Lingard has to be considered a midfield option if we are to play 4-3-3 next season. There won't be a #10 position, he sucks on the right and Mourinho will continue to pick Sanchez every game on the left.
The Small Matter of Andreas Pereira and our Midfield Recruitment
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik and Imran hold a long overdue conversation about United's awful league form with 1 win in 7. They discuss a disappointing draw at Bournemouth, a not so disappointing draw against Liverpool and a crushing defeat at Chelsea - Is time nearly over for Erik Ten Hag?
Then in a special second half of the pod, Nik welcomes Natalie ( https://twitter.com/natalie_17) to discuss the fortunes of Manchester United Women as they booked a place in the FA Cup Final after a historic first ever win vs. Chelsea.
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Could we see him on the right side of midfield but not necessarily a winger. But one who drifts over there when needed.
Mourinho did try that quite a bit in 17/18.
Sure. I just don't understand it. Pls help me out.
Yeah, I meant in last preseason he played as deeper midfielder but played as winger for Valencia.
Think he will be like O'Shea, as in will be used as midfielder and as winger but will end up as squad player if he stays with us this season.
Pereira is more naturally gifted than mctominay so if he can't get game time ahead of him, it might be due to lack of application, which would be very sad.
He will probably play quite a bit preseason then disappear back into the reserves and move on in January. Hasn't done enough to stand out when he has played. Hasn't stood out in Spain either.
After Matic, Pogba and Fred, there is an apparent drop in quality with the likes of Mctominay, Fellaini, Herrera and Peirera. If Mourinho has no plans for further central midfield additions, hopefully a new LB and Right Winger will add a new dimension to our attack or build up plays.
Oh, okay. I get it. Thanks.
I don't have a good feeling about Pereira. The talk of him wanting to stay and fight for his place, and reports that Jose has indicated he will get a chance in the first team next season, is all positive but if he wasn't ready last season when he went out on loan I don't see how that fairly underwhelming loan spell has suddenly readied him for a first team place at United. I hope I'm wrong but I'd be surprised if it works out for him here.
If he can push his way into the attacking mix and get ahead of Fellaini in the lineup he would have taken a massive step in his United career. I think his versatility to possibly play on the flanks is something for Mourinho to consider.
I don't understand people talking about him getting 'ahead of Fellaini in the pecking order'. They won't ever be in competition for game time. They might both be midfielders but they'd be used for completely different roles and situations. If Pereira is in the squad he'll be looking to nab game time scraps from the likes of Mata, Herrera and Lingard, not Fellaini.
If Pereira comes back, that's our midfield numbers sorted. I hope he does actually, would add something different to our squad but I honestly don't see him featuring much. My bet would be he does return, plays in Cup games (earlier rounds), then is sold next summer to a Spanish club.
At least he's knuckling down and willing to try.
At least he's knuckling down and willing to try.
Fellaini signed up and Fred on the books. No chance. He would be better suited looking after his own career and moving on.
I really don't get where the optimism comes from with Pereira. He's never shown enough on any of his loans or the U-21s but somehow people still include him potential lineups in midfield for us despite never being good enough to play there at much lesser clubs.
In fairness he looks pretty decent in the england midfield 3
----Pogba-----Lingard----
-----------Matic----------
And for tougher games perhaps
------------Pogba------------
-----Matic---------Fred------
With Fellaini, Herrera and Mctominy likely to get some games I do wonder if Pereira (and TFM) wouldnt be better off on loan next year
I think if herrera goes the we keep Pereira next season but if not then probably loan - maybe Jose will give him the pew season to force his way into the team as I suspect Matic, pogba, Lingard and Felaini will get an extended break
Pereira keeps saying the type of things Jose loves to hear. In a recent interview, he indicated he has told Jose he is ready to play anywhere Jose wants him to play. And his performance, playing deep, against Club America, was decent.
But rumours keep popping up. Thiago, Vidal, SMS etc.
Maybe Jose should just trust the kid and abandon any ideas (if there are) to sign another midfielder.
But rumours keep popping up. Thiago, Vidal, SMS etc.
Maybe Jose should just trust the kid and abandon any ideas (if there are) to sign another midfielder.
We've not been linked by anyone reliable to these players, I'd bet my house on us not signing another midfielder, we're actually fairly stacked there. I genuinely believe Pereira will get plenty of opportunities this season, he's been a bit of a divisive figure since his loan move to Valencia but he's a really talented kid.
With Pereira and Fred in the mix hopefully it'll give us a chance to do a bit of rotation because Pogba, Fellaini and Herrera were all out for long stretches at times last season and it left us looking very bare with just McTominay and Matic at times. The loan moves have been quite beneficial to Pereira because it means he's had quite a significant amount on first team football over the last two years which is always helpful because it means he should be able to step in when required with little adjustment.
He has probably figured that Jose is pissed about him going on loan last season (despite Jose preferring that he stayed as a back up). He is just making up for that. This season, he should have benefited from his loan, and we can hope that he takes his opportunities. He is not going to be first choice over the first half of the season, but if he can perform in training, and play well in the cups, he should be targeting regular game time by the end of the season.
He seems to want to play him as a number 6. He's too young for that just now and should play further forward.
He'll probably get games here and there if he's decent enough, as he can plug in several positions. I can see us selling him if a good offer comes in but if not, there's no reason to.
He is 22 though. Not some kid. And he said in a interview people have mentioned on here that he is willing to play in any position.
I hope he gets a chance, cause he never really got one yet. If Gibson and Cleverley can get chances, so can he.
Hold on now. 22 is absolutely still a kid! I have to say it's easy to lose perspective because they're professional athletes doing as their job what regular kids do for fun.
If I think back to my mindset at 25, I felt so much more mature than at 21-22. Jump ahead another few years and at 27-28 I'd look back and think how just a few years ago felt like being so old and yet I was still so inexperienced. Same pattern, even heavier realization now at 31. In my profession and my personal life , those early twenties were so vastly different. I was a kid then and 17-18 year olds were babies in comparison.
I think that's a sentiment a lot of us feel when we hit these milestones . And these players are no different. We see some grow up much faster from a footballing perspective and become world beaters before 25. But they're still mentally, emotionally young adults with important maturing yet to happen...the kind that helps them become consistent, more intelligent in their play.
Not saying he should be in the prime of his career. But at 22 you are not a kid in the football world.
Pereira isn't a 6 anyway, so it's not like I disagree with your overall point, just the kid statement.
Edit: weirdly enough I imagined you writing kid in your first post, but it seems you think of it that way anyways.
22 is young for a center midfielder. Paul Scholes was still a striker at 22.
Of course he’ll say he’ll play anywhere his already in Jose’s bad books.
He needs a run of games. Sustained run of games. it's impossible to judge him as being worthy of a place in the team or not if we've never seen him play continuously.
Been a winger in Spain from what I've read on here, was a attacking player in our youth system as well. Only been used as a 6 for us in training matches from what I know.
As for age for midfielders, tons of midfielders play midfield from early on. Pogba, Verratti, Tolissio & Weigl just to name some.
Again, I'm not saying he should be in his prime, but he's not going to develop his tools tons more as a player either, which is why I say he isn't a kid anymore.
On the right wing I suppose?
He isn't going to replace Matic, Pogba or Fred/Herrera. His best chance will be out on the wing.
If we could mould him into a number 6 that would be interesting. He seems to have the passing ability and vision for it. It's the defensive and positional side that he will have to pick up.
Him and Fred will presumably be the two choices for the "number 8" in a 4-3-3 as LVG would say.
Matic and Herrera the 6s, Pogba and Fellaini the 10s.
Obviously McTominay is also a 6/8 and the likes of Mata and Lingard can also play in the 10.
Matic and Herrera the 6s, Pogba and Fellaini the 10s.
Obviously McTominay is also a 6/8 and the likes of Mata and Lingard can also play in the 10.
He said in an interview that Jose and Carrick are doing exactly this
Yeah, I read it. Hopefully he can excel there as it would give us a different option in that position.He said in an interview that Jose and Carrick are doing exactly this
I think he has the skillset to take Matic's place. Matic for me slows things down too much. Offensively at least. We miss the insicive defence splitting passes of Carrick. Periera has a zip in his passing and is firm in the tackle. He can take the DM/number 6 role. Only thing missing is postioning but you need game time to perfect this.
I disagree, but it's all opinions anyway.
Exactly - and it would save us a lot of money too! You can just imagine what it would cost to buy a similar player. Deep lying playmakers seem to be a very rare position nowadays.
I get what you mean - Matic takes too many touches at times so it does slow the play down.
He's missing everything needed to do Matic's job.
Agreed, before Matic came, in 2016/17 season, we created chance at least twice time more than with Matic 2017-18, I think with a player like Pereira playing Carrick's role, we can push higher and try to unlock the defence with the passing from the deep and try to attack more, quick in transition from defence to attack , that would mean there'd be more chance created from this.
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