Those two would be my choices. Ander Herrera, Geis, Schneiderlin, Carrick and Fletcher would be decent enough for now.
Centre Mid options other than Vidal..
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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.
Those two would be my choices. Ander Herrera, Geis, Schneiderlin, Carrick and Fletcher would be decent enough for now.
I don't think Geis would play much with Carrick & Schneiderlin ahead of him. If we buy such a young player we have to play him.
Lets get Lars bender in. His hype has died down a bit so we should be able to get a good deal.
We've been doing it a while.
I see it differently. Obviously he'd be best adviced to stay with Mainz, but currently Carrick is injured and Carrick shouldn't be first choice anymore. Ander Herrera and Schneiderlin would be first choice for me, with Geis being the first back-up. I could also see Ander Herrera, Geis and Schneiderlin against certain opposition in the starting XI, with Mata and Kagawa staying on the bench. He just seems like a very talented player, someone who isn't that well known outside of Germany as yet and United could do with a talented player like him in my eyes. For the same reason I wouldn't mind Saul Niguez, Koke or Barkley joining us.
I reckon Matuidi is worth a try, although it may mean sacrificing any chance of Angel. PSG seem to be stuck right now, and are basically waiting for some rich bastards to come and do them a favour. Very good box-to-box midfielder, I'd argue borderline World Class in that particular role.
I also like the look of Enzo Perez. Can run with the ball and very good technically. Also has that Argentine ard' bastard thing about him, which is very welcome in our midfield.
Schneiderlein and Gustavo are other players who could come in and improve us right now, wheras many others out there are just prospects. Prospects aren't really what we need now, unless they are Mateo Kovacic of course.
I also like the look of Enzo Perez. Can run with the ball and very good technically. Also has that Argentine ard' bastard thing about him, which is very welcome in our midfield.
Schneiderlein and Gustavo are other players who could come in and improve us right now, wheras many others out there are just prospects. Prospects aren't really what we need now, unless they are Mateo Kovacic of course.
If we don't buy any CM in the next 10 days, we are going to be in for a tough ride. It would be absolutely criminal that we haven't sorted out the transfer window yet another window.
The frustrating thing is it does look like we are not signing any MF player, even though herrera and Carrick are injured.
The frustrating thing is it does look like we are not signing any MF player, even though herrera and Carrick are injured.
I think Matuidi is a brilliant midfielder, but he seems to have hit form playing quite an offensive role. As unlikely as it is, I'd love us to sign Verratti. He's comfortable playing deeper as well as being freaky talented.
Seen some Arsenal fans complaining that they're in for Carvalho and not Gustavo who's apparently got a release clause. Not a huge Gustavo fan but if he's got a reasonably low release clause then he'd be a decent option.
Check this guy out.... Ki Sung-Yueng. He would be an immediate fix to our midfield. Great passing and good vision. Besides he will not cost too much and can play in a variety of positions.
We need a tough tackling, combative, tenacious midfielder who has good positioning and is able to play at a quick tempo. Preferably two of them really, as our squad depth in midfield is so bad.
De Jong would be relatively cheap so there's one, add one of Vidal/Iturraspe/McCarthy (or Strootman) and we're laughing.
De Jong would be relatively cheap so there's one, add one of Vidal/Iturraspe/McCarthy (or Strootman) and we're laughing.
Add composure, and ability to retain the ball under pressing. Able to play a forward pass, spread the play and take on a man if need be.
There are alot of decent options out there, just need to go out there and fecking buy a collection.
We really do. I used to think that we'd be alright with Cleverley and Fletcher playing as squad options (3rd or 4th choice type of thing) but I think we need a complete revamp now.
When those two get outplayed by the likes of Cattermole then they have no business here, even as squad players.
Every other team has depth in their midfield options, not just one solid player but a collection.. and they vary it according to the opposition. United haven't shown the midfield position respect for years, despite the fact in modern day football midfield is King.
Herrera getting injured - proved how stupid it is to presume one midfielder is enough to solve our midfield woes. Look at Arsenal, wilshere gets injured? they still maintain possession as they have other midfielders capable of playing the same style.
Getting just vidal in, isn't enough.. we need him + back up, 2 other CMs and clear out the shite we have in the squad.
Agreed. That's one of the main positives to the Van Gaal appointment in my opinion; someone who places such importance on possession isn't going to put up with the wasteland that is our midfield.
I'd like to see us get two in now then keep adding players to it over the next couple of years (including Pearson). It needs to be infinitely better than it is now, that's for sure.
Vidal and his successor: Lucas Silva
Well, at least we know Januzaj isn't cut out to play there. Can't believe that Van Gaal played him there but I suppose when you're down to bare bones, what else can you do? Kagawa isn't the answer either. We need a box-to-box player: a fecking hard bastard who will win the ball high up the pitch and hold it if necessary to bring the wing backs into the game. We have no one who can play in that role. Cleverley is too timid and makes a meal of even a five-yard pass; Fellaini hasn't got the skill or the vision, and Carrick is far too ponderous. Our midfield is bereft of energy. Getting Di Maria is all well and good but who's going to provide him with the service he needs? Without a general in the middle, he'll spend half the game tracking back looking for the ball like Rooney and Van Persie do now.
But never fear. Van Gaal might experiment with Ashley Young in the CM position against MK Dons. If he does well, he might start there against the inbreds and obviate the need to sign Vidal. (Just kidding).
Ki is like Dembele. Looks good when you watch him play the odd game but he doesn't really do anything of note.
Well, at least we know Januzaj isn't cut out to play there. Can't believe that Van Gaal played him there but I suppose when you're down to bare bones, what else can you do? Kagawa isn't the answer either. We need a box-to-box player: a fecking hard bastard who will win the ball high up the pitch and hold it if necessary to bring the wing backs into the game. We have no one who can play in that role. Cleverley is too timid and makes a meal of even a five-yard pass; Fellaini hasn't got the skill or the vision, and Carrick is far too ponderous. Our midfield is bereft of energy. Getting Di Maria is all well and good but who's going to provide him with the service he needs? Without a general in the middle, he'll spend half the game tracking back looking for the ball like Rooney and Van Persie do now.
But never fear. Van Gaal might experiment with Ashley Young in the CM position against MK Dons. If he does well, he might start there against the inbreds and obviate the need to sign Vidal. (Just kidding).
Exactly, said it before.. but Herrera apart. None of our midfielders are good enough, I'd have axed them all and brought a fresh batch.
Yep. Been banging this particular drum for a few years now. Makes me want to weep when I recall the days when Roy Keane put the fear of the Almighty into the opposition. He really was the last great box-to-box midfielder we had and he's been gone for years. Vidal looks tailor-made for the role though and I hope we sign him. I still can't fathom why Anderson is still hanging around. Unless Van Gaal has powers that can turn water into wine, Anderson needs to be shown the door. What's the story with Nick Powell by the way? We had high hopes for him but he seems to have dropped off the grid. Have we sold him or loaned him out again?
Are there any players in the prem that are suitable and available.
If we don't get Vidal for whom i can ignore our specific needs of balance with Herrera because of his sheer quality, who is the best #6 realistically available right now ?
I think that position is our weakest right now with Carrick out right now but 33 as well and well Fletcher clearly looking not upto it so far.
I think that position is our weakest right now with Carrick out right now but 33 as well and well Fletcher clearly looking not upto it so far.
How do you know, who's available and who isn't? I think it's impossible to say. IMO there are few good midfielders out there that would improve us and are proven, they'd probably cost quite a bit, but should be obtainable for the right amount. I'm thinking Schneiderlin, L. Bender, Strootman, Allan(Udinese), Mario Suarez, Parejo, Iturraspe, McCarthy, Gonalons, Valero and Khedira. None of them is near Vidal's level and I haven't seen enough of Allan, Parejo, Valero and Gonalons to be sure, if they would be a good fit or anything more than squad players, but read good things and have seen a bit at least. Then there's talented players like Geis, Saul Niguez, Kramer, William Carvalho, Andre Gomes and Goretzka who could be typical United signings that develop into good or great players with us. Point is there are players out there and I've probably missed some, but one of them should certainly be good enough to improve us right now or in the near future.
Not many available. In my opinion Vidal is available but we are worried about his knee apparently. Other than that De Jong is in there but Milan said no offer or he is not for sale. Schneiderlin could work. He will be willing to move to us. Lucas Silva is sort of a #6 according to what Ive read so far but work permit might be an issue with less than a week left. Carvalho is another one available if we pay the release clause. Doubt that is going to happen.
I can't understand why we haven't gone for Mascherano. He's been used as a defender at Barca for years, and Barca have just signed a few new defenders. Surely he'd come over if we threw some cash at him. And he's a genuinely world-class player, none of that de Jong/McCarthy nonsense.
On a completely unrelated note, isn't Kovacic at Inter a CM of some sort?
On a completely unrelated note, isn't Kovacic at Inter a CM of some sort?
Good luck getting him. They are rebuilding there and he is their centre piece of the puzzle.
Well, Inter is not in the CL; Serie A is suffering generally; we probably have more financial muscle than Inter; our star players include van Persie, Rooney, Mata, maybe di Maria, while theirs are... Handanovic? Vidic? Guarin? I don't know much about Inter at all, but based on the above, I wouldn't classify him as an impossible signing. He'd probably be expensive as hell, but maybe worth it?
DiMaria-------Herrera
------Carrick---------
should be good enough, but we'll likely struggle here until Carrick gets back with Fletcher back off the boil.
------Carrick---------
should be good enough, but we'll likely struggle here until Carrick gets back with Fletcher back off the boil.
The few times I've seen him, he certainly looked very promising, but he seems to be more of an attacking midfielder than the central midfielder that we need. Especially when Inter were out of possession he looked lazy to me.
Kramer made a lovely scoop through pass and scored a good goal this weekend. His loan at BMG is for another year, but he's 23, was in the German WC squad and trusted to play when Khedira got hurt and seems to be fairly decent at everything, so might be a nice option.
I say, let's go all in for Vidal, I don't understand this "dogdy" knee stuff everyone is now going with. He had an injury, went under the knife and is back now. I don't know what's "dodgy" about it and not sure why people in England is now using that word every now and then...And what's the logic in not signing Vidal because of a dodgy knee then signing Strootman in January? If we're not signing Vidal because he's knees are dodgy as i keep hearing, then we won't/shouldn't be signing Strootman either. Back to the topic, If we can't get Vidal, then other options are Khedira, Scheiderlin, Rabiot, Carvalho and De Jong.
Vidal is first choice, if not, Schneiderlin is perfect, knows the league and young, if not my third choice would be Lucas Silva, and the muppet choice would be Kovacic
If rabiot is available for around ten million euros as reported we are crazy not to be in for him
Young with huge potential but could improve our side right now
Young with huge potential but could improve our side right now
Just sign anyone.
Because we've been hurt in the past by Hargreaves. And as for the Strootman comparison, they are different injuries, with Vidal's the one to be more wary of.
exacly my thinking,
we could have got benatia and bender for the price of di maira, and i think we would be a better team if we had
The transfer rumors seem to have Fredy Guarin as the backup plan should Vidal fall through.
The little I've seen of Guarin he looked powerful and athletic, but lacking in intelligence or calm.
Inter want to sell him though which makes him a good backup option. It's not as if you can just snap your fingers at the last minute and have any player without laying the groundwork first.
The little I've seen of Guarin he looked powerful and athletic, but lacking in intelligence or calm.
Inter want to sell him though which makes him a good backup option. It's not as if you can just snap your fingers at the last minute and have any player without laying the groundwork first.
That happened last summer. Look how that turned out.
If not Vidal, would love to go after Sven Bender.
Lucas Silva does look very interesting but would reinforce him with someone like De Jong.
Lucas Silva does look very interesting but would reinforce him with someone like De Jong.