12 Aug 2022 17:49:14
Really can't understand trying to sign Rabiot he's always had issues every where he played. Hope Ten Hag has agreed to this and it's not another case of here's a player to fill the gaps you identified. Still hope to get FDJ, if there really was no hope you'd expect us to be looking else where bye now!
12 Aug 2022 21:05:16
I mean it could be that the club that has been incompetent in transfer dealings for a decade is still completely incompetent and are chasing a player who has clearly stated he has no interest in joining a club.
Or it could be that the new manager is so distrustful of the club’s scouting department that he has ignored all their advice and only pursued players he already knows.
It also could be that the club is starting to realise that their primary target is unlikely to sign and are scrambling to bring in player including a disruptive player on massive wages that no other, purportedly, top level side would touch.
But that’s just negative, it will only be a matter of time before De Jong signs and we bring in Anthony. I highly doubt the club has learned nothing from the last decade and hired an internal DoF to continue their mistakes unchecked.
13 Aug 2022 06:50:23
Aside from his agent/ mother being difficult to deal with, I haven’t heard too much about Rabiot being a particularly problematic player. Iirc, he was only frozen out at PSG after making it clear that he wouldn’t be signing a new contract due to them not playing him enough. To that end, I don’t see how anybody could fault a promising young player for looking to move clubs in order to get more game time.
13 Aug 2022 07:23:17
From everything I've heard/ read Rabiot himself isn't a disruptive influence. He trains hard and is a good member of the group.
The only discrepancy I can find is going on a night out in Paris after PSG were knocked out of the UCL by United. It bit daft maybe, but something a young person would do without thinking of the repercussions in the media.
Other than that all of the issues around Rabiot stem from his mum. From her having public fallouts with managers, coaches and even family members of his teammates. She's an overbearing mother living her life through her son unable to let go and allow him to live his own life.
The real issue with Rabiot though is whether he is good enough. A 27 year old player who has never been short of talent but has never excelled at anything in particular. He's good at most things without being great at anything, which doesn't line up with the talent he has.
He's better than both Fred and McTominay, more press resistant, better technical ability, more tactically intelligent.
But he's not really a player who should be starting for a team challenging for the title. However, maybe we need to accept that is where we are.
We want the best players and think we should only be signing the best players. Yet the best players will only sign for UCL teams that regularly challenge for their domestic league title. That isn't us and it might not be us for a couple of season's.
In a short career why would you risk going to a team that has been in the footballing wilderness for a decade?
Yeah they might be on there way back, but that might take a couple of years with no guarantees that they will make it back.
Why not wait a year and see how they do under a new manager. See whether this is a new dawn or another false one before signing a 5 year contract with them.
Surely people can understand that logic.
Liverpool didn't get where they are now by signing established top class players. They bought sensibly, players that would improve them, ideally with potential to become much better players.
To that end does Rabiot improve on McFred? Yes he does.
Does he have potential to be better than he has been? Yeah I think he does. He certainly has more talent than he typically shows, it's just that no coach has been able to consistently get it out of him.
He isn't the player I'd choose, but if he's the one EtH wants then let's wait and see. We can't really complain that previous managers didn't get the players they want then complain when the current manager gets a player he wants just because it isn't a player we rate.
13 Aug 2022 08:37:03
I don't particularly give a damn about the issues. He's an upgrade on Mcfred and that is all I want to see.
13 Aug 2022 08:41:20
Shappy, I have no experience of watching him play but he sounds like another Herrera. Is that right or is he a different kind of player?
13 Aug 2022 09:10:58
Mancman
He is better than herrera in terms of size, ability on the ball and passing. In footballing terms he is an excellent midfielder. I can’t comment on him as a person.
13 Aug 2022 09:17:51
MancMan, Rabiot and Herrera are fairly similar players. Both play best as a 6 or an 8, both are good at most things without excelling at anything in particular, good technique, good physical attributes. Herrera was more antagonistic in how he played, winding up the opposition, Rabiot's not really like that.
I'd say he's a good starter for any team between 10th and 4th, but would be a solid squad player for any team between 3rd and 1st.
He was first choice for Juventus last season and they finished 4th, they are aiming higher this season so are happy to sell him as he would prefer to be first choice than a back up.
My only concerns about him are his mother can cause unwanted attention and at a club like ours the media will be chasing her for a quote all the time. While his wages would be too high. He want's the same as he's on now, but his current wage is inflated as he signed for Juventus as a free agent. Signing him means he will be at the club for the entire length of his contract as no one else will buy him from us. Which means if it doesn't work out we will be stuck with him for 4 to 5 years. If the club are determined to sign him I like the idea of a 3 year deal with an optional 4th year.
Personally I'd prefer to go for someone like Konrad Laimer or Manu Kone, players who'd cost a similar amount to buy, are just as good currently with potential to be better, but be on much lower wages and are slightly younger so if they don't work out you can easily move them on.
If you're going to sign a 27 year old on high wages, on a long term deal, then it can't be a gamble but a player who is going to be a part of the long term future of the first 11.
13 Aug 2022 09:22:05
Will his mum let him out to play if its raining?
13 Aug 2022 10:07:04
Bfbw, I suppose she does, he did come through the City academy, unless it doesn't rain on the east side of Manchester?
13 Aug 2022 11:04:39
We need to let go of this mentality of buying only the best players. We are so far off that right now, at least a couple of rungs down. With astute signings of that ilk alongside promising youth either from outside or within our academy we will get there again. But right now Rabiot is far better than what we have. I still think we need another mid though.
13 Aug 2022 11:35:51
Players like Rabiot are the level we’re at currently. We’re a Europa league team at present, not CL elite. It hurts to say that out loud but it’s the reality. Shrewd signings, the odd academy player stepping up and a decent coach is the only way we’re getting back to the top.
13 Aug 2022 12:49:37
2toms rabiot in footballing terms is no slouch. He was a starter at psg along with the little italian guy whose name escapes me, great little player. If his wages are not crazy he might turn out to be a great buy for what we are paying for him. Atm anyone with some ability gets priced at crazy numbers.
Hopefully we get a savic and few more in. Would not surprise me to see 3/ 4 more coming in unless the manager decides what's available is not worth the buy sticks to current squad.
13 Aug 2022 21:31:35
Verratti you mean?, if so yes a fabulous player, of course it's easy at PSG due to the sheer hard work that Neymar Messi and Mbappe get through.