Kevin Strootman

Devil may care said:
Underwhelming is a good way to describe Strootman, he was compared to Gareth Barry which is pretty apt. Keita is a different type of player though, he's much more attacking, we need a holding CM.
Click to expand...
We need agility. We need quick players to drive forward from deep positions. We need players that can pass the ball quickly and break up the opposition defence, both with clever passes and with cutting edge run and carry. We need players that can link midfield and attack in a coherent way. We need players that will get in and score great goals when we need them. Keita does all of this. There isn't a player that ticks more boxes in regard to what we need.
But most of all, we need STARS!
I just want a team that plays brilliant football. I wouldn't waste Keita in a holding role, but I bet he'd be adequate enough if we did. I even bet Pulisic could do it too. He's smart enough to play anywhere.
I don't care about a specialist holder. I just want slashing football. Just play the game.
 
I would love to have him here. Imo you shouldn't write a player completely off because of a long-term injury. Sure there is risk, but you take a risk whenever you buy a player.

He can play both the box-to-box role and holding midfielder role.

This game is against Greece, which tbh is a defensive team and not very good, but you can see his good vision and passing skills.

 
don't sign old players said:
We need agility. We need quick players to drive forward from deep positions. We need players that can pass the ball quickly and break up the opposition defence, both with clever passes and with cutting edge run and carry. We need players that can link midfield and attack in a coherent way. We need players that will get in and score great goals when we need them. Keita does all of this. There isn't a player that ticks more boxes in regard to what we need.
But most of all, we need STARS!
I just want a team that plays brilliant football. I wouldn't waste Keita in a holding role, but I bet he'd be adequate enough if we did. I even bet Pulisic could do it too. He's smart enough to play anywhere.
I don't care about a specialist holder. I just want slashing football. Just play the game.
Click to expand...

It doesn't work like that though, take a look at Barca and Dortmund, probably the two most cavalier teams in Europe, even they have a holding midfielder to protect the defence and control the tempo. I'm not saying Keita isn't a good prospect but he'd come in to compete with Ander, not for the same role Strootman is supposedly being eyed for.
 
Devil may care said:
It doesn't work like that though, take a look at Barca and Dortmund, probably the two most cavalier teams in Europe, even they have a holding midfielder to protect the defence and control the tempo. I'm not saying Keita isn't a good prospect but he'd come in to compete with Ander, not for the same role Strootman is supposedly being eyed for.
Click to expand...
I think Herrera could do the job as our deepest mid. He's certainly improved his defensive contribution this year. It's a bit easier to be cavalier when your forward line is MSN. If we can become more dangerous attacking wise, teams will be reticent about pushing forward in numbers against us.
As for Dortmund, I hardly ever see Weigl make important interceptions. He makes the odd nice pass, he even makes the odd foray into attack. I thought he struggled against Modric and co. a while back. The only way he could stop Modric bursting forward was to foul, and that only if he was lucky to get close enough. These type of players are overrated. I've always liked Busquets though. If we could bring in someone like Kroos who is genuinely capable of dictating the tempo I think we'd both be happy.
But if you consider latter day Carrick to be sufficient shield for the defence, then I think Herrera could be equally so. He doesn't have the same range in passing, but again, he's sufficient.
And I don't believe we should make a thousand signings. We just need to add some agility, speed and skill to the mix and then go from there. If Keita & Griezmann is all we sign this summer I'll be over the moon.
I kind of agree with what you're saying. It's just not on top of my personal priority list. An attacking RM. A fast agile striker. Third, a defensive mid. So yeah, third priority. I have no idea who I'd be happy with though.
 
don't sign old players said:
I think Herrera could do the job as our deepest mid. He's certainly improved his defensive contribution this year. It's a bit easier to be cavalier when your forward line is MSN. If we can become more dangerous attacking wise, teams will be reticent about pushing forward in numbers against us.
As for Dortmund, I hardly ever see Weigl make important interceptions. He makes the odd nice pass, he even makes the odd foray into attack. I thought he struggled against Modric and co. a while back. The only way he could stop Modric bursting forward was to foul, and that only if he was lucky to get close enough. These type of players are overrated. I've always liked Busquets though. If we could bring in someone like Kroos who is genuinely capable of dictating the tempo I think we'd both be happy.
But if you consider latter day Carrick to be sufficient shield for the defence, then I think Herrera could be equally so. He doesn't have the same range in passing, but again, he's sufficient.
And I don't believe we should make a thousand signings. We just need to add some agility, speed and skill to the mix and then go from there. If Keita & Griezmann is all we sign this summer I'll be over the moon.
I kind of agree with what you're saying. It's just not on top of my personal priority list. An attacking RM. A fast agile striker. Third, a defensive mid. So yeah, third priority. I have no idea who I'd be happy with though.
Click to expand...

Herrera's biggest strength is chasing the ball and pressing higher up in the midfield, him and Keita play a very similar game only Keita is more dynamic on the ball, Ander doesn't have the passing range or positional game to play as the holding CM. Basically the two players you want would fit in the 4-3-3 we have in place of Mata and Ander, but wouldn't solve the big problem of having someone to sit behind the front 5 and shield the back 4, it's a pretty crucial role and we only have a player who will turn 36 next season that can play it properly, it's why we see so many clean through chances when Pogba and Herrera play as a 2, neither of them are great at tracking runs or being positionally responsible. I would choose Weigl over any CM around but players like Fabinho, Danilo and Strootman can do the defensive part of the role even if none of them are all that great on the ball.
 
Attila said:
Fact 1 - Contract only has 1 year left
Fact 2 - Dutch captain at like 23 = leader
Fact 4 - We need a couple of midfielders
Fact 5 - Left footed

After analysing these facts i think we should sign him, maybe Roma will take Fellaini as his replacement. I think they were interested in him before - a win win for all parties involved

http://www.football-italia.net/83423/roma-fellaini
Click to expand...
money, 35/40mln€; not fellaini

We must sell someone next summer. I think Manolas
 
Attila said:
Fact 1 - Contract only has 1 year left
Fact 2 - Dutch captain at like 23 = leader
Fact 4 - We need a couple of midfielders
Fact 5 - Left footed

After analysing these facts i think we should sign him, maybe Roma will take Fellaini as his replacement. I think they were interested in him before - a win win for all parties involved

http://www.football-italia.net/83423/roma-fellaini
Click to expand...

Do not want. Until I know what Fact 3 was.
 
Attila said:
Fact 1 - Contract only has 1 year left
Fact 2 - Dutch captain at like 23 = leader
Fact 4 - We need a couple of midfielders
Fact 5 - Left footed

After analysing these facts i think we should sign him, maybe Roma will take Fellaini as his replacement. I think they were interested in him before - a win win for all parties involved

http://www.football-italia.net/83423/roma-fellaini
Click to expand...

What happened to fact 3?
 
The times ive watched him this season he's been at Schneiderlins best level at United which Isn't much.

I honestly think Fellaini is as good an option.

Nainggolan is the good one this year. Very driven. Half old though.
 
The new Hargreaves. I'm in.

Step 1. Sign him on 4 year deal.
Step 2. Win Champions League.
Step 4. Pay 3 years of deal while he sits in physio room.
 
Womp said:
Strootman still good? His injury was pretty serious, have barely seen him play since tbf.
Click to expand...

(I'm sorry for my english!)

Strootman and Nainggolan are our most important player

His best season was the first (pre - injury..). Roma played with 3 players in midfield (de rossi back, strootman in the left)
This year he is near De Rossi (but Strootman can often go forward), and nainggo is something like an advanced playmaker
Great season for Kevin, not like the first though.
He is very smart tactically, winning mentality. According to me Strootman and Nainggo are both perfect for premier league (Nainggo is similar to Vidal, even if Vidal is a little stronger)

@George Owen @United Pro Yes, 1 year left on his contract but I think it is less important than in other situations: he showed gratitude on several occasions (for support during injury). Of course, I can be wrong, but I'm pretty sure in his case
 
  • Like
Reactions: Akshay
United Pro said:
As an alternative to Strootman, what do people think about Saul?
Click to expand...

i like him. The guy is class.

But maybe we need someone more like Strootman because of his leader abilities and tactical discipline.

Saul tend to launch forward too much, and with Herrera and Pogba (if that would be the midfield trio), i think no one would be able to put order and control that midfield and they would be all over the place. (At Atletico he has WC commanding centre-backs to put order, but we don't)

Would love the guy here, but i think we need to first fix the big leadership problem we have in our starting 11, specially now that Carrick has at the most 1 season more. Strootman can help with that.

maybe one for the future... he is really young.
 
George Owen said:
i like him. The guy is class.

But maybe we need someone more like Strootman because of his leader abilities and tactical discipline.

Saul tend to launch forward too much, and with Herrera and Pogba (if that would be the midfield trio), i think no one would be able to put order and control that midfield and they would be all over the place. (At Atletico he has WC commanding centre-backs to put order, but we don't)

Would love the guy here, but i think we need to first fix the big leadership problem we have in our starting 11, specially now that Carrick has at the most 1 season more. Strootman can help with that.

maybe one for the future... he is really young.
Click to expand...
Saul is more attacking than Strootman, but they both are box to box, rather than a Carrick replacement.
 
United Pro said:
Saul is more attacking than Strootman, but they both are box to box, rather than a Carrick replacement.
Click to expand...

Strootman can play box to box but he is a natural defensive midfielder, and if Mou is looking at him, is to play him there. Not as a box to box.

@Pablitoooo speaking of that, why did Strootman always played as box to box in Roma instead of his natural position? Its because De Rossi refused to be sold?
 
Devil may care said:
Herrera's biggest strength is chasing the ball and pressing higher up in the midfield, him and Keita play a very similar game only Keita is more dynamic on the ball, Ander doesn't have the passing range or positional game to play as the holding CM. Basically the two players you want would fit in the 4-3-3 we have in place of Mata and Ander, but wouldn't solve the big problem of having someone to sit behind the front 5 and shield the back 4, it's a pretty crucial role and we only have a player who will turn 36 next season that can play it properly, it's why we see so many clean through chances when Pogba and Herrera play as a 2, neither of them are great at tracking runs or being positionally responsible. I would choose Weigl over any CM around but players like Fabinho, Danilo and Strootman can do the defensive part of the role even if none of them are all that great on the ball.
Click to expand...
It's not like we've ever instructed Herrera to play as the holder in a midfield of 3 though. So you're assuming he'd lack positional responsibility. Obviously I am equally assuming that he wouldn't. I definitely agree that we need an alternative though. In fact you've almost persuaded me that Strootman would be a decent signing, after originally you agreed that he'd be underwhelming!
 
don't sign old players said:
It's not like we've ever instructed Herrera to play as the holder in a midfield of 3 though. So you're assuming he'd lack positional responsibility. Obviously I am equally assuming that he wouldn't. I definitely agree that we need an alternative though. In fact you've almost persuaded me that Strootman would be a decent signing, after originally you agreed that he'd be underwhelming!
Click to expand...

Herrera has played the #6 role a few times and when he's in with Pogba in a 2 he's supposed to be the more responsible defensively, the thing is that while it's not a fit for him the bigger issue is it takes away his best attributes, Herrera thrives when he can hunt the ball and press the opposition. Strootman is one of the lesser #6's around but he might be a stop gap for the role I guess.
 
Strootman's the wrong Roma midfielder for United, IMO. Good player, and he can play as a 6 but that's not his best position (we need someone who's best suited for the role) and can hold (to an extent) with Pogba in a pivot - but again, in Roma's setup - he shares the workload with the defensively astute De Rossi - so asking him to balance things for Pogba could be too much. Paredes is a simpler fit for the deep lying playmaker position (like Pirlo at Juventus behind Pogba and Herrera), and has a higher ceiling as a midfield player - even though he's not as strong or tactically disciplined as Strootman (the latter is fixable under Mourinho). Hardly starts under Spalletti, and could be available for as little as €25-30 million (according to the usually reliable Di Marzio).

-----------------------9------------------------
11--------------------------------------------7
---------Pogba
---------------------------------Herrera------
--------------------Paredes-------------------

Plus, given Paredes' creative passing ability, you could even start him at 8 and sign a pure DM for more difficult games - without conceding possession or control of the game in the middle of the pitch - which is an issue with the current personnel when Carrick doesn't play.
 
Invictus said:
Strootman's the wrong Roma midfielder for United, IMO. Good player, and he can play as a 6 but that's not his best position (we need someone who's best suited for the role) and can hold (to an extent) with Pogba in a pivot - but again, in Roma's setup - he shares the workload with the defensively astute De Rossi - so asking him to balance things for Pogba could be too much. Paredes is a simpler fit for the deep lying playmaker position (like Pirlo at Juventus behind Pogba and Herrera), and has a higher ceiling as a midfield player - even though he's not as strong or tactically disciplined as Strootman (the latter is fixable under Mourinho). Hardly starts under Spalletti, and could be available for as little as €25-30 million (according to the usually reliable Di Marzio).

-----------------------9------------------------
11--------------------------------------------7
---------Pogba
---------------------------------Herrera------
--------------------Paredes-------------------

Plus, given Paredes' creative passing ability, you could even start him at 8 and sign a pure DM for more difficult games - without conceding possession or control of the game in the middle of the pitch - which is an issue with the current personnel when Carrick doesn't play.
Click to expand...

This is exactly what I feel as well. Just to emphasize, Paredes is who we should be targeting. He's only 22 and I don't think he's had many injuries (well he doesn't start... that could be it). Anyway, he's strong on the ball and he's got the knack to make those long passes. We can stop making Pogba have to pass long and instead for a change be on the end of it. I think Paredes could also play in a 2 man midfield. He's on the bench and a non starter (which I'm completely baffled about). But then again, that would mean, he could come cheap. What do you guys think?

 
K2K said:
City have learnt with Gundogan that this gambles aren't always worth it.

If we can get someone else without his track record, I'd choose them.
Click to expand...

Dortmund Knew they had a replacement for him in Weighl so they sold him for cheap considering the inflation in today's market, Same was said about Vidal Before he was linked to us then next summer he went to bayern and is now injury free. Our very own Luke shaw is injury free. Gundogan was getting injured during the season in dortmund as well when he came back. If reports are to be belived we are paying 40 m euros for him, considering Roma got him before United in 2013 for 15m pounds when David moyes neglected him for Fellani after Sir alex identified him as a target for the summer. This is what is Baffling because this is where our Transfer Shambles started.
 
Last edited:
beingshe7don said:
This is exactly what I feel as well. Just to emphasize, Paredes is who we should be targeting. He's only 22 and I don't think he's had many injuries (well he doesn't start... that could be it). Anyway, he's strong on the ball and he's got the knack to make those long passes. We can stop making Pogba have to pass long and instead for a change be on the end of it. I think Paredes could also play in a 2 man midfield. He's on the bench and a non starter (which I'm completely baffled about). But then again, that would mean, he could come cheap. What do you guys think?
Click to expand...

paredes plays in the same position of Verratti. 100m€ for Verratti, the new Pirlo. Utd should buy Verratti, not Paredes

paredes is not good enough for Utd. He is still after De Rossi in Roma (and De Rossi is 34 years old)
Yes, strong on the ball, but poor tactically, poor in defence

Yes, Paredes is young and can improve, maybe. Or maybe not.


Edit: http://www.ultimouomo.com/breve-guida-su-come-si-butta-una-partita/

you can watch the last two gif ("85.20 – Paredes fa jogging"; and "92.00 – Il Lione seppellisce la Roma"). Paredes looses the ball, and than walk back (walking slowly!!) ... Lacazette..
 
Last edited:
George Owen said:
Strootman can play box to box but he is a natural defensive midfielder, and if Mou is looking at him, is to play him there. Not as a box to box.

@Pablitoooo speaking of that, why did Strootman always played as box to box in Roma instead of his natural position? Its because De Rossi refused to be sold?
Click to expand...
De Rossi can play only in that position, as defensive midfielder. (And many Roma supporters think De Rossi can not be in the first line-up ..because he is old)

Strootman is a versatile player. He can play everywhere in midfield. Maybe his best position is on the left:

strootman................. X
..................X
 
I think we can all agree this would be the next step in bringing back the United glory years: returning to buying players whose knee joints resemble a smashed up bag of peanuts.
 
Did any of you watch the game Lyon v Roma. He was the worst player on the pitch. Even the Dutch Commentators said so.
 
Yep, dont see the point in buying him. Too much risk for a good player, he is not worth it. The rumours are bullshit anyway. If LvG didnt go gor him after his injuries, i wouldnt touch him
 
Emdad Ahmed said:
Not the same. Ruud wasn't a midfielder. You would need your midfielder to do a lot of running. Even more so in Strootman's case, when he has to play as our midfield enforcer or whatever.
Click to expand...

So let me get this straight. Midfielders have to run a lot ?
 
izec said:
Yep, dont see the point in buying him. Too much risk for a good player, he is not worth it. The rumours are bullshit anyway. If LvG didnt go gor him after his injuries, i wouldnt touch him
Click to expand...

He couldn't have since he was still injured or recovering when LvG was in his final months.
 
Emdad Ahmed said:
Oh no. They have to stand idle like strikers when the opponent has the ball. And then they let opponent go straight through. Simple, really.
Click to expand...

I'm glad we cleared that up. We shouldn't sign Strootman because it apparently entails a lot of running.
 
Raoul said:
I'm glad we cleared that up. We shouldn't sign Strootman because it apparently entails a lot of running.
Click to expand...
On a serious note, my response was to another poster comparing the situation to Ruud's. Why go so far back in time and refer to a player that plays an entirely different position? Look at Gundogan. He is a great player. But, City are hardly getting what they want. I fear the same sort of predicament if we were to bring in Strootman.
 


Shouldn't be our first choice target IMO and I doubt he is.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.