I'm not sure we have the money. We need at least one RB, quality CB, preferably a RW as well as a CM
Potential Matic Replacements
- Thread starter FootyGirl88
- Start date
I think money might be a problem, you are right. We need a RB, CB and RW as priorities then CDM. Should we not be pursuing Rabiot on a free? I've read somewhere he doesn't want to play CDM though, which is a NO GO but he's a very good player.
Yeh I would agree, just generally a hard player to get right as well. Thats why looking back, Carrick was such a good player and admirably filled the hole left by Scholes. Is it too much to ask for another Carrick or Scholes?
Declan Rice is the answer.
We might have to target younger players with potential. Shame Pereira seems not to fulfill his early promise
Would Rabiot on a free at the end of the season be a good idea ? I know he’s meant to have a bit of an attitude but is meant to have bundles of potential and could be a good alternative to Matic whilst leaving us money to really go all out on a world class centre back and a world class right sided forward.
From what I know of Rabiot (which isn’t a lot) he’s very good in either defensive midfield or central midfield and is good enough for Barca to have followed him the past year until they signed De Jong, surely Rabiot is an upgrade on the departed Fellaini and also on Pereira and Fred ?
From what I know of Rabiot (which isn’t a lot) he’s very good in either defensive midfield or central midfield and is good enough for Barca to have followed him the past year until they signed De Jong, surely Rabiot is an upgrade on the departed Fellaini and also on Pereira and Fred ?
Kante.
Torreira should be frustrated at Arsenal. Might be worth it to unsettle him a little.
Those transfers work best for us looking back at previous buys, so it's a good idea if you ask me. Shame about Pereira, I don't want to say he is done here, but I can't see a way back for him after that performance vs Burnley. That's football, he is talented and does have ability, but to succeed at this level you need more, and a bit of luck as well.
Want to reiterate this from October. Been watching him more of late and I think he’s a fantastic defensive midfielder in the making.
Leicester game illiustrates what i have said numerous times this season, that our midfield is not good enough to dominate and boss games.
Matic sits too deep inviting people onto us, Herrera runs around committing himself too much and lacks positioning and at times there is only Pogba in the middle.
We need 2 new midfielders in the Summer, now Fellaini has gone we lack depth in the area too as Mctominay is just not good enough either.
Matic sits too deep inviting people onto us, Herrera runs around committing himself too much and lacks positioning and at times there is only Pogba in the middle.
We need 2 new midfielders in the Summer, now Fellaini has gone we lack depth in the area too as Mctominay is just not good enough either.
First of all that is matics job basically. To sit in front of the back four and protect them.
Secondly, Herrera was excellent yesterday and man of the match. What he does for the team is vital, much like how vital Milner is for the liverpool MF.
200m budget for the summer apparently and I would personally get rid of Lukaku (maybe get 60/70m back?) offload Sanchez if we can, that would leave us with enough money I think for:
RW Sancho first choice Brooks second
CDM Neves
RB Wan Biasska
CB Maguire/Alderweireld/Koulibaly
RW Sancho first choice Brooks second
CDM Neves
RB Wan Biasska
CB Maguire/Alderweireld/Koulibaly
I think with Fellaini off on his way and Periera likely to follow in the summer, we need to get serious about our CM.
We've got 3 players for 2 slots (Herrera, Matic, Fred). I think we need one, ideally 2 more players.
I think Pogba and Lingard should be considered in the CAM role, and Pogba only deployed as a central midfielder, if we play in 433.
We've got 3 players for 2 slots (Herrera, Matic, Fred). I think we need one, ideally 2 more players.
I think Pogba and Lingard should be considered in the CAM role, and Pogba only deployed as a central midfielder, if we play in 433.
Sadly, we must consider that Scott McTominay is rated as an option. I think there’s also a real intention within the club to bring James Garner through too.
After Martial, we did not buy any other high potential player whichbis a shame
It was going quite well until this bit.
Why's that? Alderweireld who has been arguably the best CB in the league for the past 2/3 years, available for 25m, yeah shocking that, we could go for a lad at Inter Milan that no one has ever watched and pay 80 odd million.
Maguire just looks like he is growing in stature, was class against us on Sunday, was the best player on the pitch at Anfield on Wednesday, 25 years old, brings the ball out, class in the air, would work well together with Lindelof, would be a massive threat from set pieces.
But none of that matters, due to you saying it was going well until that, with no explanation as to why.
Top post
I think this is pretty much what we will do, provided Lukaku leaves.
No need to cry about it, fecking hell
Haha sarcastic post gets a sarcastic response mate, still waiting for your alternatives................
We need a seasoned experienced leader at the CB and Maguire is good but he isnt it.
A Koulibaly or Godin type to partner Lindelof would be ideal.
Maguire is too slow to partner Lindelof and if we are to continue playing with a high press and thus high defensive line. As for Alderweireld, he's lost a couple of yards of pace since his last injury and wont help with our lack of aerial dominance, not to mention he'll want the RCB slot where Victor is best. If you weigh up the the 3 things you want the CB we buy to have, i.e. pace, aerial prowess and comfortable as the LCB, Koulibaly ticks all the boxes.
Since this thread is about replacing Matic, I still think Neves is the standout option now de Jong has gone to Barca, his defensive game needs refining but is still decent and I think he'd fit well with Herrera behind Pogba.
Since this thread is about replacing Matic, I still think Neves is the standout option now de Jong has gone to Barca, his defensive game needs refining but is still decent and I think he'd fit well with Herrera behind Pogba.
I like the look of Declan Rice, I know he’s young and hasn’t got shit loads of experience but there’s something about him, played well against the the scum tonight.
He's looked excellent everytime I've seen him play this season. Too bad he just signed a 6 year contract, would have been decent business getting him for a tribunal fee this summer.
Whoever is better priced out of Neves and Rice would be a great signing. Personally I'd like us to try and go all out for Eriksen this summer given that his contract is winding down and Real Madrid will likely be focused more on Hazard this summer.
If we've got 200m to spend then I'd like this summer to be Wan Bissaka, Eriksen and Koilably or failing that Maguire. That would likely be the 200m right there. Probably the following summer we could go in for Sancho and Rice or Neves. I don't want to see us getting 4-5 new players to start. I think 3 is enough.
If we've got 200m to spend then I'd like this summer to be Wan Bissaka, Eriksen and Koilably or failing that Maguire. That would likely be the 200m right there. Probably the following summer we could go in for Sancho and Rice or Neves. I don't want to see us getting 4-5 new players to start. I think 3 is enough.
Basmati Busquets
Classic car transfer thread. Where the subject is one specific position, yet people type out their Fantasy Football dreams about 4,5 or 6 players
We don't need Eriksen. We have Pogba and Mata as backup...
But we badly need a DM and RW.
I think a midfield three of Matic/Herrera with Pogba and Eriksen would be magic. We’d have so much control and be so dangerous carving teams apart.
Would also struggle defensively because Eriksen is slow as fek and isn't that good of a defender. Would need to have a highly mobile ball winning destroyer instead of Matić.
I generally find him a bit aimless but he really is a lot like Matic in that his size and composure on the ball are by far his best qualities. He could become a fine 6 if he can get better at snuffing out danger and at his age, that is certainly possible.
And when Pogba is out, we'd actually still have a pretty decent midfield if we used Rabiot and Herrera in a double pivot and played either 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1.
If he's free, I think it's a no-brainer.
Yeah agree, would love Godin but he is going to Inter, go all out for Koulibaly but if he is a no go, not many alternatives, Alderweireld for 25m is a no brainer, Maguire looks like he is ready to make the step up, not sure what else he has to do and he is ten times better than any defender we have with maybe exception of Lindelof so he would be a massive improvement.
Bar that you have De Ligt at 18 and probably going to cost you 80m+
People talk about Varane but he has been absolutely woeful this season and personally would prefer Maguire.
Other than that, can't see many options.
Mostly agree with this my only issue is I would rather us give Gomes a chance in that CAM position than spend 80/100m on Eriksen, he looks quality and want to see him given the chance maybe as back up to Pogba in that 10/CAM position.
I do think we need 4 players in the summer though, CB, RB, DMC/MC, RW
Personally I prefer Gomes in a deeper position than the 10 spot, which is something I've come to agree with Butt on.
As an attacker, I've often noticed two negatives after watching him the last 4 seasons. One is that he at times is too passive. If you can remember how Kagawa was for United, there are a lot of times where Gomes has similar performances. They're not bad performances, but just very passive performances. The other negative is that despite his prodigious technical ability, there are times where he loses the ball in the final third as he's not creative enough to get himself out of trouble. Which is strange because he has amazingly quick feet to manipulate the ball, and there are loads of times where the opposite happens and he makes multiple defenders look silly in very tight spaces. In contrast to Mason Greenwood, who although has great technique (prodigious ambidexterity), isn't as prodigious with footwork as Gomes is. Greenwood doesn't lose the ball as often because he has a plan three steps ahead, and is really composed when faced with trouble.
On the other hand, as a midfielder he's incredibly composed when pressed and is quick to pass the ball away to avoid losing the ball. As a result, he rarely loses the ball. The passive problem I brought up isn't really a thing when he plays deeper because he's doesn't have as much responsibility to assert himself in attack. So the two negatives I brought up aren't really a thing when he's playing deeper. And as we all know, Gomes has a great first touch, has vision, can dribble, the ball sticks to his feet, passes the ball forward with regularity, has great awareness, can give himself separation to ease pressing, etc...
Interesting one bud, the only thing with him playing deep is does he have the physic for it, you could see him getting bullied and pressed quite easily, something that might come with a bit of experience and buffing up a little, 433 might suit if he plays to the left of a 3 so the formation we are playing at the moment could suit as he is not in the pocket, has space to run into but like Pogba starting from deep.
I do see what you mean re him being passive in games, hopefully this can be worked on as he progresses, definite very exciting potential with him and Greenwood.
If Ole gets the job (big if), happily sell Lukaku and have Gomes/Greenwood promoted to the first team squad as back up for Pogba and Rashford respectively, would be a big call but doing that, using that money on 4 urgent positions, personally be happy with that.
You're a Sass
Fixed that for you.