[NOT HAPPENING] Ethan Laird

Discussion in 'The Transfer List' started by LeedsOrn, Jul 28, 2022.

  1. LeedsOrn

    LeedsOrn Reservist

  2. Moose

    Moose First Team Captain

    As long as he’s not a tub of laird like Tufan.
     
  3. NathWFC

    NathWFC First Team

    Ngakia must be finished here then, if true.
     
    Burnsy likes this.
  4. Keighley

    Keighley First Team

    Prefer Ethan Rye-Falls.
     
  5. Heidar

    Heidar Squad Player

    Presumably Gaspar is being lined up to play Cassetti RCB role, Laird in, Ngakia backup.
     
  6. Moose

    Moose First Team Captain

    Ban?
     
  7. Malteser2

    Malteser2 Reservist

    This would be a very smart move IMO. Decent promising young player who has Championship experience.
     
    Supertommymooney likes this.
  8. a19tgg

    a19tgg First Team

    It’s a no from me, we can’t have big egos in the squad acting like Laird of the manor.
     
  9. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    I’ve also heard he’s a bit of a trouble maker, a bit of a Jack the Laird.
     
    a19tgg likes this.
  10. Jumbolina

    Jumbolina First Team

    This bloke is decent if I remember?
     
  11. tonycotonstache

    tonycotonstache Squad Player

    Hello Hooray
     
  12. tonycotonstache

    tonycotonstache Squad Player

    Another Pozzo freebie loan signing. I feel increasingly like we are being Laird to again by the owner.
     
  13. Ybotcoombes

    Ybotcoombes Justworkedouthowtochange

    What a nice day
     
  14. Burnsy

    Burnsy First Team

    Would be a great addition. ‘Change of culture’ aside, I’d still be shocked if United loaned us a player when he has someone like Gaspar potentially in competition. Probably wouldn’t happen but there’s scope for another ‘Garner’ situation and I’d think that might be enough to put United off. Surely just send him somewhere he plays a guaranteed 35+ games?

    If it happens, then getting Ngakia a move must happen.
     
    PowerJugs likes this.
  15. Keighley

    Keighley First Team

    For Ethan Rye-Falls.
     
  16. Moose

    Moose First Team Captain

    Ban?
     
    Keighley likes this.
  17. lowerrous

    lowerrous First Team

    He was good at Swansea, but then got injured, recalled and sent to Bournemouth, where soon after he was injured again. When eventually available he didn't impress much and only played 374 minutes for them.

    If he can get back to how he was at Swansea he'll be an asset, but he was crap in early pre-season for Utd, seeming timid and lacking some of the rapid pace he's meant to have. He'd have had another two weeks though to hopefully sharpen up.

    As an aside, Cyrus Christie seems to have done slightly better for Swansea last season than Laird did, so we'll be gambling a bit on Laird improving. A concern based on Muff and pre-season is that he's actually gone backwards, but it'll be a test of Edwards to unleash his potential.
     
    Last edited: Jul 28, 2022
    Jumbolina likes this.
  18. lowerrous

    lowerrous First Team

    Some Swansea fans' thoughts - interesting considering some on here were turning their noses up at the Cyrus Christie links earlier:

    "Christie is genuinely an upgrade on Laird, who would have thought."

    "Not so long ago certain posters were having a pop at Martin etc over the Laird recall back to Man Utd and basically saying poor management by him and others. . However we signed Christie instead and he is probably a %100 better than Laird more attack minded stockier and scores goals i No comparison really just hope it can be a permanent move come the summer"

    "Cyrus definitely seems the better player for now, although I'm sure Laird will grow into a top player. But that doesn't change the fact that it was a disaster to lose Laird, and there was a fair amount of luck in finding such a great replacement."

    "I do think Christie offers more than Laird in experience and physicality especially."

    "Christie was excellent, and definitely showing more experience to Laird from an attacking perspective. His defensive experience helps. He's also physically a unit. he's a steal. I hope we can afford to sign him permanently in the summer."
     
  19. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    Mainly seem to talk about the difference in experience- particularly when attacking .

    Maybe that will improve in Laird over time ?

    I think the main complaint on here is that we have too many older players and need to look at younger ones .

    Having said that Christie is 29 so hardly past it.

    Gaspar is older but as he has more proven pedigree people are exited but him coming .
     
  20. LeedsOrn

    LeedsOrn Reservist

    He didn’t get injured at Swansea. Played in every match there and was excellent. United then decided that he was too good for Swansea so sent him to Muff who were playing at a slightly higher level but have a lot of competition at RB. Didn’t really get a look in, then got injured, eventually he played four matches and was quite highly regarded by their fans before losing his space again. Think Parker just didn’t fancy him for whatever reason but I wouldn’t read too much into that.

    Don’t know if Christie did better per se at Swansea but he was perfectly decent and I don’t know why the link caused such consternation on here as unglamorous as he is. That said, you’d imagine that Laird’s standards this season given that he is just 20 and was already pretty good last season and has had a steep improvement curve of late, will be substantially higher than Christie’s.
     
  21. lowerrous

    lowerrous First Team

    Yes he did get injured at Swansea - in their game vs Nottingham Forest on 11th December, he went off at half-time and that was his last game for them:

    https://www.unitedinfocus.com/news/...-swansea-defeat-against-james-garners-forest/

    Also, in line with the Swansea fans' comments above, "excellent" seems a bit of an exaggeration.

    Nope, it seems he was never really fit from the get go at Bournemouth:

    "Ethan Laird's wait for a Cherries debut looks set to drag into February as the loanee continues to nurse an injury. The Manchester United full-back has been struggling with an unspecified knock since arriving at the club earlier this month. Laird, who featured regularly on loan at Swansea City during the first half of this season, has not played since a 4-1 defeat with the Swans against Nottingham Forest on December 11. And the 20-year-old will not be ready to face Hull City on Saturday"

    https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/s...an-laird-among-four-injured-cherries-players/

    Looking both at the stats and Swansea's opinions on the two, Christie definitely seems to have done "better per se". They thought Laird lacked a bit of an engine and got caught stranded up field often, and also that Christie was more dangerous in attack (backed up by his better goals and assists output when there).

    I've watched Laird a couple of times in pre-season for Utd and if anything his "steep improvement curve of late" appears to have been a downward curve (since Swansea). As per my comment above, he's been one of Utd's weaker players in pre-season and has seemed very timid and lacking in the kind of pace I thought he was meant to possess (I'm aware it's pre-season, but even relative to his team-mates). Again, as per my comment above Edwards will really have some work cut out to get him back in form.

    I'm not as down on him joining on loan as I was with Garner last time around, who I knew was going to be a flop, but my current feeling is that Laird will be solid but not spectacular. Just about good enough for a side to reach the playoffs with, with others pulling their weight, but not someone who's going to help drag us to HMS PTL territory. He might be a tad more conscientious than Kiko defensively, but def won't offer as much in attack and dynamism as Kiko would have done.

    I wonder if he'll be guaranteed a starting role here, or will rotate with Gaspar for the spot. I'd at least be more comfortable about the idea if the plan is more for him as a rotation option, as he's def still an improvement on Ngakia there at the very least.
     
    Last edited: Jul 28, 2022
  22. wfcSinatra

    wfcSinatra Predictor Choker 14/15

    Became a very good back up to Saelemaekers in one of my FM saves so it’s a yes from me.
     
  23. barely1egal

    barely1egal Reservist

    Would signing a 29 year old back up to a 31 year old be a sensible decision when we are trying to drop the age profile of the squad?

    Would Christie want to come if he knew he was playing second choice?

    Laird as competition / rotation for Gaspar seems an interesting option. Different profile of player to Gaspar, and with his speed (note your comment above) probably offers a useful impact of the bench. If he can find his Swansea form he would be a real asset and if not, I am sure he is still good enough to play back up.

    Provided his wages arent nuts and Gaspar's legs are knackered. Laird seems a low risk, HG signing in a position we need and has the potential of a great upside.
     
  24. Hogg-DEENEY!!!

    Hogg-DEENEY!!! Squad Player

    Only thing is that surely United won't do what they did with us with Garner and let us have him without any assurances from their side, he's already suffered because of it at Muff, Christie may want first team football, but at least doesn't have the issue of a parent club to deal with
     
    The undeniable truth likes this.
  25. Hogg-DEENEY!!!

    Hogg-DEENEY!!! Squad Player

    Seen it suggested on social media that we might try Gaspar at RCB after all, I don't know if Edwards is considering that at all, but it does seem a bit odd that we're going for 2 players who would surely be looking for a spot in the first XI, all while we have another right-sided defender just kicking his heels without any sign of a loan or transfer away
     
  26. Markoa$

    Markoa$ Squad Player

    I think this makes perfect sense which is why it won’t happen.

    Gaspar has only signed a 2 year deal.
    Laird’s contract ends next summer, Man United do have the option of a 1 year extension. Maybe in the loan deal we will have an option to buy for x amount next summer if promotion is achieved.

    If we end up with Clarke, Laird, Bielik and maybe one more HG player depending on outgoings, we will have a very good squad.

    Never happening though, so welcome Hause who has had no preseason and recovering from knee surgery. Garner back for his second coming of being crap and Andre Wisdom because he once played for Liverpool.
     
    foxywfc likes this.
  27. LeedsOrn

    LeedsOrn Reservist

    It does seem that he missed the last handful of games in the latter part of December with injury - you’re right. Don’t know why those matches don’t come up on Transfermarkt. Apologies.

    That said, I disagree with much of the rest of your post. You have your anecdata which suggests that Swansea fans preferred Christie. Whereas what I am aware of is that a) Russell Martin (and most Swansea fans too) was furious when United sent him over to Muff and b) Christie is currently on a free and Swansea are not interested in resigning him. To me, that speaks volumes.

    If we take Laird’s trajectory season by season:
    At 19, a first season in senior football at MK Dons, performing well in League One
    At 20, a first season in the Championship, with almost 2000 mins and an almost ever present for over four months, making 20 successive appearances. He’s been linked with Ajax this season whereas it looks like Christie will end up at Birmingham.
     
  28. miked2006

    miked2006 Premiership Prediction League Proprietor

    He’s a good player. Definitely a decent championship player with potential to be a mid table PL wing back.

    He would likely already be a PL player if he didn’t get a fairly significant injury at a key stage of his development.

    I’d rather we signed him with a buy back, but he gives us good depth at right back, as Ngakia clearly isn’t a top level wing back.
     
  29. folkestone orn

    folkestone orn Squad Player

    For those getting excited by this rumour, remember how average/pointless James Garner was for us
     
  30. Malteser2

    Malteser2 Reservist

    Yes but isn’t that like applying the strange logic that just because one player you had on loan from a certain club wasn’t great, ergo the next one must be poor too?

    Like saying you once had a bad date with a girl called Sarah so you will never date anybody with that name ever again?
     
  31. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    We won’t sign Bielik. He will stay in the midlands.
     
  32. lowerrous

    lowerrous First Team

    They were initially furious, but still ended up replacing him with a player who did better.

    You conveniently skip the second half of last season in your supposed "season by season" trajectory overview.

    I've also actually watched him play 2 pre-season games this summer and he didn't impress - seeming like a player still struggling to regain his form.

    Christie is training with Brum at the moment but hasn't signed for them - the issue with him is that he's turning 30 in a couple of months and will likely be after as long a contract as possible, which may put off suitors. While Laird is only a loan and therefore far less risk, and with the possible upside of being able to sign a player with long-term potential on a permanent deal if he does well. But at this moment in time, if one were to guess which would perform better over the next one season alone, Christie would likely still have the edge.

    And Laird being "linked" with Ajax means little - have they actually tried to sign him? Do they want him as first choice? Nonsense rumors occur all the time.
     
  33. LaClusazSki

    LaClusazSki Reservist

    Poor 'big time Charlie' attitude and not rated by Scott Parker while at Bournemouth.
    Let's move on from this one.
     
  34. LeedsOrn

    LeedsOrn Reservist

    If Christie was sooo good for Swansea and so much better than Laird, why haven’t they resigned him. They currently need a RWB too.

    I didn’t include the second part of last season in my analysis as a stand-alone part of my season by season analysis, a) because he was injured for much of it and b) because when he played he played well and Bournemouth fans wanted him to be retained in the side over their other RB options. That doesn’t strike me as a concerning loss of form.

    I follow a lot of Championship fans, analysts and podcasts on Twitter and almost all rate Laird a lot more highly than Christie. If he does sign, keep an eye out for the reaction from other clubs’ fans on Twitter - it will be overwhelmingly positive.

    I don’t know why you’re putting so much weight on 58 minutes played in pre-season friendlies. Genuinely baffling.

    Laird is a very strong players and will be one of the premium loans to the Championship this season. It looked for a while like he would be headed to greener pastures than the EFL so if we get him that’s cracking. A couple of ‘cope’ posts in the Swansea forum, especially posts collated by you to prove your point, do not convince me otherwise. But happy to agree to disagree and revisit (should he come here) at the end of the season.
     
  35. BigRossLittleRoss

    BigRossLittleRoss First Team

    Coming from United he'll have a superiority complex, acting all lairdy-da.
     
    Moose likes this.

Share This Page