The Search for a Midfielder

[DarkRed]

There been a talk that we already have a deal with Lorenzo Pellegrini from Roma, he will not sign a new deal there to come to us.

 

[ROFLUTION]

Just needing Fred to play well is not that simple.
Its like saying we just need Sanchez to play well, so don't need another RM.

I know, but we've barely given him a chance. Would be a lot of money wasted to just let him rot on the bench.

 

[Devil may care]

Don't think Gomes should be Pogba's backup. We should be trying to turn Gomes into Pogba's partner, with the 3rd midfielder being the defensive backbone to the midfield. We currently lack a midfielder who can run things through his passing. Someone who can dominate a midfield by being so comfortable in possession. This is what Modric at his best provided. This is what Xavi and Scholes provided.

Well Neves offers that in the midfield line-up I was suggesting, I just don't see any chance of Gomes starting with Pogba anytime soon while we also drop Ander and buy more of a pure DM, it's more reshuffling than I can see happening.

I know, but we've barely given him a chance. Would be a lot of money wasted to just let him rot on the bench.

Maybe Ole isn't seeing anything in training that makes him feel like playing him? I think it was telling the other night when he played Pereira ahead of him.

 

[beingshe7don]

Angel Gomes is slightly overrated in my opinion. The United board need to send him on loan to Dortmund or something that would develop him and challenge him. As for buying a midfielder, I'm a huge fan of Ndombele but Neves is someone whose adapted himself to the league fairly quickly and he would be the perfect replacement for Matic. Barella with his tenacity looks like someone who would be a good Herrera replacement.

Neves --> Pereira and 40m would be good
Barella --> 35m

 

[Shaw Mee Tah Mané]

There been a talk that we already have a deal with Lorenzo Pellegrini from Roma, he will not sign a new deal there to come to us.

What I’ve been asking for, but never get a response when I mention him. It would be a ridiculous deal to get him for the release clause.

 

[Seven Seas Sardines]

Just needing Fred to play well is not that simple.
Its like saying we just need Sanchez to play well, so don't need another RM.

Difference being Fred hasn't got many chances, is new to the league, the team and 5 years younger.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

There been a talk that we already have a deal with Lorenzo Pellegrini from Roma, he will not sign a new deal there to come to us.

Didn't PSG just sign him? Or was that somebody else?

I think our midfield is good but we've got a few aspects to improve in. One is obviously passing/playmaking quality. Second is probably that Pogba is the only one that can drive into space and carry the ball. Herrera as good as he is, cannot run with the ball. He doesn't like being on the ball long enough to do that. Either he is encouraged to add some attacking dinebsion, or Fred can provide this.

 

[Devil may care]

Didn't PSG just sign him? Or was that somebody else?

I think our midfield is good but we've got a few aspects to improve in. One is obviously passing/playmaking quality. Second is probably that Pogba is the only one that can drive into space and carry the ball. Herrera as good as he is, cannot run with the ball. He doesn't like being on the ball long enough to do that. Either he is encouraged to add some attacking dinebsion, or Fred can provide this.

That was Paredes.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

That was Paredes.

Ah alright. Pellegrini is the bigger talent?

 

[amolbhatia50k]

From the extensive research I've done over the last 10 minutes, this Pellegrini appears to be quite a talent. Impressive.

 

[mav_9me]

From the extensive research I've done over the last 10 minutes, this Pellegrini appears to be quite a talent. Impressive.

Did you find any good YouTube videos? What I briefly saw were poor compilations.

 

[Devil may care]

Ah alright. Pellegrini is the bigger talent?

Different types of player, Paredes is a DLP where as Pellegrini is versatile but best as a box to box from what I've seen.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Did you find any good YouTube videos? What I briefly saw were poor compilations.

Looks great on the ball from the clips I've seen - balance, touch etc. But it didn't include much passing /playmaking quality I was looking for.

 

[Jibbs]

Has anybody here seen Sander Berge play? Looks like a solid player for DM position.

 

[Jibbs]

I'd love United to sign Pellegrini, reminds me of Tony Kroos from Bayern days.

 

[Shaw Mee Tah Mané]

Different types of player, Paredes is a DLP where as Pellegrini is versatile but best as a box to box from what I've seen.

Leaning towards an AMC, let's say David Silva type of MC. Pellegrini will be great together with a hardworking tackler, something I find perfect in an attacking setup with his great key passes, crosses and dribbling. He shouldn't really be compared to a lot of the other players discussed. Just some stats to explain:

Player - Tackles/Interceptions/Clearances/Blocks/Dispossessed/Bad Control (Per game)

Herrera -- 2,5 / 2,1 / 1,3 / 0,4 / 0,4 / 0,6
Neves ---- 2,3 / 2,1 / 1,0 / 0,6 / 0,8 / 0,9
Ndidi ----- 3,2 / 1,9 / 2,2 / 0,2 / 1,0 / 1,7
Lemina --- 2,6 / 2,2 / 1,4 / 0,2 / 1,6 / 1,2
Matic ----- 1,8 / 1,3 / 2,0 / 0,6 / 1,4 / 1,0
Barella --- 3,2 / 1,4 / 0,8 / 0,1 / 2,0 / 3,2
Pellegrini - 1,8 / 0,3 / 1,0 / 0,1 / 1,7 / 1,9

Pellegrini isn't even close to match the defensive stats to the others. Herrera with outstanding numbers.

Player (Goals/Assist) - Shots/Key Passes/Dribbles/Crosses/Long Balls/Through Balls (Per game)

Pellegrini (1/3) - 1,6 / 2,6 / 0,9 / 1,6 / 0,9 / 0,2
Neves (3/2) ---- 2,4 / 0,8 / 0,3 / 0,2 / 6,5 / 0
Barella (1/0) ---- 1,4 / 1,0 / 0,9 / 0,6 / 3,0 / 0,1
Herrera (2/3) --- 0,9 / 0,8 / 0,4 / 0,1 / 1,6 / 0,1
Ndidi (2/0) ------ 1,8 / 0,6 / 0,9 / 0,0 / 2,7 / 0,1
Lemina (0/1) --- 1,2 / 0,5 / 1,1 / 0,2 / 2,2 / 0
Matic (1/0) ------ 0,5 / 0,5 / 0,7 / 0,1 / 4,3 / 0

And here the opposite, the 2,6 Key Passes per game, 1,6 Crosses and 0,2 Through Balls are unmatched. Clearly a player that compliments Herrera/Matic. He would be what Silva is next to Fernandinho, only 11 years younger and obviously not as good (yet).

Neves the standout player when you look at all stats combined, but he also cost 3 times as much as Pellegrini.

 

[Devil may care]

Leaning towards an AMC, let's say David Silva type of MC. Pellegrini will be great together with a hardworking tackler, something I find perfect in an attacking setup with his great key passes, crosses and dribbling. He shouldn't really be compared to a lot of the other players discussed. Just some stats to explain:

Player - Tackles/Interceptions/Clearances/Blocks/Dispossessed/Bad Control (Per game)

Herrera -- 2,5 / 2,1 / 1,3 / 0,4 / 0,4 / 0,6
Neves ---- 2,3 / 2,1 / 1,0 / 0,6 / 0,8 / 0,9
Ndidi ----- 3,2 / 1,9 / 2,2 / 0,2 / 1,0 / 1,7
Lemina --- 2,6 / 2,2 / 1,4 / 0,2 / 1,6 / 1,2
Matic ----- 1,8 / 1,3 / 2,0 / 0,6 / 1,4 / 1,0
Barella --- 3,2 / 1,4 / 0,8 / 0,1 / 2,0 / 3,2
Pellegrini - 1,8 / 0,3 / 1,0 / 0,1 / 1,7 / 1,9

Pellegrini isn't even close to match the defensive stats to the others. Herrera with outstanding numbers.

Player (Goals/Assist) - Shots/Key Passes/Dribbles/Crosses/Long Balls/Through Balls (Per game)

Pellegrini (1/3) - 1,6 / 2,6 / 0,9 / 1,6 / 0,9 / 0,2
Neves (3/2) ---- 2,4 / 0,8 / 0,3 / 0,2 / 6,5 / 0
Barella (1/0) ---- 1,4 / 1,0 / 0,9 / 0,6 / 3,0 / 0,1
Herrera (2/3) --- 0,9 / 0,8 / 0,4 / 0,1 / 1,6 / 0,1
Ndidi (2/0) ------ 1,8 / 0,6 / 0,9 / 0,0 / 2,7 / 0,1
Lemina (0/1) --- 1,2 / 0,5 / 1,1 / 0,2 / 2,2 / 0
Matic (1/0) ------ 0,5 / 0,5 / 0,7 / 0,1 / 4,3 / 0

And here the opposite, the 2,6 Key Passes per game, 1,6 Crosses and 0,2 Through Balls are unmatched. Clearly a player that compliments Herrera/Matic. He would be what Silva is next to Fernandinho, only 11 years younger and obviously not as good (yet).

Neves the standout player when you look at all stats combined, but he also cost 3 times as much as Pellegrini.

Interesting stats, Pellegrini seems like he'd be more rotation/cover for Pogba where as Neves could play in Matic or even Herrera's role depending on the game, you could argue that we could use both in this squad.

 

[Fosu-Mens]

Interesting stats, Pellegrini seems like he'd be more rotation/cover for Pogba where as Neves could play in Matic or even Herrera's role depending on the game, you could argue that we could use both in this squad.

Pellegrini for £22m (clause) is a great deal. Imo he would be a suitable cover/future replacement/improvement on Herrera. Since he has playing in Serie A he should be tactically adept and able to perform as a cover for Matic and Pogba as well. We should sign him.

 

[Devil may care]

Pellegrini for £22m (clause) is a great deal. Imo he would be a suitable cover/future replacement/improvement on Herrera. Since he has playing in Serie A he should be tactically adept and able to perform as a cover for Matic and Pogba as well. We should sign him.

For that price he'd be worth a punt and it would mean we could still get another holding CM as well.

 

[Andycoleno9]

For season you need 5 midfielders plus one who will play in minor games in cups. One quality all round player for rotation is a must. It is ridiculous that Matic- Herrera- Pogba need to start every game. We need to solve that this summer.
We have 3 options on the bench who can't deliver on the pitch. I would swap Pereira with Ndidi. With Fred i would wait one more year and Mctominay can stay but he really needs to be 6th option because he is not looking nearly good for anything else. So i hope for season 2019/2020 it will be;
Matic( Ndidi), Herrera(Fred), Pogba( Fred).

 

[Skills]

The midfield is the strongest part of our team. The current midfield 3 give us a perfect balance, and you're never going to replicate the same level of football if you replace one of them with an inferior player.

What we need is a back up solution as a tean on what to do if we don't have Pogba. That might just involve changing the shape and putting the responsibility of creativity into a different positions hands.

 

[drmuji]

The midfield is the strongest part of our team. The current midfield 3 give us a perfect balance, and you're never going to replicate the same level of football if you replace one of them with an inferior player.

What we need is a back up solution as a tean on what to do if we don't have Pogba. That might just involve changing the shape and putting the responsibility of creativity into a different positions hands.

I worry about the age of matic. He has crossed 31 and it's a high intensity game that he plays. Not sure if we don't address that soon, how long will his legs last. I think we need a Defending Midfielder as a priority.
Fred will up his game, I am sure of that simply because he has Micheal Carrick to mentor him (unless he doesn't want to be mentored).
And besides Herrera has couple of years left in him so I am not worried about box to box. And fred can deputise in that position
As for Pogba, there aren't many alternatives available. Maybe perriera can find some happiness If he plays in a free role

 

[Josh 76]

Pereira Mctomminy Fred.
That's poor back up.
With Matic not getting any younger. We need two midfield signings and a CB.
Full backs and Right wingers can wait.

 

[drmuji]

Pereira Mctomminy Fred.
That's poor back up.
With Matic not getting any younger. We need two midfield signings and a CB.
Full backs and Right wingers can wait.

Mata is also poor and his legs are wilting
Valencia is as good as gone
Young is on his legs, in fact it's a miracle that he is still performing

So no.... RW and full backs can't wait too

 

[ManRed]

Pereira Mctomminy Fred.
That's poor back up.
With Matic not getting any younger. We need two midfield signings and a CB.
Full backs and Right wingers can wait.

I agree the trio are poor backups but not that we need a CB urgently. The CB situation has been exaggerated a lot and there are other positions that need priority.

Our right hand side is non existent, how many goals have you seen scored from there? Most goals we score are through the left or middle.

 

[Rozay]

Just sign Rabiot and be done with it.

 

[Josh 76]

Mata is also poor and his legs are wilting
Valencia is as good as gone
Young is on his legs, in fact it's a miracle that he is still performing

So no.... RW and full backs can't wait too

Can't see more than 3 signings in the summer.
CB will be one.
RB and CM will surely be priority over RW

 

[George The Best]

Kante might be tempting. Unhappy and out of position at Chelsea.

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

Just needing Fred to play well is not that simple.
Its like saying we just need Sanchez to play well, so don't need another RM.

Sanchez is likely already washed up. But you can’t say the same with Fred who is still 25 or 26 yo.

I think Ole is right about one thing here, it’s not about who are we getting but it’s about what we got right now. We spent huge on Fred, if something isn’t working at the moment, we need to find the solution to improve his game. We can’t just ignoring a 50m midfielder and get a new one. And also it’s not like we desperate looking for midfielder in our starting XI.

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

Kante might be tempting. Unhappy and out of position at Chelsea.

I think Herrera gives us so much more.

 

[Freak]

I think Herrera gives us so much more.

They won't be in direct competition. Kante will play in the Matic role. He's best as a holding midfielder not a box to box one.

 

[RooneyLegend]

Buy Cheek, Neves and Gibbs White in the summer.

 

[In Rainbows]

We need to give Gomes a chance.

 

[Giant Midget]

They won't be in direct competition. Kante will play in the Matic role. He's best as a holding midfielder not a box to box one.

Kante doesn’t “sit” like Matic does though: he’s a pressing machine and will charge around the pitch closing down.

 

[Josh 76]

Sanchez is likely already washed up. But you can’t say the same with Fred who is still 25 or 26 yo.

I think Ole is right about one thing here, it’s not about who are we getting but it’s about what we got right now. We spent huge on Fred, if something isn’t working at the moment, we need to find the solution to improve his game. We can’t just ignoring a 50m midfielder and get a new one. And also it’s not like we desperate looking for midfielder in our starting XI.

What?
Let's have this debate after the next 3 games. (Matic, pogba, Herrera) these 3 is all we have. If one gets injured, or is out of form for the remaining part of the season, what then ?

Yesterday we only had Mctomminy to come on. We even had to replace Hererra with Bailey for god sake.

 

[ovoxo]

I think we need 2 midfielders if Fred doesn’t work out. I assume Fred will stay another season in a make or break. So for this summer I think we’ll sign a Matic replacement.

I’d like Neves for Matic this summer.

If Fred doesn’t work out, does anyone think Ndidi would be good for the Herrera role?

 

[Oldyella]

We need to give Gomes a chance.

Agreed. He needs to be one of our options next season with Fred and whoever is brought in.

Kante doesn’t “sit” like Matic does though: he’s a pressing machine and will charge around the pitch closing down.

I think you can get away that if Herrera is playing, he's smart enough to alter his game around who is playing the DM role behind him.

 

[Seaside Aggro]

Need is for proven premier league or top level players. I’ve seen earlier posts suggesting Serri, and he’s been shocking.
Milijovic from Palace, Hojberg from Southampton alongside Neves would do.

 

[Alabaster Codify7]

Our first choice 3 midfielders are top draw, for me. But the drop-off in quality beyond those three is startlingly bad really. We can't afford to make wholesale changes there this summer so realistically, I would make one signing, a top-quality Matic replacement. Say Ruben Neves for example, and have him rotate with Matic next season and hopefully he'll make the spot his own during the season.

I'd loan out McTominay with an option to buy. Backups would be Fred, Garner, Gomes and whicheve rone of Matic/Neves doesnt start that particular game.

Following summer, if Fred hasn't kicked on he'd be sold and replaced like for like.

 

[Devil may care]

The lack of depth in midfield is a real issue, right now we can't rest any of the 3 starters and when you look at the 3 back-ups it's hard to see much changing come next season from them. Pereira is likely to go and McTominay needs a loan while Fred remains an enigma.