I literally couldn't disagree more with this assessment. For a start he only scored once and for the rest of that game he was awful. He's not quick or agile enough to play a wide role, not tenacious or tactically astute enough to play centrally (when he isn't being dispossessed/giving the ball away).
Our Midfield
- Thread starter bond19821982
- Start date
I'll tell you what. When Ole said he's going to give Pogba the challenge he wants here at United, he was not lying. Thinnest and most underwhelming midfield in years.
Good line-up but I think AWB would be much better as a RCB in this formation, considering he offers a lot more defensively than he does attacking wise. Dalot as RWB would be great since he's good going forward and would be protected by AWB defensively. Having Maguire in the middle of the back three and Lindelof on the left to protect Shaw defensively too, even though a left footed centre back would be ideal.
Would also put Pogba through the middle of the midfield just in front of Matic and McTominay so he can surge forward and help Rashford and Martial in attack.
It doesn't have to be a midfield 3 always. It could be 2 with Mata or Lingard or Perrera coming as the Attacking option.
I would be delighted if we had got in Longstaff/dm to supplement our current midfield options but I think having a strong midfield is not essential and is often overrated. I think it is much more pressing to get in an attacking threat than a midfield reinforcement. I think if you have enough firepower up front to scare the opposition defenders and a strong defensive unit, you can challenge for titles and cups with an average midfield. Fergie’s side from 2010-13 proved that and so did Liverpool over the last 2 seasons.
The fact that we do not possess attackers who can invoke fear and create magical moments on their own will be our downfall this season, much more than an absence of a well functioning midfield.
The fact that we do not possess attackers who can invoke fear and create magical moments on their own will be our downfall this season, much more than an absence of a well functioning midfield.
Our midfield looks below par right now.Its just streets behind the other top teams in the league....It’s ridiculous that we are being linked with strikers every second minute,when Infact we desperately need a top class midfielder to give more balance to our team.We need to sign a midfielder before Thursday,or else this could be a long long season...
Its depressing alright but what can you do. Lets hope they over perform.
That midfield isn't getting top four.
Think we will address midfield next season.Defense looks decent now provided DDG sticks around.
Great, another year of posturing, likely miss out on top 4 again and most of our better players will probably wanna leave. We should be sorting it NOW, we've had months to sort out our targets and stuff but we seem stuck on Brexit FC ideas, absolute farce of a club
Yep. Said at the time we’d regret that.
This’ll look even worse come 2020. No idea why we passed him up with absolutely nothing else lined up
It’s insane to think a lot of our signings post Fergie have been in midfield and we would still struggle to field more than one good enough for a top 4 team.
Looking at Fred and McTominay to have massive seasons, and I don’t see it. Seems negligent to not get one midfielder in over the window.
After the links to Longstaff, has there really been anything concrete from the UK press?
After the links to Longstaff, has there really been anything concrete from the UK press?
Next season after we finish again 5th or 6th? It is way too weak to leave it for another year
We had a bid rejected I think I read somewhere, then they brought Bruce in as manager and declared Longstaff not for sale.
Yep. McTomminay is starting his 3rd full season (or 2nd, cannot remember) with us and Pogba is world class. While our midfield might be slightly on the thin side, it's hardly rubbish.
We are not going to replace half a team in one window though and yeah probably.
I'm surprised we haven't bought a CM - our only option can't have been Sean "I'm half broken" Longstaff can it?!
So we have Paul Pogba, the guy we bought from Ukraine, couple of academy grads from last year and Nemanja Static?
I need help breathing right now.
I need help breathing right now.
You're not the only one.
4 competitions and only 4 midfielders 
Frack Kessie available for £30 million and linked to Wolves, what are we waiting for?
Can't believe it's came to this. Or then again I can as this club is a joke. #cancelmutv currently trending on twitter to.
Why don’t we get a Juventus CM in exchange for Lukaku??
They have Ramsey, Pjianic, Rabiot, Emre Can, Matuidi, Bentancur, Khadira
They have Ramsey, Pjianic, Rabiot, Emre Can, Matuidi, Bentancur, Khadira
The club just spent 130M on defense, brought in a winger with no significant outgoing sales yet. This cancel MUTV, glazers out, green and gold shit is getting tiresome again. Ole specifically said he is not going to buy for the sake of buying, he apparently wants Longstaff and Sancho for the remaining spots in the squad and he's obviously prepared to wait another season if he has to get those two.
We genuinely don't have a creative midfielder if Pogba gets injured. We'd need to rely on Mata in CM or Pereira.
It's below what we need but it's not quite as bad as is being made out.
Mctominay looks to be taking a step up and Fred and Andreas had some big games last season as well, we just need them to keep developing. Then we've got Matic as backup (hopefully) and one of the very big midfielders in the world. It's clearly not perfect but if Mctominay, Fred and Andreas keep improving it should be enough given the improvement we've made in other areas.
Granted, we'd obviously be much better off just signing someone.
Mctominay looks to be taking a step up and Fred and Andreas had some big games last season as well, we just need them to keep developing. Then we've got Matic as backup (hopefully) and one of the very big midfielders in the world. It's clearly not perfect but if Mctominay, Fred and Andreas keep improving it should be enough given the improvement we've made in other areas.
Granted, we'd obviously be much better off just signing someone.
Hoping Gomes can step up.
Having to rely on players who aren't good enough to step up is not going to end well.
Barely got minutes in preseason despite being our best player. Don't think he will be playing much this season.
We genuinely don’t have one even if Pogba is uninjured.
We have spent £130m which isn’t pocket change but to go into the season with that lack of midfield options is a joke.
If Pogba gets injured or hasn’t got his head straight we are screwed.
Tielemans was available for £40m, Ndombele was £55m. There were decent options out there but we have ignored them.
I just hope the board realises this before Friday but I can’t see it.
If Pogba gets injured or hasn’t got his head straight we are screwed.
Tielemans was available for £40m, Ndombele was £55m. There were decent options out there but we have ignored them.
I just hope the board realises this before Friday but I can’t see it.
When forumites are talking about Pereira as a revelation, we know the midfield's in deep trouble. The guy is pure mediocre.
I am usually one of the more pessimist-realist fans out here. That midfield indeed looks a bit grimm oj paper.
In reality though, if MCT steps up and Fred finally pulls his head out of his arse, it ain't that bad homies, chill out.
My issue is still with having absolutely dogshit attackers who can't score to save their lives.
In reality though, if MCT steps up and Fred finally pulls his head out of his arse, it ain't that bad homies, chill out.
My issue is still with having absolutely dogshit attackers who can't score to save their lives.
Big IF. We can reasonably expect a better defensive performance this season which might take some pressure off the midfield and they can look forward rather than behind.
However I am yet to be convinced by those three midfielders mentioned above.
I just think they all showed signs of stepping up last season. Mctominay is young and gaining experience and has looked very good recently, Fred is (very slowly) adapting to the league but he's also showing signs that he's getting there. Andreas and Matic are fine for backup. But yeah, like I said, I would much prefer we signed someone. I just don't think it's quite as grim as some are making it out to be.
If it’s 433:
Mctominay - no. 6 - Pogba
If it’s 4231:
Mctominay- Pogba
——- no 10 ———
At least one more midfielder signing. Can’t see Matic or Mata take those role, need an upgrade.
Mctominay - no. 6 - Pogba
If it’s 4231:
Mctominay- Pogba
——- no 10 ———
At least one more midfielder signing. Can’t see Matic or Mata take those role, need an upgrade.
The problem was that Pogba needs to be surrounded by quality as he himself is flaky and we have not surrounded him with quality
It’s currently underwhelming. Lingard seems to have regressed from 17/18. Herreras gone. Matic is looking more and more past it every passing month. Pereira is still here despite not really impressing in Spain. McTominay does appear to be getting better and better going off the tail end of last season where he was probably the standout player and looks more assured in preseason (even though it is preseason after all). Mata doesn’t fit the style of play and Fred didn’t have a great season at all... meanwhile Pogba almost certainly wants away.
Are the club hoping half these guys step it up big time? It kinda feels like that at times.
Are the club hoping half these guys step it up big time? It kinda feels like that at times.
i don't see much between McTominay & Matic. One has age on his side but they look like very similar level to me.
Pogba is potentially fantastic & even does OK while he can't be bothered half the time. But may yet leave.
Fred has been average or worse.
I have been wondering why we haven't done anything at all.
Pogba is potentially fantastic & even does OK while he can't be bothered half the time. But may yet leave.
Fred has been average or worse.
I have been wondering why we haven't done anything at all.