Ndidi isn't technically limited though, he just isn't among the best passing midfielders around. A creative DM will not have much impact if our wingers are crap and our fullbacks cannot attack, a creative DM is a great bonus to have when you have all the other attacking options present. Right now, we're basically starting from scratch.
Wilfred Ndidi - Leicester Player
- Thread starter IrishRedDevil
- Start date
I'd love him at United, perfect replacement for Matic. Just makes too much sense, won't buy him.
You see. That is the problem right there. There is this mistaken assumption that the ONLY players exceptional defensively who operate as holding or defensive midfielders ate purely destructive players. Yet from Rijkaard, to Albertini, to Ince and Keane, Carrick even Busquets and Fernandinho it couldn't be further from the truth. The one thing all these players have with out exception is excellent defensive prowess coupled with an inate ability the right decision to constantly recycle possession. With passing vision as the add on to it. Not the priority. All of them too, without exception were the fulcrums of teams with sexy footballfootball as a result
One thing I learnt long ago about football is if your fulcrum of the team is not exceptional defensively. On addition to having passing skill to link defence to midfield. You will always fail to play elite fluid football. Not matter the roster is talent you have
Last edited:
Too limited, obviously not as limited as rice but still looking at how bad we are from getting the ball from the cb's to the attackers getting a cdm who has a limited passing range would just amplify the problem.
It can make sense if that is the strongest way to arrange the group of players making up a team. There is no general rule about where the ‘passer’ in midfield needs to be stationed.
Pirlo is the glaringly obvious example but is a bit of an anomaly given just how strong his ability on the ball was and how similarly strong his inability to defend was. Scholes played as a holding player alongside Fletcher, David Pizarro likewise next to De Rossi. Xabi Alonso was a very intelligent defender but didn’t really have the physical gifts to match your ‘defence protector and ender of opposition moves’ description. The same could be said of Carrick, Thiago Motta or Ruben Neves.
Indeed. Right now we are in dire need of an Ngolo Kante/Fernandinho type than Carrick type. For our attacking midfielders are not defensively disciplined. Even though they can defend.
If we had an AM who was postionially sound. Or defensively disciplined
It would make sense to place a Carrick/Busquets/Pirlo type alongside them
It always matters. If for example you are going to place a gifted passer that deep. Whose defending is just ok. You wouldn't survive by placing pure passers ahead of him or beside him as midfield partners
Not really. Pirlo's presence that deep was compensated by having box to box runners and ball winners on either side of him. Or alongside him.
Which are both the archi type templater of a passer- ball winner/box to box player dynamic.
Xabi Alonso was about as good defensively as a Fernandinho in his ability to tackle IMO. Its only physical , in terms of pace and raw power that he wasn't at par.
Its Carrick who did not have tackling as a strength. But made up for it with exceptional game reading when on top form.
The thing is a Fernandinho type is the Roy Keane/Ince type of holder. An all action player. Able to tackle and rumble with the most physical of them whilst still being cerebral game readers who consistently pick the right pass in possession to recycle that ball.
IMO the current make up of our midfield would function better with such a player. Because a Carrick type would need at least one of our other starting midfielders to be as defensively disciplined as a Fletcher or positionally sound as a Scholes. Yet the only starter in our ranks who was that way was Herrera.
Matic in current incarnation isn't defensively disciplined neither is Pogba. Neither is Fred. Mc Tominay is currently the only midfield partner we have who would suit a Carrick type.
There’s a misunderstanding somewhere because you are making my point for me. There is nothing inherently wrong with the holding player being more of a ‘passer’, the midfield just needs to be balanced and involve players who compliment each other.
I agree with virtually everything you say here, with the exception of Xabi Alonso being Fernandinho-like in his ability and attitude in tackling. He was a very aware defender - he knew exactly where he was supposed to be at any given time, much like Carrick. The lack of pace and power ultimately did impact on his ability to cover across the pitch or press effectively though. The major difference between Carrick and him is that Alonso (aware as he was) would resort to cynical fouls when his physical shortcomings left him half a yard too slow or wrong side of his man (something I’m sure would have been encouraged by Benitez and Mourinho). Carrick was much fairer, or ‘nicer’.
Watched him play yet again against Burundi in the AFCON 2019, he is not limited at all. Carries the ball forward menacingly, breaks the play and harries opposition players off the ball. He wouldn't look out of place for us I think.
Gueye would be more attainable but he is 29.
Don't think Leicester will sell Ndidi and Maguire in same summer.
I think it will either be Idrissa Gueye or Longstaff for that position.
I think it will either be Idrissa Gueye or Longstaff for that position.
I think he’s the type of player you buy from their “previous team” and not after a PL team bought them for nothing and are now demanding 50m or whatever, he isn’t a 50m player, surely there are good athletic midfielders playing in France now, who are attainable for 15-20m.
yes, United and other top 6 clubs need to either have the balls to buy them early or shut up and pay the fee demanded, clubs like us don't want to lose our best players and years of being the bullied we can now be the financial bullies.
Any player that is first choice at Leicester, Wolves Everton Etc. is going to cost an obscene amount, unless their contract is winding down then you have half a chance to get a reasonable deal
Honestly can’t see Ndidi or Maddison leaving this summer, they don’t need the cash, both players on contracts, strong start under Rodgers. Not gonna happen.
The lack of capital letter really threw me off for a second there. I was thinking, sure, rice is no potato, but still...

Long may this continue honestly. Those clubs take the chance on unproven talent, top clubs shouldn't be able to pilfer them for a minor margin on top. Extort them for all they have.
It’s funny you say that, these clubs would have been seen as being poor but they all now have owners who seem to want to try and compete, none need to sell and indeed have a capacity to grow much bigger.
The power dynamic has certainly started to shift in the last few years.
Strangely, the only ones who can’t seem to see this is some United fans (not the majority), who still seem to think they can sign any player from any club they choose.
To be fair to Mourinho though. He loved Carrick
To me, the discussion is coloured by the makele falsum, where some people think he defined the position. There were plenty who came before him in that role who did it better than him. The difference is that they were also good enough on the ball to not be classified as "destroyers" or purely defensive midfielders (see also guys like Souness, Matthaus, and today Fabinho). You need both and it's not as elusive as some would believe.
Add to that - one thing that struck me many years ago, some time in the houllier era when Michael Laudrup was commenting on a Liverpool game and why he didn't feel this team could go all the way, he said something along the lines of "when you look at great teams that win major titles over several years, one thing they tend to have in common is having good ball players at the back". It's more emphasised now, but it's always been a strong component of successful football.
I get what you mean but if we signed Ndidi I would be over the fecking moon. Would be very exciting.
Why do people think getting Ndidi means we're not going to try for a better passer in the future? A defensive midfielder that can pass very well is always preferable, but having a destroyer as a squad option would be great. For example, if Garner develops really well he's the exact type of player people want.
Currently Matic does not provide defensive prowess, nor does he provide great passing. Ndidi is a little worse on the ball than Matic, but his defensive ability is much better than Matic. If we had Pogba and Ndidi, all we would be missing is that passing midfielder as then our midfield would be complete. Complete because it's able to help the side defend, help the side's creativity, help the side set the right tempo, help start attacks, and help the side by being able to bail out players from losing possession.
Matic doesn't help solve anything. Ndidi does.
Matic is currently better than Ndidi in passing and technical ability. Doesn't mean much if he's mediocre at any part of the midfield's tasks. He's not a great defensive player. Not a great attacking player. He doesn't provide energy. He isn't the best player to give the ball to in order to retain possession. He's not the best passer like a Modric is.
Currently Matic does not provide defensive prowess, nor does he provide great passing. Ndidi is a little worse on the ball than Matic, but his defensive ability is much better than Matic. If we had Pogba and Ndidi, all we would be missing is that passing midfielder as then our midfield would be complete. Complete because it's able to help the side defend, help the side's creativity, help the side set the right tempo, help start attacks, and help the side by being able to bail out players from losing possession.
Matic doesn't help solve anything. Ndidi does.
This is how I look at things too in regards to a midfield trio. It doesn't matter how you accomplish it. What matters is that the midfield is complete. One combination was Juve circa the Pogba Pirlo Vidal era. Another combination was the Iniesta Busquets Xavi trio. There are different combinations to achieve it. Ndidi helps accomplish one or two of the midfield's tasks. The last component would then be a technically gifted player who can run things through their passing.
Matic is currently better than Ndidi in passing and technical ability. Doesn't mean much if he's mediocre at any part of the midfield's tasks. He's not a great defensive player. Not a great attacking player. He doesn't provide energy. He isn't the best player to give the ball to in order to retain possession. He's not the best passer like a Modric is.
Last edited:
Ndidi must be valued at around £50M Maddison probably the same.
He would be an incredible signing, however I haven't seen anything linking him with us; or even anything linking him with a move.
Let's face it, Ndidi, Neves, Moutinho, Rice, Capoue, Doucoure, Tielemans would improve our midfield in one way or another.
Let's face it, Ndidi, Neves, Moutinho, Rice, Capoue, Doucoure, Tielemans would improve our midfield in one way or another.
Amen. I've never understood the love for Makelele and the inane assumption that he defined the role. To me he was always the antithesis of what a top midfield anchor man is. Especially for any top team wedded to an attacking philosophy.
Didn't Leicester slap a 60m tag on J Madison? Or was that just tabloid hype?
Not good enough on the ball for a top club.
tabloid hype, think the official response was something like "are you giving us the controlling interest in Manchester United then?"
Respectfully disagree!
Maybe if by "top" you mean the current top three clubs in the world (City, Barca, Bayern), then maybe I would agree with you.
But thats as far as I'm willing to go. He would be great for us, defensively, work-rate-wise, determination, and his ability on the ball! Whether or not we still qualify as a "top" club is debatable, I grant you. But thats probably for another sub.
Don't see it happening, the club will target Longstaff as he is cheaper.
He is about as good on the ball as a Javi Martinez. Who won Bayern a treble
You’re dead right. We’re desperately in need of someone like Ndidi, Rice or Neves. Matic has looked laboured after his first half season with us. Would take Longstaff if none of the above. I’m just worried we won’t sign anyone for the position.
I think both were around £20M a piece and they took the chance. So probably in the current market a *fair* price.
Maddison was £25m NDidi £16m
So yeah, both around that mart, if u Anna but them now you are going to have to trebbke it.
Treble at least
In this market my first impression was 61m was way to low for a 100 chance players. I hope we'd bite their hands off at that price....
Sign him. Team will have great conviction about it with Ndidi and Shaw.