Those feel like they were made up to get clicks. We have no corroboration and Ole isn't going to admit to it, is he.
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- Thread starter Damien
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As if a midfielder would be the final piece 
We cant string 3 passes together and are all over the place. Our dream midfield target Declan Rice is good, but he wont transform us into title challengers.
We cant string 3 passes together and are all over the place. Our dream midfield target Declan Rice is good, but he wont transform us into title challengers.
Even if OGS said it was not a priority, it's a complete joke that our scouting department couldn't identity the correct target which won't compromise the budget.
All it says to me is their research was calling WHU and asking how much Rice would cost and getting a quote closer to 100m than 50m. At best, maybe asking Leicester about Ndidi and getting a similar response.
Assuming these sources are actually genuine and not completely made-up.
All it says to me is their research was calling WHU and asking how much Rice would cost and getting a quote closer to 100m than 50m. At best, maybe asking Leicester about Ndidi and getting a similar response.
Assuming these sources are actually genuine and not completely made-up.
It would definitely bring balance, that much is obvious and would allow us to not simply have the ball passed through our entire midfield time and again, it would also allow us the base to maintain attacks/possession (if it were the right player.)As if a midfielder would be the final piece
We cant string 3 passes together and are all over the place. Our dream midfield target Declan Rice is good, but he wont transform us into title challengers.
This issue you describe has gotten worse over the summer, we weren’t this bad last season and a lot of that is down to the imbalance in the squad which stems from midfield, on top of that we are trying to implement three players into the starting 11.
DM has been neglected, I posted this for 2 years, I posted before the season started that even with the three excellent signings we would still struggle without improving the DM position, that’s the case unfortunately.
I agree we should be coping better than we are but still, it would naturally improve a lot with a solid base to our midfield (which is why previously it worked to an extent with McFred making up for the lack of said DM.)
I think Rice would just look lost in our midfield. It's a tactical issue. It's not like we are a pressing team and run out of steam in the last 20 mins or whatever. You can see the midfield is just running around like headless chickens. That has changed even from last season. It's like they don't understand the role they are supposed to be doing.
You are 100% right Ole, in fact I think you should walk given the way the club have treated you! (Gearing up for a media offensive before he resigns maybe?)
In fairness though, these are experienced internationals, especially when you look at the pairing from the weekend, they don't forget how to play in midfield because Ole's their coach and then go and remember again during the international break, sure we can rightly look at the coaching (and we should do) but I am of the opinion that little will change, whether it's Ole or another manager, without a DM that brings that balance back to midfield.
What is the first thing we would all hope any new manager replacing Ole would do? Sign a DM. No doubt about it, that would be the primary thing 95% of the fanbase would want to see. Well it still applies now and yes Ole should take his share of the blame for not prioritising the DM position over other areas, apparently he's unhappy we didn't do so in the last window, however it's not hard to believe the board prioritised Ronaldo over said DM either is it. But it could have been addressed in previous windows, I think a belief that an emerging McTominay and Matic could do the job was misplaced.
Pogba, Matic, Fred and Scott all are all pretty much guaranteed starters for their international teams, so we have numbers in midfield but none that fit the bill at DM. They are all no 8's with the exception of Matic, but even he at times is playing like a no 8 instead of just sitting and doing a DM's job, that's the balance we are missing at the base of midfield imo. There were multiple moments in the game this weekend where Matic is pushing up and not getting near the ball so it's played around him and the opposition are in behind our midfield in the blink of an eye. The same with McFred when they've played.
I don't think Rice would be bought and asked to play like an 8. He's a specialist in his current position at WHU.
I also think Carrick would be making what is obvious to us all loud and clear for Ole as well, I mean he played the position were crying out for on the pitch right now, so I don't think the issue is lost on the coaching staff including Ole, the players are just a bad match for the base of midfield specifically. I don't expect a huge improvement until our mess of midfield is addressed, I've posted the same for a long time now.
Considering he spent 70m to get a sorely needed right winger that he ended up playing on the left wing for pretty much all his appearances, I can’t say I feel sorry for him. He made his own bed by ignoring CDM for six transfer windows, he can’t complain now.
I've not really been watching our games because it pisses me off more than I enjoy it... Are you saying Sancho had been playing on the left??
if he's unhappy, he should resign. United fans are unhappy with him.
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Yeah, it’s like you say though; even Matic is pushing forward. So the midfield two are clearly being told to push up and support the attack. There seems to be a misguided belief we only two holding midfielders. We don’t. We play two box to box midfielders. Ole even eluded to this when he spoke a few weeks about compete midfielders who can do a bit of everything like Keane and Scholes used to do.
Perhaps, Rice is better suited to the ‘all action’ midfield role than McTominay or Pogba but I think Ole is living in the past somewhat. Even Fergie had to move on and built the ‘08 team around Carrick, Hargreaves and Scholes in the middle of the park.
Of course he has. Rashford has been injured is either you play Greenwood on the right and Sancho left wing. Or you play Sancho RW and Pogba on the left wing. But then we had McTominay injured so Pogba dropped into midfield.
So who was supposed to play LW?
Martial? Elanga?
Started the season injured
Do any of them spell Declan Rice? We have seen before that the manager is ready to go without reinforcement if the first choice targets aren't recruited.
Laughable because we might not even be in contention for players next year given the state of our football.
With laughable, I meant the notion that you couldn't have found or afforded a decent midfielder this summer. But you're probably right, the club wants their first choice targets.
On the second point, with your name and financial power you'll always be able to attract players. Varane, Ronaldo, Sancho, these were 3 of the 5 biggest names that transfered in summer..
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The relevant part:
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I find it extremely irritating that they seem to be pulling out of their financial mess this easily.
All it took was what? Losing a 34 yo Messi? How is it possible for a club to just ask players to accept lower wages and they do? Fati, Pedri etc. should know that they'll make more money elsewhere but they're signing long term deals to stay with Barca as well.
Must be nice to have that level of loyalty.
Translation:
Name and financial power comes as a result of on-field success. Lets see how long the financial power continues without major silverware.
I have a feeling there is some sort of loyalty bonus in there, provided they get back into the black. No way do they do that out of the goodness of their own heart.
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How boring has the Fati contact saga become now? Zzzzzzz
And every other Barca contract renewal...
I think he just doesn’t want to upset Lukaku at this stageThat sounds like an appalling combo
I think he knows that we will be heavily linked with Haaland and that takes some of the distraction down. Roman may want to try hard for Haaland.
Despite not saying no to that, he did stress that Chelsea aren't actively working on Haaland at this time.
Source: SportBILD
Tuchel's quotes:
When he was asked about bringing Haaland in next summer or whether Lukaku means no Haaland:
The Tuchel quote about not being serious for now:
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