I really can't believe we are looking likely to ignore the CM problem...yet again.
Centre Mid options other than Vidal..
- Thread starter Raees
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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.
And very strange it has to be said. I still don't get how and why we bought Obertan. The guy was not that young, he struggled to get into Bordeaux team, did not impress much on loan. Still we bought him.
I also think we need to look closely to Eastern Europe's market, like Croatia, Serbia. A lot of player from these balkan states do impress. I think Everton done really well with Besic capture.
agreed. There are quality midfielders in those markets right now
We have Herrera, a Fletcher that is back AND fit. It's not as bad as before. If Carrick was fit it would look a lot better. I think we might even see Kagawa/Januzaj at CM, which leaves ut with a few more options. Having said that, I too want
another CM.
That would be papering over cracks again. We need another CM for sure. I believe in LVG and his vision but given the long season, injuries and the state of our midfield we need another one. Who will it be I dont know if we will indeed buy someone. Every day the list of possible targets is thiner.
We don't have a midfield problem now, we have Fletcher.
I don't see why we don't sign De Jong on the cheap as we wait the 6 months or year.
Please no... Surely Adnan will be playing in front trio, his skill set is not even remotely appropriate for a CM role.
Maybe he is not the sort of player LVG wants. I mean you look at Fletcher, current number one option to partner Ander Herrera, and he is not playing like a holding DM, a sweeper in midfield of sorts. No, he gets forward as much as Ander, he is very much integrated in attacking play. Just see the first goal against Real. De Jong is different type of player, he mostly sits back.
I would need to see alot more of Fletch to say he is back and fit. I'd love it to be the case though...massively so. Carrick is not a spring checken anymore...we need someone to genuinely compete with him.
I agree, another CM very much wanted.
In my mind, LVG is waiting for Strootman to make his recovery. Hopefully this doesn't backfire because we'd be potentially going another year without addressing the midfield issue and there is no guarantee that Strootman will return the same player or whether Roma would be willing to do business at a reasonable price.
We need another CB way more atm.
I just want United back from the tour so we can start signing some players.
We need both.
Prepare for disappointment.
Considering Van Gaal said he's looking to shape up the squad when we return then I'd prepare yourself for the opposite! Hopefully
3 good games in pre season should not mean our CM issues are resolved.
Our best player in pre season last year (maybe year before) was Lingard. We can't keep ignoring this, agreed Fletcher has been brilliant but everyone here after last year would have said you'd have been mad to have him as our starting CM, I'd say 25% of fans were probably happy to let him go.
There's still a chance of us signing a CM, but I do question if LVG will wait for Strootman - but surely that is guaranteed he's got a longish contract with Roma.
Our best player in pre season last year (maybe year before) was Lingard. We can't keep ignoring this, agreed Fletcher has been brilliant but everyone here after last year would have said you'd have been mad to have him as our starting CM, I'd say 25% of fans were probably happy to let him go.
There's still a chance of us signing a CM, but I do question if LVG will wait for Strootman - but surely that is guaranteed he's got a longish contract with Roma.
Fletch and Herrera 
None of us expected Fletcher to be doing so well. Given the way he's been performing, why would you leave him out? Would you leave Herrera out so you can bring in Vidal? I wouldn't.
It's quite clear at this point that Van Gaal is more than capable of making these decisions. Whichever way he goes we should be pleased.
None of us expected Fletcher to be doing so well. Given the way he's been performing, why would you leave him out? Would you leave Herrera out so you can bring in Vidal? I wouldn't.
It's quite clear at this point that Van Gaal is more than capable of making these decisions. Whichever way he goes we should be pleased.
I must admit if Herrera's going to keep performing like he has been (especially in the LA Galaxy match) then we already have a very good box-to-box player, so maybe once we got him that was where our interest in Vidal really started to dwindle. He also seems to have plans for Carrick when he's back and Fletch has been on form too, so there's our main 3. And for backup we have Cleverly, Fellaini (or did his sale go through yet?), Kagawa, Young, Nani, Mata... I know a few of them are meant to be wingers or attacking mids, but still for cover its not too bad. Could be improved upon for sure, but then you look at the amount of defenders we've sold recently compared to the 1 we've bought in and to me, that's a much more desperate area.
There's been a few reports that he's said he's not planning on buying anyone actually. But then I seem to remember the one i saw was the Star, so, y'know...
Also a RB (Rafa is injury prone and we don't have another natural RB), LB (we lost 2 this summer) and possibly another winger if Nani leaves.
I'm baffled that we're not being linked with Blind more. Seems like an absolute no brainer of a signing. I'd be surprised if we don't get him before the window shuts.
Fletch and Herrera
None of us expected Fletcher to be doing so well. Given the way he's been performing, why would you leave him out? Would you leave Herrera out so you can bring in Vidal? I wouldn't.
It's quite clear at this point that Van Gaal is more than capable of making these decisions. Whichever way he goes we should be pleased.
Can we really rely on Fletcher the whole season though? I love Fletcher but we need someone with more ability if we seriously want to win things.
Not necessarily. If we lose Fletcher or Herrera to injury and we don't have another adequate CM option then we're in trouble. We really lack depth at CM, and any injury to our starting pair would not be good.Fletch and Herrera
None of us expected Fletcher to be doing so well. Given the way he's been performing, why would you leave him out? Would you leave Herrera out so you can bring in Vidal? I wouldn't.
It's quite clear at this point that Van Gaal is more than capable of making these decisions. Whichever way he goes we should be pleased.
I see the Fletch hype has one into overdrive. Jesus.
Great to have him potentially back at a good level, but lets not kid ourselves, even when he was at his best, we still had an issue in the middle, and got overun by lesser teams when playing Fletch and Carrick.
Great to have him potentially back at a good level, but lets not kid ourselves, even when he was at his best, we still had an issue in the middle, and got overun by lesser teams when playing Fletch and Carrick.
This. He should be an option off the bench if we are actually aiming to win the league as LVG says. We need another talented cm. I doubt our Summer activity is over.
What about Koke? Has a release clause, albeit around £50mil but isn't that the going rate nowadays?!
Agree with the poster above, Blind will surely almost be a certainty and I could see us going for Depay.
My excitement for the new season has turned to slight nervousness with how quiet we have been on the transfer front.
Still clinging to 'Watch This Space' and Paddys ITK transfer comments... Tough times!
Agree with the poster above, Blind will surely almost be a certainty and I could see us going for Depay.
My excitement for the new season has turned to slight nervousness with how quiet we have been on the transfer front.
Still clinging to 'Watch This Space' and Paddys ITK transfer comments
... Tough times!Carrick would be more than competent as the central defender in the back 3. I can see him in that role after we get Strootman. Seeing that Jones can sit too, Vermaelen (i.e. No midfielder) may be the only addition for now with Keane getting game time until Carrick recovers. Then Strootman in January.
That were taking from his press conference the other day where he CLEARLY didn't state that he wasn't going to buy anyone. He said that he wanted to assess the players on this tour before making any more moves, and said that he may not buy anyone because we've been winning in pre-season. He was clearly not being serious.
Koke just came out a few days ago saying he rejected the chance to play for Barcelona so he isn't moving any time soon.What about Koke? Has a release clause, albeit around £50mil but isn't that the going rate nowadays?!
Agree with the poster above, Blind will surely almost be a certainty and I could see us going for Depay.
My excitement for the new season has turned to slight nervousness with how quiet we have been on the transfer front.
Still clinging to 'Watch This Space' and Paddys ITK transfer comments
We won't play with wingers next season I think but we really need 3 more defenders and a midfielder.
We can always bring back Scholes from retirement...
Good shout, if LvG sees him as good enough for the squad then his versatility would be extremely welcome.
Ah right, I did suspect something of the sort, but typical UK tabloid BS of misquoting things to make it sound more dramatic. Thanks.
BILD are claiming Everton are after Christoph Kramer.
I'd hope we'd look to hijack that if true, I doubt he'd be overly expensive.
I'd hope we'd look to hijack that if true, I doubt he'd be overly expensive.
How old is he ?? is he any good ??
He's 23 and started in a world cup final in midfield for Germany (although only because Khedira was injured). He's a good holding midfielder.
Kramer always impresses me when I watch Mochengladbach.
Nah, much better to buy him off Everton for 3 times as much in 2 years time.
I hear this a lot but I think it's worth remembering that two years at a club like that playing week in, week out is great for a players development.
If Smalling and Jones had spent the last 4 and 3 years at a club like Everton playing week in and week out they'd be further developed than they are here after playing second fiddle and being out on the right and in midfield.