Potential Matic Replacements

jesperjaap said:
Well we dont know for sure he wants to go there and in the current situation even if he does this is probably our best opportunity to do so as I doubt they have a lot of money to spend
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Yeah I guess I have no idea if its true or not that he wants to only go there, but I am susceptible to pessimism.

And again I know it doesn't work this way, but if they did sign Cammavinga I would like us to go tell Federico Valverde he should join us as we would appreciate him.

As for other options I think Brozovic is a good shout.
 
BenitoSTARR said:
Terrible analysis there is no Koopmeiners.
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Good shout as he was definitely one to watch in the Eredivisie last season but do you think he'd be able to adapt to the physicality of the PL right now?

Seems a bit more finesse and technically proficient than some of the players mentioned but that could pay dividends if he can adapt to the style of the English game. His scoring numbers are eye popping though at that position so it'd be an interesting prospect for sure

Would love to see him at a smaller club without too much pressure to see how he'd fare before making the jump to a big club.
 
Rolaholic said:
Good shout as he was definitely one to watch in the Eredivisie last season but do you think he'd be able to adapt to the physicality of the PL right now?

Seems a bit more finesse and technically proficient than some of the players mentioned but that could pay dividends if he can adapt to the style of the English game. His scoring numbers are eye popping though at that position so it'd be an interesting prospect for sure

Would love to see him at a smaller club without too much pressure to see how he'd fare before making the jump to a big club.
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He’s definitely an interesting option for us this summer as he ticks quite a few relevant boxes.

Besides the role of the potential long term successor to Matic he’s also a left-footed set piece specialist, has some experience at CB (where he’s done quite well as by whoscoreds metrics) and will likely be far cheaper than most other options out there (aside from Roca) with us likely to burn most, if not all, of our summer budget on Sancho. Seems a smart gamble to me.
 
Rolaholic said:
Good shout as he was definitely one to watch in the Eredivisie last season but do you think he'd be able to adapt to the physicality of the PL right now?

Seems a bit more finesse and technically proficient than some of the players mentioned but that could pay dividends if he can adapt to the style of the English game. His scoring numbers are eye popping though at that position so it'd be an interesting prospect for sure

Would love to see him at a smaller club without too much pressure to see how he'd fare before making the jump to a big club.
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Best midfielder in the league for my liking.

He’s also one of the most physically robust players in the league and don’t see how he couldn’t adapt by doing a bit of gym work like every PL import does.

I personally ignore the goal stats though they are nice it’s not what impressed me having watched him all season.

I honestly think he’s an amazing deep passer and can’t think of much he doesn’t tick in terms of DM role and what we want.

Where else will you find a captain material, left footed, DM/CB with a great pass, great positioning, great delivery from set pieces and for under £20m?
JohnnyLaw said:
He’s definitely an interesting option for us this summer as he ticks quite a few relevant boxes.

Besides the role of the potential long term successor to Matic he’s also a left-footed set piece specialist, has some experience at CB (where he’s done quite well as by whoscoreds metrics) and will likely be far cheaper than most other options out there (aside from Roca) with us likely to burn most, if not all, of our summer budget on Sancho. Seems a smart gamble to me.
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I hope the idea that Mctominay can replace/succeed Matic isnt true. Every top team must have a top class DM. Barcelona has Busquets, Madrid has Casemiro, City has Fernandinho, Liverpool has Fabinho, Bayern has Kimmich, Juve has Pjanic and we have Matic but he is ageing and would need replacing soon. So whoever the club decides to replace/succeed Matic with has to be as good or can become as good as the names above. Is that Mctominay? No, I don't think so
 
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Matic is still a top class DM imo but he is ageing and would soon need replacing. I think there are two approaches we can take this window

1) Since Matic is still a top DM but is ageing, we get a young DM with high potential that can learn under Matic and can succeed him. So this window, we can get the likes of Roca, Koopmeiners, Gueye or Tonali who would learn under Matic and later on replace him when the time comes

2) Since Matic is still a top DM but is ageing, then he just needs his minutes managed until he isn't performing as well again. But when it is time to replace him(maybe in a season or two), we would need a top DM rather than someone that would need time to adapt or grow. So the second option is to go into next season without getting a DM but using Fred or Mctominay to manage Matic's minutes. Then when Matic isn't performing as well again maybe in a season or two, get a top DM to replace him
 
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Sea-Cow said:
Yeah I guess I have no idea if its true or not that he wants to only go there, but I am susceptible to pessimism.

And again I know it doesn't work this way, but if they did sign Cammavinga I would like us to go tell Federico Valverde he should join us as we would appreciate him.

As for other options I think Brozovic is a good shout.
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Isn't Brozovic a box-to-box midfielder? I think Neves, Ndidi and Rice are the 3 obvious options we should be looking at.
 
I've been trying to free myself from the thought that we should replace Matic like for like. As far as i can see, the deepest midfield position is a role we've changed between "generations" at United previously. We didn't directly replace Keane, we brought in Carrick instead, a quite different player type. We didn't quite directly replace Carrick, at least not initially. He was, rather, phased out, and we had sligthly different players instead ( Schneiderlin(early attempt), Herrera(though different initially), then eventually a similar Matic)
Still, it might be different this time around. This time OGS inherited a squad, and is trying to form "his" optimal squad to fit his ideas. The question is if Matic is the "perfect" fit for what OGS wants for that role, or if he wants something quite different. This could be hard for us to anticipate atm, but i think this "Matic replacement" discussion should take this into consideration.

Personally i think what we need, to complement Pogba and Bruno, is someone with mainly defensive responsibilities, allowing Pogba more freedom to roam offensively along with Bruno. This requires an ability to "cover the counter" to an even better degree that Matic can today. Key attributes: Positioning, Tackling, Stamina, Awareness.
Also, he should be able to retain and redistribute the ball effectively. Key attributes: Passing, Technique, Press resistance, Awareness
Being a natural deep focal point of our team, he should be able to control the tempo: Key attributes: Awareness, passing range, press resistance.

I don't watch enough football outside United to have any meaningful evaluations of suitable candidates, but maybe the rest of you do? Maybe someone sees a quite different role being taken by the "Matic replacement"?
 
jamesjimmybyrondean said:
Matic is still a top class DM imo but he is ageing and would soon need replacing. I think there are two approaches we can take this window

1) Since Matic is still a top DM but is ageing, we get a young DM with high potential that can learn under Matic and can succeed him. So this window, we can get the likes of Roca, Koopmeiners, Gueye or Tonali who would learn under Matic and later on replace him when the time comes

2) Since Matic is still a top DM but is ageing, then he just needs his minutes managed until he isn't performing as well again. But when it is time to replace him(maybe in a season or two), we would need a top DM rather than someone that would need time to adapt or grow. So the second option is to go into next season without getting a DM but using Fred or Mctominay to manage Matic's minutes. Then when Matic isn't performing as well again maybe in a season or two, get a top DM to replace him
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Gueye is 30 years old and would teach rather than be taught by Matic.
 
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jamesjimmybyrondean said:
Matic is still a top class DM imo but he is ageing and would soon need replacing. I think there are two approaches we can take this window

1) Since Matic is still a top DM but is ageing, we get a young DM with high potential that can learn under Matic and can succeed him. So this window, we can get the likes of Roca, Koopmeiners, Gueye or Tonali who would learn under Matic and later on replace him when the time comes

2) Since Matic is still a top DM but is ageing, then he just needs his minutes managed until he isn't performing as well again. But when it is time to replace him(maybe in a season or two), we would need a top DM rather than someone that would need time to adapt or grow. So the second option is to go into next season without getting a DM but using Fred or Mctominay to manage Matic's minutes. Then when Matic isn't performing as well again maybe in a season or two, get a top DM to replace him
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Answer honestly - you didn’t know how old Gueye was did you?
 
Blood Mage said:
Isn't Brozovic a box-to-box midfielder? I think Neves, Ndidi and Rice are the 3 obvious options we should be looking at.
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He's pretty much developed into a deep sitting midfielder these past couple of years.
 
Blood Mage said:
Isn't Brozovic a box-to-box midfielder? I think Neves, Ndidi and Rice are the 3 obvious options we should be looking at.
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I'm far from an expert and admit to not having seen him very much, I think he sits deep for Croatia?

And I agree with you on Ndidi, am coming around on the possibility of Rice, but disagree strongly on Neves!
 
Dream signing, David Alaba, wants to leave Bayern to play in midfield. Would give us experience and a winning mentality.

Realistic signing, Bruno Guimaraes from Lyon. Tenacious, good in the tackle and decent distribution. Wants to play in the PL too.
 
If we cannot afford Sancho or Grealish, then at least, Declan Rice, please (even if that position isn't our biggest worry atm.)

There were some (floating) rumours of him joining United a month back, but I've read nothing of that sort in the papers since. United are "strategically" linked with every good player, so I understand those "force-fed" rumours mean absolutely nothing.

This guy is immense and should be good for another 8/9 years, unless injuries catch up. He's the perfect long term solution for the "finished" Nemanja Matić. Wait for him till next summer, and he will almost certainly go to Chelsea as the long term Kante replacement.
 
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I thought this window we would address RW then next summer DM.

On paper a destroyer type like Ndidi would be awesome to "free" Pogba but it seems Ole likes playing Pogba a little deeper. Pogba has the passing range and vision to do it and since the return I thought he handled his defensive duties well. He won't put up the flashy numbers but plays the spot really well

Curious to see what route we go. Seems there aren't as many top deep lying midfielders or even many highly rated coming up. Tons of box to box prospects but we are loaded there.
 
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AsonUnique said:
I thought this window we would address RW then next summer DM.

On paper a destroyer type like Ndidi would be awesome to "free" Pogba but it seems Ole likes playing Pogba a little deeper. Pogba has the passing range and vision to do it and since the return I thought he handled his defensive duties well. He won't put up the flashy numbers but plays the spot really well

Curious to see what route we go. Seems there aren't as many top deep lying midfielders or even many highly rated coming up. Tons of box to box prospects but we are loaded there.
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There’s tonnes available this summer Zakaria, Koopmeiners and Tonali to start
 
BenitoSTARR said:
There’s tonnes available this summer Zakaria, Koopmeiners and Tonali to start
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Add Roca, Sangare and Luis from Benfica to that list on the far cheaper side as well. It's weirdly a position that seems to have tonnes of options this summer.
 
He will sign a two year contract extension. We will be told there is no value in the market. Whilst the likes of Everton buy Allan from Napoli.
 
Lash said:
Add Roca, Sangare and Luis from Benfica to that list on the far cheaper side as well. It's weirdly a position that seems to have tonnes of options this summer.
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Koopmeiners and Roca fit that role. Roca hasn't shown as much this last season.

I haven't seen a ton of Luis so I won't comment but I thought he wasn't playing a ton, could be wrong though. Sangare same boat haven't seen a ton to give a fair comment.

Tonali doesn't stay deep I know he starts in a DM role but he is all over. In a better team I think he will be a box to box type player. With his dribbling and movement imo he would be wasted sitting back. Plays like Fred but better vision and more skillful. Also seems he's staying in Italy.

Zakaria I would love, feel he fits more of the destroyer role. Awesome athlete and great tackler, even does well at CB. Can bomb forward. His passing is ok. Would be a bargain vs Ndidi which would cost a fortune.

I also like Laimer but in RBs system he doesn't always sit back, anywhere else he would be a box 2 box player.

Of all those listed I truly think only Tonali, Zakaria and maybe Koopmeiners could get to the level of consistently starting for us.
 
Lash said:
Add Roca, Sangare and Luis from Benfica to that list on the far cheaper side as well. It's weirdly a position that seems to have tonnes of options this summer.
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Florentino wouldn't be cheap most likely. Otherwise we should definitely be in for him.
 
Fosu-Mens said:
I think that there is a player at his former club in Norway that offers more in regards to playing like Carrick. Berg or something, should know it as it was in the news with their flawless start to their season.
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Oh I agree Sander Berge would address a lot of our needs, but I don't think he'll make another move so soon after just arriving at Sheffield United. Glad Norway have so many young up and coming talents especially in our positions of need.
 


A lot of talk about Koopmeiners in here. I have not seen much from him, but I was surprised when I saw how low his PVA was. Is he not a deeplying playmaker?

Man Utd for the sake of comparing:

 
andersj said:


A lot of talk about Koopmeiners in here. I have not seen much from him, but I was surprised when I saw how low his PVA was. Is he not a deeplying playmaker?

Man Utd for the sake of comparing:

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Not sure where you’ve got this from but bear in mind he’s also played CB this season too.

Sometimes stats don’t show you the full season well enough.
 
The best holding midfielder in the Eridivisie IMO is Ajax's Lisandro Martinez.
 
BenitoSTARR said:
Depends what you want from a DM.
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Well looking at our team and the style Solskjaer wants to implement it's a easy decision really. We don't place emphasis on possession football so signing Koopmeiners as a DM in a team that wants to transition quickly makes little sense over Lisandro Martinez.
 
BenitoSTARR said:
We both know a lot of that is down to having superior team mates.

Koops job is harder for AZ
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He doesn't suit us stylistically because what he's good at in a deeper role we have Pogba for that role. What we need is someone who can enforce/resist high pressure in a high line.
 
Adnan said:
He doesn't suit us stylistically because what he's good at in a deeper role we have Pogba for that role. What we need is someone who can enforce/resist high pressure in a high line.
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Koop can do that but we’ll just agree to disagree
 
VanHaal'sRedArmy said:
Oh I agree Sander Berge would address a lot of our needs, but I don't think he'll make another move so soon after just arriving at Sheffield United. Glad Norway have so many young up and coming talents especially in our positions of need.
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Patrick Berg.

Sander Berge should consider repositioning as a centreback. Too limited on the ball(currently) to play anything other than a really defensive midfielder or in a low possession team.
 
Lash said:
Strange they're showing that as a case for Martinez. To me that shows Gravenberch (knowing his age) as the clear choice.
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Gravenberch only played 480 minutes in the league making 8 starts.
 
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