Can Savic play wide tho? With our full backs we will be lacking width in that formation and will be more predictable.
Do we need to spend €100 million on direct competition, though? Because that's one of the biggest issues with any proposed move for Milinković-Savić — you'll have to pay a world-record fee (for central midfielders) to prise him from Lazio — aside from the fact that he's almost definitely not going to accept a “competition for Pogba” role at the age of 23 when he could very well start (on a consistent basis) for a close-to-elite club in the near future.
Neves
Neither Carrick or Fellaini have been first team players this season though. Given that Fred will cost £40m+ and SMS reportedly £80m+, that's pretty expensive for squad players. If we were to play a 433 next season, then signing one of Fred or SMS makes sense to play RCM alongside Pogba and Matic. Fred, if anything, makes more sense as he'll sit deeper alongside Matic and help dictate the play, which will allow Pogba greater freedom to roam forward. SMS is much better in that Pogba role, so it can hypothetically work if both him and Pogba take turns going forward and back. However, I'd still feel like we'd be lacking a bit of technical ability from a deep lying play making sense in the latter case.
My preference is to buy Fred and play him in midfield with Matic and Pogba.
Which would be quite idiotic to pay 100 million for a Fellaini replacement. I absolutely get the Javier Pastore vibe from this Savic hyping not because they are similar in talent or position etc. but the way they both are/were talked about in Italy. Anyone remember how that mad bastard Maurizio Zamparini talked about Pastore as if he was the second coming of Jesus? He said that Real and Barca need to pay 70 million for buying just a leg of Pastore in 2011. And he sold him to PSG a couple of months later for 40 million
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis did absolutely the same thing with Cavani too. I'm not saying Savic is shit but the crafty Italians definitely love to hype their players to no end to get as much money as they can get. Savic isn't worth even half of that amount imo.I can agree with improving the quality of the squad, but I'd prefer doing that by primarily improving the quality of the first team. I think we currently have a very strong squad, but where we're lacking compared to City is in the quality of specific areas of our team. So, I'd much prefer us to spend on specifically closing that gap in terms of the first team. With regards to our midfield, even if Fellaini and Carrick are to leave, we still have a reasonable number of midfielders: Matic, Pogba, Herrera, McTominay and Pereira coming back from loan. Imo we'd still be lacking a deeplying playmaker and a mobile box to box that can contribute defensively and offensively. Matic will still be playing as the deepest of our midfielders next season, so we should focus on a box to box midfielder. If that midfielder is SMS, then fair enough. But, given the market, I don't think spending £80m+ on him is the best move, as we would also need 2 first team full backs and arguably a centre back.
What team do you play if we get those two midfielders then?
I suppose we'd play something like:
For the prices mentioned is seems crazy to play SMS wide.
Looks good, to be honest. A 4222, which is more or less the formation we're playing at the moment. Not sure I'd want SMS to replace Lingard, though.
Saul isn't a box to box player but Savic is really good on that role.
The two three times I watched SMS play, he jogs around a lot, doesn't track back much or is not mobile enough to do so.
Yes! Koke is good enough to be a starting midfielder for almost any team out there.
I agree, I couldn’t see such a move happening. That said, I do think he is the type of player that would love to play under Jose, and feel they share similar values on the game.
Saul I think.
It’s a ridiculous lineup, not to mention totally unrealistic.
Our current team is better than that ffs.
Valencia starting, Sandro who's bad this season, midfield exposed and a very expensive crock. Maybe on FIFA...
I don't want it. Couple of problems.
Saul I think signed a 9 year contract but it’s supposedly illegal to do such a thing in Spain and it actually makes no sense for him personally either so not sure if it’s true.
I'm pretty sure FIFA itself doesn't allow contracts longer than 5 years.
That might be what I read. There was certainly something where it’s not allowed, be it FIFA or Spanish law.
I had a look. Yeah it seems it's FIFA. Though options for extra years are fine, so maybe that's what Saul's contract is. 5 years plus an option for extra years.
That would make sense. Although I can’t for the life of me think why a footballer at his age would sign such a contract. You would think you’d want the negotiating power to up your wage and so on and just to give yourself options to leave if your circumstances change.
He’s definitely a good player no doubt about that
£90m on a midfielder who plays in exactly the same position (on the left of a midfield-three) and possesses exactly the same weaknesses as our existing £90m midfielder? Not very likely.
Have to agree with that.
I started watching Lazio games to get a look at SMS as everyone was raving about him. He didn’t really impress me but the player that stood out was this guy and Jordan Lukaku. Alberto looks like a really clever player. Was impressed with him the 4-5 times I saw him play.
