We clearly need a bit of fight in our team. What combative, fearless players do you want?

Lennon7

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There's no spine in this current side. The centre of defence needs a Vidic-like player, and the centre of midfield needs a Keano type of player. Who would you like to see at United to mimic them?

Obviously, we could all say tough players like Chiellini, but they'd have to be even a little bit available.

Nainggolan from Roma would be great for the centre mid vacancy, I'm just struggling to think of a centre half...

Edit: not just players who smash, otherwise I'd be happy with Cattermole infront of Skrtel. I'm talking about tough players who bring a different edge to a side. They are intelligent and know what to do in most situations, and can motivate the players around them. It goes without saying that for a team like United they have to be technically talented too. Half the players you lot are naming are nothing like Keano or Vidic!
 
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The combativeness will develop once the collection of individuals we have out there form into a team, develop understanding of each other's tendencies and form a pecking order. Right now it looks like they look at each other like they don't want to be stepping on someone's feet or upset anyone. Even Rooney hasn't been vocal enough with all the new players.

Smalling, Schweinsteiger, Schneiderlin, Herrera, Young and Rooney all have the tendency to be vocal and passionate.
 
Verratti. The little guy has more fight in him than our whole team.
 
That's not the problem, like at all. If there's one thing you'd say we have, its that, in midfield and defensive positions. Fellaini, schneiderlin, Herrera, schweinsteiger, Rooney, Shaw, Rojo, Valencia, jones, Smalling all have that in abundance.

Our problem comes from the manager not knowing how to set them up properly, very little or no squad depth/competition for places, and a huge lack of quality on the wings.
 
Wednesday at Stoke said:
The combativeness will develop once the collection of individuals we have out there form into a team, develop understanding of each other's tendencies and form a pecking order. Right now it looks like they look at each other like they don't want to be stepping on someone's feet or upset anyone. Even Rooney hasn't been vocal enough with all the new players.

Smalling, Schweinsteiger, Schneiderlin, Herrera, Young and Rooney all have the tendency to be vocal and passionate.
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Think this hits the nail on the head, it depends entirely on team cohesion/belief and circumstance, nobody watching Schweinsteiger under Heynckes or during the WC could accuse him of being passive. Schneiderlin himself is the definition of a combative, snappy player, as is Herrera. I firmly believe SAF could have had those three playing at an unreal level (if only he had bought semi-competent midfielders in his last few years).

I think it's a bit unforgivable that LVG can't get those three playing well together tbh, they're tailor made as a midfield 3.
 
Arnautovic, Winston Reid, and Ibrahimovic would certainly put some presence and character into the sqaud.
 
C'est Moi Cantona said:
Arnautovic, Winston Reid, and Ibrahimovic would certainly put some presence and character into the sqaud.
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No lie, if Ibra was a few years younger, he would bring a swagger that this team has been missing the moment he walks into the training complex.
 
Zlatan up front, Schweinsteiger in midfield, Smalling and Stones in defence. Get Griezmann too and we're set, see if we can get Koke too whilst we're at it.

Think it's do-able gang?

:lol:
 
bosnian_red said:
That's not the problem, like at all. If there's one thing you'd say we have, its that, in midfield and defensive positions. Fellaini, schneiderlin, Herrera, schweinsteiger, Rooney, Shaw, Rojo, Valencia, jones, Smalling all have that in abundance.

Our problem comes from the manager not knowing how to set them up properly, very little or no squad depth/competition for places, and a huge lack of quality on the wings.
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Nah, as @Wednesday at Stoke said, our team isn't a team. Those players are scared of upsetting each other.

Besides, half of that list aren't good enough for United anyway. I'd only keep Schneiderlin, Schweini, Rojo, Herrera, Smalling and Shaw. I also don't think Schneiderlin, Herrera and Smalling are tough at all. You seem all too content with the current squad we've got. I'm saying we need a prescence in the team like Vidic or Keano. Schweini of old will do but he's far too slow at the moment.

Of course, it also comes down to the manager. They've probably been told under no circumstances should they bolt around the field aggressively pressing players. However, that doesn't take away from the fact there's no leadership and togetherness on the pitch. A player like old Schweini, Keane or Vidic would bring that.
 
Big Troy Deeney of course!
 
LennonNL said:
Nah, as @Wednesday at Stoke said, our team isn't a team. Those players are scared of upsetting each other.

Besides, half of that list aren't good enough for United anyway. I'd only keep Schneiderlin, Schweini, Rojo, Herrera, Smalling and Shaw. I also don't think Schneiderlin, Herrera and Smalling are tough at all. You seem all too content with the current squad we've got. I'm saying we need a prescence in the team like Vidic or Keano. Schweini of old will do but he's far too slow at the moment.

Of course, it also comes down to the manager. They've probably been told under no circumstances should they bolt around the field aggressively pressing players. However, that doesn't take away from the fact there's no leadership and togetherness on the pitch. A player like old Schweini, Keane or Vidic would bring that.
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I think the problem is the squad and manager not knowing how to set them up, but its just not this issue I think. We have plenty of players who are those leader types, combative or whatever. That's just not the issue. Schweinsteiger and schneiderlin are basically the definition of those types of midfielders. They just haven't been performing at their best, and that's because of the way the manager sets them up and the lack of freedom anyone has on the pitch.

Our main problem is a lack of quality on the wings and the playing style. We get a manager who can get them all to play together as a team, and the fight in the players will be very evident. We had it in abundance last season and the stary of this season with a lot of the same players. Everyone's just low on confidence and I'd assume sick of Van Gaals ways.
 
You don't get such players in bracket people want United to look at. Players cannot be taught to be combative, such players are general regarded as troublesome and not naturally gifted to worth the patience of trying to harness it properly. For every Gattuso you'd get a Davids to come through a top club but very rare.
I like the idea of Vardy(Tevez) and Shelvey but lack the required popularity to spend money on.
 
bosnian_red said:
I think the problem is the squad and manager not knowing how to set them up, but its just not this issue I think. We have plenty of players who are those leader types, combative or whatever. That's just not the issue. Schweinsteiger and schneiderlin are basically the definition of those types of midfielders. They just haven't been performing at their best, and that's because of the way the manager sets them up and the lack of freedom anyone has on the pitch.

Our main problem is a lack of quality on the wings and the playing style. We get a manager who can get them all to play together as a team, and the fight in the players will be very evident. We had it in abundance last season and the stary of this season with a lot of the same players. Everyone's just low on confidence and I'd assume sick of Van Gaals ways.
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How is Schneiderlin that sort of player? Don't get me wrong, I think he's a good player, but he doesn't get around the pitch scaring the shit out of the opposition, putting in crunching tackles. Schweini used to, well at least the former part of what I just said, but he doesn't now a days. Perhaps the common denominator is LVG like you say.

I'd love a powerful, commanding, intelligent centre back. That should be one of our main aims.
 
@bosnian_red I'd like to believe Morgan is the type but being deployed in a more conservative role should not stop him from stand his ground in games. I like the fact he is being restrained by the manager and its up to him impose himself better with his reading/control of game situations.
 
Arnautovic is an underrated player with all of the qualities you mention.

Has that bit of arrogance, doesn't take any shit and most importantly can turn it on against top class opposition.
 
Irrational. said:
Arnautovic is an underrated player with all of the qualities you mention.

Has that bit of arrogance, doesn't take any shit and most importantly can turn it on against top class opposition.
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He can only turn it on against the top teams. He's as often brilliant as he is absolutely terrible.
 
LennonNL said:
How is Schneiderlin that sort of player? Don't get me wrong, I think he's a good player, but he doesn't get around the pitch scaring the shit out of the opposition, putting in crunching tackles. Schweini used to, well at least the former part of what I just said, but he doesn't now a days. Perhaps the common denominator is LVG like you say.

I'd love a powerful, commanding, intelligent centre back. That should be one of our main aims.
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He's exactly that type of player who can get around the pitch and put in crunching tackles. The way he's being deployed though is basically as a holding midfielder so I think Van Gaal is telling him to hold his position and not go out of his position. He's shown on other occasions that he likes to get around the pitch and get stuck into tackles, and he showed that when he was at Southampton. There, he was the one who got around the pitch in more of a box to box role and Wanyama was the one holding.

Agree with the center back thing. Right now, Smalling basically plays as 2 center backs when it comes to the defensive points, and Blind takes all the on ball responsibility at the back. Why not just have 2 center backs who can both carry themselves from a defensive viewpoint? It's like Van Gaal throughout the pitch is playing players out of position somewhere just to cover up for the deficiencies of other players who are being played out of position. Fellaini in defensive mid to act as the height for long balls that you should just have with your center back. Valencia last season at right back always because Mata was playing right wing and too slow to play as an actual winger. Or when we put Fellaini up top for more height up top, and push others further back. A lot of it is down to Van Gaal I think.
 
I said weeks ago that the midfielder I want us to sign is Wijnaldum. Perfect B2B midfielder to compliment Schneiderlin and Herrera. I wouldn't call him a hard man per se, but he's certainly not a puss. He has great pace and energy, and gets up and down the pitch at speed. He can tackle, score, dribble and link play.

I don't think a hard man per se, just need character.
 
bosnian_red said:
He's exactly that type of player who can get around the pitch and put in crunching tackles. The way he's being deployed though is basically as a holding midfielder so I think Van Gaal is telling him to hold his position and not go out of his position. He's shown on other occasions that he likes to get around the pitch and get stuck into tackles, and he showed that when he was at Southampton. There, he was the one who got around the pitch in more of a box to box role and Wanyama was the one holding.

Agree with the center back thing. Right now, Smalling basically plays as 2 center backs when it comes to the defensive points, and Blind takes all the on ball responsibility at the back. Why not just have 2 center backs who can both carry themselves from a defensive viewpoint? It's like Van Gaal throughout the pitch is playing players out of position somewhere just to cover up for the deficiencies of other players who are being played out of position. Fellaini in defensive mid to act as the height for long balls that you should just have with your center back. Valencia last season at right back always because Mata was playing right wing and too slow to play as an actual winger. Or when we put Fellaini up top for more height up top, and push others further back. A lot of it is down to Van Gaal I think.
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Just because he played that role at Southampton doesn't mean he's any good at it. He's shown for us that he is quite a weak passer, and certainly doesn't have the best of shots on him. I agree he's relitavely tough but he's hardly a Keano, and we should be aiming for better. I'd like to bring in a player to play alongside Schneidelrin, actually.

Yeah, Van Gaal's awful for playing players out of position. Probably hoping to be labelled some sort of genius. Doesn't work most of the time
 
Spend a lot of money and make sure we get Pogba.

Defenders we just need Smalling, Jones and Rojoho to develop into adult-like men beasts. Still think they will be awesome in the future.

Pity Fellaini isn't a better footballer, with more speed and a better engine and smaller elbows and a better footballing brain and better hair, as he is physical enough to boss tings.
 
Probably going to be considered a bit left field but I'd love to see Shawcross back at the club. He's a no-nonsense, old school defender who I think could complement Smalling really well. He might not be a ball player per se but he is comfortable enough to play out from the back. I like the way he isn't afraid to get stuck in.

Stoke were playing Norwich tonight and one of the Canaries came right through the back of a Stoke player. Shawcross came flying over to get involved and stick up for his mate. Did that whole "Walk into the player kind of with your shoulder" thing to intimidate him and it made me pine for the old days of Robbo, Hughes, Brucie, Eric, Keano and the like who were always over to help out their mates. They never took a backwards step. There's not enough of that all for one attitude these days.....
 
A younger Schweinstieger, with the captain's armband would have been awesome.
 
Wes Brown.

Used to love him (especially towards the latter seasons) - looked like a quiet guy on the pitch but every time he "Brwned" someone, it was great and it gave the crowd a great lift. He's obviously not going to be enough now, but it just proves you don't nevessarily need to be a leader, but just need to play with guts and determination. (And maybe brains too Phil Jones)
 
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