Morgan Schneiderlin | BBC: Morgan Schneiderlin is currently having a medical at Manchester United.

[Sarni]

Getting both him and Gundogan would be massive coup for us. Schneiderlin is basically known quality, we know that he'd deliver here from day one and would be a very good Carrick replacement while Gundogan would have a big question tag over him but wouldn't be as much of a risk if we were to get another midfielder at the same time because even if he took a while to accomodate and find his foot here we'd still have a strong midfield unit with Schneiderlin, Herrera, Mata, Carrick, Blind and Fellaini.

 

[Brophs]

That's just not true.

Yeah, well, you can prove anything if you just stick to the facts and 'logic'.

 

[moses]

Yeah, well, you can prove anything if you just stick to the facts and 'logic'.

You'd swear we bought him by accident. And he luckily turned out to be a good footballer.

 

[charlenefan]

Until he physically can't hack it I don't see Carrick not starting when available so are we saying him, Carrick and Herrera could work?

 

[Hellboy]

Getting both him and Gundogan would be massive coup for us. Schneiderlin is basically known quality, we know that he'd deliver here from day one and would be a very good Carrick replacement while Gundogan would have a big question tag over him but wouldn't be as much of a risk if we were to get another midfielder at the same time because even if he took a while to accomodate and find his foot here we'd still have a strong midfield unit with Schneiderlin, Herrera, Mata, Carrick, Blind and Fellaini.

Yes and having them both here for the prices mooted (£40-45m) would be amazing business for the club.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

I think ideally he'd have a more creative player playing in Fellaini's position so that the DM role isn't so important to have a deep lying playmaker, you have a more Coquelin type player in there.

If that is the case, that could also work, with maybe Carrick coming in as the 6 and Schneiderlin going to the 8 in the 'bigger games'. Thing is, do you think Van Gaal now trusts Herrera as an 8? I personally do, especially if, as you said, he has more of a Coquelin type of player behind him. Also, would Van Gaal play a midfield three of Schneiderlin - Herrera - Mata - similar to how Arsenal play Coquelin - Cazorla - Ozil?

 

[Mystry]

I'm interesting in knowing, how many here see him as a deep holding midfielder like Carrick, and how many see him as box to box who can defend very well. Ie he can play both, but what do people feel he's best at?

Box to box, definitely. I actually think he could really make the step up and really come into his own in our team. And with Depay on the left side, it would be good to have a defensive minded midfielder on that side to cover the flank. Would allow Memphis to come inside and provide a goal threat.

 

[Invictus]

We already have that creative influence in midfield in Herrera, once we have more steel in midfield without having to rely on Fellaini then Herrera will play further forward.

Hopefully there is some substance in these Der Westen Gundogan rumours, he certainly has the ability to dictate play and has a wonderful passing range.

Herrera can be effective in that position, but the thing is he more of a traditional #8, a Spanish version of Steven Gerrard, that was his position under Bielsa and now under Van Gaal. So tinkering with that to accommodate another player with a similar kind of overall box-to-box skillset (+/- a bit here and there) might not be the greatest idea in the world. He can play as a #10 as and when required, did so last season and at Zaragoza back in the day, but he is most effective in the #8 role. eg. For the Spanish U-21 team with Martinez at #6, Ander at #8, and Thiago at #10.

When talking of a prototypical creative midfielder in a central three who can help unlock defenses, it's more like an Iniesta or Isco type of player; or Litmanen for Ajax; or Sneijder for the Dutch national team under Van Gaal, who offer more offensively. Then again, Louis has stated that the Premier League necessitates a more pragmatic, defensively stout approach; so maybe he needs someone like Schneiderlin to provide added steel, and energy, and workrate at the expense of creativity. I don't have a fundamental opposition to the idea mind, it would be very balanced defensively, and quite similar to the one Milan had with Pirlo, Gattuso and Seedorf.

 

[Brophs]

You'd swear we bought him by accident. And he luckily turned out to be a good footballer.

You know what it's like. You have a few beers, start looking around on eBay and then a week later...BAM!

 

[Kag]

Yeah, well, you can prove anything if you just stick to the facts and 'logic'.

While it would be disingenuous to suggest that Carrick didn't dictate games until he was 29-30, it's fair to say that he noticeably began to take more responsibility the less we seen of Scholes in the first team. Controlling the game is something Carrick has got better at with age.

 

[datura]

If that is the case, that could also work, with maybe Carrick coming in as the 6 and Schneiderlin going to the 8 in the 'bigger games'. Thing is, do you think Van Gaal now trusts Herrera as an 8? I personally do, especially if, as you said, he has more of a Coquelin type of player behind him. Also, would Van Gaal play a midfield three of Schneiderlin - Herrera - Mata - similar to how Arsenal play Coquelin - Cazorla - Ozil?

It definitely gives you more options, or maybe a flat central two with Herrera/Mata as a 10.

 

[peterstorey]

The bitterness from some of the Arsenal fans online and on Twitter at the moment. "I'm glad he's going to United. He's not even that good". Lighten up, you muppets, your team's just won the FA Cup.

I'm just happy that we're not spending £25M on Schneidy

 

[Glory Glory Denis Irwin]

That's just not true.

Well maybe my memory is worse than I thought it was but he was often made a scapegoat in the first few years he was at United for not having enough of an influence on games.
While Scholes was still around Carrick was not the one running the midfield. I can back it up with stats if you like but I can already see that would be pointless.

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

Van Gaal was quoted to say in his interviews that he prefers a 4-3-3 with "an upward point" because it's more attacking, doesn't that essentially mean a 4-2-3-1?

If that were to happen we'd move Herrera/Mata as the the #10 this could be part of his plan.

 

[Tompo]

I like him, he has good energy and heart, seems to read the game well and has good technique.

 

[Riz]

Well maybe my memory is worse than I thought it was but he was often made a scapegoat in the first few years he was at United for not having enough of an influence on games.
While Scholes was still around Carrick was not the one running the midfield. I can back it up with stats if you like but I can already see that would be pointless.

In fairness if you were partnering Scholes 2.0 you'd have to be Pirlo level to stand out as the one controlling the game.

 

[peterstorey]

Carrick took a while to settle, coming from being the main man at Spurs to fighting for a place at Man Utd. His weakness has always been his inability to impose himself, if he'd had that he'd be a great player rather a very good player.

 

[Speak]

I actually dont think he's as suited to Arsenal's current team as he is to United's. He's not really what they need in a midfielder, in my opinion.

 

[charlenefan]

Yeah I'm thinking that rather than the...

-------Carrick-------
Herrera-----Fellaini

We've played this season we'd go for

Carrick------Schneiderlin
--------Herrera--------

Instead

 

[charlenefan]

Carrick took a while to settle, coming from being the main man at Spurs to fighting for a place at Man Utd. His weakness has always been his inability to impose himself, if he'd had that he'd be a great player rather a very good player.

He took no time to settle whatsoever

 

[Invictus]

Schneiderlin's passing is already approaching Carrick's level, and our Michael didn't start dictating games with his passing until he was 29-30.

Please no. Schneiderlin's passing is serviceable in terms of playing at top clubs, but several notches below Carrick - who is IMO one of the best ever central midfielders in Premier League history when it comes to passing range and precision, with the likes of Scholes and Alonso. Even at Tottenham, and to a lesser degree West Ham - he was consistently dictating the flow of games, at first from a more attacking position; and then from deeper areas.

 

[DWelbz19]

Carrick took a while to settle, coming from being the main man at Spurs to fighting for a place at Man Utd. His weakness has always been his inability to impose himself, if he'd had that he'd be a great player rather a very good player.

Yeah, that's not true.

 

[JPRouve]

Van Gaal was quoted to say in his interviews that he prefers a 4-3-3 with "an upward point" because it's more attacking, doesn't that essentially mean a 4-2-3-1?

If that were to happen we'd move Herrera/Mata as the the #10 this could be part of his plan.

Yes, he prefers the 4-2-3-1, with 2 solid CMs and a goalscoring #10.

 

[Massive Spanner]

Carrick took a while to settle, coming from being the main man at Spurs to fighting for a place at Man Utd. His weakness has always been his inability to impose himself, if he'd had that he'd be a great player rather a very good player.

oh look, another shit pete WUM. How fun.

 

[NotoriousISSY]

Carrick took a while to settle, coming from being the main man at Spurs to fighting for a place at Man Utd. His weakness has always been his inability to impose himself, if he'd had that he'd be a great player rather a very good player.

Mustn't have been much of a fight given he was the 3rd highest in terms of starts in his first season and actually started the season injured. Granted, all things considered he was very much Scholes' sideshow in his first year, but this 'fight' for a place in the team didn't exist because we had a serious lack of midfielders prompting us to go and buy two more the following summer.

 

[Lennon7]

I feel someone like Schneiderlin/Bender/Verratti (please) would let Herrera flourish.

 

[Tompo]

Carrick took a while to settle, coming from being the main man at Spurs to fighting for a place at Man Utd. His weakness has always been his inability to impose himself, if he'd had that he'd be a great player rather a very good player.

It's very difficult to impose yourself on a game when you are the deepest lying midfield player, or the one who always needs to be in a defensive position to help the defence out, and that's what Carrick has been required to do the majority of his time at Manchester United.

The biggest weakness I believe in his game is that he is not great in tight congested areas, his feet are not the quickest.

 

[peterstorey]

oh look, another shit pete WUM. How fun.

It's just an educated opinion which an unsophisticated observer may not agree with

 

[ivaldo]

Herrera can be effective in that position, but the thing is he more of a traditional #8, a Spanish version of Steven Gerrard, that was his position under Bielsa and now under Van Gaal. So tinkering with that to accommodate another player with a similar kind of overall box-to-box skillset (+/- a bit here and there) might not be the greatest idea in the world. He can play as a #10 as and when required, did so last season and at Zaragoza back in the day, but he is most effective in the #8 role. eg. For the Spanish U-21 team with Martinez at #6, Ander at #8, and Thiago at #10.

When talking of a prototypical creative midfielder in a central three who can help unlock defenses, it's more like an Iniesta or Isco type of player; or Litmanen for Ajax; or Sneijder for the Dutch national team under Van Gaal, who offer more offensively. Then again, Louis has stated that the Premier League necessitates a more pragmatic, defensively stout approach; so maybe he needs someone like Schneiderlin to provide added steel, and energy, and workrate at the expense of creativity. I don't have a fundamental opposition to the idea mind, it would be very balanced defensively, and quite similar to the one Milan had with Pirlo, Gattuso and Seedorf.

Most seem to beleive Herrera's best and most natural position is #10, including LVG and himself. I can absolutely see him being a success there, he might not work in the same way as an Iniesta or a Sneijder type but as you eluded to he has other aspects of his game though that'll make him just as effective there. Either way, no matter what LVG decides to do I think we can all agree schneiderlin would be a welcome addition.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Herrera can be effective in that position, but the thing is he more of a traditional #8, a Spanish version of Steven Gerrard, that was his position under Bielsa and now under Van Gaal. So tinkering with that to accommodate another player with a similar kind of overall box-to-box skillset (+/- a bit here and there) might not be the greatest idea in the world. He can play as a #10 as and when required, did so last season and at Zaragoza back in the day, but he is most effective in the #8 role. eg. For the Spanish U-21 team with Martinez at #6, Ander at #8, and Thiago at #10.

When talking of a prototypical creative midfielder in a central three who can help unlock defenses, it's more like an Iniesta or Isco type of player; or Litmanen for Ajax; or Sneijder for the Dutch national team under Van Gaal, who offer more offensively. Then again, Louis has stated that the Premier League necessitates a more pragmatic, defensively stout approach; so maybe he needs someone like Schneiderlin to provide added steel, and energy, and workrate at the expense of creativity. I don't have a fundamental opposition to the idea mind, it would be very balanced defensively, and quite similar to the one Milan had with Pirlo, Gattuso and Seedorf.

I agree that Van Gaal likes more offensive number 10s, but he identified Herrera as a number 10 earlier on in the season, as he compared Herrera with the likes of Rooney and Mata - two players Van Gaal was using in the number 10 position.

“I have to compare him with people like Rooney and Mata, for example, so that’s difficult, they are all at a high level - he has to improve,” said the Reds boss.

“But he’s a great guy, he’s a very great professional also, so that’s not the problem - his problem is he has to compete with high level players and Rooney is also the captain so he has a privilege.

“So then the other places are the place of the position in this system that we are playing now with a number 10 and that’s Mata and that’s Di Maria. That’s difficult to compete against but he did already know that at the moment that he signed for Manchester United.

“When you sign for a top club like he did he knows that he is had to fight but he is fighting.

Having said that, since we moved to a 433, with Herrera being constantly played as a number 8, surely his performances have convinced Van Gaal that he should be our starting 8 next season.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co...ander-herrera-must-improve-manchester-8597120

 

[Glory Glory Denis Irwin]

Please no. Schneiderlin's passing is serviceable in terms of playing at top clubs, but several notches below Carrick - who is IMO one of the best ever central midfielders in Premier League history when it comes to passing range and precision, with the likes of Scholes and Alonso. Even at Tottenham, and to a lesser degree West Ham - he was consistently dictating the flow of games, at first from a more attacking position; and then from deeper areas.

Everyone can have their own opinion on footballers. There is no right answer about a player being one of the best midfielders in Premier League history but I really think you'd struggle to find fans who'd agree with you outside of a Manchester United forum. Especially if you ask them if they believe that he was dictating the flow of games early on in his career when he was at West Ham or Spurs.

Anyway, this is a Schneiderlin thread, back on topic!

 

[NoPace]

1. The Southampton fans certainly think he had a strong season.

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthre...2a9ce664920e0651f47d8ba463c96732#.VWuBNqYtc4Q

2. ESPN:
- Southampton was 14-7-5 in the 26 league games he played this season, and 4-7-1 in the 12 games he missed.
-Led Southampton with 75 touches and 55 passes completed per 90 minutes this league season.

 

[Hernandez - BFA]

I actually dont think he's as suited to Arsenal's current team as he is to United's. He's not really what they need in a midfielder, in my opinion.

I think considering how well Coquelin finished the season for them, Wenger would be less inclined to go for Schneiderlin.

 

[caid]

Be good to have cover for carrick and herrera if its true.
He was good the few times ive seen him

 

[Raees]

Schneiderlin in comparison to Carrick

• More nimble on the ball, you won't see him suffer against teams who pressure him.. he is a better ball carrier, sharper at turning with it
• More aggressive, prepared to smell danger and win it higher up the pitch... on flip side, this can be dangerous and leave defence more exposed
• not as great a passer, solid enough though and a more aggressive passer due to the fact he has better on the ball skills so he is less prepared to play it back

I think he has it in him to play as the deeper lying midfielder and it would not make sense to me to sign him and sign another DM with the intention of playing Herrera and him in front of a DM... Schneiderlin is not good enough in an attacking sense to play for a club like United in my opinion. As a sole DM or as a double pivot (more defensive minded out of the pair) he has good potential and can mix it against the big boys but as a B2B or as a central midfielder expected to control the game, doesn't quite do it for me.

Schneiderlin
Herrera Pogba

Verratti Schneiderlin
Herrera
​

Not saying we will get those players but that is how I envisage we would use him if this signing goes through. I think he is mouldable and we can train him into a top dm.

 

[charlenefan]

---------------Valdes---------------
Alves--Smalling--Otamendi--Blind
---------Carrick----Schneiderlin---------
Mata----------Herrera----------Depay
---------------Rooney---------------

Looks goooood

 

[GloryHunter07]

Schneiderlin in comparison to Carrick

• More nimble on the ball, you won't see him suffer against teams who pressure him.. he is a better ball carrier, sharper at turning with it
• More aggressive, prepared to smell danger and win it higher up the pitch... on flip side, this can be dangerous and leave defence more exposed
• not as great a passer, solid enough though and a more aggressive passer due to the fact he has better on the ball skills so he is less prepared to play it back

I think he has it in him to play as the deeper lying midfielder and it would not make sense to me to sign him and sign another DM with the intention of playing Herrera and him in front of a DM... Schneiderlin is not good enough in an attacking sense to play for a club like United in my opinion. As a sole DM or as a double pivot (more defensive minded out of the pair) he has good potential and can mix it against the big boys but as a B2B or as a central midfielder expected to control the game, doesn't quite do it for me.

Schneiderlin
Herrera Pogba

Verratti Schneiderlin
Herrera
​

Not saying we will get those players but that is how I envisage we would use him if this signing goes through. I think he is mouldable and we can train him into a top dm.

Yes please!

 

[Invictus]

Most seem to beleive Herrera's best and most natural position is #10, including LVG and himself. I can absolutely see him being a success there, he might not work in the same way as an Iniesta or a Sneijder type but as you eluded to he has other aspects of his game though that'll make him just as effective there. Either way, no matter what LVG decides to do I think we can all agree schneiderlin would be a welcome addition.

Sure, I can see that side of the argument too. But my basic point in its most reductive form is that while Herrera can do well as a #10, he has consistently performed at his best in a #8 role throughout his career. Even this season, he became a fixture in the team, and probably our best outfield player through the latter half of the season - only after he was given a consistent run in that position. Why not build upon that moving forward and find someone who's better suited to playing the #10 role. Though again, that's just the way I'm perceiving the situation, maybe Van Gaal wants to go in a different direction.

I agree that Van Gaal likes more offensive number 10s, but he identified Herrera as a number 10 earlier on in the season, as he compared Herrera with the likes of Rooney and Mata - two players Van Gaal was using in the number 10 position.

“I have to compare him with people like Rooney and Mata, for example, so that’s difficult, they are all at a high level - he has to improve,” said the Reds boss.

“But he’s a great guy, he’s a very great professional also, so that’s not the problem - his problem is he has to compete with high level players and Rooney is also the captain so he has a privilege.

“So then the other places are the place of the position in this system that we are playing now with a number 10 and that’s Mata and that’s Di Maria. That’s difficult to compete against but he did already know that at the moment that he signed for Manchester United.

“When you sign for a top club like he did he knows that he is had to fight but he is fighting.

Having said that, since we moved to a 433, with Herrera being constantly played as a number 8, surely his performances have convinced Van Gaal that he should be our starting 8 next season.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co...ander-herrera-must-improve-manchester-8597120

Yep, the highlighted portion is how I feel mate. If you have a quality starter for the position, it might not be prudent to move him around to accommodate others. And to be honest, Van Gaal has flip-flopped in terms of his broader qualifying criteria at times this season, which kind of leaves his assessment of Ander as a #10 open to debate, especially when his best performances have come in a box-to-box kind of role.

 

[Bwuk]

He'd be a great replacement for Fellaini. Carrick deepest, Schneiderlein as a defensive box to box #8, and Herrera a bit more advanced.

Balanced 3 man midfield. Don't think he's suited to the #6 role at all, and whenever I watch Southampton it's Wanyama who plays that role. He's as much of a #6 as Darren Fletcher at his peak was.

 

[Acole9]

For £25 million jesus, he's not worth that.