I really want neves. Wish we were linked more to him.
Summer 2019 Midfield Rebuild
- Thread starter bosnian_red
- Start date
With the other 15-16 other players in the squad that should be moved on.
Dissolve the club and start again.
Me too, the ideal long-term Carrick replacement.
Stick a hard-working CM next to him, and pray Pogba pulls his finger out, and we'd have a midfield with great quality.
McTominay and Fred in reserve (jury still out on the latter - seems to show flashes of talent but makes tons of daft mistakes).
Couldn't agree more. I still think Fred will come good. The talent and commitment is there. It's his decision making where he needs to improve.
As long as the commercial side still operates everything is good. Could stop playing in competitions and copy Harlem Globetrotters. Travel around the world playing showmatches: Manchester Bantztrotters.
Or as a circus. (would actually be easier since copying Globetrotters would require more than 5 players able to handle a ball, and we already have a number of players suited for various roles at a circus.)
Step by step.
Sell Matic the deadwood who only has 1 year contract left.
Sign Bruno Fernandes (he’s available) to share the playmaker role with Pogba in midfield, he offers goals & good taking set pieces.
Bruno McT Pogba
Backup: Pereira (don’t mind selling if it means Gomes got promoted), Gomes & Garner (youth), Fred, Longstaff (prospect signing may be).
Next summer: After 1 full season we can start make decision whether McT is good enough for the DM role or no, if not then we can sign a new DM.
Sell Matic the deadwood who only has 1 year contract left.
Sign Bruno Fernandes (he’s available) to share the playmaker role with Pogba in midfield, he offers goals & good taking set pieces.
Bruno McT Pogba
Backup: Pereira (don’t mind selling if it means Gomes got promoted), Gomes & Garner (youth), Fred, Longstaff (prospect signing may be).
Next summer: After 1 full season we can start make decision whether McT is good enough for the DM role or no, if not then we can sign a new DM.
He would be great. But the midfield looks unbalanced.
You would need a defensive midfielder with a good workrate to allow Pogba and Fernandes to be the creative midfielders.
You don’t think that McT is a defensive midfielder with a good work rate?
He is an average footballer, workrate or not.
Van de beek!
You are entitled to call him average. One thing that you need to know it’s rebuild, Ole has given a hints it will take more 2-3 summer windows.
Realistically, we have a certain limit number of players that we can bring in. I’ll bring a new DM next following summer if necessary, this summer I’ll bring a creative CM first.
Matic is part of deadwood shouldn’t be anywhere near part of our rebuild plan. McT deserves to be given 1 full season chance in there.
For that position what do you think he is average at?
With Pogba, you kind of need two other midfielders willing to do the less glamorous work.
One is a defensive midfielder who can detect and snuff out threats in front of the box and when in attack get the ball into the attackers quickly. The other is a box to box player who can clock in the miles, close down and press the opposition to recover the ball higher up the pitch.
This worked so well when Matic was in form for a brief period of time and Herrera was healthy.
One is a defensive midfielder who can detect and snuff out threats in front of the box and when in attack get the ball into the attackers quickly. The other is a box to box player who can clock in the miles, close down and press the opposition to recover the ball higher up the pitch.
This worked so well when Matic was in form for a brief period of time and Herrera was healthy.
As a football player, he is average at this level. He is physically strong and very good at aerial duels, but most other aspects of his game are distinctly average.
Cumbersome and sub-par technique on the ball, non-existent passing range, not-so-strong spatial awareness, and I feel it is easy to get through him in midfield.
A central midfielder of the quality he's shown should not be starting for a top side.
Can we get Kessie please?
Alternative 1
Pogba. Fernandes
Partey
Alternative 2
Pogba
Rabiot. Partey
I’m fine with both options and see both options being a Top 3 pl midfield trio. Personally I would go for alternative 1 as I think we will be able to play very fast pace quick counter attacking game with this trio
Alternative 2 will be very solid defensive wise and also attacking wise but won’t be as fast as 1
Pogba. Fernandes
Partey
Alternative 2
Pogba
Rabiot. Partey
I’m fine with both options and see both options being a Top 3 pl midfield trio. Personally I would go for alternative 1 as I think we will be able to play very fast pace quick counter attacking game with this trio
Alternative 2 will be very solid defensive wise and also attacking wise but won’t be as fast as 1
Herrera leaving is a real kick in the balls. We need two midfielders. One who can replace the energy and graft Herrera brought to the team and another to effectively replace Matic in the first team. Preferably somebody that can pick a pass but with a lot more energy.
Central midfield isn’t a bulging market either - by the looks of things.
Central midfield isn’t a bulging market either - by the looks of things.
It could be TFM. I think he can do great in that position, defensive and work-rate wise. Also you have McT. As for Fred I wish he would never play in the DM position ever again, he'll do better alongside Pogba in a Fernandes kind of role, as you see him. If there were to be an incoming DM I wish it would be Rice or Neves.
Don't think two mainly defensive players are what we need. The CM should be someone that can control the tempo and actually do some playmaking of their own. Otherwise, the opposition can just focus on shutting down Pogba to limit our attacking potency.
More defensive minded players that would be an upgrade on Matic:
Rodri (best option available, but going to City), Rabiot, Partey, Rice (Next summer would be my bet), Toussart.
More defensive minded players that could replace Matic:
Kalvin Phillips, Berge, Sangare +++
And we already have MC T.
B2B replacing Herrera:
Barella, Bruno F, NDombele, Auoar +++.
Enough capable players around.
We need at least two midfielders, in my opinion - a holding midfielder and box to box midfielder.
Regista
Our build up play is quite poor at the moment. First reason is because we lack a top class ball playing centre back. More importantly, we lack a regista - someone who conducts the atttacking moves.
People say we need energy to allow Pogba more freedom, and whilst to a certain extent this is true, our priority should be to purchase a deep-lying playmaker, in my opinion.
By doing this, not only will it improve our approach play, but it means the likes of Pogba, who always drops deep to receive the ball, can focus on playing higher up and receiving the ball in much higher positions of the pitch, where he is much more of a threat.
Ole has tried Fred there. Whilst he likes to play forward passes and can spot a pass, he is way too erratic on the ball to be our conductor. Matic dwells too much, McTominay hasn't the passing range and Pereira not good enough, in my opinion.
Man Utd have always had a ball playing midfielder, who can control games and it is imperative that we have one going into then next season.
Options would be:
Neves
Brozovic
Thiago
Rakitic
Preferred option:
Neves
Secondary option:
Brozovic
Box to box midfielder
Basically what it says on the tin. Someone who has the energy to get up and down the pitch. Someone who can attack and defend well. Basically, we need a replacement for Herrera.
Options:
Saul
Partey
Ndombele
Barella
Doucoure
Tielemans and Fernandes could be seen as box to box, but in my opinion, they're not strong enough defensively to play in the 8 role, especially with a regista at the base of midfield.
Preferred option:
Ndombele
Secondary option:
Partey
Midfield next season:
First choice
Pogba Neves Ndombele
Second choice
Pogba Brozovic Partey
Midfielders
Pogba
Neves
Ndombele
Fred
Mctominay
Matic
Lingard
Pogba Neves Ndombele
Lingard Fred McTominay
Regista
Our build up play is quite poor at the moment. First reason is because we lack a top class ball playing centre back. More importantly, we lack a regista - someone who conducts the atttacking moves.
People say we need energy to allow Pogba more freedom, and whilst to a certain extent this is true, our priority should be to purchase a deep-lying playmaker, in my opinion.
By doing this, not only will it improve our approach play, but it means the likes of Pogba, who always drops deep to receive the ball, can focus on playing higher up and receiving the ball in much higher positions of the pitch, where he is much more of a threat.
Ole has tried Fred there. Whilst he likes to play forward passes and can spot a pass, he is way too erratic on the ball to be our conductor. Matic dwells too much, McTominay hasn't the passing range and Pereira not good enough, in my opinion.
Man Utd have always had a ball playing midfielder, who can control games and it is imperative that we have one going into then next season.
Options would be:
Neves
Brozovic
Thiago
Rakitic
Preferred option:
Neves
Secondary option:
Brozovic
Box to box midfielder
Basically what it says on the tin. Someone who has the energy to get up and down the pitch. Someone who can attack and defend well. Basically, we need a replacement for Herrera.
Options:
Saul
Partey
Ndombele
Barella
Doucoure
Tielemans and Fernandes could be seen as box to box, but in my opinion, they're not strong enough defensively to play in the 8 role, especially with a regista at the base of midfield.
Preferred option:
Ndombele
Secondary option:
Partey
Midfield next season:
First choice
Pogba Neves Ndombele
Second choice
Pogba Brozovic Partey
Midfielders
Pogba
Neves
Ndombele
Fred
Mctominay
Matic
Lingard
Pogba Neves Ndombele
Lingard Fred McTominay
Does nobody else see Pogba as more of an issue to our midfield than Matic?
Lets sign 2 players to get the best our of Pogba logic? Madness.
Pogba has been ineffective and downed tools more than once.
Sick of all this talk of build the team around him when its obvious he wants to leave for a pay day in madrid.
Matic gets bad press but he's often left with runners that Pogba has left. Yes, his best days are gone, but he is solid enough to be a rotation option with McTom for this year.
Fred/Periera/McTom/Matic all useful but not world class.
Pogba is talented but wasteful and not elite level.
We probably do need to sign 2 midfielders, but with Herrera leaving i'd only consider selling Pogba from our current midfielders. We need a solid hardworking midfield. Pogba doesn't seem to fit the work ethic we need. Talented or not, he is too much of an individual to work in a team/squad which is what we need right now
Lets sign 2 players to get the best our of Pogba logic? Madness.
Pogba has been ineffective and downed tools more than once.
Sick of all this talk of build the team around him when its obvious he wants to leave for a pay day in madrid.
Matic gets bad press but he's often left with runners that Pogba has left. Yes, his best days are gone, but he is solid enough to be a rotation option with McTom for this year.
Fred/Periera/McTom/Matic all useful but not world class.
Pogba is talented but wasteful and not elite level.
We probably do need to sign 2 midfielders, but with Herrera leaving i'd only consider selling Pogba from our current midfielders. We need a solid hardworking midfield. Pogba doesn't seem to fit the work ethic we need. Talented or not, he is too much of an individual to work in a team/squad which is what we need right now
Why did it for Juventus if Pogba is so much of a problem?
Nothing personal but you're out of your mind there.
To make it a bit more obvious, WOLVES, fecking WOLVES have a better midfield than us and you want to rotate Matic and MCT for a whole season? Boy the standards have dropped around here.
Wolves have a style of play and a midfield that works TOGETHER - something Pogba doesn't do for us.
He doesn't track, he doesn't work hard enough and despite his obvious talent he's extremely wasteful.
Why cant people admit Pogba is a massive problem? Cos he cost a lot of money? He's average
I'd swap him for anyone in Wolves midfield than ours
Matic is a massive problem. Regardless your opinion of Pogba.
I really think vd Beek could be a key player: a hard working, intelligent playmaker who can pass and score goals.
In the coming days we are going to see Rice, Van Beek, Fernandes, Neves, Felix, etc play for their national team. I can see the caf saying we should get the one who play the best in those games.
The one who doesn’t play well will be labelled trash.
And rightly so! We should only be signing players who are in form.
Sell Pogba, sell Peirera, let Mata leave
Get Rodri, Bruno and Rabiot. Done
Get Rodri, Bruno and Rabiot. Done
You're right!! We should spend millions and give multi-year contracts to players because they are in form 2 months before a new season will start. Makes sense.
We need to review our options
Let’s say we are going to play midfield 3 to fill the following roles:
Playmaker, DM, box-to-box
Playmaker - Pogba, new player
DM - Matic (new player), Mctominay
Box-to-box - Fred, new player
The thing is, we are very thin in the playmaker role (only Pogba), and with Herrera gone, we badly need reinforcement in box-to-box role, adding to that Matic slowing us down, we may need to replace him too. We basically need to buy 3 midfielders.
Let’s say we are going to play midfield 3 to fill the following roles:
Playmaker, DM, box-to-box
Playmaker - Pogba, new player
DM - Matic (new player), Mctominay
Box-to-box - Fred, new player
The thing is, we are very thin in the playmaker role (only Pogba), and with Herrera gone, we badly need reinforcement in box-to-box role, adding to that Matic slowing us down, we may need to replace him too. We basically need to buy 3 midfielders.
Rabiot + Rodrigo
Fernandes if Pogba leaves.
Fernandes if Pogba leaves.
I like to divide midfield roles similarly
1. Attacking responsibility - Pogba
2. Best passing option, press resistant, & constant passing force -
3. Energy provider -
4. Defensive responsibility -
In the last 2 seasons Pogba was our main midfielder and although he helped in the 2nd category, his main responsibility was to provide to the attack.
1. Attacking responsibility - Pogba
2. Best passing option, press resistant, & constant passing force - NA
*3. Energy provider - Herrera, Fred, McTominay
4. Defensive responsibility - Matic
*Dependent on midfield partners
As we know, this midfield was incomplete. There was no one who could do the Carrick or Scholes role (#2) for us. Herrera wasn't good enough to do that job because his technique was slightly left wanting, and his passing ability was the same. Pogba actually has the passing ability and technique to do that role, but he's not disciplined enough to constantly be that passing presence. Pogba likes to get forward and so he only helps in that area, and almost all of the responsibility of the first category.
Matic has to do the defensive job, like Carrick used to because both of them didn't have the legs to go further up and getting back to help out the defense. This is where the holding role stems from. Pirlo did the same as he no longer had the legs to go everywhere, so instead did his defensive duty by positioning himself further back and relying on his instinctual positioning to help out the defense. Carrick was able to do this too. Matic doesn't have the passing game of those two, nor is he some great defensive presence to compensate for that.
So this leaves our midfield largely missing two important roles which is why we all want to buy a passing metronome and a defensive midfielder.
It's important to also realize that Herrera was only as valuable as he was because both Matic and Pogba are rather slow on the defensive side. If there was a passing midfielder like a younger Modric, who is more mobile than older Carrick or Pirlo, Herrera would no longer be as valuable. Because at that point the midfield as a whole does not lack energy, nor passing ability, nor attacking ability. A player like Casemiro would be a better fit because he compliments what the other two midfielders lack. You could also go with a destroyer like Kante, Ndidi, or Rice if you think the passer and Pogba lack too much defensive instincts.
For next season
1. Attacking responsibility - Pogba, Gomes
2. Best passing option, press resistant, & constant passing force - Gomes (according to Butt), new signing
3. Energy provider - Fred, McTominay
4. Defensive responsibility - Matic, new DM signing, Garner
That's how I would like for it to go. If for example, Gomes is developed to play that Scholes passing role, you might feel you need extra defensive cover so you opt for a destroyer in Ndidi, or Rice. If you feel they won't neglect their duties you might opt for a box to box midfielder. Or it's possible you want to emulate the Juve midfield, and go with Tonali to do the Pirlo role in which case a McTominay, Fred, or new box to box midfield signing is best. Barca in their prime had Iniesta do the Pogba role in his own way, with Xavi being the #2, and Busquets being a dm relying more on positional instincts. They could have gone for a Javi Martinez, but instead wanted Busquets who isn't as combative, but has better passing instincts. Of course, Busquets was already established and world class so there was no point in replacing him.
There are different ways of making the midfield complete. As long as the midfield contributes in attack, shielding the defense, and being the main force behind starting attacks and setting the tempo.
Can't tell if sarcastic or not. I will therefore take it on good faith that you agree with me.
Then I won't disabuse you of your notion.
Let me get this straight, you say Scott McTominay is average footballer at this level, a 22/23 year old CM/CDM who actually had a very promising season. In the same time you think Jesse Lingard a 26/27 year old number 10 is good enough footballer to be playing for Manchester United? You got to be kidding me.
NDombele------Partey
---------Fernandes
Icardi ----Rashford------Martial
---------Fernandes
Icardi ----Rashford------Martial