What midfielder is suited to partner Bruno in the double pivot?

jamesjimmybyrondean

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An athletic Midfielder has always been mentioned as a priority for this window and with Bruno now staying, all signs point to him playing in the double pivot. I don’t think we have a midfielder in the club with the legs or positional discipline to partner Bruno there, so who do you suggest we get?
 
It’s more so the positional sense rather than legs.

A player in the ilk of Carrick, Rodri etc is what we need to play with Bruno.
 
Not sure who exactly but prioritise a ball player in CM rather than an athlete. We need to learn that lesson as a club. We must have learned that lesson by now.

Fill the CB, wing back and striker roles with athletes.

And the vast majority of players can get around the pitch fine now anyway. Whoever the ball player is he'll get through plenty of work as well.
 
Baleba maybe? I'm not fully clued on all his strengths and weaknesses though.
 
The issue with Bruno in CM isn't really about his partner but more about his own instincts playing the position. To be fair to him he did have some performances this season where he played the role really well but there were others where he wasn't so good.

The problem is a Bruno bad game in CM is a lot more costly than as a 10. In a game where he loses his head and becomes temperamental, his partner won't be able to save him if he's giving the ball away or vacating his position.
 
If Chelsea hold an interest in Garnacho we should push hard for Andrey Santos. They might need a profit this year too.
 
No midfielder is suited to do a one man job there next to a maverick who does the sublime but loses possession repeatedly.
 
The issue with Bruno in CM isn't really about his partner but more about his own instincts playing the position. To be fair to him he did have some performances this season where he played the role really well but there were others where he wasn't so good.

The problem is a Bruno bad game in CM is a lot more costly than as a 10. In a game where he loses his head and becomes temperamental, his partner won't be able to save him if he's giving the ball away or vacating his position.
Well, the better the partner, the more fires they can put out, regardless of who started them.

Bruno deep creates problems as a permanent fixture, so you’re looking for someone who can most ably compensate for that and also facilitate Bruno’s game. Rodri could, but most others cannot. I would want someone as uncomplicated as possible next to Bruno who doesn’t need him to play his own game. Wharton for me.
 
I think the real question is is Bruno himself suited to the double pivot? He’s done his best work for us playing as a 10 or CAM. Don’t get me wrong I’m delighted he’s staying but I am slightly concerned as to where he fits into Ruben’s system, especially if we sign Mbeumo as well as Cunha.
 
None. Don't play him there, a disaster waiting to happen.
 
No midfielder is suited to do a one man job there next to a maverick who does the sublime but loses possession repeatedly.
Read below.
It's a lazy narrative, his short and medium range pass completion is actually around the likes of Ederson and higher than Wharton. Players who most here are clamouring for us to sign. He might force it occasionally but he isn't losing the ball more than others.

Then you see people saying he's not defensively good enough but he's in the top 70th percentile for tackling as a midfielder.

I really question how much people are even watching our games.
 
I think the real question is is Bruno himself suited to the double pivot? He’s done his best work for us playing as a 10 or CAM. Don’t get me wrong I’m delighted he’s staying but I am slightly concerned as to where he fits into Ruben’s system, especially if we sign Mbeumo as well as Cunha.
We can but hope that with better 10s in the team Bruno will no longer feel the need to do everything. Hopefully now we can get some positional discipline inyo his game.

His assists will reduce but his pre-assists should increase. Amourim wants 10s and WBs who can all run with the ball and cause chaos in the opponents bsck line. Bruno will be playing these guys in.
 
Ederson from Atalanta would be perfect. Can play both 6 and 8 at a very high level and is quick, strong and has bags of stamina
 
Baleba, Onana and Wharton would all be good options.
I take Onana playing any role other than GK ;) (I think he is settled well at Villa)

One of Baleba,Wharton OR both is a dream if we can ship out Ugarte and few other players like Rashford,Sancho,Antony.Rasmus,Garnacho,Dalot,Onana to fund these moves.

To be honest I dont mind to sell one of Bruno/Mainoo if we could get both Baleba and Wharton
 
I take Onana playing any role other than GK ;) (I think he is settled well at Villa)

One of Baleba,Wharton OR both is a dream if we can ship out Ugarte and few other players like Rashford,Sancho,Antony.Rasmus,Garnacho,Dalot,Onana to fund these moves.

To be honest I dont mind to sell one of Bruno/Mainoo if we could get both Baleba and Wharton
£180 - £200m. Not a chance.
 
If it's with the players we currently have would be Ugarte for more challenging game and Casemeiro if we want more attacking.

For player we target should Wharton or Baleba.
 
Wharton. Ive heard good things about Ederson but cant claim to have seen him much.
 
I think it's more that Bruno himself will need to adjust the way that he plays that position over the course of the summer. Too many times last season he would drift up out of the pivot and support the attack for entire phases of play. This was needed last season with our attack being horrific, but the league these days is far too athletically taxing for any player to do that in a midfield two.

Mbeumo, Cunha + hopefully a new striker will alleivate the burden on him to come up with goals. I'll happily exchange the bulk of his goal related statistics for more measured performances with him in the pivot.
 
Bruno in midfield helps numerous aspects of the team and the system.

Much has been made of the additional defender / losing an attacker when playing a 3-4-3 system - therefore playing him deeper counter acts this.

His partner will need to be a physical monster and none of the current crop are up to this.

Someone in the Gravenberch / Rice mould would be ideal... very difficult to find on a limited budget.
 
Amorim's most used Sporting shapes -

In possession - 3-3-2-2

---------------------------------Onana
---------------------Yoro----De Ligt------Martinez
Dalot/Amad------Case/Hjulmand---------------Dorgu
-------------------Bruno------------------------Cunha
-------------------Mbuemo-------------------Gykorez

Out of possession - 5-1-2-2

----------------------------------------Onana
Dalot/Amad--------Yoro----De Ligt------Martinez-----Dorgu
------------------------------Case/Hjulmand--------------
-------------------Bruno------------------------Cunha
-------------------Mbuemo-------------------Gykorez

I think the key here is to get a pure 6 - Hjulmand/Casemiro. Just sit in front of the back 3, cut off passing lanes, be smart and tactically brilliant positionally. Casemiro basically but an in form Casemiro and hopefully with more legs. Also a striker that can run the left channel and hold up the ball- Gykores ideal, Mateta more than a Ramos.
 
A CM combo of: Bruno/Cas/Ugarte/Collyer/Mainoo just will not cut it moving forward

All combinations have been tried here and they all have flaws.

The question shouldn't be "who should partner Bruno" it should be "Can Bruno adapt his game to be a CM?"

Collyer and Mainoo are developing, Bruno is a more natural attacking player. So we only actually have 2 CM's. Ugarte is more the basic destroyer, covers ground, good in the tackle and keeps play ticking over with simple passes. Casemiro is the ultimate DM - good in the air, can read the game, can pick a pass - he's been there, won it all > But this idealistic version of Casemiro has never played for us and never will.

So it's vital we address this area of the pitch. Ugarte/Bruno is probably the most logical pairing but it hasn't really functioned well this past season. Mainoo is a bit of a mystery and can't be relied upon to be a regular yet and i'd probably opt to sell Casemiro and sign a new CM. Collyer can be a youth back up - 5th choice.

I can't see how we progress as a team without the CM being a priority. Our CM's do not dictate play or show for the ball enough, which leaves the CB's going long and we lose the ball. We need CM's to get ahold of the ball and set the tempo of the game
 
Towards the end of the season our attacking structure turned into a 3-1-6 with the other 6 moving into the highest line looking to break teams down.

Meaning we need 2 CMs:

1 to rotate with Bruno - Mainoo could be that player but his athleticism was questionable - this player needs to be able to dictate and control the pace of the game.
1 to Replace Cas - We have Ugarte but also need an other alternative - preferably technical and shield the defence as if we are moving to the 3-1-6 they will be exposed from time to time.

If I was prioritizing 1 it is the replacement for Cas but who is really available for that?

Baleba would be brilliant but can we afford him.

Wharton is more of the Bruno replacement in this system.
 
People who think we are gonna sign a midfielder are going to be in for a rude awakening after the Bruno news now. We have Bruno, Mainoo, Ugarte, Casemiro, Collyer at least for 2 spots. Bruno is going to start everygame if he can, and we have Casemiro and Ugarte for the other spot. Unless we sell one of them I can't see us buying one. So take your pick out of Ugarte or Casemiro, it's a disaster waiting to happen in the league i'm afraid, we'll get bullied.
 
Go back in time and get Prime Casemiro.

In all honesty though we need someone who is good physically but also comfortable on the ball. An all action midfielder. A mash-up between Ugarte and Mainoo. No chance we will have the funds to buy a Tier 1 player like that (Baleba, Wharton etc.) so we might have to get creative.
 
No single midfielder can compensate for Bruno's weaknesses in central midfield.

Given that most Premier League teams aim to dominate this area with physically strong players, it will always be a weakness.
 
Haidara is available this summer. I wouldn’t mind a sneaky risk on him. Great ball player and he gets around the pitch well. Was linked to him back when Ragnick was in charge.