Wing Attack Plan R
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That is demonstrably false. He is still a #6.No he doesn't. He used to but he started playing much further up the pitch 2 seasons ago*
That is demonstrably false. He is still a #6.No he doesn't. He used to but he started playing much further up the pitch 2 seasons ago*
Can you Imagine how many Red cards he would get playing DMBeing coached to play in midfield.
Yeah I've checked it seems a bad idea. What a waste he was rated quite high back then.Injured.
I find it hard to be disappointed by a window where we've made 3 big name signings. But I have, for a long time, had a disappointment in our sheer neglect for the need for playmaking/passing/possesion play from the midfield. The fact that Ole has signed two midfielders in his time here and both are goalscoring midfielders says it all. Before that, Mourinho's additions were Fred, an energetic midfielder who excels only in hounding opponents and Pogba, a creative midfielder who has nothing to do with the real engine. So as a football club I don't think we care for it really and it's not just about this summer. Had we truly cared about this as something crucial we'd have gotten our own Jorginho and Kovacic by now.This will cost a lot of points
van de beek is not even considered for the bench
matic old, mct a bit too much injury prone, fred
Will be interesting to see how much Ole can get out of VDB, Matic and Pogba from central midfield as that will be his biggest challenge. We all know what McFred bring - solid functional but lacking in quality. Matic could have a run where he regains his former level for a bit, Pogba could play great games from midfield if he/the manager can provide him enough cover or support and VDB, you never know, may actually play well in midfield at some point, but I am skeptical of all three of those. Like I said Ole's job to make it work well.To the Jan transfer window thread!.
We may have 6 options but they are mostly terrible. Oh well, we will just have to outscore everyone.
EDIT. Yeah where are the 6?. Fred, Mctom, Donny, Matic, and Pogba?
I think the bolded section pretty much sums it up. Some sensational players have moved in this window but the midfielders who were available all had question marks of some kind against them. I suspect we may be taking longer to monitor Neves before making a decision.I can understand us not bringing in a DM. For me, it was the highest-priority position what with Greenwood lessening the urgency at RW. But Sancho was a 'get him while he's going or regret it forever' kind of signing, and there just wasn't one of those available at DM. Lots of half-appropriate options, lots of 'future star' and 'slight improvement' types. A few pie-in-the-sky names floated on here who were never really available.
I'm sure if we could have got a really good square peg for that square hole, we would have.
We cannot use not getting one as an excuse not to expect a major trophy. Most teams who win major trophies do it without a perfect world-class option in every single position. Many have done it with worse attacking options than we now boast. Next year we'll get our DM but the trophy needs to come this season anyway.
I don't see it the same way especially after a bad game or performance. McTominay does get a fair amount of criticism but he's usually lumped in with Fred. McFred is more the point of focus than the player himself. McTominay is a fan favoriteFred also gets lot of praise and McTominay gets lot of shit. So both of them gets praised and both of them gets lot of shit, just like any other ManUtd players.
Probably the only reason I can think of. Pogba might be leaving next summer so we might see two midfielder coming in (assuming vdb is also sold).I don't know how people can't be happy with this window.
Maybe Ole's waiting for the perfect long term solution to become available, rather than the instant gratification that we have seen work so well for us in recent years.
From what I have observed on caf, people who pick sides on player vs player, they tend to feel one player is getting lot of criticism and usually that player is the player they picked vs others.I don't see it the same way especially after a bad game or performance. McTominay does get a fair amount of criticism but he's usually lumped in with Fred. McFred is more the point of focus than the player himself. McTominay is a fan favorite
Right now the media, and this includes several former players, are pummeling Fred with criticism for his Wolves performance, a game where he was pretty much left for dead in the first half by the imbalance of Solskjaer's set up. There are threads dedicated to criticizing Fred here. It's the same across the web. McTominay is more protected at United to be fair
Can you Imagine how many Red cards he would get playing DM
It was clear that last season the target was Sancho and when we missed out, we kept our powder dry and got our man in the end at a big discount. That is just good business.And who is to blame for us going into this season needing a CB and RW? Why did we not sign the CB we clearly needed last season instead of wasting 40 odd million on a midfielder the manager never wanted and another 20m on a teenage winger the manager doesn't trust or feel inclined to use?
We would have been better off spending the money we wasted on VDB and Diallo on a CB or DM and then go into this window not needing so much. It's all water under the bridge now and Ole has got to think creatively to conjure up a solution that doesn't involve expecting 50 plus games from McFred or hoping that Matic pulls back the clock and gives us 20 or so quality performances because chances of those things happening are close to zero.
I mean we've added 3 first team players to the squad, that I think everyone can agree are significant upgrades on what we had. There might also be the problem of Ole buying a midfielder who would suit Pogba's playing style and for Pogba to then leave.I don't know how people can't be happy with this window.
Maybe Ole's waiting for the perfect long term solution to become available, rather than the instant gratification that we have seen work so well for us in recent years.
For 5m I agree - That's worth a proper title challenge. We need someone who makes themselves available for passing constantly and can do the dirty jobs in a midfield 2.We should have done that Chelsea move for Saul. 5m for his loan is a bargain.
It wouldn't have been that simple. Atletico are already a pain if just one club is in for their player. Imagine if two of the richest clubs were competing for Saul -- they'd have milked us as much as they could.We should have done that Chelsea move for Saul. 5m for his loan is a bargain.
No, no, no and no. I don't even know where to begin with explaining the positional differences and break down why this is a bad idea but there's a very good reason its not been done. Same for the people who have suggested AWB play there.Re. Lindelöf, I'm actually curious myself.
This.Look at Liverpool. They waited patiently for their targets to become available and it was a massively successful strategy for them.
It doesnt matter if we win the league this year or even next. The goal isn't to win one title. The goal is to be a dominant force again in European football. If that requires a bit of patience then so be it.
Next year? Thought we signed Ronaldo on a 2 plus 1 year contractThe issue is that next year we will need a striker, no way are we buying rice and haaland for example.
Cavani will be gone and Haaland is available. Ronaldo physical condition might not enable him to play every game next season we don’t know yet.Next year? Thought we signed Ronaldo on a 2 plus 1 year contract
I'm completely with you mate and have felt the same when it comes to the composition of our midfield over the years. We just don't have a player in the first team who can provide the class and guile on the ball, as well as the industry off the ball in a deeper role IMO. So if the plan is to buy Rice, Bissouma or Tchouameni to play alongside one of Fred or McTominay, then I don't expect to see much improvement as far as controlling a game via possession-play from midfield is concerned, especially with Bruno playing in a advanced role alongside our forwards.I find it hard to be disappointed by a window where we've made 3 big name signings. But I have, for a long time, had a disappointment in our sheer neglect for the need for playmaking/passing/possesion play from the midfield. The fact that Ole has signed two midfielders in his time here and both are goalscoring midfielders says it all. Before that, Mourinho's additions were Fred, an energetic midfielder who excels only in hounding opponents and Pogba, a creative midfielder who has nothing to do with the real engine. So as a football club I don't think we care for it really and it's not just about this summer. Had we truly cared about this as something crucial we'd have gotten our own Jorginho and Kovacic by now.
Also going by the comment of us deferring the signing of a DM, to me it seems as though we will be targetting a pure DM rather than focusing on someone who can run the and excels in starting moves. Thoughts @Adnan as like me I think you want someone to dictate the game, provide the class from the middle.
You're forgetting something. Mourinho bought Matic to be the CDM and playmaker from the deep, a role he had played for him at Chelsea, he didn't neglect the position.I find it hard to be disappointed by a window where we've made 3 big name signings. But I have, for a long time, had a disappointment in our sheer neglect for the need for playmaking/passing/possesion play from the midfield. The fact that Ole has signed two midfielders in his time here and both are goalscoring midfielders says it all. Before that, Mourinho's additions were Fred, an energetic midfielder who excels only in hounding opponents and Pogba, a creative midfielder who has nothing to do with the real engine. So as a football club I don't think we care for it really and it's not just about this summer. Had we truly cared about this as something crucial we'd have gotten our own Jorginho and Kovacic by now.
Also going by the comment of us deferring the signing of a DM, to me it seems as though we will be targetting a pure DM rather than focusing on someone who can run the and excels in starting moves. Thoughts @Adnan as like me I think you want someone to dictate the game, provide the class from the middle.
Zakaria hasn't recovered his form after the bad injury he suffered a while ago. So it'll be interesting to see how he does under Adi Hutter this seasonSpeaking of CDM's...
Just throwing this out there. I know their stars have somewhat fallen off this past while for different reasons, but as it stands, both Kessie and Zakaria are due to become free agents at the end of this season. And come January, we would be totally permitted to agree deals with both players to join us on free transfers next summer.
If we're going to continue playing a 4231, then Kessie/Zakaria and McTominay/Fred would be pretty strong depth.
Very true. An absolute collosus of a player for them prior to that awful injury.Zakaria hasn't recovered his form after the bad injury he suffered a while ago. So it'll be interesting to see how he does under Adi Hutter this season
I'm afraid Fred is a liability for the role he is currently occupying. If Fred was being asked to go chasing after the ball and pressure high up the field he'd be, mostly, okay. He actually does that job pretty well. However, playing next to Pogba gives Fred a new set of duties that he just does not do very well. Rio Ferdinand was right in what he said about Fred on his podcast this week. Fred does a good job in midfield but he does not do that job, of using positioning to screen the defence, particularly well.No, no, no and no. I don't even know where to begin with explaining the positional differences and break down why this is a bad idea but there's a very good reason its not been done. Same for the people who have suggested AWB play there.
Even putting aside the skill set he would need but doesn't have, the positional awareness and perspective of the game as well as responsibilities are completely different. Just because Lindelof can read the game pretty well and can ping a good pass here and there it does not mean he can go and play in midfield.
Fred is actually now at the point of being really under rated. Our fan base tend to do this, Carrick used to get absolutely pelted. Our fans called him the crab. Those same fans who will try to look insightful now and say what a great player he was. Neves lost possession more than twice the amount that Fred did against Wolves and I'm not saying I wouldn't like to sign Neves but I bet if you asked after the game, who lost possession the most in that game that a lot of people would probably have said Fred. In reality it was less times than Neves, Traore, Bruno and Pogba, as well as other players.
He needs upgrading, absolutely, but the narrative that he's some absolutely awful liability is getting a bit much now.
I suspect this to be the case. Lets hope it doesn't turn into an auction.I think we're very much going to have an epic Rice-saga next summer. That one is going to run and run. It's a very Ole signing. We couldn't get Sancho the first time and we revisited it. Our interest in Rice isn't as obvious but I think the murmurings seem to be that's only because he's too expensive to the extent it wasn't even worth bidding this year.
Exactly.I don't know how people can't be happy with this window.
Maybe Ole's waiting for the perfect long term solution to become available, rather than the instant gratification that we have seen work so well for us in recent years.
Next summer I reckon we will only be buying midfielders.Probably the only reason I can think of. Pogba might be leaving next summer so we might see two midfielder coming in (assuming vdb is also sold).
I agree.The issue is that next year we will need a striker, no way are we buying rice and haaland for example.
West Ham actually got their rumoured Rice alternative in this summer. The Alex Kral guy. Hopefully he beds in well and West Ham drop their ridiculous demands for Rice. If that's who Ole wants.Hopefully a CDM is looked at again in the January window but I suspect Ole is set on Declan Rice.
On the whole, we are stronger than last season with three absolute quality additions yet still a work in progress, however, we are getting there, slowly but surely.
I reckon this is part of why we didnt go for him as well, having already got nowhere with them regarding Trippier we probably had no intention of trying to work out the same deal Chelsea somehow managed in the end.It wouldn't have been that simple. Atletico are already a pain if just one club is in for their player. Imagine if two of the richest clubs were competing for Saul -- they'd have milked us as much as they could.
It matters, one year becomes two and two become a decade then before you know it you have gone thirty years singing next year is our year - sound familiar? You don't sign Ronaldo and Varane and postpone a title challenge because Declan Rice is not available, he is replaceable because he is not a unique talent.It was clear that last season the target was Sancho and when we missed out, we kept our powder dry and got our man in the end at a big discount. That is just good business.
Look at Liverpool. They waited patiently for their targets to become available and it was a massively successful strategy for them.
It doesnt matter if we win the league this year or even next. The goal isn't to win one title. The goal is to be a dominant force again in European football. If that requires a bit of patience then so be it.
You’re only the 2nd poster to refer to carrick as the crab and the other was banned a while ago. HmmmNo, no, no and no. I don't even know where to begin with explaining the positional differences and break down why this is a bad idea but there's a very good reason its not been done. Same for the people who have suggested AWB play there.
Even putting aside the skill set he would need but doesn't have, the positional awareness and perspective of the game as well as responsibilities are completely different. Just because Lindelof can read the game pretty well and can ping a good pass here and there it does not mean he can go and play in midfield.
Fred is actually now at the point of being really under rated. Our fan base tend to do this, Carrick used to get absolutely pelted. Our fans called him the crab. Those same fans who will try to look insightful now and say what a great player he was. Neves lost possession more than twice the amount that Fred did against Wolves and I'm not saying I wouldn't like to sign Neves but I bet if you asked after the game, who lost possession the most in that game that a lot of people would probably have said Fred. In reality it was less times than Neves, Traore, Bruno and Pogba, as well as other players.
He needs upgrading, absolutely, but the narrative that he's some absolutely awful liability is getting a bit much now.