Comfortable, yes. But where he's most productive and shown most quality is in an advanced position which is already taken and not worth paying 60M+ for if he can't play there. Under the current system, a lot of players have to be ruled out.
Im quite fine with that. Because I don't see the need for ANY more midfielders in the squad. I real priority problems are at center half, right winger and bottom of the list, center forward. Not any position in midfield.
Here bit of story about Llorente. Llorente is originally rated as DM by the fans in Real Madrid but never get the chance due to Casemiro and played all his 38 games on loan at Deportivo Alaves as DM in 16/17. Even when he joined Atl Madrid, he was supposed to replace Rodri but Partey the box to box took the role of DM instead. As the season goes (19/20), Llorente still played as DM but slowly became more versatile to used as impact sub in many different position. This season (20/21) when Partey left, Simeone changed his formation to 352 more often with Koke as his deep midfielder and Llorente as CM. Llorente is originally DM and now becoming a versatile midfielder who can also play other positions in midfield CM, Right midfield/wingback or even AM.
That's a fair point and it's very same reason I wouldn't be against buying Jack Grealish even if he comes here to replace Rashford our team would be better with that change or we can finally buy Midfielders who are adept at playmaking to getter better balance.
Llorente was a DM all his life. Everybody believed that, including himself. He was supposed to be the next great DM for real madrid, but failed. Then was sold to Atletico Madrid to replace Rodri as a DM. Failed again. Then Simeone tried him out as a shadow striker, and boom, insta-world class
I don't think you know Lampard if that's how you compare him. Why did Llorente play as DM in full season with Depotivo Alaves? That's something not even Lampard ever being used. I think he's more of a Fletcher, versatile can adapt and play everywhere in midfield DM, CM, Right Mid. He had Casemiro and Partey in his way which is why he wasn't used as DM.
Because he was thought of as a DM. He was nothing special at it. He became a special player once he started playing as an attacking mid/shadow striker. That's what he is. He's not a DM. He could play there, in the same way Pogba could. You wouldn't want either doing that though
Not the same way because one of Llorente asset is his disciplinary and defensive work to play in the role. Pogba doesn't have those to play in the role. Lazy and random comparison.
Manucho and Bebe
Once again: Marcos Llorente spent his whole life as a DM. He was downright mediocre at it
You're defining these players by their versatility, which makes sense for some players like James Milner or maybe Fletcher. But it seems like Llorente has found his standout position and growing into that attacking role. So in the same way that Gerrard is versatile I wouldn't exactly define him by that when his obvious strengths were in that CM/AM role.
The guy just turned 26 though. That's a common age for a midfielder only started burst into the scene in their prime. Pretty unfair and early to judge and to say he was mediocre because he had Partey and Casemiro as his competitor.
We don't really know that for sure until he is given years of football. Gerrard has been playing in lot of different roles, wide, CM, AM and even DM.
Playing a completely different role.
Because he is versatile enough to play that different role.
No issues in the midfield are you kidding me
Better questions is Are YOu kidding ME? Because unless one pays little attention to how we play. It's obvious United are forced to play a less creative midfield (a.k.a two defensive midfielders) and resultantly our weakest possible midfield line up to protect an imbalanced central defence. (a.k.a NOT a midfield problem). Not only curtailing our creativity but not allowing us to play on a front foot with a higher line.
Fair enough, we don't know that for sure, but on the flipside we also don't know if his new found form would transfer back into that DM role. It's possible it would if he's simply become a better player now and approaching his peak, but there isn't really any evidence to prove that. Obviously it also depends on how the team is set up. Right now all we can say is that he's better in that more attacking role.
I'd say its a mixture of everything.
I insist. We don't.
In his current state he'd hardly ever make the pitch if we had a defence that could operate in all games behind one defensive midfielder.
Fred and mcTominay are both excellent enforcers. Our issue is our center defence is not good enough to operate behind one enforcer. For the life of me I can't understand why people constantly conflate that with the quality of the players that play infront of it in the position. Even if we could get a prime Roy Keane he'd still be forced to play alongside a Fred, Mctominay or Matic to protect it. THAT is the real problem!
The only holes we have left to fill are center defence and right winger. Then at a stretch center forward.
United have one natural DM who's past it = Matic. Fred and McTominay are not natural DMs.
You criteria for excellent is way below mine.
We don't really have a proper first choice centre forward. Cavani is always injured and possibly leaving and Martial is just...depressed? Depressing? If we had a world class centre forward I think a lot of the complaints about our team would go away. Easier said than done of course to get a world class centre forward.
I largely agree. My point with strikers though is this: we have Greenwood coming through. (He will become incredible ....) We have Rashford. Even if a Martial refuses to wake up we have alternatives. Plus if we increase our threat two two flanks we won't be as reliant on our center forward for goals. Just goal involvement.
