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Post by Nemanja79 on Mar 5, 2015 10:30:09 GMT
Being linked hugely with him along with Arsenal, could be the one of the answers for our central midfield problems. Liverpool appears to be interested in the player as well. Reports in Portugal allegedly linking him with us again: Man United 'very close' to completing deal for midfield answerPosted by SPORT WITNESS on March 4, 2015 at 17:28 in Sport Witness Football According to reports in Portugal, Manchester United are closing in on Sporting Lisbon midfielder William Carvalho. The Portugal international has been linked with a move to the Premier League side along with a number of other clubs including rivals Liverpool. Portuguese newspaper Record has today reported that Manchester United have maintained their interest in the 22 year old despite his performance levels dropping earlier this season. It's been claimed that the club have been very close to coming to an agreement with Sporting Lisbon to sign the youngster and are still very much in the picture for a summer transfer. However, with the reports that Liverpool want Carvalho as a possible replacement for the departing Steven Gerrard, Manchester United may need to act quickly. Gerrard will be heading to MLS side LA Galaxy in the summer, and the Merseyside club see Carvalho as a possible option to fill the void that will be left by their captain. Manchester United have been showing an interest in Carvalho since last season, and they have continued to monitor the player during this campaign. In February we covered the story that the club sent representatives to the Sporting Lisbon and Belenenses game. It was claimed at the time that they travelled to Portugal to watch Carvalho. The youngster is contracted to Sporting Lisbon until 2018 and has a huge €45m buyout clause implemented into his contract. It's unlikely that Manchester Untied would pay such a transfer fee for Carvalho. Carvalho, or a player like him, would provide something of an answer in midfield for Louis van Gaal. The Dutchman appears petrified of his midfield and defence being leaky and whilst Daley Blind is a tidy and useful player, he's not exactly the all action warrior who Van Gaal seems to long for. Carvalho could be that man. sportwitness.ning.com/forum/topics/man-united-very-close-to-completing-deal-for-midfield-answerDespite his drop of form, would be a much safer bet than Strootman. |
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Post by Mani Khatra on Mar 5, 2015 12:05:04 GMT
from what ive seen he is a destroyer. we need some one that can pkay aswell as be a destroyer
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Post by Nemanja79 on Mar 5, 2015 15:06:24 GMT
from what ive seen he is a destroyer. we need some one that can pkay aswell as be a destroyer He is but he has a decent passing range and is solid in passing in general. I guess if we're to buy him, van Gaal would deploy him as a pure DM in a mood of Biscuits, essential position in a standard 4-3-3. I guess it's between Blind and Herrera for a second CM place and a third man would be all rounder, like Vidal, Nainggolan, Strootman, that type. Or if not, Blind and Herrera with Carvalho as a third man. |
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Post by matt on Mar 5, 2015 20:20:57 GMT
Well, while I like Blind's tactical awareness and overal game, he doesn't offer the physical resistance we need in some games. Carvalho is a pure defensive mid, strong as an ox, an anchor to sit with one or two mobile CM in front of him.
He could be a great player to buy, but we still need that strong box-to-box first imo. Blind and Carrick are both good enough to play Carvalho's role, but we miss another box-to-box to partner and/or cover for Herrera to balance the team properly.
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Post by Nemanja79 on Mar 5, 2015 23:23:51 GMT
Well, while I like Blind's tactical awareness and overal game, he doesn't offer the physical resistance we need in some games. Carvalho is a pure defensive mid, strong as an ox, an anchor to sit with one or two mobile CM in front of him. He could be a great player to buy, but we still need that strong box-to-box first imo. Blind and Carrick are both good enough to play Carvalho's role, but we miss another box-to-box to partner and/or cover for Herrera to balance the team properly. I assume you don't like Blind in the first team at all then? |
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Post by Dave on Mar 6, 2015 9:59:29 GMT
Carrick and Blind are more than capable of shielding the back four, they may not be he most physical but they make up for it with their intelligence so they'll do for now rather than a pure DM like Carvalho.
Wouldn't be against his signing but I'd rather we go for a high energy and strong box to box man.
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Post by matt on Mar 6, 2015 20:06:51 GMT
Well, while I like Blind's tactical awareness and overal game, he doesn't offer the physical resistance we need in some games. Carvalho is a pure defensive mid, strong as an ox, an anchor to sit with one or two mobile CM in front of him. He could be a great player to buy, but we still need that strong box-to-box first imo. Blind and Carrick are both good enough to play Carvalho's role, but we miss another box-to-box to partner and/or cover for Herrera to balance the team properly. I assume you don't like Blind in the first team at all then? Why would you think that? I truly like Blind, he is one of the most clever player we have. But there is no wrong saying he has flaws to his games (mostly being "ahtletic flaws"), and that against certain opposition he may not be the profile you want. I stand by what I said about him playing at left back against Arsenal, or the fact that in more physical games I wouldn't mind a Schneiderlin instead of Blind. It doesn't mean I do not want Blind in the first team, far from it. As I said if you re-read my post: " Blind and Carrick are both good enough to play Carvalho's role, but we miss another box-to-box to partner and/or cover for Herrera to balance the team properly." |
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Post by Nemanja79 on Mar 6, 2015 20:15:21 GMT
Yeah, fair enough, I just got that feeling from your saying that you don't want him at a left back because of Arsenal's pace and in the middle because he is a bit lightweight. I got you now but I still stand by the statement that he wouldn't be destroyed by pace at the flank or that "athletic" factor is a firm decider that he'd find himself in no man's land against some physical midfields. I have showed some examples why it isn't the case, whether people agree with that is another thing.
For example, Valencia didn't have a very physical midfield but still managed to beat Stoke if I remember well, or Barcelona for that matter.
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Post by matt on Mar 6, 2015 21:16:47 GMT
For example, Valencia didn't have a very physical midfield but still managed to beat Stoke if I remember well, or Barcelona for that matter. I completely agree but you're making unfair comparisons there. Valencia or Barcelona's CM can destroy more physical midfield because the team as a whole plays differently. They pass and keep the ball so much better that the opposition is worn out completely and their physical "advantage" is made useless. We're starting to move in that direction with LVG, hence why I actually think Blind (or Herrera for that matter) is a vital player for the next 10 years. But I am also aware that there will be tricky games where clever possession and passing won't be enough, especially in the BPL where opposition teams will counter attack us, and where adding that bit of muscles and athletic dynamism will make the whole difference. Hence why I believe we need to add that strong box-to-box. But Blind as LB is yet another issue for me. That's a position where I truly wouldn't play him against dynamic wingers like Chamberlain, Sanchez, Welbeck, etc. regardless of him playing there for the Dutch team. Yes, he could play there, but the defence needs to be completely sorted first, and you would need a third CB or a defensive CM to cover for Blind's lack of pace, there is no other way around it. I am just saying: Blind in a flat back 4 at LB against Arsenal? I would never do that, despite the many qualities of Blind. Because when the Ox' will be running at him at full speed, a good positional sense simply won't be enough imo. That's just asking for unneeded troubles. Blind, in my opinion, is an excellent CM, but not a LB in the English league. But I could actually see him take on that role, if needed, in more tactical games, in the CL for instance, or the world cup as you mentioned. The directness of English football doesn't suit Blind at LB, that's all I am saying. |
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Post by Nemanja79 on Mar 6, 2015 21:53:00 GMT
Valencia or Barcelona's CM can destroy more physical midfield because the team as a whole plays differently. They pass and keep the ball so much better that the opposition is worn out completely and their physical "advantage" is made useless. There you go, that's the whole point really. if you are competent enough as a team in all departments, some at the first sight important things becomes trivial and can be covered by other of your strengths. If your midfield is technical enough, have a good understanding and chemistry, your be able to overcome all difficulties and flaws in other aspects like physics, but, when you start to rely too much on individuals, your flaws will naturally be more exposed. The Netherlands team in my examples in the Arsenal match thread didn't have some extraordinary great players but what they've had is exactly that what I've mentioned just now. They were far from perfect of course but still they managed to execute what was asked of them from van Gaal. Blind's problem isn't in directness of others going at him as such IMO but the shift of the whole team in relation to each other. Lack of pace can be covered pretty well with smart movements and positioning of individuals who are working as a team. Most probably we're not there yet but we'll be soon enough. However, one of Blind's main strengths is reading the game and positioning so IMO he'd do very well in that position anywhere, regardless of the team and league he's playing at. "and you would need a third CB or a defensive CM to cover for Blind's lack of pace"
That's why I have Carrick there who acts basically as a third CB > DM and don't you think that the match vs Arsenal will be tactical enough? Here's a question: Why some of the fastest players on the LB position were being exposed against some very technical sides? Is it because of their bombing up the field more than necessary and no matter what, bad positioning and staying behind (high up) when the ball is lost, all of that or something else? Marcelo for example or our own Shaw? |
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Post by Nemanja79 on Apr 16, 2015 12:38:56 GMT
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Post by spens1 on Apr 18, 2015 22:35:41 GMT
how did he not come into the premier league in the summer.
in saying that i think arsenal may beat him to us. he seems like one of their primary targets whilst we seem to be after depay and hummels first (rightfully so actually)
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