Realistically if we want to win the CL anytime soon..

[Ronaldo's Mum Eh?]

We need to improve our midfield SIGNIFICANTLY.


I know, I know.. another complain about our midfield thread. But watching Bayern today and how they COMPLETELY nullified Barca's midfield (having Javi and Schweini boss the game), I came to the realization that against the top, top tier teams, we need to have a world-class midfield.


Carrick has been immense this year, no doubt about that. But it's time we look beyond him and bring in CM's who can run the show, defend, and even provide that bit of flair that we're missing. I'm not saying get rid of Carrick. No way. He's been sensational this year. What I'm saying is we shouldn't just stop at Carrick. He's been great, but we need amazing and we need it at CM.

I hope all that made sense as I'm running on a few hours of sleep. But that is what I believe. If we want to win the big ears, we need a world-class CM.


Cliffnotes:
-We need a way better midfield because the standard in Europe is extremely, extremely high right now.

 

[Cevno]

We could have "realistically" won the CL this season, ftr. But yeah, we would have a even better chance improving the midfield.

 

[adexkola]

I've preached this gospel for years.

 

[Ole's_toe_poke]

This is entirely a new theory.

 

[Sarni]

We're not getting a midfielder on a level remotely close to them anytime soon anyway.

 

[Ronnie O'Sullivan]

How about naming some realistic targets? Even so these players would each cost at least £30-50m.

 

[Ronaldo's Mum Eh?]

We could have "realistically" won the CL this season, ftr. But yeah, we would have a even better chance improving the midfield.

Let's be honest.

Bayern most likely would have beaten us, Dortmund would have given us a tough time, and Barcelona are our bogey team.

We're behind.

Listen, Bayern was fantastic last season. And what did they do? They improved their spine up the middle. Brought in Mandzukic who has been class. Martinez who has been tremendous. And finally, Dante who has been sensational.


We need to improve, improve, improve.


Falcao and a box-to-box CM anyone?

 

[Ronaldo's Mum Eh?]

We're not getting a midfielder on a level remotely close to them anytime soon anyway.

How about naming some realistic targets? Even so these players would each cost at least £30-50m.

Literally break the bank for Gundogan.

Pay dortmund whatever they want.

Up to 40M. Just get it done.

 

[Eboue]

Literally?

 

[Sarni]

Literally break the bank for Gundogan.

Pay dortmund whatever they want.

Up to 40M. Just get it done.

Not a solution, he's good but not that good and Dortmund can't sell.

 

[bosnian_red]

We can win the champions league with the team we have now and the right tactics, but I think if we want to consistently be a match for those teams, and not have to resort to playing on the break and taking our chances always, then we definitely need a better midfield. We should want to be able to go toe to toe with the very best teams, not always changing our team like we did against Madrid so we can break effectively. Bayern today put in a more positive team then we ever would against Barcelona because they have a midfield who can hold its own against anyone. Ours isn't near that which is why we have to sacrifice some better attacking players for some defensive minded players, or people who simply have good work rate, so we can stay tight at the back.

 

[Ronaldo's Mum Eh?]

Not a solution, he's good but not that good and Dortmund can't sell.

He is that good.

And he steps it up in every big game. He's going to keep getting better. I saw the match day thread and a lot of posters were saying we needed Martinez. I have a feeling we will be saying the same thing about Gundogan when Madrid snap him up.

 

[Sarni]

We can win the champions league with the team we have now and the right tactics, but I think if we want to consistently be a match for those teams, and not have to resort to playing on the break and taking our chances always, then we definitely need a better midfield. We should want to be able to go toe to toe with the very best teams, not always changing our team like we did against Madrid so we can break effectively. Bayern today put in a more positive team then we ever would against Barcelona because they have a midfield who can hold its own against anyone. Ours isn't near that which is why we have to sacrifice some better attacking players for some defensive minded players, or people who simply have good work rate, so we can stay tight at the back.

Nail on the head, if Chelsea could win it after beating Barcelona and Bayern then anyone can but I don't want us to do it by defending for 90% of the game and counting on being extremely lucky in few counter attacks that we produce. Fair play to anyone who manages to win it against the odds but the ultimate goal is to create a side capable of dominating anyone. Bayern managed it, Barcelona managed it in the last few years, we should be aiming to be up there with them.

 

[Ronnie O'Sullivan]

At the rate everyone is eyeing Dortmund players they will soon have £500m in the bank and only 5 players on their books!

 

[Cevno]

Let's be honest.

Bayern most likely would have beaten us, Dortmund would have given us a tough time, and Barcelona are our bogey team.

We're behind.

Listen, Bayern was fantastic last season. And what did they do? They improved their spine up the middle. Brought in Mandzukic who has been class. Martinez who has been tremendous. And finally, Dante who has been sensational.

Eh we only bought RVP and Kagawa.

Anyway, assuming we had Real's path after going through, we would be favorites to make the final. And even there Against Bayern it would be a close match either way.

We are might be slightly behind if anything and can improve in certain areas but let's not go overboard here.

 

[Cevno]

At the rate everyone is eyeing Dortmund players they will soon have £500m in the bank and only 5 players on their books!

New Arsenal.

 

[Cevno]

Literally?

 

[Sarni]

At the rate everyone is eyeing Dortmund players they will soon have £500m in the bank and only 5 players on their books!

They'll lose Lewandowski and if Götze is leaving for Bayern then I throw my assumption that some of their players will be happy to stay for a long time out of the window. I think they'll be very reluctant to sell more than those two in the Summer but if Barca come in for Hummels he might go.

 

[AttackingFlair]

Martinez is the midfielder we should've broke the bank for imo, would've been able to form a partnership alongside Carrick and also we wouldn't be fecked if Carrick got injured.

Ideally now we'd get one holding midfielder and one more creative but still plays deep.

 

[Ronaldo's Mum Eh?]

Eh we only bought RVP and Kagawa.

Anyway, assuming we had Real's path after going through, we would be favorites to make the final. And even there Against Bayern it would be a close match either way.

We are might be slightly behind if anything and can improve in certain areas but let's not go overboard here.

RVP was the type of signing I'm talking about. Players that can drastically improve us. Kagawa was more of a luxury buy.

Bayern bought players in areas they needed strengthening in the most. Defence and midfield. We need to do that as well.

 

[JakeC]

Haven't heard this theory, it's a bit left of kilter.

 

[AttackingFlair]

Wouldn't call Kagawa a luxury buy, he just needs time to settle in and more playing time, even if it means on the left which I don't mind personally myself. Better than Young out there imo.

 

[Theon]

I think Rooney would be great there. We would need to fully commit so he learns the role, it's not something you can half-arse. Then play Kagawa in front of him with RVP.

Either that or buy Wilshere

 

[Wittmann45]

I think this is going to be a very interesting window. Fergie's career is nearing its inevitable end unfortunately, and the signing of Van Persie seems to signal that money is being spent for the present, and not on young players with potential.

Fergie wants another CL trophy. By all accounts he was too crushed after Madrid to even do a post-match interview. He has always been more then willing to air his grievances to the press after a controversial loss, but the Madrid game seemed like it really hurt him

He knows he only has a few years left, I think we're going all out in Europe next year...

 

[ghaliboy]

We are the only team in Europe without a limited skill on the ball out and out ball winning midfielder.

 

[Ryan's Beard]

Literally?

Figuratively spend large amounts of our money.

 

[Hal9000]

Scholes retiring again, Anderson not really progressing and Fletcher missing almost another whole season. I'm sure Fergie won't just leave us with Cleverley, Carrick and Giggs next year.... or maybe this is why we've seen Rooney play in central midfield recently.

 

[LR7]

This isn't my view but I think it's unlikely that we will get the type of player people are after. Sir Alex is likely to look at the situation as: Carrick at his peak, Cleverley developing nicely, and all jokes aside, he clearly thinks very very highly of Phil Jones and seeing as he is unlikely to displace Rio, Vidic and Evans for a long run at CB I'm sure SAF will see him as the short term answer to our midfield deficiencies (yes, I know, he isn't).

Fletcher is back doing light work apparently so SAF will be hopeful he gets a good preseason and can contribute. Powell is likely to get a few more games here and there. Rooney even if he's not converted to a CM has at least shown he can play there if needed so SAF knows he has an option.

Anderson will probably leave and will need to be replaced imo but if anyone thinks he will be replaced by someone world class I think it's wishful thinking. I think he will be replaced with someone of around Anderson's level (just less injury prone).

It would be nice to have a midfield with the ability to go toe to toe with the other European elite teams, but my opinion is that SAF is happy to sit back and break on the counter in Europe and I reckon his opinion might be that we were able to deal with Madrid for 130mins so only minimal tweaking will be needed.

 

[AngeloHenriquez]

Fletcher can hopefully be a new signing, that would be good but its hard to hold out too much expectation, although I agree we need a MF, I still as others have said; find it unlikely that SAF will go for one.

 

[Amir]

The point is, we can't expect to winning the CL by 'getting by'. The level at the top is extremely high and demanding. Bayern felt they needed something different in midfield last summer, so they went and signed Javi Martinez for 40m euro. Problem solved. Us, aside from Cleverley and Carrick, it's all sort of compromises like Giggs and Jones. It won't be enough in Europe.

Just like Fergie pushed the boat in 1998 by getting Yorke, Stam and Blomqvist, and then with the four signings of 2007 (though long term they didn't work out as well, first season they all did a good job), it's what we need to do now if we want to return to the top in Europe.

 

[AngeloHenriquez]

I think SAF know this... and tbf the last time we spent major (07 with Nani Ando etc) we actually reclaimed the title from the previous year, its almost as if the year we reclaim the title is the year SAF thinks, lets keep it strong and reinforce...

 

[Sky1981]

Literally break the bank for Gundogan.

Pay dortmund whatever they want.

Up to 40M. Just get it done.

Dude, this is not FM, even in FM the player won't even negotiate with you citing he's not interested in joining your club.

Seriously

 

[AARRONB06]

Does anybody not think Kags would be good in a CM role with Carrick?

 

[Dirty Schwein]

Kagawa should be trusted to play in the 'hole' behind the strikers as that is where he excelled in the past.

 

[Godfather]

Does anybody not think Kags would be good in a CM role with Carrick?

No

 

[Sky1981]

Does anybody not think Kags would be good in a CM role with Carrick?

That's like using a bread knife to cut a steak, it does the job, but who will fill the hole? we bought another striker to put him there?

If we need a DM, but a specialist DM

Flexible players should be use sparingly to cover for injuries and tactical needs, not to permanently by plugged into other position.

Specially with Rooney this irks me alot

Rooney on the wing < Valencia or Nani
Rooney in the mid < Scholes (albeit he got youths and stamina on his side)
Rooney as AM < Kagawa

Jack of all trades are good and necessary in every team, but if your top player is the jacks, that doesn't bode well.

 

[dar10nian]

We should sign Gareth Bale. Strong, super quick with an eye for goal. Players like Bale and Jones will help us match the likes of Bayern physically. Bale plus a dominant central midfielder and we'll be able to take on anyone without too much worry.

 

[Godfather]

We should sign Gareth Bale. Strong, super quick with an eye for goal. Players like Bale and Jones will help us match the likes of Bayern physically. Bale plus a dominant central midfielder and we'll be able to take on anyone without too much worry.

That would cost us about 80 millions. Bale plus a quality CM that is.

 

[Theon]

Kagawa should be trusted to play in the 'hole' behind the strikers as that is where he excelled in the past.

Definitely, problem is where to put Rooney though. One reason I am open to the CM experiment. Rather him there than out on the left, hate playing him on the wing.

 

[RK]

Your opinion isn't worthy of a new thread.