Summer 2019 Midfield Rebuild

jderbyshire

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I'm really not sure what's happening with our midfield rebuild, because we're not seriously linked with anyone now.

I'm sure we can all agree that we're going to mainly be playing a 4-2-3-1 this season and we have Lingard, Mata, Gomes (and Sanchez?) for the no.10 position.

So that leaves us with the two midfield slots.

A. Pogba, Pereira and Fred for the more creative/attacking side

and

B. McTominay, Matic and Garner for the more holding/defensive side

Pogba and McTominay aside, the midfield options are plentiful but bang average, with the more pressing concern being the "A" creative position - when Pogba is not playing, our midfield severely lacks creativity.

I personally don't rate Pereira and it remains to be seen whether Fred will continue to adapt successfully to PL (and even then he isn't particularly known for key passes).

But can we really see a midfielder coming in without someone being moved on?

And if so who? Fernandes has been ruled out by the club and the Longstaff deal looks dead in the water.
 

Lynty

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What financial constraints? We're the wealthiest club in the world.
https://www.espn.co.uk/football/soc.../sources-man-utd-only-have-100m-for-transfers

It was reported before transfer window opened that we only had £100m to spend. It sounded almost like a press briefing at the time and now looks like it was quite accurate.

145m spent with Lukaku likely to go to recoup the defecit.

With that in mind, the window went as best as could be hoped.

Our commercial deals have reduced due to lack of Champions League, our wage bill is bloated and we have squandered transfer money on previous failures. On the feild failings and the Glazers renowned milking of the club for years has understandably put us under financial constraints. We need to spend wisely, and we have done.

Even so £100m isn't really a 'constraint'. It's still a good chunk of money in addition to whatever we can recoup in sales. Just going to take 3 or 4 windows, like building a squad should.
 

Icemav

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He’s 26, whilst he is a squad player and he could have a break out season, don’t see him upping his level massively.
Yes a tremendous youth player. Best years ahead of him. Hopefully an integral part of the class of 2019.
 

Isotope

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Its a great point about Maguire. England made Euro semis without a midfield and relied on our defense connecting play with our attack. Even took Croatia 50 mins to overcome this. He will be a great help in covering this weakness even though it desperately needs addressing. I expect huge things though from Mctominay and Pogba this term. We also need to trust youth. Matic, Mata and Young are deadweights and I dearly hope Ole is brave enough not to entrust our season to them.
England played with back three, though, to allow defence helping midfield. I'm not sure that's Ole's preferred formation.
 

romufc

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I personally don't rate Pereira
What does Perreira do? What is his best position? I dont think Ole knows either.

He started on the right v Milan which I thought was weird. We have Greenwood and James, even Gomes and we started him on the right? He has no trickery, and no pace.
 

jderbyshire

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What does Perreira do? What is his best position? I dont think Ole knows either.

He started on the right v Milan which I thought was weird. We have Greenwood and James, even Gomes and we started him on the right? He has no trickery, and no pace.
Yeah it was odd that. Would rather play Dalot there.
 

Gandalf

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I think Pereira was extended as we will need numbers for this season as the younger academy lads come through and knowing what we had already lost. With him under contract I expect we will look to move him on next summer or the year after at the latest as he becomes surplus to requirements.
 

Judas

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There's no real reason for anyone to rate Pereira all that highly these days, he'll never be good enough if we truly want to be a strong team again. Wish it had gone differently for him, he had a lot of potential, but I don't see it with him now. Maybe he'll surprise me this season and it'll be his breakthrough, but it seems unlikely.
 

Lynty

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What does Perreira do? What is his best position? I dont think Ole knows either.

He started on the right v Milan which I thought was weird. We have Greenwood and James, even Gomes and we started him on the right? He has no trickery, and no pace.
He's possibly the best crosser we have. Which is a viable reason to trial him high and wide in a pre-season game.

Other than that, yes it was weird.
 

romufc

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He's possibly the best crosser we have. Which is a viable reason to trial him high and wide in a pre-season game.

Other than that, yes it was weird.
He might be the best crosser, but then playing Mata as no. 10 doesnt make sense because Neither Rashford or Martial are any good in the air, so a bit pointless tying to cross the ball to them?
 

Lynty

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He might be the best crosser, but then playing Mata as no. 10 doesnt make sense because Neither Rashford or Martial are any good in the air, so a bit pointless tying to cross the ball to them?
I'd hope they've been working on aerial ability now that they'll be leading the line. To be honest, I'm clutching at straws and I don't think it really matters. Doubt we'll see him there in a competitive match, and if we do I'll be sure to watch carefully of what we're trying to do.
 

devilish

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100% agree

We've had a sensible transfer window considering we're obviously under financial constraints.

Midfield next year.
next year's summer transfer window will be our year.
 

KennyBurner

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Dont get your hopes up this season guys. We have only added 2 quality players in Maguire and Wan bissaka. Completely neglected our midfield although 2 players have left on a free. I was hoping for a Title challenge this year but I guess we just have to settle for top 4.
 

Redcy

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:lol::lol::lol:

I think your joking, but it made me laugh either way.
Top 4 looks like an ambitious aim, settling for top 6 is most likely given we are one injury away from being outright average
 

Cathy Ferguson

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Did Ole ever try Pogba in a more advanced central role this summer?
Would that work if Fred and McTominay played behind him, now that Maguire can make up for Fred's poor heading ability?

McTominay's strengths are his stamina and speed. If he goes on a run I would prefer Fred to cover for him rather than Pogba in a two man midfield.
 

KennyBurner

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:lol::lol::lol:

I think your joking, but it made me laugh either way.
I'm really not but I can see why its funny. I was expecting a lot of solid transfers like sancho and maguire this year. We got some and failed at others. Thought we would spend close to 300m but that was just the muppet in me dreaming.

The squad as it is is better than everyone else bar Liverpool and City. We have no excuses not finishing within top 4. We are better than a hazardless chelsea and mediocre arsenal without any of this summers signings. Ole has a better record since he took over excluding liverpool and city. We should improve this year with a better defense. I'm also thinking we keep Lukaku and reject Juventus since they couldn't force Dybala to head this way.
 

House Mkhitaryan

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The only midfielder that would sniff the lineup in any top team is Pogba. Would any of these other guys even compete for a squad position at Barca, Real, City, Liverpool, PSG, Juve, Atletico, etc.? Matic is too old/slow and even at his peak at Chelsea was barely good enough. Perreira is not good enough and never will be. Fred has shown nothing since he's been here to indicate he's good enough. Maybe McTominay will get there but at this point he's squad level at best for where we should be.

I would love to see us sell Lukaku and use the money to activate Partey's release clause AND sign Longstaff.
 

Lynty

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I'm really not but I can see why its funny. I was expecting a lot of solid transfers like sancho and maguire this year. We got some and failed at others. Thought we would spend close to 300m but that was just the muppet in me dreaming.

The squad as it is is better than everyone else bar Liverpool and City. We have no excuses not finishing within top 4. We are better than a hazardless chelsea and mediocre arsenal without any of this summers signings. Ole has a better record since he took over excluding liverpool and city. We should improve this year with a better defense. I'm also thinking we keep Lukaku and reject Juventus since they couldn't force Dybala to head this way.
At least you admit it. This forum is 95% muppets and people thinking its Football Manager 19.

I agree that we're strong enough to get top 4 though. I'm looking forward to the season.
 

croadyman

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I know this is highly unlikely and people probably won't like it but maybe we could try and sign a CM on loan, surely that sort of move would suit our board who are determined to tighten the wallets this late in the window.
 

NoPace

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I know this is highly unlikely and people probably won't like it but maybe we could try and sign a CM on loan, surely that sort of move would suit our board who are determined to tighten the wallets this late in the window.
Lemina is the obvious one, but Khedira and Matuidi being run out of Juve so if Lukaku goes there I could see it happening. No idea if either has the legs to give us a solid season.
 

Rob Bowman

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I'm really not sure what's happening with our midfield rebuild, because we're not seriously linked with anyone now.

I'm sure we can all agree that we're going to mainly be playing a 4-2-3-1 this season and we have Lingard, Mata, Gomes (and Sanchez?) for the no.10 position.

So that leaves us with the two midfield slots.

A. Pogba, Pereira and Fred for the more creative/attacking side

and

B. McTominay, Matic and Garner for the more holding/defensive side

Pogba and McTominay aside, the midfield options are plentiful but bang average, with the more pressing concern being the "A" creative position - when Pogba is not playing, our midfield severely lacks creativity.

I personally don't rate Pereira and it remains to be seen whether Fred will continue to adapt successfully to PL (and even then he isn't particularly known for key passes).

But can we really see a midfielder coming in without someone being moved on?

And if so who? Fernandes has been ruled out by the club and the Longstaff deal looks dead in the water.
^ This is bang on and a philosophy of Pogba will play all year at top level with no injuries is laughable. We need options and competition for places.

Doing nothing here is negligence pure and simple.
 

Hernandez - BFA

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The only thing reassuring I find from us not buying anyone else is that it must surely mean Ole is going to give big chances to Gomes.
 

RkkMan

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Not signing a midfielder will be the main cause of our downfall this season
Take Pogba and Mctominay out and the quality is depressingly mid table standard the likes of Wolves, Leicester and West Ham have better quality in midfield than "The biggest club in England"
 

reddevilchennai

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https://www.espn.co.uk/football/soc.../sources-man-utd-only-have-100m-for-transfers

It was reported before transfer window opened that we only had £100m to spend. It sounded almost like a press briefing at the time and now looks like it was quite accurate.

145m spent with Lukaku likely to go to recoup the defecit.

With that in mind, the window went as best as could be hoped.

Our commercial deals have reduced due to lack of Champions League, our wage bill is bloated and we have squandered transfer money on previous failures. On the feild failings and the Glazers renowned milking of the club for years has understandably put us under financial constraints. We need to spend wisely, and we have done.

Even so £100m isn't really a 'constraint'. It's still a good chunk of money in addition to whatever we can recoup in sales. Just going to take 3 or 4 windows, like building a squad should.

By the 4th window Maguire & Lindelof would be playing bang average and would be the new Jones & Smalling. Pogba would be gone.Rashword and Martial play average football so and so.

What we need to do is to be brutal in transfer window. Like city spent 150+m in a single window on defensive signing.
Like Liverpool filled their void on CB and GK in 6 months.
Madrid after winning 4 CLs in such short time spent over 250m+ in this window to strengthen. Next window they will be knocking our doors for Pogba.

Last summer Glazers did not spend anything more than 70m+.We can not have an average window everytime and be happy about that. We have the money and in two summer tranfer windows we should be capable of signing all our targets and going all in for the title.
 

UpWithRivers

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Midfield is so fkd. The only player we look like we actually targeted is Longstaff. Fernades seems paper talk. Was that really our plan! Ah defense is a priority maybe try one for that Longstaff lad. If thats true its the most bizare weird crazy idiotic stupid thing I ever heard. Thing is I cant even figure out our best option even if we do sign someone. If we sign an attacking midfielder then I cant see how McTominay is supposed to hold the defensive line by himself with Pogba and another attacking player pushed forward. If we sign a defensive player I cant see how Pogba is supposed to be the only creative force from midfield and if he gets injured for a longer period then God save us. We need two.
Partey and Eriksen will do.
 

Lynty

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By the 4th window Maguire & Lindelof would be playing bang average and would be the new Jones & Smalling. Pogba would be gone.Rashword and Martial play average football so and so.

What we need to do is to be brutal in transfer window. Like city spent 150+m in a single window on defensive signing.
Like Liverpool filled their void on CB and GK in 6 months.
Madrid after winning 4 CLs in such short time spent over 250m+ in this window to strengthen. Next window they will be knocking our doors for Pogba.

Last summer Glazers did not spend anything more than 70m+.We can not have an average window everytime and be happy about that. We have the money and in two summer tranfer windows we should be capable of signing all our targets and going all in for the title.
That's not realistic at all.

How are we attracting multiple top quality signings in one window, never mind affording them. We don't play attractive football, we have a relatively unknown manager, we don't offer champions league football, we are more likely to fall into midtable than challenge for the title. If any of that were different, I'm pretty sure Sancho would be here.

So if I give you £250m and told you that you if you spent it all, money would be tight next year, who are you spending it on?

We needed sure things and we needed to pay sure thing money, which meant we couldn't have everything we needed.

Liverpool and City squads have been built over multiple seasons. Liverpool spent big and well last year and this year have been unable to strengthen as a consequence.

Taking this year in isolation: we've spent well and are on the right track for once. Its a good start to Ole time as manager.
 

Escobar

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Not signing a midfielder will be the main cause of our downfall this season
Take Pogba and Mctominay out and the quality is depressingly mid table standard the likes of Wolves, Leicester and West Ham have better quality in midfield than "The biggest club in England"
I tend to agree and those who believe we are an absolute top club are 6 years behind
 

Fosu-Mens

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My 2 Midfielders would be Partey and Pelegrini, Pogba roaming in front. We need steel and drive as well as class, and these 2 will give you plenty of that.
Both with low clauses and together cheaper than the ones i proposed. Only issue with your pair is their lack of passing ability, meaning that PP would still need to drop deep.
 

Fıstıkçı Şahap

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We are fecked aren't we?

Even Everton and Leicester has a better midfield than us. I hope Ole has a new formation / system invented where midfielders don't matter anymore just like how Pep made strikers irrelevant. Because with the midfield we have, even 6th looks far far away.

One injury to Pogba and our season is good as over.
Yes we are. Not signing a midfielder when you lose 2 and your first choice DM looks on his last legs is plain stupid. It's suicidal at this point starting the season with this midfield. A long term injury to Pogba and we're absolutely fecked with that championship level midfield. What's worse is no concrete links were there at all other than the mighty young & British Longstaff guy. Weren't we told last season that we're after 2 midfielders this summer? I'm glad it didn't get materialised if Longstaff was our "identified target" as it'd be another £50m wasted and no improvement whatsoever.

Also as a side note, reverting back to 4-2-3-1 from 4-3-3 when your midfield is devoid of any quality and your best player is hopeless when played deeper is not a smart move at all. That doesn't help your midfielders and exposes them even further. If you lack quality in midfield and can't sign anyone for that position you strengthen that area by increasing the numbers tactically not the other way around. And playing that formation when having no wingers other than a youngster from Championship is even more pointless.
 

El Zoido

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It’s so bad and we could be in big trouble.

No idea what it is with this club and the refusal to address glaring holes in the squad. AWB and Maguire were needed, sure, but how fecking long did it take? At this rate Pogba will leave and we’ll be playing McTominay and Matic until 2024. If other clubs have a weakness, they go out and source an upgrade in the next window. Really fecking tired of us pissing around with the same crap year after year.
 

George The Best

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Got to believe Brexit FC really meant Brexit FC. We’ve not been reliably linked to any non-PL midfielders this window. Partey is a steal at his buy-out. Dybala fell in our lap, definitely not planned and won’t happen anyway. Similar with Eriksen, with whom we might have an outside sniff. Longstaff is the only one that was hinted at but that’s gone quiet. Deadline day bid for Longstaff is all I can hope for now, especially if we send one of our CB’s the other way as part of the deal.
 

Rob Bowman

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Real went out and spent over 300 million this window.

We have clear needs and do NOTHING!!

At some point fans will slowly drift away and we will no longer be the biggest club in the world if we ever really were. Some clubs are focused on what is on the pitch, we are not.

End of...
 

Rolaholic

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So much for that 'rebuild'...

Still depressing how we had months to replace 2 senior squad MFers and nothing

We'll get fecked if any one of our MFers suffers just 1 knock this season
 

Brophs

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So we have Matic who looks like his legs have gone, Fred who looks like he might have one good game in 5, McTominay who has suddenly been elevated into a first team player based upon a short run of decent form and who has it all to prove, Pereira who’s shown almost nothing at United and Pogba who wishes he wasn’t here. Can’t imagine why anyone would be concerned.

Phil Jones will be our no. 10 by November.
 

NoPace

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This isn't rumoured but if Eriksen wants to go to Spain I wonder if we could get Lemar, who struggled his first year at Atletico but would give us a versatile, athletic and creative player to press and provide chances for our forwards. If we sent them 40 for Lemar, they gave Spurs 50 for Eriksen and Betis get 65 for Lo Celso and they already bought Fekir, everyone's sort of happy?
 

DiceRoller

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At some point fans will slowly drift away and we will no longer be the biggest club in the world
We’re not the biggest club in the world. The biggest club is the ideal destination.

And that we’re not.

Can’t think of the last player we wanted, that either Real, Barca, Bayern wanted also that we went head to head with and won the signature.