Eliaquim Mangala - now official

[Rösler von Stretfordbömber]

Re: Eliaquim Mangala

Nastasic was certainly a better player than him as of 12 months ago. If we don't end up shelling out a fortune for this guy that might be the best thing anyway.

If the filth want to spend a big part of their vaunted and supposed war chest on a prospect that might not be such a bad thing either.

 

[RossiBenayoun]

Re: Eliaquim Mangala

Does anyone think that this position has become less of a priority since say 3-6 months ago?

Demichelis has improved greatly and forged a very good partnership with Vinnie.

Looking at the current targets (Mangala & Benatia) is it worth spending £20,000,000+ to land either a player who apparently would rather be elsewhere or someone who has plied his trade in a much slower defensively minded league.

We still have Nastasic who looked world class in his first season but has been hampered by injuries and Rekik who got himself into the Dutch 30 for the World Cup.

I think this maybe one case where waiting and watching the World Cup for alternatives (Fabian Schar for example) might be a good option.

 

[dancity19]

Re: Eliaquim Mangala

Man alive, this lad has gone from being one of the best young defenders in Europe to being overrated in a few months.

Haha- have a look at the Yaya thread in Bluemoon- some of the things said when he made those comments were ludicrous. Went from our best ever player, to a player that hides in big games and slows our play down in a matter of hours..!

Always the way with transfer targets- if they are coming they are the best young talent- if they aren't they are overated.

 

[Bluesitch]

Re: Eliaquim Mangala

I've seen him play a few times for Porto, to be honest I wasn't impressed. Sure he is composed on the ball however I felt he went in for needless challenges and was turned far to easily on a consistent basis. We need I seasoned centre-back who has proved himself at a top level and by the sounds of it this mangala has an issue with city anyway.

 

[Wilf Wild 1937]

Re: Eliaquim Mangala

Does anyone think that this position has become less of a priority since say 3-6 months ago?

Demichelis has improved greatly and forged a very good partnership with Vinnie.

Looking at the current targets (Mangala & Benatia) is it worth spending £20,000,000+ to land either a player who apparently would rather be elsewhere or someone who has plied his trade in a much slower defensively minded league.

We still have Nastasic who looked world class in his first season but has been hampered by injuries and Rekik who got himself into the Dutch 30 for the World Cup.

I think this maybe one case where waiting and watching the World Cup for alternatives (Fabian Schar for example) might be a good option.

I tend to agree with this. Defensively, assuming Sagna signs, what we have already is good enough for next season in the PL.
The need for a world class CB to partner Vinny is more to mount a serious CL challenge, Given our squad restrictions for next season
I don't think the CL is a realistic target anyway so lets keep our powder dry and take a long look at Nastasic & Rekik with Martin starting
next to Vinny early doors. Like you I'm not convinced that the guys on offer appear particularly attractive for the reasons you outlined.

 

[Neville Kneville]

Re: Eliaquim Mangala

If Nastasic was world class, then we've just let a better than world class centre back go for nothing.

Of course we need to sign somebody.

 

[Idontpullout]

Re: Eliaquim Mangala

Does anyone think that this position has become less of a priority since say 3-6 months ago?

Demichelis has improved greatly and forged a very good partnership with Vinnie.

Looking at the current targets (Mangala & Benatia) is it worth spending £20,000,000+ to land either a player who apparently would rather be elsewhere or someone who has plied his trade in a much slower defensively minded league.

We still have Nastasic who looked world class in his first season but has been hampered by injuries and Rekik who got himself into the Dutch 30 for the World Cup.

I think this maybe one case where waiting and watching the World Cup for alternatives (Fabian Schar for example) might be a good option.

not a fan of buying due to world cup form. if i remember correctly el hadji diouf looked a top player during a world cup. and didnt milan baros win a golden boot at a european championships.

 

[willipp]

Re: Eliaquim Mangala

Does anyone think that this position has become less of a priority since say 3-6 months ago?

Demichelis has improved greatly and forged a very good partnership with Vinnie.

Looking at the current targets (Mangala & Benatia) is it worth spending £20,000,000+ to land either a player who apparently would rather be elsewhere or someone who has plied his trade in a much slower defensively minded league.

We still have Nastasic who looked world class in his first season but has been hampered by injuries and Rekik who got himself into the Dutch 30 for the World Cup.

I think this maybe one case where waiting and watching the World Cup for alternatives (Fabian Schar for example) might be a good option.

not a fan of buying due to world cup form. if i remember correctly el hadji diouf looked a top player during a world cup. and didnt milan baros win a golden boot at a european championships.

Didn't Barcelona nearly sign Gary Breen from Cov after a decent world cup? Like you say, risky business buying on WC form.

 

[Blue_Rossy]

Re: Eliaquim Mangala

Until I hear him on sky sports news directly saying he would rather play for the rags with there shit team and no champions league. Or Chelsea. Then I'd take all this friend of a friend shit with a pinch of salt tbh.

 

[Puppet Master Silva]

Re: Eliaquim Mangala

All he's actually said is that he wouldn't mind playing in London - nothing wrong with saying that.

My mate's cousin spoke to him yesterday and he actually said that the only time he'd rather play for united is when hell freezes over and that he's been misquoted.

Hahaha.