Our best central midfield pairing?

Grunge

Of all (assuming they are fit) fit options to choose from;

Carrick, Jones, Scholes, Anderson, Giggs, Cleverly, Park, Gibson plus Rooney perhaps? And not forgetting academy / reserves.

Assuming a 4-4-2, I have most liked the Carrick - Jones combination in recent matches in the absence of Cleverly but now perhaps Jones and Scholes might be most productive, though I don't know that Scholes can last more than 45 min?

My first pick would be Carrick or Cleverly with Jones and Scholes as the sub option.

Your number one choice would be???

RonaldoVII

I'd like to see Carrick and Cleverley. It has potential to be good.

gza the genius

Carrick and who ever else manages to be fit, when Cleverley is back I'd love to see that pairing.

ha_rooney

Carrick and Cleverley. Jones as the 3rd midfielder if we play 4-5-1.

RK

We've got too many central midfielders.

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Ekeke

Best combinations so far this season have been Cleverley and Anderson as well as more recently Carrick and Jones. Unsurprisingly these were also the combinations we were using when we were picking up lots of points.

Dion

Carrick and Cleverley (although they've barely played together, they've been the standouts).

rcoobc

Carrick-Jones-Cleverley will be the future in my opinion, Carrick-Giggs took us to the Champions League final and handed us the Premier League last season. I would love to see Scholes as deep lying play maker and Jones-Giggs and someone else defending him.

Number 1 choice to see us dominate would be Carrick-Jones-Cleverley.
Number 1 choice against a midfield centric team would be Giggs-Carrick-Jones.
Number 1 choice against a wing based team would be Giggs-Carrick.

RDCR07

For people who want Carrick-Jones-Cleverley, are you guys suggesting leaving Berba, Hernandez and Welbeck on the bench with Rooney playing up top?

pocco

Rooney and Welbeck aren't going anywhere.

rcoobc

Yup, indeed. Some games may require it, because Rooney does not offer the same in midfield that any of those 3 do.

Cutch

Carrick and Cleverley has the makings of an excellent partnership. Both are tactically aware and comfortable in possession. Carrick offers the defence good security and Cleverley uses the ball quickly and sharply. Basically as close as we can get to recreating the Scholes-Carrick partnership of 06/07. Our other centre midfield options (with the obvious exception of Scholes) do not keep the ball well enough imo.

Grunge

Lindy
Rio Smalling
Rafa Evra
Jones
Carrick

Valencia Nani
Rooney
Welbeck

Jones as "holding" with Carrick, Cleverly &/or Scholes to be the "play-maker"

Rood

Carrick and Jones was starting to look a good combo to me - perfect fit of cultured Carrick and bulldog Jones - shame that injuries broke up the partnership, I hope we see it again.

Cutch

Why would you want Jones holding instead of Carrick who's the expert at it? Restricting Jones from gettin forward is absurd surely?

gambit28

Cleverley and Anderson.

nemanja15

Cleverley-Carrick
Cleverley-Anderson
Carrick-Scholes
Carrick-Giggs

With no Fletcher on the scene it is probably one of those four in a 4-4-2.

2red4U

cw1984

This.

Cold_Boy

Carrick - Cleverley

Carrick - Jones

Cleverley - Anderson.

Decotron

cj_sparky

This was looking like a good partnership until Cleverley got injured.

evra

Based on the evidence of this season it's certainly Cleverley-Anderson.

kundalini

Cleverley + Anderson

Ole's_toe_poke

Rafael-Park

Hellboy

Carrick - Clev or Anderson - Clev

Average Joe

This. In that order of preference.

charlenefan

Based on the performances you'd have to say it's Cleverley and Anderson

A 3 of Cleverley, Carrick and Jones though I feel would have a real chance of beating anyone, Carrick starting attacks from the back, Jones going box to box and Cleverley for the decisive final pass. Would love us to start with those against Arsenal in a couple of weeks (Shame Cleverley wont be fit though)

The_Midfielder

Anderson--Cleverly--- Carrick

Also, would like to see

Anderson--- Clev---Jones

sammsky1

Scholes & Giggs

Brosstan

Am I the only one who fears that Cleverley is being hyped up way above his level because of the apparent correlation between our dip in form with his injury?

Im not denying that he was a bit of a revelation early this season, but its not as if he personally pulled the strings, assisted all the goals and was the main man in midfield all the time. He was part of a team where everyone played well. Anderson was also part of that exellent run of games, and hes gone severely off the boil since then.

Carrick Giggs for me. They complement each other very well.

I would really like to see Carrick - Cleverley as well though, just saying that we dont really have that many games to base the "Cleverley is our best creative midfielder" talk on.

Some games, a Carrick and any 2 of Cleverley, Giggs, Jones and Ando trio will also be needed against tough opponents, but at the moment our best attacking play really seems to be with Rooney and Welbeck playing together up top, so finding a good duo that we could play together consistently week in week out would be great. Giggs cant do that for obvious reasons, but he and Clev could rotate.

Decotron

Probably not the thread for it but another thing in Cleverleys favour is his fantastic understanding with Welbeck. Serious potential in that one imo

Plechazunga

It's worth remembering that Anderson and Welbeck were as much part of our lovely passing interplay in the first few weeks as Cleverley and Rooney. Cleverley and Welbeck in particular had a good understanding.

If it was 4-5-1 / 4-3-3 I'd go Carrick-Anderson-Cleverley. Jones is not at that level in terms of interpassing.

EDIT whoops, missed your post Decotron

ArmchairCritic

Yes, better balance too with a left footer in a midfield 3.

Cal?

This will be interesting...

I'm always right

Agreed, all evidence points to this.

Interested to see a Carrick Cleverley partnership though.

golden_blunder

Carrick-Giggs hasn't done that badly that everyone forgets about it!?

Randall Flagg

Cleverley-Carrick-Anderson

Pexbo

Potentially I agree. Nani and Young wide, Rooney up top on his own and Welbeck and Hernandez offering game changing tactical options from the bench.

rcoobc

Getting taken apart by the best team in the world has reduced their standing on the caf somewhat.