14 Jun 2019 20:29:55
We've been linked with Sean Longstaff by multiple sources this morning and last time be was mentioned I decided to give him a look. I was very surprised with the quality, his positioning, interceptions and in general defensive awareness is very good. And the way he traps the ball and opens up his body and looks always to keep the ball moving reminded me a lot of Carrick. His style is very similar.
We've missed a player like Carrick badly, Longstaff has a good passing range, works hard off the ball, can get up and down the pitch and has good defensive awareness for his age. Could build up a bit more strength but that can be worked on and he has got the height too. Importantly he made quick and right decisions on the pitch in tight areas and had good instincts.
The question would be can we convince him that he will get enough gametime here as well as Newcastle to let him go. If we can get him for 25 mil or so this could be a very shrewd signing.
I hope Solskjaer and the club go in the direction of bringing in hungry young players with the right mentality and supplement them with a couple of players who are coming to their peak. We've started well with Daniel James. Add Wan Bissaka, Longstaff and maybe a Ruben Dias and we would have a very good spine and we could supplement that with a Bruno Fernandes and a right winger and this would look a solid team.
14 Jun 2019 22:02:54
What did you use to have a look at him on?, because if it was youtube it can make anyone look half decent.
Fred looked like a mixture of fernandinho and de bruyne in his clips. Then you watch him for 90 minutes and his touch can control is worse than lukakus.
14 Jun 2019 22:22:50
I too have been sucked in by his amazing YouTube cameo! Definitely a hint of Carrick there. Though I do remember YouTube once making a young Anderson look like a mix between Brazilian Ronaldo and pirlo!
15 Jun 2019 00:05:19
There's plenty of sites where you can watch full matches recorded. I used one of those at the time and watched his games against Chelsea, City and Burnley.
Honestly his youtube clips only show his attacking side and some of his tackles but his positional awareness and instinct to attack or drop back at the right time and to fill the right spaces can only be seen in full games.
Not the flashiest signing we can make but would fit in well.
15 Jun 2019 01:43:10
And so he was redarmy!
15 Jun 2019 09:23:50
He did remind me of post retired Ronaldo!