I'm pretty certain Mourinho will try to implement again his preferred 4-2-3-1 or even a 4-4-2 if we get Griezmann, so I'm guessing we'll play with less central-midfielders than this season. If Pogba operates then in this midfield two on the left, we need a fast and physically imponent mostly defensive player to his right, Kanté like.
The search for a holding/controlling midfielder
- Thread starter bosnian_red
- Start date
Ive been wondering this very same thing for the best part of the past 2 seasons. When he first arrived and was playing in midfield he was putting in very good performances and was getting plenty of praise - admittedly not from everyone, but from plenty of people. It always seemed to me he could iron out the creases and excel there, I still feel that way. Though clearly he is far from the typical Mourinho type centre mid.
Blind is short and slow, Jose is a size queen and likes athletes, he'll never use Blind in the DM role, might as well forget about that.
Makelele is not a big guy, and he's the most important player in Mourinho system. Blind is slow as feck though
Should really be hijacking this Liverpool move for Keita if he's in any way obtainable from Leipzig
Makele had physical strength, leverage and technique. Blind is bullied off the ball too easily.
No kidding.
Whilst your general point is valid, Daley Blind is taller than Cesar Azpilicueta.
Maybe, in "easy" games.
In games against top opposition we'll almost certainly line up with Fellaini as the "hybrid" between a midfielder and be. 10 behind Griezmann, but he'll probably go with Herrera as the sitting midfielder in those games, like he's done a good few times already.
He never played him as a holding midfielder though, he played him at fullback, the only reason Jose used Blind at CB this season was when all other options were injured.
We'll see if it will be only those easy games, Premier League at home, etc. It's the only way forward for us, that's my view. And Rashford isn't going to be dropped even for Griezmann, except maybe in top top hard games, where he can play on the wing again. It all depends very much on the setup, for instance, no one was expecting Carrick-Pogba midfield to dominate Anderlecht away or the European home games.
I like Blind but honestly there is a lack of pace, intensity and positioning in his game needed to play the role of DM at the required level, especially in a midfield 2 as a partner to Pogba in the PL. his intelligence, calmness and reading of the game help him when playing CB. Carrick for example never had much pace but had excellent positioning and his physicality is underestimated due to his playing style. Blind had a couple of good games in Van Gaals first season in midfield but when a game got stretched with distance between the midfield and defence if a player got beyond him he was lost and was reduced to diving in. he's certainly not good enough in the role to justify playing a midfield 3 without an attacking 10
If we are still using Fellaini in big games next season then we've had a bad window, we should be bringing in a CM this window that makes him obselete and forms the 3 with Pogba and Herrera.
Since the season is almost over I'm going to scout a bit by watching the Brazilian league. Perhaps Thiago Maia or Rodrigo Caio can be options.
How about we buy a quality CM to play next to Pogba and play Herrera in DM.
That's what I'd like. I'm not sold a designated holding midfielder who doesn't move past the half way line is the way to go. Give me three midfielders who are mobile, intelligent, can pass the ball, create and chip in with goals. Ander perhaps being the deepest, Pogba the most advanced.
Get Keita from RBL, enough defensive contribution between him\Herrera\Pogba to not having to utilize a dedicated DM, besides their energy would be too much to handle for any midfield.
Only time we'd go 4231 anyways is against weaker teams where either Keita\Herrera or Herrera\Pogba would be enough.
This is why Fabinho would be such a great signing, he's got the mobility to play box to box but also excels in a holding role. We don't press enough to make a midfield with someone like Matuidi or Keita as effective as it could be but they'd both be very welcome signings anyway with our lack of depth in midfield.
We'll end up buying bloody Dier for 70 million.
Dier, lucas moura, keane and a striker. Would you be happy with that.
I hope so, although for less money.
I'd love for that to happen. Beating the Scousers to his signing would be the icing on the cake. But he's probaly not for sale.
A bit underwhelming that'd be, but those would be positions we need strengthening in. Think Dier, Keane, Lucas could be good but equally could flop big time. Fabinho, Manolas/Van Dijk / Koulibaly are more welcome.
Daley blind lacks the ability to hold the play, he just gets over run in midfeild.
I kind of lean towards that as well. I think Herrera is better as a deeper midfielder breaking up the play than an attacking one, just like Gerrard was for me too. I would love to see Herrera behind a Pogba/Verrati as the dream or possibly realistically Pogba/Renato Sanches would be such an energetic midfield and technically sound as well. As back ups for the position I think Blinds best position is that role as well, far better thre than as a cb or lb, he could be a good deputy there and I also think Mensah could develop as a central midfielder of some sort, then you add Perreira in the mix and there are young midfield options from the bench for us next year regardless of our signings
Porto dont seem to sell cheaply though, they remind me a bit of Spurs in that regard, selling club but at high prices
I'm pretty sure he will be dropped, or best case scenario, played on the wing, in the top games (think the other top six sides). No reason he can't play his way into the side, but if we land Griezmann it won't be at his expense (see Zlatan and Pogba this season, Mourinho hardly rotates his definite first choices).
I agree, but I'm unfortunately pretty certain that Mourinho's found his formula here for the big games, and Fellaini plays a key role. It's the cast around him (the three other players we attack with in these games) he'll be looking to upgrade. That's my hunch anyways.
Completely under the radar one. Remember him vaguely in the Olympics and see some murmurings of a big move in the next year or so. Reminds me a bit of an early Mascherano and also the aggresion of a Roy Keane/Gattuso. In these clips his movement is a bit Veratti like or is that size? Probably not ready for a huge move but these kind of signings would probably be under £20m, just the kind of signings your Napolis, Palermos etc make, then you see the player move for treble the price a few years later, liek Sanchez, Dyabala. The premireship seems to sign kids and more recently semi established players from SOuth America, surprised (maybe a work permit thing) there arent more of these type of signings
Considering Jose usually loves a beastly, physical defensive midfielder shielding the back 4, we need to go all-out for Fabinho or Keita (I'd be worried if Liverpool get him, he could become their Kante in seconds and given their all-out attacking style, would be the missing link to protect their shoddy CB's).
Dier is not that man for me, but whatever.
Dier is not that man for me, but whatever.
Jorginho or Nainggolan
I've said it before and I'll say it again. Verratti + kidnapping potato sack + brain washing = job done.
I watch Belgium a lot, nainggolan always jumps out, quality player and what a feckin shot on him. Hope the rumours are true would be a fantastic signing. Wouldn't say no to Fabinho either though.
Or the type Chelsea stockpile to loan out. We seem to be full on Galacticos at the moment though so unlikely.
Verratti is the dream.
Keita should be on our radar as well. Its immaterial we have Herrera and Pogba already. I would like 4 top worldclass centre midfielders with Perreira being the last choice. We need depth and players need to have competition to push themselves. No more comfort zones like post SAF years. Look at RM, players like Rodriguez, Isco, Kovacic and Asensio are regularly on the bench, desperate for a chance. That should be the same for us, and leave the management of squad to JM.
I've heard a lot about Jorghino being a Carrick esque player, what is everyone's thoughts on him, any Napoli watchers?
I think he is above the Chelsea youth signing level already, think he is making a big name for himself for his club and getting linked quite often with the likes of Barcelona and Real. I agree I dont see us going for him at all though and that Verratti is the dream.
The Twitter thread suggested City are going in for William Carvalho. If true, that might suggest they are leaving Fabinho alone. Perhaps we have a better shot at signing Fabinho if there's some truth to the William Carvalho rumor. I suspect we wouldn't be priced out, just a question of how many players Monaco will sell before they say "enough is enough".
Back to the muppet drawing board, since it seems Fabinho is not to Jose's liking, it seems.
Seems the Carvalho to City rumor died a quick death as well, with only Newcastle supposedly making a bid. Any other CM's for the wish list?
Seems the Carvalho to City rumor died a quick death as well, with only Newcastle supposedly making a bid. Any other CM's for the wish list?
thinking about it, there aren't really many out there, maybe get a few years out of Matuidi, and see if any players develop in that time?
Ive said it a few times but i'm really gutted Monaco got Tielemans, i really think he's going to develop into a great player in the next couple of years, he started off as a holding midfielder for Anderlecht, but they gave him a more box 2 box role in his last season where he had a decent year. He's very quick and has a good shot on him, and with him playing in a few different positions he probably has a good range of abilities. I understand we don't need a kid but an established player to improve us, but for 25 million (iirc) Monaco have got a steal there. I honestly thin he'll go triple that in a few years (ill more than likely be wrong though
)I digress, so quick look at anyone i can think of:
Matuidi - too old?
Verrati - muppet signing, not really the holding/DM we need?
Dier - meh
Danilo Pereira - not seen enough of him
Matic - tough to prise away from Chelski?
Carvalho - young and would be a risk?
Renato - bad first season with Bayern, would they be willing to let him go, and if they did is he also a risk?
Fosu-Mensah - already plays for us, had a great few games under LVG, one mistake against Chelsea and not really seen him since? Bit young? definitely one for the future
Thiago Maia - bit of a FM signing, but bags and bags of potential, been a regular with Santos for 3 years and is only 20. But again a risk as he's young, and we've never had much luck with Brazillian midfielders!
Naby Keita - think it's been mentioned somewhere we should hijack any move to Liverpool as they're keen. I agree, looks a great player, has experience in one of the 'big' leagues, is still very young and has lots of stamina. Already has 25 caps for Guinea (yeah i realise its only Guinea) which at 20 is impressive.
So to sum up, my top 3 would be one of
Keita
Matuidi
Matic