09 Mar 2019 07:23:50
Hi ed, with United looking to sign a CB this summer, are Milenkovic and Ruben Dias still our main targets for that position?

Also is it feasible that 2 or 3 of the current CB's (probably Rojo, Jones and Bailly) will leave and we will see Tuanzebe get a chance when he returns from loan?

Thanks.

{Ed002's Note - Certainly Dias remains the primary target. Rojo could well leave and the plan under JM was that Jones would go but that may not still be the case.}


1.) 09 Mar 2019
09 Mar 2019 11:15:25
Quite surprised that 21 year old Ruben Dias is our primary target.
I expected an established star like Koulibaly or Skriniar to be our main target for CB.

{Ed001's Note - to be fair, he looks a lot better suited to the way United want to play than either of those. I watched him a fair bit for a player profile recently and he was extremely impressive, though it was in the Portugese league so not the highest level.}


2.) 09 Mar 2019
09 Mar 2019 10:56:37
Cheers Ed. From the little I've seen of Dias he looks pretty good but do you think he is capable of being the top class CB we badly need or will he need a bit of time similar to Lindelof?

{Ed002's Note - He was wanted by JM and that should be enough for you.}


3.) 09 Mar 2019
09 Mar 2019 13:05:53
Interesting, I imagine he would be much better value long term than Koulibaly.

{Ed001's Note - very good on the ball as well. Had that really polished technique that seems to be a hallmark of players coming through their youth academy.}


4.) 09 Mar 2019
09 Mar 2019 13:27:09
Ed001 would be v interesting to get your thoughts on how you think United wish to play, as mentioned above.
And from that, what you think we need to do with current players/ in the transfer market to make it work. Thanks.

{Ed001's Note - the club wants to have the option, not necessarily to use it in ever game like but the quality at the back to play out from the back. Hence why Lindelöf was brought in. It does not really mean in the way say Brendan Rodgers thinks of playing out from the back though. With the passing it around the back four that you find with his teams, with no penetration. It is having a centre back, like Luiz or van Dijk, that can change the point of attack with a ball in behind an opposing defence or out to a wide player high up the pitch.

You do need another centre half with quality on the ball, none of Smalling, Jones, Rojo or Bailly really have the ability to pick a pass. Other than that, you are not really that far off in terms of a team. It is more about improving on what you have, rather than needing to replace them, buying better versions or improving them through coaching and experience.

The thinking is that De Gea is not the best with his feet, so you can't really go with the really high line and press high on a turnover, except initially. You don't want a big gap between defenders and keeper, as he is not that comfortable racing off his line to clear. But stats analysis suggests the best way to create chances is on quick attacks on turnover (the so-called transition), whether it is from the break itself or a setpiece won on the break. So you have the pacey forwards to play in behind, but you need the ability to pick them out from defence or you lose valuable moments playing the ball into midfield for those quick balls. Every moment lost allows a defence to prepare, against a quick attacker that usually means they are dropping off and so reducing the space available for a midfielder to play the same pass.

It is not about being defensive or becoming a counter attacking team, it is about adding another attacking outlet, for those times when you are not in controlled possession high up the pitch. The expectation is that you will dominate possession in most games but, when it matters in bigger games against opponents that can have as much possession as you, then you need that extra option, even if it just ensures that opponents can't commit to the attack as they would like, because they are wary of a ball in behind.}


5.) 09 Mar 2019
09 Mar 2019 16:29:55
Nice write up ed - as you say it is another string to the bow and something else that the opposition have to take into consideration.

The more options and variations in play that we can have the better.

{Ed001's Note - cheers mate, it is something Mourinho wanted too, but because he wanted to sit deep, however it is a useful weapon to have in all types of teams. City have Ederson do a similar thing, more than the centre backs.}


6.) 09 Mar 2019
09 Mar 2019 16:54:38
The quicker the balls moved forward the better the chances created.


7.) 09 Mar 2019
09 Mar 2019 17:19:59
Ed001 if we are targeting that sort of a cb and we clearly are looking for a young player shouldn't we be targeting someone like de ligt.

{Ed001's Note - from what I have seen of de Ligt I wouldn't recommend him at all. He has very little defending to do with Ajax, but whenever he is actually put under defensive pressure (when I have seen him anyway so a limited view admittedly) he is not good. Excellent on the ball but he is a midfielder for me.}


8.) 09 Mar 2019
09 Mar 2019 18:44:44
I can see de Light going to Barca, would fit in well there.


9.) 10 Mar 2019
09 Mar 2019 23:30:04
That could explain those Maguire links.


10.) 10 Mar 2019
10 Mar 2019 01:07:29
Thanks Ed001 - read with interest and I strongly agree. We have pace in behind but really only pogba with the vision and accuracy to pick out a runner (although I feel he could do with quickening it up at times) . Having a centre half that can pick a pass or drop it into space would be a real weapon.

Agree that DDG is the best keeper in the traditional mould, not one of the new breed of sweeper keepers.

I finally have some confidence going in against the 'lesser' teams that we will get the result. It's against the top teams that I really don't know what we'll get. I feel we need players in defence to midfield that have both quality on the ball and the ability to do things quickly, especially in those high pressure, high tempo games against the Citys and Pools.

{Ed001's Note - at least now they are giving their all, which is a huge step forward.}


11.) 10 Mar 2019
10 Mar 2019 08:42:51
Nice one Ed. Have a good one.

{Ed001's Note - you too Rave.}


12.) 10 Mar 2019
10 Mar 2019 09:56:08
Ed001, could be have a player profile for Ruben Dias please.

{Ed001's Note - way ahead of you mate: Ruben Dias profile. I did it a few weeks ago as Ed002 had told us there were a bunch of clubs looking at him.}


13.) 10 Mar 2019
10 Mar 2019 11:51:23
Do you see de Ligt as a potential replacement for Busquets? Or Pique, as Barcelona have been fond of defenders who struggle at defending?

{Ed001's Note - Barca have certainly been the ones showing the most interest.}


14.) 10 Mar 2019
10 Mar 2019 15:23:09
Fantastic, cheers Ed001.

{Ed001's Note - very welcome mate. Nice to have one ready for a change when it is asked for!}