Future planning - Replacing Carrick

He's nothing like Schneiderlin other than that he's quick, strong and can tackle.

He's exact5ly like Schneiderlin, you just described his attributes, he's not a particularly great passer, he's basic like Schneiderlin is.
 
He's exact5ly like Schneiderlin, you just described his attributes, he's not a particularly great passer, he's basic like Schneiderlin is.

He's shorter, less good defender, much better dribbler, better shot, superb technique, and his passing is very good - really don't know where you're getting that from. His role for Benfica is almost exactly what you describe him as not doing - sitting deep trying to dictate play but with occasional bursts forward. He's not perfected the whole setting the tempo thing yet but he's 18 FFS, and he'd get to learn alongside Carrick and Schweini for a year if he came here in the summer.
 
He's shorter, less good defender, much better dribbler, better shot, superb technique, and his passing is very good - really don't know where you're getting that from. His role for Benfica is almost exactly what you describe him as not doing - sitting deep trying to dictate play but with occasional bursts forward. He's not perfected the whole setting the tempo thing yet but he's 18 FFS, and he'd get to learn alongside Carrick and Schweini for a year if he came here in the summer.

I've watched Benfica play several times since we were linked with him, in that midfield he's doing stuff that is clearly not natural because he's having to do much of the work, but his technique and passing are nothing special, he's not a #6 at all, any manager getting him would utilize his running with the ball, his best asset by far, and play him as a box to box like Schneiderlin.
 
I've watched Benfica play several times since we were linked with him, in that midfield he's doing stuff that is clearly not natural because he's having to do much of the work, but his technique and passing are nothing special, he's not a #6 at all, any manager getting him would utilize his running with the ball, his best asset by far, and play him as a box to box like Schneiderlin.

He's playing that role to teach him how to be a more complete player. Because he's 18.
 
He's more technically gifted and good at running with the ball. Don't agree with your assessment.

Running with the ball yes, but I don't get where technically gifted comes from, he plays with the ball too far out of his control a lot of the time, which leads to him stretching to try and win risky tackles, he's a beast physically but not a #6 in the making IMO.
 
He's playing that role because they don't have anyone else to do it right now.

That too but Samaris is a defensive midfielder, he could quite easily play as the deepest man while Sanches attacks but the coach obviously doesn't want to do that.
 
That too but Samaris is a defensive midfielder, he could quite easily play as the deepest man while Sanches attacks but the coach obviously doesn't want to do that.

Because he needs the legs of Sanches back there to protect him from what I've seen. I've just not seen anything in Sanches beyond his admittedly beastly physical attributes, that makes me feel we need to be buying him now, especially not for the #6 role and for the ludicrous price touted.
 
Defensive option are: Jorginho, Weigl, Xhaka

More dynamic playmakers: Gundogan, Modric, Tielemans

Tielemans have been in and out of the first XI for Anderlecht, but the kid will be a quality playmaker, you can already see that.

I prefer the dynamic version if we plan to have Schneiderlin as the partner.
 
Defensive option are: Jorginho, Weigl, Xhaka

More dynamic playmakers: Gundogan, Modric, Tielemans

Tielemans have been in and out of the first XI for Anderlecht, but the kid will be a quality playmaker, you can already see that.

I prefer the dynamic version if we plan to have Schneiderlin as the partner.

Jorginho is too slow and Weigl wont be moving, but Xhaka would very much be a younger, more physical Carrick, his game is very similar. Gundogan remains my #1 pick but I can't see him coming here.
 
Looking back, it is truly is quite amazing how far the man has come. As he nears retirement, his indispensability becomes more evident and we are having the same questions over his replacement as we once did over Scholes and Keane. A club legend and one of SAF's best buys ever.
 
Jorginho is too slow and Weigl wont be moving, but Xhaka would very much be a younger, more physical Carrick, his game is very similar. Gundogan remains my #1 pick but I can't see him coming here.

Xhaka is slower than Jorginho.

A Little stat comparison between those two shows that Xhaka is better defensively, while Jorginho creates more for his team.

Gundogan is also my prefered option, but as you i think it will be difficult to get him, especially if we have no CL football next year.
 
Xhaka is slower than Jorginho.

A Little stat comparison between those two shows that Xhaka is better defensively, while Jorginho creates more for his team.

Gundogan is also my prefered option, but as you i think it will be difficult to get him, especially if we have no CL football next year.

I very much doubt that, Xhaka gets back really well to help his back 4, when Jorginho chases runners he looks like he's running backwards he's so slow.I am not surprised he is more creative though, Xhaka tends to play more of the early passes that get Gladbach moving, while Jorginho is more of a playmaker in the opposition half for Napoli.

I think Gundogan will likely end up at Barca, he's a perfect fit for them and with Iniesta getting older he makes sense.
 
I very much doubt that, Xhaka gets back really well to help his back 4, when Jorginho chases runners he looks like he's running backwards he's so slow.I am not surprised he is more creative though, Xhaka tends to play more of the early passes that get Gladbach moving, while Jorginho is more of a playmaker in the opposition half for Napoli.

I think Gundogan will likely end up at Barca, he's a perfect fit for them and with Iniesta getting older he makes sense.

We have to agree to disagree on the speed discussion. Anyways, it's not about pace when talking about holding playmakers as we both know, it's all about passing and positioning for their role.

Barcelona would certainly be stupid not to buy him, he is the perfect fit as you said.

I like Tielemans, but i'm a bit worried about his defensive qualitys, maybe the move would come too early for him.

Finding the right player to fit in our team is difficult at the moment.
 
We have to agree to disagree on the speed discussion. Anyways, it's not about pace when talking about holding playmakers as we both know, it's all about passing and positioning for their role.

Barcelona would certainly be stupid not to buy him, he is the perfect fit as you said.

I like Tielemans, but i'm a bit worried about his defensive qualitys, maybe the move would come too early for him.

Finding the right player to fit in our team is difficult at the moment.

Pace isn't everything I agree but it is still important to have recovery speed in the role, in order to stay with fast and powerful #8's from the opposition in a lot of games.

Tielemans has stalled from most accounts and in truth I am not sure we should go so young on this one, we really need someone who is ready to start next season IMO. It is difficult though I agree as we have to try and work out who the player fits with out of our current crop as so far none of the younger CM's have really established themselves as key starters at United.
 
Buy a proper CB and use Schneiderlin as first choice DM and Blind as second choice. Bastian and Ander for the other CM position. We need to do something about our winger situation and sort out how Depay/Martial are going to be played next season.
 
Buy a proper CB and use Schneiderlin as first choice DM and Blind as second choice. Bastian and Ander for the other CM position. We need to do something about our winger situation and sort out how Depay/Martial are going to be played next season.

The problem there is we'd be without a proper passer in the middle and Schweini is injured a lot while Ander isn't suited to the double pivot, he's an AM. As far as Martial and Memphis go, Martial on the left and Memphis as his back-up.
 
Yesterday is a perfect illustration of why Schneiderlin is not Carrick's replacement, he's the guy that plays with Carrick's replacement. Most top teams have a CM that screens the defense and orchestrates the offense, we need that player to compliment Schneiderlin's strengths.
I have been arguing this all season. His strength is never been dictating, at Southampton he stood out against the bigger teams because they had to absorb pressure and his combative qualities shone thru.
If United can get a proper replacement for Carrick next to him, the midfield will be alright.
 
How's Geis?

He's still a talented player and probably one of Schalke's best, but I don't think he's ready for a big move yet. It's hard to judge their players with the season they are having. The team can play well one game and look completely clueless the next. Geis would be competing with Schweinsteiger for the defensive midfielder or at least he should, if the penny's dropped for van Gaal that Schneiderlin should be the box-to-box player and not Carrick or Schweinsteiger. He could learn a lot from Schweinsteiger and he'd probably be a good signing, but I'd still prefer Xhaka to Geis. I think Mourinho would prefer Xhaka to Geis as well. If we buy one player from Schalke, it should be Sane.

The main thing I remember from him this season was a horrific tackle early on, but @bucky is the guy that would know best as he's a fan.

Hey, don't put me on the spot! :D
 
We have Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger, Herrera, Blind and Fosu-Mensah if Carrick is released.

If the rumors are true, Renato Sanches would be our next signing in midfield. But I prefer someone like Gundogan or Kroos for now.

I also like Kante, however, Schneiderlin should be doing that work and we should sign a deep lying playmaker instead. The likes of Pogba/Verrati are unrealistic and Barkley/Isco are more CAMs.
 
We should have signed Strootman instead of Fellaini, he would have been the ideal replacement for Carrick, I'd still bring him in now if he gets back to full fitness and has a decent preseason. Other options would be Xhaka or if we could pull it off Kroos.
 
Blind can do a good job in a midfield of 3. But I wouldn't rely on him in a double pivot.

He has been more than decent as CB. But I'm not sure where he would play under Mourinho in a 4231.
 
Bound to be an u21 player in the ranks who can hit simple passes, show for the ball regularly and not be a complete pensioner physically.
 
I'm now thinking either Blind will play there or we'll just use Schneiderlin as a water carrier and try to add another creative CM slightly further forward.
 
IMO Kroos is the best player to replace Carrick. We already have energetic players like Schneiderlin, Herrera and Sanches (if we sign him). But our deep lying playmakers like Carrick or Schweinsteiger are not getting any younger and Kroos has a good passing ability.
 
What about Xhaka? I know he is linked with Arsenal. But we were linked with Renato Sanches and we know how it ended up.
 
Danny Drinkwater anyone?

I said this. People talk about him only having one good season, but those are the same people that wanted Renato Sanches, who broke into the Benfica team a matter of months ago.

Drinkwater is a good player, who has had a very good season in the EPL. Of course it's a risk buying a player after one good season, but it's a risk that we need to take, at times.

He has EPL experience, he can play in a two man midfield (more deeper), he has a good passing range, can tackle, bags of energy, good positional and tactical awareness. The lads got it all.

I don't see why our fans are so obsessed with buying 'superstars', when more often than not, they've let us down in the past. It's time to find players who are going to come in and produce the goods straight away.

Drinkwater, to me, would be an ideal replacement for Carrick. Be interesting to see how he gets on in the Euro's and CL next season.
 
IMO Kroos is not really good defending but he has been playing as #6 with Modric and James/Isco, (at the end the used Casemiro more with Kroos and Modric). So a midfield of Kroos with Schneiderlin (If he improves) wouldn't be that bad. Kroos as the deep-lying playmaker and Morgan being our Kante (hopefully). Unfortunately, there are not too many top CMs avaiable.
 
Kroos is the opposite of a Mourinho player. Physically nothing special. Not an incisive/mobile 10 (like Ozil or Sneijder), nor is he a Alonso/Carrick with defensive qualities. I think the closest comparison in any recent Mourinho team is Fabregas.
 
Lot's of really good points regarding personnel and formations, I guess the key variable in 'what player to replace Carrick' with would be the formation of choice. Too many times managers / coaches try to shoehorn players into their favorite formation only for it to implode as the players they have just do not suit the attributes needed... The best formation is the one that suits the players best attributes. If you have a specific formation in mind then they need to recruit accordingly.

Anyone mentioned Kante at Leicester? While he isn't in the same class as Carrick with his distribution, I am not sure the midfield needs another passing player to link the lines. We have AH, JM, DB, BS, MS at a push. If JM is going to go with his favored 4-2-3-1 formation, the big need is for an athletic defensive holding player to break up the play. Kante is very good at doing this, 1 season wonder perhaps, but he would be someone to look at imo given his potential. I don't think DB fits into this category, in fact I will have to disclose that I am not a particular fan of DB.. so perhaps my bias is preventing me from seeing it. I've been disappointed with MS, but perhaps he can come good over the summer.
 
I think next year we should use Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger, Herrera & Mata the same way Jose used Matic, Fabregas, Ramirez & Oscar when they won the title last season.

Against weaker teams you'd have Herrera (with licence to get forward) next to Schneiderlin with Mata ahead of them. Against stronger teams you have Schneiderlin & Schweinsteiger with Herrera ahead of them.

CM in my view isn't a priority this Summer. Particularly if Rooney ends up staying and tries to squeeze himself into the "Herrera" role described above.
 
I think next year we should use Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger, Herrera & Mata the same way Jose used Matic, Fabregas, Ramirez & Oscar when they won the title last season.

Against weaker teams you'd have Herrera (with licence to get forward) next to Schneiderlin with Mata ahead of them. Against stronger teams you have Schneiderlin & Schweinsteiger with Herrera ahead of them.

CM in my view isn't a priority this Summer. Particularly if Rooney ends up staying and tries to squeeze himself into the "Herrera" role described above.

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