For DCM he wanders out of position - we sometimes see him on the wing in the opposition half. His pass success rate isn't top notch either. If we could fix both those issues he'd be good.
Potential Matic Replacements
- Thread starter FootyGirl88
- Start date
I think United need to move away from signing squad players at this stage. We've got a first team full of lads that previously would have been squad players (James, Lingard, Matic, Pereirra, Mata, Williams). It's proper quality we need to target at this point to bring the old standards back.
He's played in a double pivot in a midfield lacking creativity so he's had to move around. If he had Bruno and Grealish in front of him he could just sit and sweep up. He'd be great at it.
De Jong. He hasn't been all that impressive at Barca and I'm sure they'd consider a big offer. He'd transform that midfield almost immediately.
Definitely. It’s the first team that needs fixing.
If Watford go down we should be all over Etienne Capoue as a Matic upgrade. He is old but he could offer two years worth of excellent service.
While we're there we should look at helping ourselves to Doucoure, and possibly Sarr!
While we're there we should look at helping ourselves to Doucoure, and possibly Sarr!
Did the player indicate he wanted to leave? Why would he want to leave Barca after 1 year only and come here of all places? And why would we make a big offer for a player who (in your words) hasn't been that impressive and is already on humongous wages allegedly (€10m per year before bonuses)? So many questions....
Sounds like a match made in hell. There gotta be way better options than De Jong
There aren't, he's the best player in the world in that position. He didn't indicate he wants to leave however I'm confident they'd push him out if they were to get a big offer.
He's been underwhelming largely because they play him out of position. We'd sign him and play him in his proper role. We have no issues paying wages what so ever. Time to get some real quality in that midfield so that we don't have to watch halves of football like that vs Everton.
Interestingly enough Thiago's contract has a year and a bit left and Bayern are dragging their feet. Another situation we could take advantage of. A Thiago, Bruno, De Jong midfield is the stuff football porn is made of.
Partey or Zakaria for me.
I would go all out for Ndidi.
Him and McT behind Bruno would be a very solid base to build from. I’d imagine you’d be looking at +/- £70m but him, Sancho and a ST would be good summer business.
Him and McT behind Bruno would be a very solid base to build from. I’d imagine you’d be looking at +/- £70m but him, Sancho and a ST would be good summer business.
I personally favour Zakaria but either would be good. They're both also better than Ndidi who will likely cost considerably more from Leicester.
With the way Matic is playing, he is going no where... we have a history with players rising up their game just before contract decision is due...
We need a DM who will be good enough to allow us to defend space in behind. Someone quick and mobile who is also good on the ball should be targeted IMO. Matic is fine in a team defending deep, but will be exposed in a front foot approach playing the highline which is something that should be deployed against most teams we face IMO. Matic as back up is more than fine but we surely have to target someone like Denis Zakaria to play the role and allow us to squeeze the opposition in their half, which would allow the attacking players freedom to unlock deep defenses.
We're currently approaching big games with a similar mentality to teams like Burnley which I do agree with. But with a good three additions in the summer, I expect us to adopt a more proactive approach by playing a high backline. And for that to be effective, players who are quick and mobile need to be bought along with the key attribute of having top class ability on the ball.
Zakaria as the DM would be a excellent start.
We're currently approaching big games with a similar mentality to teams like Burnley which I do agree with. But with a good three additions in the summer, I expect us to adopt a more proactive approach by playing a high backline. And for that to be effective, players who are quick and mobile need to be bought along with the key attribute of having top class ability on the ball.
Zakaria as the DM would be a excellent start.
In a great run of form. He and Fred work brilliantly. Mctominay will take his place
That seems to have done the trick, Ole indicated they've agreed contract extension with Matic. I hope this doesn't mean they are not going to get a younger, mobile DM in the summer. It would be a mistake to go into the new campaign with Matic as your no 1 DM.
The answer is simple, Its Saul. He can do everything. He can defend, he’s positionally aware, will get stuck in, he can run with the ball, he can dribble, he can shoot, he can pass. He’s the man we should be after.
I'd give him another season and bring Garner through. We are all of a sudden fairly well stocked in CM.
You have Fred and McT there also to play the position, so I don't know where you can actually fit in another defensive midfield player, maybe if you count Fred and McT as a box2box, but I don't think it what Ole have in mind as his model midfield, the direction will be more offensive, so guess we will see how that will develop.
Fred & McT are both box to box players, they're not really DM's. We need a mobile DM, who can help screen the defence and with good passing ability to progress the ball forwards from the back. Ideally someone who's also got some dribbling skills, to evade the press. In an ideal world, Fred, McT and Matic would be players on the bench with our starting midfield of Bruno, Pogba/Grealish and new DM. That's the makings of a proper midfield right there.
Problematic bench then, ideal would be to sell two of those and bring a proper backup 6 to a proper starting 6 and an attacking midfielder, but we can't really sell Fred or McT so it's a real mess. We will see soon the way Ole wants to go.
There's absolutely no chance Barcelona will sell De Jong.
Fred, McTomminay, Matic and Pogba have those 2 spots nailed down nicely for 2-3 years.
If Pogba leaves, replace him with a RW and a younger DM.
If Pogba leaves, replace him with a RW and a younger DM.
Then he's unattainable while at Barca.
We definitely need a midfield metronome akin to Carrick - for us to get to the next level, we need to be able to dominate possession more against teams like City. I'm glad Matic is performing better and that's really because we no longer play him every minute of every game like Mourinho did, running him into the ground. The rise of McFred means we have some strong options in midfield now and of course, Bruno is making a big impact but assuming Pogba leaves, we need to replace him. I'm curious to see how Garner and Levitt develop and longer term hopefully we can look to Mejbri too.
I have no problem if we extend his contract, but unless we sign someone else to rotate/start most games there, we're in trouble. Zakaria or Partey, for me.
I agree. But £150m or something like that? Not going to happen, sadly.
Matic has improved. But we absolutely must sign a top class midfielder this summer, especially as Pogba is already as good as gone
I don't see where Pogba is going to. Who'll pay £300k/week wages and give us £100m+ for him? I hear Real changed their mind and Juventus will only offer player exchange deals.
Matic will surely stay another year, or two. A CDM is still be welcome; but I don't see it happening this summer. Striker and Right-winger must be top priority. Perhaps Garner, McTominay or both can do the CDM job?
The answer is someone who is gettable. And unless Atleti decide to sell, Saul won't move from his beloved club.
Pogba will go in the summer. 80 to 100 million. Buy sancho with that money. Then buy Grealish and another MF.
Perhaps keep Igalo as well.
Perhaps keep Igalo as well.
They still owe something like 503 million Euros to private lenders having just paid off 202mil in August of last year I think it was. They have increased profits but I’m not sure it’s by enough to pay off that debt.
I know his buy out is something ridiculous but if they need to raise money then surely a deal will be done for something more akin of his actual worth. Not saying it will be cheap but if he is willing to move and Atleti willing to sell he’s the perfect choice.
Not if they aren't using him in that position and thus hasn't been impressive at all.
Just like the Striker thread we can't get complacement, Matci has had some decent games since he came back into the team but we all know he runs out of gas and when he falls off he falls off hard, I can see that he'll be kept on as a squad player but @Adnan is right, if we want to be more than rectionary in bigger games we are going to need a DM that can cover a lot more ground.
Neither Fred or McTominay are DM's, they are box to box CM's, neither have the positional game for the holding role and it would also take away what they give us in pressing further up the pitch as it restricts their freedom to get around the pitch.
Neither Fred or McTominay are DM's, they are box to box CM's, neither have the positional game for the holding role and it would also take away what they give us in pressing further up the pitch as it restricts their freedom to get around the pitch.
Matic would be targeted if we adopt a front foot approach. So would our CBs IMO. And a front foot approach is something big clubs should adopt to stamp their authority on the game and take the game to the opposition. So it makes sense having, not only good ball players, but also players that are quick and mobile enough to defend space in one v one situations. The benefits are it would allow our creative players freedom to open deep defenses.
Lindelof to be either replaced by Bailly or sign someone like Ibrahima Konate who looks perfect for the role next to Maguire. Denis Zakaria is a stand out option for the DM role and would help the defence and the attack.
Yeah there seems to be so much talk of Grealish coming in this summer but only see that happening if Pogba leaves, you make a very good point about who is realistically going to pay him what he wants per week and also give us a transfer free around the £100m mark as well.
I agree with you on the CB's as well, I think when we use 3 at the back Shaw and Bailly cover Maguire well, but when it's just 2 there is always a fragility with the Maguire/Lindelof as a duo when it comes to teams with pacey forwards, you can see with Ndidi at Leicester the value of that type of DM if you want to unleash your creative players and protect CB's that aren't blessed with pace.
I'd love to see Bailly sustain fitness and form for us and I still believe Axel can take the spot as well. I've not seen a lot of Zakaria but what I have seen impressed me, he has the defensive game of Ndidi but is much better on the ball, both passing and driving it forward.
Zakaria has more in the locker compared to Ndidi and would be immense in the first phase of the build up. Zakaria also gives you tactical versatility like not many DMs out there. Maguire can bring the ball out and you can bet Zakaria will step right into the vacated space and slot into Maguires position naturally such is his tactical understanding. He could also slot in as a #8 If required to do so. Zakaria gives a prospective coach many solutions tactically which opens up many possibilities. I'd be happy with Camavinga too.
I noticed that about him in the game against Dortmund this past weekend, he was practically playing in a back 3 at times. I'd put him and Sancho as the priorities this summer plus one more attacker.
I wouldn't be against signing Grealish to add to Sancho and Zakaria but feel it would serve us better if we targeted a #8 who could dictate from midfield.
I'd like to see that as well but I just don't see Ole not having one of Fred or McTominay as a starter next season.