Max Aarons

[wrd]

One RB we were linked with in the past.

 

[sausage]

I think it's quite dangerous giving Mourinho free reign (we all saw how Pogba panned out) but I'd prefer there to be some transparency and accountability for who we sign, rather than both sides blaming the other when we miss our targets or buy rubbish.

I really don't think you can pin Pogba on Mourinho.

He was lusted after by United almost the moment after he left them and had his first good game for Juve. The link there isn't Mourinho, any more than it would be on Mourinho if we re-signed Bale.

 

[Cochise]

One RB we were linked with in the past.

Might've been a good shout as he can cover all across the back line. Still though, for the player himself it's a good move.

 

[joey55]

Extremely difficult to get those standard of players in though. The problem we have is that we need to take the odd punt on a player who we feel could become that player and hope they develop. Top level attacking players like Eriksen, Son and Kane don't come onto the market very often and generally come at a premium price, at least not when they are at their peak.

Eriksen and Son are two perfect examples of this, both clearly very talented but neither fully formed and at the height of their powers when we bought them but both came in and over time became incredibly important and influential players for us.

I get what you are saying, but I'm not talking about buying established top from the biggest clubs. I'm talking about buying the best talent available, if we get the chance, as opposed to buying "good" players to fill up the bench. Brooks is a good player, but no way is he the level of talent Eriksen was at Ajax.

I'd put the likes of Grealish and Fernandes in that group of top talents, that could possibly be/were available to the likes of us. Son and Eriksen's fee's might seem small now, but at the time, they weren't. Eriksen only had a year left on his deal, but for a few years was one of the most talked about young players in Europe. He was close to going to Dortmund before we got him. Son was, at the time, the third biggest transfer in our history. Modric was similar. He was a gamble from a lesser league, but he was no secret and was rated all over Europe. Bale we signed despite Utd trying to get him.

I'm just saying that to compete we need to buy players that could be elite level talent, who aren't yet playing for elite clubs, as opposed to good players, who are never going to be elite. Brooks is talented, but i doubt anyone on here thinks they are watching a Son, Eriksen or Bale level talent.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

I get what you are saying, but I'm not talking about buying established top from the biggest clubs. I'm talking about buying the best talent available, if we get the chance, as opposed to buying "good" players to fill up the bench. Brooks is a good player, but no way is he the level of talent Eriksen was at Ajax.

I'd put the likes of Grealish and Fernandes in that group of top talents, that could possibly be/were available to the likes of us. Son and Eriksen's fee's might seem small now, but at the time, they weren't. Eriksen only had a year left on his deal, but for a few years was one of the most talked about young players in Europe. He was close to going to Dortmund before we got him. Son was, at the time, the third biggest transfer in our history. Modric was similar. He was a gamble from a lesser league, but he was no secret and was rated all over Europe. Bale we signed despite Utd trying to get him.

I'm just saying that to compete we need to buy players that could be elite level talent, who aren't yet playing for elite clubs, as opposed to good players, who are never going to be elite. Brooks is talented, but i doubt anyone on here thinks they are watching a Son, Eriksen or Bale level talent.

I think we need both. Liverpool’s title has been built not just on Salah and Fabinho and Original, but also on Shaqiri, Orogi and Milner.

 

[Japhet]

I really don't think you can pin Pogba on Mourinho.

He was lusted after by United almost the moment after he left them and had his first good game for Juve. The link there isn't Mourinho, any more than it would be on Mourinho if we re-signed Bale.

I was really talking about the way Mourinho sidelined Pogba who cost Utd pushing 90m. Seemed like a clash of 2 giant egos to me but once Mourinho had gone Pogba got on with it and got back on the pitch.

 

[HildoSpur]

I was really talking about the way Mourinho sidelined Pogba who cost Utd pushing 90m. Seemed like a clash of 2 giant egos to me but once Mourinho had gone Pogba got on with it and got back on the pitch.

Pogba has been rubbish for Ole too. He is a total pony.

 

[joey55]

I think we need both. Liverpool’s title has been built not just on Salah and Fabinho and Original, but also on Shaqiri, Orogi and Milner.

Only you and Shaqiri's mum could possibly think that is true!

But, being serious, I get what you are saying. I just think we've already got enough "squad fill." I think we are missing some genuine top class talent to take us to another level. If we sign another attacking player, for example, I want him to be among the most creative players around. I don't want another guy who is going to average between 0.5 and 1.5 chance creations per game, as players like Lamela can already do that.

 

[sausage]

I was really talking about the way Mourinho sidelined Pogba who cost Utd pushing 90m. Seemed like a clash of 2 giant egos to me but once Mourinho had gone Pogba got on with it and got back on the pitch.

Not fully understanding the 'free reign' context then.

I think the issue at United is that he wasn't really backed at all in the proper terms. They just went out and did a Baldini-to-AVB "You need a defender? My mate's got just the thing in mind", and ended up with the players who the manager just couldn't suit to his side. United have done that a lot under the Glazers, and I think they have the American sport mindset of 'Sign the superstars' which really has no effective means in this sport/league. He probably would have won the league there if they bought his preferred targets (like Toby), but they seemed to want a more long-term/resale type of player without any of the excuses we've needed (stadium, project, skint etc)

 

[emiley heskey]

I think we need both. Liverpool’s title has been built not just on Salah and Fabinho and Original, but also on Shaqiri, Orogi and Milner.

We already have Lamela, Moura, Dele, Bergwjin for squad depth. We need a genuine attacking player who is at his prime and on the same level as son and kane ...

In our team, at this moment everyone would argue lloris, toby, davies, lo celso, kane and son - only these six players are established at their positions ... Whereas aurier , winks and sissoko still playing at their role because there is no alternative in the squad ... We can argue next season hopefully ndombele can replace sissoko and hojberg can in for winks ... So all we need is another right back and another attacking winger/midfielder unless dele or bergwjin decides to have a world class season next season which is unlikely ...

Players like aurier, sissoko, winks, lamela, moura, dele(in this form), bergwjin(still potential) are good as squad player .. but not first team option

 

[C0YS]

Only you and Shaqiri's mum could possibly think that is true!

But, being serious, I get what you are saying. I just think we've already got enough "squad fill." I think we are missing some genuine top class talent to take us to another level. If we sign another attacking player, for example, I want him to be among the most creative players around. I don't want another guy who is going to average between 0.5 and 1.5 chance creations per game, as players like Lamela can already do that.

I don't, personally. We seriously lack balance. We need a forward focused midfielder who can switch the play quickly, we need at least one DM and at least two fullbacks and another CF option. None of these need to be starting every game, but we do need some options.

An elite top level player in one of these positions would be ace. But for me the number 1 priority is balancing the team out.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

We already have Lamela, Moura, Dele, Bergwjin for squad depth. We need a genuine attacking player who is at his prime and on the same level as son and kane ...

In our team, at this moment everyone would argue lloris, toby, davies, lo celso, kane and son - only these six players are established at their positions ... Whereas aurier , winks and sissoko still playing at their role because there is no alternative in the squad ... We can argue next season hopefully ndombele can replace sissoko and hojberg can in for winks ... So all we need is another right back and another attacking winger/midfielder unless dele or bergwjin decides to have a world class season next season which is unlikely ...

Players like aurier, sissoko, winks, lamela, moura, dele(in this form), bergwjin(still potential) are good as squad player .. but not first team option

So spot on.

 

[emiley heskey]

Lamela, dele, moura - I think these three players are most expandable in our team at this moment. I can't see Mourinho selling Dele because he is homegrown. Both Moura and Lamela are really listening to Mourinho's tactics .. But what sets apart Moura from Lamela is his fitness, speedy and goalscoring ability at times are better. So, That's why I think if opportunity comes Jose will sell Lamela and stick with Moura. An attacking midfielder/winger hybrid type who has got pace and speed of thought to move the ball fast will be in jose's list to replace Lamela.

Jose will not sell Sissoko even if we buy A DM. Only way Jose will sell Sissoko is when he is 100% sure Ndombele can give what he demands. Otherwise all midfield players along with DM will remain there.

And I think we will not buy aarons at the end

 

[joey55]

Pogba has been rubbish for Ole too. He is a total pony.

I can't disagree with this more. Strangely, when he was at Juve and everyone was raving about him, I wasn't totally on board. But since he's been in the Prem and I've got to see more of him, I've become a total convert. Even when he was getting heavily criticized for his performances I never agreed with and thought he looked great. I think he's absolutely brilliant.

 

[HildoSpur]

I can't disagree with this more. Strangely, when he was at Juve and everyone was raving about him, I wasn't totally on board. But since he's been in the Prem and I've got to see more of him, I've become a total convert. Even when he was getting heavily criticized for his performances I never agreed with and thought he looked great. I think he's absolutely brilliant.

Fair enough - it's clear that I'm in the minority but I think he is the ultimate youtube player - you get about 1 or 2 moments in a game when he looks amazing but outside of that he is a liability. He is clearly extremely talented but I think he has totally failed to make an impact at Utd.

 

[Timberwolf]

I don't, personally. We seriously lack balance. We need a forward focused midfielder who can switch the play quickly, we need at least one DM and at least two fullbacks and another CF option. None of these need to be starting every game, but we do need some options.

An elite top level player in one of these positions would be ace. But for me the number 1 priority is balancing the team out.

This is actually an area of our game that I think is really lacking compared to a lot of sides. Even the mid table/bottom half teams tend to have a couple of players, whether its midfielders or full backs, who are comfortable switching the play and making accurate long passes.

Sissoko and Winks both do them very occasionally, but it feels like about 95% of their passes are short/mid length, while neither Aurier or Davies excel. Toby is good, but his tend to be long, diagonal raking passes from deep, and feel more an offensive weapon rather than simply 'switching the play' when in possesion. Dier and Sanchez, meanwhile, are both very inconsistent passers from range. Even Lo Celso, for all his ability, isn't the most accurate long passer - certainly nowhere near Eriksen's level in a similar position (although he's a far stronger dribbler and offers much more in other areas of his game).

Teams like Sheffield United, Southampton and Brighton all have more specialists with even middling players like Romeu seeming far more comfortable at long passing than our CMs, while teams like Wolves are absolutely streets ahead with Neves and Moutinho pinging around accurate long balls like it's nothing.

Definitely a weakness of ours IMO.

 

[joey55]

This is actually an area of our game that I think is really lacking compared to a lot of sides. Even the mid table/bottom half teams tend to have a couple of players, whether its midfielders or full backs, who are comfortable switching the play and making accurate long passes.

Sissoko and Winks both do them very occasionally, but it feels like about 95% of their passes are short/mid length, while neither Aurier or Davies excel. Toby is good, but his tend to be long, diagonal raking passes from deep, and feel more an offensive weapon rather than simply 'switching the play' when in possesion. Dier and Sanchez, meanwhile, are both very inconsistent passers from range. Even Lo Celso, for all his skills, isn't the most accurate long passer - cerainly nowhere near Eriksen's level at least (although he's a far stronger dribbler and offers much more in other areas of his game).

Teams like Sheffield United, Southampton and Brighton all have more specialists with even middling players like Romeu seem far more comfortable at long passing than our CMs, while teams like Wolves are absolutely streets ahead with Neves and Moutinho pinging around accurate long balls like it's nothing.

Definitely a weakness of ours IMO.

What about Manuel Locatelli? He's good defensively but plays some really good forward passes. I haven't see too much of him, but from what I have, he seems like the kind of player we need.

 

[Stamford]

I can't disagree with this more. Strangely, when he was at Juve and everyone was raving about him, I wasn't totally on board. But since he's been in the Prem and I've got to see more of him, I've become a total convert. Even when he was getting heavily criticized for his performances I never agreed with and thought he looked great. I think he's absolutely brilliant.

Agree. There is an agenda against him, same agenda against Sterling. Alli also. Wonder what the connection is hmmm

 

[sausage]

Agree. There is an agenda against him, same agenda against Sterling. Alli also. Wonder what the connection is hmmm

If you're implying that Pogba is being targeted "because he's black", then that's ridiculous and undermines the abuse Sterling gets from the media.

Dele and Pogba get criticised because they have high-profile off-field activities that are either occasionally inappropriate, or can be seen to coincide with poor form. Pogba especially is constantly in the news for acting like he's bigger than basically the biggest club in the world, despite having basically Lamela form the whole time.
Wayne Rooney got the same amount of grief, if not more, his whole United career. It's what happens when you pay for a club like United and don't perceivably act professionally.

Compare him to Rashford or any other BAME player who doesn't also act like a bit of a nob outside of football.


It's like when people (like Sol) say "Poor Sol, it's because he's BAME". No, sometimes it's absolutely a case of personality and not ethnicity.

 

[HildoSpur]

Agree. There is an agenda against him, same agenda against Sterling. Alli also. Wonder what the connection is hmmm

Sorry, are you trying to suggest im racist because i don't think Pogba is all that? Can you clarify please.