Centre Midfielder Transfer Links

Teja said:
I love the guy but he's not that good a passer or ball carrier man, come on. If we had a fit Onana playing in his place for example, I don't think we'd notice Case has moved on.
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We will. His long passing and aerial presence are key components he offers us , apart from his defensive robustness. Onana of Villa is one of VERY few midfielders who is a similar type of player to what he was when he was younger plus is closer in passing to what he is now. But he isn't available for us to buy.

I do not for a second ascribe to the view you replace a player like him with just one player.
 
Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber said:
We will. His long passing and aerial presence are key components he offers us , apart from his defensive robustness. Onana of Villa is one of VERY few midfielders who is a similar type of player to what he was when he was younger plus is closer in passing to what he is now. But he isn't available for us to buy.

I do not for a second ascribe to the view you replace a player like him with just one player.
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You can look at the on-ball value stats. His short passing is pretty bad and the long passing is very hit or miss. When he's on it, it connects. But there are entire games where he's just playing Stevie G style switches without it coming off. I don't really think he's a particularly good passer even if he has the vision.

Let's say we replace him with Anderson because he's our top target -- we get more legs, better short passing, better line breaking passes, better ball carrying and we get worse in terms of defensive dueling and heading. I think that's a decent enough trade-off. Maybe it means we don't carry Licha anymore to add that extra bit of height.

We need a second midfield player for depth more than anything else. We can't start the same 3 guys twice a week for the whole season.

tl;dr I'd be quite happy with a Bruno - Mainoo - Anderson starting midfield. I don't think it's weaker than Bruno - Mainoo - Casemiro.
 
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HTG said:
To cite his politics as the main issue and completely ignoring his horrible performances the last few years is a wild take. Especially since his politics are very positive, as he’s speaking out against racism, antisemitism and other ills of society.



I don’t understand were this „injury prone“ thing comes from. It’s simply not true. He hasn’t missed a single game due to injuries all season. And last season he missed a handful of games at best. He isn’t injury prone at all.

I agree with the other parts, though. He’s just not that good.
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Might be he improved on the injury front in the last couple years. I noticed he was out injured quite often when he was still at his best footballing wise.
 
Godfather said:
Guimaraes would be my pick.
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Hmm, you don't want Goretzka because he's "injury prone", but instead want a player who is currently out for 10 weeks with a hamstring strain, after only just returning from 2 weeks out with an ankle injury?...
 
goldenboy said:
Hmm, you don't want Goretzka because he's "injury prone", but instead want a player who is currently out for 10 weeks with a hamstring strain, after only just returning from 2 weeks out with an ankle injury?...
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Isn't goretzka also pretty shite?
 
HTG said:
To cite his politics as the main issue and completely ignoring his horrible performances the last few years is a wild take. Especially since his politics are very positive, as he’s speaking out against racism, antisemitism and other ills of society.
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Where was he when Mane allegedly was racially insulted? Where was his positive speech when Mazraoui was kicked out due to tension with the third keeper from you know where? Or when that guy at was it Mainz (?) actually even got his contract terminated for an Instagram post?

I'm not against his statements this way or that way btw, my sole impression is that he and some others tried to force their "correct way" upon others within Bayern and NT.

Some players have contrarian beliefs. I'm not saying better or worse beliefs I'm just not sure the others should be pressured into following the Goretzka mobs views of right and wrong by acts like taking a knee, wearing certain armbands, making secretive handgestures or what not.

The NT imploded from these kinds of identity politics, to the degree that by the next championship they were basically told to keep their focus on playing and leave the rest for another venue. And, I'm getting old, Goretzka was identified as one of the leaders and later ousted from the team (it should be noted that other key figures were to high profile to oust out right).
 
Godfather said:
Guimaraes would be my pick. Or Tonali. Not perfect by any means but in their prime (or in case of Tonali soon reaching it) and would both improve us a lot
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Yeah Tonali would be my pick, horrible feeling IF Guimaraes left Newcastle he is gonna favour City
 
goldenboy said:
Hmm, you don't want Goretzka because he's "injury prone", but instead want a player who is currently out for 10 weeks with a hamstring strain, after only just returning from 2 weeks out with an ankle injury?...
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I have to admit I havent looked at his injury record as of yet. Doesn't look too bad overall but he seems to have a recurring ankle issue which I agree is a problem.

But make no mistake my biggest concern with Goretzka aren't his injuries but that he is a bit shit these days. Guimaraes is head and shoulders the better player
 
Teja said:
You can look at the on-ball value stats. His short passing is pretty bad and the long passing is very hit or miss. When he's on it, it connects. But there are entire games where he's just playing Stevie G style switches without it coming off. I don't really think he's a particularly good passer even if he has the vision.

Let's say we replace him with Anderson because he's our top target -- we get more legs, better short passing, better line breaking passes, better ball carrying and we get worse in terms of defensive dueling and heading. I think that's a decent enough trade-off. Maybe it means we don't carry Licha anymore to add that extra bit of height.

We need a second midfield player for depth more than anything else. We can't start the same 3 guys twice a week for the whole season.

tl;dr I'd be quite happy with a Bruno - Mainoo - Anderson starting midfield. I don't think it's weaker than Bruno - Mainoo - Casemiro.
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Then We are in agreement about what to do after him. That is why I say we need 2. If we added a player like Anderson. Then have a guy on the bench who is good in the air able to compliment both Anderson and Mainoo in a pair. We'd have an ideal midfield selection whilst constantly being able to call on the various as pectsCasemiro offered us combined in our match day selection still.
 
Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber said:
Then have a guy on the bench who is good in the air able to compliment both Anderson and Mainoo in a pair. We'd have an ideal midfield selection whilst constantly being able to call on the various as pectsCasemiro offered us combined in our match day selection still.
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Yeah because whenever United or the opponents get a corner, you can sub on the player who is good in the air from the bench, then after the corner is taken you can sub them back off again.

Rolling subs, just like the NFL...
 
When we sign Tonali, will we also sign Polymarket as a new sponsor? It's not gambling addiction, it's predicting the future!

Don't think he's a pure Casemiro replacement as he doesn't seem to be as defensive as Case? We might need a more holding type instead of Tonali?
 
WouterWeghorst said:
When we sign Tonali, will we also sign Polymarket as a new sponsor? It's not gambling addiction, it's predicting the future!

Don't think he's a pure Casemiro replacement as he doesn't seem to be as defensive as Case? We might need a more holding type instead of Tonali?
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Oh yeah we would need to sign holding type as well
 
Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber said:
:rolleyes:
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Yes that is the reaction which your post warranted.

Having different players in your "match day selection" is not the same as having them all in the XI on the pitch. Somehow the concept that you can only play XI players at any one time, and you can't have rolling subs like the NFL, seems to be beyond your grasp.

A player with a key attribute which you need on the pitch is no use when they have to be on the bench (because you can only use XI players at one time).
 
Baleba
Guimaraes
Anderson
Onana

This is the minimum calibre of CDMs and CMs we need to improve.
 
I see us getting Baleba as hes the most attainable. I think it will be a massive disaster though, 60m+ on a player who on this seasons form isn't good enough for Brighton, to replace one of the leagues best this season in Cas, the drop off will be painful
 
goldenboy said:
Yes that is the reaction which your post warranted.

Having different players in your "match day selection" is not the same as having them all in the XI on the pitch. Somehow the concept that you can only play XI players at any one time, and you can't have rolling subs like the NFL, seems to be beyond your grasp.

A player with a key attribute which you need on the pitch is no use when they have to be on the bench (because you can only use XI players at one time).
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This again :lol: It's the fault of you alone and the other poster that you don't WANT to understand something fairly simple. Every damn game a team uses 5 substitutes. Given the type of mifield we have had for a while now its reasonable to expect regular subs mod way through games to occur in that department if our selection was significantly better.

Thus unless you have convinced your self our starting pair next sead
on are going to be "so good" they combined finish more than an hour every game. This kinda of thinking your're displaying is needleslly obtuse and pedantic for the sake of being pedantic.

I'm finding it rather hilarious too that you seem to believe "the only department" that can be used to also offset attributes that will be missed by no longer having Casemiro himself in the starting line up cannot be offset by players selected in other departments. Hence you are overly obsessed with having 11 men on pitch rather than over a 90 minute period having a midfield on pitch that we still have most of the midfield attribute's on pitch that we will miss when Casemiro leaves, every game. Both in the starting 11 and off the bench.

I hope this is the last time I'm addressing this "but we can only start 11 men" idiocy on here. .
 
Yes, he's signed a new contract and yes he played at right back yesterday. But James Garner was excellent.

He must have done some serious speed training the last couple of years. And toughened up, he flew into crunching tackles. I was impressed.
 
Floyd said:
Yes, he's signed a new contract and yes he played at right back yesterday. But James Garner was excellent.

He must have done some serious speed training the last couple of years. And toughened up, he flew into crunching tackles. I was impressed.
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I agree. Should be considered an option regardless. Out of him, Scott, MFernandes and Wharton he is probably the only «true» 6. It would be so nice to have someone with his pace/running power and duel strength in midfield.

 
andersj said:
I agree. Should be considered an option regardless. Out of him, Scott, MFernandes and Wharton he is probably the only «true» 6. It would be so nice to have someone with his pace/running power and duel strength in midfield.

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It might just be me, but that chart reminds me of a weed leaf.
 
Floyd said:
Yes, he's signed a new contract and yes he played at right back yesterday. But James Garner was excellent.

He must have done some serious speed training the last couple of years. And toughened up, he flew into crunching tackles. I was impressed.
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I agree.

Also Branthwaite at leftback did well against Amad, shirt pull aside.
 
Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber said:
It's the fault of you alone and the other poster that you don't WANT to understand something fairly simple. Every damn game a team uses 5 substitutes. Given the type of mifield we have had for a while now its reasonable to expect regular subs mod way through games to occur in that department if our selection was significantly better.

Thus unless you have convinced your self our starting pair next sead
on are going to be "so good" they combined finish more than an hour every game.
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Your post specifically gave the example of - and I quote:

"have a guy on the bench who is good in the air able to compliment both Anderson and Mainoo in a pair"

Even being able to use 5 subs a match is a fat lot of good if your team eg ends up having to defend lots of corners in the first half...
meanwhile your player with the missing key complementary attributes will of course still be stuck on the bench.
 
Analysis of yesterdays game highlighted the need for a 6 who can break the lines with his passes. Especially when Martinez is injured. Adam Wharton is the guy who can play those line splitting passes.
 
goldenboy said:
Your post specifically gave the example of - and I quote:

"have a guy on the bench who is good in the air able to compliment both Anderson and Mainoo in a pair"
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Which is OBVIOUS to anyone that understands basic football that means a player who can compliment either of them when picked as a partner in a 2 man midfield department. Not playing with both at the same time...

Its like the concept of having midfielders with complimentary attributes for selection for a midfield department is way alien to a number of you. Which is why whenever ANYONE brings up replacing a player like Casemiro, with two players who can combined offer what he does, (whilst also being players who would compliment Mainoo paired with him, or each other, in the double pivot of our starting XI going forward) you get incredulous.


QUOTE="goldenboy, post: 34080082, member: 131065"]
Even being able to use 5 subs a match is a fat lot of good if your team eg ends up having to defend lots of corners in the first half...
meanwhile your player with the missing key complementary attributes will of course still be stuck on the bench. [/Quote]
As I stated earlier. Those particular missing attributes can be compensated for by having a another defender on pitch at left or right back who is excellent in the air for example at corners. A.K.A another department.

Besides, I'm more interested in what those attributes bring to the actual midfield department. Not some hypothetical corner kicks
 
andersj said:
I agree. Should be considered an option regardless. Out of him, Scott, MFernandes and Wharton he is probably the only «true» 6. It would be so nice to have someone with his pace/running power and duel strength in midfield.

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Garner is class, we should try and bring him back. not sure if possible.
 
What if we end up with Kobie, Wharton, Baleba and Ugarte for next season. Not very exciting but functional enough and attainable. I hope we can find a gem in the youngsters like we did with Lammens and Sesko signing.
 
ManRed said:
What if we end up with Kobie, Wharton, Baleba and Ugarte for next season. Not very exciting but functional enough and attainable. I hope we can find a gem in the youngsters like we did with Lammens and Sesko signing.
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Tbh almost every setup where we sign two midfielders is better than usual, especially with Mount being constantly unavailable.

Sooner or later, something substantial needs to happen in that area.
 
I feel we will sign 1 PL CM whether that be one of Anderson, Baleba or Wharton.

I think Anderson is the clear favourite, but City will throw money at him same as Semenyo & Guehi.

After that anyone's guess, clearly Baleba is still rated hoping to get a cut price deal, but could also be shocked with someone else we are targeting we haven't mentioned yet.

In both summer windows we have signed a prospect who could grow into a starter, we had Yoro still raw and Lammens who has turned out to be a tremendous signing, who people thought would be backup for this season.

I think we sign 2, 1 PL starter and 1 understudy.
 
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