On Defensive Mids, they say: “
What does this all mean?
Broadly speaking, a Ten Hag central midfield at Ajax has often involved one player progressing the ball from deep with vertical passes or ball carries. The other player tends to be the secure passer who regulates the pace at which the team plays. Ten Hag has been one of the more pragmatic Ajax managers in recent years and is not above having one of his holding midfielders perform as an auxiliary centre-back.
It is also important to note that a lot of Ajax’s work in holding midfield is supplemented by Daley Blind at left-back, who often moves into central areas and progresses the ball from deep with long passes. There is
just enough quality from
Luke Shaw and
Harry Maguire to suggest this can be replicated in aggregate at United if Ten Hag has enough training time.
What players will United have in central midfield next season?
Paul Pogba’s contract expires in June and he is more likely than not going to leave on a free transfer this summer. Nemanja Matic has already voiced his intention to leave.
If — for some reason — United do not buy a central midfielder this summer they will have the following options:
Fred — a box-to-box shuttling midfielder who is good at winning the ball, but erratic at distributing it.
Scott McTominay — a player who has persisted in holding midfield, but looks better suited to an attacking box-to-box role.
And James Garner — who will be returning from a loan at
Nottingham Forest.
Garner’s progression at Forest is an interesting one. Normally one of the two deeper midfielders in a 3-4-1-2, he’s become more of a ball carrier and progressive passer during his two-year loan. The 21-year-old looks good enough to play for someone’s midfield in the Premier League next season but it remains to be seen with which team.
If — and this is a medium-sized if — Ten Hag wants to replicate the style of football he played at Ajax, any midfielder coming to United will need to have some of the following:
- The ability to retain possession when passing, to help Fred.
- The ability to mark space well, to help McTominay/Garner.
- The ability to pass progressively, to help with team build-up.
- The ability to win tackles, to help the defence, particularly in preventing counter-attacks.