PSG wanting to get rid is fishy, their CMs bar Wijnaldum/Verrati are either really young or bang average. How is 32y old Herrera not a gamble? He also earns more than all our midfielders with the exception of Pogba, we'd be taking over his high waves for at least 3 years.
The re-signing of Ander Herrera
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik and Imran hold a long overdue conversation about United's awful league form with 1 win in 7. They discuss a disappointing draw at Bournemouth, a not so disappointing draw against Liverpool and a crushing defeat at Chelsea - Is time nearly over for Erik Ten Hag?
Then in a special second half of the pod, Nik welcomes Natalie ( https://twitter.com/natalie_17) to discuss the fortunes of Manchester United Women as they booked a place in the FA Cup Final after a historic first ever win vs. Chelsea.
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Thats pretty specific.
Loved Herrera when he was here but it doesn't feel like a backwards step to bring him back at 31. His wages are obscene too. Unless we get him on loan with PSG covering some of his wages then it's a 'No' from me.
Reportedly more than Pogba. Pogba is on £290k whereas Herrera was rumoured to be in £300k-350k territory because he was a free agent.
Guardian: Herrera earning close to £350k at PSG
Unless he signs before Saturday he'd be coming back at 32, not 31. He's an experienced player but his best days are behind him and he was never even amazing in his prime. Having Matic and 33 and Herrera at 32 in MF seems regressive rather than progressive.
The sad thing about it was it actually made him a more effective player, the two touch footballer he was before was just a bit of a nothing for me.
Still made me cringe watching how hated he'd made himself on the field.
And I will stress again the fact he was people's best player during a couple of seasons tells you how far we'd fallen, he was so bloody average and has proven that at PSG where he looked so out of his depth in some of their Champions League games.
Yes it is. You have a very low bar on what it takes to be an absolute legend at United
He was overrated but still better than Fred.
I'd take him on a free at reasonable wages or for a loan with PSG covering some of the fee. Can provide cover in CM and right back.
Not as a long term solution or any sort of investment though.
Not as a long term solution or any sort of investment though.
Wouldn’t you be better spending some of next season’s budget on De Jong now? Barca look like they might have to sell the closer they get to the end of the window. He’d take you close to complete. Orspend a lot less than that on Tchoumeini? His wages would be reasonable. Herrera was decent and had a few very good games but not really one to bring back.
Loan only if we’re done financially
Nah, I wouldn't have him back.
Fred absolutely demolishes Herrera in terms of consistency towards being an important player to a team.
Such an overrated player living life on his diving performances vs Hazard.
If PSG was offered the chance to swap Fred for Herrera I'm sure it would happen. Only United fans would swap Herrera for Fred.
Such an overrated player living life on his diving performances vs Hazard.
If PSG was offered the chance to swap Fred for Herrera I'm sure it would happen. Only United fans would swap Herrera for Fred.
Don't be daft. McFred already do everything he used to do.
Nothing against Ander... But I saw the thread title and first question that comes to mind is... "Why??"
Wasn't remotely bothered when he walked out for the oil money in Paris, two years older now and I wouldn't be interested in having him back.
I'd be pissed off if Ole brought hin back to the club. Not what we need, average player who is over the hill. And he declined to stay at United so he can get lost.
it was obviously tongue in cheek ffs, some people just love an online argument over nothing
would be a terrible decision as we would be basically helping them free up their wage bill to potentially sign pogba on a free
Don't get angry at United/Ole over something that clearly wont happen.
He's not a bad player but our midfield needs improving and adding him doesn't do that, he'll just keep us at the same level.
Yes please
Not a bad player for us, had some very good games, let's not reinvent history and make out that he didn't. He lacked quality for a Spanish midfielder but made up for it with other attributes and was fairly reliable.
The problem is everything that he brought I would argue Fred does to a higher standard. Fred has endless energy, presses relentlessly, can win the ball and play the simple passes.
So Herrera would just be a body for us, and quite a costly one. He wouldn't do anything to bring our passing up a level, or offer a stable base in midfield. He's just not that type of player.
The problem is everything that he brought I would argue Fred does to a higher standard. Fred has endless energy, presses relentlessly, can win the ball and play the simple passes.
So Herrera would just be a body for us, and quite a costly one. He wouldn't do anything to bring our passing up a level, or offer a stable base in midfield. He's just not that type of player.
When McTominay scored that goal against West Ham he entered the game in the 73rd and was expected to add something to the attack. Fred sat back and McTominay came on for Matic. For me both McTominay and Herrera play(ed) similar roles for united for similarly long periods.
Herrera was better at balancing his defensive and attacking responsibilities as a number 8. Under Mourinho I'll agree he was less of a number 8 and expected to be more defensive, less explosive and mobile.
That West Ham goal is very much a standard type of goal McTominay scores (ghosting into the box, a header off a set piece or edge of the box goal are his types). If he was a better number 8 he'd be getting into those positions more often. He's given freedom to
McTominay is never entrusted with playing as the deepest midfielder. Maybe you can point to a few examples where he actually was deployed as such from the start? Fred is always deeper, and he won 2.7 tackles per 90 in the PL last season to McTominay's 1.6.
Fred also had 1.5 interceptions to McTominay's 0.9 in the same competition. Passing wise Fred attempted 60.2 a game to McTominay's 40.6. How is a player suited to number 6 constantly attempting the least passes out of midfield? It's almost impossible actually, unless the player is hiding. Fred takes those deep lying responsibilities more often, and he's seemingly preferred to do it over McTominay.
McTominay is expected to be the box to box player with possession and a basic disrupter off it when helping with the press.
He's just not very good at being a number 8 and thrives in the simple role of harassing opposition players in possession. This is why his best performances come against big clubs that keep possession because he can focus more on that role
It's not a simple matter of him 'carefully' picking when to go forward, he's expected to (his goals last season from open play were similar to the West Ham goal), it's merely his poor positioning, poor reading of the game, not picking the right times to make forward runs/join the attack and reluctance to make himself available for the ball that lets him down. I don't think he has absolute confidence in his own on-the-ball and passing abilities. It's one reason why so many in matchday threads often mention him going missing in certain games
He will try and compensate with energetically running like a headless chicken a few times per game and it will be received with cheers and applause here despite those runs seldom ever being productive, like the EL final. All workrate and energy, zero game changing quality.
He mostly clatters into players, wins fouls here or there, but hardly ever provides genuine quality going forward despite being given the freedom to do so when the moment fits. He's a poor number 8, never a 6
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Good catch on the West Ham game.
I made a claim that Herrera scored more for us early on because of a difference in tactics. I recalled Ander taking a lot of shots from outside the box and some lovely combinations with Mata in the box.
If you look at his heatmaps in the first 2 seasons, you can see him having a lot of touches constantly outside the box in his first season. In his second season he's all over the place, even near the corner flags. Compare it to McTominay, and also take if into account Scott is always in the box on set pieces. Now of course the 10 assists in the 3rd Herrera season when he started playing deeper are a result of him being a much better passer than McTominay.
The other thing I said was that Pogba wasn't played next to McTominay to help him defend (as claimed by @Ekeke). That palace game we lost (where Donny scored) was a good example. McTominay was there to shield the defense, Bruno played very far forward and Pogba basically had drop to pick up the ball, make something happen and score on the other end of the pitch. Not really a defensive job to "help" McTominay if you ask me.
All the other stuff you're saying about Fred-McTominay wasn't really the topic of the conversation.
I reckon the midfield restructure is something that needs to be taken up once Pogba's future becomes clearer, likely next season.
I remember that line being trotted out ad nauseam for Di Maria. I can never see the value of pointing to a single game in that way, it tells you nothing.
He was a very good player under LVG and had half a good season under Mourinho.
Seemed to lose something after that. Went from being a workhorse with a bit of skill and class, to some kind of 90s midtable just run about kicking things regardless of whether its the ball or someone's leg, type player.
Seemed to lose something after that. Went from being a workhorse with a bit of skill and class, to some kind of 90s midtable just run about kicking things regardless of whether its the ball or someone's leg, type player.
I loved Ander but we need to be looking forward not back.
We don't need squad depth - we need specialists. Ander did put up some good stats if I remember correctly in terms of interceptions and tackles per game.
A deep lying playmaker/defensive midfield player should be the next signing rather than an all rounder like Ander even on a short term basis.
As someone posted earlier I'd be trying to get a young player and pay over a number of years.
De Jong would be great but have you seen his wages.... think he was on something like 450k a week at Barca
We don't need squad depth - we need specialists. Ander did put up some good stats if I remember correctly in terms of interceptions and tackles per game.
A deep lying playmaker/defensive midfield player should be the next signing rather than an all rounder like Ander even on a short term basis.
As someone posted earlier I'd be trying to get a young player and pay over a number of years.
De Jong would be great but have you seen his wages.... think he was on something like 450k a week at Barca
The Herrera ship has sailed.
United's squad are in the best shape since Sir Alex left. To progress further we need to focus on much better players going further.
United's squad are in the best shape since Sir Alex left. To progress further we need to focus on much better players going further.
De Jong would be my choice as well. I would think Barca could be persuaded with a good offer due to their financial meltdown.
Di Maria who has done very well for a team that has got to the latter stages of the champions league and won the copa america over Fred's Brazil?
No He’s not
Of course he is, Fred can only play one position on the pitch and that's next to someone like Scott. Herrera run around same as Fred, but far more effective considering he knew how to play defensive midfielder too with two more attacking midfielders next to him. He scored more goals than Fred, and was more creative.
Fred is a better playmaker in the middle of the field than Herrera is/was. Herrera is better in the attacking third and defensive third though. Overall they are fairly even and which one is better depends on what your team needs. I'd hate to see Herrera try to play next to Scott for instance (speaking of which, not sure why you say Fred can only play next to someone like him).
His games always been based on high energy and mobility.
He's just turned 32 and is quite injury prone also. Don't want.
He's just turned 32 and is quite injury prone also. Don't want.
Didn't Herrera play in front of Carrick and Matic for most of his time here?
No thanks!
Why would Ole sign him now when he let him go in the first place?
Ole didn't really 'let him go'. He'd only just taken over as caretaker when Herrera's was able to start talking to other clubs, and by all accounts once Ole was settled in the role he wanted Herrera to sign a new contract but he was annoyed the club had waited so long and already had PSG's offer on the table.
This is actually a thread, is it? Wow 
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