Best Midfield Combination?

Raoul said:
Trouble is, we have four comparbly capable players, so I don't think there will be a static 2. It would've obviously been different if we bought someone like Anderson.
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No. We have 4 players of different attribute, 5 if you include Mount. Baleba should be the DMF anchor, if all goes according to plan then I only worry about him playing 50+ games a season. Santos is supposed to be another DMF but nowhere to be seen, perhaps needing more time to adapt. Mainoo is supposed to be our box2box MF and can provide decent cover on ball recovery, perhaps not as good as Baleba (to be seen). Teilemans is a pure attacking mind MF and don't expect a lot of ground work from him. Assuming all fit

Against good teams with a slightly cautious tactics, Mainoo+ Baleba, or Baleba+Teilemans my 2nd choice
If Bruno is missing, play 433 with Baleba + Mainoo + Teilemans
Against average teams, particularly at home, Mainoo+Teilemans. Never use Santos, play Baleba as 2nd choice
Domestic cups - Santos + either of Mainoo / Teilemans. OK if you prefer Mount.
 
cyril C said:
No. We have 4 players of different attribute, 5 if you include Mount. Baleba should be the DMF anchor, if all goes according to plan then I only worry about him playing 50+ games a season. Santos is supposed to be another DMF but nowhere to be seen, perhaps needing more time to adapt. Mainoo is supposed to be our box2box MF and can provide decent cover on ball recovery, perhaps not as good as Baleba (to be seen). Teilemans is a pure attacking mind MF and don't expect a lot of ground work from him. Assuming all fit

Against good teams with a slightly cautious tactics, Mainoo+ Baleba, or Baleba+Teilemans my 2nd choice
If Bruno is missing, play 433 with Baleba + Mainoo + Teilemans
Against average teams, particularly at home, Mainoo+Teilemans. Never use Santos, play Baleba as 2nd choice
Domestic cups - Santos + either of Mainoo / Teilemans. OK if you prefer Mount.
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Baleba is not great as a defensive anchor, he's more of a mobile ball winner. HIs mobility, pace and stamina (with and without the ball) are his biggest strengths. He needs to have the freedom to chase down the opposition outside of the traditional DM zone, and also be allowed to carry the ball when he turns it over. More Kante than Makelele.

Have you really written off Santos after one game by the way? That's seems a little hasty.
 
The Fletcher brothers are not going to play much, if anything at all, in the league. Out best combination has to be with Mainoo and one of the new players. In my opinion Mainoo is far better than our second best central midfielder.

I prefer something like his:

1) ........Mainoo....Tielemans......

2)........Mainoo...Baleba........

3)........Mainoo....Santos.......

4)......Mainoo.....Bruno..... (and someone else in Bruno`s normal position).

5) .....Baleba.....Tielemans.....

6)......Tielemans...Santos..........

7).......Baleba.....Santos.........
 
I think it'll be santos, mainoo and bruno who will establish themselves as first choice midfield as the season goes on
 
It very much looks like Carrick prefers Kobbie playing in the deeper role with his partner having a bit more freedom to get up the pitch. We've seen Tielemans in advanced areas and last season Casemiro providing a greater attacking threat from open play too. I do wonder how that will or won't change when paired with Santos or Baleba. Perhaps with Baleba if using an England example, Kobbie takes up the role of Anderson as being the deepest player and Baleba is more in the rice mould, with more freedom? Not seen enough of Baleba to really know his best role/profile though.
 
saivet said:
It very much looks like Carrick prefers Kobbie playing in the deeper role with his partner having a bit more freedom to get up the pitch. We've seen Tielemans in advanced areas and last season Casemiro providing a greater attacking threat from open play too. I do wonder how that will or won't change when paired with Santos or Baleba. Perhaps with Baleba if using an England example, Kobbie takes up the role of Anderson as being the deepest player and Baleba is more in the rice mould, with more freedom? Not seen enough of Baleba to really know his best role/profile though.
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It’s weird because before he became manager he said he thinks Mainoo is an 8.

I wonder if he just wants both to be able to cover both making it less predictable.
 
saivet said:
It very much looks like Carrick prefers Kobbie playing in the deeper role with his partner having a bit more freedom to get up the pitch. We've seen Tielemans in advanced areas and last season Casemiro providing a greater attacking threat from open play too. I do wonder how that will or won't change when paired with Santos or Baleba. Perhaps with Baleba if using an England example, Kobbie takes up the role of Anderson as being the deepest player and Baleba is more in the rice mould, with more freedom? Not seen enough of Baleba to really know his best role/profile though.
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No, Tielemans plays in a deeper role, for ball distribution purpose. Mainoo covers more ground. I believe this is his double-8 formation, OK against weaker teams, not so sure against City or Arsenal or any of the good teams.
 
Berbasbullet said:
It’s weird because before he became manager he said he thinks Mainoo is an 8.

I wonder if he just wants both to be able to cover both making it less predictable.
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I suspect it is him thinking he can cover bother roles in midfield but does make me wonder where Carrick believes he sits best
 
I did comment with Mainoo a while back how I see him developing into the deepest midfielder and we did see more of this as mentioned last season. I think it’s a combination of a few things, some of them highlighted. Against ‘smaller’ teams we will probably play 2 ball players to help with possession so neither player is ‘defensive’ so to speak.

I think Carrick sees Kobbie as a complete midfielder and this is part of the development curve.

He plays all over the pitch really but him coming deep allows him to be involved regularly and it easier for us to play out from deep. It’s almost like the deeper midfielder pivots of the one further forward when trying to beat the press.

On the best partnership I’d say we have the flexibility to adapt now but Mainoo plus whoever works best.
 
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