19 Apr 2018 17:32:48
So in January we went out and took a key player from one of our top six rivals. The 29 year old winger Alexis Sanchez. However, we were also linked with another 29 year old winger from a top six rivals, that being Willian of Chelsea.

Considering everything we know about Alexis struggles to settle, Willian's good relationship with Mourinho and his clear understanding of what Jose wants would it be fair to say that Willian may have been the better player to sign in January?

He likes to play off of the right hand side which is where we are weakest, he also wouldn't have to adapt to Mourinho so would have made a bigger impact sooner, which is what your looking for from a January signing. I have no doubt Alexis is the more talent player, I just feel Willian is a better fit for what Mourinho is trying to accomplish.

So Willian or Sanchez? Who would have been the better signing?

1.) 19 Apr 2018
19 Apr 2018 17:53:07
I don't think anybody could have suspected Sanchez would be this bad. Sanchez is a better player than Willian - most of our top players have been very hit and miss for years I put very little stock in what Jose does with them, we lack consistency everywhere so Willian may have been better but so could Mick the Plumber from the Horse and Jockey - there is a pattern with creative attacking players and our club under these negative managers we seem to hire.

99% of people would pick Sanchez over Willian with all things being equal imo mate - but I think we could have Messi playing for us and he would look rank average most games.

2.) 19 Apr 2018
19 Apr 2018 19:15:37
I have no idea why we signed Sanchez, but I can guess.

1. He was effectively free
2. He is a top class player
3. City wanted him.

However, did we need him or is holding back the development of others; did we have other positions in more need of strengthening?

A strange one to me.

3.) 19 Apr 2018
19 Apr 2018 21:03:30
Sanchez better then all the wingers we have . Infact we don't have a winger anymore.

Our wingers play as fullbacks.

He is better then Rashford and Martial. I just think we shouldve bought him in the summer but by then he woudlve gone to City.

The only player he has effected is Pogba who is no longer the player we rely heavily and isn't the main man anymore.

Sanchez will be so much better next year as he will have a full preseason with us in the summer.

4.) 19 Apr 2018
19 Apr 2018 21:09:12
I think when we got Sanchez 9 out of ten seemed pretty pleased . i'm guessing quite a few thought he would come in from the right and not oust two young lads being quite productive from the left . Granted he played a lot from the left with arsenal but he was no stranger or mug from the right either and our right hand side is far from productive in recent seasons .
At first he was cut some slack because he tried high risk passes but it seemed to snowball to the point even basic passes he's struggled with . He's a good player and tries hard but I can't blame the club, the manager or tactics as none of that explains why he's found even basic things so hard .
Hopefully he will come good soon but at the min no way should rash or martial be behind him in the pecking order to play left side on what we have seen not what we hoped we would see.

5.) 19 Apr 2018
19 Apr 2018 21:12:16
Good post singh.

6.) 19 Apr 2018
19 Apr 2018 21:38:52
You don’t pass up and opportunity when a world class player becomes available. And we stopped him going to city who would have gone up a level with Sanchez in their team. He’s struggled since joining but he hasn’t had a pre season and he is adjusting to a new club, teammates and surrounding. I agree that he shouldn’t play on the left and that has displaced rashford and martial. However, I think we will see the best of Alexis next season. A full pre season and no World Cup with do him the world of good. Form is temporary class is permanent.

7.) 19 Apr 2018
19 Apr 2018 22:06:28
Sanchez is the better player and I think we will see the best of him next year when he settles. January buys always awkward. Willian is a s player I have touted for us before, a Jose type player who works hard and would have settled quicker.
Maybe a try for him in the summer would be a good option.

8.) 19 Apr 2018
19 Apr 2018 22:14:51
Park, so if Neuer becomes available do we sign him?

9.) 19 Apr 2018
19 Apr 2018 22:36:17
Does nobody feel it was more Woodward than Jose wanting him, we know he loves his stellar signings. Maybe he was thinking of the impact RVP had.

10.) 19 Apr 2018
19 Apr 2018 22:43:50
AJH, that’s not the same situation, as we already have a world class keeper. We don’t have any world class attackers.

On the Sanchez thing, he’s been fairly poor, but I don’t think he’s really been any worse than anyone else. The whole team have been diabolical at times.

Tbh, if we had Messi in this team with these tactics and set up he’d probably look crap. Who think Salah would be approaching 40 goals had he moved to us? Be lucky to have 15 I think.

11.) 19 Apr 2018
19 Apr 2018 22:46:35
Martial and Rashford aren't wingers though?

12.) 19 Apr 2018
19 Apr 2018 23:07:20
AJH that’s obviously not the same situation being that De Gea is world class. I don’t think signing Sanchez was bad but playing him on the left is especially when martial was flying. Jose is paid the big bucks to make it work so he has got to find a way. But getting rid of martial or pogba do fit Sanchez in would be ridiculous.

13.) 19 Apr 2018
19 Apr 2018 23:13:47
Sanchez will come good after a full pre season.

Pogba has the most assists outside of man city’s top 3 in the league but just looks a bit lazy sometimes. Numbers are good.

Both players will be a lot more effective next yr. Pogba with more midfielders around him and Sanchez having bedded in.

Martial I worry about as I love him as a player but I feel he is the one most likely to leave / be sold out of all the press drivel floating about.

14.) 20 Apr 2018
20 Apr 2018 01:26:48
1. He was effectively free. Holy crap.

{Ed0333's Note - Holy crap is right mate you got rid of one old ineffective player on astronomical wages and replaced him with another.

15.) 20 Apr 2018
20 Apr 2018 07:52:55
I think Sanchez will predominantly play from the right next year but have the freedom to roam like mata does now. I think martial and rashford will stay and mata will leave.

16.) 20 Apr 2018
20 Apr 2018 16:51:16
You don't even have to think about that, Shappy. Willian didn't want to leave Chelsea so he was never a realistic option for you :-)