07 May 2022 08:25:14
CB - Torres, Kounde or Timber
RB - worryingly quiet on the news front
DM - Tchuamendi, Neves, Phillips or Rice
CM - Milinkovic-Savic, De Jong or Haidara
AM/ W - Nkunku, Antony or Dembele
CF - Nunez or 'other'
Seems to be a fairly accurate summary of what we're being linked with. Whilst we desperately need one from each category, that'll surely prove too expensive, even with expected sales of Henderson, Bailly, Jones, Telles and Martial, plus the huge wage savings of those out of contract.
Surely we've got to prioritise some of the above positions for now and then add the others in Jan/ next year? Problem is, I come up with a different order of priority each time I try!
07 May 2022 08:58:00
downsie- good shout on the positional options mooted-
torres seems better fit and bailly could go other way?
rb - seem to think the middlesborough lad could be looked at as well as the kid on loan at forest? Portugese lad an option nunez? /
phillips if leeds go down
sms = been looked at a good while, other 2 to go elsewhere
anthony possible eth links?
would like nunez but a lot depends on the market dealings of rm, city and the big euro clubs as strikers are high demand with limited options.
The above is obviously opinion only, but think we will get 5/ 6 in add couple younguns from reserves and shift about 8.
07 May 2022 09:08:19
I think the focus this summer will be the spine of the team, CB, CDM, ST. I also wouldn't rule out a keeper as the 4th signing.
While I think our wide areas could do with an upgrade, I doubt that will happen this summer.
At LB we have Shaw, Williams and Fernandez who could all be improved with good coaching.
At RB I think Dalot has potential if coached and developed. While Laird is young and full of potential. The other issue at RB might be that AWB will be difficult to move on due to his high cost and wages.
In the forward areas we have Rashford, Sancho, Amad, Elanga, Garnacho and Shoretire. We could definitely do with a first team ready player to push Rashford and Sancho as the drop off from them is large (especially in terms of experience at this level) .
That said EtH has an excellent pedigree in developing young players, maybe he can make a star out of one of Amad, Elanga, Garnacho or Shoretire.
07 May 2022 09:16:24
Ten Hag likes one of his fullbacks to be very aggressive in attack.
Lamptey would be ideal in this case for RB.
07 May 2022 12:14:43
I got torn a new one here for suggesting Lamptey was a RB….
07 May 2022 12:55:16
GK: after one training session, ETH will pick Henderson for a season, then upgrade next year.
LB: Shaw, Williams and Fernandez
CB: Varane, Lindelof, Maguire, Mengi and Timber
RB: AWB, Dalot, Timber
DM: Phillips/ Sangare, Timber
CM: Fred, McTominay, Garner, Levitt
AM: Bruno, Hannibal, dVdBeek
Forwards: Ronaldo, Rashford, Shoretire, Elanga, Garnacho, Sancho, (Nunez) McNeill.
07 May 2022 13:24:01
Lamptey looks good as a wingback with a three man defence behind him.
He looks a little suspect in a flat back four though.
Great going forward, poor in defence. Kind of the polar opposite to AWB.
I'm not sure Lamptey is the kind of full back who naturally fits into an EtH system. EtH has almost exclusively played with a back four, something that Lamptey has looked suspect in. While he also likes his full backs to be comfortable tucking in and playing as inverted fullbacks.
We have seen both Blind and Mazraoui both play as inverted fullbacks at different times in the same game for Ajax under EtH.
Again this is a role I don't think is suited to Lamptey at all. I can't see him tucking into a midfield pivot alongside a CDM while the other midfielder pushes forward.
He's a winger by trade, he likes to be high and wide, stretching play. And that's where he plays best in my opinion.
07 May 2022 13:53:37
GK - Ralph clearly said that this is the only position that doesn't need attention. Whether EtH agrees, and equally whether Dean Henderson agrees, remains to be seen. I imagine Hendo will be off and we'll get a new back-up.
FULLBACKS - Clearly we need younger, more energetic fullbacks. None of our present options instill confidence. Tyrell Malacia looks a good shout at LB.
CB - With Jones/ Bailley on their merry ways it looks like a more mobile upgrade is of importance. Timber is the name on everyone's lips, not sure if this is lazy reporting or if there's any truth in it. He seems a little gung-ho. Maybe Fofana or a player closer to home is an option.
MID - So many players linked and the oft fuzzy lines of defensive/ central/ attacking midfield are even murkier in terms of who is what and what is needed. I'd like to see a defensive-minded player and a more of a playmaker. Rice looks like he'll blow the budget so surely isn't a realistic option. De Jong won't be cheap either, as much as I'd love to see either happen neither seem viable given the sheer scale of what is required. I have no idea why the Lazio guy would come to us. Or arguably half these players.
WINGERS - Only Sancho and Elanga are tried and tested options. Rashford has lost it. Elanga has been a surprise without tearing it up. Antony is mentioned a lot but again if he wasn't at Ajax would he be being talking about? Not so sure.
STR - This is an important one. In only a few weeks our only striker could well be CR7, and even that's up for debate. Again, Rashy should be in this list but can't be counted on at present. Hopefully after a pre-season he'll be at least a good option. Nunez is getting a lot of traction, Ed002 has suggested we aren't in the running without CL. I think the best we can hope for is a younger player to alternative with Ronaldo next season but the names being banded about are all approaching £100m, maybe aiming a little high when 5-6 players are needed. Richarlison isn't my favourite player but it will be interesting to see what becomes of him in the coming weeks. Again he'd cost a bomb.
07 May 2022 14:29:37
Doesn't Timber prefer City? That's certainly what one of the Ed's had mentioned.
07 May 2022 15:11:36
I like Fofana, Spenno. Unlucky with that injury, but prior to that he looked a great prospect.
07 May 2022 15:42:53
What Ralf says about keepers and what EtH thinks might be very different things.
Ralf also said that in his vision of football you don't build out from the keeper and that you want your keeper to have as few touches with his feet as possible as keepers tend to be the weakest players on the pitch with the ball at their feet (that was before he managed Harry Maguire mind) .
EtH in that regard is almost polar opposite, he wants his keepers to come off their line and sweep up, he wants them to be a part of playing out from the back and involved in build up play.
It will be interesting to see what EtH does with the keepers at United.