Kevin Strootman

(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

Good post.
 
Did any of you watch the game Lyon v Roma. He was the worst player on the pitch. Even the Dutch Commentators said so.
not the worst, but Yes, not a good match for him

Mr Spalletti is a good coach but his "weak point" (or one of his) is in turnover. Strootman, or Nainggolan, are "key" players and have played too much matches (serie A, champ/european league; even Italian Cup). (for example: Strootman played against Lione after 90minutes in Inter-Roma and 90' in Lazio-Roma in the same week)
 
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As an alternative to Strootman, what do people think about Saul?
Saul would be more if we are going 4-4-2 (with Pogba on the left) or perhaps on the right side of a midfield 3. He's clearly a talented, good all-round player, but he's had a fairly tough season. He's scored a few beauts but he's not been near the level of last season where he was looking as valuable as Koke. He's one to track for another season, but he's not going to sit deep. He'd force us to change our shape a bit and if we sign Griezmann we'd probably have to bench Mkhtaryan to accommodate Saul.
 
Saul would be more if we are going 4-4-2 (with Pogba on the left) or perhaps on the right side of a midfield 3. He's clearly a talented, good all-round player, but he's had a fairly tough season. He's scored a few beauts but he's not been near the level of last season where he was looking as valuable as Koke. He's one to track for another season, but he's not going to sit deep. He'd force us to change our shape a bit and if we sign Griezmann we'd probably have to bench Mkhtaryan to accommodate Saul.
I'm not too sure Strootman is that deep lying midfielder we need either, if that's what we are looking for. I feel like they're both more suited as box-to-box, with the freedom to attack more.
 
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.
This. I do see him being a good compliment to Pogba, but his injury record is not reliable as starter.
 
We're going to sign multiple midfielders. Strootman would make for much much better depth than Fellaini. Might even be better than Herrera, but wouldn't need to count on that. Someone like Fabinho would also come in to sit deeper.
 
We're going to sign multiple midfielders. Strootman would make for much much better depth than Fellaini. Might even be better than Herrera, but wouldn't need to count on that. Someone like Fabinho would also come in to sit deeper.
Problem is it's hard to buy someone & straight out telling him he coming as squad player. Lying to him would be bad too as it may turn ugly in the dressing room. Him as starter would be a a huge gamble on his injury record.
 
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Problem is it's hard to buy someone & straight out telling him he coming as squad player. Lying to him would be bad too as it may turn ugly in the dressing room. Him as starter would be a a huge gamble on his injury record.
I know what you mean, but I don't think it's that hard to tell someone they are coming in to compete for a spot while earning a lot more money in all likelihood. Not all players would go for it, and I'd understand their choice either way.
 
The only worry are his injuries. He's had loads of them and Jose doesn't easily sign players with bad injury records

And nor should he. Why would we sign a sicknote? There is no logic in it.
Now if Strootman was the best player in the World, he would be worth a punt, but for me, he is nothing special to risk big money (and injuries).

I actually think Strootman would be the kind of player that AFC will sign. He'll join them and most of the time he'll be injured - but that's normal at Arsenal. ;)
 
I know what you mean, but I don't think it's that hard to tell someone they are coming in to compete for a spot while earning a lot more money in all likelihood. Not all players would go for it, and I'd understand their choice either way.
Depend on circumstance of course. Here we have an international who may risk losing his spot if he come here & can't get play time. I am not saying no to spend money, but I am against using big wage to attract squad players. Someone only attracted by money I question their mentality when they need to do a job when the situation required.
 
Some people think Strootman is a deep lying midfielder others say he's not and he's box to box? I'd say a player with no designated position and a spotty injury record will not be high up on the summer transfer wish list.
 
Can his knees be trusted? Because save for Veratti, there is no better Carrick type player around than him.

In this season, no problems for him (for the future, who knows?)

Some people think Strootman is a deep lying midfielder others say he's not and he's box to box? I'd say a player with no designated position and a spotty injury record will not be high up on the summer transfer wish list.

no designated position or versatile? Versatile in my opinion

However I think United needs a "Verratti" (and Verratti can leave PSG this summer)
 
In this season, no problems for him (for the future, who knows?)



no designated position or versatile? Versatile in my opinion

However I think United needs a "Verratti" (and Verratti can leave PSG this summer)
Sure, versatility is great, but for "The Carrick role" that's a very specific role. Herrera is a versatile player who has filled in adequately in that role. Is Strootman that much better? I'm thinking that given that Herrera has a better injury record, is used to the play in England, Strootman probably isn't a serious candidate. Who knows? Maybe we aren't looking for strictly a deep lying holding midfielder and if not then sure Strootman looks a good enough player. I'm just saying I think Jose is more likely to go for a "specialist" in the midfield if we are making a big signing.
 
Sure, versatility is great, but for "The Carrick role" that's a very specific role. Herrera is a versatile player who has filled in adequately in that role. Is Strootman that much better? I'm thinking that given that Herrera has a better injury record, is used to the play in England, Strootman probably isn't a serious candidate. Who knows? Maybe we aren't looking for strictly a deep lying holding midfielder and if not then sure Strootman looks a good enough player. I'm just saying I think Jose is more likely to go for a "specialist" in the midfield if we are making a big signing.
It is the role he made his name in whilst at PSV IIRC. He played it for LVGs Holland. To the extent that losing him forced the change to 5-3-2 from the traditional Dutch 4-3-3.
 
It is the role he made his name in whilst at PSV IIRC. He played it for LVGs Holland. To the extent that losing him forced the change to 5-3-2 from the traditional Dutch 4-3-3.

Losing Strootman through injury had such an effect on him that it even forced him to use 5-3-2 for the start of his United managerial career.
 
Not sure he's anything special. Add that to his injury history, and I wouldn't sign him.
 
I see. Strootman's injury caused 2/3rds of LVGs United squad to be injured when he took over. How remarkable!

He has a point though, Van Gaal set United up to play 5-3-2 the first games as he had recently just played that way with Holland (as a result of Strootmans injury) and probably thought it was a good idea though we were also plagued with injuries at the start of the season . Unfortunately we had no clue were doing.
 
He has a point though, Van Gaal set United up to play 5-3-2 the first games as he had recently just played that way with Holland (as a result of Strootmans injury) and probably thought it was a good idea though we were also plagued with injuries at the start of the season . Unfortunately we had no clue were doing.
He really had no point, he was just being snarky for no good reason. Strootman's injury had feck all to do with United under LVG, and at United actually largely employed a 3-5-2 whenever he employed a back 3. Save for the period of the bad injury crisis early in his reign, during which he didn't really have a choice.
 
Just curious but how many games have you watched with him? In the few I've watched, he's been sort of like a normal Schneiderlin-player
Been following him since his PSV days. At his best he is way above Schneiderlin's level and more of a game controller. Since the injury cleared he is slowly getting back to his best. But its still unknown if he is truly over the knee issue long term.
 
I hope no one ever mentions Strootman again as potential for us. He is so useless for Holland tonight. Not one good pass and loses possession so often. His only quality is energy but you could probably train a monkey to do that
 
Damn, time flies. His best period of football was probably the start of the 13/14 season at Roma but then he got injured and doesn't seem to have gotten back to the pre-injury form.
 
I am against signing Strootman because of his injury but, no point killing him for his performance against Bulgaria. He was not going to succeed in that midfield setup.
 
Damn, time flies. His best period of football was probably the start of the 13/14 season at Roma but then he got injured and doesn't seem to have gotten back to the pre-injury form.

I don't think he ever was any better than the level he's currently playing at for Roma.

I am against signing Strootman because of his injury but, no point killing him for his performance against Bulgaria. He was not going to succeed in that midfield setup.

That's an excuse IMO. Watched the first half and he was really poor. He's supposed to be one of the leaders of that team, but as @dutchred pointed out he gave the ball away far too often. His passing is one of the reasons why he's considered as a Carrick replacement, but he wasn't able to control the first half yesterday, from what I saw.