Not sure how you took that from my post. He is definitely an upgrade on Fellaini, which might be the plan and he offers different things compared to Herrera.
Sergej Milinkovic Savic
- Thread starter R'hllor
- Start date
Saul is an Athleti product. I don't see him and Koke leaving at all. I wouldn't mind going all out for Savic or even Goretzka. Goretzka is actually free too.
Goretzka (free) and he's as good as Pogba and could play with him as well as replace him when need be.
Ozil (free) is a good replacement for Mata and Mhiki in the no. 10 spot
Rose (40m) is the LB we've been crying for
Griezmann (85m) would be essentially out RW/ RF
And we are sorted.
4-2-1-3 is the way to go
------- Martial/ Rashford --------------- Lukaku -------------- Griezmann/ Lingard --------
------------------------------------ Ozil/ Mhiki/ Mata -----------------------------------------
----------------- Pogba ----------------------------------- Matic/ Goretzka ------------------
--- Rose ---------- Smalling/ Bailly ----------- Jones/ Lindelof ---------------- Valencia ---
------------------------------------ De Gea ----------------------------------------------------
De Gea
Fosu-Mensah Bailly Rojo Rose
Milinkovic-savic Matic
Pogba
Rashford Lukaku Martial
Fosu-Mensah Bailly Rojo Rose
Milinkovic-savic Matic
Pogba
Rashford Lukaku Martial
In the summer? Will be one hell of a painful one. The XI is not really appetizing to me anyway.
Milinković-Savić is a quality prospect, but we don't really need him. If you think back to what made Pogba an effective and exciting player at Juventus (which remains his peak in terms of performance):
Pogba was the all-round dazzler as a mezz'ala, Vidal the substance with his workrate and ability to plough through opposition midfields, and Pirlo the architect who controlled the team's overall strategy:
That trio was very, very complementary in that all three players excelled at specific tasks. Even though Pogba is developing as a box-to-box player, he's not going to become the most wily and deliberate passer - nor should he aim to be one because his strengths lie elsewhere. What we ideally need is someone in the mold of Pirlo, Scholes, or even Verratti or Pjanić to set the tempo of the team as regards passing nous - United currently lacks that type of midfielder, and a top one could make our midfield a truly dominant unit. Not sure Milinković-Savić will have the same effect.
Pogba was the all-round dazzler as a mezz'ala, Vidal the substance with his workrate and ability to plough through opposition midfields, and Pirlo the architect who controlled the team's overall strategy:
https://grup14.com/article/tactical-analysis-juventus-playing-style-and-key-characteristics
That trio was very, very complementary in that all three players excelled at specific tasks. Even though Pogba is developing as a box-to-box player, he's not going to become the most wily and deliberate passer - nor should he aim to be one because his strengths lie elsewhere. What we ideally need is someone in the mold of Pirlo, Scholes, or even Verratti or Pjanić to set the tempo of the team as regards passing nous - United currently lacks that type of midfielder, and a top one could make our midfield a truly dominant unit. Not sure Milinković-Savić will have the same effect.
A cultured passer who would give us great stability and Carrickesque distribution is Jorginho from Napoli.Milinković-Savić is a quality prospect, but we don't really need him. If you think back to what made Pogba an effective and exciting player at Juventus (which remains his peak in terms of performance):
Pogba was the all-round dazzler as a mezz'ala, Vidal the substance with his workrate and ability to plough through opposition midfields, and Pirlo the architect who controlled the team's overall strategy:
https://grup14.com/article/tactical-analysis-juventus-playing-style-and-key-characteristics
That trio was very, very complementary in that all three players excelled at specific tasks. Even though Pogba is developing as a box-to-box player, he's not going to become the most wily and deliberate passer - nor should he aim to be one because his strengths lie elsewhere. What we ideally need is someone in the mold of Pirlo, Scholes, or even Verratti or Pjanić to set the tempo of the team as regards passing nous - United currently lacks that type of midfielder, and a top one could make our midfield a truly dominant unit. Not sure Milinković-Savić will have the same effect.
He could play with Matic and Pogba against the top teams and tough away matches, and provide the cover and rotation we so evidently need for Matic in the easier fixtures.
Wouldn't solve our lack of cover for Pogba though. We'll be thin in midfield once again if Fellaini leaves, Carrick hangs up his boots and Herrera also possibly leaves.
Goretzka would provide great cover for Pogba and could easily play in a double pivot with him too.
Aye, we do need some cover for Pogba, but it doesn't have to be Milinković-Savić. Spending stratospheric levels of money on a tactical/cover option player doesn't quite feel right - not because United is skint, but because it distorts the market even further and instills a culture of extravagance at the club. This is where United's scouts should be earning their keep - target players at the U-19 and U-21 level with a feasible blueprint for developing them into first team players. That's a more organic and sustainable model than spending big amounts every time you need backup or even first team replacements.
I like @Mcking's Goretzka's suggestion - we could have targeted him even in the summer before Bayern reportedly ramped up their interest:
Those type of signings are really satisfying because you get great value for money from the get go. e.g. I reckon we missed a trick by not targeting the likes of Kolašinac in the summer considering the lack of stability at the position at United:
https://www.redcafe.net/threads/wha...mmer-2016-edition.421337/page-8#post-20417743
What sort of midfielder is Savic? Is he more of a Matic or a Pogba?
The thing that impressed me from his highlights was his passing from deep, if he shields at the same level, he'd be a good buy.
His running with the ball looks good, but it looks full speed to me and looks like he may lose control. Pogba on the other hand, I'm certain when he's on the ball no one will stop him.
Is that a fair analysis?
If the aboves correct he'd be an excellent fellaini replacement and long term replacement for matic. But I don't think it's within our budget at the present time.
I know nothing about this player except the highlights posted. But it looks like he could develop into a Matic and move deeper.... Matic has a lot more to him than just being a midfield destroyer.
Bottom line is that we need to already be planning for a future without Matic or Matic injured. Matic is already having games where he looks knackered because we overplay him. Herrera cannot reach his level and Fellaini is better as a bench option to help close out games.
Also with Pogba injured our team level dips massively and if he can provide adequate cover here that is also great.... nobody in our sqaud presently can.
He may not be the right signing but we should not be against strengthening in this area just because we have Matic, Fellaini and Herrera.
Bottom line is that we need to already be planning for a future without Matic or Matic injured. Matic is already having games where he looks knackered because we overplay him. Herrera cannot reach his level and Fellaini is better as a bench option to help close out games.
Also with Pogba injured our team level dips massively and if he can provide adequate cover here that is also great.... nobody in our sqaud presently can.
He may not be the right signing but we should not be against strengthening in this area just because we have Matic, Fellaini and Herrera.
Need someone who can drive from midfield in Pogba's absence
Give me the car key then...
Pogba's got 'em!
Well, take 'em away from 'em! 'em a better driver.
Its a fair analysis. Its a facet of his game he is still developing. IMO we can afford him.
Just destroyed single-handedly Samp away in the last 10 minutes of the game 
yeah, just seen the highlights. His steady growth is fantastic, soon he will be too big for Lazio if he isnt already.
It's always hard to have good cover for your star player. You want them on the pitch as much as possible, so the cover needs to be someone who's happy to bench warm quite a bit. And a player like that is always going to be a big step down in quality from your star.
He was excellent tonight, both using the ball from deep and in the final 3rd where he scored and assisted Lazio's 2 goals. Not sure he'd fit in our side though as he's very like Pogba and I don't know if you can have two of them and maintain a good balance.
Or your cover needs to be able to play in more than one position, our problem right now is that Pogba comes out of the team and our chance creation plummets, no one in any of the other attacking roles creates anything, our #10's aren't producing and so our creativity rests on Pogba's shoulders alone, somewhere we need to get the balance evened out.
The word is right, he does have a playing style very similar to Pogba. He's more consistent and stable with his passing but for anyone to say he has a higher potential or even the same level of technique as Pogba, it's absolutely mental. Saying that he can become a more effective player than Paul, just nowhere near as exciting.
.....................matic..........................
........m-savic..............pogba...........
Or even Goretezka for savic.... it would be solid and it would be somewhat reminiscent of ballack and lampard at Chelsea.... not saying it is my preference for how we play but would seem a very Jose way... big strong mobile players
Lukaku up top and rashford / martial competing for the left attacking spot... Then I guess a new player on right.
Seriously, we need to break the bank for this guy in January. Otherwise he'll end up at Bayern or Chelsea. He's the real deal and with him, Pogba, Matic and Fellaini we would destroy everything in our way, including the twats across the city.
His peak was in 15/16 without Pirlo and Vidal...the team was built around him. When he played with Pirlo and Vidal ( 2012-2015), the team was built around Pirlo and Pogba wasn't as good as he was in 15/16.Milinković-Savić is a quality prospect, but we don't really need him. If you think back to what made Pogba an effective and exciting player at Juventus (which remains his peak in terms of performance):
Pogba was the all-round dazzler as a mezz'ala, Vidal the substance with his workrate and ability to plough through opposition midfields, and Pirlo the architect who controlled the team's overall strategy:
https://grup14.com/article/tactical-analysis-juventus-playing-style-and-key-characteristics
That trio was very, very complementary in that all three players excelled at specific tasks. Even though Pogba is developing as a box-to-box player, he's not going to become the most wily and deliberate passer - nor should he aim to be one because his strengths lie elsewhere. What we ideally need is someone in the mold of Pirlo, Scholes, or even Verratti or Pjanić to set the tempo of the team as regards passing nous - United currently lacks that type of midfielder, and a top one could make our midfield a truly dominant unit. Not sure Milinković-Savić will have the same effect.
Pirlo needed 1 or 2 workhorse ( Vidal and Pogba ) to perform. In 15-16 Bonucci played as DLP and he allowed Pogba to roam.
With this freedom, Pogba made 15 assist ( number one in Serie A with 12 ) and 10 goals ( 8 in Serie A)
Juventus won the double that season ( one of the two that Pogba won in 4 seasons in Italy )
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Agent Matic, get to work
---- Pogba ----- Goretzka----
-------- Savic ----------------
Now that would be a midfield that would beat any team. Going back to a 4-3-3
-------- Savic ----------------
Now that would be a midfield that would beat any team. Going back to a 4-3-3
Savic is not a DM.
Neither need a central midfielder atm. Would probably suit Arsenal the best, Liverpool could use him too. I expect the big Italian teams to be after him also. Real/Barca I think will pass, PSG I don't know.
He sucked hairy balls until Marchisio and Khedira got back from injuries. The setup was the same, the only exception being Khedira was more disciplined than Vidal while being less attacking, and Marchisio was also a better defensive player than Pirlo while doing an excellent job as the midfield hub, which freed Pogba more in an attacking sense
Btw, in italy they're quoting €100m as Lazio's price for him next summer
Doesn't sound like the kind of midfielder we need. Our requirement is of that intelligent technical midfielder who can read the play and influence it by dictating and control it's flow. Someone in the mould of Scholes, Xavi, Pirlo etc. Of course we're not going to get anyone as good but I'm reading too much here about all rounders. We lack that guy who can control things from the centre. Pogba but he's more of a mix between creativity, flair and power rather than someone who controls the game and links everyone up. The difference between how scholes brought everyone together was entirely different. Pogba, whilst excellent, is more about showcasing his own skill. He doesn't run the engine nor string every piece together to make it whole.
All the team sucked at the beginning of the season, even Buffon and the defenders
And Pogba's best game that season ( Bayern ) was without Marchisio.
In fact, Pogba played more than half the season without Claudio who missed a lot of games and he was still great
And the setup wasn't the same, Bonucci was the DLP and Pogba played higher on the pitch because Khedira plays way deeper than Vidal ( especially the Vidal 2011-2015 ).
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He's not a DM right now.... Matic started off being a AM as well. It's not difficult to transition. The other thing, If I were to coach united. I would have a revolving 3 midfield where two go up and the other remains behind to protect the back 4. it doesn't need to be Savic the whole time. All three of them are pretty dynamic.
Nice idea, but this doesn't work in practice.
Also 'it's not difficult to transition' is a rather odd statement, considering they are largely completely different roles build around completely different facets of the game (attacking & defending).
You appear to be using one player as evidence that every player can make this transition. In reality, it rarely happens that an offensive-minded player is able to become a sitting defensive midfielder.
I completely agree but Matic and Scholes to name a few made the transition. He makes long passes from the deep with ease and he's great at ball retention and distribution which is essentially what we need in a DM. Yes, he's offensive minded but that's where we would expect one of the three midfielders to remain behind to protect the back 4 if one goes on surging run forward.
Jose has scouted him!!!
All for signing another Serbian
How do you know Mourinho scouted him? Although I would be very happy if that was the case.
He's a big fecker, that's for sure.