Ferdinand was already one of the best defenders in the league when he signed for United. No such assurances with Mangala.If his price ends up being £28m, I'd be pretty happy with that. Less than Rio cost you guys and he has already played in the Champions League.
Just seen this Andy Gray/Richard Keys video. I'm embarrassed they exist.
Stylistically, Zouma is like the midpoint of Varane and Sakho. He's got the pace and maturity (though nowhere near the same passing ability) of the former, and the power of the latter (though not as aggressive). His vertical leap is obscene, better than the aforementioned pair. He gets so high and just hangs there for ages.
Quite irritated he's going to Chelsea, and for so cheap too. We enquired last year and I was honestly expecting us to go back in (BFG and Kos are 28+, Vermaelen has 1.5 years left, surely won't renew - we need a good young CB). Considering Arsene admitted he was disappointed to miss out on Varane, I'm not sure how and why he's letting this go, but oh well. Maybe he wants that Kouyate kid from Anderlecht or something.
Don't know much about Mangala, but you can't really doubt Porto's scouting network at this point. It's possibly the best in Europe.
Ferdinand was already one of the best defenders in the league when he signed for United. No such assurances with Mangala.
So do I, but I'm a little perplexed that he has such a small influence when shifted ten yards to the left. That can't just be on United's problems, he doesn't grab a game by the scruff of the neck and do something about it.
The best way to describe Shinji is that he makes good teams play better. He can't drag teams from a bad performance to a good performance.
If United play shit football due to no movement by the rest of the players, Shinji will be extremely passive. He's not like Rooney who will have an impact regardless of the player's actions around him. Rooney will fire off a shot from far away to get goals. Rooney will score on freekicks. Rooney will rack up assists from corners.
United right now rely on individual brilliance.
Yep.Reached the Champions League semi-final with Leeds as well.
All the best young CB's getting signed up. Time for United to finally give Jones a run there.
I think he'll get his chance soon enough. Our shit midfield hampers his opportunities at CB. It's a right pisser.It's so ridiculous. I remember United were about to get Varane, but Liverpool were trying to get Jones that same summer and forced United to buy him then. Varane was then lured away from Old Trafford because of the Jones signing and Zidane speaking to him.
Years later and Jones doesn't even play as a cb!
Very true and an excellent point. I don't think there's any scenario where he'd leave Portugal for much less than £30m for a very long time though unfortunately. City have been tracking him for a long time so I'd be thrilled at the lower price if it goes through. Guess we'll see.Ferdinand was already one of the best defenders in the league when he signed for United. No such assurances with Mangala.
People at Sky clearly let those two pricks get away with that shit.
Don't know much about Mangala, but you can't really doubt Porto's scouting network at this point. It's possibly the best in Europe.
Don't know much about Mangala, but you can't really doubt Porto's scouting network at this point. It's possibly the best in Europe.
We played well a fair amount last season and he wasn't particularly impressive either, but I agree the rest of the team doesn't help him or is set up to utilise him properly. It's a shame, but it highlights his limitations as a player.
Depending on whether Moyes changes the philosophy of this teams playing style, will depend on how effective Shinji and Mata are for United. Hopefully this current style of slow passing, little movement and constant wing play will change in the coming months.
Chelsea really got Zouma for 12.5m? That's a good price. Surprised they didn't have to battle it out a bit more.
Man City will be glad to know that Mangala is really good in the air in FIFA 14
Loool. I still remember his Squillaci vid. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zWIIdmN34o one of his best ones.
This one is still my favorite. Sadly I feel like this video will be relevant in every window for years to come.
This one is still my favorite. Sadly I feel like this video will be relevant in every window for years to come.
Any good?
"It was a very, very difficult moment for me because I was in love with Manchester and I was a Mancunian.
"It was the match against Blackburn in December 2011 at Old Trafford. "Paul Scholes had retired, Darren Fletcher was injured. There was no one left to play in midfield. And I was training and I was beginning to get better bit by bit and the coach never stopped telling me, 'You're this far'.
"And I didn't understand. This far away from what? Playing? From having some playing time? From getting on the field? Or what?
"And there was Rafael in midfield and I was disgusted. I was disgusted and I didn't get on either."
"I'd lost that thing, that relation that I had with the coach. I was really disappointed, really disappointed.
"I was pushed. My eyes were opened. I'd made this decision to sign with Juventus. There was nothing to regret."
Frogie pls
That's old as shit.