Search for the Chosen CM to bring balance to The Force...errr Formation

Devil may care said:
I don't think there is anything stopping us addressing all the positions we need to in truth and given that Carrick is going to 34 and becoming injury prone it's not impossible we'd buy 2 all round CM's, but if not then Rooney would drop in as the #8 and Herrera or Januzaj would play the #10 in 4-2-3-1.
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Thats a whole lotta cash in one window though. 2 CMS? in addition to a right back, a CB and presumable a striker and or winger. Potentially 5 players. If one of those 5 is Pogba you can imagine how many hundreds of millions we'd need to spend in total :)
 
RedorDead21 said:
Thats a whole lotta cash in one window though. 2 CMS? in addition to a right back, a CB and presumable a striker and or winger. Potentially 5 players. If one of those 5 is Pogba you can imagine how many hundreds of millions we'd need to spend in total :)
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I'd suspect we'd ship out a few too though tbh.
LVG clearly isn't happy with the squad so I expect there to be quite a few changes.
 
Walters_19_MuFc said:
Like I said, I very much doubt we'll get two number 8's next season, as I personally think we should be looking to prioritise in other positions, such as a centre back and a winger.
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I don't think that signing four or five players is that difficult or even beyond our reach financially or in any other criteria. I think we should aim to achieve the sort of double pivot that Bayern had in their treble year or something akin to that, in that vein I think we could do worse than bringing Schneiderlin and McCARTHY or players with a higher ceiling if we can land them. Such a high work rate in midfield would allow us to carry a player like Mata and use him more effectively and also prevent sides from playing through us.
 
itso 7 said:
I don't think that signing four or five players is that difficult or even beyond our reach financially or in any other criteria. I think we should aim to achieve the sort of double pivot that Bayern had in their treble year or something akin to that, in that vein I think we could do worse than bringing Schneiderlin and McCARTHY or players with a higher ceiling if we can land them. Such a high work rate in midfield would allow us to carry a player like Mata and use him more effectively and also prevent sides from playing through us.
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I dont think you'll see many people within the game advocating that much turnaround (say 5 incoming players in one window) and then expecting to challenge the following season..as we do fully expect now. I get your point I just cant think of a good example of that ever working?
 
NoWinNoFee said:
Majority of players who take the league by storm physical type of imports (Tevez/Sanchez/Costa/Yaya) & players who can bounce off challenges (David Silva) wouldn't say Koke would be nailed on to be a success story in England at all.

Don't think there would any risk of Schneiderlin making the step up though, the guy is quality and a proven PL player and would improve us so much.
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Koke is physical and can bounce off players like Silva. Have you even watched him play? He puts himself about and he's more solid in build than Alexis/Tévez.
 
If LVG wants someone who is strong on the ball, then shouldnt Carvalho be on his list?
 
At most we need one midfielder. We just need to do a better job utilizing the midfielders we currently have.
 
Real Madrid- Kroos, Modric, Khedira, Silva, Illaremendi
Barcelona- Iniesta, Xavi, Rakatic, Busquets, Mascharano, Roberto
Bayern Munich- Alonso, Martinez, Thiago, Schweinstieger, Lahm, Rhode
Juventus- Vidal, Pogba, Pirlo, Marchisio
Roma- Strootman, De Rossi, Pjanic, Naingollan
Chelsea- Matic, Fabregas, Ramires, Mikel

Our midfield is actually ridiculously short of where we went to be in terms of quality, maybe Ferguson could win without a midfield but I don't think LVG can. We need at least 2 midfielders in the summer imo.
 
RedorDead21 said:
Thats a whole lotta cash in one window though. 2 CMS? in addition to a right back, a CB and presumable a striker and or winger. Potentially 5 players. If one of those 5 is Pogba you can imagine how many hundreds of millions we'd need to spend in total :)
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I don't think they all need to be blockbuster signings though, LvG has been in the job plenty of time now, he should have a much clearer picture of what he wants and needs, I would hope we have been scouting accordingly and may have a couple of gems for lower cost in there to bolster the squad, like the second CM for instance needn't be a huge name player, it could be someone like Allan from Udinese who would compete with Blind but can also play alongside him, and shouldn't cost a fortune.
 
How would Schneiderlen compare to Strootman as a "#8" next to let's say Blind or Carrick? Would that midfield have 'balance'?
 
Organic Potatoes said:
How would Schneiderlen compare to Strootman as a "#8" next to let's say Blind or Carrick? Would that midfield have 'balance'?
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Schneiderlin can play, both the 6 and 8 role, so yes he would bring balance if played next to Blind or Carrick.

At Southampton, he often plays next to Wanyama, who plays the more reserved role, whilst Schneiderlin gets forward.

Think he or McCarthy would be a great buy.


itso 7 said:
I don't think that signing four or five players is that difficult or even beyond our reach financially or in any other criteria. I think we should aim to achieve the sort of double pivot that Bayern had in their treble year or something akin to that, in that vein I think we could do worse than bringing Schneiderlin and McCARTHY or players with a higher ceiling if we can land them. Such a high work rate in midfield would allow us to carry a player like Mata and use him more effectively and also prevent sides from playing through us.
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To be fair, I'd love that to happen.

Bayern vs Barcelona springs to mind when you talk about their double pivot, with Martinez and Schweinsteiger, where the both completely shut Barcelona's midfield down. It was a great site, and something I would love to see.

The only issue is that, Van Gaal, from reading up on the systems he played at former clubs, likes to play with three centre midfielders, as opposed to a double pivot with a 10 above. Also, I can't really see him leaving out, both Blind and Carrick out the starting line-up, providing they're fit, as they are holding players, and again, Van Gaal often plays with a holding midfielder.
 
backofthenet said:
How do we know until he plays in the premier league? Almost certainly it'll take a season to get to grips with it(if he does at all)... which we can ill afford. I'd rather see us get a player that is going to hit the ground running which is why I prefer Schneiderlin.
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There are plenty of La Liga players who hit the ground running. Every transfer is a risk to some degree, but there are more question marks over whether Schneiderlin can get to grips with joining a big club than Koke settling in to the physicality of the PL, since Koke himself is physically strong and doesn't mind putting in challenges.
 
Pogba will be the big market this summer, and I'd like us to have a seat at the table. I'm not particularly keen on Strootman though I must say.

I just want some size, strenght and mobility in the middle. I really like James McCarthy, although he would be a Blind replacement for me, not to compliment him. However, if we can get Pogba, then I'd be all good with Blind/Pogba. Importantly, Pogba would be good for 10 goals a season easily I'd say, which is a huge plus.

Then there is my lover, Kovacic, although even for a Serie A player, I believe he is practically untransferrable at the moment, so I didn't even bother with him.
 
Devil may care said:
This last one is a bit young but looks the real deal when I've seen him and we could do with getting in on the ground floor with a young CM as it's not an area we are strong in youth-wise. In truth he'd be an extra as opposed to the main choice at this stage.

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He can hardly pull his own weight in the Belgian first division. One of the most overrated youngsters atm, he is not even ready to be a stable important player for a Belgian top club let alone that he could handle playing in the PL for a club like United.
 
NoArroJusBeta, that is just not true. Given the guys age, he is playing at a very high level. Did you see him against Dynamo Moscow this week? I'm not an Anderlecht fan, but I got to admit with the young squad they have, they are playing some pretty good football.
 
SonnyTheHaloPro said:
Real Madrid- Kroos, Modric, Khedira, Silva, Illaremendi
Barcelona- Iniesta, Xavi, Rakatic, Busquets, Mascharano, Roberto
Bayern Munich- Alonso, Martinez, Thiago, Schweinstieger, Lahm, Rhode
Juventus- Vidal, Pogba, Pirlo, Marchisio
Roma- Strootman, De Rossi, Pjanic, Naingollan
Chelsea- Matic, Fabregas, Ramires, Mikel

Our midfield is actually ridiculously short of where we went to be in terms of quality, maybe Ferguson could win without a midfield but I don't think LVG can. We need at least 2 midfielders in the summer imo.
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Don't really agree with this, a fair few of these players aren't better than our current options. We have a good set of midfielders. An addition would be helpful coz Carrick is 34 now, I don't see the need for two. I mean we already have a class midfielder who can't get a game in Herrera!
 
Let's nick Paulinho off Spurs, for some reason I've liked him since the World Cup. Would certainly do the job but we could obviously go for a much higher calibre player like Pogba or Strootman.
 
LennonNL said:
Let's nick Paulinho off Spurs, for some reason I've liked him since the World Cup. Would certainly do the job but we could obviously go for a much higher calibre player like Pogba or Strootman.
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Levy would want more from us than Juve or Roma would for those two
 
I'd Prefer just 3 players max. I'd fully expect a title charge with 2 (Pogba & Reus).
We have the 3rd best defensive record in the League. I only see that improving next season even if we dont buy a CB. Already capable of winning a title with our defensive options IMO.
I'd rather Stones than Hummels if we are to go purchase a CB which I know sounds mad I just think
we can effectively invest that extra cash elsewhere.

--------------------DDG
Valencia----Smalling...Rojo------Shaw

----Di Maria---Pogba------Reus
----Mata-------RVP--------Rooney
 
LennonNL said:
Let's nick Paulinho off Spurs, for some reason I've liked him since the World Cup. Would certainly do the job but we could obviously go for a much higher calibre player like Pogba or Strootman.
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He's shite. Like, genuinely, shite.
 
William Carvalho.....how has he been playing this season?

I'd spend the money on Pogba....almost guaranteed to be world class in the next 10 years

you couldn't gamble 30 million on Strootman with his injuries could you?
 
Schneiderlin and Pogba would be nice.

Our midfield selection can be:
Carrick, Blind, Schneiderlin, Pogba, Herrera, Mata, Di Maria


-----------------------DDG----------------
Rafael-----New defender----Rojo-----Shaw
-------------Pogba-----Schneiderlin-----
Depay------------Mata------------Di Maria
------------------Rooney------------------

We will win the league.
 
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Beachryan said:
I don't watch a ton of Juve, but from what I remember of Pogba for us, and what I have seen of him in the last 12 months, he's more of what we have. An upgrade, but he's most useful in the attacking half, rather than the defensive half. He'd be another one in competition with Di Maria, Mata and Herrera, rather than solidifying the midfield.

Given the prices being touted, he just doesn't seem to solve our biggest issues. He'd make the team better, but I'd much rather invest half the sums being mentioned on a beast of a DMF and some actual centre backs. We could probably buy 3 very good options for the cost of Pogba.

No doubt he's one of the best talents in the game today, but he doesn't seem like the answer to our main problems. It'll hurt when he replaces Yaya, but that's a better fit tbh.
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Raees said:
Exactly how I see it too. He is Yaya with knobs on.
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legball said:
If we sign Pogba, we'll still need to sign someone like Morgan, Strootman or a player in that mould. Pogba would be an upgrade on what we currently have, he does most of his work further up the pitch.
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I'm glad I'm not the only one here with the same thoughts.

For the sort of midfielder that van Gaal is looking for, and for the sort of players that van Gaal has played in that midfield role, Pogba or players like him aren't suitable for us. van Gaal prefers that his front 4 (#10, striker, wingers) take all of the risks in creating chances whilst those behind him supply these players. For this reason, we need a midfielder who can dictate play, read the game adequately, and possess a good passing range. It's also a reason why he doesn't see Herrera as a #8: Herrera has frequently bombed forward into goalscoring positions whilst no one else covered for him until recently, when he started playing more conservatively. I honestly do think that Herrera can still become this player if he's given more matches at this role that he's played recently as he does have good vision, accurate passing (when he's not risky in his game), and is good at controlling our tempo. He just needs to improve his passing range, and he'll be set.

However, if he doesn't grow into that role, then there are several options out there who are good for this role (most have already been mentioned). I'd really like to see Benat play for us, but I doubt that he's good enough for a top club. Same with Paulinho.
 
mazhar13 said:
I'm glad I'm not the only one here with the same thoughts.

For the sort of midfielder that van Gaal is looking for, and for the sort of players that van Gaal has played in that midfield role, Pogba or players like him aren't suitable for us. van Gaal prefers that his front 4 (#10, striker, wingers) take all of the risks in creating chances whilst those behind him supply these players. For this reason, we need a midfielder who can dictate play, read the game adequately, and possess a good passing range. It's also a reason why he doesn't see Herrera as a #8: Herrera has frequently bombed forward into goalscoring positions whilst no one else covered for him until recently, when he started playing more conservatively. I honestly do think that Herrera can still become this player if he's given more matches at this role that he's played recently as he does have good vision, accurate passing (when he's not risky in his game), and is good at controlling our tempo. He just needs to improve his passing range, and he'll be set.

However, if he doesn't grow into that role, then there are several options out there who are good for this role (most have already been mentioned). I'd really like to see Benat play for us, but I doubt that he's good enough for a top club. Same with Paulinho.
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I think the fact LvG has signaled his intent to buy a CM already means that it's in the works, so Ander will have to adapt on the job, but if Rooney ends up as a striker in the front 3 then Ander will be primed for the AM role in the midfield trio. Who is Benat? the only one I know of is the LB from Bayern Munich.
 
You're thinking of Bernat, Beñat is a midfielder at Athletic Club. He's barely good enough for them though, not a chance he's good enough for you.
 
LVG seems to prefer his midfielder in the van Bommel mould. Someone who just acts as a 'spoiler'. I can't think of many of those types of midfielder.
 
Bob Loblaw said:
You're thinking of Bernat, Beñat is a midfielder at Athletic Club. He's barely good enough for them though, not a chance he's good enough for you.
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I presume he means Juan Bernat who plays for Bayern. The one at Athletic is definitely not good enough.
 
DomesticTadpole said:
I presume he means Juan Bernat who plays for Bayern. The one at Athletic is definitely not good enough.
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I don't think so, he was talking about midfielders and did say that he didn't think Beñat was good enough to be fair.
 
I like Wanyama. Big, Strong, and gets about the pitch. His passing isn't amazing, but he plays it to the people that do the creative stuff. Liverpool players where bouncing off him all day today
 
Or we could just buy another attacking midfielder. That policy has never let us down in the past.
 
How about Witsel or Schneiderlin, seems Carvalho has regressed but he might also be worth looking at, he'll fit in well in the PL, like Matic.
 
Carvalho hasn't been that great this year. But in the last couple of months he has improved to last season level. I'm not entirely convinced if he has what it takes for a top european club. The Champions League test was an important one and he failed on that. João Mário and Adrien were much better than him against Chelsea and Schalke. Top clubs would be skeptical to pay the ammount we are asking. I mean sometimes he looks like a great talent (specially when he plays against Porto) but in the games against Chelsea in the Champions League for example, i don't think he showed why he deserves a big league move.
 
Oh just out of curiosity we have another CM gem coming up. I hate these labels but apparently we have the "next Pogba" :lol: His name is Bubacar Djaló and it appears Juventus, City, PSG and Spurs are following him. Err don't ask me much about him because i don't really know him but his name has been showing up alot on newspapers in the last months. Because the media decided he's the new Pogba, United should pay us a large ammount of money. Surely you won't want to miss two Pogba's in a row. Imagine if he is indeed the new Paul Pogba. It would be devastating for United fans to miss out on him.

http://rr.sapo.pt/bolabranca_detalhe.aspx?fid=45&did=179276

http://www.calcionews24.com/sportin...tus-sulle-tracce-di-bubacar-djalo-426907.html

http://sportivissimo.me/news/calcio/calciomercato-roma-bubacar-djaló-concorrenza-blitz-quotidiano_816937

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/tottenham-eye-transfer-sporting-lisbons-5211126
 
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