15 Jun 2017 09:41:47
Just a quick thought. The eds have mentioned that we are after a striker and a left side forward. Looks like it will be Morata / belloti and perisic this window. If we maintain a sustained interest in Griezmann, I find it hard to believe that we are getting perisic with a view of using him only for 6 months or a year (Griezmann may not happen in Jan if he is cup tied in the champs league) . Could it be that JM sees perisic as a long-term answer to our LB problem? Fast, tracks back, decent crosser of the ball with his left foot and a grafter – perisic is like Valencia 4 years back, just with a better second foot and skills on the ball. What do you guys think?
On a second note – what does our needing a left forward mean for Martial? On the left, he will always be option no.2 unless perisic is played on the right which leaves mikhi out (assuming a 4-3-3). If he wants to play as a striker, he will be behind a new signing and rashford. Not a good place to be if you are 21 and the guy in front of you is younger and home grown.
I have been giving some thought to the Matic link. I tend to agree with the likes of beast here that if JM can get him playing like he did 3 years ago; he would be a great buy. It would be great if we can get a skilful DM with a good passing range but first you need a DM to be rock solid, physical and do the simple things well. Especially when we may have a centre back pairing who are 22-23 years old and potentially ask our full backs to bomb on as we play with only one striker and the wide forwards want to tuck in all the time. I have not seen a lot of fabinho and from what the ed says he is a player who does not track back very well and this will be disastrous for us in that role. I would rather our DM sat back and let the likes of pogba, Herrera, martial, mkytaryan, mata etc. create the play. Not to mention his height and presence in set pieces where we always looked vulnerable last season. All of this is subject to JM getting him back to the player he was 3 years ago. Big IF though.
15 Jun 2017 10:05:25
Ryan Maze thinks you sound like a conspiracy theorist. If a player like Perisic who has played as a winger his entire career signs for United it will be -believe it or not- as a winger.
15 Jun 2017 10:17:28
Griezmann has just signed a new contract can't see him moving in Jan.
15 Jun 2017 10:57:22
I stopped reading when you suggested Perisic could become our LB.
15 Jun 2017 10:58:26
Maze - agree that it could be utter tosh and that perisic will start next season as a winger, but if and when we sign griezmann i would not be surprised if we moved perisic to LB. remember JM wanted valencia as a RB at Madrid when he was a winger and had been for his entire career to that point.
As to griezmann signing a new contract - so did lindelof in march - it means nothing. If he is not cup tied and we need an extra push up top, I fully expect us to go for him in Jan. Atleast the hopeful optimist in me does!
15 Jun 2017 11:11:07
Ryan I can guarantee you fella wherever IP is playing next season and the season after he will be playing as an out and out winger. If we need a left back then sign a left back.
United have been down this route before with LVG playing players out of position. It does not work.
Also Greizmann will definitely be cup tied and even the bigwigs at United would not be foolish enough to pay a mid season premium on top of his already ridiculous value.
15 Jun 2017 11:28:05
Perisic is actually right footed, although he is close to duel footed and there for far better with his left foot than most right footed players.
I think if we sign Greizmann it will be for him to play in a free role just off the striker.
Perisic therefore isn't going to be an issue as he will play exclusively on the flanks.
I'm in two minds about Perisic, on one hand has several characteristics Jose looks for, but on the other he lacks consistency and at 28 is unlikely to gain any at this point in his career. He reminds me a lot of Nani, in that when on form he is a menace, but his form days are too far apart.
15 Jun 2017 12:09:48
Shappy I think the thing that I like about him is that he is direct and will draw a CB out 9/ 10 if he beats the fullback. He is also a full grown man and not a child who will not let a fullback kick him up and down the park.
16 Jun 2017 00:44:27
I'm pretty sure when Jose took over in his first press conference when asked about signings he made it quite clear how he liked specialists, buying an out and winger in perisic and then playing him at left back would be kind of contradicting don't you think.