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With Manchester United in need of a CB, I've done a thread going over the options available to them.
We will start with 18 of the top-rated U23 CB's who are all reportedly availble for a move, before narrowing it down to five who we will look at in greater detail.
We will start with 18 of the top-rated U23 CB's who are all reportedly availble for a move, before narrowing it down to five who we will look at in greater detail.
Specifically, this thread will look over:
• United’s requirements
• Narrowing it down
• Target No.1
• Target No.2
• Targets No.3/4
• A chance United may have let slip
• Summary
• United’s requirements
• Narrowing it down
• Target No.1
• Target No.2
• Targets No.3/4
• A chance United may have let slip
• Summary
1. United’s requirements
There are a few necessities for a CB to be a perfect fit for United:
~ Ability to hold a high line
~ Comfortable playing out the back
~ Active in defence
~ Premier league ready
Also, with Maguire at 27, an U23 CB is needed for long-term success.
There are a few necessities for a CB to be a perfect fit for United:
~ Ability to hold a high line
~ Comfortable playing out the back
~ Active in defence
~ Premier league ready
Also, with Maguire at 27, an U23 CB is needed for long-term success.
2. Narrowing it down
Based on this, I’ve picked a selection of stats that can be used to identify each player’s strengths for the previously mentioned requirements.
Note, these stats don’t paint the full picture, but give us an indication of who the prime candidates are.
Based on this, I’ve picked a selection of stats that can be used to identify each player’s strengths for the previously mentioned requirements.
Note, these stats don’t paint the full picture, but give us an indication of who the prime candidates are.
The following names stood out, however those with a cross (
) will not be looked at for reasons I’ll explain.
Tapsoba 
Upamecano 
Kounde
Milenkovic 
Bade
Medina 
Simakan
Botman 
) will not be looked at for reasons I’ll explain. Tapsoba Upamecano Kounde Milenkovic Bade Medina Simakan Botman
The issue I have with both Botman and Tapsoba is, while they’re fantastic CB’s, they’re too similar to Maguire. Tapsoba looks hesistant in 1v1’s, and Botman can be done for pace.
With Milenkovic, his mentality has been slightly off this season, so going for him may be a risk.
With Milenkovic, his mentality has been slightly off this season, so going for him may be a risk.
For the five players we’ll look at we will identify their strengths, and what they can bring to United.
Each player will have a graph comparing their stats to Van Dijk 18/19 to give context to how their stats rank compared to one of the best performing CB’s in recent memory.
Each player will have a graph comparing their stats to Van Dijk 18/19 to give context to how their stats rank compared to one of the best performing CB’s in recent memory.
3. Jules Kounde
The first option we will be looking at is 22 year old Jules Kounde.
Currently playing for Sevilla in La Liga, Kounde has burst onto the scene since he moved from Bordeaux, and is rapidly gaining profile as one of the best young CB’s in world football.
The first option we will be looking at is 22 year old Jules Kounde.
Currently playing for Sevilla in La Liga, Kounde has burst onto the scene since he moved from Bordeaux, and is rapidly gaining profile as one of the best young CB’s in world football.
As a player, on the ball he is comfortable and composed, he plays the easy passes more than often than not, but does have the ability to go direct.
This was really apparent at his time at Bordeaux, often able to switch the tempo to aid his side’s attack with an incisive pass.
This was really apparent at his time at Bordeaux, often able to switch the tempo to aid his side’s attack with an incisive pass.
However, what stands out most in his game is his maturity.
He plays with the maturity of a much more senior player, and that was most evident in the Europa league final. In the game, he was tasked with dealing with Lautaro Martinez, a difficult task but one he excelled at.
He plays with the maturity of a much more senior player, and that was most evident in the Europa league final. In the game, he was tasked with dealing with Lautaro Martinez, a difficult task but one he excelled at.
Throughout the game, whenever Lautaro dropped off to help Inter build, Kounde was on him.
He completely shutdown one of Inter’s best players and looked immense on the night, not letting the occasion get to him one bit.
He completely shutdown one of Inter’s best players and looked immense on the night, not letting the occasion get to him one bit.
One aspect of his game that I think would really help United is his covering, specifically in wide areas.
This coincides with AWB’s poor positional sense, and seeing how Kounde covers Navas at Sevilla makes me feel he could stop United getting exploited down the right flank.
This coincides with AWB’s poor positional sense, and seeing how Kounde covers Navas at Sevilla makes me feel he could stop United getting exploited down the right flank.
Overall, Kounde is a top calibre CB, far beyond his years in terms of both ability and maturity.
He would bring many much needed qualities to United’s backline, and his physicality would partner Maguire well.
He would bring many much needed qualities to United’s backline, and his physicality would partner Maguire well.
4. Dayot Upamecano
The second player we’ll look at is the most talked about U23 CB in world football, Dayot Upamecano.
Upamecano is a powerful, dynamic ball-playing CB who’s attracted attention from all the top European clubs.
The second player we’ll look at is the most talked about U23 CB in world football, Dayot Upamecano.
Upamecano is a powerful, dynamic ball-playing CB who’s attracted attention from all the top European clubs.
As we saw earlier, Upamecano is elite playing out the back, and the best example of this came in Leipzig’s UCL tie vs Athletico Madrid.
Throughout the game Athletico sat in their low/mid-block, inviting pressure on, but it was Upamecano who was so pivotal in breaking them down.
Throughout the game Athletico sat in their low/mid-block, inviting pressure on, but it was Upamecano who was so pivotal in breaking them down.
What Upamecano brought to that game which is so special, was verticality in his passes and movement.
Be it with a dribble forwards, or a progressive pass he always looked to break the lines and accelerate his sides attack, something no United defender really brings.
Be it with a dribble forwards, or a progressive pass he always looked to break the lines and accelerate his sides attack, something no United defender really brings.
Take the loss vs Sheffield.
Sheffield sat in a mid-block, and instead of playing through vertically, United’s CB’s played to the flanks, reducing their ability to create chances. Had Upamecano been there, his vertical passing (see below) would’ve been key to breaking them down.
Sheffield sat in a mid-block, and instead of playing through vertically, United’s CB’s played to the flanks, reducing their ability to create chances. Had Upamecano been there, his vertical passing (see below) would’ve been key to breaking them down.
However, he does have some issues with his decision making.
In his early career, he would often mistime interceptions, leaving space for the opposition to exploit. But he has started eradicating those mistakes in his game, and available for just €42m, he’s a bargain.
In his early career, he would often mistime interceptions, leaving space for the opposition to exploit. But he has started eradicating those mistakes in his game, and available for just €42m, he’s a bargain.
6. Loïc Bade and Facundo Medina
The next two players we’ll be looking at are Loïc Bade (20) and Facundo Medina (21). Both play for Lens (which is why they’re grouped together) and have both been reportedly scouted by big clubs, Bade by Liverpool and Medina by United.
The next two players we’ll be looking at are Loïc Bade (20) and Facundo Medina (21). Both play for Lens (which is why they’re grouped together) and have both been reportedly scouted by big clubs, Bade by Liverpool and Medina by United.
They play in a back three, Bade in the middle, and the left-footed Medina out at LCB.
Over the course of the season, they’ve built a good chemistry together. When either steps out, the other covers, and this game intelligence for such young defenders is admirable.
Over the course of the season, they’ve built a good chemistry together. When either steps out, the other covers, and this game intelligence for such young defenders is admirable.
They’re both adept at playing out the back.
Medina is a good line-breaker, often bringing the ball out before passing progressively. Whereas Bade prefers wide switches, although his ability to bring the ball out of defence might be the best I’ve seen for his age range.
Medina is a good line-breaker, often bringing the ball out before passing progressively. Whereas Bade prefers wide switches, although his ability to bring the ball out of defence might be the best I’ve seen for his age range.
Defensively, Bade is the better player, but occasionally he will get caught ball-watching and drawn out of position.
With Medina, his physicality let’s him down. He’s not bad in 1v1’s, but in the air he’s looked weak, which could get exposed in English football.
With Medina, his physicality let’s him down. He’s not bad in 1v1’s, but in the air he’s looked weak, which could get exposed in English football.
While Medina brings something unique to United in a left-footed CB, I don’t think he’s ready for the prem.
With Bade, his potential is massive, and his ball-playing ability would take less of the progressive burden off Maguire. However, he would need to adapt to United’s back 4.
With Bade, his potential is massive, and his ball-playing ability would take less of the progressive burden off Maguire. However, he would need to adapt to United’s back 4.
6. Mohamed Simakan
Important note, after writing this there are now rumours (IDK how valid) he’s joining Leipzig in the summer
Simakan (20), is a player I’d describe as a slightly more progressive, less error prone Eric Bailly, which is why he could be perfect for United.
Important note, after writing this there are now rumours (IDK how valid) he’s joining Leipzig in the summer Simakan (20), is a player I’d describe as a slightly more progressive, less error prone Eric Bailly, which is why he could be perfect for United.
When you look at United’s CB pairings with Maguire, it’s not hard to tell Bailly is his best partner.
His pace, physical presence and activity in and around the box have greatly helped Maguire, and when we looked at the stats earlier, Bailly and Simakan were extremely similar.
His pace, physical presence and activity in and around the box have greatly helped Maguire, and when we looked at the stats earlier, Bailly and Simakan were extremely similar.
Simakan ranked highest for shots blocked Per90 out of all the options we looked at and was 3rd best in terms of 1v1 duels, and despite his stats he is strong in the air.
Where he differs from Bailly, is his playing out the back, less so with passing, but more so with dribbling.
Where he differs from Bailly, is his playing out the back, less so with passing, but more so with dribbling.
Simakan ranked highest for shots blocked Per90 out of all the options we looked at and was 3rd best in terms of 1v1 duels, and despite his stats he is strong in the air.
Where he differs from Bailly, is his playing out the back, less so with passing, but more so with dribbling.
Where he differs from Bailly, is his playing out the back, less so with passing, but more so with dribbling.
He dribbles forward with pace and power, not too dissimilar to Upamecano, and although his passing is good, he does have a tendency to overhit them sometimes.
He is currently out with an injury, but available for just €15m, he’s definitely worth keeping an eye on.
He is currently out with an injury, but available for just €15m, he’s definitely worth keeping an eye on.
7. Summary
All of the players we looked at can bring something to United.
Upamecano, directly improves playing out the back, but does have some decision-making issues. Simakan, I felt was a perfect fit but now his future is uncertain, however Kounde is just all-round class.
All of the players we looked at can bring something to United.
Upamecano, directly improves playing out the back, but does have some decision-making issues. Simakan, I felt was a perfect fit but now his future is uncertain, however Kounde is just all-round class.
Unfortunately, Sevilla are reportedly looking to hold out on his €90m release clause, and this is where it gets difficult.
IMO, Kounde is the best player out of the ones we’ve looked at, but United need a RW, DM & RB, which is why I think Upamecano for €42m is the best option.
IMO, Kounde is the best player out of the ones we’ve looked at, but United need a RW, DM & RB, which is why I think Upamecano for €42m is the best option.
For under half the price, you’re still getting a fantastic player, and his only issue, decision-making (which he’s already improved) can be rectified with good coaching.
I would’ve strongly recommended Simakan, but he may end up being another gem United miss out on.
I would’ve strongly recommended Simakan, but he may end up being another gem United miss out on.
END OF THREAD
If you enjoyed feel free to follow!
If you enjoyed feel free to follow!
I’d also be interested in doing something’s similar in the future, so if you’d prefer me to cover something please vote below!
Also any feedback would be great!
This was my first time doing a thread like this, and I wasn’t too sure how to structure it
This was my first time doing a thread like this, and I wasn’t too sure how to structure it
