Nikola Vlasic needs to be given a chance against Crystal Palace this weekend.
The Croatia international finally scored his first goal for the club last time out as the Irons beat Watford 4-1.
And it seems as though he is finally coming good after his £27m arrival in the summer.
It takes some time for David Moyes signings to start impressing properly at the London Stadium and Vlasic is getting there finally.
With Said Benrahma set to leave the club in January to represent Algeria at the Africa Cup of Nations, now is the time for Vlasic to have the chance to actually prove his worth.
Jesse Lingard has been touted as a potential target at the turn of the year but it just doesn’t make sense with Vlasic finally starting to show just how good he can be.
There’s no need to go and get Lingard, either, when the main deficiencies in the squad lie up front and in defence.
It’s time for Vlasic to prove how good he is and ensure that we simply don’t need Lingard.
Yes we do……. and I think we’ll get him
With Benrahma missing for a month on international duty, I agree this is an ideal oppertunity for Vlasic to show what he is capable.
I don’t share the confidence that we will automatically sign Lingard, I can see another will he/ won’t he saga.
We need at least another versatile forward player and Lingard ticks all the boxes.
With Benrahma away for the AFCON, Antonio likely to be called up for WC qualifiers, Yarmalenko possibly leaving, it leaves the squad very exposed in the attacking option’s.
Don’t see Yarmolenko as an attacking option 🙂
Lingard wont sign for us, he is going to wait out his contract and sign for a big club at the end of the season. Unless he is desperate to play for England and puts that over money there is no need for him to do anything, he is safe and sound not playing games so he is not at risk of injury and can then get a huge signing on fee and massive wages signing for another club with deeper pockets and a different wage structure than our clubs. He is a great player but much like for Utd the last few games for us he was quite average so there is no guarantee that he will light up our performances again, more to the point we need a left back, central midfield cover for Rice or Soucek and a genuine striker, we could also do with a left winger Adam Hlozek wouldn’t be bad, our central defence is now very shaky with Dawson and Diop so a genuine leader there would be good aswell as Nat Phillips if we can get him who would be an upgrade on Dawson or Diop.
Getting back to the subject of the post, Vlasic has looked great the last three times I have watched him play, he protects the ball better than Benrahma and takes up different positions making him more of a goal threat, I would like to see him playing as no 10 and Benrahma on the wing see if they alongside Bowen can create more goal threat from open play.
Lingard was outstanding in his first eight or so games , then the goals dried up somewhat in the latter part of his time.
We have Benrahma and Vlasic already under contract, so why add to an already over populated midfield, when we know we need a proven striker and strengthening our defence.
If Man U run true to form they would want a king’s ransom for him which would be better spent developing other parts of the squad.
Also Jesse showed his heart was still at Old Traffird albeit he had a good time with us.
Clearly Lingard doesn’t want us and I for one am not waiting and begging for his grace and favour. Put our effort into Vlasic, like we did with Benrahma, and back your judgement DM. Meanwhile, back in the room, leftie centre back and striker please.
The Lingard saga will probably go on till the end of the window- by then we’ll know who we’ve got and not got. Got a feeling Kretinsky’s influence will determine one or two players.