Happy enough with this as a stopgap. It's literally just to cover a bad injury to a really key player. It almost didn't matter who we got in - any half-decent striker who knows how to score a goal is fine. It would have been egregious mismanagement to just not get someone because there weren't any better targets available.
Odion Ighalo: Manchester United player on loan until the end of the season
- Thread starter Fooza
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
His form dropped off a cliff, most Watford fans at the time I know thought he was sulking that he didn't get a move away, more than it being his actual form disappearing.
Different situation from a 6 month loan compared to a 40m signing in Haaland, we’ll probably go for a full time striker in the summer, I think we’ll sign Dembele from Lyon for about £50m.
There’s no commitment in this loan, he’s here to help for 6 months and will probably only start a handful of games I’m ok with that.
Honestly don't like this transfer. Rondon, and Bakambu were available for loan too and are both better than him. I get the feeling we got him because he is very eager to play for us and give his all. It's an underwhelming signing. I know it's better than nothing but Rashford is basically our only consistent goal scorer and we lost him so we needed another one this January.
Every top 4 side has a consistent goal scorer and right now we have none and the addition of Ighalo doesn't change that. If Martial doesn't step up and deliver we're not making top 4
Every top 4 side has a consistent goal scorer and right now we have none and the addition of Ighalo doesn't change that. If Martial doesn't step up and deliver we're not making top 4
He has been brought in to be back up and add some competition. He is better than not having anyone and it means we stop putting james as a striker. He won't play much, Martial will still be our main man and Greenwood can continue to develop by getting minutes. This is a good deal, not expensive. We got Bruno but strikers are harder to get in Jan and we messed up Haaland. Hoping for Timo in the summer to permanently replace Martial at top.
I still don’t get what the thought out strategy was with this signing?
You’re lucky I got a thick skin as well as being highly aware that I am indeed an arse of the highest order.
they’re still valid points though. But yeah it would obviously be amazing if he does become some goal machine and if Igoalo becomes a thing, so last I shall say on the matter.
His profile at whoscores.com
+ Strengths
Finishing - Strong
- Weaknesses
Holding on to the ball - very Weak
Offside awareness- Weak
Aerial Duels- Weak
Passing- Weak
Defensive contribution- Weak
So we was not able to use Lukaku in our "system" but we will definitely use some random 30 years old player from China with huge salary who played last match exactly two months ago.
This is getting ridiculous and some people are still defending moves like this one. Well at least we can stop reading stuff like that Olé has no one to play with, that this is not his squad or that the club did not back him. He brought 5 players for more than 200 mil. euro and he let go 8 senior players (with Pogba, Matic, Martial, Rashford, de Gea, Smalling, Shaw and so on already there). Looking forward to significant improvement.
+ Strengths
Finishing - Strong
- Weaknesses
Holding on to the ball - very Weak
Offside awareness- Weak
Aerial Duels- Weak
Passing- Weak
Defensive contribution- Weak
So we was not able to use Lukaku in our "system" but we will definitely use some random 30 years old player from China with huge salary who played last match exactly two months ago.
This is getting ridiculous and some people are still defending moves like this one. Well at least we can stop reading stuff like that Olé has no one to play with, that this is not his squad or that the club did not back him. He brought 5 players for more than 200 mil. euro and he let go 8 senior players (with Pogba, Matic, Martial, Rashford, de Gea, Smalling, Shaw and so on already there). Looking forward to significant improvement.
Exactly. Our options for attackers have been shocking at times lately.
It reminds me of whinging about signing Lee Grant, which was a sensible if unexciting move given our personnel situation.
If our planning includes a buy in the last hours of the transfer window which is jeopardised by the lack of time then yeah, I mean there indeed is some planning, it's just absolutely fecking shit. Potato, potato.
These underdog loan deals are always fun to get behind and he can’t do any worse than Sánchez.
Glad they got this guy in if only to keep Jessie the Linz out of the team.
Surely he will take some of the chances created. Be a different team now with him and Bruno.
Surely he will take some of the chances created. Be a different team now with him and Bruno.
Do you recall Fergie and Ralph Milne?
You are under playing this part of your post.
He could be a facilitator for the attack behind him and see goal uptake across the line.
For example, 4 goals from him and 3+ more for others would be a stellar return.
I think he'll start the majority of our games unless he's really poor. It affords rest and rotation for both Martial and especially Greenwood and Greenwood is far better off the bench than as a starter for now.
Him being an annoying presence for backlines presents more openings for Bruno behind him to take shots on or play others in.
I didn't watch any of it, but how about 2019 African Cup of Nations?
7 goals in qualifying
5 goals in the finals, top scorer
The goals might be variable in quality - I don't know - but they all count, and at least some of them might have been against strong teams, if Nigeria got to the last 4
There was some scepticism when Yorke arrived. Yorke and Cole might be rivals for the same position, how could they both play at once, or was Yorke only going to be a winger?
Ighalo is quoted as saying he grew up watching United with Yorke and Cole
I hope the club play on this potential inspiration and hand him the 19 shirt.
Exactly this. Refreshing to have players who will be eager to play for us. Both Bruno and Odion turned down other clubs to play for us.
You spelt it wrong.
No no no. Positivity alert....run away
Dalian Yifang weren’t willing to loan or sell Rondon according to journalists.
Guys. He's a stopgap loan from a Chinese team.
There's a probability he might not even play alot.
Stop making it like some sort of zlatan on loan.
There's a probability he might not even play alot.
Stop making it like some sort of zlatan on loan.
This man is incredibly photogenic on IG; an absolute Adonis.
Much more slight than my mental recollection, looks like a young 30, rather than a heavy one.
Much more slight than my mental recollection, looks like a young 30, rather than a heavy one.
It’s not the situation I would like our club to be in, making panic buys but the reality is we needed another body up top and things could go from bad to worse if we didn’t get one.
Out of the potential loan names mentioned, Ighalo was perhaps an unfashionable name, I certainly would have preferred Rondon if he was gettable. If I remember correctly Ighalo was prolific in his first season, then went completely of the boil before his move the China. Still, if we can get him sharp in front of goal, and get him the right service, he might bang in a few, then he’ll be a very useful asset until the summer.
Out of the potential loan names mentioned, Ighalo was perhaps an unfashionable name, I certainly would have preferred Rondon if he was gettable. If I remember correctly Ighalo was prolific in his first season, then went completely of the boil before his move the China. Still, if we can get him sharp in front of goal, and get him the right service, he might bang in a few, then he’ll be a very useful asset until the summer.
We haven't bought anyone. It's a non obligation loan.
Don't be too quick to judge, you can only make a proper assessment after he has played.
Bigest club in the world.We are spoiled.
This window feels like how it has been for my wardrobe - threw out a couple of items of clothing I no longer needed/wanted, bought an expenses pair of new pantaloons and have a wedding coming up so will be bringing in a suit on a loan deal till the end of the wedding.
I was out boozing last night so i've literally woken up to the news that Odion Ighalo is a United player, hahaha.
I mean, there were surely better options out there?
Anyway, he's coming, welcome Ighalo and give it a shot lad! If he can nick us a few goals, happy days!
I mean, there were surely better options out there?
Anyway, he's coming, welcome Ighalo and give it a shot lad! If he can nick us a few goals, happy days!
Forget the propaganda from the club that many posters on here swallow, mate. United do not have a transfer strategy, let alone a 'new and improved' one under Ole. We are a reactionary club that approaches transfers in a ridiculous manner and regardless of what they tell you, we do not have a scouting network.
Don't really know much about Ighalo, vaguely remember him playing for Watford, but perhaps for the first time in a while a player is arriving who is not going to be hailed as our 'dream player' the one who will end all our ills... so maybe he will surprise us!
Apparently Andy Cole and Dwight York were his boyhood heroes, so that's something for Ole to work with?
Apparently Andy Cole and Dwight York were his boyhood heroes, so that's something for Ole to work with?
Hopefully he doesn't play until it's an actual crisis. I'd be annoyed if he's starting ahead Greenwood up front.
That said I'd like him to get a goal to mark his time here
That said I'd like him to get a goal to mark his time here
Nice to see this guy turned down Spurs and Inter Milan to come to us knowing its just until the end of the season and only as cover for Rashfords injury. He should be commended And it shows United are still a big draw for players.
watch his assists and goals video on YouTube before you start moaning.
Also look at the ins and outs of every club in this January window available now on sky sports news page. United are the stand out club for doing teh best business, we brought in 3 players and spent the most money by a long way.
watch his assists and goals video on YouTube before you start moaning.
Also look at the ins and outs of every club in this January window available now on sky sports news page. United are the stand out club for doing teh best business, we brought in 3 players and spent the most money by a long way.
The guy is super switched on, humble and bright. Speaks at least three languages fluently, others to different levels and was doing two hours of Chinese daily. Talks about going to China to invest in his family and considered it a sacrifice. Obviously the highlight is where he talks about supporting Manchester United as a kid, re-emphasises that he still supports us by saying “my United”, and saying that his dream club to play for is us.
We are. No doubt. In alot of ways I agree with your criticism.
But why are you bothered about whether they feel 'threatened' by our transfer activity?
You mean like United felt 'threatened' by Jordan Henderson (shite championship level player according to most Utd fans) Mane (never good enough for us apparently) Salah (Chelsea failure), wijnaldum (bargain basement championship fire sale), Matip (shite), Origi (a joke flop), Robertson and Gomez(championship level). European Cup Winners and soon to be Premier League Champions.
In fact Liverpool did that and lost what many United supporters felt was their key man in Coutinho and had a good giggle about that too...
Tell me, honestly at the time of signing, out of those players above how many do you think made us, or Chelsea or City feel 'threatened'? VVD was one signing they made that most fans of rival clubs didn't want them to make. Even then, there were scores of people saying the big clubs should take a punt on him from Celtic...which was all shot down. The second was getting a real goalkeeper in. As decent as the signs were of their improvement, you always felt there were feck ups on the cards with Mignolet and Karius between sticks.
Can imagine the fecking bile spewed on here if Ole was targeting those sorts of players? We've seen it for the last 6 months. 'Brexit FC' 'Clown' ' Clueless'.
Turning it around, we were going giddy about Di Maria, Falcao, Lukaku, Pogba...record signings etc. Even 'best young left back in UK' Luke Shaw....
How's that worked out for us? People were jumping up and down wanting Cavani...a player with a patchy injury record the last few years...he could have been a Zlatan type signing....he could have been a Falcao.
All is far from rosy in our garden. I despise the Glazers, always have. I've no time at all for that gobshite Woodward having anything at all to do with football decisions and I'm far from convinced Ole is the man to move us to those levels.
But I'm not overly bothered as to what other clubs perceive us to be or not be.
We need to ensure that any signings we make are improvements on what we have, or at the very least provide options to rest our important players when games roll in thick and fast.
Spot light is on Maguire due to fee...but he is easily our best CB, AWB is our best RB since Fergie era. Dan James...well for 15 million pound punt...I think he will provide cover on both wings going forward. Agree with what Nev said before Liverpool...anything you get from him this season is a bonus, going forward should he be United first choice on right of left? Can't see it.
Hopefully in Fernandes we have a bit of creativity, but we need more than that to start creating the number of chances we should.
It seems never ending...we still need a top class right winger/forward, a top top class goal scorer and a defensive/deep centre mid. On top of that, a proper class CB partner for Maguire and a left back.
There is a feck load of work to do as you say...and the issue is we have no great trust or confidence in the structure of the club to get it done.
He hasn't played for two months.
Best I can say about this, is I hope we make it another four.
Best I can say about this, is I hope we make it another four.
Given that he hasn't played football in two months, we'll presumably have to wait a while for that. Essentially, it's a pre-season for him now. Ready to play late Feb/early March?
3-4-1-2 then.
If I ever saw this man play, I don't remember, don't recall even hearing his name until the last few days.
Clearly a short term solution, with no expectations
If selected, he deserves our support, and hope he surprises us
From the little, I have discovered in the last few days, he won't be short on effort
Nothing against him, but find it difficult to believe our Scouting team did not have better options
Clearly a short term solution, with no expectations
If selected, he deserves our support, and hope he surprises us
From the little, I have discovered in the last few days, he won't be short on effort
Nothing against him, but find it difficult to believe our Scouting team did not have better options
Their season was due to start on 5th Feb in four days. Ighalo has 16 days until our next match, which is Chelsea away.
Nice find, does seem like a great bloke.