They did...very much so. I don't think anyone can argue against that.
You are right to an extent. The system we play with often 2 in the middle and 2 wingers is very rare abroad. Therefore the vast majority of the players we will be looking at, are used to playing in far more compact, centrally based systems.
Yeah, I didn't realise that marjen was intentionally giving lazy arguments in response, I was under the impression that he thought a) and b) were solid arguments that dismissed Twig's as being lazy.
Now, Diame isn't the only player who can play like Diame; he might be the cheapest and the most readily available, but there are others. Why SAF doesn't just bite the bullet and take a punt on a physical, box-to-box general midfielder is anyone's guess; he claims that it's difficult finding the right player, which is fair enough, but that doesn't mean that you just don't bother trying; a difficult task is made infinitely more difficult if you're only going to attempt it once a decade.
Another good post.
The sale of Nani, Bebe and Macheda should give us ample budget and would leave ample room on the wage budget.
Awful post. The form of Van Persie has been more to do with us winning games consistently than our midfield this year, which has been mostly dire all season. Have Carrick, Cleverley, Fletcher, Scholes, Jones and Anderson actually managed more than 5 assists between them? I doubt it. Have they prevented us from conceding loads of goals? Nope. We compete for the biggest trophies because our wingers and strikers are so good, most teams in the premiership cannot handle them, or do not know how to. When they do, we get bummed (Europe last year).
Carrick, Cleverley and Anderson are all very good options, but as has been said time and time again, the latter two are hugely injury prone, and then a gaping hole appears.
This is a very good point. It's difficult to criticise the tactics of any team who scores 2+ goals in almost every game they play, winning all but a scant few of them.
So you criticise our midfielders not getting enough assists, but then suggest that our wingers and strikers are so good we get a lot of goals through them.
It's almost like... that's the plan for our team.
And you don't think this team could be massively improved by having another option other than lump it to the wings every minute? There's a reason our team plays miles better with an Anderson playing. He's possibly our only creative midfielder who offers something a lot more than just passing it to the wingers all game.
So you criticise our midfielders not getting enough assists, but then suggest that our wingers and strikers are so good we get a lot of goals through them.
It's almost like... that's the plan for our team.
I think there has been an argument for a while that we are walked through far too often in the centre of the park...which puts our defence under more pressure.
We've scored 2.5 goals a game this year in the prem. (scored plenty in the CL and COC as well, but I can't be bothered to compare the averages for these)
Very good post Cider, it sums up a lot of my feelings, in a less harsh way.
Jones was preparing to come on before the 4th if memory serves. Sub was delayed though.
So you'd rather a 38yo Paul Scholes who'll be gone after next season if he does stay rather than a 28yo Darren Fletcher who could potentially come back to somewhere near his past self and be an option to start games?
I know absolutely nothing about this condition he has other than what I have read on here. But based on that, I am lead to believe the chances of him getting back to that level are very, very slim.
I'm not expecting him to be getting to where people were saying he's a world class player. I'm hopeful he'll reach the option where he'd be a regular starter for a top half of the table side and good enough to be a squad player for us. The days of him being a regular starter are slim to none.
People were crying out for us to make plenty of chances and play attractive football actually. not just 'gung ho'.
I don't think he does; he has had money to spend and there have been many central midfielders transferred in the last couple of years that were attainable and would have improved our first team, not to mention our squad!
Agree with this but he could have strengthened these areas and that would have meant not purchasing other players in other areas so SAF has had to play the balancing act (we are not a Chelsea or City with unlimited funds) and the fact that we are top and doing well means to me that Fergie is getting the balance correct. I'm sure he will buy a centre mid when we can afford it. Be it with Scholes and Giggs retiring and freeing wages or when he sells others i.e. Nani.
Then in my opinion, he has prioritised the wrong purchases. Let's not forget he bought Bebe for 7mil, Young for 17mil and Buttner for 4mil all the while Montolivo was available on a free transfer.
Why exactly is Buttner mentioned in your post?
Yes and Young has been absolutely instrumental into us beating Chelsea/Man City and had a great game against Sunderland.
Because it wasn't a priority; don't send Fabio out on loan and rest Evra every now and then.
Fabio has been injured for the opening months, no Buttner, no rest
Well the fact is we are top of the league and still competitive so I think Fergie has got it spot on in this regard. Bebe was a poor purchase Young I'm not his biggest fan but he will turn out to be a good player for us. Buttner was cheap and we will recoup most of it if he doesn't shine while providing much needed back up. I would have liked us to sign Dembele and a few more but we didn't and its hard to take umbrage with Fergie as he is proving yet again that he knows best. (It's obvious we need a midfielder but looking at it retrospectively RVP was a far better signing than a £24m midfielder as he's propelled us into a very dangerous attacking team one which is not overly reliant on Rooney.)
