9 hours ago, Zeta said:

Would prefer Bailey from Bayern

I'd take both of them alongside hazard, mobile and fluid all of them brilliant with the ball. 

On 15 June 2018 at 14:25, jack_super_class said:

Martial is better than both and Giroud isn't a long term option.

Is he though? 

If we are discussing him as an outright  centre forward, then I am not really sure what evidence would be used to back this up. 

He hasn't really been used in the role at United, but for whatever reason he has stagnated in the last 2 years after a promising first season (where I really liked the look of him). 

Prior to United, he scored 15 goals in 70 appearances playing as a centre forward. 

He is young, and there is definitely potential, but I personally thin he still has a lot to prove, especially when you consider he would no doubt be going for around £80M+.

If the sale for Willian goes through at the figures which are being thrown around (65m) than 80m for Martial doesn't sound too bad

Bringing in Martial would probably solve a couple of areas for us, firstly as the Willian replacement and secondly as a third striker if one of Morata/Giroud were to leave. I do rate Martial very highly and don't think there are many players available on the current market who are better than him.

Don't really want Martial. 

2 hours ago, Imran_CFC said:

If the sale for Willian goes through at the figures which are being thrown around (65m) than 80m for Martial doesn't sound too bad

Bringing in Martial would probably solve a couple of areas for us, firstly as the Willian replacement and secondly as a third striker if one of Morata/Giroud were to leave. I do rate Martial very highly and don't think there are many players available on the current market who are better than him.

This is the question though; where would be play?

I don't think there is anything to really suggest he can be a 20 goal a season striker. It would be a massive gamble to spend £80M on a player to fill that role, when he has never done it anywhere in his career to date (granted, he is still young). 

And as for playing wide, I think that would be a waste of money when we have Hudson-Odoi who looks like the read deal to me. I would choose him over Martial already, and he would cost us nothing. 

13 minutes ago, mclovin83 said:

This is the question though; where would be play?

I don't think there is anything to really suggest he can be a 20 goal a season striker. It would be a massive gamble to spend £80M on a player to fill that role, when he has never done it anywhere in his career to date (granted, he is still young). 

And as for playing wide, I think that would be a waste of money when we have Hudson-Odoi who looks like the read deal to me. I would choose him over Martial already, and he would cost us nothing. 

 

We have Hazard on the left and CHO waiting in the wings. We don't need another left-sided player. Even if we were to sign Martial and move Hazard to a number 10, where would that leave CHO?

 

It's all well and good people saying replacing Willian with Martial for similar money is good business, but it's not good business if we don't need him. We need a right-winger to replace Willian.

 

Sure, Martial can play up front, in which case we sign him, sell Morata and he's our number 1 striker, and we're relying on him not only for goals but to be the focal point of the team that brings others into play. I rate Martial and I think he could be a very good striker but as you say there's no real evidence.

2 hours ago, Davey Baby said:

 

We have Hazard on the left and CHO waiting in the wings. We don't need another left-sided player. Even if we were to sign Martial and move Hazard to a number 10, where would that leave CHO?

 

It's all well and good people saying replacing Willian with Martial for similar money is good business, but it's not good business if we don't need him. We need a right-winger to replace Willian.

 

Sure, Martial can play up front, in which case we sign him, sell Morata and he's our number 1 striker, and we're relying on him not only for goals but to be the focal point of the team that brings others into play. I rate Martial and I think he could be a very good striker but as you say there's no real evidence.

The evidence is there - Jose appears somewhat scared by the prospect of Martial joining a rival Premier League club, a clear indication that he believes the boy has talent aplenty and it would probably surface pretty quickly if he is sold and then played in his preferred position of central striker by his new club. Imagine a Chelsea front three of Hazard, Martial and Hudson-Odoi…. that really would be a scary prospect!   

1 minute ago, Dorset said:

Imagine a Chelsea front three of Hazard, Martial and Hudson-Odoi…. that really would be a scary prospect!   

 

We would certainly be scary down our left, but they'd all probably get in each other's way.

 

Good to see you posting Dorset.

Supposedly United are blocking any move to Chelsea which wouldn't be surprising given our past dealings with them. Am I right in thinking Martial only has 1 year left on his contract? If so United may end up losing him for nothing.

8 minutes ago, forbzy said:

Supposedly United are blocking any move to Chelsea which wouldn't be surprising given our past dealings with them. Am I right in thinking Martial only has 1 year left on his contract? If so United may end up losing him for nothing.

we're the suckers like usual, sell them a title winning DM in his prime in Matic and then they don't reciprocate when they have the opportunity... we should stop with these sweetheart deals to rivals, matic to MU, cech to arsenal, no one does us any favors so why should we

Edited July 23, 20187 yr by CFC_montreal

2 minutes ago, Davey Baby said:

 

We would certainly be scary down our left, but they'd all probably get in each other's way.

 

Good to see you posting Dorset.

You too DB. The Shed End is a much more interesting place post Conte and it could get even better if Sarri kicks one of our habits (failure to play youth through fear of failure full stop) well before he's likely to kick one of his own. Conte ended up being just a big drag, but as far as I'm concerned Sarri can have as many as he wants if he gets the likes of RLC, Ampadu and young Callum performing regularly in the first team. Have you seen CHO's first 45 minutes of Sarriball? - the kid is the real deal no doubt about it. There aren't many who go back as far as me, but if they are on here they may well have spotted that Callum plays a lot like Bobby Tambling with a few modern day tricks thrown in for good measure. The same slightly hunched shoulders, rolling gait and directness that scares the life out of defenders. Tambling made his debut aged seventeen, just after I started going to the Bridge and all he had back then that Callum isn't gifted with now was a rocket shot with his left foot after going past his man either on the outside or cutting in.  

17 hours ago, ForeverCarefree said:

If we sell Willian and bring in Martial that’s one of the best bits of business we’ve done for years.

I agree and I'm probably one of Willians most consistent/biggest fans here.

51 minutes ago, CFC_montreal said:

 we should stop with these sweetheart deals to rivals,  cech to arsenal,

Petr's transfer to Arsenal was a gesture to the big guy, a gesture that he totally deserves and has earned + he's been below average for them.

Matic is average for United as well - zero impact on this team.

Mata was generally a good transfer for United but he is still below than what he used to deliver for us.

Joe Cole to Liverpool was for free but it was disaster for the dippers.

Gallas for Ashley Cole is not even worth discussing.

Sturridge to Liverpool was bad for us but fortunately just for half a season.

And that pretty much is. Can't see anything to take away from my sleeping.

 

 

 

Edited July 23, 20187 yr by Giordano_Bruno

2 minutes ago, Giordano_Bruno said:

Petr's transfer to Arsenal was a gesture to the big guy, a gesture that he totally deserves and has earned + he's been below average for them.

Matic is average for United as well - zero impact on this team.

Mata was generally a good transfer for United but he is still below than what he used to deliver for us.

Joe Cole to Liverpool was for free but it was disaster for the dippers.

Gallas for Ashley Cole is not even worth discussing.

Sturridge to Liverpool was bad for us but fortunately just for half a season.

And that pretty much is. Can't see anything to take away from my sleeping.

The important point is that none of our recent transfers have set the world alight.

Perhaps Mata and Matic might have done yet JM probably under pressure from Utd's money boys has to play certain other players even when not performing well.

Before we crow about this lets remember Utd finished higher with Mata's and Matic's contribution.

11 minutes ago, Giordano_Bruno said:

Petr's transfer to Arsenal was a gesture to the big guy, a gesture that he totally deserves and has earned + he's been below average for them.

Matic is average for United as well - zero impact on this team.

Mata was generally a good transfer for United but he is still below than what he used to deliver for us.

Joe Cole to Liverpool was for free but it was disaster for the dippers.

Gallas for Ashley Cole is not even worth discussing.

Sturridge to Liverpool was bad for us but fortunately just for half a season.

And that pretty much is. Can't see anything to take away from my sleeping.

 

 

 

The transfers haven't particularly hurt us, but it's just the fact that we are open to selling players to domestic rivals, but our rivals very rarely sell to us. 

I think we have gotten cole, veron, benayoun, and Torres in the last 15 years. 

If the boot was on the other foot, we would sell to United 100%.

Edited July 23, 20187 yr by big blue

6 minutes ago, Giordano_Bruno said:

Petr's transfer to Arsenal was a gesture to the big guy, a gesture that he totally deserves and has earned + he's been below average for them.

Matic is average for United as well - zero impact on this team.

Mata was generally a good transfer for United but he is still below than what he used to deliver for us.

Joe Cole to Liverpool was for free but it was disaster for the dippers.

Gallas for Ashley Cole is not even worth discussing.

Sturridge to Liverpool was bad for us but fortunately just for half a season.

And that pretty much is. Can't see anything to take away from my sleeping.

 

 

 

disagree that any chelsea player can ever "deserve" a move to direct rivals but that's my opinion...

As to Mata and Matic, they both undoubtedly strengthened MU who've finished above us last year... they were desperately in need of a DM last summer and we gave him to them on a plate. Regarding sturridge we just got "lucky" that injuries destroyed his career or else it would've been a disaster for us. I agree that the impact these players have had wasn't anything to write home about but that's more due to jose becoming yesterday's man and not being able to get the best out of them + luck with injuries. Still wouldn't want us doing any of the top 6 any favors at all in terms of selling them players

56 minutes ago, Dorset said:

There aren't many who go back as far as me, but if they are on here they may well have spotted that Callum plays a lot like Bobby Tambling with a few modern day tricks thrown in for good measure. The same slightly hunched shoulders, rolling gait and directness that scares the life out of defenders.  

 

Vitesse will be most pleased Dorset.

3 minutes ago, CFC_montreal said:

As to Mata and Matic, they both undoubtedly strengthened MU who've finished above us last year... they were desperately in need of a DM last summer and we gave him to them on a plate.

I've scouted American football for years and in recruiting there's a saying that bodes well here. "It's not the ones you miss that hurt you; it's the ones you take that can't play that kill you"

What was in essence a straight swap of Bakayoko for Matic looked good on paper. I think it was impossible to predict just how bad he would struggle based on his Champions League form at Monaco. But I think his play hurt us over the course of the season more than any other factor, as Kante had to do three jobs with Bakayoko struggling and Fabergas not suited for the role he was in.

I saw genuine good things from Bakayoko as the season closed, but even still, hopefully Jorginho becomes the engine in the midfield we need.

In short, I don't think we were hurt that badly by Matic going to United. I think we were hurt badly by the fact that Bakayoko wasn't very good last year.

I'm not sold on Martial, but if it's who the club is after for that no.9 role then who am I to dismiss it. It is increasingly obvious that he doesn't want to play for Utd/Mourinho. Apparently in their pre-season game yesterday he put in a poor performance and looked disinterested. I mean I'm not a big fan of that attitude though tbh, and seen it a couple times from him where he's gone missing. I don't know if it's just Mourinho playing him in a position he doesn't like and isn't excelling in or what, but I think he should at least try. Who knows though, plenty of our players have done the same in the past, including Hazard. 

13 hours ago, Strider6003 said:

The important point is that none of our recent transfers have set the world alight.

Perhaps Mata and Matic might have done yet JM probably under pressure from Utd's money boys has to play certain other players even when not performing well.

Before we crow about this lets remember Utd finished higher with Mata's and Matic's contribution.

Won f**k all last season though, as they looked up to the royal box and watched us lift the fa cup. 

12 hours ago, enigma said:

I'm not sold on Martial, but if it's who the club is after for that no.9 role then who am I to dismiss it. It is increasingly obvious that he doesn't want to play for Utd/Mourinho. Apparently in their pre-season game yesterday he put in a poor performance and looked disinterested. I mean I'm not a big fan of that attitude though tbh, and seen it a couple times from him where he's gone missing. I don't know if it's just Mourinho playing him in a position he doesn't like and isn't excelling in or what, but I think he should at least try. Who knows though, plenty of our players have done the same in the past, including Hazard. 

I think in the next year, they'll be a few more falling out with mourinho, players seem to see through him these days.

1 hour ago, chi blue said:

I think in the next year, they'll be a few more falling out with mourinho, players seem to see through him these days.

Pogba, Lukaku, Martial, Rashford - for sure.

Don't think United will return us the Matic favour, and to be honest if we are keen, we would have put in a request weeks ago since He wasn't in the WC

Even if we are interested, we won't get him. United will not sell him to a top 6 team in the Premier League, it's just not going to happen. 

3 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

Even if we are interested, we won't get him. United will not sell him to a top 6 team in the Premier League, it's just not going to happen. 

This.

A thing we should also take heed of.

Madness us selling guys like Mata and Matic to United when they wouldn't sell us a cold. Just makes us look foolish