Midfield

Sideshow Bob

Avatar & New Members Forum Mod
Joined
May 8, 2011
Messages
42,894
The issue has been discussed in other threads. It’s a huge problem. United will not be serious contenders if the issue is not addressed. So what should Solskjaer do?
 
One midfielder wont do, thats the sad reality, WE need NEVES and Saul is available on Loan + buy obligation. We need to offload Lingard and James.
 
The biggest issue is... I think there are a few players who probably could solve their issue but they won't add any. That's going to cost them this year no doubt.
 
It’s a serious issue and it’s baffling how blind they seem to be to this issue we have absolutely no control in midfield.
 
If OLE dont plan to use VDB then we should sell him too. We have gr8 combo upfront it would be crime not to get a midfielder/s and complete the jigsaw.
 
If OLE dont plan to use VDB then we should sell him too. We have gr8 combo upfront it would be crime not to get a midfielder/s and complete the jigsaw.
I agree! VDB deserves better than this to be honest.
 
Think we need two top quality centre mids one might be enough for this season but I think we need two.

VDB should be moved on but obviously doesn’t want to leave hard to see how he’s an answer to our problems unless he’s radically changed his game.

He’d have been eaten alive in that midfield today by Neves and Moutinho.
 
While I think we need a specialist DM of the Kante variety, there aren't many of those around. After seeing that this evening, we need somebody, anybody so Fred never starts again.
 
OLE will play never play VDB as 8, he cant be worst than Fred and IMO he can do a 6-7/10 job against bottom half and atm we are crowded upfront. VDB works well around box ala 10 im not sure he will not get many minutes hence cut the losses.
 
VdB's problem is that he operates in the spaces Bruno and Pogba prefer, and if Ole isn't going to rotate as much as be probably should, then VdB is sat on the bench. We do need two CMs, one DM and one AM who operates from deep.
 
Think we need two top quality centre mids one might be enough for this season but I think we need two.

VDB should be moved on but obviously doesn’t want to leave hard to see how he’s an answer to our problems unless he’s radically changed his game.

He’d have been eaten alive in that midfield today by Neves and Moutinho.

Hi JSP :D,

Completely agree, i see you have racked up lot of posts in a limited member forum :D typical JSP
While I think we need a specialist DM of the Kante variety, there aren't many of those around. After seeing that this evening, we need somebody, anybody so Fred never starts again.

Bissouma ? I think he will be available around 40million. Camavinga can play CM/Dm but his heart with Madrid and there is Zakaria as well.. Not saying they are on kante level but does job well. Ndidi will cost fortune and Rice is overrated.

Edit: My heart is on Neves and Saul to control the midfield.
 
I'd do terrible things for Ndidi, but Leicester aren't selling. I've heard good things about Bissouma, but not sure if he or Camavinga are ready to make that step up, especially the pressure for them to come in and save us from McFred would be intense.
 
Any upgrade over Fred Matic would do. I love McT he is from academy but IMO he is more of a harasser and should be a backup.
 
Sam Luckhurst saying Utd didn't move for a midfielder as the club believe they already have 6 centre mids on the books.

Are they counting Fletcher and Carrick?
 
Fred Matic McT Donny Pogba Mejbri

Donny can't get in the side
Matic needs a walking stick
Fred can't complete a pass
Pogba is seen as a liability at CM by management
Mejbri is a kid that we aren't giving any minutes to
McT is out for at least a month

So many options.
 
Fred Matic McT Donny Pogba Mejbri

Donny can't get in the side
Matic needs a walking stick
Fred can't complete a pass
Pogba is seen as a liability at CM by management
Mejbri is a kid that we aren't giving any minutes to
McT is out for at least a month

So many options.
It's actually quite sad when you think about it. To not move for a midfielder because they have 6 on the books. I mean I just refuse to believe that.
 
I mean technically they didn't say they were good options just that they were options.

Our assistant manager and sporting director are two of the most successful centre mids ever to play for this club and still we have this situation.

I don't think it's a blind spot just think it's something that this summer they couldn't do anything about as the players they want aren't available at prices we could reasonably pay.
 
Didn't stop them buying another CB.

I mean if you're going to go down that road I'd be looking at our decision to sign another striker rather than signing a centre back that our squad desperately needed.

I guess the point with Varane is there was a player available for a reasonable fee that was so clearly so much better than our current option and also seemed keen to join Utd.

Maybe the midfield options we looked at either weren't interested or were just to expensive to really go after.

It didn't really seem to me like Utd were serious about any midfielders this summer the odd link here and there but nothing that felt sustained and genuine.
 
You misundertand, regardless of the amount of CB's we had on board, they went and bought one because we needed one. So for them to say we have too many CM's is nonsense on their part.

I think even the people with limited knowledge of football know our midfield is nowhere near good enough. We'll never win a big trophy with that midfield. But, off the top of my head, I can't name anyone I think we should go and get, the options are better than what we have, but not necessarily good enough.
 
I don't think people can look at the Ronaldo transfer and be frustrated that they did that instead of a CM. There was no money left for a CM, but Ronaldo was a no brainer decision for the club.
 
Too bad Garner is on loan, i would start him ahead of Fred. Chelsea meanwhile closing on Saul :rolleyes:
 
Too bad Garner is on loan, i would start him ahead of Fred. Chelsea meanwhile closing on Saul :rolleyes:

I don't think Garner was ready but given the lack of a signing seems odd to let him go on loan unless they plan on using Mejbri if they get some injuries the club seem to think very highly of him.

Sounds like Saul can leave if Atletico line up a replacment I think he was a big gamble not been in the best of form on huge wages maybe a gamble Chelsea can take when they've already got 3 quality centre mids especially if it's just a loan deal with option to buy.
 
If Saul was a loan with an option to buy and we didn't get involved, there's something wrong. Area of need. Clearly better than what we have. Minimal risk. No brainer.
 
@jsp Fred is worst than Klerberson, Garner is not ready but still would do better than Fred. The only reason we signed Fred was to prevent him going to citeh.
 
I think Ole will look to play Pogba in a midfield two more often than not this season. Could be very risky but could make for very exciting games. The power we have in an attacking sense is pretty unreal now - could be a case of you score two we’ll score three.

Seeing Saul just agree a deal with Chelsea is a little disheartening. We need to beef up that midfield and he would have been ideal to get in there but ah well.
 
This is what i fear, Pivot Pogba! He just cant cut it with Fred or McT in double Pivot. Phelan and Carrick needs to workout how to beat initial press and give Fred enough time to turn/pass. Going forward we have so many options now but i dont agree with "yo score two/we three" after watching midfield get ragged by Southampton and Wolves. Chelsea added Saul to Kante/Jorginho/Kovacic. We have weakest mid in top 4 and you cant expect the weak to control the game.
 
That's exactly the problem. We saw what happened with a PogFred pivot in the first half v Wolves. If we're not going to play Pogba further up the pitch then it's not worth having him, or as we saw on the weekend, we get run ragged and can't move the ball forward. Also, any pivot involving Fred is a non-starter for me, again, as we saw on the weekend (and the weekend before) we'd have been better with a highway cone in the centre of the park. It'll still get ran past like it wasn't there, but at least you can play a one two off of it.

Chelsea added Saul for a €5m loan fee (no word on options yet). How have we decided that wasn't worth a go? I get he's not a DM, but he's got the M part and it's €5 bloody m.
 
On MoTD they analysed Pogba, and basically there was no movement from our front four for him to pass to. Often they were static in a line.

If you want to play Pogba deep he needs more from the four up front
 
From about 5 mins, unfortunately they can't show the football video I guess because of rights
To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.
 
@Mr C/Creulla i agree with lack of moment thing but we could have been goals down due to gaping hole in midfield. We have no control over midfield and Fred consistently gives ball away when teams press us (fecking Southampton and Wolves). WE have seen it under Mou and now OLE the Pogba Pivot thing should be dead by now. Not adding Saul for 5million would def cost us.
 
Hasn't Saul been poor for the last 18 months? I'll be interested to see how he gets on, but I don't think he's quite right for our needs.
 

Login or Register

Forgot your password?
or Log in using
Don't have an account? Register now
Back
Top