Joao Felix to United doesn't make much sense. Eriksen plays a conservative role which is more so suited to a second-phase profile (hence the interest in Frenkie) and Bruno is the main creator in the team.
That leaves the #9 spot free but his profile isn't what United need *now*.
That leaves the #9 spot free but his profile isn't what United need *now*.
Felix is a guy who's closer to a #10 than a #9 meaning he's not the athletic profile an incomplete United need right now. Athletic #9's simplify the game for transition-based teams (which is what United are now) and enhance the quality of their overall offensive/defensive game.
Look at the impact Jesus made at Arsenal in place of a physically deprived Lacazette. He improved their on-ball game by being a technical focal point in the #9 who could run in behind and that athletic profile also enabled the team to counter-attack/exploit teams in transition.
And from there they can get up the pitch quicker than usual & press high with regularity. It's the basic value of an outlet.
The alternative to that is a technical #9 who drops into midfield & overloads the opposition in those areas, but technical quality must be elite for that.
The alternative to that is a technical #9 who drops into midfield & overloads the opposition in those areas, but technical quality must be elite for that.
It's why City won the league with Foden and Bernardo in the #9, respectively. They had elite technical quality everywhere combined with an overload in midfield because their #9 dropped into midfield to offer an extra option on top of their absurd technical quality.
That's Felix's profile, but that's not what a transition-based United team need. Felix is the cherry on top of the cake, but United need to build the cake's foundations first.
A physical outlet and focal point is what they need, not a technically proficient #10 in the #9.
A physical outlet and focal point is what they need, not a technically proficient #10 in the #9.
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