Transfer Rumours transfer thread fact and fiction

Take it

 

While it is true that he can get the ball forward quicker than Dembele or Sissoko, or at the very least is aware passes can go forwards instead of sideways, the obvious counter argument is that Grealish lacks either of their defensive abilities - something which Poch would probably have him hung, drawn and quartered for.

That's why it sounds more likely he'd be used in the attacking band - but that takes us right back to him being behind Eriksen & Alli through the middle and Son & Moura on the left, while also not addressing the central midfield issue that's needed fixing for a couple of seasons at this point.

 

If he plays further forward, then I see at least one of Dele and Christian Eriksen playing deeper, maybe even both.

I think that we're going to be playing a different game next season and there could be a fair few departures from our current group of players. There have been mutterings that Big Vic's not got a guaranteed future at the club either and Erik Lamela would be allowed to leave for the right offer.

MP wasn't just talking about spending money when he said about being brave. We have to be prepared to knock it down and build again because playing as we did last season, isn't going to win us the league.......there I've said it.

 

Grealish is better than an out of form Dembele and he's years away from reaching his prime. While he's also better than Winks.
Dele and Eriksen play in the same XI so I wouldn't really see him as being behind both in a pecking order, he'd be behind one or the other.
TOB and Skipp we don't need to worry about, they're years away from being considered as regulars and things change massively season after season, last summer I doubt any of us would've been so calm on the idea of losing Toby, Dembele and Rose.

I'd still want Seri/ SMS/ top CM regardless of whether Grealish joins or not. With Dembele and Sissoko possibly off, coupled with Winks' form and fitness issues, it's very much likely we'll need two CMs this window. If Grealish is one I'd be really happy, especially as his versatility allows him to play in "the three" as well if required.

 

I had the same feeling when Poch mentioned "project 2", not meant as a wum, it just struck me as a strange way to address the future as though "project 1" was over.

 

Martial wants out of Utd.

 

He probably wants more game time so that rules Spurs out, he wouldn't start ahead of any of the "best players in their positions" so obviously wouldn't move to a smaller club on less money just to sit on a different bench (even a brand new bench this season).

 

Join us on less money? He earns peanuts with you lot. We pay Sissoko more than you pay Martial.

 

Ahh, so you think he's a merc that will sit on any bench if the price is right ?

 

The unnamed Chinese club in for Dembele is supposedly Guangzhou Evergrande, in case any of you actually care.

 

Given that he'd be our record signing by some distance and we've wanted to buy him for 3 seasons, there's little chance that he'd be on the bench too much.

Whatever Mauricio Pochettino's Plan 2 is, it's going to include Sonny, Lucas Moura and another pacy forward, say Zaha or Martial or Pulisic, who have all been linked in recent weeks. Midfielders who slow up the play and offer little goal threat to be replaced by players who get the ball forward faster and can shoot from distance and pass more incisively and earlier.

It's pretty much exactly what United need to do if they want to try and chase Citeh down

 

You know why I say the things I do sometimes

 

Yeah exactly that, a guy who'd likely be our record signing would be sitting on the bench every week...

 

Who's starting place would he take in your opinion?

 

Possibly Dembele's as there's rumours we're looking to change formation that'd be similar to how Barca set up in their 4-3-3 style. He'd join Son on the wings, Dele and Eriksen sitting in the middle in front of Dier, Kane up top.

 

Where does Grealish fit in?

 

In the 18 man squad.

 

So a lot of players are happy to move to sit on your brand new bench then

 

A lot of players?

 

Well two out of two seems to be 100%