Would be a smart signing for the price, a great option and a very good squad player. Knows the league too, which is always a plus for this kind of player.
Ruben Neves | Signed for Al Hilal (SA)
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I'd say his ball retention and decision making is better than Fred's, but he's also more progressive on the ball so his stats are less impressive. We just can't trust Fred to play a solo holding role, he doesn't have the discipline, whereas I think Neves can. If he's not being looked at for that sole purpose, I think he'd be another pointless signing.
This reasoning would have had us buying Tom Huddlestone.
To be fair, it took a few seasons, many mistakes and being vilified by fans before people really saw him as the complete article.
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Would turn out to be a great signing i reckon.
Neves - Fred / McTom
Bruno
Looks decent to me, with plenty of promising youngsters not far off hopefully challenging for a spot.
Neves - Fred / McTom
Bruno
Looks decent to me, with plenty of promising youngsters not far off hopefully challenging for a spot.
He started well, but the Barcelona CL final defeat in ‘09 really affected him and it took about 18 months for his form to recover.
I know right. Lots of shit scouts on here.
Who was it on here years ago that thought Nathan Delfouneso was the biggest upcoming talent ?
Being vilified by forum posters didn't make him develop his game
Match going fans have always appreciated his talent and contribution to the team. We'd won 3 titles with him before some idiots felt he'd dipped which was cobblers. We had also won the UCL by then
That wasn't my point. Bad wording on my part.Being vilified by forum posters didn't make him develop his game
Match going fans have always appreciated his talent and contribution to the team. We'd won 3 titles with him before some idiots felt he'd dipped which was cobblers. We had also won the UCL by then
My point was that a lot happened before people actually started to rate him. It's revisionist to imply that the general consensus among fans was that he was one of the best.
The plaudits came much later.
Imagine having Bruno, Pogba AND Neves banging in shots from 30 yards. Guaranteed worldies. A lot of our shooting opportunities from outside the box currently fall to Fred, partly I imagine as the opposition don’t see him as a threat but also because the defence are occupied by Bruno and Pogba.
Not sure if there is any truth in our interest but if so I imagine this would be to try and address the issue of us not dominating games the way you would expect a top side to. Neves would certainly be more accurate with his passing than Fred and McTominayThe concern would be whether he has the legs to play behind Bruno and Pogba and to nullify counter attacks.
If the defence can squeeze higher with the addition of Varane or if Shaw tucks in for additional security then I think this concern could be addressed.
At worst, Neves could take Matic’s place in the squad and give us something a bit different.
Not sure if there is any truth in our interest but if so I imagine this would be to try and address the issue of us not dominating games the way you would expect a top side to. Neves would certainly be more accurate with his passing than Fred and McTominayThe concern would be whether he has the legs to play behind Bruno and Pogba and to nullify counter attacks.
If the defence can squeeze higher with the addition of Varane or if Shaw tucks in for additional security then I think this concern could be addressed.
At worst, Neves could take Matic’s place in the squad and give us something a bit different.
Think he’ll be more of a Matic replacement. I’m not sure how we fit Garner and Camavinga into the squad if we do get Neves and Camavinga.
DM: Neves, Camavinga, Garner
Box to Box: McT, Fred, Pogba(?)
AM: Bruno, VDB
With Pogba in there it feels like there’s too many midfielders and the likes of Garner/Camavinga might not get enough game time.
DM: Neves, Camavinga, Garner
Box to Box: McT, Fred, Pogba(?)
AM: Bruno, VDB
With Pogba in there it feels like there’s too many midfielders and the likes of Garner/Camavinga might not get enough game time.
Garner won't be in the first team this season, he's at least another year away from being ready.
Possibly even more, Conor Gallagher did a season in the PL for West Brom and even he still doesn't look ready for Chelsea.
We need to be buying system players, if Neves is the right guy for that system or the next best thing if our priority target is out of reach we should go for him.
The myth that there's a DM in world football that can play behind Pogba and Bruno needs to be eradicated.
Unless that DM is a cement wall across the width of the pitch, it's not gonna happen.
Most midfielders in the world would get "exposed" with Pogba next to them in a midfield 2. Even Kante needs another midfielder and cannot do it alone.
And that's not Pogba's fault. You just cannot have a balanced midfield if you play a #10 or a #8/10 hybrid in a midfield 2. You cannot and should not play midfielders like Pogba, Bruno, Isco, Grealish, Maddison, Fabregas, Lampard etc in a flat midfield 2. Its unbalanced. They are attacking midfielders, and should be played closer to goal, and if they are played deep, they need a very complete midfielder next to them who can basically do everything. Someone like Keane or Busquets, players who can fulfill both the roles of a ball winner, as well as a tempo setter. You usually need two seperate players for this, eg : Pirlo and De Rossi, Casemiro and Kroos, Kante and Jorginho, Scholes and Fletcher etc.
There are players who have a supreme understanding of the game who shift from an AM position to a deeper lying role like Kroos, Scholes, Pirlo etc, but they are the exceptions. Pogba is not such a player. This experiment needs to stop. If we buy Neves, he should play next to McT/Fred. With Pogba/Bruno/VdB as the #10.
This.
Agree, I don’t think such a player exists and think we will always be struggling to get the right balance.
Nothing much to add there, other than "agreed". Pogba could potentially play as a disciplined "8" for a short period but over a season he will let you down.
We get countless people forward v low blocks. Its why we have so many combacks to our name.
Your're right about the wording of your posts. That's not what I said or implied.
Agree with this, which is why I see Pogba leaving. If he stays, he'll probably get more game time from the left wing, especially with Rashford's injury.
We have the box to box runners and we have the #10. We just need a disciplined holding midfielder with more progressive passing.
Do you need 11 world class players to win the PL?
Sell Matic buy Neves.
I hope
Yeah. I mean he can, but its just a waste of a player of his attributes.
I'm not a massive fan of Neves but the pace argument for a midfielder is getting really tiresome.
Some of the best midfielders ever werent blessed with pace.
Regards to pressing, yes it helps if you helps you are quick across the ground but its also about anticipation and reading of the game.
Some of the best midfielders ever werent blessed with pace.
Regards to pressing, yes it helps if you helps you are quick across the ground but its also about anticipation and reading of the game.
“Meh” sums up my feelings on this.
Just gonna repost this. Here are some top 10 stat lists for midfielders in the Premier League:
3rd for Tackles, but with fewer instances of being 'dribbled past' than most others. In short, he's a top ball winner who doesn't sell himself easily
1st for Interceptions.
8th for being Dispossed.
10th for Unsuccessful Touches.
1st for Long Balls
Neves would be fantastic for our double pivot. For some reason, people are holding his occasional goal scoring against him. And maybe others are opposed because they have a particular midfield shape in mind for the future. Those preconceptions aside, there's very little Neves can't do as a total package.
But if you're basing it on what Manchester United have been building towards for the last two-an-a-half seasons under Ole, he'd be an excellent fit and a fantastic upgrade. Newcastle fans were equally unsure about Wijnaldum before he won the CL and PL with Liverpool and now seems to be on the verge of signing for Barcelona.
3rd for Tackles, but with fewer instances of being 'dribbled past' than most others. In short, he's a top ball winner who doesn't sell himself easily
1st for Interceptions.
8th for being Dispossed.
10th for Unsuccessful Touches.
1st for Long Balls
Neves would be fantastic for our double pivot. For some reason, people are holding his occasional goal scoring against him. And maybe others are opposed because they have a particular midfield shape in mind for the future. Those preconceptions aside, there's very little Neves can't do as a total package.
But if you're basing it on what Manchester United have been building towards for the last two-an-a-half seasons under Ole, he'd be an excellent fit and a fantastic upgrade. Newcastle fans were equally unsure about Wijnaldum before he won the CL and PL with Liverpool and now seems to be on the verge of signing for Barcelona.
Wouldn't be the player I want in our team but I wouldn't mind if we sign him. He has one attribute that our midfielders lack except Pogba, he can switch the play well and has excellent long passing skills. Will be good addition to the team.
I agree. He would be very interesting for Man Utd.
The first time I saw him in the PL I was underwhelmed. He came with a reputation from Championship, and were touted as a new Carrick/Xabi. At 21, that was always going to be difficult. I think he struggled with both the pace and physical aspect of the PL the first season, and he appeared a bit overrated.
But I think he has developed alot, and as of now he almost appear to be a bit underrated. There is not much between him and Tielesman, but we obviously have a greater need of a type like Neves who sits bit deeper.
Considering how he has developed and his age (still only 24), I would expect him to peak in a few years. We would probably get ten years from him. And if he continue to develop, he will become a great player.
At 24 he has been a key player for a top ten-side in the PL for three years in a row. A fee of £30-40 mill is very low risk, and potentially very high reward.
Not The most mobile of midfielders and has been underwhelming for Wolves apart from one season in the Championship. I said a few years ago on here he wouldnt go for more £30m and right now it looks like he might go for even less.
Just gonna repost this. Here are some top 10 stat lists for midfielders in the Premier League:
3rd for Tackles, but with fewer instances of being 'dribbled past' than most others. In short, he's a top ball winner who doesn't sell himself easily
1st for Interceptions.
8th for being Dispossed.
10th for Unsuccessful Touches.
1st for Long Balls
Neves would be fantastic for our double pivot. For some reason, people are holding his occasional goal scoring against him. And maybe others are opposed because they have a particular midfield shape in mind for the future. Those preconceptions aside, there's very little Neves can't do as a total package.
But if you're basing it on what Manchester United have been building towards for the last two-an-a-half seasons under Ole, he'd be an excellent fit and a fantastic upgrade. Newcastle fans were equally unsure about Wijnaldum before he won the CL and PL with Liverpool and now seems to be on the verge of signing for Barcelona.
When you look at the players in and around him in those lists, all it highlights is that they're not very good barometers of how good a player is.
Ah fek it a signing is a signing.
I'm in.
I'm in.
Presumably we are buying him to play a Carricksque role, I would think that he could work alongside a high energy midfielder like Fred much like Carrick worked alongside Fletcher for a period before the latter fell ill. He'd be the passer and anchor in the two whilst Fred would be the ball chaser.
For the fees that were being touted earlier in the window I wouldn't mind bringing him in because I think he has the skill set to develop into the deeplying playmaker that we need to make our 4-2-3-1 work. Another potential boon is that buying him could allow us to buy Camavinga, if we can convince him to come, which would give us a variety of options to use in midfield e.g Neves - Fred, Fred-Camavinga, McTominay-Neves or Neves-Camavinga whilst VDB could be a good option for resting Bruno.
Pace is not required to play the midfield role. What you need are: positional sense, first touch, passing ability and able to shield the ball.
Carrick and Scholes were never known for the pace and tackling. Both was never a powerhouse midfielder, one of the main reasons media and England overlooked them. However, the main reason we dominated the league and UCL for a period.
I would keep Matic and buy Neves. A sensibly used Matic can still be of use throughout the season. I'd still rather see him in the team than McT.
Scholesy
Think a Neves-Bruno- one of McFred is a solid midfield.
Pogba is either Bruno’s alternative or out on the left. There’s no way both of them start in the centre together over 50+ games.
Neves - Fred
Bruno
would be very nice.
Bruno
would be very nice.
Ok I am convinced, seems better option than Rice, lets sign him if he is cheap.Just gonna repost this. Here are some top 10 stat lists for midfielders in the Premier League:
3rd for Tackles, but with fewer instances of being 'dribbled past' than most others. In short, he's a top ball winner who doesn't sell himself easily
1st for Interceptions.
8th for being Dispossed.
10th for Unsuccessful Touches.
1st for Long Balls
Neves would be fantastic for our double pivot. For some reason, people are holding his occasional goal scoring against him. And maybe others are opposed because they have a particular midfield shape in mind for the future. Those preconceptions aside, there's very little Neves can't do as a total package.
But if you're basing it on what Manchester United have been building towards for the last two-an-a-half seasons under Ole, he'd be an excellent fit and a fantastic upgrade. Newcastle fans were equally unsure about Wijnaldum before he won the CL and PL with Liverpool and now seems to be on the verge of signing for Barcelona.
Solution: Wilfred Ndidi
Just slap down 35m plus Lingard and hopefully they'll bite.
Just slap down 35m plus Lingard and hopefully they'll bite.
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