What's your midfield three with everyone fit?

Statue of Limitations

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I don't think McT is getting enough love on here.

McT, Pogba, Bruno

Bruno, Pogba 100%
I'd personally pick McT as I don't think Matic is a long term solution and I'd like to see that trio grow together into a strong, cohesive unit.
 

LDUred

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If we play Pog and Bruno, we will need a four man midfield. I would put Fred at the base of the diamond and then Pog and McTom in the middle and Bruno at the head.

-------------Fred-------------
--Pogba----------McTom
------------Bruno_______

Having Pogba and Bruno in a three man midfield is a non-starter for me. Not enough defensive cover.

A four man midfield looks negative, but if Pogba starts pulling the strings in tandem with Bruno then it will be both dynamic and creative.
 

Slik

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If we play Pog and Bruno, we will need a four man midfield. I would put Fred at the base of the diamond and then Pog and McTom in the middle and Bruno at the head.

-------------Fred-------------
--Pogba----------McTom
------------Bruno_______

Having Pogba and Bruno in a three man midfield is a non-starter for me. Not enough defensive cover.

A four man midfield looks negative, but if Pogba starts pulling the strings in tandem with Bruno then it will be both dynamic and creative.
What? Did you not watch United vs Sheffield?
 

He'sRaldo

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We could play a 4 man midfield in a similar way to Juve when they reached the CL Final. Pogba was in that midfield as well.

Tevez - Morata
Vidal
Pogba - Marchisio
Pirlo
seems similar stylistically to

Rashford - Martial
Fernandes
Pogba - Fred/ Scott
Matic​

Since our wide players are more wide strikers than wingers, I wouldn't mind playing that 4 man midfield with 2 strikers up top.

My preferred though is still the 3 man midfield of Matic, Pogba, and Bruno, with Pogba lining up alongside Bruno instead of behind him. Either way, I still don't like the 4-2-3-1 we play at all, but it's good to hear Ole will be flexible with it in the future.
 

RashyForPM

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I don’t even think that this is up for discussion anymore if we’re talking about a 3-man midfield this season. As Pogba and Bruno are rightly untouchable at the moment, Matic is the only player who can simultaneously provide balance, quality and specialisation as a pure DM. Of course though, he is getting on and I do see McTominay being able to drop back into this sitting role in the future from his current B2B one as he continues his development. However, I would rather buy Ndidi as Matic’s long-term replacement and keep Scott as a rotation option.

However, if we’re looking at a midfield 4, then were talking. In that case, Scott would start behind Pogba and in front of Matic as a B2B to release Pogba and Bruno to attack freely without too much defensive duties. However, taking our current RW, Greenwood out of the side for Scott just to play this diamond will cause congestion in our plays. To solve it, we’ll genuinely have to remove Shaw and AWB for Williams and James as Shaw just cannot attack and AWB is developing that part of his game. I really cannot see Ole doing that, and I certainly wouldn’t either.
 

James Ward

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Pogba, Bruno, Matic. I don't rate Scott, never have and hopefully he proves me wrong but think he's a bang average footballer.

Think the same about Fred to be honest even though he was our best player when we were fith/sixth.

I'd like a long term replacement for Matic and Maybe Grealish if we can get him at a cut price when Villa get relegated.
 

Schmeichel's Cartwheel

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If we play Pog and Bruno, we will need a four man midfield. I would put Fred at the base of the diamond and then Pog and McTom in the middle and Bruno at the head.

-------------Fred-------------
--Pogba----------McTom
------------Bruno_______

Having Pogba and Bruno in a three man midfield is a non-starter for me. Not enough defensive cover.

A four man midfield looks negative, but if Pogba starts pulling the strings in tandem with Bruno then it will be both dynamic and creative.
What baffles me the most is that this post was made after the Sheffield United game.
 

Brightonian

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Bruno Pogba Matic. But Matic can't play every game. In his absence, it's Bruno Pogba Fred. That's not to criticise McTominay, who I rate very highly. It's just that he is better suited to being Pogba's backup than Matic's. Fred has more discipline, experience and control for that position.
 

Hammondo

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I still want this. Energetic midfield with some bite.

After Pogba's comments this week I hope Ole drops him - he deserved to be dropped anyway.
It's kinda close to how Liverpool have played their midfield.
 

YouOnlyLiveTwice

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Pogba Matic/Fred Bruno

Let Bruno and Pogba interchange between going forward and dictating play from deep, they both have the ability.

We need to find a way to get the Best out of both of Them if we want to achieve anything this season.
 

wolvored

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Bruno should be first name on team sheet I would try VDB and Matic although DM should be addressed next summer unless they going to try Garner there. Unless mctom and Fred improve no end this season in positioning tackling and awareness in front of our defence I would even sell one and bring a DM in as well. Partey was a chance missed imo
 

UpWithRivers

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Depends on the opposition. If they are parking the bus then go for Pogba/Matic/Fernandes. If they press/are good i.e. Liverpool etc then Matic + Fred/Mctominay + Pogba/Fernandes/VDB but Fernandes needs to be deeper if he plays.
Pogba/Matic/Fernandes will rarely work except against poorer opposition.
 

Hammondo

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Depends on the opposition. If they are parking the bus then go for Pogba/Matic/Fernandes. If they press/are good i.e. Liverpool etc then Matic + Fred/Mctominay + Pogba/Fernandes/VDB but Fernandes needs to be deeper if he plays.
Pogba/Matic/Fernandes will rarely work except against poorer opposition.
Or stronger opposition like spurs.
 

sugar_kane

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We started arguably our best/most desired midfield three against Spurs and it was diabolical

It has to be concluded that Matic is finished and Pogba doesn't fit into any midfield combo of ours. It might work if Matic was about twice as quick, rapid movement on the flanks, or better passing from the back, but we have none of those things and won't have them for a while.

I'd like to see if DVD/Fernandes/McTominay could work.
 

Tom Cato

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We started arguably our best/most desired midfield three against Spurs and it was diabolical

It has to be concluded that Matic is finished and Pogba doesn't fit into any midfield combo of ours. It might work if Matic was about twice as quick, rapid movement on the flanks, or better passing from the back, but we have none of those things and won't have them for a while.

I'd like to see if DVD/Fernandes/McTominay could work.
Matic was our best player in the season that ended 10 weeks ago. My man, memory runs short.
 

Wednesday at Stoke

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Matic needs a run of games at his age to get into the groove. Its the same thing Carrick needed when he got into his 30s and Fergie used to leave him on the bench for the first 6 or so league games.

Right now the best midfield would be a combo of Fred, Pogba and Bruno if the show pony is willing to be a work horse. Otherwise get McTominay in there and let the two of them chase the ball like dobermans while Bruno does the intricate risky stuff.
 

Oldyella

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If we are sticking with the double pivot, Fred and Mctominay behind Bruno. Certainly at present while we look like crap, get some battlers in there short term.

If we play an actual 3 man midfield, Bruno and any other 2 from Fred, VDB, Pogba and Mctominay. Maybe Matic against the better sides.

Either way I think Pogba needs a few games on the bench and see if it fires him up.
 

K Stand Knut

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How can anyone put Pogba in to their ideal midfield 3????

He’s a joke.

I genuinely have no idea on our best but I’m certain it doesn’t contain Pogba.

I’d go with Matic, VdB and Fernandes
 

red woppit

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If we are sticking with the double pivot, Fred and Mctominay behind Bruno. Certainly at present while we look like crap, get some battlers in there short term.

If we play an actual 3 man midfield, Bruno and any other 2 from Fred, VDB, Pogba and Mctominay. Maybe Matic against the better sides.

Either way I think Pogba needs a few games on the bench and see if it fires him up.
Been talking about this formation for ages now. We certainly need some stability in there. When I first mentioned this I was critized for having 'no creativity' in the team, which was probably true in a way, as we were playing Lingard, Pereira in there, but now we have Bruno, I think it would work a treat. We could drop Matic in between them in a diamond shape for some of the tough matches, or even VDB for a bit more energy, Pogba, or VDB would drop in for Bruno when he needed a rest.
 

simplyared

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I wouldn't go for a midfield 3. My sollution would be a diamond as such:
DM Matic
RM vdB
LM Pogba
AM Bruno
McT (bench)
Then a front 2 with Greenwood + Rashford/Cavani
Fred nowhere near getting in that midfield. Don't rate him end of!
 

Lee565

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Matic, beek and fred with Fernandes playing as a false 9 up top
 

UNITED ACADEMY

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I wouldn't go for a midfield 3. My sollution would be a diamond as such:
DM Matic
RM vdB
LM Pogba
AM Bruno
McT (bench)
Then a front 2 with Greenwood + Rashford/Cavani
Fred nowhere near getting in that midfield. Don't rate him end of!
Pogba needs to work his socks off if he’s going to play there. Team likes to let their players to go attack means it’s his job to track back the opposition right back. What makes you think he has the ability or desire to cover lot of ground?
 

Leonzo1

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Fred Mct and Bruno. Vdb as first sub, Matic once every few games. Pogba as a last resort.
 

Varun

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Games where we will dominate the ball - Fred Pogba Bruno
Others - Fred McT Bruno
 

Chief123

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Pretty much this. Easily our most balanced too imo.

On paper you'd think it'd be Bruno, Pogba and Matic, but that midfield has been an absolute abomination for us.
Once VDB gets a run of games, people will realise that he’s actually our best player in the midfield.
 

sugar_kane

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Matic was our best player in the season that ended 10 weeks ago. My man, memory runs short.
Okay finished is harsh, but I don't think he has the energy or consistency to prop up a midfield with Pogba & Fernandes.

He was good for a chunk of the season but when he's bad the whole team performance drops a level, I don't think he can be relied on week in week out.
 

2 man midfield

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I think Pogba or Bruno need to drop out for Fred and Van De Beek. Both have been out of form and we look imbalanced with them both playing.
 

Cnaiür urs Skiötha

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Fred
Bruno
VDB
I can see this being the way forward. Pogba is so fecking inconsistent and probably will leave, Matic is not mobile and fast enough and McTominay is just plain average.
Depending how this midfield 3 works out when getting a run of games together we might upgrade on any of them, most probably Fred.
 

simplyared

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So many posters putting Fred in our "strongest" midfield. What the feck does he bring to the table? There's not an ounce of creativity in the player, he can't tackle, he can,t shoot. Can't see a goal in him and more than anything he's high risk. Needs offloading quick whilst we can get some of our money back!!
 

Chief123

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So many posters putting Fred in our "strongest" midfield. What the feck does he bring to the table? There's not an ounce of creativity in the player, he can't tackle, he can,t shoot. Can't see a goal in him and more than anything he's high risk. Needs offloading quick whilst we can get some of our money back!!
That’s harsh. He has a lot more energy and effect when it comes to pressing and closing opponents down. He transitions the ball from back to front very well and is able to get around the pitch. These are all things he did very well last season.

He was an integral part of the team from the January run all the way to lockdown. It’s very easy just to give all the praise to Bruno for that run. But Fred was one of our best players last season. The same season a lot of people had written off Matic as finished. Fred certainly offers a lot more than McTominay and in some aspects Matic as well.

There was a long stretch of games where Fred pretty much made himself undroppable.
 

AbusementPark

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Time to change for 5-3-2 formation, no need for a RW then. Bruno vdb and Fred Central 3, Telles, Shaw, Maguire, Bailly, AWB in defence. Cavani and Rashford up top.
 

luke511

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Bruno
Fred VDB​

This'll bring the intensity back to the side. Bruno needs to stay more central and closer to the CMs behind him as well.