Which midfielder do you prefer?

Thi
elmo said:
He can't dislodge Bruno/Fred/Scott and we have to play him at the wing to give him playing time which he won't get now that we have Sancho.
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This is simply delusional, the only reason why those two played so much last season was because our manager couldn't trust the defence to deal with any semi decent team with pace and the signing of Varane is very much to deal with that issue and stop the need to play those two. We are a far better team with Pogba in midfield than those two (especially with Varane aand a new DM) and to make the transition to a true top team those two can not be regular features in our first 11. They will have their uses over the course of a season in few selected games but it can not be our default pivot going into the new season.

People need to understand Fred and McTominay where useful last season on our way to becoming a top team but ultimately we do want to transition away from them and become that top team.
 
It shouldn't be another energetic box to box lacking in creativity(eg Saul) when we already have Fred and Mctominay for that . What we would lose in Pogba is his creativity and ball progression from deep.

A creative DM is what we need. This will replace Pogba's creativity and also give us more defensive solidity that we didn't get with him. It will also allow us to switch to a 4-3-3 which will benefit our other midfielders like VdB and Mctominay. Neves, Brozovic, Locatelli and Florian Grillitsh fit that category. I think Neves would catch our eye the most since he's Pl player


Bruno.............Fred

Neves
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Even if we do not sell Pogba we need a midfielder to run out games because we don't have any. We are in desperate need for a midfield keep lying midfielder like Modric or Carrick (different I know, both bring what we need).

If we do, we are 100 percent heavily competing for the title, if not then I just don't see us making it.

It is the most rare kind of player, super hard to find, so if we find a good one we really need to get him.
 
Champ said:
Tifo is the biggest pile of crap,

Some very bizzare suggestions in that video - :lol:
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stevoc said:
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.
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They're not all bad and usually offer some different options, but the analysis leaves a lot to be desired on that one.
 
We get really hung up on a defensive midfielder quite often but if we really think about it, what comes to mind with that position (cleaning up attacks, sitting in front of the back four, being “tidy”) is something that so few players do anyway! I can name on one hand the amount of true defensive midfielders that also have good enough passing and technique to play for us.

We’ve been so used to either having people that are decent in the tackle but have no positional sense (Fred, McT) or someone with good positioning but no legs (Matic) that we think we NEED a destroyer. We don’t! We just need two actual quality players for either the 6/8 positions or double pivot. They can be central midfielders, just so long as they know what they are doing.

Personally I would bring in -

Bissouma
Camavinga

because I reckon both could be had for £70m and we’d get incredible potential with Cama and a player already suited to our league who can do everything well in Bissouma.
Better, IMO, than splashing £80m on Rice alone or someone like Kroos that’s at the end of his career. Both have legs, both can tackle, both have expansive passing and are press resistant and both can play multiple roles
 
stevoc said:
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The problem with the three they suggest is that they all appear to be very limited on the ball based on those stats. That's fine if Pogba stays, but not at all good enough if he goes; or at least, not good enough unless we sign someone else with him.

I'm doubling down on Neves; I think he's the right player at the right time for us. He has the ability to play a line-breaking pass, has good positional awareness, and can control the tempo of the game, which are three things we really need. Having read some analysis, I actually think he's been criminally underused by Wolves, Nuno, and their negative football, and playing in a team like ours we'd really see the best of him. So he would be my first choice. If Pogba goes I think we'd need a second player alongside him; though we may get away with Fred or McTominay as the shuttler, I'd rather not risk it.
 
I don't want a pure destroyer like Rice or Ndidi, the dream would be Kimmich but that's never going to happen, his Bayern teammate Goretzka is a quality option but early word seems to be that he's not really wanting to leave Bayern. That leaves Saul, Neves and Camavinga as the 3 we are most linked to, from them Camavinga would be my pick, but I'd love to see us make a move for Locatelli while Juve try to convince Sassulo to let them pay for him over a decade in food stamps. Truth is we need 2 midfielders as only signing 1 means that either Fred or McTominay will still be starting regularly and neither are good enough.
 
Devil may care said:
I don't want a pure destroyer like Rice or Ndidi, the dream would be Kimmich but that's never going to happen, his Bayern teammate Goretzka is a quality option but early word seems to be that he's not really wanting to leave Bayern. That leaves Saul, Neves and Camavinga as the 3 we are most linked to, from them Camavinga would be my pick, but I'd love to see us make a move for Locatelli while Juve try to convince Sassulo to let them pay for him over a decade in food stamps. Truth is we need 2 midfielders as only signing 1 means that either Fred or McTominay will still be starting regularly and neither are good enough.
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I actually think there's an argument to be made that theoretically at least, one of them starting is actually OK, and the problem has been starting them both together. Personally I think they're both squad players and could be improved upon, but plenty of midfield trios have one player who's a shuttler, and I think they are both capable of being that player. The problem is we would need a very creative DM in order for that to work in practice.
 
If I can choose myself: Kimmich.
From those who are linked to United: Rice or Saul
Realistic: Bissouma or Neves
 
Mr Smith said:
I actually think there's an argument to be made that theoretically at least, one of them starting is actually OK, and the problem has been starting them both together. Personally I think they're both squad players and could be improved upon, but plenty of midfield trios have one player who's a shuttler, and I think they are both capable of being that player. The problem is we would need a very creative DM in order for that to work in practice.
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I just don't think either of them offer enough of anything to take up a starting slot, there are plenty of better midfielders than them that could be added to our starting line-up for a reasonable outlay.
 
Long term, I would sell Pogba (now) and Fred (in a season or two) and prioritise two new CMs. One would be a more defensive screening/tackling DM and the other would be a deep lying playmaker type. Those two plus McTominay, Bruno and (maybe) VdB is a well-rounded midfield. There are loads of combinations you could play in any form of back 4 or back 3. Much better than this square-peg-round-hole nonsense we have going on now.

The exact order of who to buy when obviously depends on the market, but I could live with one more season of awkwardness if there was a clear long term plan in place. Its worked for us up front and in defense so far.
 
Neves:
1. Doesnt need to adapt to PL
2. Has hollywood shot/pass in him. Perfect for replacing Pogba so we dont miss those aspects all that much if Pogba leaves
3. Wont cost arms and legs like Rice
4. Is not a pure destroyer. I believe United has never actually relied on these type of players. With a pure monster DM you usually get someone who is limited in other areas (Kante excluded). Due to the limited number of quality DM, we can make do with someone like Herrera. Someone who works his socks off and isnt crap on the ball. I think Neves tick these boxes
5. Still relatively young. Huge resale value if things go tits up
6. Is Portugese. We have a good record with Portugese players

Sign him up.
 
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Declan Rice reeks of Chelsea, and West Ham love selling to them. But i can see United being interested too.

He has a boring name, isn't a muppet signing, but i think he'd excel with Maguire and Varane's passing ability behind him.

Neves would be an excellent and realistic alternative, with Wolves seemingly happy to let him move on.
 
Devil may care said:
I just don't think either of them offer enough of anything to take up a starting slot, there are plenty of better midfielders than them that could be added to our starting line-up for a reasonable outlay.
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Definitely wouldn't disagree there are better put there, but do we have the funds for them this summer? I'd be really surprised if we signed two midfielders.
 
All depends if this switch in formation is to be believed. If we're sicking with the defensive CM pair, I'd say Tielemanst as a seemingly realistic option - I reckon Fred/Tielemans would work well.
 
Mr Smith said:
The problem with the three they suggest is that they all appear to be very limited on the ball based on those stats. That's fine if Pogba stays, but not at all good enough if he goes; or at least, not good enough unless we sign someone else with him.

I'm doubling down on Neves; I think he's the right player at the right time for us. He has the ability to play a line-breaking pass, has good positional awareness, and can control the tempo of the game, which are three things we really need. Having read some analysis, I actually think he's been criminally underused by Wolves, Nuno, and their negative football, and playing in a team like ours we'd really see the best of him. So he would be my first choice. If Pogba goes I think we'd need a second player alongside him; though we may get away with Fred or McTominay as the shuttler, I'd rather not risk it.
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I'd pretty much agree haven't seen much of those players but they seem like punts at best.
 
If Pogba goes then sign Camavinga this summer and then once Matic and Mata go next summer (2022) go in for Bellingham which would mean a group of Fernandes, Bellingham, Camavinga, McTominay, Fred, Garner and Mejbri going forward which has basically everything across that whole group of players.

Don’t get me wrong Pogba on his day is the best player in the squad and arguably the best midfielder in the world but that day is so far and few between, Pogba isn’t going to dislodge Fernandes as a 10 so unless Ole is going to go full out with Pogba in a double pivot due to Varane signing or to a 4-3-3 then I don’t see where Pogba starts for us so selling him is the best bet.
 
Yves Bissouma next to Fred or McT behind Bruno would be tasty.

Wouldn’t mind Neves either.

Annoying that there isn’t a Rodri/Fabinho/Casemiro/Fernandinho type on the market who can hold down that single pivot alone.
 
Camavinga is my #1 choice. But it is not down to having any real knowledge about him. The talk about him makes him come across as a good player to have in the squad, with being young, somewhat experienced, good with the ball at his feet and good without it. He could develop to a Pogba replacement or into a holding midfielder capable of passing play or dribbling through a man to open space. It just sounds perfect for the longer term, which we have a lot of good players for.

Short term we could do with someone who can go in and do a top class job right now, like a Varane on paper will do for our defense. But unless we move on some players I don't see there being space.
 


This video has very much warmed me for neves, however pogba situation need to be clarified
 
I'd be fine with Neves. Defensive minded ball playing midfielder, might allow McTominay to make his way up.
 
Well lots of names being banged around but it all depends on what formation Ole plans to play, if Fred or Scot will not be the holding one or the middle of the three are we looking for a Alonso type? Honestly I'm just glad its not me having to get one because lots of people will be upset.
 
Neves for me.

He can be our DLP and would become a fan favourite, I'm sure of it.
 
Sign Goretzka & Ndidi...Then we could genuinely play in a 4-3-3 formation... Henderson... Wan-Bissaka... Varane... Maguire... Shaw... Goretzka... Ndidi... Bruno... Sancho... Cavani... Rashford.
 
Ruben Neves. Deep lying playmaker that can also be a tackler/enforcer in that number 6 role. All rounder.

Would have liked Camavinga but seems like he isn’t keen on coming.


I think a poll would be good for this
 
I think I’d wait for Bellingham. Neves, if we could get him at a reasonable price, would be a decent option in the interim.
 
Can we please stop with the crappy Tifo videos, they are quite simply awful :lol:
 
Think Neves, if available for the rumored 35 mill is a very good option. Saul, Camavinga would be pretty good too but as others have said, not sure about Saul's form/confidence and Camavinga is just 18. Would love Goretzka, but I don't think he's leaving Bayern
 
Neves, Goretska or Phillips. Any of those would improve us.
 
sillwuka said:


Yves Bissouma, Brighton would take 40 Million?
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I've just watched this, and this might sound insane, but his playing style on the ball actually seems eerily similar to Pogba. Obviously not saying he's as good, but we could do worse as a replacement...
 
Pogba leaving has nothing to do with our need of a good DM.
It would matter only in terms of net spend, if that's an issue.
I rate both Fred and McT but not as the holding options, meaning a typical Nr. 6. They're both quite good at interceptions and covering passing lanes, but none of them is a steady and calm ball controller.

As I see it, our midfiel should fill the 3 classic roles:

DM (6): a) New man b) Matic c) McTominay
CM (8): a) Fred b/c) McTominay /VDB
AM (10) a) Bruno b) VDB

Pogba as CM is fine to me if the new DM is reliable defensively.
 
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