Search for the Chosen CM to bring balance to The Force...errr Formation

Devil may care

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So Lord Louis has identified the need to add a box to box CM to balance out the creative CM's we have and has no doubt dispatched the probe droids, I mean scouts. Ok enough with the limp Star Wars gags. I think he is spot on and there are a few potential options out there, and since this is something the manager actually said was on the summer transfer list I'd say it merits a topic.

Here's a few vids to start us of, couldn't find one of Allan from Udinese who I think is an underrated option ably showcased in his recent nullifying of Pogba.









 
This last one is a bit young but looks the real deal when I've seen him and we could do with getting in on the ground floor with a young CM as it's not an area we are strong in youth-wise. In truth he'd be an extra as opposed to the main choice at this stage.

 
This Ander Herrara lad looks perfect for us, how much can we get him for?
 
I think Koke is pretty much perfect. Age, style, quality and experience.

You forget he's barely a year older than Pogba.
 
There is this midfielder from Bilbao who looked really impressive a few seasons ago. I wonder what happened to him?
 
If we are to buy a new #8 I hope it's someone that has played in the premier league. So therefore I hope it's pogba :drool:
 
I love Veratti, but I'd still have some reservations because of his size. But I suppose Scholes looked after himself, and Veratti certainly appears feisty.

Pogba, for me, would be the best option. I think he'll be the best midfielder in the world pretty soon.
 
As much as we'd love Herrera to be that guy, obviously Van Gaal doesn't feel the same. So we look at the options.

Out of those, any of the first 4 would be excellent. Koke, Schneiderlin, Naingollan(sp?) and especially Pogba would all excel in that position.
Niguez and Tielemans would also be good buys but as OP stated, they'd be extras, not the main option. For me, anyway.
 
limerickcitykid said:
Morgan Schneiderlin is who I want. I like Matuidi too but he seems happy at PSG.
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Now that you mention him, he does seem to fit the role. However, PSG are bitches to deal with. Him and Verratti are pretty much impossible to get.
 
Bring in Tielemans and he can replace Carrick gradually as he progressively gets older. He's going to be a really, really good player.
 
I do not understand why Herrera can't play that role :/. Van Gaal philosophy is pretty daft if he does not believe that role suits him well.

My ideal realistic midfield duo:

Blind/Carrick - Herrera/Kovacic.
 
Personally think we need 2, We've lost Anderson/Fletcher/Cleverley - 3 midfielders who was in our squad this season, Van Gaal said he doesn't see Herrera as a CM and Van Gaal likes Fellaini as a forward, how much can we expect from Carrick next season?

Schneiderlin & Pogba would be great.
 
Koke would be great but I can see him sticking with Atletico for his whole career if they continue to be a fairly strong force.
 
Thielemans + one of Schneiderlin/Pogba/Vidal. I would have said Koke, but i dont see him moving. What abou Kovacic/Pjanic? Would love one of them too. There are plenty of options, hopefully not Strootman.
 
Nainggolan has really impressed me whenever I watched him, I really just want somebody comfortable on the ball
 
Gopher Brown said:
What even is a 'box to box midfielder?'

Was Keane one? Was Scholes one? Fletcher? Darron Gibson?
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Just a midfielder whose equally capable of contributing offensively and defensively and has the stamina to switch between the two when required. Keane and Robson are probably the two biggest reference points in our history. Paul Ince would be another I suppose.

People say we need one, but I think its increasingly difficult to find any 'proper' ones in the modern game. The pace of the game has increased so the required levels of stamina to play such a role as someone like Keane did would be insane. That's why now you generally see teams line up with more clearly delineated defensive and attacking midfielders these days, it's very rare to find players who have both the skills and the stamina to be a true all-rounder.

Recently the term seems to be applied to any midfielder who's capable of contributing both ways. Yaya Toure's one of those players, but whilst he's capable of being an defensive midfielder or an attacking one, he's incapable of constantly switching between both roles on the fly in the way the likes of Robson or Keane used to. Ultimately I think changes in the game have killed off the kind of player people are looking for/harking back to.
 
If Vidal can manage to go back to his pre injury form for summer, then we have a clear winner.

Koke would be my second choice. Pjanic would be awesome as well... someone able to dictate the tempo of our game.
 
Can we not make this about Herrera? Whether you agree or not the manager has stated his intent to buy another CM and seems to see Herrera as an AM.

Paolo Di Canio said:
Nainggolan has really impressed me whenever I watched him, I really just want somebody comfortable on the ball
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Yes he has been excellent this season, Roma's best and most consistent CM. He'd be level with Schneiderlin as my second tier option.
 
Van Gaal in his latest interview stated that he wanted a midfielder to give balance to his more creative players or at least I understood that way. SO no need to panic with Herrera coming off. I believe he is his not favourite player but hopefully he is sane enough to see what he brings to the team so he will give him chance and he will prove himself..

I think he was talking about a player like Strootman/Vidal or just a player who is not afraid to stuck in and who can do just about anything.

Herrera is still very good option even he is not strong enough he can win a lot of balls but we can use him as this creative player and add some more steel or what LVG needs. Pogba could be obviously the best signing as he can do just about anything.. I wouldn't even mind if he is overpriced, we will get the money back from marketing.. From home scene I would take Schneiderlin or even Wanyama.. MCcarthy and Barkley
 
I distinctly remember a thread like this that was made in 2004. Something along the lines of "our next midfield general".

We signed Carrick.
 
Vidal, and Koke would be my preference. An in form/fit Vidal would be the perfect player for this United team (with a disciplined DM like Blind or Carrick behind him). Koke would be great too but extremely expensive.
 
The 1 player who would balance the side is a wide attacker.

Di Maria-Blind-Herrera isn't perfect, but it's pretty damn good. Lots of the big teams play with a midfield composed of 1 holder, one all-around type and a mobile hard-working type who looks to get forward or wide.
 
The Metro have us linked with a £20M move for Gundogan, he was my Muppet CM signing along with Vidal a couple of years ago but I don't know now. I have watched him a few times since he returned, and while the passing and control in tight spaces is still there, his engine looked a bit blunted, it may just be a case of needing to get his game fitness back up to speed, but it would be a risk.

Vid of his highlights since he returned.

 
Just bite the bullet and pay through the nose for Pogba, he'll be worth it.
 
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