great post. Entirely agree. If I recall correctly, Fred was supposed to be that man and it was McKenna with an apparent big influence with that transfer based on plenty of reports at the time that one of his scouted strengths was his ability to receive the ball on the turn and release the ball forward
Which midfielder do you prefer?
- Thread starter bond19821982
- Start date
great post. Entirely agree. If I recall correctly, Fred was supposed to be that man and it was McKenna with an apparent big influence with that transfer based on plenty of reports at the time that one of his scouted strengths was his ability to receive the ball on the turn and release the ball forward
Kroos would be Schweinstieger with a different hairstyle. That ship sailed a long time ago, Casemiro too.
Tielemans would be a good signing but is he enough of a holding player for us? Camavinga is the one to go for in my opinion.
But somehow he played 26 games in central midfield and that's too in a season where he needed two months to recover from covid.
If Pogba does go, we should look at revamping the midfield. We should be looking for 2 midfield replacements that can play well with Bruno. My picks would be Camavinga/Tchouameni and Fabian Ruiz. Both defensively decent, with Ruiz a great passer of the ball from deep, whilst Camavinga can provide the dribbling
I think it’s clear that the fans on here don’t agree with what kind of midfielder we want. Personally I don’t think Ole believes in DMs and instead is looking to play two number 8s who can go both ways, in a similar style to Sir Alex. First and foremost we need a good passer of the ball more than any defensive qualities.
We already needed a defensive midfielder to play 433, even if Pogba stayed. If he goes then we still need that plus a more progressive midfielder to replace Pogba
Goretzka and Ndidi would make a nice pivot
Yves Bissouma, Brighton would take 40 Million?
All the pieces we have are complemented by a sitting dm who can pass from deep. Vdb, McTominay, Fred are natural box to box mids. I don't know who but they should find a dm who seats and passes from deep. Basically a younger Matic.
Was Neves really that much talked about before he got linked to us by Talksport (?) last week? I mean he hasn't been impressive at all this season from what I've seen of Wolves, so don't really see what he would bring at this point.
Fred can do that.
Fred's problem is that he always shows for the ball even when he shouldn't and if he doesn't have an immediate pass and has to hold the ball, he is easy to overwhelm. Our opponents know its only him who will ever take the ball from defence so they can sit off him in numbers waiting to close him down. He also likes to play quick tempo passing whereas Matic and McToninay are players who like to get hold the ball and run with it.
We have to decide whether we want a midfield that plays in Fred's style or not. Verrati would have been perfect.
Completely agree with this. A midfielder with the ability to pass through the lines is most crucial. Right now all our attacking play comes from the full backs.
Youri Tielemans
Joshua Kimmich
Leon Goretzka
Would be my top 3 wishlist. Impossible? Perhaps. But they would all go straight into the team and strengthen the line up. And be quality for several years. More consistent than Pogba too.. Lets see.
Joshua Kimmich
Leon Goretzka
Would be my top 3 wishlist. Impossible? Perhaps. But they would all go straight into the team and strengthen the line up. And be quality for several years. More consistent than Pogba too.. Lets see.
So when Wolves were doing well, people were saying we should throw silly money for him as a Matic replacement. I was not in that camp, but for me he has obvious qualities none of our midfielders posses and the few rumours floating around about price and desire to come, so it makes it a good move. If it was carte blanche, I'd be saying Pedri/Verratti/De Jong, but not convinced any of those are obtainable.
Don't know about you mate but Pogba would not feature in my dreams
Well whatever realm that thought came into your head it wasn’t reality.
This is all made up though. He can, and will dislodge one of Fred/Scott - and has done many times.
When fit, Pogba starts far more often than he doesn’t. Whether that has been on the left or in midfield. I’ve read numerous posts claiming that Pogba is ‘now a left winger’ and implying that he spent a season playing there. He played several games in midfield, and if he stays, will play several more in midfield. He is not a squad player, as much as you may wish he were, because he typically plays when fit.
We can't go into next season losing Pogba and bringing in Camavinga, that is literally saying we will play with McFred next season, does anyone really believe we can mount a challenge with McFred as our two big midfielders? Camavinga is not coming into the first team in his first year in the PL at 18 and playing any big number of games, and its not fair to expect it of him, he will get absolutely destroyed and his confidence will be shot. The option might be Camavinga/Neves as that is solid enough and allows us to bring Camavinga on slowly whilst still being affordable.
Still don't see Camavinga coming to us though, I think PSG will come in at the last minute and snatch him up, whilst he waits for Real to come good.
Still don't see Camavinga coming to us though, I think PSG will come in at the last minute and snatch him up, whilst he waits for Real to come good.
In my opinion, Franck Kessié is exceptional on DMC role with goals and assists. Unfortunately, he prefer to extend his contract with AC milan. Apart from him, I think Ibrahim Sangaré from PSV who is his partner in Ivory coast is also great defensive midfielder, just not product much goals and assists.
It all depends on what happens with Pogba. If he stays then the consensus would be we need a more defensive player that could make that partnership work. If he goes then maybe Fred or McTominay could actually forge a good enough partnership with his replacement.
If Pogba goes my preferred option would be Tielemans if the fee is achievable. He has 2 years left on his contract I believe and must be looking for his next move. He would be a great solution IMO and has only just turned 24.
If Matic left too and we managed to find the money from other player sales to get someone like Camavinga as well then we’re in fantasy land.
If Pogba goes my preferred option would be Tielemans if the fee is achievable. He has 2 years left on his contract I believe and must be looking for his next move. He would be a great solution IMO and has only just turned 24.
If Matic left too and we managed to find the money from other player sales to get someone like Camavinga as well then we’re in fantasy land.
Goretzka, I think.
Alternatively, continue with the young blood and get Camavinga.
Alternatively, continue with the young blood and get Camavinga.
Paul Scholes or Michael Carrick
These would be my top 2 picks as well
Yeah. Signing that Michael Carrick again now would be the missing piece in the jigsaw really.
It would be sensational if we could sign Camavinga who is now 18 years of age, and nuture him alongside Sancho, Greenwood, Rashford, Diallo etc....what a nucleus of a team for years to come.
But there are so many questions about our Midfield, and the type of MF that would be targeted.
The more I think about Neves, the more I think he could be ideal, and would really provide good balance to the three.
Saul Niguez is a player that I've always liked, and what strikes me about him is the tempo that he plays at, I think he would be great alongside Bruno, but you'd still need more of a ball winner in there too.
Personally, I'm not convinced about a pure defensive player in there, I think we need someone offering a lot more than just shielding the back four..
But there are so many questions about our Midfield, and the type of MF that would be targeted.
The more I think about Neves, the more I think he could be ideal, and would really provide good balance to the three.
Saul Niguez is a player that I've always liked, and what strikes me about him is the tempo that he plays at, I think he would be great alongside Bruno, but you'd still need more of a ball winner in there too.
Personally, I'm not convinced about a pure defensive player in there, I think we need someone offering a lot more than just shielding the back four..
You were the one who mentioned dreams and him being in them....get a grip mate!!
And I’ve just explained why. Your assertion of Pogba being a squad player doesn’t reflect reality. The irony of making such a claim and then telling me to ‘get a grip’. A player that the club are trying to persuade to stay by offering hundreds of thousands of pounds a week. Can only be more in hope than anything else that you have declared Pogba a squad player.
Florian Grillitsch, a two footed holding midfielder from Austria. I thought he was outstanding in the Euros. Plays for 1899 Hoffenheim
Last edited:
Kimmich would be the dream,
Fantastic in the middle, plus offers cover at RB,
Never going to happen though unfortunately.
Real Madrid are desperate for cash, put in a cheeky bid for Fede Valverde.
Being serious though I’m pretty open to Camavinga, Neves, Saul or Rice (the main ones we are linked to). They’d all add something to the team.
Being serious though I’m pretty open to Camavinga, Neves, Saul or Rice (the main ones we are linked to). They’d all add something to the team.
This has to be their worst one I've seen, their criteria states imposing physical profile and all the suggestions are players under 5 ft 9
.Camavinga fits the age profile of the current squad, however having a slightly older DM might help add stability to the entire line up.
Some good negotiating could get us Neves and Camavinga with the Pogba money and I would be very happy with that.
Although I think Pogba will likely leave on a free next summer. It gives him a much greater option of clubs and more money for him and his greedy agent.
Although I think Pogba will likely leave on a free next summer. It gives him a much greater option of clubs and more money for him and his greedy agent.
The reason why they are offering him a lot of money is be cause for some strange reason he has a huge social media following and I acknowledge that when he is in form he is a very good player and would start games, it is when he is not and then becomes a liability it is the issue and that is why I call him a squad player.
Tifo is the biggest pile of crap,This has to be their worst one I've seen, their criteria states imposing physical profile and all the suggestions are players under 5 ft 9
Some very bizzare suggestions in that video -
I suspect Camavinga has been ruled out, it’s gone quiet
Camavinga now, Goretzka on a free next year.
One word...Verrati
It sucks that we would lose out on a fee, but there's upsides too.
One of the reasons he has always played is because of the these contract negotiations coming up. He wouldn't have the undroppable status anymore. He could be useful against a low block and we could use him from the bench in big games instead of dropping a winger and forcing Rashford to play on the right.
He's scored less playing on the wing than in the pivot. He was good against PSG and Milan, but did feck all in the PL from the wing.
We could still get a midfielder in by selling other players (Lingard, James, Pereira, Dalot, etc). I'd help Barca out and go for the De Jong
This has to be their worst one I've seen, their criteria states imposing physical profile and all the suggestions are players under 5 ft 9
Yeah I noticed that myself, I think Tifo quite often spout nonsense to be fair see anyone of their Lingard videos.
The Fred fans won't like that video either for suggesting it would be fairly easy to upgrade on Fred.