Yeah was the standout player in Europa Final
Option/replacement for Casemiro
- Thread starter andersj
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Yeah was the standout player in Europa Final
Very good player, but he is not a Casemiro replacement. He is more of a box to box player. We need a pure 6. But would definitely take him as we need two midfielders this summer
Which top team plays with a pure 6? I think this DM type is so overexaggerated at United
Rodri with City I would class as a 6. Liverpool had Fabinho for a while doing it well. If we building around Mainoo them two together with Bruno as 10 could leave us exposed in big games.
But I am all over him as a player. He could rotate with Mainoo or play together in games when teams sit deep. Just think in the big games you need that out and our DM. Look at the difference Amrabat made in the FA cup final. Casimero did it well season, one of the reason we were so bad last season because his form dropped dramatically.
Rodri is so much more than a pure DM. Hence you dont need your limited DM but defensively very strong players but who are more than that. Carrick or Keane are other examples
I’d love for us to go on a Ligue 1 raid and snap up Joris Chotard in midfield along with Leny Yoro and Todibo in the back.
I am fairly certain Chelsea fans are pleased with Caicedo, no? And Pool fans with McAllister? They love him already.
Rodri does that because he plays for Man City who control much bigger zones than other teams. Rodri playing for Spain (or Atletico) is a classical 6 who protects the space in front of the defence, just like Carrick did. Out and out DM's aren't just runners who kick people, they're usually exceptional ball progressors from deep and the first receiver in midfield.
What we want is a positionally disciplined player who is comfortable bringing the ball out from the back, not someone who wants to play box to box.
And that is what Neves seems to do. So he would suit us
Kimmich. Has just the versatility we need and experience but still 29 so a couple years at top level.
Buy a 29 year old with a big name and a bit of sinking star to replace the player we bought 2 years ago who was 30, a big name and a bit of a sinking star. Not sure whether this is the best idea. He would make sense as he can cover the FB position as well but for the money we would need I think we should bring in a more sustainable solution.
You could he right but I do feel a player who can cover multiple positions like he can would be massively beneficial to our thin squad and you need players like this for the youth to learn from aswell.
Mainoo kimmich and Bruno would be tasty
Tastes can be so deeply different ^^ Wouldn't like that. If Kimmich would come to us, I'd probably have him playing as RB and put Dalot to the left. Kimmich very suited to tuck in. Your experience point makes sense possible - but at 29, he would also try to get his last big contract. Not sure I feel good considering that we continue offering big money to older players. Especially after being reminded of the risks with Varane and Casemiro.
You make a good point. One thing we do need is proven quality and class in that midfield with some experience thrown in and I’m not sure you’ll get that with many youngsters. Mainoo needs to be learning from top notch midfielders if he is going to really elevate his game. When you listen to the great players talk, they always talk of the players they had around them that helped them develop and keep their feet on the ground. As much as youth is going to be our main driver going forward, we still need proven quality in the team too to work with the youngsters. Ronaldo, messi, Zidane, scholes, Beckham etc etc etc all speak about the importance of this when they were young.
What players would you put in that category that we have? I’m talking proven winners with elite mentality? If varane is leaving and Casemiro we don’t have much.
Good question. I am probably not the best barometer though. I'd honestly rip that team to shreds and start over with a young and hungry squad. Experienced players could then be brought after a year or two to be the icing on the cake. Until then, in the best case of us becoming a functional team with good performances and steady results, a new spine will emerge naturally. I don't think you can buy that. And even if, you see the "non-effect" that Casemiro and Varane had, same with Schweinsteiger back in the day. You are right, a top team needs that. A title challenger needs proven winners. But I don't think that is our game right now... I honestly want to become the 4th or 5th best team in the league first and then go from there. Thats why I am so wary of big prices right now, no matter which player to be honest.
But overall you are right - our "spine" in terms of steady performers that can be relied upon has been a big problem for ages.
I honestly think our midfield has been the biggest issue for the last 11 years. It’s been neglected again and again while the big bucks have been spent elsewhere. What id personally like to see is them really address the midfield. Liverpool did it last summer, no messing around. Go and get 3/4 new midfielders if you have too. Watching our midfield get sliced through like butter again and again, leaving our defence so vulnerable is criminal. I’d sort the midfield above all else in all honesty. And I’d actually be happy if they did all you said above, we just know that won’t happen overnight. I hope we build around the youngsters we have right now that are very good. Mainoo, garnacho, hojlund etc.
But with that said we need quality in this team, we really do lack it. We have for a long time. Watching this Germany team with so much technical ability in comparison to mctominay really hammers it home.
Definitely. Really shows the contrast of levels.
From what I've seen of Neves he's far more vertical in the way he plays.
Our mid has been an issue even during SAF days. Other than scholes. We've always had a relativity weak midfield since he retired the first time. No one filled that Keane position and it showed.
I'd agreed with all the comments about the midfield been the big weakness, it has been for years, apart from when Herrea, matic and pogba.
Neves if possible would be a great buy plus one experienced DM, someone like Forfana from Monaco. On a side note we have some unbelievable talented midfielders coming through the youth teams who could come through in a year or two.
Neves if possible would be a great buy plus one experienced DM, someone like Forfana from Monaco. On a side note we have some unbelievable talented midfielders coming through the youth teams who could come through in a year or two.
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Nobody else will. How many two man midfields do you see at elite level these days? Keane and Scholes done it all.
Have wanted to sign Kimmich for years, however feels like he would go to City over us as we can't offer Champions League but happy to be proved wrong
Really?
Ben White at Arsenal was one of the best players in the league last year.
Mac Allister just had a great debut season at Liverpool after his move.
Caicedo after a slow start was an absolute beast after Christmas.
Bissouma also had a great season despite a horrible first year being caught in Conte’s mess.
Cucurella is the only one that has been a bit of a flop, but he was never a £60m player in the first place.
80% strike rate ain’t too bad.
Who are the unbelievable talents?
I'm sold. What a great comp for an all action CM! And despite being super athletic and all action, he can also look classy and almost elegant when spraying passing. It's something about the left foot I think.
DM will be the trickiest, hardest signing of this summer. I don't see Neves coming here - he's too expensive. We have options on the market for CB and we won't spend much on a (presumably)backup striker, so these positions will be easier to fill.
Honestly don't know what is the solution here, with the DM position. Onana from Everton, maybe? Keeping Amrabat? Doucoure, Zubimendi?
Honestly don't know what is the solution here, with the DM position. Onana from Everton, maybe? Keeping Amrabat? Doucoure, Zubimendi?
I was impressed when we played them not so long ago but that is about all I have seen of him.
How dare you? The midfield of Scholes, Carrick, Fletcher, Anderson and Giggs was excellent. Scholes and Giggs were ancient and but still genius. Carrick was a fantastic dm, holding everything together, Fletcher a really strong box-to-box and big-game player. And, oh boy, Anderson could attack that space
Chotard is actually an excellent shout.
He would such a shrewd signing and with a year left on his deal, it’s been rumored he could be available for 10-15m.
Fitzgerald, Fletcher, Gore, McAllister, Bauman and Devaney are a few of the midfield players that look like they could have very bright futures ahead of them. Hard to know if any of them will make it at United as so many thing have to fall in their favour but I've seen them against the best teams in England and they have stood out. What's really impressive to be me is these players all so good at taking the ball under pressure, time will tell how they get on.
We should try and hijack bayerns move for Palhina from Fulham.
Too old, probably. He could require replacement in a couple of years.
We seem to be moving away from older players, might be another reason there isn't much noise about signing Toney either
Hmmm... reliable?
He’s only 28. At least 5 years in him.
He’s only 28. Over 30 is old.
I like this guy.
29 in less than a month. Not a long term solution. Would be similar signing to Matic and Casemiro.
We are probably aiming at younger targets, not over 25