He did and the teams we faced are irrelevant to the question you posed.
Luckhurst: United prepared to move for a holding midfielder in January
- Thread starter Valar Morghulis
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik @Rood and Imran @Annihilate Now! start with the good news by celebrating Manchester United Women's emphatic FA Cup win over Spurs at Wembley and the future of manager Marc Skinner.
Then it's the bad news and the ever worsening form of our Men with losses to Arsenal and Palace.
Finally the main debate - ETH Out now or keep him until the end of the season - if not longer. Are you Team Nik or Team Imran?
Agreed.
My thinking is that it will be Haaland and Rice we go for.
Hopefully next year with the bounce back of the market from COVID, we'll see the likes of Pereira, Dalot, Williams, one of Axel or Bailly, and maybe one of DDG or Henderson sold which should ensure that we get our net spend down to a reasonable enough level.
Add in Grant, Mata and Cavani leaving at the end of their contracts too, and we should be clearing a good £400k-£500k cleared in wages without needing sales as well.
EDIT - While I do think we'll go in for Haaland in 2022, I don't know if we'll get him. In the case that we don't, I can see a move for Martinez at Inter (who isn't necessarily a 9 admittedly), Vlahovic at Fiorentina, or even Calvert-Lewin happening. The good thing is that while we will no doubt have Haaland as the obvious plan A, the alternatives all have plenty of their own strong points too and I would not be unhappy with any of them coming in.
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He has proved useful defending set pieces, he's added aggression to his game, has a very good shot on him, and when the team plays well he plays well. I see a player who is still improving. And I like him very much as a squad player. He'll improve further training with higher quality midfielders.
I really hope they add a solid RB that can actually play some football. I think some people are massively underestimating what a good attacking back could bring to this team. Would allow Greenwood/Sancho to play with more freedom and cut in more as well. Both Shaw and AWB are super predictable and better defenders but provide barely anything offensively, but at least Shaw can give the team something from time to time. I really wished they would pursue someone else after they backed out for Trippier.
Luke Shaw is predictable and offers nothing offensvely
.Sorry but what a load of bollox.How about a last minute loan for Arthur Melo, he was a very good mid at Barca and Juve doesn't use him at all.
They call him Arthur Melo, quite rightly.
What's wrong with his name mate?
Considering there haven't been any strong rumors from any of the big news outlets its looking like we're not getting a new midfielder.
I hope that people aren’t going to start blaming lingard for the club not signing another midfielder. That would be stupidity
By the same token, we aren't getting Ronaldo.
Need to blame somebody. It's definitely one of Ole, Lingard, Jones or
This needs more love They’ll soon have to find some new fall guysThere is a flaw in that calculation. Do you remember the transfer amortization fee accumulated from previous season for this season because I have no idea about the same? Its one of the reason why I dont think we should focus on how the deal is structured.
Think the RB issue will resolve itself. Laird is that guy in the long-term for me and I'd like to see him given the chance if he performs well for Swansea this season. Likewise, I wouldn't be surprised if after this year Dalot goes next summer and Trippier comes in on a cheap deal as he only has one year left on his contract at that point and he acts as the stopgap.
The thing is AWB's X factor is so unique and so good, he's worth all the other drawbacks he has. So let's see what ends up happening.
Brilliant
Will be pissed if Neves signs for Spurs.
Six options? Matic, Fred, McTominay... erm... even if you count Pogba and Donny, that's five.
To the Jan transfer window thread!.
We may have 6 options but they are mostly terrible. Oh well, we will just have to outscore everyone.
EDIT. Yeah where are the 6?. Fred, Mctom, Donny, Matic, and Pogba?
We have 6 options for that position? What? There are three. One is injured.. One is old and slow. One is a headless chicken. Unless you're pigeon holing pogba or dvb (he won't play) there?
We should be more ruthless and sign 2 next summer. Pogba isnt a CM, Matic is too old and VDB doesnt seem a footballer in Ole's eyes.
It’ll be our downfall not bolstering such a key position.
Ole may use Lindeloff in midfield
Wouldn’t be against it. Needs must.
Especially after watching Sunday’s game it’s obvious that any team who’s able to press even somewhat competently will cut off the link between our midfield and forwards.
Matic will be a half an year more experienced on january. No need for CDM.
That is the fear I have. Would be a real shame after all the good work we've managed to do this window.
I'm over the moon with our signings but this is still a real concern.
Not sure who the sixth would be. Pogba will probably play LW at least as often as he plays central midfield and VdB is only an "option" if the manager is willing to pick him.
It's really three/four options: Matic, McTominay, Fred (and very occasionally, Pogba).
Could go 3 - 5 - 2 with lindelof playing cdm/def?
Go middle 3 of McT/Pogba/Bruno and Greenwood/Ronaldo/Cavani up front?
The 6th midfielder is Phil Jones, lads
Has he ever played there? If he can beat the press then yeah maybe but I am not convinced he can play there. Very few defender can actually perform this role. I remember Rio Ferdinand tried it and was horrible in that role.
He actually played there against Real Madrid and was quite impressive. But that was a lifetime ago
Luckhurst is reporting the view of the suits at Man Utd, none of whom understand football. In their minds Bruno counts as a midfielder. Even though we all know, for a fact, Bruno and Donny are seen as #10s by the coaching staff (and Pogba may as well be an inside left).
We have two #8s: McTominay and Fred and one #6: Matic. Its a horribly unbalanced midfield. We can all see it but if you grew up watching Rugby or NFL then...
Probably counting Lingard or Bruno. Although Bruno basically plays as a striker (seriously look at his heat maps) it’s actually ridiculous how high up the pitch he is. Our formation is essentially 424.
Yeah i remember it was away at Wolves under Fergie. Can't exactly remember what happened, think he was pulled off when everyone realised it wasn't working
next year is always our year.