Lingard, Mata and Pereira

Njord

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Think it's time to try Greenwood in the no. 10 position. He's got a lot of skills that would suit the role.
 

King Andow

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The worst set of attacking midfielders at any top club in Europe and probably ever at United. Can't even hack it against Partizan at home. Hopefully we'll sort this out soon, a new CAM should be the priority.
 

TwoSheds

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Mata did ok to be fair to him. Pereira and Lingard were shocking.
 

OohAahMartial

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Interesting idea of Scholesy actually to play Rashford as the #10, or as he said, a 4-4-1-1, which of course he used to play in that same position and formation himself, so you would think he could recognise someone else who could do that too.

Would allow James and Rashford to be on the pitch at the same time, and let Martial and Rashford link up like Cole and Yorke. And gets Greenwood, another goal threat, on the pitch at the same time. I'd like to see us try that some time.
 

Cathy Ferguson

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The worst set of attacking midfielders at any top club in Europe and probably ever at United. Can't even hack it against Partizan at home. Hopefully we'll sort this out soon, a new CAM should be the priority.
Hopefully Pogba can fill that role unless we unexpectedly sign a better player than Pereira during January.
 

SteveW

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Wish we could just sell these 3 and buy one competent number 10. Andreas has done okish at times recently but generally they offer nothing in a position that's pivotal to the teams creativity.
 

MikeKing

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Wish we could just sell these 3 and buy one competent number 10. Andreas has done okish at times recently but generally they offer nothing in a position that's pivotal to the teams creativity.
Me too buddy, me too. We should easily be able to cope without them. Gomes will do fine as back up. We have to get really serious in the transfer-market or we're going to be left behind trusting these guys.
 

Bastian

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Interesting idea of Scholesy actually to play Rashford as the #10, or as he said, a 4-4-1-1, which of course he used to play in that same position and formation himself, so you would think he could recognise someone else who could do that too.

Would allow James and Rashford to be on the pitch at the same time, and let Martial and Rashford link up like Cole and Yorke. And gets Greenwood, another goal threat, on the pitch at the same time. I'd like to see us try that some time.
We need a great technician behind the striker. Rashford’s main weapon is pace, hence his best performances attacking from wide.
 

Macedonian Red

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All three need to go. With new player in Mata is my first pick to leave. Expect Lingard and Pereira to stay for another season as back ups but hope they will leave in next 2 years.
 

SteveW

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Me too buddy, me too. We should easily be able to cope without them. Gomes will do fine as back up. We have to get really serious in the transfer-market or we're going to be left behind trusting these guys.
I think Ole will be allowed bring in a good number 10 over the next couple of windows. He tried with Dybala and Eriksson in the summer. It's clearly something they are looking at.

I'd actually be pretty happy with Pogba and Gomes sharing the role but Pogba will likely leave in the summer.
 

MikeKing

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I think Ole will be allowed bring in a good number 10 over the next couple of windows. He tried with Dybala and Eriksson in the summer. It's clearly something they are looking at.

I'd actually be pretty happy with Pogba and Gomes sharing the role but Pogba will likely leave in the summer.
Yeah, the idea of building around Pogba is beyond us at this point sadly. I do think a player like Odegaard would be preferable option to give our attackers, and a better fit than Pogba. He has a bit of Gomes in him, but can play on the right wing too. Specifically the way he weights his passes behind the defence to perfection, it would compliment all of our 'run in-behind' type forwards. Dead-ball specialist too, it makes far too much sense for it to happen.
 

SteveW

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Yeah, the idea of building around Pogba is beyond us at this point sadly. I do think a player like Odegaard would be preferable option to give our attackers, and a better fit than Pogba. He has a bit of Gomes in him, but can play on the right wing too. Specifically the way he weights his passes behind the defence to perfection, it would compliment all of our 'run in-behind' type forwards. Dead-ball specialist too, it makes far too much sense for it to happen.
I think Real will look to integrate him.
 

tenpoless

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If Fellaini's still here, He would be a better option for Ole than this lot. He's a magnet for ugly football a.k.a just whip a cross to him and hope it goes in. But at least that contributes to goals. Lingard and Pereira contributes next to nothing, Mata is the best out of the three and that speaks a lot.
 

SambaBoy

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Mata needs to go. Just a tidy footballer who put under even the tiniest bit of pressure will give the ball away.
 

MadDogg

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I feel like Pereira is a bit unfairly included with the other two. Obviously he had a shocker against Bournemouth, but otherwise he's been significantly better than Mata and Lingard this season. Still ultimately not good enough for a starting role for what we should be looking at, but he hasn't been terrible like the other two.
 

Mcking

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Solskjaer should try Pogba at attacking midfield when he returns. The trio of Mata, Lingard and Pereira are the weakest in the team, and Fred and McTominay deserve to keep their place in the team ahead of them. With Shaw to come back too, we'd be looking at a much stronger XI at least. I hope we don't have too many serious injuries going into the year's run-in.
Degea
AWB
Lindelof
Maguire
Shaw
McTominay
Fred
Pogba
Greenwood/James
Martial
Rashford.
 

ICHM

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Thne clear out will continue over the next two windows. Mata will definitely go, unfortunately Lingard will stay. We need to offload Rojo, Jones, Matic, Young, Bailly (as he is made of glass), Fred as well.
 

cyril C

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Wish we could just sell these 3 and buy one competent number 10. Andreas has done okish at times recently but generally they offer nothing in a position that's pivotal to the teams creativity.
Perreira to me is the worst. He is less skilful and poor passer than Mata, he runs slower than Lingard, and he lack the defensive capability of Herrera or Fred. I can see enough good points and bad points of Fred to see some form of future (if he remove those weakness), Perreira doesn't and probably never will be. Lingard perhaps possible if he puts mind into football instead of his side business.
 

SteveW

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Perreira to me is the worst. He is less skilful and poor passer than Mata, he runs slower than Lingard, and he lack the defensive capability of Herrera or Fred. I can see enough good points and bad points of Fred to see some form of future (if he remove those weakness), Perreira doesn't and probably never will be. Lingard perhaps possible if he puts mind into football instead of his side business.
Fred could potentially be a passable squad player at CM. I'd be looking to find better though and sell him eventually.

I'd sell the other 3 at the first opportunity
 

simonhch

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We need to sell Matic and Mata, and replace them with two genuine CMs. One defensive midfielder and one box to box. We need that depth, and we need a reliable partner for McTominay. Four players (McTominay, Fred, New DM, New B2B) for two spots.

Then you play Pogba as your 10. Which is an absolute no brainer. I mean, it’s not even debatable that that’s our best option. Pereira I would keep as his understudy. I really don’t like to see Pogba as a DM or B2B. He doesn’t work hard enough, and he likes to dwell on the ball too much. He’s much better closer to the opposition box, where he can take risks, run at people, shoot, provide an aerial threat, and takes risks in possession.

I really feel like it’s so obvious that it barely merits saying. Yet, we’ve never really done it. Bizarre.

Now just to ruffle a few feathers, there are some other players out there who fans have turned their noses up at, who would’ve walked into this squad and injected some much needed quality to the final third. For example, in the summer I would’ve taken Coutinho in a fecking heartbeat to play as a 10. Yet people didn’t want him. Imagine not wanting Phil fecking Coutinho when your #10 options are Lingard, Mata and Pereira. fecking deluded.

I also would’ve taken another unwanted soul from Spain, who has way more quality than anyone else in our squad: James Rodríguez. Again, ten times the player of any of our #10s. Probably could’ve picked him up for 40m or so, and can play on the right, or in the hole.

This season’s version is Eriksen. He’s unsettled and on a bad run, but a player who relies on his technical ability rather than physical attributes, doesn’t decline permanently at only 27. If he can be picked up for a reasonable fee, say 30m, in January - and he wants to come here - anyone who doesn’t want him is fecking nuts. Another top class player versus the dross we have.
 

PyroMan

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Pereira needs a chance with better midfield partners. The desire is there, the work-rate is there and in the right system, there's always a need for someone who will do the leg-work for the team. Maybe he will be the person who takes the workload off Pogba once he's fit? I wouldn't give up on Pereira so quickly because he can be a useful back-up too.

Unfortunately, Mata's physically declined a lot. A very talented player with great vision and technique, his age has caught up with him. Baffling of the club to offer him a 2-year contract with the option of an extension. I would have gladly let him leave, with good memories, and he probably would have returned to play in Spain with someone like Sevilla, Villareal etc.

Lingard though, fecking hell. He's racked up up almost 120 appearances for the club and I'm confused as to how and why. Clueless player who doesn't take football seriously. Has been influenced by Pogba to pursue an Instagram career but has half the talent Pogba does. In the worst case scenario, atleast we will be able to sell Pogba for 80m+. Not sure who will pay anywhere close to 25-30m for him.
 

lumeyes

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Interesting idea of Scholesy actually to play Rashford as the #10, or as he said, a 4-4-1-1, which of course he used to play in that same position and formation himself, so you would think he could recognise someone else who could do that too.

Would allow James and Rashford to be on the pitch at the same time, and let Martial and Rashford link up like Cole and Yorke. And gets Greenwood, another goal threat, on the pitch at the same time. I'd like to see us try that some time.
I am sorry to say that's a most horrible suggestion, and more so because it is allegedly coming from a former midfield giant. There is nothing about Rashford to suggest he should be tried in that position for even a league one side. This shouldn't be seen as an attack on Rashford.
 

The White Pele

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A significant upgrade in this area makes a world of difference for us. Maybe short-term that upgrade will be Pogba but against Partizan we saw the potential benefits in our play of having a more technical player like Mata in there. Mata just has too many deficiencies in other areas of his game to be the answer.
 

Dan_F

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A significant upgrade in this area makes a world of difference for us. Maybe short-term that upgrade will be Pogba but against Partizan we saw the potential benefits in our play of having a more technical player like Mata in there. Mata just has too many deficiencies in other areas of his game to be the answer.
If the attackers make runs and move, like they did on Thursday, then Pogba would be great there. Compare it to the Bournemouth game and it’s night and day. It’s not just the fact that Partizan are rubbish, because we played them a week before too and struggled massively.

I’m not convinced we can play that way with Andreas and Lingard, as they aren’t creative enough. Even James worries me, as I don’t see him as someone who can play off the right in the same way that Greenwood did on Thursday.
 

Judas

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I've no idea what Andreas is actually good at anymore. It's such a shame, but its another case of good youth prospect just not quite being able to make the step up.
 

Bestietom

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None of the three of Mata, Lingard, and Pereira should be anywhere near the team. It shows how much we have gone back.
 

11101

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It's not totally fair including Pereira in this. Hes not great but hes not a true 10 either, he can do a decent enough job further back in midfield too.

Mata was once great but it's like playing with 10 players, the ease with which he is bypassed and dispossessed. Hes a Championship player now.

Lingard looked like he might have been a squad player once but all hope of that is gone. Hes the worst of the three by some way.
 

izec

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Lingard and Mata are completely useless for me and need to go. They wont improve, Mata is on a steady decline for years now and Lingard is rubbish, as a 10 or wherever on the pitch. Pereira is a cheap squad filler for various roles.
 

luke511

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I'd love to know our win percentage when at least 2 out of these 3 start.
 

Judas

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It's not totally fair including Pereira in this. Hes not great but hes not a true 10 either, he can do a decent enough job further back in midfield too.

Mata was once great but it's like playing with 10 players, the ease with which he is bypassed and dispossessed. Hes a Championship player now.

Lingard looked like he might have been a squad player once but all hope of that is gone. Hes the worst of the three by some way.
No he can't, not for a top club. He's a completely position-less player, who doesn't look particularly good anywhere on the pitch.
 

Big Ben Foster

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Many fans (including myself) slated LVG and Mourinho for not giving Pereira enough chances. Now we know why that was the case...
 

ManuMou

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Can't believe Mata and Lingard have one of the highest wages in United right now? The world has turn upside down.
 

Bastian

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Merge them into one player and then....we can free transfer him
joking!
 

Tosicsleftpeg

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Perreria is absolutely terrible! The past 2 games he has looked Sunday League level, he gives it away so much and it's nowhere near good enough. He should be playing for someone like Levante as a back up not as a starter for United.

Mata I think it's all been said about him, he would actually struggle in the MLS now due to his tiny frame and lack of any athletic ability at all, mad move to sign him up again.

Lingard I used to really like and he's definitely still got a place as a backup when things are bad numbers wise. In a team with pogba I think lingard can come on as a sub late game and run channels to Harry the opposition and run behind for pog to find.