He's not Kagawa/Mata. In my opinion he's definitely a centre mid but a typical 8. A creative centre mid who can run a game ie Scholes style.. we don't have depth in this position - literally only have Herrera. In Blind's role we have Carrick/fletch/fellaini/jones - which is not really great but at least there are some options.
Adding Midfield Depth
- Thread starter Devil may care
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) and Imran (@Annihilate Now!) are here to discuss Amad saving our blushes in a win against Southampton as well as our now annual loss at home to Brighton. They discuss Amorim's post-match comments, revisit how mid-table we may or may not be, and discuss some transfer news.
He's not Kagawa/Mata. In my opinion he's definitely a centre mid but a typical 8. A creative centre mid who can run a game ie Scholes style.. we don't have depth in this position - literally only have Herrera. In Blind's role we have Carrick/fletch/fellaini/jones - which is not really great but at least there are some options.
I remember many saying when Vidic and Evra just arrived they were squad players, not many rated Carrick in 06, many are underestimating how important blind will be for this team long term. What I have seen from blind, he is perfect for a 433, that anchor man role he has got the lot to play that role
Blind I see being carricks long term replacement, he breaks up play, never gives the ball away, and funny enough he does get about the pitch. In Europe he will be crucial, blind does not dive into tackles, and he knows what van gaal expects of him, highly disciplined and he will surprise many. When a player has got that in his locker, the manager will play him every game possible ,and it's very hard to find that type of quality in a player
So this idea that he will be a squad player in the future, many are in for a surprise. You got to think how van gaal thinks, and the way he thinks blind is fergie's fletcher, first name on that team sheet. Carrick and blind very similar, and we have got carricks long term replacement
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I for one hope you're right because it'll save us a lot of hassle if he can prove to be an anchor man capable of dominating the league and europe. I think the role he is playing is absolutely crucial, in terms of tactical intelligence and ability on the ball.. I have no concerns. If we play more defensive away from home, he might have less space to cover and come into his own more.
If we continue to play our 422 diamond there are several players we could add on the cheap for depth like Strootman but I'd love to see a midfield marquee signing as well between now and next summer (of course with a CB)
Koke, Vidal, Pogba in that order of priority.
Koke, Vidal, Pogba in that order of priority.
Koke would be perfect for the Herrera role in our diamond. Don't think he will be looking for a move though unless Atletico have a bad season.
We could change to a frightening 433 of Koke, Blind, Herrera in midfield.Can't see them having a bad season plus Koke already turned down Barca but money talks.
Muppet mode in the next two windows Stoortman, Hummels, Koke, Reus! 100 million and league title secured
We could change to a frightening 433 of Koke, Blind, Herrera in midfield.Can't see them having a bad season plus Koke already turned down Barca but money talks.
Muppet mode in the next two windows Stoortman, Hummels, Koke, Reus! 100 million and league title secured
That's closer to £200m than it is £100m.
£25m Reus
£40m Strootman (Toma won't give him away.
£50m Koke
£50m+ Hummels (In a window where they are losing Reus, they wouldn't accept any less)
We'll never know the prices until business happens but I think you're way off on the last three. At good prices my guess would be €25m Stootman, €35-40 million Koke & €35 million Hummels bringing a grand total of £74.6 million and your £25 million Reus buyout clause.
Your talking in 2010 prices, have a look what happened this summer and then have a look at the talk coming out of Dortmund regarding Hummels and the position Roma are taking up regarding Strootman.
In today's market there is no way that they would be that cheap. I would start by changing the € sign, for a start, and then would add about 10-15 million on afterwards.
I think when you look at how much we lack someone who can play as the other box to box CM with Herrera out it's clear we need another one, I still think Vidal in January would make the most sense as he's not too young as to obstruct the chances of the CM's we have coming through.
I also think we need a player that can at least compete with Blind for the #6 role, Carrick is 34 next season and Fletcher is not a #6, he's a #8 whose legs have gone, Fellaini lacks the mobility and positional sense for the role. I also think we should keep an eye on how Gundogan does when he comes back.
I also think we need a player that can at least compete with Blind for the #6 role, Carrick is 34 next season and Fletcher is not a #6, he's a #8 whose legs have gone, Fellaini lacks the mobility and positional sense for the role. I also think we should keep an eye on how Gundogan does when he comes back.
At this point I think we just need to fill in with youth players. I like the three of Di Maria - Blind - Herrera so unless we can get a massive upgrade on one of them I'd like to see some promising younger players either brought in or promoted from the academy to fill in when needed. Plus we still have a few experienced players like Carrick, Fletcher, and Fellaini as well.
I would add one of Strootman/Vidal to the squad and then promoted Pereira - I think he will be great but needs to play, doesn't make sense to have more senior experienced players, we need to give chance to youth but in midfield as well, they could do really well alongside some experienced players.. Pereira/Pearson Harrop, we have these options but need to execute them well but sometimes its tough as we have some star players on the bench who needs to play as well. Mata and Falacao are not the ones who would sit 90 mins on the bench in order to give chance to youth player but I would like to see it obviously and van Gaal may do it here and there.. but there are obviously some substitutions made due to injuries as well and Januzaj..
Herrera, Blind and Di Maria are nailed down starters in our midfield, and we've got Carrick, Fletcher, Anderson and Pereira as backup, and also Jones capable of playing in midfield too. Surely that's enough depth? I also don't see us signing Strootman considering we've already signed Herrera. I guess we do lack a bit of quality in depth, we could probably do with maybe replacing Anderson with someone decent, perhaps some young talented player.
Anderson/Carrick/Fletcher all not good enough to start. Blind in an ideal world would be a squad player as well, not a starter. We need genuine quality, someone like Strootman is a must.
DiMaria-Herrera-Koke
--------Blind----------
would really be something. Tons of supply for the front 2, good pressing abilities and Shaw and Rafael would be able to overlap effectively.
I like our current setup as it is and don't want us changing it, but now we find ourselves in an unusual situation where we might not need to buy that world class midfielder anymore. The 2 obvious choices are Vidal and Strootman. The popular consensus is that we can do better than Blind, but Vidal and Strootman aren't suited to that deeper role and it would be a waste playing either of them there.
Both Strootman and Vidal would be great for the Herrera role, but Herrera hasn't really done anything to warrant being taken out of the starting XI. If we sign one of them, Herrera goes to the bench and it's very difficult to keep good players on the bench as even Real Madrid can attest to that.
That leaves the Di Maria role which seems to be Januzaj's place when Di Maria comes off. I'm in favour of playing Januzaj whenever possible and his best shot at getting playing time is in this role as he's competing with Mata and Rooney for the #10 role and Rooney, Falcao and RVP for a place up top. With the Di Maria role is only competition for a spot if Di Maria is out is against Valencia or Young.
Both Strootman and Vidal would be great for the Herrera role, but Herrera hasn't really done anything to warrant being taken out of the starting XI. If we sign one of them, Herrera goes to the bench and it's very difficult to keep good players on the bench as even Real Madrid can attest to that.
That leaves the Di Maria role which seems to be Januzaj's place when Di Maria comes off. I'm in favour of playing Januzaj whenever possible and his best shot at getting playing time is in this role as he's competing with Mata and Rooney for the #10 role and Rooney, Falcao and RVP for a place up top. With the Di Maria role is only competition for a spot if Di Maria is out is against Valencia or Young.
I just think many are getting the pieces wrong, blind is fine for that anchor man role, to be honest the midfield 3 of blind Herrera and di Maria has so much variety about it, for me it's getting the attacking part more balanced. Has I do feel we may need to replace RVP next season
I think too many are worrying about CM's losing places, to me the change will be one less striker and one more CM in our line-up as LvG continues to build. For instance Di Maria/Januzai - Rooney/Mata - Herrera/Pereira are clearly very strong options for the roles in behind Falcao or RvP as opposed to both playing. What we lack is someone to play deeper alongside Blind and cover for them both as Fletcher's legs have gone, Carrick is nearly 34 and Fellaini isn't good enough.
That is a CL challenging midfield right there, though I'd like to see how Blind eventually settles in this league. I do think that more issues will arise in attack like @Oneunited26 alluded to, though a Rooney -Falcao duo has great potential to tear this league a new one.
I believe Koke is the one we must get at all costs and push Herrera at the tip of the diamond, I think it will elevate our pressing game to a new level.
Possibly, but I do not get all of a sudden blind is a squad player, why? because he is not this vidal or yaya toure player, who has to be athletic, carrick was the most opposite athletic midfielder you can get. Blind could easily mirror carrick, and blind what I have seen has allot of mobility about him. Now if we look at the 2007/08 midfield, scholes carrick, I struggle to see any athleticism about these 2, blinds ability to break up play and never give a pass away, is a starting 11 for united in my book
I get what you are saying but for me Blind is still under observation, granted he's done well so far but I think we will get a clearer picture of where he stands, going forward, after the end of this season. He has the intelligence, the passing and the mobility but I still want to see how he will do against tougher opponents to get a better idea. Afaik there this season's objective, which is to get back in the CL but once that is done we will obviously aim to go toe to toe with the best in the business, that bar is high hence the doubts.