Think he is more suited to that role than playing as the AM tbh. He will play it in a different way to Xavi though.
Which midfielder will we sign this summer?
- Thread starter pocco
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Think he is more suited to that role than playing as the AM tbh. He will play it in a different way to Xavi though.
The decision to go in for a midfielder or not turns IMHO almost entirely on whether Fletcher has got it in him to be a productive footballer again.
This issue has been debated for years. It was reasonable for Fergie to hold off on a midfielder in light of Pogba or Morrison, but they're long gone now and while we have a young prospect in Powell I really like I just don't know if he's going to be ready for prem action next season. Assuming he is, all we need is someone to take the load off Carrick, eventually replacing him. That could be Phil Jones but then again it's not easy to see whether that's a good fit for him and the squad.
On the attacking side, I really like Modric but I'd hate to cut Cleverley's nuts off. Again, it comes down to whether Fergie sees further growth Cleverley's game or not. I thought he started the season really well but hasn't progressed much in the last two months. Maybe that's to be expected.
I say bite the 50m+ bullet with Ronaldo or Bale, dump Ando and thank Scholes for his brilliant services and go with what we've got to mount a CL campaign.
There is no creativity nor drive in our midfield. I'd be shocked if we don't strenghten especially with Anderson's season and our over reliance on Carrick.
I would like to see us pip Spurs for Moutinho. He is an all-round midfielder, great stamina and superb on the ball. He could partner, and crucially, provide cover for Carrick when the need arises. He could pretty much slot in with whoever really, is getable as indicated by his desire to leave Portugal and would not cost a fortune.
He is so flexible in terms of where he can play in differing formations. If he goes to Spurs they will possess a ridiculously good engine room.
Thiago would be a real coup. If Modric is avaliable he would be an amazing partner for Carrick.
He is so flexible in terms of where he can play in differing formations. If he goes to Spurs they will possess a ridiculously good engine room.
Thiago would be a real coup. If Modric is avaliable he would be an amazing partner for Carrick.
He plays more vertically than Xavi and is way more direct. Not sure that style suitable for the way Barca want to play. They'll need a similar player to Xavi eventually, and unless Fabregas adapts his game, I don't think it'll be him.
I honestly can't wait till the Summer.
I doubt we'll go after any of the established names people are banding about. Very rare that we do business like that - instead it'll be a young player to grow into the role.
In my ideal, semi realistic, summer we buy three of Isco/Bale/Rodriguez, Modric/Moutinho/Gundogan/Fabregas, and Wanyama/Strootman/Bender(s).
I'd be happy if we signed even just one of those players.
I'd be happy if we signed even just one of those players.
If Cleverley is good enough, he'll reclaim his place. If not then he deserves to be a reserve. We're Manchester United and not West Ham. At a club like ours you're expected to face fierce competition for places.
I reckon we'll spend a silly amount of money on Moutinho.
What I see and what the club does aren't always the same thing, of course. I never wanted him back and while he's better than I thought he'd be, I knew the limitations he had that continue to be at issue. He's not cut out to be a CM for us, not on his own, not without ample help in midfield so no one really believed he was going to be an heir to Xavi, even when he was at Arsenal. He has to play in an advanced attacking midfield role and certainly not as a playmaker from deep ala Pirlo or Xavi in his early days but right now the closest position to what he could play is owned by a certain Lionel Messi. He's looked fine alongside Iniesta & Xavi at times but he can't control the tempo of the team's play and is horribly suited to play against 2 lines of 4 - he simply doesn't have the technical skill or awareness to weave through there. If there's space, Cesc can find it but pressured, he makes more turnovers than any other midfielder at the club right now. Last season he talked a lot about how difficult it was for him to understand where he needed to be and the work that needed to be done in this team which eventually saw him benched for a majority of the 2nd half of last season (Happening again now). Interestingly enough, Tito, having coached him at La Masia, started him throughout the 1st half of the season relegating Iniesta to the left wing at the expense of Thiago & Villa. It worked at times in a brilliant way (Levante comes to mind) but failed miserably at other times (Milan). Paired with Thiago he has done well when Thiago plays deeper, in front of Busquets but it was a disaster with Song at DM over the weekend. Had to be the single worst midfield performance for this team in more than 5 years - no one was doing what they should've/needed to. The only possibility I see where Fab can be best used in this squad is if the 3-4-3 is employed again
He'll be 26 soon and theoretically entering the prime of his career, he can still adapt I suppose but I'm not sure he'll be willing to ultimately. I worry he'll be moved around ala Bojan and then find himself with fewer & fewer minutes until he is discarded for chump change. Of course, his ego/confidence isn't likely to allow him to be treated ala Bojan either. If they can land ample depth at CB, particularly with pace then perhaps that 3-4-3 can make a return and Cesc's skillset can be best put to use
I don't see him as the Xavi heir either, Busquets is more suited to that than he is if not Iniesta. After that, the next closest thing to a Xavi is Samper although Gündoğan has been mentioned here & there
He's strong in the tackle but even with bankrupt lower tier Primera clubs, the technical level of the midfields are proving to be more than a tough task for Cesc to contend with on the defensive end. More than anything, his understanding of where to be is often lacking
Sounds very different from the Cesc I was watching playing for Arsenal where his technique, passing and vision were all superb. And as for not beating a man, I remember him scoring a goal after Arsenal scored from the kick off, winning the ball and running through their entire team, was FIFAesq.
I don't think Barca are using him right but I don't think he's really best suited to the Barca set up. I think he needs to be a proper playmaker for a traditional striker and in Barcas system you don't really have that, the trifecta of Xavi, Busquetes and Iniesta who are all perfect for letting Messi do his thing. If Messi got a long term injury though, I think Cesc would shine supporting Villa if he was played as a proper CF.
I don't think Barca are using him right but I don't think he's really best suited to the Barca set up. I think he needs to be a proper playmaker for a traditional striker and in Barcas system you don't really have that, the trifecta of Xavi, Busquetes and Iniesta who are all perfect for letting Messi do his thing. If Messi got a long term injury though, I think Cesc would shine supporting Villa if he was played as a proper CF.
Is Wanyama still earning rave reviews in the SPL? Not heard him mentioned for a while.
Do you think he's good enough? We've been linked to him for years without ever taking the plunge, which makes me think Fergie has other thoughts.
Has Moutinho done anything else extra this season ? He's been available for a couple of years now and went to Spurs almost last summer and we didn't seem interested despite being constantly linked.
Fergie doesn't have a great record signing midfielders, so no real surprise he is reluctant to pay too much. Moutinho has to be a better option than what we have surely, and would be absolutely ideal for the CL. Which let's face it, is where we have the most improving to do.
Comsmit has already stated the 2 most suitable targets in my view, moutinho or modric. Either would be ideal playing alongside Carrick in a 2, and they would vastly improve the general quality of our midfield options.
But i have been equally optimistic for the past few years thinking we simply must sign a midfielder, only to be left bitterly disappointed. So not getting over excited this year. If SAF buys someone then at last we can look to improve, if not then we will remain where we have been for the past 3 or 4 years, at the mercy of the quality of our wingplay and the individual brilliance of our main strikers.
Please no.
I think you can please no all you like but Fergie will definitely wait for Fletcher (and why shouldn't he... everyone seems to have this expectation that he is finished but no one knows the full medical circumstances), Jones has played more in midfield than he has in defence and Giggs has signed on for another year. Even if, as looks likely, Anderson leaves and Scholes retires I would expect us to use Powell more. Hence, I cannot see a centre mid signing even if there were options available that would work in our system.
No problem waiting for Fletcher he deserves that much but I suspect Scholes will retire and I have a feeling Anderson will be off. The rest you mention (Jones, Powell) aren't ready to play every week in central midfield or in Giggs case he's too old to. We had Scholes and Anderson to drop back on this season, without them next year im certain he will sign a new midfielder (although I think iv said this for the past 4 years so what do I know)
If Powell was looking good enough in training, he'd be out there in the last 15 minutes of matches. That's typically how Fergie works, but we haven't seen the lad since before Christmas. It's not a video game, he's not going to suddenly increase his stats across the board in 5 months and be a starter next season.
Fletcher is now 2 years older and 2 years of suffering through a serious illness since he last played regularly for us. And 4 years since he last looked genuine United quality. Banking on a player who has basically lost the years of his prime to an illness that affects muscle growth, stamina and fitness is seriously stupid, imo.
Scholes doesn't play anymore.
Even if we keep Anderson we still need more cover there.
Imo the only reason we haven't gone big on a truly class midfielder is because Fergie et al can't find one, and they don't want to risk the 15 matches of playing a potentially bad fit in such a crucial position. Modric would have been a target, but Real paid stupid money and Spurs wanted to sell out of the prem. Dembele would have been a risk - he'd only played in CM for half a season. People used to scream about Rodwell, imagine if we'd spent £18m on him!
If there was a clear target, I think we'd get them, but there really isn't
Fletcher is now 2 years older and 2 years of suffering through a serious illness since he last played regularly for us. And 4 years since he last looked genuine United quality. Banking on a player who has basically lost the years of his prime to an illness that affects muscle growth, stamina and fitness is seriously stupid, imo.
Scholes doesn't play anymore.
Even if we keep Anderson we still need more cover there.
Imo the only reason we haven't gone big on a truly class midfielder is because Fergie et al can't find one, and they don't want to risk the 15 matches of playing a potentially bad fit in such a crucial position. Modric would have been a target, but Real paid stupid money and Spurs wanted to sell out of the prem. Dembele would have been a risk - he'd only played in CM for half a season. People used to scream about Rodwell, imagine if we'd spent £18m on him!
If there was a clear target, I think we'd get them, but there really isn't
Powell picked up an injury but was getting playing time before that. He's been on the bench for three of our recent matches.
There's no time for that. We need someone next season, not in 2015.
We could go for bench players, and I would be happy as feck. Verratti, Song, Modric.
Thiago Alcantara.?
Just his agent talking, or what do you reckon..
Just his agent talking, or what do you reckon..
Doubt it.
We need two midfielders IMO. I would be extremely excited if we brought in both Strootman and Modric.
I can't see us winning the CL again unless we really invest in the midfield area and buy top class players for there.
I can't see us winning the CL again unless we really invest in the midfield area and buy top class players for there.
Just his agent talking.
I don't get this. Are people not impressd by Cleverley at all?
We only need one. A good one.
We have Carrick and Cleverley. I guess people don't Want to stick with Ando any more while the rest are just bonuses really if they contribute something signficant.
4 players for 2 or 3 positions isn't that much.
If SAF sees Jones as a Permanent midfielder and not just a utility player then we can do with 1.
Not really been that impressed to be honest. He's a decent midfielder, but if you look at every other position on the pitch, we have better players in their respective positions then him in center midfield. He's fine as a squad player I just don't think he should be a starter at a team like United yet. You look at the other top teams around the world and we fall short in that department, which is a reason we lack control in games. IMO we need a class midfielder like Modric to go next to Carrick, and either a replacement for Carrick or quality cover for him, maybe a younger but still good cover for him so he can take over Carrick's position once Carrick gets older. Someone like Strootman.
This.
I think it's more Anderson that is in question here, especially the fact that he never can stay fit for more than a dozen games in one run.
Basically we need to replace him and get someone who can fill the Carrick role.
I could see the point in getting two midfielders, but only if all of scholes, Anderson and fletcher leave... Which is very possible, but not settled yet. Also I would kinda hope that one of the two would be a young player for the future, and the other would be a nailed on first teamer. Would not like to see Carrick and cleverley both pushed down... Would be exceptionally harsh, considering that our failings this season have been largely in other areas.
This. Watching Bayern today makes me realise just how much quality we lack in midfield
Thiago and Verrati plzzzzzzz
What did you see in Strootman that made him that quality midfielder and Carrick replacement? Moutinho would surely be this player, imo. Or Modric. I honest rate Thiago, Verratti and Song above Strootman still. Granted, I've not seen tons of game he played, but the times I saw him, there's not so special about him yet.
Think you're being a bit harsh on Cleverely here.
Anyway, agree with the bolded but that's why people want to bring in a centre mid, he wouldn't be a starter anymore. Bringing in two though just crushes his chances to get game time and develop as a player. Given the improvements he's made over the last two seasons it seems unnecessary to me. One high quality midfielder is enough IMO, Cleverley shouldn't be our first choice yet but he deserves and needs games, or he'll just stagnate.
Also not sure why Strootman would want to come here if he was going to be third choice behind Carrick and Modric.
I've honestly not seen him much, maybe about 3 or 4 times in total, playing for the national team. More basing this off of what I've heard, because he seems like the type of player we could sign and who would fit in a 2 man midfield. Veratti and Thiago I rate as two of the most promising midfielders in the world, along with Wilshere but I don't think there's a chance in hell that we'll get them.
Moutinho is probably a better shout, forgot about him. Although I was thinking of a player in Carrick's mold, maybe a bit more mobile and more of an aggressive player then him, and one that was younger like Strootman so he wouldn't expect to be a starter right away, but would be able to come into the side to cover for Carrick without us looking shite.
That's just the image I sort of built up in my head about Strootman from a few games and some videos, but I doubt it's enough to make a proper decision.
I think that there are a lot of available midfielders we could sign this summer. Two Bender fellas, Modric, Gundogan, Moutinho will definitely improve our team a lot. Haven't seen that much from Wynyama and Strootman but they seem to be very higly rated. Cabaye could do a job too.
In case we decide to sell Anderson (which I think we should although I like him a lot) anything than signing two midfielders won't be good. In case we decide to keep him, than I think Moutinho will be the best choice to partner Carrick, and to provide cover for him when needed.
In case we decide to sell Anderson (which I think we should although I like him a lot) anything than signing two midfielders won't be good. In case we decide to keep him, than I think Moutinho will be the best choice to partner Carrick, and to provide cover for him when needed.
Probably am being too harsh on him, but I just think we're short on numbers there. Modric would be ideal to have in there but I think we'd still be a bit screwed if Carrick were to get injured, because Modric wouldn't come in as Carrick's replacement, which is why I think we need two. Not necessarily two starters, but 1 for starting and one to cover for Carrick.
I think of it more like Cleverley would be second choice to Modric, and Strootman second choice behind Carrick, because playing Modric with Cleverley together would be too attacking I feel, and we'd need to mix it up with a player who can play the more defensive role with one who can play the more offensive role.
Otherwise if we were to sign just one midfielder, I think Moutinho would be ideal in that case. Can cover Carrick but would also be a very good partner, which would make Cleverley 3rd choice most likely which is what I think he should be at this stage.