^^^ I'd say Januzaj as competition for Herrera and Pereira competition for Pjanic. Carrick will be 34 next season and we'd be short a player for left midfield in the diamond, plus I think it lacks power, LvG himself has talked about the physicality of the PL surprising him and today was pretty high on Fellaini. I think there will be more juggling from LvG and I'm not convinced he'll settle on a diamond over 4-3-3
Miralem Pjanic
- Thread starter Cristiano_RAFC
- Start date
Rakitic could come here. He'd suit the Prem, as he's such a direct footballer. Be a great fit at Chelsea too, with Matic doing all the work and him and Fabregas running up and down and playing perfect through balls to Hazard-Costa-Schurrle/Willian/Oscar
Nonetheless, the same point about us having two good players for every role (in midfield and attack) would still apply.
If you assume we won't get Reus or Bale or some other great wide player and we do sign Strootman as seemed likely if he hadn't gotten hurt, this side would be fairly physically strong and responsible defensively if a bit lacking in penetration:
--------------------Falcao/RVP---------------
-------------------Rooney/Mata--------------
DiMaria/Januzaj-------------------------------
-------------------------------Herrera/Valencia
--------Strootman/Fellaini------------------
-----------------------Blind/Carrick----------
Rafael would have to do a ton of work on the right and I prefer Di Maria centrally, but it's not bad. Could just remove Blind against weaker teams or when we need a goal, drop Strootman a bit deeper and bring on Januzaj for width.
No arguing the quality of the players but I am not sure they'd all be the right players in terms of what we need in the PL.
Yes, if we got Strootman the physical dynamic of the team shifts certainly, and in truth if we don't get in another quality wide man I'd not be opposed to the diamond, but we'd need that power in one of the CM roles in that formation as well. It's tricky as I think Di Maria is better in midfield but in 4-3-3 Rooney would play there as well, leaving Blind vulnerable. As long as we carry 2 strikers who expect to start maybe the diamond will be the way we go. In truth I look at our squad a lot and think LvG's hardest task when buying again is how to improve the starting 11 while dealing with the egos of those that want to start in favour of a balanced side.
We'd need that quality of depth too if we qualify for champions league.
I felt a little dirty writing the last part of that above sentence.
Definitely prefer Di Maria in front of Ander. Let Ander do his defensive work where it really matters. Di Maria can drift wherever he wants from there and not be a defensive passenger in the midfield
Hmm that's pretty good.
Except for the midfield diamond with two strikers up-front, this formation has been exposed at the top level a lot of times. It could be promising in the league though.
That really is one of the best passes I've ever seen.
Yup, that's why I was apprehensive and opted for the 4-5-1 which is more stable IMO. But like you said, hypothetically the diamond might work well vs lesser opposition.
Madrid played the same system to win a CL. Except they had Ronaldo & Bale as the strikers and Benzema at the top of a midfield diamond. The fullbacks need to pull their weight and put in a proper shift, otherwise there's no issue with that system.
This is not a midfield diamond only because the CF drops regularly into midfield to take part in the build-up. That's what all the modern CF's of the highest quality like Robert Lewandowski and Zlatan Ibrahimovic do, but at the heart of their game they remain strikers.
Benzema
Ronaldo ------------------ Bale
di Maria----Modric
Alonso
Coentrao-Ramos-Pepe-Carvajal
Casillas
Ronaldo ------------------ Bale
di Maria----Modric
Alonso
Coentrao-Ramos-Pepe-Carvajal
Casillas
A classical midfield diamond with two CF's hasn't won anything in Europe for quite some time. Although the implementation of modern pressing and "Gegenpressing" as well as the evolution of the technically limited pure finisher at the CF position towards a more technically gifted striker/midfielder hybrid has led to a small rennaissance over the last couple of years.
I'm not saying it's impossible to implement, but experience shows that the traditional diamond without wingers who track back is vulnerable at the back, especially against the still popular 4-2-3-1 formation.
Not sure about that, I see their formation more like this:
Ronaldo Bale
Benzema
DiMaria Modric
Alonso
Coentrao Ramos Pepe Carvajal
Casillas
Ronaldo and Bale do not help out any more than regular strikers do. Benz is more defensively aware for sure but if we do play someone like Rooney or Herrera in that position, we might get the same industriousness combined with quality going forward as well.Benzema
DiMaria Modric
Alonso
Coentrao Ramos Pepe Carvajal
Casillas
So how do you go from this
to this?
In my case, I don't have a clue, but that was an amazing pass.
to this?
In my case, I don't have a clue, but that was an amazing pass.
Even if that was right, I'm not so sure, the pace of Ronaldo and Bale makes it a completely different proposition to anything we can put out. We are too pedestrian in forward areas which limits our ability to defend from the front or stretch defences.
how do I go from, "He has been better than Vidal", to, "he has been extraordinary"?
Quite simply. You'd have to play extraordinary to be better than Vidal
But what if Vidal has been extraordinary?
Saw an article from the mirror earlier today saying we are interested in signing him again. Obviously only the mirror but it's something. He wouldn't be taking carrick's spot, but he'd take on his role of the forward passing, dictating tempo and using his passing range to stretch teams.
That's definitely what I think Van Gaal is looking for in our next midfielder, as it's probably easier to find a pure defensive midfielder rather then one like Carrick who has the passing like he does. Would be class though, next to herrera as long as we sign a proper defensive mid behind them, someone with the physical attributes as well (how is carvalho coming along, he's that type of player basically).
That's definitely what I think Van Gaal is looking for in our next midfielder, as it's probably easier to find a pure defensive midfielder rather then one like Carrick who has the passing like he does. Would be class though, next to herrera as long as we sign a proper defensive mid behind them, someone with the physical attributes as well (how is carvalho coming along, he's that type of player basically).
This is the only signing I am desperate for. Haven't been this desperate for a player to come to United since Sneijder. I've only seen him play for Roma and Bosnia a half dozen times or so though, a la the typical RedCafe scout. Maybe I just saw him at his best, but I may have a man crush on him
Would be my muppet dream signing.
Would be my muppet dream signing.
very big fan. Would love him at united.
£50m midfielder. Pure class.
i thought we would be after someone more robust and more defensively, but i wouldnt be against it. Pjanic is a joy to watch and with Herrera + a number 6 behind them could be a monster midfield.
He is fantastic when he bothers to try. I must say though that I would prefer Gundogan to him. Cheaper and at his best, a better player.
I'd take the opposite because of Ilkay's back problems. Pjanic would be pure magic to watch and offers more as a goal threat.
His passing is up there with the best. Probably as good as Kroos's. However, my main problem with him is his lack of ability to dig deep against stubborn defences and when going a goal or two down.
Not sure if he has the mentality the succeed here.
Not sure if he has the mentality the succeed here.
I think he's not having the season to justify the praise he's getting here. He was better last season IMO.
Up there with Hamsik as one of the most overrated serie A players. Has about 1 good game in 10 and strolls around for the other 9.
Agreed, he is massively overhyped here. If we need a #8 Gundogan or Veratti would be much better choices.
While this may be true, he's still twice the player Hamsik is.
Definitely not been as good this season, having more of a world cup hangover then anything else though, wouldn't read too much into it really. Would still love him here, as he's up there with my favourite players, but also because he'd be perfect for Van Gaal's style IMO with his passing and ability on the ball. We're going to need somebody who can dictate games, and he's one of the few who are young but genuinely class at it and attainable.
True for most of this season, but generally he dictates every game and always plays a pretty big part. Last season was consistently brilliant, this one more like what you're saying, though you can say that about all of Roma.
We are apparently linked to Miralem Pjanic this summer Really rate this guy - for me would add some much creativity from our midfield and give us a real advantage in title race next season.
Really rate this guy - for me would add some much creativity from our midfield and give us a real advantage in title race next season.Not good enough, lazy player, he disappear after 1 month of the
season
season
For our midfield, I would sign Gundogan in the summer, but if we can't sign him...
What do you think about Pjanic?
What do you think about Pjanic?
He's having one hell of a season for Roma.
Always been a fan although I haven't watched him play in a good while so ill make a knee jerk decison on whether he's still good enough after tonight, it's the Cafe way!
He's hopeless defensively. Only chance he becomes a top player is if he's used as a regista in a 3 man midfield. Jose will chuck him out after he see's one attempted tackle from him.
I love him but I don't think he's suited to the prem really. More Spanish league or Italian league. Can be a top player and a brilliant midfielder on his day, but he's definitely too soft at times and the premier league would be too fast paced and intensive for him I think. He would improve us of course, because he's a class player, but I think he would struggle at the same time.
For someone with his deadball ability, his set pieces were bloody rubbish last night.