27 Jul 2013 22:36:36
Here's a couple of questions for all those who doubt the ability of Yohan Cabaye.

If the options were sign Cabaye or sign no one which would you choose?

And secondly who is available who is more suited than Cabaye? And I want you to consider all the factors here such as price, wages, availablity, playing style and ability, and there ability to be a success in the Premier league.

Awaiting your responses (especially you Nomidfield). {Ed004's Note - Cabaye but I would rather Modric, Fabregas, Marchisio, Vidal, Kroos, Gundogan, bender, Witsel, khedira, de Rossi, gustavo and Verratti}

1.) 27 Jul 2013
Cabaye isn't much better than Ando on a rare good day he would be a cheap mans option in my mind

2.) 27 Jul 2013
27 Jul 2013 23:55:00
Well Ed i'd say De Rossi, Khedira, Vidal, Bender, Gustavo and Witsel are a different kind of midfielder than Cabaye. These are your holding/defensive midfielders who we need but would be bought as well as a more creative player such as Cabaye.

As for the rest, Fabregas seems unavailable, Gundogan is certianly unavailable, Dortmund have ruled out selling anymore key players and he has pledged his future to the club for another year at least. Modric was wanted by Ancelotti during his time at Chelsea and PSG, he will not be selling him now he has him at Real Madrid. Marchisio is at his home town club and is a local hero, he has no intention of leaving and Juve have no intention in selling. That leaves Verratti, he looks the most achivable of those you've mentioned. Although you could argue that he is more a deep lying playmaker and the others are more forward moving playmakers. But he would cost at least 25m if not more, and he is messing PSG around atm because he wants more money less than a year after he signed for them. Which isn't a good sign. Then you need to ask whether he'll settle in England and whether he can adapt to the league (i'm sure he would, but there is a chance he couldn't). {Ed004's Note - Firstly I know the that I suggested different styles of midfielders but I would just give Carrick more freedom and this offer us a more defensive structure then next summer sign a Carrick replacement and Verratti is on a very low wage I think I remember it being under 1 million a year so I can understand why he wants more}

3.) 28 Jul 2013
How about Thiago who we could of signed for £22m if we had pulled our finger out our arses?

AFC

4.) 28 Jul 2013
You can throw Ozil in there too, Isco would of been another option

5.) 28 Jul 2013
28 Jul 2013 00:47:47
ozil. wouldn't cost much more and as you said shappy, ancellotti is a fan of modric so where does that leave ozil? Just a thought. Preference is modric as proven in PL, but there's no doubting ozil ability, just annoyed we didn't get him when we could have.

6.) 28 Jul 2013
We could not get Ozil because he was set on going to Madrid and has stated many times as recent as a few months ago that he would reject a move away from Madrid and loves the place.

Shahram

7.) 28 Jul 2013
28 Jul 2013 08:52:38
Ozil and Isco could be alternatives but I would argue that they play more in a No. 10 role rather than deeper in the heart of midfield. Thiago would have been perfect but for some reason we decided not to go for him, either way even if we did he'd have still chosen to go to Bayern and play for his "second father" Pep. Either way he is no longer available.

The only player I can think of who plays in a similar way to Fabregas, Gundogan and Cabaye who may be available is Koke. But he is young and would take time to adapt to the Premier league, also Atletico Madrid have a habit of only selling their players for top dollar. Nearly 20m for DDG, and with Falcao's recent move to Monaco they aren't in need of the money.

Personally due to who is available this summer and our needs. If we can't get Fabregas then we need to settle for Cabaye. He's Prem proven, at his peak and will be able to make in instant impact. We would still need someone like Gustavo to come in as well.

So this summer if we signed Cabaye and Gustavo to play with Carrick and Cleverley, then we would then have options and competition in the middle again. I'd keep Anderson and give Fletcher another year. Then next summer if Anderson has reverted to type and sadly Fletcher is unable to recover then I would look at bringing a young talented player with world class potential into the squad to improve competition and to be Carricks long term replacement. For me it would be either Koke or Verratti.

8.) 28 Jul 2013
Or, AFC, we could have spent an age chasing Thiago only for him to decide to join the European Champions and his former manager and mentor anyway.

9.) 28 Jul 2013
Pardoe

Cabaye no better than Ando on a good day?

That has to be the worst statement I have read in a long time. I genuinely think you mean a different player. We are talking about Yohan Cabaye the French national team starter that's the heartbeat of a premier league team that had the BEST season long stats of all the CMers in the league in his first year and you think that's only as good as Ando?

Jesus! You must be a massive Ando fan.

10.) 28 Jul 2013
Jono, I bet Andersons stats would be a lot better if he spent his first season at Newcastle rather than united (injury free)

11.) 28 Jul 2013
Shappy
I think the other posters got to answer before me. Cabaye is not a bad player, he's just not the quality we're looking for. Do you see any of the leading teams going in for him? No? Well there's your answer.
The only thing I agree with though, is that he'll be an improvement on Anderson, but that's not difficult, is it?
Nomidfueld

12.) 28 Jul 2013
NoMidfield - Nobody is in for him because they already have quality centre mids, also are PSG not interested in him? Starting for France isn't enough?