"When we can’t find him...we will develop one" -Ten Hag

[Bastian]

We're looking for a player who can play in the holding midfield position, but it has to be the right one. There are not many in that position capable of the level we demand. When we can’t find him, we have to deal with the players in our squad now and we will develop one in that position.

So, assuming none of the senior players have that capacity (Bruno, Eriksen, Fred, McTominay) who do people think can be developed into that type of role?

Seen Garner, Savage and Iqbal mentioned, but not Mejbri who actually did play that role in his youth days at Monaco and already can dribble past players.

I quite liked that quote. Hope he has some ideas for our more promising youngsters.

 

[Gandalf]

I agree Hannibal is a good shout and obviously Garner has shown some of what would be required there and was endorsed last summer by Bruno for the weight and range of his passing also so they would be the most likely candidates. One of the main reasons ETH was such an attractive candidate is his track record of developing youth prospects into first team starters and internationals and so I would hope as a fanbase we would trust him with this and be patient and not panic if we don't choose to go down the road of throwing money at every position we need to fill.

 

[RedStarUnited]

He was definitely talking a out a senior player I think.

 

[SalfordRed18]

From what I've seen it would be garner or Zidane. I don't think. Eric will have any issue with throwing a youngster in and moulding him into exactly what he wants and the team needs.

 

[AFC NimbleThumb]

If FdJ doesn’t sign it’ll be Fred. I’ve been one of his biggest critics but I think he’d do well in the defined role. He’s far from ideal but I like the fact EtH would rather use what he has at his disposal than buy a player he doesn’t think is suitable.

I don’t think we’ll see much of the youngsters.

 

[Biggins]

Shame we lost this great youth prospect. Jese? Jesse? ETH would help him realize his full potential!

 

[Gandalf]

If FdJ doesn’t sign it’ll be Fred. I’ve been one of his biggest critics but I think he’d do well in the defined role. He’s far from ideal but I like the fact EtH would rather use what he has at his disposal than buy a player he doesn’t think is suitable.

I don’t think we’ll see much of the youngsters.

I think Fred would be the starter certainly but I also think an understudy like Garner would be identified and developed throughout the season with the hope and expectation that in 1 to 2 years he would be ready to take the role full time. I don't think ETH will have 100% success rate with this but I do think he will try it with a number of our younger players and it is a win/win as we may avoid the expense of signing someone for a role if we can coach someone to make that leap but even if they come up a little short we may well enhance their value as we have seen Liverpool do to the point where we have one or two players each summer who can be moved on for decent fees to help balance the transfer budget.

 

[hobbers]

Hannibal wont be developed into a deep lying playmaker, of that we can be pretty sure.

Zidane is the only one.

 

[youmeletsfly]

Zidane is too young to be a starting DLP for United this season, that's for sure.
The only one in the squad that has the legs and technique is Fred, who's also good at passing the ball forward.

Sadly, all the players in our squad who can play there are kinda ball losers/not showers. ETH has some work to do to develop one out of them all, no matter who the name is.

 

[JJ12]

ETH is showing you the formation if FDJ isn’t signed and who will play. It’ll be 2 midfielder’s likely McTominay and Fred.

We need to upgrade McTominay but I think Fred really could be brilliant in the right system.

 

[Drainy]

Garner

 

[Sandikan]

McFred will be developed into our starting midfield 2.

 

[DeGea’sFeet]

If FdJ doesn’t sign it’ll be Fred. I’ve been one of his biggest critics but I think he’d do well in the defined role. He’s far from ideal but I like the fact EtH would rather use what he has at his disposal than buy a player he doesn’t think is suitable.

I don’t think we’ll see much of the youngsters.

Agree. Fred is arguably one of our most complete midfielders, a bit like Herrera, but Fred thrives in a system, which is why I think he was one of the few players who shined under RR and will do well under 10 Hag

 

[Terranova]

Most likely Eriksen, fits the profile Schone was at Ajax. Danish aging attacking midfielder/winger.

 

[Red the Bear]

Zidane perhaps? I really liked his driving runs and nimble maneuvering.

 

[Mcking]

Nice way of saying it's going to be McTominay and Fred in midfield. His team selections so far show that already.

 

[GL21]

Unpopular, but Scott McT could be forged into the role. He has his flaws no doubt but positional aspects could quickly be rectified. He's a natural athlete and a physical specimen too. Has plenty of silly fouls in him but he could become a defensive midfielder with good success

 

[sullydnl]

So far he has been using Fred in the deepest midfield role and that's what would continue.

 

[Amar__]

Thank feck he doesn't think Mctominay is the one for that position, because it's literally his worst position.

 

[nau05194]

He was definitely talking about a senior player I think.

That was the impression I got.

 

[Ekeke]

Hannibal is likely long past playing CM. If he was going to he would have spent the last few years improving his positioning in the role, which is of upmost importance. He didnt. He played as an attacker developing that side of things

Garner is the answer

 

[USREDEVIL]

De Garner. Make it so.

 

[Ekeke]

If FdJ doesn’t sign it’ll be Fred. I’ve been one of his biggest critics but I think he’d do well in the defined role. He’s far from ideal but I like the fact EtH would rather use what he has at his disposal than buy a player he doesn’t think is suitable.

I don’t think we’ll see much of the youngsters.

I think this'll only happen if he hasnt watched Fred playing the role for us in the past. When pressed in deep positions he has no composure and often has a bad touch or pass that turns over the ball. Its also what happened when Andreas was given a few games there by Mourinho, he did the same thing it cost us and then Mourinho dropped him. This is exactly what you cant have in that position.

 

[Walrus]

As a McTominay fan, it 100% shouldnt be him.

 

[Henrik Larsson]

Most likely Eriksen, fits the profile Schone was at Ajax. Danish aging attacking midfielder/winger.

It's true, if he wants to replicate his most succesful Ajax system and we don't sign De Jong, it could very well be one of

McTom or Fred + Eriksen for CM

With Bruno on top as the most attacking midfielder for our strongest line-up in Ten Hag's mind.

With Eriksen playing deeper you'd have a lot of pure football in midfield and I'm sure it's something Ten Hag (initially) wants to try. The big question marks being whether it's viable tactically against PL teams, and how does Eriksen click there, how many matches can he play next season? And of course there's the problem, what if we lose a match or two with that formation? Louis van Gaal quickly got scared at United and started to implement a very risk averse and boring control oriented style of posession based football, which I think cost him later on, especially in his second season when we broke a record for least amount of goals scored, and generally played without any balls or bravery.

Ten Hag is a bit more of a stubborn maniac. I remember in 2018 at Ajax he used this weird formation against PSV with Frenkie in defense and they lost 3-0. Then another game against PSV five months later where he tried roughly the same tactics, and lost 3-0 again

But this didn't stop him and he kept on playing risky attacking football and attacking formations, also in the big games and eventually it clicked and they had that monster season soon after. Let's hope the pressure of the Manchester United job and the calls for a manager's head after every single fecking defeat don't make him more pragmatic and timid out of fear for losing his job early on.

 

[Champ]

Quite obviously be a midfield of Fred and McTominay.

Which in a well drilled system could work well.

 

[jesperjaap]

A lot of people naming Fred for the deep lying playermaker when he has on the whole a liability in the double pivot. The only time for me he has looked anything near a proper player that cost a big fee was under Ragnick when he was pushed further forward.

For me there are only two Hannibal and Garner and are either ready to be in the starting eleven regularly....we wimply need to sign one and a defensive midfielder, we have been far too weak there for two long....this is why people still mention Carrick, we simply havent signed a central midfielder that has been consistently more than decent despite huge outlays on the likes of Pogba who never worked there

 

[sullydnl]

Quite obviously be a midfield of Fred and McTominay.

Which in a well drilled system could work well.

Based on our most recent warm-up game I would think it's McTominay's place in the slightly more advanced role that's less secure than Fred's in the deeper role. VDB did better in the same position when he came on and Eriksen could quite easily function in that position too.

 

[Champ]

Based on our most recent warm-up game I would think it's McTominay's place in the slightly more advanced role that's less secure than Fred's in the deeper role. VDB did better in the same position when he came on and Eriksen could quite easily function in that position too.

Eriksen definitely could, VDB has not shone at all so far this pre season for me.

Eriksen will not be starting the season as first choice however, he will only have had one pre season game by the time the season starts, hence it will be McT and Fred I'd imagine.
And a good performance against Brighton will only solidify this pairing failing a De Jong signing.

 

[cj_sparky]

Same spiel as last season. After Ole said "We are happy with our midfield options" and other comments about "McTominay is working closely with Carrick and McKenna, in order to develop parts of his game to play as a sole DM".

 

[Bastian]

I forgot about Donny in the OP when listing the senior midfielders, but I can't imagine anyone of them has both the physical engine and the technical ability to be developed into a role similar to what FDJ excels at. I watched quite a few Forrest matches last season and I like Garner, but I don't think he's that type of dribbler or ball carrier. He has the long range pass, he will keep developing and could make it at United (definitely wouldn't want him sold before we see whether he can make it here) while Zidane Iqbal has already shown that he has the technical ability to resist the press and the range of pass, rough though he still is (of course).

@Ekeke I don't think Hannibal has been done too many favours here in terms of his long-term development, he doesn't really have a set position, has been deployed in various ones while he started out as a deep lying midfielder. He's recently said he'd happily play in whatever position the manager wants and he's confident in his own ability. It can be a problem though, for a player breaking through, if they haven't been given a defined position. Well, I think he lacks the physicality (like Iqbal) but he clearly has the technical ability, the real question with them both is if they have the tactical discipline - and they're well placed training with the senior team under a coach-aholic like ETH.

 

[Adam-Utd]

Same spiel as last season. After Ole said "We are happy with our midfield options" and other comments about "McTominay is working closely with Carrick and McKenna, in order to develop parts of his game to play as a sole DM".

The difference is this manager actually cares about midfield.

Ole never did, his idea of midfield was get the ball forward as fast as possible.

 

[SalfordRed18]

Zidane is too young to be a starting DLP for United this season, that's for sure.
The only one in the squad that has the legs and technique is Fred, who's also good at passing the ball forward.

Sadly, all the players in our squad who can play there are kinda ball losers/not showers. ETH has some work to do to develop one out of them all, no matter who the name is.

Wum?

 

[the hea]

It's Fred, he has played that role in every game so far.

 

[cj_sparky]

The difference is this manager actually cares about midfield.

Ole never did, his idea of midfield was get the ball forward as fast as possible.

I'd agree with that.

I just hope ten Hag has more up his sleeve than just waiting on Frenkie de Jong. That we may have another possible target, maybe someone experienced and short term. Then have a youngster. Be it Garner, Savage, Igbal or Hannibal whomever ten Hag feels he can develop, without the pressure of being over relied on.

I just don't want that someone being developed to be McTominay or Fred, as we need better.

 

[Vidyoyo]

I'll take the word of other posters who seem to think he's talking about Fred but it'd be exciting to see Garner moulded to play there. He has all the tools to be a DLP.

 

[tomaldinho1]

McFred will be developed into our starting midfield 2.

Imagine if ETH turns them into a powerhouse midfield.

 

[CM]

Eriksen has the qualities to pass well and progress the ball up the pitch, so I would imagine it's him.

Eriksen played in a deeper role at times for Brentford and ten Hag has already hinted he could play in a 'lower' position in one of his recent interviews. Out of the senior players I think he'd make the most sense, though he could also be talking about one of the younger players like Iqbal.

 

[Bondi77]

I agree Hannibal is a good shout and obviously Garner has shown some of what would be required there and was endorsed last summer by Bruno for the weight and range of his passing also so they would be the most likely candidates. One of the main reasons ETH was such an attractive candidate is his track record of developing youth prospects into first team starters and internationals and so I would hope as a fanbase we would trust him with this and be patient and not panic if we don't choose to go down the road of throwing money at every position we need to fill.

Great post.

 

[OrcaFat]

If FdJ doesn’t sign it’ll be Fred. I’ve been one of his biggest critics but I think he’d do well in the defined role. He’s far from ideal but I like the fact EtH would rather use what he has at his disposal than buy a player he doesn’t think is suitable.

I don’t think we’ll see much of the youngsters.

Fred doesn’t have any of the right qualities to play the DeJong role.