That’s exactly why I’d like someone more established to replace Matic. Longstaff would most likely be a prospect signing.
Potential Matic Replacements
- Thread starter FootyGirl88
- Start date
We will continue with Matic one more season. But the DM and RW positions are going to be our priorities next summer. Even another top CM is Pogba leaves.
Honestly, I think replacing Matic is now a bigger priority than any other area on the team. He looks slow, is constantly getting caught in possession and isn't really capable of doing anything with the ball when he has it. I struggle to think of what he might possibly bring to United that's useful. I guess the hope is that Fred or McTominay will be able to replace him this season but man... with Herrera gone too, the team is crying out for a defensive midfield destroyer.
Rojo. 
The statue of Fergie from outside Old Trafford.
Unfortunately I think we’ll persist with Matic but next season I think it’ll be Sancho and a quality defensive midfielder as our priorities along with a left back to push Shaw, it’s very clear that Matic is now our weak spot and opposition will look to exploit him all season.
Ruben neves. What’s the point in having fast counter attacking players if you don’t have someone who can ping balls to the wings at ease.
What kind of player do you want to replace Matic in the 4231 formation we have been playing... a destroyer or a deep-lying playmaker?
Scott and Fred can play 6 this season. We should have swapped Lukaku for Pjanic and Mands.
Ideally one who can do a bit of both, but mainly the latter.
Partey, Sangare, Grillitsch or Roca. At this point bloody Lemina would do too.
At this point I would be willing to consider Lee Grant
Man, if this is the squad we will go to battle with, the choices for DM are dim. Wonder if Ole would try Jones at DM? I'd think that is an option if Matic is totally not up to it & McT is just not ready yet to go full time.
Lionel Messi
Scout and buy one of Tonali/Roca/Grillitsch/Samassekou/Florentino in January. Test Tuanzebe on the role and give minutes to Garner on Europa and EFL.
He has signed a new contract recently, increasing his release clause significantly. Not going to happen, for what he would cost.
Apparently Weigl was available for a cheap price this summer.
Yep, watched him against Montpellier last week, since I heard a lot about him and was pretty much instantly convinced that he's the real deal.
I went to take a look as well after reading bucky's post and was surprised to see he's only 16 and already getting senior starts, even if it is at a smaller club.
Rennes are giving the kids a proper chance it seems. This tweet from @jb8521 is making alot of sense now. I hope our scouts are camped outside the Rennes academy this season..
Incredible stats against by far the best team in that league, definitely one to watch, especially under our current ethos, although given his age I think if he has good advisors he probably wont move for 2 or 3 seasons yet.
I’d still take Ndidi here he’s more than capable of playing for us.
Someone needs to show this to Bruno Fernandes aka Nicolas Gaitan fans. It is possible to be productive and have high passing statistics. Joke aside, the kid is still 16. At 15 people taught Freddy Adu will be the next Pele, Bojan Kurkic the next Messi and Ravel Morrison the “best player ever seen” in the history of football.
Oops wrong thread
It's actually against one of the best teams in Europe which is frightening considering he's 16.
Credit must go to Rennes though. If he was at most other clubs, then I'm gonna assume he wouldn't have been playing first team football at 16. Rennes seem to be bringing quality youth through in abundance aswell which is very impressive.
Camavinga is starting games at 16 in a major European League. Ravel, Bojan and Adu don't compare to him at the same age. Camavinga is playing at a far higher level already.
Think that has to do with his body. He's a big guy compared to Ravel at age 16.
His performance at 16 against PSG just going on stats is ridiculous for a 16 year old. Not sure Ravel even managed something similar in a youth cup game..
Hannibal V Camavinga in a few years lads..
Come on man, that's just an exaggeration. Are you really suggesting Ravel had no equivalent performance at youth level? Nobody is saying he wasn't impressive, but it does help him to perform at the men's level because he's more physically developed than most youngsters. Not everybody gets the same opportunity at that age for that reason. We have a lot of people who won't give Garner a chance at age 18 because he's still skinny.
And I do give credit to Rennes. Some clubs probably wouldn't have given him that chance simply because of his age. Personally I'm looking forward to Cherki's debut even if he wouldn't look as special at the same age. I think he has more in his locker.
What I'm saying is that a lad of 16 playing in midfield against one of the best teams in Europe recorded a assist and had 98% possession. Ravel Morrison was a very good player at Youth level but that is all and cannot be compared to Camavinga who is performing at a far higher level.
Last season our defensive frailties is partly down to Matic and fred when he plays.he seems to slow down the team and did not contribute much defensively. He seems more into regular passing and interception. Central midfield might be ok for him. A solid defensive midfielder should be the next priority.
Of course that is true. I'm not suggesting otherwise. Ravel failed at the men's level at age 18-26. I'm just saying that performing at that level isn't a guarantee to being the generation's best talent. There might be other players who when they grow physically have all the tools he has and thus end up as good as him, but we wouldn't know that right now because that kid at 16 is physically competing with adults. Just imagine him at youth level competing against kids.
At the same time, he could just be physically superior to most talents even when everyone is an adult. Mbappe is one of those kind of talents as was Brazilian Ronaldo.
Rennes are giving the kids a proper chance it seems. This tweet from @jb8521 is making alot of sense now. I hope our scouts are camped outside the Rennes academy this season..
Just give me the director of football role
I don't disagree with this post. It's true that someone like say a Hannibal Mejbri might even develop into a better player than Camavinga in the next 3-5 years. Young players develop at different rates and a prime example is Nil Lamptey who was lauded as a greater talent than the likes of Veron, Guardiola and Del Piero, but never quite made the grade after showing very positive early signs. Was even tipped as Pele's successor by the man himself.
Nice oneI will send a letter to Ed mate. You and @bucky as joint Technical Director's..
I will send a letter to Ed mate. You and @bucky as joint Technical Director's..
Just so you know, I thought Xhaka was going to be a success wherever he goes and I was also all in favour of signing Schneiderlin. So there's that.