26 Aug 2023 21:30:51
Reguilon or cucurella. any takers? Apparently we are looking at both on loan for lb cover. Shaws injury must be bad.

1.) 26 Aug 2023
26 Aug 2023 22:14:18
Cucurella is a fine payer. Delighted if that’s the case.

2.) 26 Aug 2023
26 Aug 2023 22:25:23
Surely it makes more sense to test Fernandes than to sign someone on loan?

3.) 26 Aug 2023
26 Aug 2023 22:35:53
Neither. Both are absolutely awful.

4.) 26 Aug 2023
26 Aug 2023 23:19:07
Cucurella and Lukaku on loan paying full wages.

That combined with Mount for 60m, we can be Chelseas biggest helpers this summer.

5.) 26 Aug 2023
26 Aug 2023 23:39:40
Im not fussed on either but I can see why we are looking. Shaws going to be out months, Dalot is our alternate rb with awb so we need another option on the left. Whoever we sign will alternate with Fernandez/ malacia which is fair enough.

6.) 27 Aug 2023
27 Aug 2023 00:30:02
We should be targeting a CB who can cover LB. Or playing Martinez LB and bringing in a CB on loan/ permanent. Why not be more pragmatic?

7.) 27 Aug 2023
27 Aug 2023 01:11:08
Cucurella all day long, a good player.

8.) 27 Aug 2023
27 Aug 2023 07:25:39
Definitely Cucurella. You don’t go from being Brighton’s player of the season and earning a £50m+ move to being awful in 18 months. Sometimes moves to certain clubs just don’t work out. He’d do us a good job.

Reguilon, just no. He’s proven incapable of adapting to the PL.

My only question is why it is necessary at all. Unless one of Shaw or Malacia’s injuries are going to keep them out until after Christmas…?

Either way, Fernandez needs another loan. Would like to see him go to a Bournemouth, Luton, Sheffield United etc.

9.) 27 Aug 2023
27 Aug 2023 07:37:08
There were rumours of a loan to Burnley, I think that would be a good move for him.

10.) 27 Aug 2023
27 Aug 2023 08:09:55
Got the feeling this week is going to busy, despite what sky sports waffle about. last day panic ?.

11.) 27 Aug 2023
27 Aug 2023 08:12:05
This seems to suggest that both Shaw and Malacia are likely to both be out for an extended period of time.

The club have not put out an expected return date for either player which along with them looking at bringing someone in suggests we definitely won't be seeing either Shaw or Malacia back until some time in 2024.

If that's the case we absolutely have to sign someone as it would only leave AWB, Dalot and the untested Alvaro Fernandez to cover BOTH full back positions.

Personally I'd be very happy with Cucurella who is an excellent player and criminally under utilised at Chelsea.

12.) 27 Aug 2023
27 Aug 2023 08:20:43
I'd rather see alvaro play and if we need a backup it can be jurado.
Lindelof, Martinez, Evans, Maguire, Dalot, Awb, Alvaro and Jurado is enough cover assuming varane, shaw and malacia are out.
If there's a situation where bailly has still not found a new club, he can atleast be named in the 25 man squad.

13.) 27 Aug 2023
27 Aug 2023 08:23:53
I don’t see the logic Sydney.

So we take Martinez out of CB, play him as makeshift LB just because he is left footed, and so effectively weaken ourselves in two positions?

14.) 27 Aug 2023
27 Aug 2023 08:25:54
Cucurella wouldn’t be a bad option but more concerning is how serious Luke Shaw’s injury is if we’re looking at left backs.

Reguilon, just no. Unless Gary Neville is right and we really are the new spurs.

15.) 27 Aug 2023
27 Aug 2023 09:45:29
Shappy,

ETH said Malacia is a few weeks away, that doesn’t take us to 2024. Fernandez isn’t good enough, Jurado really really isn’t ready, a player on loan would make a lot of sense.

16.) 27 Aug 2023
27 Aug 2023 10:08:48
Eric, you don't see the logic in playing someone who was a Left back for most of his playing career at left back and continuing to bring in the much needed CB that we also need desperately?

Unless Cucurella is seen as a left back with Malacia and EtH sees Shaw as the CB we need. I very much doubt that though. Unless Cucurella is a replacement for Malacia, not Shaw. He would replace Shaw in the short term, but Malacia longterm. Very possible.

We need a CB, that's clear. We need someone to rotate with Varane otherwise we will have to play Maguire and we know what happens when Maguire plays. He costs us games. So we must sort that problem first.

Or simultaneously by buying a player who can play both CB and LB. Bit like Pavard who could do CB and RB. But someone who can play the other side. Martinez for example. Someone else like him. They are around.

Picture this, we buy a LB instead in a panic buy. Shaw returns, cucurella is on the bench. Varane goes injured. Maguire comes in. How are we any better off? If we buy both then great. But I don't see it. It'll be one or the other.

Stick to the plan and bring in a good CB. Martinez can fill in at LB, Fernandez can play there, Dalot can play there. If we don't bring in a CB we will regret it. It'll be a disaster. Both would of course be perfect, but won't happen.

{Ed001's Note - Cucurella played centre-back at Brighton fairly regularly.}

17.) 27 Aug 2023
27 Aug 2023 11:20:24
Interesting Ed001 ?

So perhaps there is more thought behind just replacing Shaw/ Malacia.

Loan could be quite prudent then if this is what they are thinking. Thanks ?.

{Ed001's Note - welcome.}

18.) 27 Aug 2023
27 Aug 2023 12:02:20
Cucurella would be a brilliant signing given that he can play both LB/ CB. I'm sure many will feel it will be picking up a player not really on the radar in terms of signing a new CB. The need to sign a LB hasn't come up previously as it's a pretty unique situation.
He was fantastic at Brighton and I think it's fair to say hasn't shown a glimpse of it at Chelsea.
Biggest question I suppose is whether he is actually available, and whether Chelsea would be happy to let him go on loan to a club who are top 4 rivals. Any thoughts on that Ed?

{Ed001's Note - Chelsea have to offload some to cover their spending.}

19.) 27 Aug 2023
27 Aug 2023 12:47:45
Syd, respectfully you are talking out your rear end when you try to suggest that Martinez has played most or even a significant proportion of his career at LB.

That is just utter bolloxs.

If the 227 senior appearances he has made across his time in Argentina, the Netherlands and England he has played at LB 12 times. That's 5 times in Argentina and 7 in Amsterdam for Ajax.

He's made 3 appearances at RB, 22 in midfield and 185 at CB.

It would be utter nonsense to suggest playing him at LB and weaken the heart of our defence based on the fact that he has played at LB on 12 occasions.

Especially with Varane possibly being injured for a period of time after coming off yesterday.

If Shaw will be out for a long time, and with Malacia out as well we will need a special-ist LB.

We could throw Alvaro Fernandez in, but to be honest that's a massive risk as we have no one to step in for him if he needs taking out of the spot light.

Maybe if the team was playing well and the pressure on performances wasn't as intense then maybe you could give him a run out. But if he has a bad game with the current state around the club he'll be annihilated by the media and on social media.

He looks a great young player, but in truth he needs another loan and to play regularly at a higher level. Or at least in a team where there is more pressure and expectation to win and challenge for honours. Get him used to playing with that pressure.

I like the look of Cucurella, especially on loan. EPL proven player with huge quality and well suited to a technical ball dominant style of play. He can cover at CB if push comes to shove (although I'm fairly sure all or at least most of his CB appearances have come in a back 3). He'd be a very good signing to come in as cover with little drop off in quality if at all. Even better if we can get him on loan and avoid having to spend what little remains of our budget on a player required for cover.

{Ed077's Note - with Shaw and Malacia out injured, if we aren't going to give Alvaro Fernandez a look in, a try then we should sell him. It's going to mean he has no future at the club. And maybe we should also take a hard look at our academy if there are no better solutions than a out of contract, past it Ryan Bertrand for half a dozen games. Because realistically Dalot is going to get a lot of minutes covering there..

20.) 27 Aug 2023
27 Aug 2023 13:16:10
Cucurella all day - not even a contest.

21.) 27 Aug 2023
27 Aug 2023 13:43:49
Cucerella and lukaku good shout, i'd take lukaku back.

22.) 27 Aug 2023
27 Aug 2023 14:51:53
cucerella would be a really good loan imo. i am sure if the manager thought fernandez is ready he would get a chance. they see him everyday in training.

23.) 27 Aug 2023
27 Aug 2023 16:21:53
Martinez already skirts with danger as a CB. As a full back, I could see him picking up a few reds. Plus, he's not creative enough going forward.

24.) 27 Aug 2023
27 Aug 2023 17:45:00
Shappy, his senior appearances he has been predominantly a CB, secondary LB. Agreed. But he didn't start playing football at 19.

I've listened to his interviews. Unless he meant left side of a 3 or even left CB, he said he has played LB mostly. And it wouldn't surprise me given his height.

Many coaches would have played him there as they knew height would likely be an issue for him. That being said, the clip I seen of him as youngster he was playing central, not left.

I do agree that he would be missed in CB, but if it's just a couple games then I'd prefer that than wasting a transfer. We will see, but it may be Malacia who misses out or is sold.

Maybe we are focusing on Shaw and it's Malacia that needs to be upgraded? ?.

25.) 28 Aug 2023
28 Aug 2023 13:11:35
Syd, Rio played most of his youth career as a striker or midfielder. Youth football is very different to men's football. Rooney used to like playing in goal.

I don't think it makes much sense to play a player in a position that they have only ever played 12 times in senior football, and in much weaker leagues at a much lower standard than the EPL, based on the fact that they played that position as a young child 10 years ago.

More to the point we need him at CB. It makes much more sense to play Dalot as a LB as a short term solution, but if we are to be without Shaw and Malacia for an extended period of time then we will need to look for a replacement. Cucurella on loan would be an excellent one.

26.) 28 Aug 2023
28 Aug 2023 13:50:04
Was Rooney a goalkeeper at 16? Was Ferdinand a striker at 16? I doubt Martinez was referring to when he was 5. Point is Martinez can play LB, he is comfortable playing there as he has played there a lot. For a few games that would have been fine for me. Not longterm as he is too important in the middle and he would lack the attacking skills.

But with Shaw probably out for longer than is being reported, perhaps a loan move is not a bad shout, but if we have no interest in signing a CB this summer anymore, then I think the LB needs to also be a CB. Two birds, one stone. Cucurella is quite short for a CB, but then that's fine against certain opponents.

I just think we should have been looking for a CB as a priority with Varane being Varane. If it comes down to one or the other, I'd opt for a CB. But a CB who can play LB also would be a more pragmatic approach. We will see. But we cannot be relying on Maguire. It'll cost us significantly, as it did last season.

27.) 28 Aug 2023
28 Aug 2023 14:48:05
So I checked he played once as a lb for ajax. He is also our best cb arguably.
He is not a lb He is a cb. That's where he will play unless it's on some computer game.

28.) 28 Aug 2023
28 Aug 2023 17:53:29
Of course they went and bought Zinchenko after missing out on Martinez.

29.) 28 Aug 2023
28 Aug 2023 18:50:02
Arteta wanted Martinez for Left-back.

30.) 28 Aug 2023
28 Aug 2023 19:13:00
Arteta bought Havertz as a striker, !

31.) 28 Aug 2023
28 Aug 2023 19:43:27
I'm pretty sure he signed Havertz for midfield.

32.) 28 Aug 2023
28 Aug 2023 21:27:01
Syd, what are you on about? I'd love to know about this mind reading ability you have to know what Arteta's thoughts and plans were for players he failed to sign or the ones that he has this summer.

You say Martinez can play LB comfortably in the EPL because he played it a few times at academy level in Argentina a decade ago.

What are you on? He didn't play LB ahead of an old, pacemaker fitted, Daley Blind in the Eredivisie for Ajax. That's the confidence EtH has in him to play at LB in a much weaker competition than the EPL.

You literally wouldn't have suggested Martinez to play at LB if he was right footed. That is the true basis of your argument.

While like many posters have pointed out, even if Martinez had played LB regularly at senior level, it still wouldn't make sense to move our best CB to full back as that would further weaken our defence.

If we line up with AWB, Varane, Martinez and Dalot we have one defensive position weakened, with Dalot at LB.

If we line up with AWB, Varane, Lindelof and Martinez we now have not only a weakness at LB but at LCB as well.

Finally if you want any further proof that Martinez shouldn't be deployed at LB it is this. EtH who has managed Martinez for four years, at least three years longer than any other defender on United's books. He decided to play him at CB and draft Dalot over to LB and then look at possible loan signings to come in at LB. Are you suggesting you know better than the man who has managed, coached and developed that player over the past 4 years?

There is simply no realm, real or imagined, where your suggestion even has the briefest utterance of logic passing through it, even if spoken with authority by Morgan Freeman.

You've literally just came up with complete bobbins and have then continued to dig your hole deeper and deeper by trying to argue a lost cause.

33.) 28 Aug 2023
28 Aug 2023 22:35:06
It's a known fact that Arteta wanted Martinez for Left-back, Zinchenko was bought when Martinez chose United. Zinchenko is a Left-back.

It is also a known fact that Martinez secondary position is Left-back. You can find that pretty much anywhere on the internet.

34.) 29 Aug 2023
29 Aug 2023 08:43:37
If it's on the Internet it must be true.

35.) 29 Aug 2023
29 Aug 2023 09:07:57
Lisandro Martinez plan article

Interesting.

But agree he must stay in CB. I was only thinking short term.

36.) 29 Aug 2023
29 Aug 2023 13:38:33
Syd, an article that merely says "reportedly" but gives absolutely no insight in to how or where this information has come from is just click bait.

You have put 2 and 2 together can come up with 5.

Arsenal supposedly wanted Martinez (although they reportedly never bid) didn't sign him but did sign Zinchecko who went on to play at LB for Arsenal ergo Martinez must have been a target for LB.

That ignores the fact that Martinez has only played 5% of his senior minutes at LB. For the record he's played 10% at CDM with the remaining 85% at CB. As opposed to Zinchenko he has played the majority of his senior career at LB.

It also ignores the fact that Arsenal signed Gabriel Jesus, so following your logic then maybe Arteta was thinking of playing Martinez as a CF?

Arsenal also brought back Saliba after not signing Martinez (reportedly they changed their mind about selling or loaning him out again after Martinez signed for United) . They also signed Kiwior another CB.

So after Arsenal missed out on signing Martinez Arsenal brought two other CB's into their side.

Finally, Arsenal signed Zinchenko over a week before United signed Martinez. The pursuit for Zinchenko was also over a couple of weeks. Meaning Arsenal started chasing Zinchenko while still reportedly considering and "in the race" for Martinez. So he was not a reactionary signing made due to missing out on Martinez, as they started the pursuit of the Ukrainian 3 weeks before United signed Martinez.

You've made a silly suggestion and your repeated attempts to try and justify it are even dafter than your original statement.

37.) 29 Aug 2023
29 Aug 2023 14:16:03
I posted this yesterday afternoon. I guess it needed checking first before being posted because there was a link attached to it. I didn't post this afterwards as proof. An article can never be proof unless there are direct quotes attached.

Arteta wanted Martinez for LB, that's pretty clear as he signed Zinchenko after missing out on Martinez. I remember it very clearly at the time. It was common knowledge at the time. There are several article to back that up.

Ornstein reported it I believe and he has direct links to Arsenal. Anything reported via the Athletic regarding Arsenal can be taken seriously. Not gospel, nothing is. But at the time it clearly said Arteta seen Martinez as a LB.

After missing out on Martinez he bought Zinchenko. The Athletic also states this too, two weeks later.

"Arsenal working on deal to sign Oleksandr Zinchenko from Man City after missing out on Lisandro Martinez"

Whether you think this is all rubbish is irrelevant. It remains true that this was being reported. It is also true that Martinez played as a left-back for EtH 6 times out of 26 games in 2020/ 21 season. Why? Because he can play there.

Which was my initial feeling. Why not play Martinez at LB and bring on Lindelof, for a few games. Obviously this was before we knew Shaw was out for longer than anticipated. We cannot use Martinez at LB for weeks, that's crazy. A game here and there yes, but not until November, not with the CB's we have.

Do I believe Arteta wanted Martinez for LB, absolutely. Also cover for CB and midfield.

Do I think he would do a good job at LB, yes, but I think he would lack attacking strengths and I think he would be booked regularly.

Do I think EtH will play him there? Maybe if it was one or two games, but not weeks.

38.) 29 Aug 2023
29 Aug 2023 14:26:19
"Finally, Arsenal signed Zinchenko over a week before United signed Martinez. The pursuit for Zinchenko was also over a couple of weeks. Meaning Arsenal started chasing Zinchenko while still reportedly considering and "in the race" for Martinez. So he was not a reactionary signing made due to missing out on Martinez, as they started the pursuit of the Ukrainian 3 weeks before United signed Martinez. "

This is quite funny, almost childlike. You have been on this site for more than a decade and know via the editors that clubs have a list of targets for each position. They also have targets in order of preference.

Martinez was Arsenal's first choice. Zinchenko was their 2nd choice. Contact is made with several agents and clubs throughout. Just like United would have contacted several Left-backs' clubs and agents. IE Cucurella, Reguilon, Alonso etc.

Unless we are not interested in signing a Left-back at all? And these are all just "clickbait" and "reports".

39.) 29 Aug 2023
29 Aug 2023 16:44:59
Ornstein has just claimed that we have offered a proposal to Chelsea regarding Cucurella. Initially a loan.

But it's just clickbait and reports.