There was a time not too long ago when you said this sort of thing to me in a very serious manner
Anyway, I'd prefer Lars Bender to Gündoğan.
Which one is Lars? Call them Dortmund's and Leverkusen's Bender FFS.
Which midfielder will we sign this summer?
- Thread starter pocco
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Which one is Lars? Call them Dortmund's and Leverkusen's Bender FFS.
lars is leverkusens and is a better passer IMO.
Sven is harder.
I want both of them. Can never have too many Benders.
We had a player caller Bender in my hometown club in Poland's 4th division. We could sign him too. He must be 50 by now though.
Midfielder ? 
Is there value in the market then?
Think players like Stootman and Wanyama will be available. Players like Gundogan perhaps for the right price. Then theres a slim chance with someone like Thiago from Barca if rumours are to be believed. Whether the first two are actually any good is another question, but we'll probably find a midfielder that none of us have thought of in some obscure league anyway.
Won't mind Schneiderlin/Mccarthy either as one if we are bringing 2 in.
I'll say this: Our midfield is weak enough that midfielders who are not absolute top class will still be a massive improvement. And Fergie will probably prefer to sign a centerhalf - Garay or other - and move Jones into midfield.
I've lost all belief that he'll do something in that area. I'd expect a manager with Fergie's foresight to have done that three years ago. He hasn't done it then, amazingly he hasn't done it since. I'm not optimistic. It was clear to most people it had to be done a while back, and he still didn't do that.
I've lost all belief that he'll do something in that area. I'd expect a manager with Fergie's foresight to have done that three years ago. He hasn't done it then, amazingly he hasn't done it since. I'm not optimistic. It was clear to most people it had to be done a while back, and he still didn't do that.
We did have Pogba, who now plays for France and Juventus, plus the equally talented Morrison. With Pogbas progress since leaving, I think Fergie can be forgiven for waiting for him instead of signing players.
Yes I suppose after what we went through to get Pogba it was correct to assume that he would have stuck around. There's no doubt that he'd have played more than a few games by now.But such is the world. Morrison's future wa always in his own hands.
Not sure he'll make the same mistake next season.I'm not convinced about Giggs playing anything other than a CC role or a few minutes here and there, if that.Fletcher; can't see him coming back to his best.Scholes should retire now.
Which does leave the door open for Powell and Januszaj to get a few games if SAF decides to be bold
Morrison left in the middle of last season. We knew Pogba was off before the end of the season. And, we still didn't do anything last summer.
Honestly, it's like when it comes to midfield, Fergie will use any kind of excuse not to sign anyone. Fletcher's coming back, Scholes came back from retirement, we've got the young lads. Quite amazing when you think he signed Evra and Vidic when most of us didn't see the need.
This
Gundongan and Modric. Song would not be bad too, and very plausible...
One, or both, of Sandro and Cabaye.
There was a time not too long ago when you said this sort of thing to me in a very serious manner
Anyway, I'd prefer Lars Bender to Gündoğan.
I always maintained that given the choice that personally I'd break the bank for a good midfielder. I was always merely trying to either make the point that when you're trying to manage a squad it's not as cut and dry as signing someone for good money and wages and deciding others will just have to be sold or sit out
Could you tell Fletcher that because he's got his problems he can forget playing again and pay up his contract?
Could you pat Giggs and Scholes on the back and say "thanks for the service chaps but we are signing someone else and I can't see you playing much".
When you've invested £17m plus wages and 6 years into 24 year old Anderson, do you think it'd be easy to accept £4m or £5m for him and to spend £20m getting someone else in?
Maybe it's yes to all the above and fair enough if it is, it's probably the right option in pure footballing terms but I think you have to look at the bigger picture and think about how to treat players that have been loyal to you and how to look after your investments properly.
In my opinion Anderson still has some potential and I'd prefer to treat him as someone you don't rely on and definitely have cover for but you might get 20 games out of and he might come good in his later years as a lot of players do than get a few million for and have to spend a lot more to replace him with what will no doubt be a very average backup player like Buttner is for Evra.
Sandro seems to pick up at least 1 lengthy injury every season.
I'd love Sandro, he'll be some player in a few years.
Opinions on Banega? He was a muppet's wet dream before his injury, and from what I've seen of him this season he's not lost any of his ability. I remember the game against Real Madrid where he dictated play perfectly.
No pint trying to sign him from Tottenham tbh. Levy will demand a king's ransom to sell to us. Cabaye at his age won't come cheap either.
He's bit of a nutcase off the field. Don't think SAF will go for him.
What exactly do you consider 'cheap' or not cheap? Good players don't usually come cheap at any rate so I don't think this is a reasonable objection.
Carl said:
Oh really? I haven't been following his career particularly closely before this season so I don't know. I think he's worth a go though.
I'd love to see Thiago brought in as a partner for Carrick. He's an outstanding talent,and one of the best young players in the world. Ideally, we'll bring in two and get in a more defensive option too. Song, a Bender (any Bender) or Sandro as mentioned would be great.
I've been a great advocate of Anderson over the years too, but even I must now concede that we need better. I'm not particulary convinced Cleverley is all that either, although I don't want him sold by any measure. I would like tosee a better player than him seemingly awarded an automatic starting place for Manchester United.
I've been a great advocate of Anderson over the years too, but even I must now concede that we need better. I'm not particulary convinced Cleverley is all that either, although I don't want him sold by any measure. I would like tosee a better player than him seemingly awarded an automatic starting place for Manchester United.
Gundogan, Bender or Hamsik somebody of that quality. I actually think we should sell Anderson and sign 2 midfielders but I highly doubt that will happen
No chance with thiago and isco....maybe 1 of modric, strootman or bender.....with powell and tunnicliffe coming through...fergie may wait for them....ross barkley will probably be on everyones list once he breaks through into everton first 11
A reliable defensively strong midfielder who's good with the ball. We can't rely on stop-gap 30/40 year olds or injury/fitness plagued youngsters. Time to spend big on the position we've had trouble trying to fill for years.
we sold them Berba, we could have had him for far less in a player plus cash deal knowing how highly Jol rates Berba.
I want a Bender twin and Thiago from Barca
Gundogan and Thiago would be so silky
Cesc Fabregas
You've killed the midfielder in him but I would still take it.
And see, I think Arsenal killed his game. He has bad habits and is generally a sloppy player positionally & defensively. Terrific going forward but a risk if asked/expected to do more
Fletch is probably a goner so it would be one (or both) between Strootman and wanyama
Strootman or Wanyama hopefully... Not sure who I would like us to sign the most!?!?
Regarding our current squad of midfielders:
Darren Fletcher is probably never getting back to the first team!
Cleverley our first choice midfielder for the future!
Powell not ready to be a starter yet!
Anderson - probably be sold - I've lost my patience with him anyways :-(
Carrick is excellent.
Giggs "can still do a job" - but only from around December, just as we have seen this season, plus he is not a starter - at least only against teams we should run over with our reserve team.
Jones should be used as a CB.
Scholes - probably retires...
So that leaves really only Cleverly and Carrick for the 2 positions as real options for a club the size of united, who plays at least 2 games a week! We need at least one midfielder!
Regarding our current squad of midfielders:
Darren Fletcher is probably never getting back to the first team!
Cleverley our first choice midfielder for the future!
Powell not ready to be a starter yet!
Anderson - probably be sold - I've lost my patience with him anyways :-(
Carrick is excellent.
Giggs "can still do a job" - but only from around December, just as we have seen this season, plus he is not a starter - at least only against teams we should run over with our reserve team.
Jones should be used as a CB.
Scholes - probably retires...
So that leaves really only Cleverly and Carrick for the 2 positions as real options for a club the size of united, who plays at least 2 games a week! We need at least one midfielder!
I wouldn't put it pass Fergie not investing in our midfield this summer.
With Fletcher returning next season and Giggs signing a new contract, and with the progress of Cleverley and Carrick he might feel we don't need to buy anyone....however i can see us buying wingers and possibly another striker.
With Fletcher returning next season and Giggs signing a new contract, and with the progress of Cleverley and Carrick he might feel we don't need to buy anyone....however i can see us buying wingers and possibly another striker.
Surely your scouts should have seen that he would be coming in as a free spirit?
I think Cesc going back was a poor move. He'd have had a better chance of going down as a real legend of the game elsewhere. Now he's a bit of an also-ran.
He was not someone I wanted back but rational evaluation of Fab was really not in the cards, the club felt he had to come back home as did the player.
Should've stayed in the Premiership
Interesting. Do you see him staying at Barca for the rest of his career? People talk about him as Xavi's heir, but I don't see it. He's not cut out to be a deep-lying metronome.
He was playing with Gilberto at Arsenal in a 2 man midfield and doing a lot of defensive work when he initially broke through IIRC, and always seemed generally good positionally so maybe he is struggling to adapt to your tiki taka system..