Back-up Options (CB, CM and Winger)

Ginter would be a good option. Young, not overpriced, apparently he's going for around £8-12m. Would develop well at United and could potentially turn into a top class CB, even now he could a job.

I would take Enzo Perez if we could get him for a reasonable price. There is no way we are paying £30m but if we could get him for £8-17m then I would take him.
 
mazhar13 said:
From that video, he seems to apply himself all over the place rather than stay back like an anchor man. I think that's probably why he gets the numbers that he obtained. Having said that, Badelj is also a very good option, though I wonder whether the team can maintain its balance by playing midfielders in Herrera and Badelj who love to get involved all over the place. It's also why I'm against the signing of Vidal. I believe someone like Kramer would provide more balance to the team as he's more disciplined yet still has good technique and can pass the ball around as well.
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I think both Herrera and Badelj are very all around so it would be an all action midfield pairing rather than one set out defensive midfielder and one box to box. I wouldn't mind a pure defensive midfielder either but there are some versions like Badelj who are young and have proven themselves able to do a job like Gustavo but just haven't got the fame yet like Kramer. Two very different options which would create two different teams, I'd love both with no preference.
 
Annahnomoss said:
I think both Herrera and Badelj are very all around so it would be an all action midfield pairing rather than one set out defensive midfielder and one box to box. I wouldn't mind a pure defensive midfielder either but there are some versions like Badelj who are young and have proven themselves able to do a job like Gustavo but just haven't got the fame yet like Kramer. Two very different options which would create two different teams, I'd love both with no preference.
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For me, it's not about this. It's whether the midfielders are capable of being disciplined in their all-action role or not. Herrera's defending is more aggressive and about closing down players rather than positioning oneself, closing down spaces, and then going to win the ball. Badelj appears to be the same. Plus, both seem to love going forward. In this case, can both players do well sitting back whilst the other goes forward? We can't always risk both roaming and drifting around without having some balance in the side.

If Herrera and the 2nd possible all-action midfielder show that they can be disciplined in their role, we should have no worries. If one of the midfielders are unable to do so, then van Gaal will need to make the midfielders more disciplined so that we have a balanced midfield setup.
 
mazhar13 said:
For me, it's not about this. It's whether the midfielders are capable of being disciplined in their all-action role or not. Herrera's defending is more aggressive and about closing down players rather than positioning oneself, closing down spaces, and then going to win the ball. Badelj appears to be the same. Plus, both seem to love going forward. In this case, can both players do well sitting back whilst the other goes forward? We can't always risk both roaming and drifting around without having some balance in the side.

If Herrera and the 2nd possible all-action midfielder show that they can be disciplined in their role, we should have no worries. If one of the midfielders are unable to do so, then van Gaal will need to make the midfielders more disciplined so that we have a balanced midfield setup.
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Herrera has played in disciplined role as well as the deep lying playmaker which meant staying back when the team ventured forward and Badelj main role is as a defensive midfielder/deep lying midfielder. It is primarily the fact that you are watching a highlight and they tend to prefer the one adventurous run rather than the 10 safe passes side ways. I think it is always riskier to try and combine two of these like Fernandinho and Yaya but I think the rewards are bigger too. Which is why I'd not mind us going for a mainly defensive one to partner Herrera either as there is logic in that too.

I don't think either of them is wrong though, Badelj has played the deepest role for his team next to someone like Herrera in Arslan who is the type to be able to play AM as well but is used as a Cm. Don't see how Herrera would be different, I think they'd be a very similar all action midfield which would be very annoying for the opponents to play against due to their strong tackling and Badelj combines that with outstanding positioning and interceptions as well.

Of course for being cheap options, they aren't world beaters yet.
 
Annahnomoss said:
Herrera has played in disciplined role as well as the deep lying playmaker which meant staying back when the team ventured forward and Badelj main role is as a defensive midfielder/deep lying midfielder. It is primarily the fact that you are watching a highlight and they tend to prefer the one adventurous run rather than the 10 safe passes side ways. I think it is always riskier to try and combine two of these like Fernandinho and Yaya but I think the rewards are bigger too. Which is why I'd not mind us going for a mainly defensive one to partner Herrera either as there is logic in that too.

I don't think either of them is wrong though, Badelj has played the deepest role for his team next to someone like Herrera in Arslan who is the type to be able to play AM as well but is used as a Cm. Don't see how Herrera would be different, I think they'd be a very similar all action midfield which would be very annoying for the opponents to play against due to their strong tackling and Badelj combines that with outstanding positioning and interceptions as well.

Of course for being cheap options, they aren't world beaters yet.
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Herrera did it for just one season, and he struggled to assert himself that season in the different role. Herrera went back to his best when Iturraspe and Benat emerged into the team. Even before Benat and Iturraspe came into the first team as regulars, Herrera had Javi Martinez in midfield doing lots of good defensive work.

With Badelj, I guess you've see more of him, so you'd know more about him, and if he's this sort of a player, then this is good to see.

Ultimately, I'm making the same point as you are in your bolded statement. Seeing an all-action midfield is the most entertaining (Scholes-Keane, Roma's midfield, and Juventus' current midfield are two good examples). However, in such a midfield, players with a high level of discipline are required. Herrera's been described as an intelligent, disciplined midfielder, so that's good to know. Similar with Badelj, so putting them together isn't a bad idea. About the world beater comment, though, that's more down to their lack of exposure than their actual ability, I believe.
 
Don't think we need back up for the CM if we'd get Vidal than we have: Herrera, Vidal, Carrick, Cleverley and Fletcher, I'd be very happy with that (assuming we sell Fellaini and Anderson).

Winger: I would like us to bring somebody in but it isn't nesc if we keep Nani and try to make him perform like a topplayer again, if we sell Nani I think we need to bring in a winger. I hope for Di Maria, but if that doesn't happen, I'll be happy with Griezmann or Depay.

CB we definitley need 1 and maybay even 2 players. I don't think we'll get a player like Hummels or Benatia but I'd be very happy with one or two of De Vrij, Vlaar, Vermaelen as back up for our CB.

I also think we need to bring in another player for the leftback or wingback position, Rodriguez or Blind would be brilliant. Rodriguez could also play as a winger in certain games if we need him to.
 
mazhar13 said:
Herrera did it for just one season, and he struggled to assert himself that season in the different role. Herrera went back to his best when Iturraspe and Benat emerged into the team. Even before Benat and Iturraspe came into the first team as regulars, Herrera had Javi Martinez in midfield doing lots of good defensive work.

With Badelj, I guess you've see more of him, so you'd know more about him, and if he's this sort of a player, then this is good to see.

Ultimately, I'm making the same point as you are in your bolded statement. Seeing an all-action midfield is the most entertaining (Scholes-Keane, Roma's midfield, and Juventus' current midfield are two good examples). However, in such a midfield, players with a high level of discipline are required. Herrera's been described as an intelligent, disciplined midfielder, so that's good to know. Similar with Badelj, so putting them together isn't a bad idea. About the world beater comment, though, that's more down to their lack of exposure than their actual ability, I believe.
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I actually fully believe so too.
 
Annahnomoss said:
No idea if he has been touted anything, but he's been very impressive for two seasons now for Hamburger and mixes the tackling of Vidal with the interceptions of Carrick and his passing and dribbling are as good as his off the ball abilities. Has among the highest, if not the highest, amount interceptions/tackles combined in Europe and his dribbling has him in the top 20 above the likes of Robben.

Of course he isn't as good as his statistics makes him look like, but he is a very all round player who would be able to provide the similar statistics here and he'd be very cheap compared to the best central midfielders in the world.
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The one thing I wonder about is that if he is cheap and seemingly pretty good how come he's 25 and none of the top clubs in England, Italy and Spain are even being linked with him? I'm not saying that definitely means he isn't good enough but it does make me pause to consider if there are other factors that have deterred clubs from pursuing him.

Invictus said:
Aye. He was once billed the New Zvonimir Boban. Obviously not as good as the AC Milan/ Croat legend but he would be a good alternative if we fail to land Vidal.
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That's it! Man, Boban was quality. :drool:
 
Devil may care said:
The one thing I wonder about is that if he is cheap and seemingly pretty good how come he's 25 and none of the top clubs in England, Italy and Spain are even being linked with him? I'm not saying that definitely means he isn't good enough but it does make me pause to consider if there are other factors that have deterred clubs from pursuing him.

That's it! Man, Boban was quality. :drool:
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He is currently being linked to Atletico Madrid, he is a typical Atletico/Dortmund signing. They'll pay 10 millions and he will be replacing some Champions league winners next year. Hamburger came 6th the season before the last so he was already playing for a good team then, even if they have crashed this year which is why I believe he'd be easily attracted by signing for a top club.

EDIT: Boban was great to watch. :drool:
 
With the CM's below not sure I think any of these are close to being a replacement for Vidal but...

Vermaelen, Lovren, Vertonghen, Blind, Benatia
Shaqiri, Valbuena, Griezman
Schneiderlin, Bender, Classie, Strootman
 
With Hummels, Vidal and Di Maria being the ultimate muppet fantasy... Thus unlikely. My (possibly realistic) alternatives would be

CB... Vertonghan, Balanta, Mangala
CM... Khedira, Bender
W... Draxler, Reus, Griezmann, Gaitan
 
van Gaal does love Strootman, will he wait till Jan though? Surely he needs to hit the ground running when the season kicks off
 
Would anyone consider a punt on Ben Arfa at all? I read an article the other day saying he could go for £3m. With Cabella and Rivière signed he may be surplus.

Perhaps one from the Vermaelen bracket, but if LVG could extract the extraordinary talent he has, I don't think he is any, or much less gifted than Arjen Robben. I'm curious as to whether he could deliver at a big club.
 
I've given up on the idea of a wide player at all and I think Hummels, Varane, Vertonghen etc....are complete no goes, so at this moment in time I think we might as well plonk down the £8M for de Vrij and hope for the best with him and the 3 CB's we have.

On the Vidal back-up I was wondering about Matuidi as the reports suggest PSG need to sell in order to buy Di Maria but apparently Verratti is unsellable, however Matuidi wasn't and I thought he was France's best CM at the World Cup.

I also saw us linked with Sergi Roberto the other day and he looked like a classy CM from his YT vid, but I've not seen enough to know if he would suit us or the PL.
 
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