Solutions for DM if we don’t sign a new player

[IrishRedDevil]

Ideally we would buy a specialist DM, but I think we will have to wait until next summer, so I have been thinking about in-house solutions.

I made the suggestion in a few threads to gauge thoughts and a few have entertained the idea.


The suggestion was Tuanzebe to partner Maguire, with Lindelof as the defensive midfielder:

W.Bissaka Tuanzebe Maguire Shaw
————————-—Lindelof


A few countered the suggestion and said Tuanzebe would be better in midfield:

W.Bissaka Lindelof Maguire Shaw
———————-—Tuanzebe .


Is anyone of these viable options to be able to move Matic to the bench?

Cant get much worse than Matic...

I think that's an interesting idea but actually the wrong way around, I think Tuanzebe would make a good half-back in a 4-3-3 and Lindelof is better left at CB.

You mean Matic which we saw against Milan? Yes, in this case your proposal is actually not the worst solution

Interesting. Just stopped by this thread to say this. Another option would be to play Axel as DM. He looks solid with the ball at his feet. Anything to keep Matic out...

Interesting idea

I think so.

Maybe we move him there as a last resort if we get no one? Can Smalling and the newly acquired Slabhead do the CB duties effectively if we steal Victor?

 

[Jacob]

No more playing people out of position please. McT is better than both of them there. Still hoping we can sign Longstaff.

 

[IrishRedDevil]

No. No more playing people out of position. McT is better than both of them there.

McTominay isn’t a DM. Ole has said he is a No.8 (box to box).

 

[Skills]

Just play Fred there.

 

[kps88]

McTominay/Fred-Pogba with Matic on the bench.

 

[Jacob]

McTominay isn’t a DM. Ole has said he is a No.8 (box to box).

8 to DM is far easier than 4 to DM though. In fact, I rather have Fred there.

 

[Marcelinho87]

What happened to Fosuh Mensah? Sure he could play DM at one point?

If not, I wouldn't be against throwing Garner in there.

 

[Crashoutcassius]

We will play a double pivot so no need

 

[Jazz]

Good thread. It's actually very important this. Can't believe the club has not addressed this issue.

We will see as we go on throughout the season how important this is. So it seems we won't buy anyone for this position and in that case what scenario would you prefer:

1) Continue playing old man Matic where it's obvious he's completely done physically?

Or

2) Try young Lindelof, who is not ideal, but who has some good attributes for that position?

Edit - other more expert opinions welcome.

 

[2 man midfield]

Just start McTominay, he's been great. Use Matic only in the case of absolute emergency, like the entire squad being sectioned under the mental health act.

 

[Jazz]

Just start McTominay, he's been great. Use Matic only in the case of absolute emergency, like the entire squad being sectioned under the mental health act.

 

[Ace of Spades]

We will play a double pivot so no need

This. We will be fine as long as we don't play Matic, and get a better 10. A player like Fernandes should be a priority in this system.

 

[K13]

Matic has always taken a few games to reach his peak level just like Carrick.

He got more minutes yesterday and the coaching staff who see him every day seem happy with him otherwise he would not have started. He is a class player and I am not ready to throw in the towel just because he has not peaked in pre-season.

 

[izec]

How about a back 5 with 2 cms in front

Obviously the 3 CBs being Lindelöf, Maguire and Tuanzebe

 

[Fosu-Mens]

McTominay.

The biggest issue is that we lack two CM/CDMs that should start, and Pogba should play higher up in a 4-2-3-1.

 

[2cents]

Matic has always taken a few games to reach his peak level just like Carrick.

He got more minutes yesterday and the coaching staff who see him every day seem happy with him otherwise he would not have started. He is a class player and I am not ready to throw in the towel just because he has not peaked in pre-season.

People here aren’t just basing their assessment of Matic on yesterday. We’ve watched him steadily deteriorate for two years now.

 

[LuisNaniencia]

Say what you will about Matic, he would be much better than Lindelof or Axel at DM.

 

[Billy Jim]

It wouldn't work. It's a completely different position with completely different demands and skillsets.

While Lindelof may be able to win the ball back and get around people, the ability to actually receive and pass the ball in midfield - even when you only need to pop it off a few yards to your left or right - is incredibly specialist. Perhaps the odd game where we want a specific man-marking job on a big man it could "do a job", but it's insane to think that would actually work as a season-long solution. You might as well put Phil Jones there since he has some actual experience in the position.

 

[M Bison]

Wasn’t Axel’s first game in the first team at CM under LVG?

 

[Catt]

Couldn't McT develop in this role or would he actually excel more in a box to box?

 

[redIndianDevil]

Tuanzebe, Lindelof are joke suggestions, they would absolutely stink the place out or do something even worse by being absolutely average. Our biggest problem has been moving the ball from defence to offence without hoofing it up and when you put in another player who is even crap at passing than Matic then you are making it even worse.

 

[settembrini]

McTominay and Fred should both be given chances to play in the double pivot alongside Pogba.

 

[witchtrials]

McTominay isn’t a DM. Ole has said he is a No.8 (box to box).

And Lindelof isn't a midfielder - I'm sure if you asked Solskjaer he would tell you that he's a centre back. But isn't the whole point of your thread to talk about who we could press into service in deep midfield even though it's not their specialist role?

 

[Ole’s Wheel]

McTominay/Fred/Matic for this season.


DM (likewise RW) will be acquired next summer as we prioritized other positions this summer.

 

[Gopher Brown]

Centre backs in midfield always look incredibly awkward and lack the passing range which would develop if playing as a midfielder for a long time.

I suppose the club think Matic will do for another season and we had more pressing concerns, but we had concerns everywhere.

 

[Murder on Zidane's Floor]

Just start McTominay, he's been great. Use Matic only in the case of absolute emergency, like the entire squad being sectioned under the mental health act.

Great The Thick Of It quote!

 

[SirAF]

Couldn't McT develop in this role or would he actually excel more in a box to box?

It’s definitely better than using a CB in midfield.

 

[RkkMan]

Matic has always taken a few games to reach his peak level just like Carrick.

He got more minutes yesterday and the coaching staff who see him every day seem happy with him otherwise he would not have started. He is a class player and I am not ready to throw in the towel just because he has not peaked in pre-season.

He's been on a sharp decline since last season though and his robust style of play suggests he's only gonna get worse
Also never compare him to Carrick again who was miles better even at 34/35

 

[Spaghetti]

I think Matic can still do a job with a reduced role, there’s still hope for Fred too.

I don’t think Tuanzebe would be the solution to this position, but McT has played CB as well and I think he has the discipline to develop in this role - the only problem is that he has progressed so much attacking-wise in the last 12 months that it would be a shame to take away what he offers going forward.

Personally, I would rotate Matic and Fred for the first half of the season and see how it goes. Is Garner a DM? I quite liked the short glimpses that I saw of him.

 

[ManchesterYoda]

Phil Jones

 

[meamth]

DM as in Deeplying playmaker (Carrick type), or Ball winning DM (Kante, Ndidi)?

seems like we're only stuck with the Carrick type, and none of our current players can play that role now.

 

[witchtrials]

McTominay and Fred should both be given chances to play in the double pivot alongside Pogba.

Don't think I'd have much faith in us holding on to the ball with a two man midfield of Fred and Pogba.

 

[K13]

People here aren’t just basing their assessment of Matic on yesterday. We’ve watched him steadily deteriorate for two years now.

I just think we have had a very dysfunctional midfield, one where even the class talent of Pogba is questioned.

If there is a physical deterioration then with the brutal pre-season regime you would have expected injuries but he seems to have come through it all.

I personally think there have been some very good performances from him in the last 2 seasons. He played 49 times for us in our European and 2nd place season 2017-18. Last season was not great for any player but he still had a few really good games.

We have had a really good physical pre-season, the signs are good and it was only a pre-season game.

 

[Snuffkin]

Say what you will about Matic, he would be much better than Lindelof or Axel at DM.

Aye he's bloody good.
Just not a lunatic-over-commit-type of player. Breath of fresh air.

 

[K13]

He's been on a sharp decline since last season though and his robust style of play suggests he's only gonna get worse
Also never compare him to Carrick again who was miles better even at 34/35

Every one of our players physically declined last season. That is what happens when you don't do much pre-season training. You have no base fitness to get you through the long slog.

If I want to compare him to Carrick to suggest he is a slow starter to the season/needs a few games to get into his stride then I will do.

 

[TwoSheds]

If the midfield and forwards around him have proper legs then I don't think Matic will have an issue, he'll struggle properly when there are other lumbering oafs around him. For example, I think he'd be fine with the players below:

Back 5
Matic
McT Pogba
Rashford Martial James

Or

Back 5
Matic Pogba
Rashford Lingard James
Martial

This on the other hand would be mental:

Matic Pogba
Pereira Mata Martial
Rashford

 

[The Irish Connection]

Fred would be better than Matic at this stage. Fred is more mobile and a quicker passer. Alright he looks liable to lose the ball sometimes in dangerous areas but Matic also looks to have that in him now. Longstaff would be nice but can’t see it now.

 

[SER19]

Maguire will be the biggest scapegoat in football history if thrown in behind our midfield

 

[Kostov]

McTominay should get proper chance to stake his claim as a starting CDM before thinking of playing a CB there. I'd also rather play Garner then playing any of Lindelof, Tuanzebe or Jones. And no not Fred, he is not a reliable player to give him such a role imo.

 

[Onerealunited]

If not Matic then the pecking order of players for the positions should be McT, Fred, Garner