[InfiniteBoredom]

There's cause for both play styles over the course of a season. Keeping Fred on and having a less frenetic option is probably the most sensible squad planning we could do.

Yes, I like Fred and have no problem if he stays but at his age I think he would want to play consistently and game time would be hard to come by if he has two guys ahead of him in the pecking order for one position. We know after the experiment early on in the season that EtH doesn't see him as a 6 backup and McTominay is ahead of him in that regard.

 

[ForeverRed1]

None of them is a sub for Casemiro though. We need someone else who can sit and screen the defence and let the likes of Eriksen/FDJ focus on gameplay or Sabitzer/Fred focus on pressing and chasing up the pitch.

We don’t have another #6 other than 31yo Casemiro. If he gets injured our midfield will struggle to replace him. So that’s more important than someone like FDJ or Sabitzer I would argue.

That’s where Bellingham comes in. He can play next to Casemiro or instead of him if needed. He will be expensive but you potentially got him for 14/15 years. Bring him in and let him play alongside and learn from the best. (Casemiro)

 

[DWelbz19]

Would Casemiro, Eriksen and sabitzer be enough To win CLs and league titles ? Or do we need a Bellingham/rice type mid next to case ?

Rice shouldn’t be in our thoughts at all. I think we take it one of two (well, three) ways, really:

1. We sign the ball controller in the middle third to give us more possession based dominance — the de Jong type of central midfielder who averages 70 odd passes per 90 with 90%+ passing accuracy; or
2. We keep to our strengths of being a monster team in the transition phase and we sign a central midfielder like Bellingham who is a great ball carrier and will be a threat on offensive turnovers.
3. We skimp on the midfield signing depending on our budget and only sign Sabitzer on a cut price deal. We go next season with Casemiro, Fred, Sabitzer, and Eriksen as our main 4 and spend the rest of the funds on the other priority areas.

 

[InfiniteBoredom]

That’s where Bellingham comes in. He can play next to Casemiro or instead of him if needed. He will be expensive but you potentially got him for 14/15 years. Bring him in and let him play alongside and learn from the best. (Casemiro)

Bellingham would be a ginormous waste if you play him as a 6, it will be Pogba all over again.

I throw up in my mouth a little bit as I'm typing this but for 100m English player to be a Casemiro successor, I'd rather Declan Rice - who I don't rate all that much, if we decide to spunk that money.

Caicedo is a name that has been brought up a lot in these discussions but looking at Bissouma at Spurs, I do have reservations about his ability with the ball. Hopefully our revamped scouting system can surprise us with an unknown gem somewhere.

 

[Sarni]

Would Casemiro, Eriksen and sabitzer be enough To win CLs and league titles ? Or do we need a Bellingham/rice type mid next to case ?

It'd easily be enough. Casemiro is world class, Eriksen, Sabitzer and Fred are very competent players. There have been worse midfields winning CL recently.

 

[horsechoker]

I think he needs to shave those moustache to get to the next level.

"I thought I told you to shave those sideburns!"

 

[Drizzle]

It'd easily be enough. Casemiro is world class, Eriksen, Sabitzer and Fred are very competent players. There have been worse midfields winning CL recently.

What happens if Casemiro gets injured? There are no competent defensive midfielders to back him up. The other 3 you mention are all number 8s and none of them could anchor midfield.

 

[Bertie Wooster]

Few of us expect McTominay or VDB in particular to be here in September. That will create openings in the squad

I would take Sabitzer as an alternative to Fred if a better #8 is not available, like FDJ. Because people talk about FDJ but there’s 0 indication that he wants to leave Barca, especially now that he’s playing regularly and Barca are doing well in the league. I severely doubt we’ll go for someone like Bellingham for the quoted prices either. So Sabitzer might be the best option going.

Yep. That was pretty much what I was trying to say in my post.

That I expected at least one of the CM options to leave - and, yeah, I was thinking mainly VDB and / or McTominay. And that our midfield addition depends on how much we intend to spend in that area - if we're prioritising a 'big' CM signing, in the calibre (price range) of De Jong, Bellingham, Rice, then I'm not sure we'll also buy Sabitzer as well.

But if we're prioritising the big money signings elsewhere - #9, GK? - then we may look to just upgrade our squad player CM's by bringing in an affordable Sabitzer for the likes of VDB / McTominay.

 

[MadMike]

That’s where Bellingham comes in. He can play next to Casemiro or instead of him if needed. He will be expensive but you potentially got him for 14/15 years. Bring him in and let him play alongside and learn from the best. (Casemiro)

That's not where Bellingham comes in, he doesn't play as a #6 at all neither for Dortmund nor England. He can't replace Case. The #6 position requires good alertness and defensive reading of the game that comes with more maturity. Fred would be better suited ahead of Bellingham.

Plus, there's 0 guarantee that you get a player for 10 years, never mind 14/15. We got Pogba for 90m and he didn't extend, leaving on a free after 5 years.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Good cameo. The more proactive he is, the better he plays.

 

[Jeffthered]

He did well yesterday, his introduction (alongside McTominay)made s significant difference, helped closed the game out. He looked v v good. Would like to see more of him, think he can play.

 

[Josh 76]

Hopefully he starts against West Ham.

 

[eire-red]

In the past under certain managers, we've seen us take off attacking players for more defensive ones, and completely lose control of the game.

When Sabitzer and McTominay came on, it killed Newcastle from an attacking point of view, and actually we looked even more dangerous with that control in the middle.

It's testament to the attitude of the squad, as well as the ability of EtH to read the game and realise what we need. Sabitzer had a nice cameo when he came on, won some strong tackles and played Rashford in nicely.

I thought he's probably unlucky to not start the game, but Fred is in good form and Sabitzer probably needs time to settle after being thrown in the deep end. Come the end of the season, I think he'll be starting alongside Casemiro. It would be a prudent signing to get this guy on a permanent in the summer.

 

[Marcus]

Yet another player with Captain-like qualities. Love the players EtH is bringing in, even on loan.

 

[sglowrider]

 

[Olecurls99]

DM Casemiro Sabitzer Mainoo
CM Eriksen Fred Sabitzer Mainoo
AM Bruno Eriksen Sancho Amad

Sign Sabitz and we've got enough in midfield to challenge on all fronts

 

[Castia]

Would be a great squad option going forward we should sign him in the summer

 

[AneRu]

Bellingham would be a ginormous waste if you play him as a 6, it will be Pogba all over again.

I throw up in my mouth a little bit as I'm typing this but for 100m English player to be a Casemiro successor, I'd rather Declan Rice - who I don't rate all that much, if we decide to spunk that money.

Caicedo is a name that has been brought up a lot in these discussions but looking at Bissouma at Spurs, I do have reservations about his ability with the ball. Hopefully our revamped scouting system can surprise us with an unknown gem somewhere.

Having Case around allows us to make a project signing with a view to having him cover for Casemiro and eventually replace him in about three seasons. Come to think of it making Sabitzer permanent and scouting then signing a young DM could see us come out next summer with a competitive and deep midfield that should give us a platform to challenge for a little under £50m.

 

[Saddy]

Fantastic tackle on the halfway line and quick pass forward for the Rashford chance - I'd like to see a bit more composure when he gets a chance for a shot but well worth hanging on to if he will accept a squad position.

 

[Andre Kagawa]

People keep talking about making him permanent as if that option is a given. Is that a norm of some sort? Maybe Bayern just felt they didn't have space for him this season, but will in the next?

I'm ignorant of these things, sorry if this is a stupid question.

 

[Blood Mage]

His positioning is noticeably better than Fred and McTominay's. It makes a big difference.

 

[hasanejaz88]

People keep talking about making him permanent as if that option is a given. Is that a norm of some sort? Maybe Bayern just felt they didn't have space for him this season, but will in the next?

I'm ignorant of these things, sorry if this is a stupid question.

They're about to sign another CM next season, Konrad Laimer, ironically also from RB Leipzig, so they definitely won't have space for him next season and would be willing to sell for a decent price.

You can imagine one issue would be if he continues to play well other teams might be interested and be willing to pay more.

 

[Olecurls99]

People keep talking about making him permanent as if that option is a given. Is that a norm of some sort? Maybe Bayern just felt they didn't have space for him this season, but will in the next?

I'm ignorant of these things, sorry if this is a stupid question.

Nah, he wants the football they can't promise him. He'll be leaving Bayern in the summer.

 

[Rossa]

His positioning is noticeably better than Fred and McTominay's. It makes a big difference.

That and his defense splitting passes. He looks really good. Quick feet, a strong tackler and appears to have good vision out there as well in addition to a nice pass. Except that horrible moustache and haircut, what't not to like?

 

[SilentStrike]

Great player, and has 0 chance of a starting spot at Bayern with Kimmich ahead of him. Would be a good buy.

 

[bosnian_red]

My concern with signing him full time is:

• Our midfield group will have Sabitzer (29 in a few weeks), Fred (30 in a few weeks), Eriksen (31) and casemiro (31). Extremely old. McTominay is 26, but also plays the same position as Sabitzer so would be a squad replacement you'd guess
• Sabitzer would be a squad player splitting the same role as Fred essentially, both behind casemiro and Eriksen. He left Bayern as he was backup. Why would he join here to be backup? We know Ten Hag doesn't rotate much, and it's not clear that he would be preferred to Fred as Eriksens first sub, but more a situational who gets picked between them
• We need a deep lying playmaker, which he is not.

Hes good and fits well because Eriksen is out. But squad wise he fills the same role as Fred and McTominay. He's better than McTominay and IMO similar to Fred, but generally speaking, unless we sell both, there's no point in signing him and he wouldn't be ok with that role. We need a starting midfielder where Eriksen is then a squad player along with a young DM squad player for Casemiro and Fred being the energetic sub. Sabitzer isn't any of these. Literally doesn't matter how well he plays in his half season as he's here as an emergency due to eriksens injury which won't be the case next season, so don't think he would want to stay.

 

[RuudTom83]

Its a tricky one for Sabitzer, is he starting eleven at Bayern? is he starting eleven at United?

If he was given the choice I'm not sure he would see much difference between the two clubs.

So if United want him, they need to get him into the starting team as much as possible to convince him to stay.

 

[bosnian_red]

Its a tricky one for Sabitzer, is he starting eleven at Bayern? is he starting eleven at United?

If he was given the choice I'm not sure he would see much difference between the two clubs.

So if United want him, they need to get him into the starting team as much as possible to convince him to stay.

Even if he passes Fred to start, he won't start ahead of Eriksen when he returns, so he'll be competing with Fred as 1st sub which he won't want. It's an excellent emergency loan but I don't see it being more from either side.

 

[Cassidy]

Even if he passes Fred to start, he won't start ahead of Eriksen when he returns, so he'll be competing with Fred as 1st sub which he won't want. It's an excellent emergency loan but I don't see it being more from either side.

Agree, I think we also need to invest in 2 younger CMs to compete/replace eventually Eriksen and Casemiro. Maybe Mainoo steps up for one of those though

 

[Paul778]

Even if he passes Fred to start, he won't start ahead of Eriksen when he returns, so he'll be competing with Fred as 1st sub which he won't want. It's an excellent emergency loan but I don't see it being more from either side.

Erikson could also then double as first sub for Bruno and give him some much needed rest minutes.

We've seen how creative ETH is with hhe front four, and also the numerous ways he's reframed Shaws role to play to his strengths. I'm sure Sabitzer has a unique skillset that is missing from a single particular player we already have. In a tight midfield game where Erikson would be an unlikely starter Sabitzer may well be a much better option than either of McFred

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

Even if he passes Fred to start, he won't start ahead of Eriksen when he returns, so he'll be competing with Fred as 1st sub which he won't want. It's an excellent emergency loan but I don't see it being more from either side.

You can push Eriksen further forward and play him as a #10 to spell Bruno some rest. If McTominay moves on, as he should, between Casemiro, Fred, Sabitzer and Eriksen, that's the exact right amount of depth for the 2 CM places with Mainoo getting some cup games if he isn't farmed out on loan.

 

[RuudTom83]

Even if he passes Fred to start, he won't start ahead of Eriksen when he returns, so he'll be competing with Fred as 1st sub which he won't want. It's an excellent emergency loan but I don't see it being more from either side.

Yeah makes sense...and if that's how EtH saw the situation then I wouldn't be surprised if Sabitzer's match time was somewhat limited (similar to McTom) with him returning to Bayern in the summer.

 

[DJ_21]

About 5 games at the club and has his first trophy. Meanwhile Harry Kane as played forever at spurs and has 0 trophies. I love this gameee!!

 

[Strelok]

Even if he passes Fred to start, he won't start ahead of Eriksen when he returns, so he'll be competing with Fred as 1st sub which he won't want. It's an excellent emergency loan but I don't see it being more from either side.

Agree. Plus we'll have Mejbri back next season. Heard he's done pretty well in his loan and imo this kid does has the potential. Will be interesting to see how he'd do under ETH I think.

 

[Bert_]

is good

 

[lex talionis]

I hope we can sign him to a three year deal. He’s a solid all-rounder who doesn’t look like the type to cause problem (Pogba, Lingard) and will give it his best every chance he’s given.

 

[giggs-beckham]

From next game it's time to make him Casemiros partner

Really want to see those two get a run of games together

 

[SAF is the GOAT]

 

[jem]

Rice shouldn’t be in our thoughts at all. I think we take it one of two (well, three) ways, really:

1. We sign the ball controller in the middle third to give us more possession based dominance — the de Jong type of central midfielder who averages 70 odd passes per 90 with 90%+ passing accuracy; or
2. We keep to our strengths of being a monster team in the transition phase and we sign a central midfielder like Bellingham who is a great ball carrier and will be a threat on offensive turnovers.
3. We skimp on the midfield signing depending on our budget and only sign Sabitzer on a cut price deal. We go next season with Casemiro, Fred, Sabitzer, and Eriksen as our main 4 and spend the rest of the funds on the other priority areas.

If things stay as they are (ie. the Glazers remain in charge and we need to sell to buy,) I'd go with the 3rd option, spending whatever funds we can come up with on a top-class striker.

 

[Samid]

This is most probably a case of a PR team being included in the deal when you sign for United.