Well SMS and Pogba aren't going to play 3 games a week are they...
We need to sign an AM anyway, so we shouldn't really be signing a player just to suit a system with 3 CM's. We need someone who can drive in a two man midfield as well.
Sergej Milinkovic Savic
- Thread starter R'hllor
- Start date
Well SMS and Pogba aren't going to play 3 games a week are they...
We need to sign an AM anyway, so we shouldn't really be signing a player just to suit a system with 3 CM's. We need someone who can drive in a two man midfield as well.
I agree with @Devil may care, he looks a top prospect and I've been impressed everytime I've watched him. I just don't know how he fits into the team though.
Has anyone mentioned that his brother used to play for us?
Yes, I'd expect Pogba and whoever we sign for £80M to play nearly every league and CL game, just like Pogba and Lukaku hardly ever rest now.
If we sign Pjanic we'll have the ideal player to operate in a 3 with Pogba and Matic or a 2 with Matic and a AM/#10 ahead in the case of rotation or injury.
Exactly, I'm not saying he's not a good prospect, I just don't think he fits with our needs, he's not the ideal compliment to Pogba.
we will not sign Pjanic, that should be clear. Juve wont sell. We were again too late, as usual with talented technical midfielders.. We needed to buy him before the Juve move.
But he would solve almost all our (midfield) issues. Pass master, but also free kick/corner specialist. Has a nice long shot too at times.
That being said, I do think we need to sign a capable backup to Pogba. The fact that we have literally only one playmaking CM is baffling. When he's unavailable we have to result to playing two holding midfielders. We just need one that wouldn't cost 80m+ like Savic would though.
I agree on your point about needing someone like a Pjanic alongside Matic and Pogba though. Someone like a Pjanic, Kroos etc. would be ideal to complete our midfield.
Juve want SMS and they have Bentancur coming through, they do have tendancy to sell and refresh their squad, I don't think it is impossible that they sell him to fund the SMS purchase, like they did with Pogba to buy Higuain.
If we got Pjanic and a RWF that could also play as a #10, like say Eriksen or Pulisic, I think we'd be fine as when Pogba is out we can just switch to 4-2-3-1 or -3-4-3 and move Eriksen/Pulisic central to replace Pogba and we'd still have Pjanic supplying the passes.
If we need to beat City and be a force to reckon with, we need to get the best. In this case, SMS offers pace, power and goals. He's technically very good and could adapt to any play style that we may need. For those who say that he cannot function in a midfield 2 with Pogba, I beg to differ. 3-5-2. Pogba and SMS would work in a 3-5-2 with wingbacks as well as an attack midfielder to play behind the front two.
----------- Martial ------ Lukaku -------------
-------------------- Ozil -----------------------
------- SMS ----------------- Pogba ----------
Sandro ----------------------------- Valencia
----- Smalling ---- Bailly ---- Lindelof ------
----------- Martial ------ Lukaku -------------
-------------------- Ozil -----------------------
------- SMS ----------------- Pogba ----------
Sandro ----------------------------- Valencia
----- Smalling ---- Bailly ---- Lindelof ------
Lazio star Sergej Milinkovic-Savic claims he ‘doesn’t care’ if Manchester United have been watching him in recent weeks.
I'm pretty sure he didn't name drop us specifically. He said he wasn't bothered by scouts watching him in general and was focused on his current club.
They have several midfielders they'd surely get rid of before Pjanic like: Khedira, Marchisio, Sturaro and arguably even Matuidi. In terms of major sales, Sandro seems the obvious choice and some Juve fans think Dybala will be sold next summer.
Dybala being sold would scupper any chances for sure, but I don't see any club stumping up much for those other CM's given their age and injury issues in the case of Khedira and Marchisio.
Pjanic doesn't offer the same drive. If we sign an AM the level of Ozil then yeah, SMS wont play every game. Some games we play with Pogba and Matic with Ozil at AM and some games Ozil either drops out in place of SMS or moves to a wider position. In other games we can rest Pogba for SMS and play him with Matic.
All that being said, who says Juve would even sell Pjanic.
Marotta being fully Marotta would mean Emre Can on a free + Bryan Cristante from Atalanta while loaning there 2-3 more under 20s. As for Pjanic, it is a pipedream today, maybe ask Santa?
I still remember that photo of SAF standing next to Vanja. He looked like a dwarf.
Not many would agree on the last two
What else is he going to say? Yes I want to leave the team I currently play for?
He doesn't need to drive with the ball as his passing does the work, plenty of teams play without a CM that runs the ball like Pogba. If we pay £80M for SMS he will play nearly every league and PL game, just like Pogba and Lukaku do, you don't invest that kind of money on rotation, it'll be the likes of McTominay and Lingard that step in for the games they are rested for IMO. If we buy say Pjanic and Pulisic/Eriksen we'd be ideally set up for 4-3-3 with Eriksen/Pulisic able to play as a #10 if Pogba or Pjanic are out.
I'm not saying they will, clearly Bepi thinks not but then most of their fans thought they wouldn't sell Pogba either. However my main point was we need a Pjanic type of CM a lot more than we do a less polished Pogba clone.
@Devil may care
We need more attacking threat centrally and that is exactly what Savic would provide. You're also severely underating the ability of Matic in a deeper role which isn't a surprise to me considering your posts before we signed him were all negative.
Savic in my opinion can be a World class box to box midfielder and would also provide a threat aerially along with his superb technical skills for a big guy.
We need more attacking threat centrally and that is exactly what Savic would provide. You're also severely underating the ability of Matic in a deeper role which isn't a surprise to me considering your posts before we signed him were all negative.
Savic in my opinion can be a World class box to box midfielder and would also provide a threat aerially along with his superb technical skills for a big guy.
Great in FIFA, therefore we should obviously sign him.
How would he work if he plays on the left side of midfield too? Literally exact same position as Pogba. Anyone seen more of him to say he can operate in the right side?
I'm not underrating Matic at all, take a look at his thread, I have done nothing but praise him since he got here, so that is a hollow argument. He isn't a playmaker though, he's a DM with some nice passes in his locker, but it's not the same as being a playmaker, someone that moves the pieces. The players I suggested would provide central attacking threat but have skillsets that compliment Pogba a lot more than SMS who is pretty much just a lesser version him right now. I have never said SMS isn't a good player but building a team is about getting parts that compliment the parts you have, SMS isn't a compliment to Pogba, we need a player in that mix that can not only control the attack but who will not leave us wide open to the counter which is always happening with Pogba, and SMS has the same issues.
Savic might well become world class, Pogba already is, to me we need someone that offers some complimentary qualities rather than just more of the same, that is all.
You were describing Matic like a big lump when it was rumoured we were interested in signing him. Praising him now shows how wrong you were then.
We don't necessarily need a deep lying play maker to compliment Mourinho's vision on how to set a team up. Matic is more than capable of playing in a deeper position for the foreseeable future. We need someone in midfield who is gonna be a threat centrally in the final third, because 90 percent of the time we will be playing teams who we should expect to beat.
Matic was really poor last season for Chelsea and I was rightfully concerned, he's played well since he got here and I have said so, that has zero to do with this as he's still not a DLP and never will be, he's a good DM that was best when paired with Fabregas, a proper playmaking #8.
Pjanic isn't a deep lying playmaker, neither is Eriksen, the two players I have mentioned, what both are, are players that can control the tempo and dictate the attack, they add craft to Pogba's dynamism, all SMS would do is add more dynamism, which is pointless, we have plenty of pace and power in this squad, the lack of having a proper playmaker who can get on the ball and control a game is why we have sucked in every big game bar one under Jose, constantly on the backfoot, if we had a player like Pjanic we'd be able to take charge of big games. Again, it's about buying players that offer different strengths to the team and thus balance, SMS is the complete opposite of that, it's like shoveling more cream on a cream cake.
Matic wasn't as good in his last season for Chelsea but who was? Hazard and co were just as bad. But for you to claim he was just a 'big lump' looks a bit embarassing now.
We don't necessarily need a midfielder to control the tempo from a deeper position. Matic is more than adequate to shield the defence in 90 percent of our fixtures. Our problem when SAF retired was that the midfield needed reinforcing, a midfield which was neglected for many years. We finally signed a midfielder last year with world class potential in Pogba and bought Matic this year.
The difference between City and United is not only De Bruyne and Silva, but their wingers too. They also have player's like Bernardo and Gundogan as back ups. They basically have better central advanced attackers. We only have Pogba.
Milinkovic Savic would fit in well with Pogba and Matic IMO. Savic in my opinion can develop into a World class box to box midfielder. Pogba can be the CAM with freedom to roam. We would beat 90 percent of the teams in the league with them three in midfield. Against the bigger teams Pogba could be more disciplined.
Not only is Milinkovic Savic a very good player with fantastic potential at 22. He would also enable us to move Fellaini on without losing what the Belgian offers the team. If there's a chance to sign him we shouldn't hesitate.
You are referring to the season before that one, I was talking about the Conte season, he'd been poor for quite some time, and while I was incorrect in calling him a lump, you are equally wide of the mark in saying he can control the tempo of the team, he can't, that was why Mourinho put Fabregas with him.
City have deeper quality than us for sure but we are focused here on the central positions, they have De Bruyne and Silva ahead of Fernandinho, for all the praise heaped on De Bruyne for his spectacular strikes and assists, Silva is the hub that makes the attack tick, Pogba is De Bruyne, SMS is a million miles away from Silva, he's a less refined version of Pogba, putting two of the same together makes no sense, we need that Silva like orchestrator alongside Pogba, a layer like Pjanic or Eriksen, maybe even your boy Fekir as he drops in and operates from deeper quite often for Lyon, all of them are much better fits with what we have than buying another version of a player we already have.
From what little I have seen of him he's good technically and is a physical presence, so it isn't surprising Mourinho likes him. Could be a good fit, although I'd prefer we sort out a new left back and right wing before we go for another central midfielder.
You know what would be good, sign SMS(feck me, the guy Is called SMS now) and sign Pjanic as well and cut loose Mikhi at least. I say Feck Juventus!
) and sign Pjanic as well and cut loose Mikhi at least. I say Feck Juventus!Why do Juve seem to be after every midfielder every summer or winter? At some point, they have to be satisfied
Savic if he is bought won't be the only signing we make. He will be one of three key players that will be bought, possibly four if the Glazers allow it. Silva is a perfect player for Guardiola's possession based system but that doesn't mean we need to go like for like to match what Guardiola is doing to topple them. Mourinho will sign players to fit his way of thinking, and as long as the Glazers back him, I'm confident he will succeed.
SMS is a completely different player to David Silva. SMS is a player that could compliment Pogba. SMS in my opinion would be brilliant alongside Pogba. Most of our fixtures would be against teams we should be beating. I wouldn't even hesitate to play Pogba and SMS together. It's time we stopped overthinking things in midfield regards balance and start being more adventurous in our approach, especially against the lesser sides in the league.
Also I never said Matic would be a Pirlo in a deep lying position. What I said was, he is more than capable of doing a job considering most of our fixtures are against the so-called lesser sides.
Not every team is like ours. We miss Pogba's presence, strength and drive more than we miss his deep playmaking when he is out.
Saul, Goretzka, Milinkovic-Savic -> in.
Carrick, Herrera, Fellaini -> out.
Midfield solved
Carrick, Herrera, Fellaini -> out.
Midfield solved
will cost too much,I want sms,ozil on a free and groetzka too..then maybe a griezmann or malcolm(potential).alex sandro for left back and make do with Valencia,then replace him the following summer..Saul, Goretzka, Milinkovic-Savic -> in.
Carrick, Herrera, Fellaini -> out.
Midfield solved
Muppet overload kicks in around this time. I think Bale can do a Robben and become a major world star again if he leaves Madrid. Dybala would be nice but maybe a bit pricey and Madrid/PSG/Chelsea etc might also be interested. Ozil Meh. Zaha is heading for a top 4 club. Griezmann won't be coming. Can't think of too many others for that right wing.
Still think we need a more metronomic midfielder to complete the trio. I’m not Sure if Andreas can take this role on. He has played very well as a 6 for us at times. He has quick feet, two feet, and is a good passer. He can play a Kross/Verratti type of role here.
As for an understudy to Pogba, I would personally be delighted if we picked up Ross Barkley on the cheap. I actually think he is stylistically very similar to Kevin at City, and could, in pockets, provide some similar threats of developed well. Barkley is an 8/10 hybrid like Kevin, he has a great, powerful shot off both feet like Kevin, has a similar physique to Kevin, and can drive forward through the centre like Kevin. He is obviously not as good (to the extent that I’ve purposely been calling him Kevin instead of KDB as mentioning his actual name in comparison is rude enough!), but he is a work in progress and think he can still become a very good player.
As for an understudy to Pogba, I would personally be delighted if we picked up Ross Barkley on the cheap. I actually think he is stylistically very similar to Kevin at City, and could, in pockets, provide some similar threats of developed well. Barkley is an 8/10 hybrid like Kevin, he has a great, powerful shot off both feet like Kevin, has a similar physique to Kevin, and can drive forward through the centre like Kevin. He is obviously not as good (to the extent that I’ve purposely been calling him Kevin instead of KDB as mentioning his actual name in comparison is rude enough!), but he is a work in progress and think he can still become a very good player.
Savic is basically Pogba without the polish, I don't see him complimenting him at all, and we are already beating the so called lesser teams, that's not a problem, and we'd still do that with Pjanic or Eriksen or Fekir, the difference is they'd help us against the better teams which is where we struggle badly as we turn the ball over too easily, SMS won't help us with that, in fact he'd make us worse as he's often sloppy in possession.
Matic can't do a job though, as we've seen without Pogba we barely function as an offensive unit, it's not like Carrick or Scholes who didn't drive forward but their passing from deep kept us as an attacking threat. Matic has done very well in the role he is tasked with and that's protecting the back 4, especially given he often has little help due to Paul's maverick style, but we need another player that can get on the ball in midfield and help feed the attack when Pogba is out but who also fits with him when all 3 are fit, that's not SMS in my view, if we were looking for a box to box and didn't have Pogba though, then I'd want us to buy SMS to compliment the type of players I have mentioned, he's just behind Saul and Goretzka for box to box options.
Things don't have to be like for like, we just need someone that can create when Pogba is out, it doesn't have to be running the ball, it can be passing it as long as they fill the creative void, and to that end we need that player to also be able to start with him, not just cover him, so we should be looking at players that compliment him, not players that are just lesser versions of him for £80M.
I think SMS looks like a better version of Barkley. Although Barkley has had some good seasons where people have been equally as excited about him, his stock just isn't high right now.
Having said that I'm not sure if either are exactly what we need. SMS looks good and if we didn't have Pogba I'd be all for it. But I would like to see a bit more guile added into midfield, somebody that barely loses the ball and can create chances and open up a defence.
If we were to go for SMS then it would still be exciting, but I think we'll still need that 'genius' in the final third. Playing 3 CMs is overkill in 90% of our games. I think we'd have to find an outstanding winger or two to compensate. Perhaps unleash our fullbacks to overwhelm the opposition with numbers instead.