He was not very good in that position and I think I read somewhere he said he did not like that position
Who could do a job for United in the middle?
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Why do people think defenders are capable midfielders? I can remember Rio having a mare in midfield and he was far better than any of our current defenders. Maybe a youngster will get a go if we get a few injuries.
He rose through the Ajax ranks as a central midfielder and it was the 2017/18 season that he featured in 8 top flight games as a central midfielder. It was only until he got the call up for Morocco that he started at right back.
One of his abilities that I really admire is how comfortable he is stepping into the midfield from the RB position. It's this tactical flexability that Ruben pointed at:
| Rúben Amorim on Noussair Mazraoui:
"He can play as a midfielder also. So I think nowadays when we have a lot of games, a lot of competition, to have players that can do different positions is really important.
So he, more than anyone currently at United has the toolset to feature in the cm position if so required and do a decent job there.
None of them.
I remember that game, it was exciting to see his name on the team sheet but he was pony!
Mount, Mazraoui and Martinez should be tried there. Think they could all be useful.
In the current squad, shaw Martinez and mazroaui could operate as cdms
Bastian Schweinsteiger was a meh winger, an excellent central midfielder.
What a midfield that was, beating Arsenal as well.
Out of the current team I reckon Dorgu as a tough tackling ball carrier might be ok for an auxiliary option
Is that the famous lineup that upset young Pogba?
What a midfield that was, beating Arsenal as well.
Out of the current team I reckon Dorgu as a tough tackling ball carrier might be ok for an auxiliary option
Maz is the only answer.
Dalot doesn't have the football intelligence. Shaw and Martinez don't have the legs. Yoro doesn't have the agility, except as a pure DM.
Dalot doesn't have the football intelligence. Shaw and Martinez don't have the legs. Yoro doesn't have the agility, except as a pure DM.
I feel that was another game vs Blackburn
Dorgu's touch is not secure enough to play the position at this level. He would be a left footed Ugarte with even worse positional awareness.
What a midfield that was, beating Arsenal as well.
Out of the current team I reckon Dorgu as a tough tackling ball carrier might be ok for an auxiliary option
I remember 2005/6 season. He played O'Shea and Giggs for a while due to injuries. Alan smith was playing there at time to.
All the OP shouts are bad apart from Martinez. I bet he’d be good there. Never fit though is he.
Ji Sung Park
Jokes aside, Maz and Martinez are the only ones. Both played that role for Ajax but no idea if they were any good?
Jokes aside, Maz and Martinez are the only ones. Both played that role for Ajax but no idea if they were any good?
I remember Rio playing in midfield away to Wolves in a cup tie and everyone praising him. May have been not long after that where he had a mare and the experiment was dropped.
Start him you say?
I recall that dembele who was a striker at Fulham and spurs was converted to become an awesome midfielder in poch's spurs team.
Not sure you could do the same with Zirkzee could you? Like dembele, he's a big lad with a very good first touch and technically sound.
Spurs were never the same once Poch allowed dembele to leave. Helluva player for them.
Malacia is a tenacious player, you could convert him into a CDM potentially. Also mazroui you'd think could play there.
Not sure you could do the same with Zirkzee could you? Like dembele, he's a big lad with a very good first touch and technically sound.
Spurs were never the same once Poch allowed dembele to leave. Helluva player for them.
Malacia is a tenacious player, you could convert him into a CDM potentially. Also mazroui you'd think could play there.
Martinez once he returns is definitely the most suitable option having done it before with Ajax and having the passing range and athleticism.
More interested in seeing what comes of Kone. Any time we have a youth player on the cusp I start dreaming.
More interested in seeing what comes of Kone. Any time we have a youth player on the cusp I start dreaming.
Plus he would be a walking red card.
Mazraoui was a CM before ETH let him join the first team as a RB option almost right after he took over in january 2018 or something.
He wasn't always great when he did play CM again later, but with experience he seemed to have made several positions his own now, including his old favorite spot, so I can see him being a decent option in Amorim's system.
Licha was DM next to Alvarez in his first Ajax season and honestly pretty great there, basically replacing Frenkie as a more direct and very technical aggressive option there, but while I did really like him there, there was really something to put him next to Timber in CB and then having Alvarez as DM, but basically a 3CB in practice for a lot of the game. That way Licha could add almost the same offensively as he did as DM/CM, while using his aggression in charisma in the back to get a defensively very solid trio, that was also very creative and composed with having both of Timber and Licha there for build up and occassionally running forward, too. Made the De Ligt - Blind pairing look like average footballers, even if De Ligt was more of an imposing defensive force and Blind has his own way of composure and tactical intelligence, but it wasn't weird he basically turned into a LWB there, kind of a Shaw that gets to focus more on being an outlet and occasional playmaker options on the side.
So if Shaw and Heaven own the LCB more, and De Ligt does so for CCB, I think Licha could be a decent option in DM, but his skills also continues to make him a very nice option to keep in the back.
Maz could be an option if Ugarte keeps disappointing, to use his experience to play the 'cover' midfielder role.
Otherwise it gets difficult, perhaps Dalot could be a box to box type, but I can't imagine him improving over Ugarte there. Would basically be Plan F or something.
But amongst the current options I hope Amorim gives (continues to?) Mainoo a chance. And I guess I should also give Bruno and the team as a whole a chance to show "this" midfield works.
He wasn't always great when he did play CM again later, but with experience he seemed to have made several positions his own now, including his old favorite spot, so I can see him being a decent option in Amorim's system.
Licha was DM next to Alvarez in his first Ajax season and honestly pretty great there, basically replacing Frenkie as a more direct and very technical aggressive option there, but while I did really like him there, there was really something to put him next to Timber in CB and then having Alvarez as DM, but basically a 3CB in practice for a lot of the game. That way Licha could add almost the same offensively as he did as DM/CM, while using his aggression in charisma in the back to get a defensively very solid trio, that was also very creative and composed with having both of Timber and Licha there for build up and occassionally running forward, too. Made the De Ligt - Blind pairing look like average footballers, even if De Ligt was more of an imposing defensive force and Blind has his own way of composure and tactical intelligence, but it wasn't weird he basically turned into a LWB there, kind of a Shaw that gets to focus more on being an outlet and occasional playmaker options on the side.
So if Shaw and Heaven own the LCB more, and De Ligt does so for CCB, I think Licha could be a decent option in DM, but his skills also continues to make him a very nice option to keep in the back.
Maz could be an option if Ugarte keeps disappointing, to use his experience to play the 'cover' midfielder role.
Otherwise it gets difficult, perhaps Dalot could be a box to box type, but I can't imagine him improving over Ugarte there. Would basically be Plan F or something.
But amongst the current options I hope Amorim gives (continues to?) Mainoo a chance. And I guess I should also give Bruno and the team as a whole a chance to show "this" midfield works.
The correct answer is Amorim comes out of retirement and becomes a player-coach. Show how it's done.
Also +1 for Licha as DM
Also +1 for Licha as DM
Amad... lite Kante vibes. Small but hard to disposses.
With what we have right now I think the first choice by the end of the season will be Kobbie + someone, that someone being Bruno most of the time. I think Licha would be solid in that midfield too.
And you're saying this based on? He hasn't ever got a straight red card....
Not remembering the opponent but quite sure it had Fabio and Ji Sung Park in central midfield
Dembele was more energetic though. Otherwise interesting idea
Maz is the obvious one. I'd truthfully consider giving him a shot ahead of Ugarte.
Don’t be giving Ruben ideas don’t we have enough squares in round holes at the moment.
In couple years thou if we are still playing three at the back I expect Yoro to be middle of the three and have attributes to be able to play as old fashioned sweeper and be able to step into midfield if needed during plays.
In couple years thou if we are still playing three at the back I expect Yoro to be middle of the three and have attributes to be able to play as old fashioned sweeper and be able to step into midfield if needed during plays.
Maz first, then Licha...as stopgaps only. Ugarte hasn't graced us with brilliance yet but I'm not ready to give up on him for the rest of the season. He's not the only United who has been nowhere near the required level.
I actually prefer Maz as a RB and Licha is a LCB, as I trust most do here. Once they are fit and in form we might get sneak a few wins with Casemiro or Ugarte in the starting XI. It's all about next season, though, when we'll either bring Baleba or someone else ready to take on that responsibility.
I actually prefer Maz as a RB and Licha is a LCB, as I trust most do here. Once they are fit and in form we might get sneak a few wins with Casemiro or Ugarte in the starting XI. It's all about next season, though, when we'll either bring Baleba or someone else ready to take on that responsibility.
Well done pal.
Darren Fletcher looked good vs Celtic OAPs. might be worth a try. Yaya Toure could probably slot in if we bought him a cake.
The butcher could do a job for us there.
But I'd rather have Kone get a chance.
But I'd rather have Kone get a chance.
I’m pretty sure we played West Brom in the game that Sir Alex didn’t pick Pogba despite a whole plague of injurues, think he played Park and Rafael in midfield that game if memory serves me right.
Similar thing with Joelinton at Newcastle.
Maz actually has all the tools to be a fantastic holding midfielder. Might be worth a shot if Ugarte doesn't improve
Dalot?
Indeed, obviously giggs played as a cm for years at the end. Alan Smith was converted to a CM post injury. Rooney in his last season under fergie played a lot of games in CM feeding RVP. Phil jones played as CM/CDM in a few games too.
At least when Fergie was doing it it was a temporary solution in an overall well functioning team and you hoped it wouldn't weaken the team significantly.
Here people are expecting this to actually improve us.
Antonio Valencia played a fair bit as a CM for Ecuador, right? Giggs did very well as a CM and even better as an AM. Rooney did pretty well there. I think Mazraoui is our best bet. He is comfortable with both feet; he would be very fast through the middle, just not as a RWB, and he has the ability to go past a man, is a good passer and obviously very solid defensively. Dalot should do well there - very good technique, strong, very fast, a good short passer, but he is very prone to switching off, and he isn't good at spotting runners.
Shaw is much too one-footed. Martinez may be a good shout, but I think ETH talked about him lacking an engine for that role, not speed - he is/was, quite quick on the first 10 yards.
Shaw is much too one-footed. Martinez may be a good shout, but I think ETH talked about him lacking an engine for that role, not speed - he is/was, quite quick on the first 10 yards.
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