Which defensive midfielder?

[OleGunnar20]

He signed for Hertha in the winter market!

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Oh bugger, they're building a decent little team

 

[Andersons Dietician]

This will always be a depends on what the manager wants us to do. Me I’d rather get a Neves, Saul, Roca type.

However can totally see the benefits of someone like an Ndidi, Partey or someone along those lines.

I just don’t see McT ever being a DM. He’s a box to box type and Although I very much like him and what he brings I’m not sure he will be the answer in midfield for years to come.

 

[RedIan]

Central midfield players need to be able to defend when required but also create and move forward to support attack. making assist and chipping in with goals. We didnt have a player labelled “defensive midfield” in Fergies very successful teams... Scholes Keane Carrick Beckham giggs et al

 

[paulscholes18]

Depends on the formation & Pogba if it is 4-3-3 and Pogba stays then in order Ndidi, Partey, Rice (if West Ham go down) or Phillips (if Leeds don’t go up) or if it’s 4-2-3-1 and Pogba goes then I would sign Tonali or Neves with one of the destroyers

 

[Lee565]

Boubacar Kamara of Marseille has been very impressive this season.

He's strong, athletic, good defensively, decent passer, very comfortable on the ball and only 20 years old, i dont see why he cant be as good as fabinho.

 

[Devil may care]

It's hard to say as we don't know who will be manager and what system we'll be playing, but if we want to add a DM to the squad mix I think Zakaria looks pretty impressive.

 

[Champ]

So who do you think will the same role as you do? Fred or McT?

Fred. Up and down, linking the play constantly.

 

[sp_107]

Plenty of options for this role in coming summer

Zakaria
Neves
Partey
Saul
Tonali
Kalvin Philips
Soumare
Carmavinga

 

[bsCallout]

Don't need one in my opinion.

Get Grealish, Jota & Sancho.

If not Sancho then a better CB.

Henderson.
AWB. new CB. Maguire. Shaw
McT
Fernandes. Grealish
Martial/Sancho. Jota. Rashford

What a team.

 

[Ramshock]

Neves, Jota, Sancho with either Grealish or Maddison (Pogba will leave) would make us challengers

 

[thepolice123]

Third game in a week where Matic played the full 90 minutes and another clean sheet for us. Clear to see who Ole thinks is only DM in the team.

We definitely need cover for him next season.

 

[#07]

Third game in a week where Matic played the full 90 minutes and another clean sheet for us. Clear to see who Ole thinks is only DM in the team.

We definitely need cover for him next season.

We should pay Thomas Partey's release clause fee.

 

[Jezpeza]

Not sure how we define A Defensive midfielder nowadays - seems to be everything from a player like fred who tends to scrap and then try and play the ball out, to deep lying playmakers like fernandinho and xabi alonso, to players who run and run like Kante.
Theres another bracket which teams use as well which is to just sit a limited/not very mobile midfielder in front of the back 4 to allow the wing backs and other midfielders a bit more positional freedom.I dont think we need anything on top of fred and Mctominay in this respect. We need more creativity - fernandes is a great one, pogba will be leaving in my opinion so off the top of my head someone like grealish or perhaps someone who plays further up the middle of the park from abroad

 

[TheReligion]

Think we should give Timbo or Axel a chance there first before we splash out serious money on somebody considered a specialist who may or not be able to hack playing at Old Trafford, and there's more chance of that playing in a team still in transition.

We should be trying Timbo there and we have got James Garner whom is highly rated at the club. We could even try Lindelof there as I would have Axel, Smalling and Bailly as CBs in front of him.
I think this is a position we should not be making a big outlay on as a good coach should be able to fill this position with good coaching of a player and if we cannot achieve this with Michael Carrrick in our ranks then we may as well give it up.

Think these are awful ideas if I'm honest.

What has TFM or Tuanzebe done to make you think they could play DM? Harry Maguire would be better equipped. Do you suggest we put him in?

Garner might make a Carrick style holding player at some point but don't think that's what the OP is wanting and he's not physical enough yet to be a pure DM.

 

[eire-red]

I don't like the idea of a pure midfield 'destroyer' like Partey or Ndidi. Brilliant at what they do, but if we want to challenge again and compete at a higher level, then we need midfielders who are comfortable on the ball and play cultured, possession football.

I would like to see us go for Neves, think he's really been excellent this season and seems to have adapted his game to the pace and physicality of the PL, an area that I thought was lacking last year.

Other decent options as well that have been mentioned, like Zakaria, and even Ndidi and Partey as I have said, although I don't really fancy them tbh.

Sell Pogba, use the money for a deep lying playmaker/DM, another attacker, while going for a CF and a CB. We're 4 players away from being possible title contenders, when the squad is fully fit.

 

[Harry190]

Ngolo Kante.

 

[Judas]

I'd love a cheeky bid for Kante.

I don't like the idea of a pure midfield 'destroyer' like Partey or Ndidi. Brilliant at what they do, but if we want to challenge again and compete at a higher level, then we need midfielders who are comfortable on the ball and play cultured, possession football.

I would like to see us go for Neves, think he's really been excellent this season and seems to have adapted his game to the pace and physicality of the PL, an area that I thought was lacking last year.

Other decent options as well that have been mentioned, like Zakaria, and even Ndidi and Partey as I have said, although I don't really fancy them tbh.

Sell Pogba, use the money for a deep lying playmaker/DM, another attacker, while going for a CF and a CB. We're 4 players away from being possible title contenders, when the squad is fully fit.

Surely you see RW is of the highest priority too? I can't go through another season with that position being ignored.

 

[eire-red]

I'd love a cheeky bid for Kante.



Surely you see RW is of the highest priority too? I can't go through another season with that position being ignored.

Yeah I said attacker but ideally we need someone comfortable operating off the right wing. Off the top of my head I can't think of who I would like to see, apart from the obvious Sancho. My gut tells me he will be impossible to obtain. We may need an inspired signing similar to Salah.

Like you said, to ignore the RW again would be a travesty, were desperate for some balance in our shape with a proper winger out there. However, I feel like Ole prefers the more all rounders, hence why we got rid of Lukaku. I cant think of any RW specialists at the moment, so I wouldn't be surprised to see us sign someone who's maybe not a natural but comfortable out there, like Son (as a comparison, not a realistic target).

 

[Bondi77]

Think these are awful ideas if I'm honest.

What has TFM or Tuanzebe done to make you think they could play DM? Harry Maguire would be better equipped. Do you suggest we put him in?

Garner might make a Carrick style holding player at some point but don't think that's what the OP is wanting and he's not physical enough yet to be a pure DM.

An awful idea would be putting Maguire there as we just paid huge money to bring him in as a centre back and he is the best one we have.
Correct me if I am wrong but I think pace is an asset to play in that position and that is what Axel and Timbo have as well as the other physical attributes so I have suggested them as they are at the club and they may as well be given a chance then splash out a load of cash on a player who does not adapt anyway.

 

[Class of 63]

Think these are awful ideas if I'm honest.

What has TFM or Tuanzebe done to make you think they could play DM? Harry Maguire would be better equipped. Do you suggest we put him in?

Garner might make a Carrick style holding player at some point but don't think that's what the OP is wanting and he's not physical enough yet to be a pure DM.

I've got a lot of time for Harry, and i'm convinced he'll prove a lot of the doubters wrong, but I think Fred the Red would be more suited to defensive midfield than Maguire, it would be hanging him out to dry playing there.

 

[thepolice123]

Think these are awful ideas if I'm honest.

What has TFM or Tuanzebe done to make you think they could play DM? Harry Maguire would be better equipped. Do you suggest we put him in?

Garner might make a Carrick style holding player at some point but don't think that's what the OP is wanting and he's not physical enough yet to be a pure DM.

Bizarre that people are still trying to shoehorn ball-playing CBs into the DM role after all these years. I thought this notion died a long time ago after seeing Rio and King flop badly in the role. I remember King played in that role for the NT against the Argies and got absolutely taken to the cleaners.

 

[NoPace]

Partey is a central midfielder. He wins the ball less than Bruno Fernandes, McTominay, and Fred. Saul Niguez is Atletico's ball winner. He's also their best player this season

Fred-Partey looks a lovely fit to me with Fred chasing and Partey holding things together and being the more consistent player on the ball.

 

[Schmeichel's Cartwheel]

Ndidi.

If not him, Partey.

Also, can people stop thinking McTominay is a defensive midfielder please? It's annoying. Thanks.

 

[Ekeke]

Fred-Partey looks a lovely fit to me with Fred chasing and Partey holding things together and being the more consistent player on the ball.

Maybe. The best thing he does is driving forward with power and getting a shot away. Certainly not what I'd be looking for in a DM in a 4-2-3-1 - perfect for Atletico where they play 4 CMs across midfield instead. They pretty much all help defend and cover each other going forward

 

[Aarron Swift]

Rumours from terrible sources of a Pogba to Juventus for Ramsey + Rabiot (maybe some cash too but who knows) what do people think of that?

Pogba clearly wants to leave, this deal would solves the problem after selling Pogba which would be replacing him. 2 very good midfielders

In terms of players ability and boosting opting for Midfield, I think its a good deal. Issues i would have would be Rabiots attitude reputation, wages they'd demand, would also be hard to get away from the fact that both struggled to get game time at a top European cub so would feel like swapping Juventus rejects for our highest profile player (not best)

 

[simplyared]

Ruben Neves in the summer. It's got to be!

 

[Maluco]

I would prefer to spend the big money on RW in the summer with a decent fee reserved for another striker.

For a midfielder, a punt should be taken on a young player, as I am quite happy with always improving Fred and McTominey as the starters.

Bjg money needs to go on Sancho for me.

Kalvin Philips if Leeds don’t go up for 30 mil if Pogba leaves. The rest spunked on a scary attack. Maybe Bellingham, who looks like he has massive potential to be an all round midfielder in the future.

Our midfield already competes very well, maybe just missing a passing option from deep, but it would be unwise to spend big on a destroyer more limited than either McTom or Fred.

 

[tjb]

Not sure how we define A Defensive midfielder nowadays - seems to be everything from a player like fred who tends to scrap and then try and play the ball out, to deep lying playmakers like fernandinho and xabi alonso, to players who run and run like Kante.
Theres another bracket which teams use as well which is to just sit a limited/not very mobile midfielder in front of the back 4 to allow the wing backs and other midfielders a bit more positional freedom.I dont think we need anything on top of fred and Mctominay in this respect. We need more creativity - fernandes is a great one, pogba will be leaving in my opinion so off the top of my head someone like grealish or perhaps someone who plays further up the middle of the park from abr

I would prefer to spend the big money on RW in the summer with a decent fee reserved for another striker.

For a midfielder, a punt should be taken on a young player, as I am quite happy with always improving Fred and McTominey as the starters.

Bjg money needs to go on Sancho for me.

Kalvin Philips if Leeds don’t go up for 30 mil if Pogba leaves. The rest spunked on a scary attack. Maybe Bellingham, who looks like he has massive potential to be an all round midfielder in the future.

Our midfield already competes very well, maybe just missing a passing option from deep, but it would be unwise to spend big on a destroyer more limited than either McTom or Fred.

I agree. I feel we need a player who does the job and can rotate with Fred and Mctominay. Does not have to be the most expensive signing, but has the skill set that we need in midfield. Our attack needs to be the major focus this window.

 

[Dve]

If we were to bring in a DM, I hope it won´t just be a squad player. In 4-2-3-1, we already have options, like Fred+Matic, McTominay+Fernandes or maybe McTominay+someone from the academy (some talent there).

.........McTominay/Matic - Fred

............... Fernandes

or

......Fernandes - McTominay/Matic

................ Grealish

But I want someone with physics and mobility enough to fill the middle in a 4-3-3. Maybe McTominay can be that player, but Fred is too small, imo. In that role, you should dominate the air. Someone like Matic+Pace+A bit more creativity. Can I have that?

If not, then sign

1. a striker (Haalhaha)
2. a rightwing (Sancho)
3. a F/AML/C (Grealish)

 

[Bwuk]

I don’t think we will. It’ll be McTominay and he’ll be made vice captain in the summer imo.

We’ll sign another creative midfielder, not a DM.

 

[Shark]

I don’t think we will. It’ll be McTominay and he’ll be made vice captain in the summer imo.

We’ll sign another creative midfielder, not a DM.

Mctominay is a great squad player at best. We definitely need an elite level DM. When Matic shows glimpses of his old self from time to time, you really see what we need consistently.

 

[#07]

I would prefer to spend the big money on RW in the summer with a decent fee reserved for another striker.

For a midfielder, a punt should be taken on a young player, as I am quite happy with always improving Fred and McTominey as the starters.

Bjg money needs to go on Sancho for me.

Kalvin Philips if Leeds don’t go up for 30 mil if Pogba leaves. The rest spunked on a scary attack. Maybe Bellingham, who looks like he has massive potential to be an all round midfielder in the future.

Our midfield already competes very well, maybe just missing a passing option from deep, but it would be unwise to spend big on a destroyer more limited than either McTom or Fred.

Phillips is a great shout. Of course, we'd all like Partey or Ndidi. However, we probably aren't shopping in that market for a defensive midfielder.

 

[wolvored]

Think we should give Timbo or Axel a chance there first before we splash out serious money on somebody considered a specialist who may or not be able to hack playing at Old Trafford, and there's more chance of that playing in a team still in transition.

Ones injury prone and the others played at the back and at other teams and proved to not be good enough overall. We cant waste another season hitting and hoping.

 

[Maluco]

Phillips is a great shout. Of course, we'd all like Partey or Ndidi. However, we probably aren't shopping in that market for a defensive midfielder.

I just think we need a smart deal in midfield.

It would be great to bring in Sancho, Grealish, Ndidi and Haaland but it’s not realistic, even if we do sell Pogba. We had a small net spend in the summer and I reckon they will want to do something similar.

Pogba sold, and with it, one big signing and two smaller ones.

I think Sancho needs to be the bigger one as he has amazing potential an we have literally no natural players at RW. He is going to cost a bomb.

Then two smart signings for the future at CM and CF. I think Philips and Isak would fit the bill nicely.

 

[wolvored]

If Chelsea dont make top 4/5 and dont get Champions League and we do, go for Kante. This is the type of player we should be in for. Premier proven, power, full of running also scores goals. Hes 28 but if helped us challenge for the top over the next 3/4 years, it would be money well spent compared to the amount wasted over the last 7.

 

[Catt]

Probably get yelled at, but haven't Kante been pretty average for a good while now?

 

[VorZakone]

Probably get yelled at, but haven't Kante been pretty average for a good while now?

Yup. A lot of excuses will be thrown at you but let's call a spade a spade. He's not at his 2015-2017 level.

 

[Adnan]

Michael Carrick was a box to box midfielder before he joined United. And I remember one season at Spurs where he finished with the joint most assists in a season. He joined United and Fergie moulded him into a DM or DLP if you want to call it that. Most wouldn't have considered him a specialist for the DM role.

Fernandinho at Shakhtar was a dynamic box to box midfielder and even played as a #10 for them. He moved to City aged 27 and is now considered one of the finest DMs in the league.

If we want to adopt a modern attacking approach going forward then IMO we have to sign a DM who fits the following profile. Someone mobile, good passing ability and can also help in attack. Kalvin Phillips, Ruben Neves, Declan Rice IMO are not good enough and we should steer clear.

I would personally hope we look for a DM that ticks the aforementioned above and my standout pick would be Denis Zakaria who is a good passer, great pace/athleticism and can also help with transitioning play from defence and is very mobile. He could easily play the DM role solo due to his skillset and physicality and would provide multiple solutions to any problems for a prospective coach.

 

[TsuWave]

Partey

 

[Dion]

Carrick was never really a proper holding midfielder like Fernandinho or Busquets. He always played better with someone along side him rather than 2 in front.

He didn't undergo a major change under SAF though, he was largely the same player he was when we bought him, just much more experienced.