Any source for that quote ? Have only seen it on twitter.
Which midfielder will we sign this summer?
- Thread starter pocco
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Ah! Maybe I'm too naive. (I saw it in the Twitter thread).
watching Bilbao vs Barcelona and Ander Herrera is taking them apart at times. He has got fantastic ability on the ball and seems like the perfect player for us.
He is not the perfect player for us, based solely on the fact that we have never had a midfielder who is not British who has ever been perfect for us. So he may fall into the huge category of players who look like they could be the answer but once they are actually here don't perform.
Whenever SAF has bought foreign mids they have flopped. Which is probably why -despite our midfield being far and away the weakest area - we have still not bought one. He has a notoriously poor record buying CM's, and most of our successes have come through the club.
I hope we do sign someone and that SAF can get them to perform, but i wouldn't bet much on it personally. I would bet far more on not signing a midfielder and the likes of Jones, Powell and possibly Tunnicliffe getting more games next season and supplementing Giggs, Carrick and Clevs in our central midfield.
Probably be enough to win the PL again or at least seriously contest it. But in Europe our midfield will still not be good enough to get past the QF imo.
Roy Keane.
You nitpicker Gambit, you know what i meant! Keane may not be British in nationality, but his outlook was British! The point still stands. Excluding Keane then, Since Ince, only Carrick has been bought for midfield and considered a success. All the foreigners SAF has bought for midfield in the meantime have flopped miserably. Hardly surprising then that we are not in for midfielders who so many fans think could be 'perfect' for us.
He does sign players with traits that may see them succeed in England though. Herrera is similar to Martinez in that he is far more aggressive than your average Spanish midfielder. He even put in a two footed tackle.
More realistic signing than Thiago, even though signing a player from Bilbao has its own share of problems. He is having a really good game, and is always one of their better players.
Not for midfield though mate and that's the issue. Maybe it's the system we play with the 2 man midfield and wingers that these continental midfielders can't adapt to, who knows?
All i am saying is that i doubt we will sign midfielders like herrera, because SAF has been unsuccessful whenever he has taken the plunge on foreign midfielders in the past. I would be surprised if that thinking changed this summer, SAF obviously prefers players who are PL tested.
At times like those, all you can do is lol.
Has anyone actually seen Strootman play? I'll be honest and say I've never seen anything but youtube videos of him, which isn't much help. What kind of player is he?
I've seen him, but barely. Just once and Van Bommel was more impressive...
Watched him a few times this season. I've seen the games against; Ajax, Roda, Vitesse, Feyenoord and Utrecht from memory.
He seems a pure centre midfielder, doesn't sit too deep but doesn't seem to break into the box during attacks and waits about 20 yards out. From what I've seen he has the ability to run past a man but seems to prefer to play the passes out to the wide men. I haven't been all that impressed with what I've seen of him, although every time I watch PSV they seem to lose despite them being 2nd in the league so take it with a pinch of salt.
have a feeling the midfield player United are going to sign is Strootman.
His contract runs til 2016 though.
How times have changed.
Yes please! I've been impressed with him over the last few seasons and he has the versatility SAF likes, sadly I can't see him leaving Juve.
Lewandowski
Bayern proved conclusively with Shweiny and Martinez you don't need midfielders to batter top sides.
Fergie wont be signing big in midfield.
Top sides play a combination of 433 or 4231 - for us a transition to 4231 would be easier but it would mean Rooney playing in the ozil role.
Fergie wont be signing big in midfield.
Top sides play a combination of 433 or 4231 - for us a transition to 4231 would be easier but it would mean Rooney playing in the ozil role.
So Sweiny and Martinez aren't top midfielders then?
Meanwhile, Barcelona have proved over the last few years how effective squad players can be by giving Messi a run of games.
Has anyone like really watched this guy? Like ever? Never seen a single game from him as I don't follow Ajax and his youtube vids are not that impressive. Is he any good? The way people bring him up in about every thread about midfielders a lot of the caf members must watch Eredivisie.
BTW I want Vidal. Let's break the bank for him.
moussa dembele or scott parker probably
I think (in hindsight perhaps) that the manager has been guilty of showing a little too much faith in the midfielders we have. It is strange because he hasn't adopted that attitude with our strikers. This whole 'Anderson will step up' or 'Cleverley will step up' has been a bit optimistic, at least from a CL perspective anyway. Anderson has shown over quite a long period that he hasn't developed, while Cleverley has never been that talented anyway, to the point where even if he did fulfil his potential he would be a real top-bracket player for sure.
Meanwhile, we've been buying defenders when we already have plenty, and strikers when we already have plenty, and then slowly converting them into midfielders. As someone who, even in recent years, has shown he is not afraid to splash for the right man - I can't understand why he didn't stretch for Luka Modric, who he had even gone on record as saying was the best player in the League? On the basis that Anderson and Cleverley? I mean, we had Welbeck and Hernandez, who had actually delivered for us more than Anderson and Cleverley before he bought a £25m striker. I know this business isn't an exact science, but the need for a top class midfielder (or two) has been clear to see for years. Even Carrick himself hadn't been that good prior to this season.
Meanwhile, we've been buying defenders when we already have plenty, and strikers when we already have plenty, and then slowly converting them into midfielders. As someone who, even in recent years, has shown he is not afraid to splash for the right man - I can't understand why he didn't stretch for Luka Modric, who he had even gone on record as saying was the best player in the League? On the basis that Anderson and Cleverley? I mean, we had Welbeck and Hernandez, who had actually delivered for us more than Anderson and Cleverley before he bought a £25m striker. I know this business isn't an exact science, but the need for a top class midfielder (or two) has been clear to see for years. Even Carrick himself hadn't been that good prior to this season.
Hold on there. There's every chance Cleverley will develop into a good CM. And tbh I have no doubt he will. He's been very good at the start of the season for us as well and faded a bit as the season went on. Modric would have never been sold to us, and I doubt he would have chosen us over Madrid.
Anderson also had is bright moments this season, he's not consistent enough.
And Carrick has been top class in his last seasons for us and has arguably been our best player this season. It's just that he needs some time to get going.
No doubt we should look for a top class CM that improves us right away though.
I agree, but how good? That's my point. He's no boy genius that we need to shelve every plan of midfield strengthening. There is every chance that even should he reach his potential, that our major rivals will have better midfielders than him.
Not saying get rid or anything, I'm just saying we're not dealing with a talent on Fabregas levels where you can get rid of a Vieira for and not bring in a replacement because he can become one of the world's best. Cleverley will likely, at his very best, not become that great. We should still look to improve if the opportunity arises.
I think Rozay's point was that why did SAF put faith in Cleverley and Anderson coming good and therefore not buy a midfielder, but not do the same thing for Welbeck and Hernandez (in not buying a striker). Instead, we signed RVP for big money and massively decreased the chances of Hernandez and Welbeck breaking into the first eleven as a striker. Of course, this was a masterstroke from Fergie, we wouldn't have won the league without RVP. But who knows where we would be in the CL/FA cup if we also invested in that CM.
His justification in buying RVP is that we need experience and quality up front where the young strikers can also learn from, but why can this also not be applied in the same vain with Cleverley and Ando? I know RVP is much older than a Martinez, but how about our interest in Lewandowski now? Fergie even said in his last press conference that there is always room for top players if they are available, yet season after season he doesn't address one of our weaker areas in the team. The only explanation I can think of is Fergie simply loves strikers and given the choice, will always prefer signing a striker.
Do you mean they proved that you DO need top midfielders to beat them?
Okay, realistically, who do you think United can target this summer. Assuming one of the 2 players he has targeted is a midfielder, let's take a gander at the options available:
1 - Fellaini (based on his instagram, he looks bound for chelsea). I wouldn't mind him as he is a strong, tall player who can dominate the middle of the park, just not as fast or skilful as Yaya. Price would be between 18-22m I would imagine. Not my first choice
2 - Dembele. I wanted us to sign him last year before he moved to Spurs. He was a bargain and exactly what we needed. He is not going to move from Spurs, not so soon anyway
3 - Moutinho. Seems to be available every year, yet has not moved to any of the clubs in England despite constant rumours. I think he will be priced at 20-26m. Not my first choice, but would do a job in our midfield.
4 - Modric. Possiblility of being sold if Mourinho leaves Real and the new manager overhauls the team. Athough he is now 27 or 28, I would love him as he is a lovely passer of the ball, and lots of skill to glide past players as well. Price probably around 26-30m
5 - Gundogan. My first choice midfielder. Too bad it doesnt seem like he will move this summer. Good for dortmuund though. Price probably around 22-26m.
6 - Strootman. Not seen him, but youtube clips looks good. Probably cost 18-23m. Wouldn't say no, bg and strong and a bit of Lampard in him with his finishing.
What are your thoughts? Any other contenders?
1 - Fellaini (based on his instagram, he looks bound for chelsea). I wouldn't mind him as he is a strong, tall player who can dominate the middle of the park, just not as fast or skilful as Yaya. Price would be between 18-22m I would imagine. Not my first choice
2 - Dembele. I wanted us to sign him last year before he moved to Spurs. He was a bargain and exactly what we needed. He is not going to move from Spurs, not so soon anyway
3 - Moutinho. Seems to be available every year, yet has not moved to any of the clubs in England despite constant rumours. I think he will be priced at 20-26m. Not my first choice, but would do a job in our midfield.
4 - Modric. Possiblility of being sold if Mourinho leaves Real and the new manager overhauls the team. Athough he is now 27 or 28, I would love him as he is a lovely passer of the ball, and lots of skill to glide past players as well. Price probably around 26-30m
5 - Gundogan. My first choice midfielder. Too bad it doesnt seem like he will move this summer. Good for dortmuund though. Price probably around 22-26m.
6 - Strootman. Not seen him, but youtube clips looks good. Probably cost 18-23m. Wouldn't say no, bg and strong and a bit of Lampard in him with his finishing.
What are your thoughts? Any other contenders?
I havent watched many other games besides ManUtd games or the CL semifinals, so if anyone has seen a midfield player from one of the less fancied teams, who could make it as a first choice midfielder alongside Carrrick, please give us your input.
Nemanja Matic has been mentioned a bit recently.
I'd love Thiago personally, but again, I see him as a Cleverley type of option, and we will unlikely sign anyone to stand in his way. But Thiago and somebody a bit stronger and defensively sound too will be great for me.
I'd love Thiago personally, but again, I see him as a Cleverley type of option, and we will unlikely sign anyone to stand in his way. But Thiago and somebody a bit stronger and defensively sound too will be great for me.
Wanyama could be another option maybe not to play alongside Carrick but as his cover. Would like Verratti to play alongside Carrick.
Schneiderlin, Mccarthy and Cabaye some in league possible options that have been mentioned at lower teams.
Ander Herrera another one that has been linked with us in the past from Spain.
Then there are a few younger lads that keep being linked.
Ander Herrera another one that has been linked with us in the past from Spain.
Then there are a few younger lads that keep being linked.
Knowing us Ill take a stab at Frank Lampard (Sr) Bryan Robson and Sir Bobby.
I think we'll sign two midfielders in their 20s this summer. This may be said in hope but there are no excuses this year.
Course if we end up really going for Bale the above will go tits up.
Course if we end up really going for Bale the above will go tits up.
Juventus signed Vidal from Leverkusen for 8m and Dortmund signed Gundogan from Nuremberg for 5m. This partly annoys me but it must also prove there's plenty of talent out there at reasonable prices?
Ander Herrera is the last bargain in the market I supose for CM. Talented, picks passes can do it all. The Benders could be great for us too, but I would rather Gundogan instead of them.
Wilshere would be perfect, but don't think we'll get it, Dembele would've been amazing but that ship has sail, Moutinho would be expensive to the point I think we could maybe try and turn Jack's head and have a english player, Song is still an option imo.
In a perfect world: Wilshere and Gundogan/Herrera/Moutinho for CM.
Wilshere would be perfect, but don't think we'll get it, Dembele would've been amazing but that ship has sail, Moutinho would be expensive to the point I think we could maybe try and turn Jack's head and have a english player, Song is still an option imo.
In a perfect world: Wilshere and Gundogan/Herrera/Moutinho for CM.
No one want Thiago anymore??