De gea
Valencia Bailey lindelof Darmian
Matic
Herrera Pogba
Mikhi Lukaka rashford
Valencia Bailey lindelof Darmian
Matic
Herrera Pogba
Mikhi Lukaka rashford
Nemanja Matić - Manchester United player
- Thread starter Santos J
- Start date
He is a good signing. Carrick will likely retire or move on this season so we will buy another DM next summer. Having Matic and a new quality DM next season is fantastic
Many people have suggested he's rubbish in a midfield two, not that I expect us to ever play that way this season.
Regardless, him providing the base, Herrera providing the work rate and Pogba providing the creativity in a free role should make us very good midfield-wise. Hopefully it means more creative freedom and more goals for our attacking minded players.
Having Carrick in reserve just in case but in a much reduced role should keep him fresh too now we've got a replacement.
I like that team, might swap shaw for darmian but that is a strong squad
I think a lot of people are expecting a Carrick replacement, when the reality is he's a different type of CDM and it's very similar to us 'replacing Keane'.
The midfield dynamic must change, and he's far better (not saying it's where he's strongest) moving up the pitch that a lot of people give him credit for because he's big and puts his foot in.
Somewhat similar to Herrera in this sense, not necessarily style of play, but just there being more to his game than first meets the eye. As I said, I expect the midfield dynamic to change and one of him or Herrera pushing a little further forward, while the other drops back and the pair of them let Pogba do his thing.
I still worry that he's not quite as quick and mobile as we would need to totally give us security with one man protecting defence and allowing our attacking players to focus on what they do best, and I've seen Chelsea fans state this was case last season, and that's why they appreciated Kante so much. But hey, players with Kante's energy and defensive astuteness aren't easy to come by. It's also, I suspect even still, not Mourinho's style to play the Makelele style CDM nowadays. He likes his midfield pivot, and you can't look beyond Matic and Herrera in this sense.
Watching some of the compilations, Matic liked finding his man out wide and setting him on his way to go at the oppositions defence. This will likely be Martial, but also could be Perisic, a signing that whilst not the biggest of names, makes more and more sense.
The midfield dynamic must change, and he's far better (not saying it's where he's strongest) moving up the pitch that a lot of people give him credit for because he's big and puts his foot in.
Somewhat similar to Herrera in this sense, not necessarily style of play, but just there being more to his game than first meets the eye. As I said, I expect the midfield dynamic to change and one of him or Herrera pushing a little further forward, while the other drops back and the pair of them let Pogba do his thing.
I still worry that he's not quite as quick and mobile as we would need to totally give us security with one man protecting defence and allowing our attacking players to focus on what they do best, and I've seen Chelsea fans state this was case last season, and that's why they appreciated Kante so much. But hey, players with Kante's energy and defensive astuteness aren't easy to come by. It's also, I suspect even still, not Mourinho's style to play the Makelele style CDM nowadays. He likes his midfield pivot, and you can't look beyond Matic and Herrera in this sense.
Watching some of the compilations, Matic liked finding his man out wide and setting him on his way to go at the oppositions defence. This will likely be Martial, but also could be Perisic, a signing that whilst not the biggest of names, makes more and more sense.
Really need to sort the left side of the team - otherwise we're looking pretty well positioned for this season.De gea
Valencia Bailey lindelof Darmian
Matic
Herrera Pogba
Mikhi Lukaka rashford
The spine is very strong but the full backs and wings aren't great.De gea
Valencia Bailey lindelof Darmian
Matic
Herrera Pogba
Mikhi Lukaka rashford
Awesome signing! Experienced and very effective under Mourinho. Also his age gives our youth just the right amount of time to make the spot their own without pressure.
This is great news! Another Nemanja at Manchester United. I am thrilled. I was in agony when two Serbs played for Chelsea! I mean I still couldn't cheer for Chelsea, not a little bit! Nemanja is a great character! Well raised, both feet on the ground and kind of stoic. He is one of few players who performs great for both team and country. He will not be bigger legend than Vidic, not a chance, but he will give United at least 2 amazing years! I can tell you that!
---------------DDG-------------
Valencia--Bailly--Lindelof--Shaw
---------------Matic--------------
--------Herrera---Pogba---------
Rashford------Lukaku----Mkhitaryan
Not sure there is enough goals in that side but defensively we will be top of the league no doubt.
Valencia--Bailly--Lindelof--Shaw
---------------Matic--------------
--------Herrera---Pogba---------
Rashford------Lukaku----Mkhitaryan
Not sure there is enough goals in that side but defensively we will be top of the league no doubt.
Worried about Herrera's minutes but feck me, if we see a prime Matic roaming the fecking midfield with Herrera AND Pogba at the same time
Good signing this!!
I don't think Herrera has nothing to be worried about. He'll be a key player and in the starting XI pretty much every game again.Worried about Herrera's minutes but feck me, if we see a prime Matic roaming the fecking midfield with Herrera AND Pogba at the same time
Now all we need to do is sort out a left back. Hopethat Shaw returns fit and raring to go soon. I think Fosu-Mensah could do a pretty good job at right back. I know it was only a friendly vs RM in the US, but he pretty much kept Balequiet forthe time he was on.
The bolded are the only players who are as good/better as the players on Mourinho's second Chelsea side. I actually think Pogba, Lukaku, and Bailly (Terry was slow) are better than the Chelsea players and Herrera and Fabregas are so different. But, Hazard is significantly better than Mkhitaryan, Azpillicueta is significantly better than Darmian, Willian is better than Perisic, this Matic is older, Cahill is more than likely better than Lindelof, and Ivanovic is slightly better than Valencia.
I do think we can compete for the title this season. But Mourinho's second title winning Chelsea side were one of the best EPL clubs of all-time.
Not sure about this. Matic is a quality player but 40m for a 29 year old?
Heh, nicely done.
Thats likely the starting 11 but I hope we sign Perisic up to replace Rashford on the wing. Those wings are a little too "inside" for my liking. Especially with Lukaku up top. We need crossers for him.De gea
Valencia Bailey lindelof Darmian
Matic
Herrera Pogba
Mikhi Lukaka rashford
Honestly would like to see someone like Bertrand come in at LB.
De Gea is significantly better than courtois, am sure is an omission on your part.
Yes, absolutely. Missed on my part.
Imo thats a spine that could win the CL under Mourinho. Wings and fullbacks not so much but all it needs is for Martial and Shaw to step up and we could be very very goodDe gea
Valencia Bailey lindelof Darmian
Matic
Herrera Pogba
Mikhi Lukaka rashford
With Martial (and Lingard) on the bench able to play across the front line too.De gea
Valencia Bailey lindelof Darmian
Matic
Herrera Pogba
Mikhi Lukaka rashford
I really like the look of that team.
I hope Shaw and Martial can regain form and confidence, with those two in place of Darmian/Rashford I think we'd be challengers. All depends on them regaining form though.De gea
Valencia Bailey lindelof Darmian
Matic
Herrera Pogba
Mikhi Lukaka rashford
Why do most put Lindelof as one of the main CB, when so far he hasn't proved anything, other than a liability defender?
As much as I love Carrick, I thought we played our best stuff with a midfield two of Herrera and Pogba. I think Pogba played his best stuff in that system, too. See his performances against Southampton, Leicester and Middlesbrough. At home in Europe, where usually went with the two midfield system and scored a tonne of goals, he was performing excellently there, too.
This could really challenge the likes of Real / Barca / Juv / Bayern....................................................................Tactical Genius Jose...........................................
De gea
Valencia Bailey lindelof Darmian
Matic
Herrera Pogba
Griezmann Lukaka Mkhi
Had we signed Griezmann......still gutted. Feck the transfer ban
Without Griezmann, we could only rely on Martial/Rashford/Shaw to step up and Jose's tactical masterclass (most likely defensive counter attacking again)
A very good signing. He was overshadowed by Kante last season but, playing 35 league games, most of them starts, means he was a key component to a very solid Chelsea team. Am just not sure if he will improve us that much compared to last season unless Mourinho feels he can give the likes of Pogba and to a degree Herrera more freedom to get up the pitch. Carrick a few months into the season played the role that Matic will and he is as good as any in the league at it and yet Pogba nor Herrera were that involved in the final 3rd like people seem to be expecting with Matic's arrival.
What this signing does do for us though is give us stability over the season because when Carrick couldn't play for one reason or another, we had no consistent deep CM to take over and be really good at it.
Hopefully though Pogba will be given a lot more freedom because Mourinho feels even safer with Matic as the shield.
What this signing does do for us though is give us stability over the season because when Carrick couldn't play for one reason or another, we had no consistent deep CM to take over and be really good at it.
Hopefully though Pogba will be given a lot more freedom because Mourinho feels even safer with Matic as the shield.
I agree with all of your comparison points. But the part I've quoted is wide of the mark.
His recent Chelsea team being the best PL club of all time? It's not even the best Chelsea title winning side. You could make an argument for it being the worst.
They were a good, solid side. Nothing more than that.
Still seeing Lindelof in all the starting XI's, amazing. Just because we bought him doesnt mean he should be a starter immediately.
Great news! Good signing and a position we needed badly to fill with an experienced specialist! He looks great in red!
I remember when he went to Chelsea, they went on to win the league his first season. Here's to us winning the league in his first season. So that he can be the other player other than Kante to win for two teams back to back!
I remember when he went to Chelsea, they went on to win the league his first season. Here's to us winning the league in his first season. So that he can be the other player other than Kante to win for two teams back to back!
Pretty confident he's talking about their 2006 title.
New player so looks shiny in hypothetical first xi for new season.
Matic like Lukakau is hardly a bad signing, does a lot of the dirty work well which should allow more freedom for the rest of our midfield....but £115m on these two players, both ex-Mourinho Chelsea players. Am I the only person concerned we are being turned into a typical Mourinho side, and a Chelsea one almost?
Not the only one, after Mourinho we'll have to start over if we get a more modern attacking manager. Lets hope Mou stays a very long time.
Yes, much more balanced and hope too see better flowing football!
Almost like Robinho, but this time the lad signed for the right "Manchester"
Matic was an absolute beast back in 2014-15 season, a real force in a middle. For whatever reason he was never able to recreate that form later, but he's still a solid player who knows his role and is tactically and positionally sound. He adapted to play in both Mourinho's and Conte's systems and he was a starter for two title winning sides over the last three years, so he must have been doing something right. He also seems to be a nice guy who never creates problems in the dressing room.
His weaknesses are also well known. He is quite slow on and off the ball and slows down everything due to his decision making. Not great in the air despite being very tall. Contributes very little going forward. But I'd imagine Mourinho knows it better than anybody and feels whatever he brings makes up for his flaws.
100%. I put darmian and Rashford in there for consistency, but Martial on his day is a team by himself.
Mourinho is our manager, and he typically wins trophies so I have no concerns in turning into a typical Mourinho side. That's what we signed up for!
Wasnt he one of the players who turned on Mourinho supposedly? @duffer