14 Dec 2019 16:52:52
Marcel Bout met with Alfie Haaland about a move for his son. He couldn't give assurances about starting etc, so Ole went and met him (Haaland) on Friday morning to discuss a move to Utd.


1.) 14 Dec 2019
14 Dec 2019 17:34:38
Looks like we will wrap him up in the January window.


2.) 15 Dec 2019
15 Dec 2019 05:09:58
So are we offering him guarantees about starting?
Has ole told him he is in front of martial and greenwood?


3.) 15 Dec 2019
14 Dec 2019 22:48:45
If ole spoke directly with the player that’s tapping up I’m fairly sure?

{Ed002's Note - Clubs have permission to talk with him.}


4.) 15 Dec 2019
15 Dec 2019 10:19:18
Interesting, thanks Ed.


5.) 16 Dec 2019
16 Dec 2019 08:53:54
Great young player, with a bright future ahead of him. However, I'm not convinced he offers us anything more than what Greenwood will next season. He isn't a different type of striker to what we have.

For that reason I don't think a move to us is best for either the lad or us. Personally I think Borussia Dortmund is the right move for him, they only have Alcacer as a genuine striker option, who is a different kind of striker to Haaland. They also have experience in nurturing young talent into world stars, while the Bundesliga has a lot less attention world wide than the EPL. So he will be able to develop with less pressure and media glare.


6.) 16 Dec 2019
16 Dec 2019 10:36:19
Shappy how is Haaland not a different type of striker to what we have? For starters I’ve lost count of how many crosses we’ve put in the six yard box this year begging for a touch into the net and martial being nowhere near them. I think he’s obsessed with goals, and we don’t have a striker who has that obsession. I’d say greenwood, but he’s still developing and I think he will be an outstanding player in a year or two as will Haaland. We’ve seen so much of martial and whilst he can be amazing at times, I always question his desire to get on the end of things.

We badly need a goal scoring number 9- we don’t have that. Haaland appears to be exactly that.


7.) 16 Dec 2019
16 Dec 2019 10:54:14
What about the possibility of OGS adopting a 442 formation? Doubtful but it’s a possibility.


8.) 16 Dec 2019
16 Dec 2019 12:29:26
Caolan, he plays in a very similar way to our current striking options. He isn't a back to goal striker who can create for his team mates, nor is he the kind of striker who'll bully opposition defenders. He doesn't score many headers and in the UCL has only won 3 aerial duels in 6 games.

He is a striker who makes runs via the channels and finds pockets of space. However, that is only useful if you have players behind him who have the vision to make those passes.

He has played most of his football in very weak leagues and for teams in those leagues that tend to win the title and play creative football that gives their strikers lots of chances.

So the likelihood of his form for Salzburg translating to a team playing in a much stronger league and who creates far fewer chances is hugely unlikely.

He is very similar to Lukaku, tall and broad but doesn't use his size in the way he plays. Quick over short distances. Looks to make little runs between the lines or defenders.

He would probably score more goals than Martial is currently as he seems more clinical, but then that is hard to judge when Haaland is getting 4 or 5 good chances a game while Martial is getting 1 or 2.

I feel what we need is a striker who plays in a different way to our current options. Someone who can be a target man, play with their back to goal, hold off a defender and lay the ball off to an on rushing Rashford, James or Lingard to give them a 1v1 with the keeper. Someone who can do to opposition keepers what Calvert-Lewin did to DDG yesterday.

Someone who doesn't need space in behind to be successful as a striker. Which is what Martial, Greenwood and Rashford needs. And what Haaland needs.

Discountdave, 442 could be an interesting option, but I fear we don't have the wide players for it. James is our only true winger, while AWB isn't the kind of full back who will bomb forward on the overlap.

Rashford plays best in the inside left channel, if we play with two strikers then where does he play?


9.) 16 Dec 2019
16 Dec 2019 18:24:23
I think we need 2 good players in every position and a real alternative to Martial.

For £20m I’d sign him up.
Plus born in Leeds so Brexit proof.


10.) 17 Dec 2019
17 Dec 2019 10:18:22
Where is this £20 million price tag coming from?


11.) 17 Dec 2019
17 Dec 2019 10:38:26
Shappy I share your opinion that Greenwood can offer what Haaland does, and I'd also prefer a 1 or 2 year contract for an experienced twilight striker who won't necessarily block Greenwood's chances.
However as i read Caolan's post I couldn't help but have flashbacks of the numerous crosses into dangerous areas James has made this season without anyone connecting. Seems all our forwards (bar greenwood) want cut backs. If this kid is going to provide that then why not.
And DiscountDave has a good idea, 442. Esp for matches we anticipate a low block.


12.) 17 Dec 2019
17 Dec 2019 12:02:14
mbd, he has scored 2 headers in 24 goals. He isn't that kind of striker.

I wouldn't go 442 against teams that sit deep, we need to play players where the space is to control the game. I would prefer to see 4123 against teams that will sit deep. Have one holding midfielder to clear up any counters. With three forwards making runs from outside to inside, wing backs stretching play and two creative midfielders acting as the base to recycle possession two thirds of the way up the pitch pinning sides back.

Mumbles, supposedly Haaland has a buy out/ release clause set at around 20m. Not sure how true that is or whether the club can even make use of it.


13.) 18 Dec 2019
18 Dec 2019 09:28:25
I didn't specify, i meant low crosses, not meant for headers but those that flash across the keeper begging for a leg to make contact.