Koke-Blind-Veratti
Di Maria-Rooney-Depay
Di Maria-Rooney-Depay
Search for the Chosen CM to bring balance to The Force...errr Formation
- Thread starter Devil may care
- Start date
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) was joined by comedian Ali Woods to look back at the best and worst moments of a rollercoaster season with the annual United Hour Awards.
Has Ten Hag been sacked yet? We're not sure and we hope not, but it's looking more likely as the days pass.
Who should replace him and why is it taking so long to make a decision?
Pogba/Veratti/Koke would all be great
Ideally want to see us sign players in the 21-25 bracket and build a team
to think we could have bought Strootman/Erickson/Cabaye for around 12 million each
Ideally want to see us sign players in the 21-25 bracket and build a team
to think we could have bought Strootman/Erickson/Cabaye for around 12 million each
Koke is unattainable. He'll stay at Atletico for some more time before inevitably moving to Barcelona IMO.
Yeah, then play him exclusively in the reserves, just to teach him a lesson, right?!
Nah we'll prob play him left wing back or as a striker.
I'n glad Koke is unobtainable. Too small, not mobile enough and would get bullied in the premier league. We need a 6ft plus, mobile player that is not going to get bullied out of it and is willing to get stuck in whilst also being able to play. Our equivalent of Matic essentially. Whether that is Schneiderlin or Pogba or Strootman i don't care, but adding a Spanish techno-midget will not help us.
I think McCarthy would be great. Sure he's not having the best of seasons, but IMO he's ready for the step up.
Fabregas isn't doing too badly is he? Small agile players perform wonderfully in the Prem. Just look at Cazorla, Silva, Mata and of course, Fabregas.
Are you sure you're talking about Koke here?
Verratti
Gundogan Eriksen
Di Maria Dybala Januzaj
Schneiderlin
Herrera Pogba
Di Maria Dybala Januzaj
Gundogan Eriksen
Di Maria Dybala Januzaj
Schneiderlin
Herrera Pogba
Di Maria Dybala Januzaj
Swap Di Maria for Depay and Januzaj for a new signing.
I actually don't like Depay which might be controversial but he doesn't strike me as being a league above Nani. Perhaps Reus? I want someone technical but is more of a finisher than Di Maria.
Verratti
Gundogan Eriksen
Di Maria Dybala Bale
Schneiderlin
Herrera Pogba
Di Maria Dybala Bale
Gundogan Eriksen
Di Maria Dybala Bale
Schneiderlin
Herrera Pogba
Di Maria Dybala Bale
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Why don't you have Blind in your lineups? IMO he's the only permanent fixture in our midfield going forward, he's been excellent this season and his positional sense and distribution are essential to any success we might have. He's the best midfielder we have right now.
How about Pjanic?
----------Blind
-----Pjanic---Herrera
Di Maria--Rooney--Depay
#Philosophy
----------Blind
-----Pjanic---Herrera
Di Maria--Rooney--Depay
#Philosophy
Not really sure what Strootman's situation is like, I presume he is being written out of the equation? He was being heralded as the new United midfield enforcer given our supposed interest and van Gaal's appreciation of him. Is he really struggling to return to his pre-injury form since he's returned or what? I always thought that deal was a formality and a matter of when not if.
Out of the OP's list, I'm a big fan of Schneiderlin and I think he will provide exactly what we need in midfield given his mobility, physicality and defensive ability which is more important in our next midfield purchase than an attack-minded, flair midfielder IMO. My preference at right back is another Southampton player in Clyne though and I'm not sure Southampton would be willing to let both go to us in one window, but of course that is likely to be dependent on where they finish this season.
Out of the OP's list, I'm a big fan of Schneiderlin and I think he will provide exactly what we need in midfield given his mobility, physicality and defensive ability which is more important in our next midfield purchase than an attack-minded, flair midfielder IMO. My preference at right back is another Southampton player in Clyne though and I'm not sure Southampton would be willing to let both go to us in one window, but of course that is likely to be dependent on where they finish this season.
I like Blind, but he can be upgraded. It depends on the level we are aspiring to, I am more than happy to keep him as our first choice DM but I would prefer to see him as a backup and have someone a little quicker in the role. As good as Blind is, I think Verratti is better and Schneiderlin can provide better defensive cover as he covers more ground. Either way it isn't a major issue.
I do think the CM choice is so key, all we have is Herrera and we need someone who can dictate possession but in an attacking sense. Blind can patrol the game in front of the defence but there is no one who playmakes from the centre-circle. Peak Gundogan or Modric would be perfect but it depends on Gundogan's physical capabilities... guys like Pogba/Koke are more attacking mids and will not rectify this major issue in our midfield. There is no CM general in our midfield and there are not many in world football as a whole at the moment.
Yup. Definitely talking about the 5ft 10, 11 stone Koke. I would want a 6 ft 1 or 2 lad that can really get about the pitch, break up play, create play, the whole shooting match. We've got Herrera or Mata or Di Maria for the creative player a la Fabregas. I want the Matic that goes alongside him. That would really give us a base which the likes of Januzaj, Di Maria, Mata etc can work from.
If we want a player to give us balance and allow our creative players to be creative, although very good players, I personally don't think players like Pjanic, Gundogan and Koke are the right type of players.
I even have my qualms about Pogba, who is terrific driving forward with the ball and creating, but I fear that Van Gaal will take a bit of that away from his game, as I think he'll want his most advanced midfielder to take most of the risks, but I guess Pogba can do both, which is what makes him so good.
As I said in the 'LvG says we need some midfielders to go with our other midfielders' thread, the players I think we should be looking at is:
Paul Pogba
James McCarthy
Arturo Vidal
Kevin Strootman
Lars Bender
Sami Khedira
Radja Nainggolan
Morgan Schneiderlin
Blaise Matuidi
1st choice
I even have my qualms about Pogba, who is terrific driving forward with the ball and creating, but I fear that Van Gaal will take a bit of that away from his game, as I think he'll want his most advanced midfielder to take most of the risks, but I guess Pogba can do both, which is what makes him so good.
As I said in the 'LvG says we need some midfielders to go with our other midfielders' thread, the players I think we should be looking at is:
Paul Pogba
James McCarthy
Arturo Vidal
Kevin Strootman
Lars Bender
Sami Khedira
Radja Nainggolan
Morgan Schneiderlin
Blaise Matuidi
1st choice
Carrick
Pogba - Herrera
Di Maria - Rooney - Reus
Pogba - Herrera
Di Maria - Rooney - Reus
Thats a pretty good team, but I think LVG will see that as lacking physical presence. Hes probably right, we need to think about defending corners and freekicks etc. We need someone who is big and physical as well as being able to play. Pogba looks the obvious choice, but I'm sure theres got to be a few players out there.
Whats happened to William Carvaliho? @Sly How has he been performing this season?
Ander will be alright, if theres one criticism I have of LVG its he seems like he sometimes lets the fans/media press him into decisions and if Ander continues to be a fan favourite the press will relay that to him most press conferences. I personally think he thinks Ander is too lightweight on the ball but other than that rates his abilities.Poor ander
I've always liked him, but after what Phil Neville said I doubt we'll ever try and sign him again
If he thinks Ander is light weight on the ball, then he should have a second look at Blind.
After departure of both Fletch and Ando and altering Fellaini's role we can easily go for two or even three class midfielders, while keeping in mind that Carrick have his years and will require few days of rest between multiple fixtures in one week.
Strootman and Koke would be more than enough when it comes to team's balance. We could also unleash Pearson and Fosu Mensah at some point and chances are one of them will make it. If the budget or lack of it will give us more resources like in Di Maria's deal we should go for Pogba while Gundogan being an emergency plan.
Add to that few dynamic talents like Depay and Dybala or some of that class and we're set for the title challenge. Still not sure about the defense... right side may need one fast and strong Right Back.
Strootman and Koke would be more than enough when it comes to team's balance. We could also unleash Pearson and Fosu Mensah at some point and chances are one of them will make it. If the budget or lack of it will give us more resources like in Di Maria's deal we should go for Pogba while Gundogan being an emergency plan.
Add to that few dynamic talents like Depay and Dybala or some of that class and we're set for the title challenge. Still not sure about the defense... right side may need one fast and strong Right Back.
Yeah I get the feeling that its not just about him being a little lightweight. Don't think he likes too many risk takers in midfield.
Agreed I was also impressed but don't watch Roma regularly and not sure if he's the real deal.
Tbf Blind is stronger on the ball but since every fecker and his uncle pressures us on the ball he gets exposed more than Herrera would because he is covering the back 3 or 4
That joke never gets old
Might be a good idea to sign some strong defenders, then the need to have so much cover in front of them won't be necessary. If our defence wasn't so flaky teams might start thinking about our attacking threats instead of putting us under pressure at the other end. A couple of CB's ( one maybe for the future, one for now) a proper RB who can attack and defend, a CM, a winger maybe, and depending what we do with Falcao a forward. Get rid of the loan players, why people want any of them back I don't know. Get rid of a couple of CB's, Rafael I am not sure along with kids who aren't going to make it and some out on loan. Then we should be set.
Yeah I heard his comments, and I also thought Matuidi was two years younger. We'll probably try Vidal or Pogba first anyway, and I can't think of many reasons for PSG to sell him. He's a better option than Strootman for us though, since Kevin's injury set-back. And Matuidi played a great match when France beat Holland just before the World Cup, so Van Gaal knows him.
Although looking from a PSG perspective, record signing David Luiz has to play somewhere. And a smart man wouldn't put him in defense against decent teams. So that would mean they'd still have Verratti, Luiz, Tiago Motta, and Rabiot for their CM spots if they sold Matuidi. And a nice sum for him could come in handy for some new muppet signings with the FFP.
Ive seen him about 5 times ever but always really stood out as always being on the ball and positive, looking to start attacks or get the ball back, im hearing Liverpool are bidding £36 million for Pjanic so could really spoil our chances
I'd be happy if we could offload mata and get a more balanced CM for the same price ish. Mata out for schneiderlin would be nice.
Talking about Koke and Pogba means 50m+ which is possible obviously but I'd prefer to keep the gunpowder dry to look for a bit of excitement out wide that we haven't had since ronaldo left, and some work on the defence with a CB and a RB probably on the cards
Talking about Koke and Pogba means 50m+ which is possible obviously but I'd prefer to keep the gunpowder dry to look for a bit of excitement out wide that we haven't had since ronaldo left, and some work on the defence with a CB and a RB probably on the cards
Hard to argue with that
I don't watch a ton of Juve, but from what I remember of Pogba for us, and what I have seen of him in the last 12 months, he's more of what we have. An upgrade, but he's most useful in the attacking half, rather than the defensive half. He'd be another one in competition with Di Maria, Mata and Herrera, rather than solidifying the midfield.
Given the prices being touted, he just doesn't seem to solve our biggest issues. He'd make the team better, but I'd much rather invest half the sums being mentioned on a beast of a DMF and some actual centre backs. We could probably buy 3 very good options for the cost of Pogba.
No doubt he's one of the best talents in the game today, but he doesn't seem like the answer to our main problems. It'll hurt when he replaces Yaya, but that's a better fit tbh.
Given the prices being touted, he just doesn't seem to solve our biggest issues. He'd make the team better, but I'd much rather invest half the sums being mentioned on a beast of a DMF and some actual centre backs. We could probably buy 3 very good options for the cost of Pogba.
No doubt he's one of the best talents in the game today, but he doesn't seem like the answer to our main problems. It'll hurt when he replaces Yaya, but that's a better fit tbh.
We need a box to box presence with strength and energy. Pogba is the ideal player. I'd look to Schneiderlin as the cheaper alternative.
Ideally, we'd get one of those two in the side and field a three man midfield. A Blind, Pogba and Herrera trio looks appealing.
Ideally, we'd get one of those two in the side and field a three man midfield. A Blind, Pogba and Herrera trio looks appealing.
I hope that Ed is reading this then. You might be right and LvG isn't after him for that reason. As long as the money men aren't thinking we will sign Pogba for the wrong reasons and not if he would actually solve the problems we have. Although Ed is likely looking at Bale for the shiny money making purposes.
Some sound like they want us to play with two DM's.
I like him. I just hope we don't overspend in the wrong areas and then underspend in the area that desperately needs dealing with.
If we sort the defence out I honestly don't think we will need two DM's. Get a good RB and a world class CB or two we will be fine with one DM.
I agree but all of this talk of beasts sounds more like competition for Blind than a compliment to his game.