What is the best way to line up our midfield with our current players?

[Kag]

With McTominay and Fred in a two. Which is hilarious considering that neither of them are up to the required standard in a team looking to win titles.

But they can run around, intercepts balls and actually do a few midfieldery things so that’ll have to do for now.

Bruno should play ahead of them and Pogba should play as part of the attack; it’s by far his best position.

 

[Godfather]

Greenwood for Sancho and that's our starting 11 for now.

This. And it can't really be argued differently

 

[TheReligion]

Despite my excitement with Ronaldo and the rest of our summer signings being quality I must admit I'm a bit frustrated with Ole and the coaching staff for still not having this nailed down.

We really did need that defensive midfield sitting player.

 

[Lewnited]

I don't at all expect to see it, but we have a near enough perfect set of players for a midfield diamond right now.

De Gea

AWB
Varane
Maguire
Shaw

Matic
McTominay
Pogba
Bruno

Greenwood
Ronaldo

• Ronaldo and Greenwood both operating in 'wide striker' roles, which I think suits the both of them the most
• Bruno able to push up in to the #9 position without leaving the midfield completely void
• McTominay and Pogba both able to use their ball carrying ability from deep, and in wide areas if necessary
• Matic to hold at the base of midfield

 

[caid]

One more for McFred.
Play 4-3-3 with only one of them when we can get away with it, losing the midfield battle doesn't mean we have to lose the match.
3-5-2 is an option but not a great one when you wind up with Dalot and Lindelof in your first team. Injury crisis or for a one off match, It is good to have the option at least though.

 

[Pexbo]

De Gea
_____ - Varane - Maguire - Shaw


Greenwood - Bruno - Pogba - Sancho
Cavani - Ronaldo - Rashford​

 

[LoneStar]

De Gea
_____ - Varane - Maguire - Shaw


Greenwood - Bruno - Pogba - Sancho
Cavani - Ronaldo - Rashford​

Ah yes, the 10-6 team

 

[Devil may care]

It'll just be McFred, we won't win anything of note but we'll easily get top 4 with those 2 just running around in midfield being a nuisance. It's going to be tricky when Rashford returns though as we'll get fecked up trying to play Pogba in a 2 with either of McFred, Ole is going to have to keep one of Rashford or Pogba on the bench to maintain the balance.

 

[Pexbo]

It'll just be McFred, we won't win anything of note but we'll easily get top 4 with those 2 just running around in midfield being a nuisance. It's going to be tricky when Rashford returns though as we'll get fecked up trying to play Pogba in a 2 with either of McFred, Ole is going to have to keep one of Rashford or Pogba on the bench to maintain the balance.

I actually think it’ll just be McTominay for most of the lesser teams. He’s quick, strong, tall, very good engine, combative, carries the ball well and his passing is good enough.

 

[Devil may care]

I actually think it’ll just be McTominay for most of the lesser teams. He’s quick, strong, tall, very good engine, combative, carries the ball well and his passing is good enough.

His passing is below average and while he runs around and competes he's positionally poor, leaving him alone with Pogba and Bruno just to shoehorn in Rashford will be suicidal, any half decent midfield will overrun us. McFred is crap but at least between the 2 of them they can keep the backdoor closed most of the time.

 

[Ollie Derbyshire]

I don't think DvB is suited to that role. It would just be like putting Fred with Pogba all over again.

But we get to push Pogba further forward where he is more effective.

 

[BeforeKeanetherewasRobson]

It's looking like we won't sign anyone else this window, which is fair given our incoming players so far.

Assuming we need to make do with our current squad, what's the best tactics or formation to get the best of this team?

1. Continue with McFred - we have enough threat and creativity among the front 4 to sort of make this work. And they have been decent against most teams, and good against the top teams. This is the most likely scenario.
2. 433 with one of Fred or McTominay holding - this is likely to cause us to lose the midfield battle, and also makes it easy for opposition to run through it. But this would likely give DVB a better chance of playing along with one of Bruno or Pogba. And effectively rotating Fred and McTominay would ensure we don't collapse if one of them get injured.
3. Change of formation - If we play a back 3, we might be able to play Pogba and one of McFred as the midfield 2. We have enough CBs to make this happen. Major concern is AWB not being good offensively would hindee this a lot.

What do you guys this is the most balanced starting 11 against a) top teams b) rest of the matches?

Bit like this one?

https://www.redcafe.net/threads/with-ronaldo-how-do-we-line-up.465057/

 

[Andycoleno9]

433 with Vdb as no6 and Pogba and Bruno as two creative no8.

 

[sp_107]

----------------Ronaldo --------Cavani----------------
--------------------------Bruno--------------------------------
---Rashford--- Fred---McTominay-----Sancho----
--------Shaw-----Maguire-------- Varane ----------------
-------------------------DeGea ------------------------------------

With Martial/Pogba/Greenwood coming from Bench

Does it work?

 

[Leftback99]

It's McFred, otherwise the side is completely unbalanced. We also surely have to try get a tune out of Van de Beek by giving him a chance there in some 'easier' games.

We also now don't have the option of Dan James to balance up the defensive side in bigger games.

Feels a big gamble going into the season like this.

 

[RooneyLegend]

Pogba-Fred-McT-Sancho

 

[RooneyLegend]

It's McFred, otherwise the side is completely unbalanced. We also surely have to try get a tune out of Van de Beek by giving him a chance there in some 'easier' games.

We also now don't have the option of Dan James to balance up the defensive side in bigger games.

Feels a big gamble going into the season like this.

Given how we did in the bigger games a new approach is welcome.

 

[jamesjimmybyrondean]

Leaves a sour taste knowing we'd have to rely on McFred.

 

[Real Name]

McTominay as 6 and Bruno and Pogba as 8s for easier games and McFred for tougher. Matić can step in when needed and VDB too if Ole will discover him.

 

[LawCharltonBest]

Best chance we have of having an elite midfield is Donny Van De Beek nailing down a CM role next to Scott McTominay and finding some consistency.

I know there’s a player in there we haven’t seen who is capable of being very very good.

Fred will never be good enough. When Matic plays poorly, he plays very poorly.

 

[jesperjaap]

I know its probably madness but how about:

Cavani at 9
Ronaldo at 10
Bruno dropping back as box to box CM

Bruno has played there before and has the heart for it

I liked the idea of this....but again, there is nobody trust enough defensively to play alongside him. For me it doesnt matter what option we do, the failure to sign a central midfielder this summer is going to be costly

 

[stevoc]

I can’t understand why people want to play back 5 when the back 4 was great on Sunday and one of the reasons we bought Varane to sure up defence.

And there’s no way we spent £75m on Sancho to not start him..

Yeah it's nuts having an extra centre back isn't going to magically fix our midfield.

And I don't see the logic of dropping one of Sancho/Rashford/Greenwood to shoehorn Lindelof into the line-up.

Some people just have this weird obsession with 3 at the back formations I suppose.

 

[Sean_RedDevil]

Wan-Bissaka as RWB

 

[Brightonian]

There is no one answer to this. It depends on the opponent. I certainly don't see a set-up that's so good and balanced it satisfies every requirement.

My only request would be that Matic basically doesn't play outside of cup games. He's done. Slim chance, I know, since Ole's been singing his praises in pre-season.

 

[He'sRaldo]

I don't at all expect to see it, but we have a near enough perfect set of players for a midfield diamond right now.

De Gea

AWB
Varane
Maguire
Shaw

Matic
McTominay
Pogba
Bruno

Greenwood
Ronaldo

• Ronaldo and Greenwood both operating in 'wide striker' roles, which I think suits the both of them the most
• Bruno able to push up in to the #9 position without leaving the midfield completely void
• McTominay and Pogba both able to use their ball carrying ability from deep, and in wide areas if necessary
• Matic to hold at the base of midfield

Yup my thoughts exactly. It helps that when Real stormed to 3 CLs with Ronaldo putting in top performances, they played a diamond.

But like you said, I doubt we're going to see it. I reckon the closest we'll get is a diamond-ish shape (Pogba on the left, Ronaldo peeling wide) within the confines of a 4-2-3-1.

 

[RedIan]

I’m bitterly disappointed we havent addressed our midfield deficiencies - Everyman and his dog talks about it yet its ignored..

for me strengthening priority should have been midfield - then centre half then right wing in that order.

We addressed right wing with sancho but greenwood was filling that role very well. We addressed centre half with Varane, he looks class but we had options. Our midfield holding players are just pants, mid table level - we badly need someone who can sit and control/dictate play, a scholes, carrick type player..

im delighted Ronaldo is back our options upfront now overflow…. but the heart beat of any championship team Is midfield. Control midfield control the game.

 

[croadyman]

I’m bitterly disappointed we havent addressed our midfield deficiencies - Everyman and his dog talks about it yet its ignored..

for me strengthening priority should have been midfield - then centre half then right wing in that order.

We addressed right wing with sancho but greenwood was filling that role very well. We addressed centre half with Varane, he looks class but we had options. Our midfield holding players are just pants, mid table level - we badly need someone who can sit and control/dictate play, a scholes, carrick type player..

im delighted Ronaldo is back our options upfront now overflow…. but the heart beat of any championship team Is midfield. Control midfield control the game.

Yeah bang on and should send those words to Ole who clearly doesn't seem to see the benefit of that

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

McFred with Bruno or Pogba ahead of them for the big games probably.

McTominay or Fred with both Pogba/Bruno ahead of them for the lesser teams.

 

[sincher]

It probably is McTominay and Fred, even though logically it should surely be Someone and Pogba. I would love to see Van de Beek given a run. I feel like he just seems to lack the energy but maybe if he was fully fit it could work, especially with McTominay next to him. Would certainly pass better than Fred.

Insane as it might sound I sometimes think Bruno is kinda the problem. A 3 with VDB right, McTominay in the middle and Pogba left would work really well I think, especially with Sancho and Rashford offering pace on the flanks. Bruno is fantastic of course but he plays like a striker sometimes and it can leave us short. Playing Pogba on the left was one way to address it but we miss the pace Rashford brings from that position.

 

[croadyman]

It probably is McTominay and Fred, even though logically it should surely be Someone and Pogba. I would love to see Van de Beek given a run as a 6. I feel like he just seems to lack the energy but maybe if he was fully fit it could work, especially with McTominay next to him. Would certainly pass better than Fred.

Insane as it might sound I sometimes think Bruno is kinda the problem. A 3 with VDB right, McTominay in the middle and Pogba left would work really well I think, especially with Sancho and Rashford offering pace on the flanks. Bruno is fantastic of course but he plays like a striker sometimes and it can leave us short.

Well apparently he went on a fitness thing during the summer and bulked up to cope with rigours of the league, unfortunately it hasn't made a blind bit of difference as he still cannot win Ole over no matter what he does in these cameos

 

[sincher]

but the heart beat of any championship team Is midfield. Control midfield control the game.

...and some might say we have Championship players to play there

 

[sincher]

Well apparently he went on a fitness thing during the summer and bulked up to cope with rigours of the league, unfortunately it hasn't made a blind bit of difference as he still cannot win Ole over no matter what he does in these cameos

He will get a chance at some point, maybe even against Newcastle. Needs to take it!

 

[Trequarista10]

Pogba - McTominay, with Bruno dropping deeper when the opposition are controlling the midfield. Is solid enough against most opposition. McTominay has some progress to make but we need to start demanding more from him. He has to be able to protect the back four and be more assertive playing out from the back. Similar players to him began to adapt these facets to their game around his age, Fletcher, Henderson as examples.

Bringing in Fred or a third CB solidifies us but it means we lose one of the front 3 - which is our most stacked and quality positions with Ronaldo, Cavani, Mason, Rashford, Sancho and Martial (and Pogba if he's a played from the left) ...currently teams are scared of our threat on the break and quick transitions, we can't afford to sacrifice that.

 

[croadyman]

He will get a chance at some point, maybe even against Newcastle. Needs to take it!

I want to believe that so much but the evidence so far isn't good

 

[Zoo]

Well apparently he went on a fitness thing during the summer and bulked up to cope with rigours of the league, unfortunately it hasn't made a blind bit of difference as he still cannot win Ole over no matter what he does in these cameos

We’ve only played 3 games. Everyone needs to hang in there for a bit longer

 

[croadyman]

We’ve only played 3 games. Everyone needs to hang in there for a bit longer

Would love him to link up well with Ronny (passing through balls) and maybe then Ole would have something to think about

 

[OrcaFat]

McFred with Pogba playing LAM, dropping deeper as required. The team usually looks pretty good when we set up that way. It’s the lesser of the evils anyway.

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

McFred with Pogba playing LAM, dropping deeper as required. The team usually looks pretty good when we set up that way. It’s the lesser of the evils anyway.

So you want to bench Rashford then?

Our best attacker the past 2 seasons(discounting Bruno).

 

[OrcaFat]

So you want to bench Rashford then?

Our best attacker the past 2 seasons(discounting Bruno).

Do you want to bench him?

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

Do you want to bench him?

No I wouldn't. I think if everyone is fit, Rashford is still our best option from the left in most games.