AWB (£40M), Koulibaly (£80M), Rice (no idea) and Sancho (£60M) would be amazing.
With some sales on top of it, we could do it for around £200M Net.
Potential Matic Replacements
- Thread starter FootyGirl88
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AWB (£40M), Koulibaly (£80M), Rice (no idea) and Sancho (£60M) would be amazing.
With some sales on top of it, we could do it for around £200M Net.
60 mil will get us Sanchez not Sancho.
I don't think his size is a big deal, because like Scholes, he doesn't let defenders ask that question of himself. He's quick to release the ball by doing 1 touch passes, or he has little feints to give himself space, and his tight control gives less opportunities for the defense to do so. The one time where he does have to use body is when he goes for a tackle. He will get bullied in the air in that he won't try to contest as much, but that's really something not needed for a midfielder. I just view it as an extra dimension to a midfielder. Pogba is brilliant at using his size for example.
Neves has the passing range but not very good defensively.
Rice very good defensively but is his passing range good enough?
Rice very good defensively but is his passing range good enough?
Happy for him in the Pogba position most advanced of the 3 but would not want him any deeper than that personally, need to have a little bit more about you in the Matic/Herrera positions. Going forward yeah great but if you played say Pogba Gomes Matic, that would worry me defensively.
Fingers crossed Ole gets the job and be interesting to see him develop the young lads who are pushing for first team squad positions.
That would be more so that Matic is slow. It's all dependent on who is part of the midfield trio. In the midfield 3 that you brought up, I would agree with you. If Gomes were to play, I would put Herrera. What you lose in Matic, you would gain in attacking threat, possession, and mobility.
All of this of course is dependent on Gomes developing right. I'm just saying that Gomes style of midfielder doesn't rule him out playing next to Pogba in the future.
Yeah defo mate, hopefully he does develop as most of us expect him to, love to see him and Greenwood, and maybe Chong develop and gain some first team experience.
I was hopeful on Fosu Mensah a few years back but he seems to have badly gone downhill. Tuanzebe be interesting as he is doing well at CB at Villa, maybe another loan for him next year though.
Gotta be Neves
Bit left field, but read an ESPN article about some of the Mexicans that could come over to Europe soon, following that Diego Lainez transfer.
Jonathan Gonzalez caught my eye when looking at them, just on Youtube. Had a bit of a Frenkie De Jong vibe, the way he picked the ball up from deep and dribbled with it. Looked a bit more aggressive though. Any one seen much of him to pass judgement?
Jonathan Gonzalez caught my eye when looking at them, just on Youtube. Had a bit of a Frenkie De Jong vibe, the way he picked the ball up from deep and dribbled with it. Looked a bit more aggressive though. Any one seen much of him to pass judgement?
Sancho will be going for at least 100M
Big fan of Berge, 6'5 but very mobile. Good passer and quite imposing. Wouldn't cost a bomb either.
Ideally buy both and play a trio of:
---Pogba
-------Rice--Neves
They complement each other perfectly and free up the right wing at the same time.
Our right winger it's currently a possession player (either Lingard or Mata) rather than a risk taker. That's because the right side of our midfield sits so deep that someone else needs to occupy the space around the opposition's midfield and recycle the ball.
Our left winger can afford to take risks because Shaw and Pogba are there to support them retaining the ball.
Because of this way our midfield is set up, our build-up play and attack gets deliberately skewed to one side.
But if the right side of midfield was defensively aware, calm under pressure and also creative, it would transform that flank of the pitch.
The flipside to fielding both Pogba and Neves is that we would require a full blooded holding DM, which is where Rice might fit in.
The great thing about a trio in that mould is that it can handle all our usual tactical approachs: 4231, 433 (backward and forward pointing triangle), and 4-diamond-2. It's also got enough versatility to handle injuries. At the moment, an injury to Pogba and we're fecked. But with Neves (or someone of that Herrera-but-better-on-the-ball ilk) there, I wouldn't be so concerned.
Rice, Neves and a central defender and we're competing for the league, imo (other transfer options might be available).
Dendoncker.
I also think Verratti may be gettable if we wanted to go down that route, but he’d cost a lot.
I also think Verratti may be gettable if we wanted to go down that route, but he’d cost a lot.
We desperately need his replacement to be able to set the tempo for us.
I'd prefer a defensive midfielder that is Mobile very good at defending.
We need someone who is good at both like Carrick was.
I've been saying this for a while now.
We need someone that is fast and mobile. He doesn't have to be the best passer of the ball either. Then also sign Ndombele from Lyon and the midfield starts looking like a Manchester United one.
Maybe Declan Rice could be the answer?
Houssem Aouar is the Lyon midfielder that would make a lot more sense for us. He is the press resistant type midfielder that we are lacking. But, like N'Dombele he would not be a Matic replacement.
Has anyone considered that we might not technically go with what we class as a standard DM and maybe just go to two that will play there with lots of mobility and energy to snuff things out and just allow Pogba to do his thing with complete freedom.
It’s just I was thinking after watching Lyon vs PSG they really didn’t have a midfield. It started with Ndombele and Aouar and Fekir just doing his thing but Aouar was in a way non existent in midfield and I’m not suggesting we do something as drastic as that but we could easily have something like Ndombele with Herrera or Ndombele with Fred or even Fred and Herrera possibly just don’t give them as free a licence as Aouar had.
Having that energy to recover or cover the fullbacks and so on might be just as effective as having a guy just sitting there. Personally I think I would like Ndombele and Neves but I really don’t trust either to be a sole DM alone and think either needs a partner or each other.
I just think if Ole gets the job, our style of play is more likely to be fast, energetic and just beating people in to a bloody pulp with that speed, power and energy coupled with very gifted players. I’d love someone like a Modric who will control and play nice stuff but I just don’t think that is how we will be and it’s not like Neves or Ndombele can’t play that way if needed.
Edit: I realise Neves doesn’t fit the “energetic midfielder” profile but I think he and Ndombele could work in a similar manner.
It’s just I was thinking after watching Lyon vs PSG they really didn’t have a midfield. It started with Ndombele and Aouar and Fekir just doing his thing but Aouar was in a way non existent in midfield and I’m not suggesting we do something as drastic as that but we could easily have something like Ndombele with Herrera or Ndombele with Fred or even Fred and Herrera possibly just don’t give them as free a licence as Aouar had.
Having that energy to recover or cover the fullbacks and so on might be just as effective as having a guy just sitting there. Personally I think I would like Ndombele and Neves but I really don’t trust either to be a sole DM alone and think either needs a partner or each other.
I just think if Ole gets the job, our style of play is more likely to be fast, energetic and just beating people in to a bloody pulp with that speed, power and energy coupled with very gifted players. I’d love someone like a Modric who will control and play nice stuff but I just don’t think that is how we will be and it’s not like Neves or Ndombele can’t play that way if needed.
Edit: I realise Neves doesn’t fit the “energetic midfielder” profile but I think he and Ndombele could work in a similar manner.
I’m sure I saw someone put up stats the other day somewhere on this site which contradict that statement. I can’t recall what thread it was in but it was something to do with the DM at Roma. Was actually quite surprised at how good his defensive stats were.
Yes, I can't remember who posted them but Neves defensive stats were a lot more impressive than expected. The whole "We need a physical beast" thing is overplayed IMO, we need more mobility in there yes, Marquinhos and Verratti were more mobile than Matic, but they were excellent technically with the ball as well and that was key, just buying some terrier wont help matters against teams of this quality as they can just sit on Poigba if he's the only one technically taking the game on in possession.
Would you take him over Herrera? Aouar I mean.
Yeah it was actually a great post the guy had created with all the stats for some of the top players in Europe for that position so top work to whomever that was.
If you see my post above I do mention energy and movement but in saying that someone who can play. Ndombele can play and so can guys like Herrera and well Fred used to be able to play but they can all get about and get the ball back, cover spaces, protect us but have enough to set up a move, it’s not just about running around putting stuff out, they have to be able to do some thing with the ball and be comfortable with it.I really like Neves and even with those great stats I think he’d be better with a partner with more energy or physical presence to compliment what Neves can do.
Different type of midfielders but, yes.
Nobody is saying we should buy a limited player to play as DM. I would much prefer a player like Fernandinho over someone like Neves though. Neves has been hot and cold for Wolves and hasn't shown nearly enough to warrant a move to us.
The problem with both Ndombele and Aouar is that Lyon does not need to sell them. And to get either of them you would need to pay £60m+. And we need two midfielders this summer in addition to a number of other improvements.
Yeah it was actually a great post the guy had created with all the stats for some of the top players in Europe for that position so top work to whomever that was.
I really like Neves and even with those great stats I think he’d be better with a partner with more energy or physical presence to compliment what Neves can do.
It was, I wish I could find it but there's 3 or 4 threads it might have been in, it all started with a discussion over Pellegrini.
I agree, that is my minor reservation with Neves, does he get around enough to partner Herrera effectively, but it needs to be a player that can offer us something on the ball as well as off it is my main point, there needs to be a balance as it's too easy to double up on Pogba if you have no one else in midfield that can create, this is City's strength, if one Silva doesn't get you, the other will, or De Bruyne will if he's the other #8 and even Gundogan is stepping up now as well.
Fernandinho is pretty unique though, a thorough DM who can also pass it like a DLP, you wont find many of them around, and while I can see the question marks over Neves given the current partners he'd be playing with, I'd prefer him to shouts like Dacoure, Rice, Ndidi and Ndombele.
No way are we replacing Matic. I would be very surprised if we even get a right winger this summer. It seems the board is happy giving out new deals to crap players.
I have seen some posters say we will have 300 million to spend, haha I think they need a reality check. I hope I am wrong but I can see the club starting to penny pinch ala Arsenal.
I have seen some posters say we will have 300 million to spend, haha I think they need a reality check. I hope I am wrong but I can see the club starting to penny pinch ala Arsenal.
Neves or Rodri. We should prioritise a link up player along the lines of Verratti last night though.
Ndombele is more a Herrera replacement that could have the same impact as Arturo Vidal IMO. Ndombele has been much more impressive thus far than Neves in their short careers albeit they're different players. Ndombele has banged with City and PSG's midfield on numerous occasions and shown his immense potential. Ndombele is by far the bigger talent from the evidence at hand.
Based on what exactly?Just because we've given contract extensions to players nearing the end of their contracts.
You'd expect Solskjaer would know all about him too so this could be a decent shout.
Despite Herrera's energy, tenacity and good qualities, I feel we would never be able to properly and consistently control games in advanced positions with him and Pogba as the advanced midfielders. Pogba although class, is not the best at controlling games and Herrera is a bit too conservative, is unable to carry the ball, is reluctant to get into tight positions, and lacks that extra needed bite in possession.
It does not always bode well if your deepest midfielder is the best in possession and I'd definitely prefer a Modric, Verratti, Kroos, Xavi, Eriksen, De Bruyne in Herrera's position - even if of inferior quality - with Pogba on the left and a proper defensive midfielder that is able to move the ball quickly behind them.
A top central midfielder should be good in possession to a certain degree, and should be able to pass very well or carry the ball very well. Herrera is neither and is average in possession. Coupled with Matic's limited mobility and reluctance to pass the ball quickly, it usually leads to a lot of sideways and unambitions passes in our half. I don't know if it's got anything to do with coaching, but there's definitely a huge room for improvement.
When I first saw this thread title I couldn't help but think "a replacement for Matic? how about a pylon at this point". He is such a pale shadow of himself that he needs to be gone. Far too many lazy plays, slow to track back, loses his man in bad areas, etc. Matic is done. Compare him to some of the hustle you saw from PSG players last night and its even more embarrassing. I like the Sander Berge idea. He's young and a big body.
I'm inclined to agree. Good squad player now he's playing better again. Kinda think we need a bit more. We just have so many areas that need/could do with improvement though.
I feel he's got to take more responsibility in possession. Whether he is able to do that remains to be seen. He is a just way too passive and unambitious for a guy that plays such important midfield position.
They are very different types of players so I personally wouldn't compare them, they offer different things to the team, and you're right that Ndombele is more of a player we'd bring in to compete with Herrera than Matic, I was saying last summer we should have went for him over Fred, but he's not what we need at this juncture as Fred will get at least another season.
Tanguy Ndombele
End of thread.
End of thread.