Daley Blind

[Hitch]

Dunno which ones need a LB, but some "other likely competition" could come from:

• Dortmund
• Atletico
• Benfica
• Valencia
• Schalke
• Juve
• Roma
• Napoli
• AC milan
• Inter
• Galatasaray

Cheers for the "wtf?" Clearly there are plenty of clubs of a stature to entice Blind or similar level players. My enquiry was at to which of those clubs are likely to be looking for a left back. Atletico for instance have just signed Siquera, Dortmund I would imagine are content with Schmelzer and Juve are probably happy with how Asamoah fits within their system. I may be wrong.

Just trying to work out the probable competition out there via process of elimination. Not just for Blind but for any-decent left backs. There are so few of them out there atm.

 

[DaSpurs]

Cheers for the "wtf?" Clearly there are plenty of clubs of a stature to entice Blind or similar level players. My enquiry was at to which of those clubs are likely to be looking for a left back. Atletico for instance have just signed Siquera, Dortmund I would imagine are content with Schmelzer and Juve are probably happy with how Asamoah fits within their system. I may be wrong.

Just trying to work out the probable competition out there via process of elimination. Not just for Blind but for any-decent left backs. There are so few of them out there atm.

It's interesting that the majority of posters who dish out "wtf's" are posters I can never recall seeing posts from, and that they're typically to posts such as yours that are more than simple and typical "one-liners." God forbid the use of a forum for the exchange of novel and well-reinforced thoughts.

I do this process of elimination as well, as it not only helps to identify realistic targets but prevents you from getting your hopes up in regard to players you simply don't have a decent chance with. For instance, all the players below in my "donation" pledge are players I think would improve us and that we would have a realistic chance with. So I've very much enjoyed following your thought process on Blind, and I hope you'll continue to do so.

And to any of you random "wtf'ers" and "spammers" out there who never post, and especially never post why you disagree with the posts you tag, lick my schnuts

 

[ShayLaB]

OK...I don't know that much about him except what I saw last night and heard in discussions after the match.

In Jimbo's Guardian World Cup daily podcast they had a Dutch journalist who mentioned that he is pretty slow and that was not an issue last night because of Spain's lack of pace on the wings.

Of course, he may be wrong but it might be interesting to compare his performance against a different style of attack.

 

[yankspurs]

OK...I don't know that much about him except what I saw last night and heard in discussions after the match.

In Jimbo's Guardian World Cup daily podcast they had a Dutch journalist who mentioned that he is pretty slow and that was not an issue last night because of Spain's lack of pace on the wings.

Of course, he may be wrong but it might be interesting to compare his performance against a different style of attack.

Spains lack of pace on the wings? What? So Silva, Pedro, Iniesta, Alba and Azpilicueta have a lack of pace? El Oh El.

 

[faulks]

We did say the same things about Brazil and Paulhino last summer when he was playing well at the Confederations Cup, we then spent 17 million or something and got him

 

[Blake Griffin]

Spains lack of pace on the wings? What? So Silva, Pedro, Iniesta, Alba and Azpilicueta have a lack of pace? El Oh El.

silva and iniesta have many qualities but pace isn't one of them and pedro came on when the dutch were all over them. alba and azpil are quick but there's only so much full backs can do.

 

[TH1239]

You'd think the success of Vertonghen, Suarez, and Eriksen would show people that if you are the best player at Ajax, you're likely to be a quality player in the Prem.

We clearly had a good relationship with Ajax in the past, so as long as Pochettino rates him, I suspect Baldini can get this deal across the finish line.

 

[SpurSince57]

At the time Osvaldo looked like an ambitious signing may not have worked out but my point was that they could attract him to the club. Not dismissing Liverpool just saying if they can attract two very good youngsters when they have had a few bad seasons, we should be able to when consistently challenging for Europe (wouldn't say they have more money then us with debts of over 100 mil).

As for Modric and Berbatov not being superstars I don't get that point. At the time they were both highly rated which is all blind would be, I was just alluding to the fact as you have with Eriksen and Vertonghen, that yes we should really be able to persuade blind to join the project

Yes, they could attract Osvaldo, but that was partly because of Pochettino's Espanyol and Argentine connection, partly because he's seriously damaged goods and quite a few clubs wouldn't have been prepared to take a chance.

We would not be able to attract a player of Modric's stature now. He wasn't quite 20 when we signed him, remember, a very promising kid who might not have made it (quite a few people said he was too lightweight). Berbatov, although older, wasn't considered true top class, otherwise United would have signed him in 2006 instead of waiting to see how he got on with us. He lasted two seasons, Modric four. I think we're at slightly cross purposes here, though in general agreement.

Debt has nothing to do with it. Liverpool's turnover is £60m up on ours, so they can spend £40m more on wages for the same percentage of turnover.

 

[SpurSince57]

One good game at the World Cup and he's Roberto Carlos. You'd think we might have learned our lesson with Didier 'Vieira' Zokora.

No, Comolli knew him from St. Etienne.

The story that came out just over a year later in the wake of Jol's sacking was that Carrick had asked for a pay rise, Levy had run it by Comolli, and Damo told him no, I can get you someone better for less money. Levy bought this, Jol was overruled, and you know the rest.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

No, Comolli knew him from St. Etienne.

The story that came out just over a year later in the wake of Jol's sacking was that Carrick had asked for a pay rise, Levy had run it by Comolli, and Damo told him no, I can get you someone better for less money. Levy bought this, Jol was overruled, and you know the rest.

Maybe Comolli thought that if Jol couldn't tell that Pedro Mendes was a better footballer than Michael Brown he probably wouldn't notice the difference between Carrick and Zokora.


Where did this story come from by the way ?

 

[DaSpurs]

Lol just couldn't resist could you @Spurrific?

 

[SpurSince57]

Maybe Comolli thought that if Jol couldn't tell that Pedro Mendes was a better footballer than Michael Brown he probably wouldn't notice the difference between Carrick and Zokora.


Where did this story come from by the way ?

It surfaced in the Indy or Guardian, I think. Is it true? Dunno. Given Damo's subsequent, um, patchy, record with us, back at St. Etienne and Liverpool it's perfectly plausible.

 

[Barry Mead]

You'd think the success of Vertonghen, Suarez, and Eriksen would show people that if you are the best player at Ajax, you're likely to be a quality player in the Prem.

We clearly had a good relationship with Ajax in the past, so as long as Pochettino rates him, I suspect Baldini can get this deal across the finish line.

Well there's a lot of players from Ajax that haven't stepped up. Alderwiereld hardly got a game last season at AM, our old player El Ham washed up at Ajax a few years ago after doing well at AZ and did OK at Ajax but he's hardly set the world alight since at Fiorentina and Malaga, Sulejmani isn't that regular a starter at Benfica, Anita hasn't exactly covered himself in glory at the Barcodes

That's not to say Blind couldn't step up and clearly some players from Ajax have gone on to great things but doing OK at Ajax doesn't really guarantee anything.
I know you said "best" player at Ajax, but I'm not really convinced that Blind falls into that category, he seems to be playing midfield more now and he did well when played at left back and he works in their midfield OK in the way they play, but though he's got more experience than younger players like Klaassen and Fischer they look more the best players there right now, granted playing differing roles.
He works well in a team who's strength relies far more on the team ethic than individuals so he could be a useful cog at left back in a balanced team but I think there are better left backs that are gettable and I'm not even sure if he sees left back as his ultimate position anyway

 

[Barry Mead]

It surfaced in the Indy or Guardian, I think. Is it true? Dunno. Given Damo's subsequent, um, patchy, record back at St. Etienne and Liverpool it's perfectly plausible.

Actually as far as I can remember a couple of the guys on COYS bumped into Comolli and Zokora when Comolli had just tied up the deal but before it was announced and Comolli said this to them.
I'll ask the question, but I'm pretty sure LJB or his dad spoke to Comolli who boasted that at the time. They certainly were there as they had photo's taken before the deal was announced

 

[SpurSince57]

Actually as far as I can remember a couple of the guys on COYS bumped into Comolli and Zokora when Comolli had just tied up the deal but before it was announced and Comolli said this to them.
I'll ask the question, but I'm pretty sure LJB or his dad spoke to Comolli who boasted that at the time. They certainly were there as they had photo's taken before the deal was announced

I remember the business at the World Cup and the famous photo, but the rest is a bit hazy. I'm sure it was repeated when all the negative stuff about Jol mysteriously found its way into the media.

 

[SpursTillIDie1882]

No chance now lvg at manure

 

[Hitch]

No chance now lvg at manure

So where will Shaw end up?

 

[ButchCassidy]

So where will Shaw end up?

Blind would play as a number six (similar to Lahm at Bayern now) which is where he spent most of his time this season and is his best position according to both Frank De Boer and LVG.

 

[Hitch]

Blind would play as a number six (similar to Lahm at Bayern now) which is where he spent most of his time this season and is his best position according to both Frank De Boer and LVG.

I'm fully aware that's where he plays for Ajax and that it's his best position (I did mention his versatility as adding to the appeal). However with all the options available for a club like United to buy do you really see them making Blind their anchor? Good left backs are hard to find, CM's not so much. After being linked with Strootman, Schweinsteiger, Kroos, Pogba, Vidal, Gundogan et al, it'd be seriously underwhelming for them to end up with Blind in midfield.

Afterall, if LVG really believed he was that good a cm he'd be playing him there for Holland. If he goes for him it will be as a left back, but I don't believe that will happen due to the imminent signing of Shaw.

 

[TEESSIDE1]

Blind would play as a number six (similar to Lahm at Bayern now) which is where he spent most of his time this season and is his best position according to both Frank De Boer and LVG.

Yep, and he prefers to play in central midfield as opposed to left back.

Although not a natural left back, Vrsaljko (22) was excellent for Croatia against Brazil. A natural right back who unlike Naughton, can also be a competent left back. Sell Naughton and Rose and replace them with Vrsaljko and the elusive 1st choice left back.