The search for a holding/controlling midfielder

I'd love to see us add more quality to every area of the squad, but if there was one area of the out field where we're really pretty good, it's midfield. Herrera & Pogba are excellent. Beyond them we've got a blend of youth, experience, & physically that can rotate, and if we were better on the ball at the back (which we've addressed) then the midfield can play with more penetration.

We could do with more goals in the team. Perhaps Jose just isn't convinced that Herrera is good enough in a more advanced position, and that the deeper role let's him use his intelligence. Obviously we wanted (probably still wants) Griezmann. Maybe we are going all in for Mbappe, or someone like him to play off the target man (Morata / Rashford).
 
Matuidi - very similar to Pogba, works best as the left of a three, not completely a holding midfielder but capable of playing the role. May be better suited to providing competition to Herrera and Pogba rather than being the solution at DM.
Verratti - more adept at controlling tempo and passing than ball winning, he'll help you keep the ball more than get it back for you but that's not to say that he can't do the role.
Dier - has been largely underwhelming recently. More suited to a ball winning role due to his defensive capabilities, also a decent passer. More of a ball playing defender in my eyes.
Danilo Pereira - very good tackler and also capable of covering at centre back, not the greatest passer but not terrible either, well suited to a pure destroyer role.
Matic - may be unlikely to leave Chelsea as he has played an important role, he is a known quantity, a ball winner and has experience at all of the levels we would want.
Carvalho - good tackler and an under-rated passer, has tended to be a starter for the Portugal national team recently, although sometimes struggles to affect games.
Renato - not a destroyer or a controller, he's a box to box player. Not suitable to a DM role at all, although would be a good option to compete with Herrera and Pogba.
Fosu-Mensah - strong and athletic although doesnt have the greatest positional awareness, could certainly learn the role and grow into it if given the chance.
Thiago Maia - sadly haven't even heard of the kid, so no comment.
Naby Keita - again, neither a holder nor a controller, he's a box to box player with good attacking skill. He's too good to be cover for anyone, he'll go be a starter somewhere.

Other options:

Ruben Neves, Leandro Paredes, Julian Weigl (currently injured), N'zonzi, Krychowiak

I'd think that who we sign will probably be influenced by whether or not Jose wants to have someone who is primarily a destroyer or a controlling player, if the main three we have been linked with so far (Fabinho, Matic, Dier) are any indication of his preference there then it would seem to be a strong tackler with some passing ability, rather than someone who is more like what we currently have with Carrick, i.e. a strong passer with some tackling ability. This would also lean towards the idea that he may want a more defensively minded player which will allow the likes of Pogba to attack with more freedom.

With that in mind, if I were to choose the players that I would like us to look into signing for the destroyer role, i'd go for:

N'zonzi
Danilo Pereira
Matic
William Carvalho

I would also love for us to be looking into Renato Sanches and Matuidi but as stated above, as cover for Herrera and Pogba rather than for any DM role.
 
OneReligion said:
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 :lol:)

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
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This is the area where our scouts have to earn their keep. Out of that list, a few aren't even DM's and a few are just too young and inexperienced to be realistic targets for a Mourinho DM. Only Dier, Matic and Pereira fit the bill of a ready made DM.

Dier and Matic will be hard to get and I have no idea if Danilo Pereira is any good, but he at least fits the physical profile I think we're looking for.
 
Are there any midfielders who are good at both the defensive side ("destroyer") AND the controlling side? That should be what we are looking for imo.
 
If we're not going for Fabinho then Danilo Pereira looks like a good option. Although I read a Portuguese poster say that he takes a while to settle, and that's no good for a manager like Mourinho in such a key position.
 
Decomposing In Paris said:
We could do with more goals in the team. Perhaps Jose just isn't convinced that Herrera is good enough in a more advanced position, and that the deeper role let's him use his intelligence. Obviously we wanted (probably still wants) Griezmann. Maybe we are going all in for Mbappe, or someone like him to play off the target man (Morata / Rashford).
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Of all the reasons for not going for Fabinho, this makes the most sense, as he seems to be the best option for the available DM's. If you slot Herrera as the DM/holder, with TFM as his backup/understudy, then the move for Griezmann makes more sense as we'd be looking more at a 4-2-3-1. Now, do we continue to look for a #10 (or even wait till next year for Griezmann), or do we switch course and go for a DM and back to a 3 man midfield.
 
ADJUDICATOR said:
If we're not going for Fabinho then Danilo Pereira looks like a good option. Although I read a Portuguese poster say that he takes a while to settle, and that's no good for a manager like Mourinho in such a key position.
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Between Danilo Pereira and William Carvalho, I would definitely prefer the last one, besides, he's much more closer to a Carrick kind of midfielder.
 
Thinking outside the box here but has anyone seen much of Kevin Strootman last season. He's still only 27.
We were meant to sign him when LVG was in charge but he picked up a bad injury at the time iirc
 
TehRed said:
Matuidi - very similar to Pogba, works best as the left of a three, not completely a holding midfielder but capable of playing the role. May be better suited to providing competition to Herrera and Pogba rather than being the solution at DM.
Verratti - more adept at controlling tempo and passing than ball winning, he'll help you keep the ball more than get it back for you but that's not to say that he can't do the role.
Dier - has been largely underwhelming recently. More suited to a ball winning role due to his defensive capabilities, also a decent passer. More of a ball playing defender in my eyes.
Danilo Pereira - very good tackler and also capable of covering at centre back, not the greatest passer but not terrible either, well suited to a pure destroyer role.
Matic - may be unlikely to leave Chelsea as he has played an important role, he is a known quantity, a ball winner and has experience at all of the levels we would want.
Carvalho - good tackler and an under-rated passer, has tended to be a starter for the Portugal national team recently, although sometimes struggles to affect games.
Renato - not a destroyer or a controller, he's a box to box player. Not suitable to a DM role at all, although would be a good option to compete with Herrera and Pogba.
Fosu-Mensah - strong and athletic although doesnt have the greatest positional awareness, could certainly learn the role and grow into it if given the chance.
Thiago Maia - sadly haven't even heard of the kid, so no comment.
Naby Keita - again, neither a holder nor a controller, he's a box to box player with good attacking skill. He's too good to be cover for anyone, he'll go be a starter somewhere.

Other options:

Ruben Neves, Leandro Paredes, Julian Weigl (currently injured), N'zonzi, Krychowiak

I'd think that who we sign will probably be influenced by whether or not Jose wants to have someone who is primarily a destroyer or a controlling player, if the main three we have been linked with so far (Fabinho, Matic, Dier) are any indication of his preference there then it would seem to be a strong tackler with some passing ability, rather than someone who is more like what we currently have with Carrick, i.e. a strong passer with some tackling ability. This would also lean towards the idea that he may want a more defensively minded player which will allow the likes of Pogba to attack with more freedom.

With that in mind, if I were to choose the players that I would like us to look into signing for the destroyer role, i'd go for:

N'zonzi
Danilo Pereira
Matic
William Carvalho

I would also love for us to be looking into Renato Sanches and Matuidi but as stated above, as cover for Herrera and Pogba rather than for any DM role.
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Andre Gomes?
 
I think Lindelof has does qualities to be developed into a very good DM.He is comfortable on the ball, excellence passing skill, calm mind, intelligent and excellent game reader.
 
Eric Chin said:
I think Lindelof has does qualities to be developed into a very good DM.He is comfortable on the ball, excellence passing skill, calm mind and intelligent
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Maybe but wasn't it Mourinho who said that he likes specialists? Surely Lindelof is a CB specialist, doubt we will look to convert him.
 
drmuji said:
Andre Gomes?
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He's not a holder at all, more likely he could play in place of Pogba or Herrera. I am starting to wonder if Jose sees Herrera as his first choice holding player, and is instead looking to sign someone for the #8 box-to-box type role instead.
 
Ki from Swansea can be our plan B option if none of top quality DM doesn't join.
 
I really think Romeu at Southampton would be worth looking at. Would be good if somebody did individual highlights of Southampton games like seems to be done for ours. His performance against us at St Mary's was top. Had a great season, over his injury now and showing form he did when he broke through at Chelsea and quality you'd expect from someone who came through Barca academy. Can get about the pitch and more mobile than Matic, stick is his foot in, protect back four and decent passer and user of the ball, confident with it and always available and demanding possession. Would be an underrated signing would could make a big difference.
 
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Frank Grimes said:
What about Krychowiak? he was talked up this time last year but has had an awful time at PSG, would he be an option?
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Yeah I've been wondering this for a while. He doesn't fit in at PSG, but would be really good here. He wouldn't cost too much at about £25m as well.
 
Krychowiak would suit Mourinho's system to a tee, I'd love him at United.
 
After reading some of these lists, i'm more convinced that Fabihno makes the most sense. Shame if Jose doesn't want him.
 
Devil81 said:
Krychowiak would suit Mourinho's system to a tee, I'd love him at United.
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I get the feeling that he would be the kind of player for us that we thought we'd maybe signed when we got Schneiderlin. Strong, aggressive, mobile, and a good tackler. He probably wouldn't cost the earth too. He'd be worth a shout for sure.
 
Romeu of Southampton. Smart money must be on him as being high in Jose's thoughts to fill the DM role. Maybe he's waiting to see if Barca land Veratti first as they probably have Romeu as a plan B if they don't labd Veratti
 
Feel the midfield will hold the key to us pushing on next year. We have to get the balance right.
I'd love a 4-3-3 and feel a DM is what we need, and if the option of a CM comes up, then both.

Feel Herrera is best suited to play alongside Pogba, not as the DM. Herrera could play the DM for certain games for sure.

Some really interesting names being thrown about.

Dier is taking some serious stick, I don't think he'd be the worst signing we could make but feel that deal would have to be mega and may be easier targets to obtain.

The Blind in midfield comments are interesting, I've always thought he was a more natural DM than he is a LB or certainly CB. I don't think he's been given 1 game in midfield under Jose (happy to be corrected) and can't see this option being used.

All the talk of Fabinho and we've seen little movement or evidence to suggest our interest is concrete, but plenty of time still I guess.

Can't see the benefit in Matic, he's got worse season by season for me. Kante made his life a walk in the park last year.

Krychowiak talk also interests me, he was top drawer for Poland at the Euro's and Sevilla before his move, he's fallen off the radar now for PSG.
 
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