment by The Gentleman Entrepreneur (U13709)
posted 20 minutes ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 12 minutes ago
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Do you not think it's fair to say he's probably at the level Mane was when he was at Southampton?
----------------------------------------------------------------------

1. I was reporting the geeky podcasters' views, not mine.
2. To be honest, I haven't watched Brentford enough to have a strong view on him, and I didn't watch a ton of Mane at Southampton. But even if they're the same level, the crucial issue is trajectory. Is Mbeumo about to go to the next level as Mane did? Or was this the best season of his career? Personally, I'm not equipped to begin to answer that.

comment by Michael Scofield (U11781)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 1 minute ago
I'll feel a lot more confident about next season if we can add a massive upgrade to midfield.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
And a facking keeper
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Quality and mobility in CM is more important IMO. Key to control of possession, conceding fewer chances, and more consistently getting into the final third. That will win us more points over a season than eliminating Onana's mistakes (and we can guarantee that whoever we sign to replace him will make a couple himself).

At least he can run

What are his walking stats? All the United pundits have been focussing on this new stat recently.

Mbuemo’s quality.

Cunha signed, and Mbeumo reportedly ‘choosing’ us over other clubs meaning we are now able to speak to Brentford to do the deal, on the 2nd day of the window, it’s a decent start.

We must be fairly confident of some sales soon.