Kevin Strootman

[GloryHunter07]

Strootman was born to play for man utd.....can't wait to see him here....I must admit that the excitment in signing him vanished when some dutch clown described him as 'the dutch gareth barry'.... but he has gone on to be as good in italy as pogba is and I get the feeling he will make a huge impact here along the lines of Jaap Stam

Moyes disagrees with you!

 

[Sam]

How's he been doing since his comeback?

 

[saivet]

How's he been doing since his comeback?

Just checked and he took no part in todays 4-2 win against Inter.

 

[RuudTom83]

If Blind recovers faster than expected then there is no need to sigh Strootman in January.

If United hav a fantastic December and Woody gets excited about a title push then I wouldn't be against adding him to the squad...but again common sense would be to see how he recovers and go for him in the summer.

 

[MrMarcello]

Nah, I'd get him as soon as possible, if possible. Wait too long and another club could snatch him up, or he gets crocked again. And with United's track record on injuries, it's probable Strootman would be needed within hours of signing. Blind or Carrick could fall down and be out six weeks.

 

[JPRouve]

I'm maybe irrational but i would sign him as soon as possible.

 

[Raoul]

I'm maybe irrational but i would sign him as soon as possible.

We could buy him in Jan, but it wouldn't really matter. We're going to make the CL next year with or without him. I see him as a natural replacement for Carrick, who turns 34 next year. Blind, Herrera, and Strootman would make quite a good midfield.

 

[JPRouve]

We could buy him in Jan, but it wouldn't really matter. We're going to make the CL next year with or without him. I see him as a natural replacement for Carrick, who turns 34 next year. Blind, Herrera, and Strootman would make quite a good midfield.

I think that if we can add him or an other player to the team in january, they will benefit from the 6 months and will be more important next year.

 

[Phil]

What type of player is he and who would you compare him to?

 

[Scarecrow]

How's he been doing since his comeback?

He's barely played 10 minutes of football since but he's training and hasn't had any injuries, so he's going in a positive direction. He played 6 minutes against Torino 3 weeks ago, didn't feature in their next game, probably because they won very narrowly and couldn't afford to take any risks and then played 7 minutes against CSKA a week ago. Didn't play today against Inter but that's understandable; big game and all. He'll probably get some more minutes against Sassuolo next week.

 

[JPRouve]

What type of player is he and who would you compare him to?

I'm not good at comparing players, but i would say Schweinsteiger. Strootman is an intelligent player who can play all the roles in center midfield, he is a good passer, a good defender and he read the game very well.

 

[Raoul]

What type of player is he and who would you compare him to?

He strikes me as a complete box to box midfielder; a player that can galvanize a side and bring out the best in those around him. Reminds me a lot of late 90s Roy Keane with a touch of Michael Carrick circa 2007/08.

 

[Raoul]

I'm not good at comparing players, but i would say Schweinsteiger. Strootman is an intelligent player who can play all the roles in center midfield, he is a good passer, a good defender and he read the game very well.

I can see that as well. In fact, if Van Gaal wasn't our manager, I could easily see him ending up at Bayern. He's their type of player.

 

[Santos J]

Seems inevitable he'll be here at some point but I really don't see the point, he's no better than Blind in the holding role and Di Maria should play centrally with Herrera.

 

[JPRouve]

Seems inevitable he'll be here at some point but I really don't see the point, he's no better than Blind in the holding role and Di Maria should play centrally with Herrera.

You don't see the point ?

Look at bayern: Lahm, Schweinsteiger, Martinez, Gaudino, Rode, Xabi Alonso, Thiago are all CMs and they also have Gotze, Muller, Alaba who are very good there.
Man utd: Herrera, Di Maria, Blind, Carrick, Fellaini, Fletcher, Anderson and we have Rooney and Valencia who can play there.

The difference is huge. And for what it worth Strootman is a lot superior to Blind.

Edit: i forgot Mata

 

[DWelbz19]

Seems inevitable he'll be here at some point but I really don't see the point, he's no better than Blind in the holding role and Di Maria should play centrally with Herrera.

I think van Gaal - in general - will opt for a third CM with Di Maria on a wing, or as a second-striker. I see Strootman as a replacement to Fellaini if he were here; providing robust physicality to keep us solid, with stronger technical abilities to up us to a stronger edge. I agree Di Maria is best suited as a LCM, but I'm not sure we'll see it more than at 'easier' home games.

 

[Raoul]

Seems inevitable he'll be here at some point but I really don't see the point, he's no better than Blind in the holding role and Di Maria should play centrally with Herrera.

I think Van Gaal would build his formation around Strootman, probably dropping a striker.

See here (with subtitles on after 13:00)

 

[DWelbz19]

I think Van Gaal would build his formation around Strootman, probably dropping a striker.

See here (with subtitles on after 13:00)

I can see us playing that sort of formation here, once everything is settled.

Blind/Carrick
Strootman/Fellaini - Herrera/Di Maria
New Winger/Januzaj - Rooney/van Persie - Di Maria/Januzaj

 

[Raoul]

LvG - "What type of player is Strootman ? He's a midfielder who can bring balance to the midfield. So when I start Sneijder and Van Der Vaart, then I am happy that I have Strootman there too [and De Jong.....]. But Strootman gets injured, and unfortunately there is no other Strootman - No other Strootman, so I am racking my brain about a new system (without Strootman).

------------------

Extrapolating this to our case, I think LvG would play a midfield of Di Maria, Herrera, Blind, and Strootman, with AdM and Herrera representing the aforementioned Sneijder and Van Der Vaart roles, and Strootman and Blind representing Strootman and De Jong.

 

[JPRouve]

LvG - "What type of player is Strootman ? He's a midfielder who can bring balance to the midfield. So when I start Sneijder and Van Der Vaart, then I am happy that I have Strootman there too [and De Jong.....]. But Strootman gets injured, and unfortunately there is no other Strootman - No other Strootman, so I am racking my brain about a new system (without Strootman).

------------------

Extrapolating this to our case, I think LvG would play a midfield of Di Maria, Herrera, Blind, and Strootman, with AdM and Herrera representing the aforementioned Sneijder and Van Der Vaart roles, and Strootman and Blind representing Strootman and De Jong.

If i remember well, it was a midfield three made of Strootman-Sneijder-Van der Vaart. And Blind was playing left back.
So if he was to replicate the same system Di Maria would be in the front three, i think.

 

[Raoul]

If i remember well, it was a midfield three made of Strootman-Sneijder-Van der Vaart. And Blind was playing left back.
So if he was to replicate the same system Di Maria would be in the front three, i think.

Yep, you're right. AdM would be in the Robben role in that case. We would need to drop a striker in either scenario.

 

[Santos J]

The difference is huge. And for what it worth Strootman is a lot superior to Blind

As a centre mid yeah, not as a holding midfielder.

 

[MrMarcello]

What type of player is he and who would you compare him to?

Djemba tenacity with Kleberson's retention skills and Chadwick's good looks.

 

[JPRouve]

As a centre mid yeah, not as a holding midfielder.

But he is not an holding midfielder, he wouldn't be in direct concurrence with Carrick or Blind.

 

[Santos J]

But he is not an holding midfielder, he wouldn't be in direct concurrence with Carrick or Blind.

I know, my point was I'd rather see Di Maria and Herrera in midfield than Strootman there with Di Maria pushed somewhere else.

 

[JPRouve]

I know, my point was I'd rather see Di Maria and Herrera in midfield than Strootman there with Di Maria pushed somewhere else.

I see your point, but even if you play Di Maria there, we need top class depth like any other big club, we are all claiming that United is the biggest club but our team do not show that.

 

[Kag]

You don't see the point ?

Look at bayern: Lahm, Schweinsteiger, Martinez, Gaudino, Rode, Xabi Alonso, Thiago are all CMs and they also have Gotze, Muller, Alaba who are very good there.
Man utd: Herrera, Di Maria, Blind, Carrick, Fellaini, Fletcher, Anderson and we have Rooney and Valencia who can play there.

The difference is huge. And for what it worth Strootman is a lot superior to Blind.

Edit: i forgot Mata

This. Having players as good as Herrera, Strootman, Carrick, Mata, Di Maria and Blind putting eachother on the bench will only be a good thing. If we're serious about getting back to the top then we've got to be ruthless and ensure there is quality in depth all over the park.

 

[Theonas]

This. Having players as good as Herrera, Strootman, Carrick, Mata, Di Maria and Blind putting eachother on the bench will only be a good thing. If we're serious about getting back to the top then we've got to be ruthless and ensure there is quality in depth all over the park.

This is a massive exaggeration. Barcelona's hugely successful side in 2011 had a bunch of youngsters for depth. Bayern's CL winners had Gustavo and not much else in midfield. Madrid now have Khedira and Illarra. Chelsea now have Mikel and Ramires as cover. You can't 4 top class players competing for 2 positions because it is not manageable, players don't like it, managers find it harder to keep everyone happy and so on.

 

[Clas Sified]

This is a massive exaggeration. Barcelona's hugely successful side in 2011 had a bunch of youngsters for depth. Bayern's CL winners had Gustavo and not much else in midfield. Madrid now have Khedira and Illarra. Chelsea now have Mikel and Ramires as cover. You can't 4 top class players competing for 2 positions because it is not manageable, players don't like it, managers find it harder to keep everyone happy and so on.

Have you seen our injury record? Bayern's had a lot of injuries this season and yet still manage to perform at a high level because of their depth. Our midfielders are all average after our starting ones.

 

[devilish]

Strootman would take Fellaini's job and not Carrick's. We would have a 3 men CM with Blind-Strootman-Herrera and Mata + Di Maria backing the main striker. I still think that we would need a defensive midfielder that give us some physical presence in CM though.

 

[Insanity]

Is anyone else worried that a guy who has played a sum total of feck all minutes in 9 months (13 to be precise), has only had half a season at Roma, is recovering from an ACL injury and would cost upwards of 30m (don't know why), is considered a "nailed on" signing for the club?

Can someone please shed light on LVG's transfer record at his previous clubs?

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Is anyone else worried that a guy who has played a sum total of feck all minutes in 9 months (13 to be precise), has only had half a season at Roma, is recovering from an ACL injury and would cost upwards of 30m (don't know why), is considered a "nailed on" signing for the club?

Can someone please shed light on LVG's transfer record at his previous clubs?

It worries me, for all LvG wants him the board will want proof that he is fit before they shell out that sort of money. I wouldn't touch him with a bargepole in January.

 

[Nighteyes]

Do we really need him? We already have Fellaini, Herrera, Carrick and Blind as the senior CM's. In the U21's we have Perrera who LVG seems to rate highly. And then you have Di Maria to consider as well.

If Strootman was some kind of special player it'd be fine but he's not. He's a decent player who's had a terrible injury very recently.

 

[devilish]

Do we really need him? We already have Fellaini, Herrera, Carrick and Blind as the senior CM's. In the U21's we have Perrera who LVG seems to rate highly. And then you have Di Maria to consider as well.

If Strootman was some kind of special player it'd be fine but he's not. He's a decent player who's had a terrible injury very recently.

It depends on our aims. Do we want to become a CL serious contender or are we happy to settle for 3rd-4th place? For the latter case then we can settle with the players above. For the former case then we need someone with more brains then Fellaini whose dirty football makes him a disaster waiting to happen.

 

[coolredwine]

For some reason, him being out injured and not playing for almost a year has suddenly elevated him as one of the best players. His case is the same as Falcao, and buying him at this point would make no sense until he proves that he is fit and running after the injury.

 

[Nighteyes]

It depends on our aims. Do we want to become a CL serious contender or are we happy to settle for 3rd-4th place? For the latter case then we can settle with the players above. For the former case then we need someone with more brains then Fellaini whose dirty football makes him a disaster waiting to happen.

With every passing game Fellaini surprises me. He's a right dirty bastard but his intelligence on the ball has been apparent in the last couple of games. We could do beter than Fellaini, sure, but is Strootman the man? Don't see it myself.

 

[Insanity]

It worries me, for all LvG wants him the board will want proof that he is fit before they shell out that sort of money. I wouldn't touch him with a bargepole in January.

At Bayern or Barca they have a structure in place where can veto a player the manager wants, if the management doesn't deem X or Y suitable. I don't know if Woodie is strong enough to do that. We went after Vermaelen on VG's suggestion only for Arsenal to take a stand and help us.

Do we really need him? We already have Fellaini, Herrera, Carrick and Blind as the senior CM's. In the U21's we have Perrera who LVG seems to rate highly. And then you have Di Maria to consider as well.

If Strootman was some kind of special player it'd be fine but he's not. He's a decent player who's had a terrible injury very recently.

Carrick, Blind, Herrera, Mata, Di Maira, Fellaini, Valencia, Lingard & Periera are all options for a 3 or 4 man midfield that VG has played with us so far. There is really no need to spend a huge amount on a player recovering from a serious injury.

 

[devilish]

With every passing game Fellaini surprises me. He's a right dirty bastard but his intelligence on the ball has been apparent in the last couple of games. We could do beter than Fellaini, sure, but is Strootman the man? Don't see it myself.

Fellaini had proven that our midfield can't be run entirely by technically gifted smurfs who are knocked down by every nudge. By playing Fellaini we were able to contain such weakness. Having said that, the guy can't restrain himself from doing 1-2 dirty action every single game. He's a disaster waiting to happen and one day he will cost us big.

We need someone whose tough enough to win the ball without having to resort to cnutish attitude to do so.

 

[coolredwine]

We need someone whose tough enough to win the ball without having to resort to cnutish attitude to do so.

Radja Nainggolan.

 

[JPRouve]

This is a massive exaggeration. Barcelona's hugely successful side in 2011 had a bunch of youngsters for depth. Bayern's CL winners had Gustavo and not much else in midfield. Madrid now have Khedira and Illarra. Chelsea now have Mikel and Ramires as cover. You can't 4 top class players competing for 2 positions because it is not manageable, players don't like it, managers find it harder to keep everyone happy and so on.

Because of the wage control, and they had in midfield Mascherano, Xavi, Sergi, Thiago, Busquets, Iniesta. And the year after they sign Fabregas and try to sign Herrera or Martinez.