Personally I would say that he is much better in CM too. He was regularly poor in big games vs barca, Bayern, Dortmund etc when on the wing with a few exceptions where he was good. In CM last year he took his game to new level in the big matches and was excellent when it mattered and was world class. Prior to last season I would not have considered him to be world class and was not surprised when him and ozil let us down when the going got tough.
Angel Di Maria | £59.7M fee agreed I Maybe tomorrow...or the day after...
- Thread starter goin4glory
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We would need to sign a pure DM to allow himself and Herrera play in a midfield three.
What took his game to a different level for me was the freedom the role generated, where he would be the worker on Ronaldo's side of the pitch, he would often venture back to the wings when Ronaldo was making his runs into the box.
And he was essentially shoehorned in to accommodate Bale. Similar to Vato, I reckon he'd have been just impressive taking the wide right role because he just looked as though he'd matured more than anything (the diving issue dried out a fair bit, the work rate was there and the delivery was consistent). Obviously no one can prove it either way but for me his skill set suits a wide role in this league in particular.
he's been just as bad as anyone. seems to be getting into good goal scoring positions which is great. for the record I dont blame mata, I just don't think the team is set up to get him any space or give him any runners.
Either we get the ball to him and he's our only threat so he just has two 6 foot 4 players squeezing him off the ball, or he gets some time, looks up and rooney is just standing 5 feet away from him looking for a short pass. Or we take so long to get him the ball that the opposition have 11 men behind the ball already.
I always thought Mata functioned best when he's not the main man, when other players move the ball and make runs, drive at the opposition and create space, Mata can remain anonymous until he finds some space and then cause some serious damage. He's never going to be very effective with static football, fletch and clevz never leaving their half, rooney and rvp stationary, the 'wing backs' still in our half. The only times we looked threatening today was when Fletcher actually drove forwards from CM and Sunderland couldn't simply mark man for man and make use out of rooneys poor first touch or young and valencia's one footedness. I'd love to have a cm that would drive forward. I'd love a centre back that would do so aswell
He's obviously a class player but am i the only one who doesn't want him because he can block Januzaj's growth? Do you think we could play both as a LWB/LRB considering that they both are left sided players?
If i could spend that money again i would buy a midfielder without a doubt.
If i could spend that money again i would buy a midfielder without a doubt.
Despite this brilliant signing of the summer, which it is. We still need a quality and experienced CB and CM before the window shuts.
I guess we will see this season if united do use him on the wing. It definitely is a good point that his improved performances this year may be down to him maturing as a player and entering his peak.
I'd literally kill myself if it turned out we were buying a £64m player to play him in a position he has never played before (left back) and is completely unsuited for.
Our chances of getting Carvalho died when Moyes was sacked.
Evans, Jones and Smalling have potential to be good if they stay fit.
Do you remember Miguel Veloso?
perhaps next season.....
To see ADM in any other position then as a left attacking midfielder would be a huge surprise. I fully expect LvG to play 4-3-3 as soon as we have bought a quality DM or when Carrick is back.
Thats because of the players playing along side him. Some class players he had as teammates in Madrid and they did the bunch of the scoring.
Jones has been great so far.If Evans had been fit today....this is the frustration with Evans..imo the best ball playing CB we have...but so often injured.
Let's say that 63 includes the add-ons, meaning the fee, for now, is 50m.
So for the 2013/14 season we spent: 64m
2014/15 season: 70m so far + 50m di Maria = 120m; 35m for Vidal, 6m de Jong >> bringing us to c.160m for the summer in spending. Now, we're looking at a very good team.
Then, next summer (2015/16), we wouldn't need to invest as heavily. Let's say a 60m cap = Strootman + CB
That brings us to a total of 280m for those three seasons. Average that out = 93m per season.
When you consider how little we've spent per year before this season, I think those figures are more than fair - they certainly befit a club of our stature.
So, basically, spending a lot this summer is a good, financially viable, thing.
So, by next summer we could be looking at this:
So for the 2013/14 season we spent: 64m
2014/15 season: 70m so far + 50m di Maria = 120m; 35m for Vidal, 6m de Jong >> bringing us to c.160m for the summer in spending. Now, we're looking at a very good team.
Then, next summer (2015/16), we wouldn't need to invest as heavily. Let's say a 60m cap = Strootman + CB
That brings us to a total of 280m for those three seasons. Average that out = 93m per season.
When you consider how little we've spent per year before this season, I think those figures are more than fair - they certainly befit a club of our stature.
So, basically, spending a lot this summer is a good, financially viable, thing.
So, by next summer we could be looking at this:
DDG
Rafa - NEW CB - Rojo - Shaw
Strootman
Vidal - Herrera
Di Maria Mata
RVP
Rafa - NEW CB - Rojo - Shaw
Strootman
Vidal - Herrera
Di Maria Mata
RVP
Getting a player of Di Maria's stature to miss a year of CL football is quite a boon. Does this mean a 433 is imminent? I was hoping to give this experiment more of a try.
I mean a left sided midfielder. If he comes do you think LVG would stick with the 352 or he would start using a 433? If that's so then Mata would have to be sacrified don't you think?
I've been very pleased with Jones too. Made a lot of good recoveries and brought the ball out well.
why would we be buying him to play in a central role, when we just spunked 37m on mata xD boggles my mind. has to be played in a winger capacity.
4-3-3 would be great if we got a quality DM as you said. Even somebody like De Jong who does the real dirty work, he would allow Herrera to flourish and Mata could play the advanced role. Only issue is that we'd have to pick between Rooney and RVP.
4-2-3-1 would work with Rooney in the #10 role, Mata on the right like he was when brilliant at Chelsea, Di Maria on the left and van Persie upfront. We can be flexible when players are injured then too. For example if RVP was injured, Rooney could go uptop and Januzaj could come into the 3.
Evans is decent. I'm really not seeing it with Jones and Smalling. One of those three along with a top class experienced CB I'd be fine with. But not two of those 3 together.
I think we should be using 4231 without sacrificing any of our world class players. 352 makes no sense with Di Maria.
Mata can play in 433 ahead of Herrera and a defensive midfielder with Rooney playing wide.
I could see van Gaal using the 4-1-2-1-2 after di Maria's signed. It's actually just a slight variation of the 3-5-2, as the only notable differences are the fullbacks/wingbacks who are more advanced with three defenders behind them and obviously the extra centre back which could feasibly be Carrick dropping back into the defence or playing as the pivot in midfield. It would allow us to change the system easily in game and still continue with a formation that resembles the one our players are currently adapting too.
Something like this:
What's the worst that could happen? Worth a try.
Something like this:
de Gea
Rafael - Smalling - Rojo - Shaw
Blind
Herrera - di Maria
Mata
Welbeck - Rooney
I'm really intrigued by the prospect of us deploying the diamond again, even though the last time was an unmitigated failure really. The personnel in that side is more adept at successfully thriving in that set-up. It allows us to utilise di Maria in what I and many deem his best positon, as an advanced central midfielder, while also accommodating Mata and Rooney and still having a semblance of balance in the side opposed to being top-heavy.Rafael - Smalling - Rojo - Shaw
Blind
Herrera - di Maria
Mata
Welbeck - Rooney
What's the worst that could happen? Worth a try.
And you conveniently left out our captain. Also people here will be pissed off you left out Januzaj.
Have we secretly signed Blind or something? He's in every single line-up posted in this thread.
There isn't really anyone else as suitable for the holding role that we've been linked with. By all accounts, we could conceivably sign blind this week also.
I'd expect Rooney van Persie and Mata to take the scoring burden whilst he opens the space and acts as the supply here too.
Not saying he won't score goals, but I wouldn't expect over 15 from him because I've never seen it. Would be one hell of a bonus if he went into beast mode and decided to become a regular goalscorer but it's not something I'd expect.
Couldn't agree more.
And United can prove it this season if you post him on the wing, which I think will probably happen.
Had him in, but I personally prefer RVP over Rooney. Januzaj can be rotated in, that was just a purely hypothetical strongest XI.
Strange choice when it seems he might well be off.
Di Maria has scored 36 goals and assisted 87 in 190 appearances for Madrid.
I'm not entirely sure how anyone could have watched today's game and not seen our wing play as being a huge issue...
Nice one @Olly
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