Could also work, especially in the home games where we dominate possession.What you said is true, but I would prefer us to go for a 4-4-2 diamond formation, with Matic as a 6, Mctominay and Fred as 8's and Bruno as a 10. Martial and Ighalo upfront. This until the end of the season till we get a better right winger.
We don’t have good enough wing backs to play this formation all the time! Fine away against the big 6 teams but you could see how much better we were when we changed formation last night! We should play 4-3-3 with Ighalo flanked by Greenwood and Martial- all capable of scoring added to McT, Fred and Bruno we should be able to break down most teamsMidfield options are good now, but the wide men behind Martial are still bang average.
Without Rashford we're left with James, Mata, Pereira, Lingard - quite an average support cast.
I'm probably in favour of ditching the 4-2-3-1 and using the 3-5-2 more often but with Ighalo partnering Martial.
No way we are signing Grealish for 80m so that he can play bit part roles and plug in the injury gaps. He would want a guaranteed starting position which will be impossible with Bruno and Rashford in the side.I was of the same opinion, but it makes a lot of sense when you think about it. Pogba is gone, think we all know that, but next season we'd be left with only Bruno as creativity in midfield. 1 injury and we're back to not having any creativity and starting trash like Pereira. Grealish in and we have basically 5 players for a midfield 3. 1 of either Matic or McTominay to provide the physical, defensive force, while 2 of Bruno, Grealish and Fred rotate, keep fresh, fill in for form or injuries, change games off the bench, etc. Even all play together as Bruno can play further forward and Grealish can play on the left, in case of injuries, or just those 3 being the midfield 3 in the easier games we don't need Matic or McTominay. Don't think it's too much or crowded or anything, it's the sort of level of quality in the group that we should aim to have everywhere. Competition for places in some spots, adequate cover for injuries in other spots, but a well rounded side. Without getting Grealish (or someone like that), we'll just be back to overly relying on the starting 11 to not get injured.
This is rubbish; let’s be honest. We’re an injury in midfield away from starting Lingard or Pereira. Sometimes both. Pogba is going to leave. Grealish and Bruno could play in the same team. Grealish can play on the left. Rashford can play games as a central striker. Bruno can play a little deeper. There is this bizarre insistence on pocketing players in isolated positions and keeping them there because it looks pretty when you note down your best first team. The reality is that we play nigh on fifty/sixty games each season and we need more quality to accommodate that. Players are flexible, as is demonstrated by the way City can keep players like De Bruyne, Silva, Bernardo, Mahrez and Gundogan (relatively) happy.No way we are signing Grealish for 80m so that he can play bit part roles and plug in the injury gaps. He would want a guaranteed starting position which will be impossible with Bruno and Rashford in the side.
And that is assuming if we do ship out at least three out of the group which consists of Pogba, Lingard, Pereira, Sanchez, Mata. Will take a massive transfer window for the Grealish deal to go through. I know Mata, Lingard, Sanchez and Pereira have been crap we never want to see them play again but this is not FM where we just bin them to the reserves and life goes on as usual. If they stay you have to assume they are part of the plans and we have to play them too.
Unfortunately, that looks impossible.Rashford and Sancho on either wing with a consistent Martial is a mouth watering front line, the kind that demands a defence committed to stopping it which in turn favours our midfield as they’ll naturally end up with more space. These 3 probably have it in them to compete against most 3 man midfields, the only big problem is that none of them are quality level man markers, so a clever false 9 type player could easily run amock between our def/mid line.
We played Lingard, Mata and Pereira last night and people can't see room for even one of Grealish, Maddison or Cantwell. There's room for all three, FFS.This is rubbish; let’s be honest. We’re an injury in midfield away from starting Lingard or Pereira. Sometimes both. Pogba is going to leave. Grealish and Bruno could play in the same team. Grealish can play on the left. Rashford can play games as a central striker. Bruno can play a little deeper. There is this bizarre insistence on pocketing players in isolated positions and keeping them there because it looks pretty when you note down your best first team. The reality is that we play nigh on fifty/sixty games each season and we need more quality to accommodate that. Players are flexible, as is demonstrated by the way City can keep players like De Bruyne, Silva, Bernardo, Mahrez and Gundogan (relatively) happy.
We need a ‘defensive’ midfielder, too, for what it’s worth. The player must be better than Matic and McTominay.
I mentioned outside the top 2. Tielemans is probably weak link there and Maddison isn’t really a CM. I’d still fancy our midfield over theirs.You are basing it on players who have never played together?
There are more teams with better 3 than just Chelsea
Fabs, hendo, Gini is proven over the last 2 years
Fernandinhi, KDB, Gundogan is proven
Ndidi, Tielemans, Maddison is even better
I hope Ole gives them a run of games together though.I mentioned outside the top 2. Tielemans is probably weak link there and Maddison isn’t really a CM. I’d still fancy our midfield over theirs.
Or rather called playing attacking players in their best position and getting them to play their best football. Something which we have struggled massively with Pogba, Rashford and Martial because we did exactly like what you’re suggesting: Shoehorning them into various positions.This is rubbish; let’s be honest. We’re an injury in midfield away from starting Lingard or Pereira. Sometimes both. Pogba is going to leave. Grealish and Bruno could play in the same team. Grealish can play on the left. Rashford can play games as a central striker. Bruno can play a little deeper. There is this bizarre insistence on pocketing players in isolated positions and keeping them there because it looks pretty when you note down your best first team. The reality is that we play nigh on fifty/sixty games each season and we need more quality to accommodate that. Players are flexible, as is demonstrated by the way City can keep players like De Bruyne, Silva, Bernardo, Mahrez and Gundogan (relatively) happy.
We need a ‘defensive’ midfielder, too, for what it’s worth. The player must be better than Matic and McTominay.
That may be but I still think we have enough fire power to deliver us top five given the situation at Spurs and the fact Arsenal are well off the pace.I hope it will be a revelation. Unfortunately, the team is still lacking in the front with Rashford out.
Agreed, I'd like to see us get a DLP in summer, may not be a popular opinion right now but I feel eventually McTominay and Fred will be competing for one spot.That midfield 3 would struggle to control a game against top quality opposition IMO. We'd also need someone like Sancho to add creativity from the flanks to help Fernandes. Ideally we sign a controlling type or wait 12 months for Hannibal Mejbri to develop physically and in that time we might be asking the same question but with different personnel in Bruno, Mejbri, Garner.
Agreed..Agreed, I'd like to see us get a DLP in summer, may not be a popular opinion right now but I feel eventually McTominay and Fred will be competing for one spot.
Neves?Fred................McT
............Bruno...
This is good against top sides ,but we will struggle against the lesser sides. All the lesser sides have to do is man mark Bruno, force him to drop deep and our creativity is gone,this has been the story of our season since Pogba's return.
The most pressing need us DLP ,even one with half of Carrick's talent,that can can pass between the lines,press resistant, positional sound and can control matches.
.........Fred/McT.....DLP
....................Bruno.....
With Matic as sub.This is more balanced.
Pogba shouldn't play for Manutd again.MCT/Bruno/Pogba against big teams and Fred/Bruno/Pogba against teams who defend.
I think we need one. McTominay and Fred aren't exactly world class and can have bad spells of form. We still need another one. Preferably a DM, even if he is of similar quality.I dont think they need to look into this for another season or two when we are looking at building squad depth. We will have other immediate priorities this summer.
I think the closest to what we need in the premier league, but a player like Jorginho(but more physical) would be perfect.Neves?
Looks like the best option on paper - although Matic has actually been better than I expectedWith Mctominay back in training and likely featuring in some squads soon, is this going to be our first choice midfield? Extrapolating, it seems well balanced in terms of work ethic and flair and could well be a formidable midfield for years to come.
He’s more than welcome to step in and change everyone’s perception about him.Looks like the best option on paper - although Matic has actually been better than I expected
As long as we don't need to suffer Andreas in centre mid I'm good with any other option
Pogba does still exist as well!
Thatd be the goal with Sancho right! And getting both him and Grealish means we have cover if one of Grealish or Bruno get injured, and can find ways to fit them all in. Those 2 signings would pretty much complete our midfield and attack and will finally look balanced (with us selling the expected players). Then itll be on the manager to get them performing, and if someone is still not good enough then we upgrade. But we'd finally have a squad that is balanced in all departments and has depth. From there we do the bigger signings to upgrade where required.You need two creative players on field at any given point. Fred and McT work their socks off but without creating chances. There need to be another midfielder to compliment Bruno. Either RW or Grealish or best both.
Yes but if we sign Grealish and keep Matic, then we have the option of starting Bruno where fred is, Matic swapping with McTominay, Grealish as the 10 (or even swap Grealish and Bruno around). Theres quality depth, competition for places, rotation and versatile players that can fill in multiple roles if they're all in form and we want to start them all (Grealish on the wing for example, or Bruno on the right in attack if needed). Essentially right now with Pogba would be perfect, with Grealish replacing him but all the spots being up for grabs and everyone needing to keep up form.I think we need one. McTominay and Fred aren't exactly world class and can have bad spells of form. We still need another one. Preferably a DM, even if he is of similar quality.
McSauce isn’t a #6 in many people’s mind, but an #8 like Fred. And certainly not on par with current Fabinho or Fernandinho of seasons past. Hell even Matic is a better #6 than McSauce, he protects the defence much more and is a safer player around our box.Some barmy posts in here.
McTom at #6, Fred at #8 and Bruno at #10 in a double pivot or a three is a serious midfield. Similar power + all round ability to Liverpool's midfield with the sprinkling of magic that city have with de bruyne in Bruno.
Think it's definitely talented enough to control games. Liverpool have no problem controlling games, how often do they use Henderson, Oxlade Chamberlain and Wijnaldum as their 3? Who wouldve said a few years ago those 3 could've been as good as they have? Fred, McTominay and Bruno, or Grealish in their thrown in with all of them rotating around would be fine in many different styles. Would be down to the manager to get our defence and midfield to dominate possession and control, personnel would be fine.That midfield 3 would struggle to control a game against top quality opposition IMO. We'd also need someone like Sancho to add creativity from the flanks to help Fernandes. Ideally we sign a controlling type or wait 12 months for Hannibal Mejbri to develop physically and in that time we might be asking the same question but with different personnel in Bruno, Mejbri, Garner.
Liverpool have five players to compensate. And Klopp has tried to rectify the issue with the signing of Keita and I'm sure he'll try again.Think it's definitely talented enough to control games. Liverpool have no problem controlling games, how often do they use Henderson, Oxlade Chamberlain and Wijnaldum as their 3? Who wouldve said a few years ago those 3 could've been as good as they have? Fred, McTominay and Bruno, or Grealish in their thrown in with all of them rotating around would be fine in many different styles. Would be down to the manager to get our defence and midfield to dominate possession and control, personnel would be fine.
