28 Jan 2018 08:22:30
Speculation about as to who will replace Carrick and Fellaini in midfield
Jorginho being talked about in the papers - who do you guys think are good fits?


1.) 28 Jan 2018
28 Jan 2018 09:23:00
I think a CM who can drop deep and be considered a playmaker is the most important signing we could make this summer. While we may sign players who are better than the player we sign for this role, I feel it gives us a different option hence it's importance. For me we will see Fellaini, Mata and Herrera go as well as Carrick.

Having someone who is similar to Michael Carrick in that they control the game through their passing would give us a huge amount of options in midfield. At the moment we tend to play 4231 or 433. When we play 433 it's Pogba, Matic and another. However, with Carrick not there we will not have a player who pick the ball up from the CB's and get the attack started or seemingly be always available for a pass. Jorginho is very good at this and would be a good signing. We can use 4231 against weaker sides as we don't need so much midfield protection.

Getting a player like this means we can change our midfield personnel to be more suited to each opponent rather than asking our current players to change their role from game to game. We're currently seeing Pogba trying to do it all in that he is picking the ball up from the CB's a lot but also is our most creative player going forward. Take away the need for him to be our playmaker from deep as well as an attacking threat and just let him play higher up the pitch. Matic is also doing this but against the best teams it is clear he is not a playmaker and his primary role should be to protect the back four and intercept.

If we sign Jorginho and Milinkovic (ideally even though we are looking at a lot of money for both) we would then have 4 quality CM's to choose from to fit 3 positions if we play 433 which in my opinion is our best formation. Each of these players offer something different to the other as Milinkovic while being big and physical is not a defensive midfielder. He is fairly unique in a similar way to Pogba in that despite his size and physicality he is a great dribbler. He's also a big goalscoring threat arriving late into the box which I wouldn't want to see stifled by playing him deeper.

I don't believe we would need a replacement for Herrera as we have Fosu Mensah who should be a squad player next season to cover full back and defensive midfield and Pereira coming back who should get some game time as as 10, wide forward in the same role as Mata or CM. Again they offer some different qualities to those above.


2.) 28 Jan 2018
28 Jan 2018 09:51:37
Watched a 10 min YouTube clip of milinkovic which I appreciate is only a highlights package but I couldn't help but be impressed. Two footed skilful he immediately reminded me of de bruyne in the way he ran with the ball. Yes he would cost a lot but at 22 he is the sort of player that we should be in the mix for.


3.) 28 Jan 2018
28 Jan 2018 10:39:17
There's continuing rumours about Serri too.


4.) 28 Jan 2018
28 Jan 2018 12:00:17
Julian Weigl would be the perfect signing: comfortable in front of back 4, great passer, especially out to the wings and seems to have temperament to succeed.


5.) 28 Jan 2018
28 Jan 2018 12:18:23
Weigl, Jorginho it Dendoncker would be brilliant replacements for Carrick and would give great cover/ competition to Matic.

I agree a 433 is our best option going forward as it is best for Pogba. Milonkovic-Savic would be phenomenal but wouldn’t refuse a Toni Kross or even Fabregas signing for that position.

Matic, Pogba plus two more along with Herrera and Pereira would be comfortable. Lingard gives us the option of playing a 10 at times if we want and obviously Sanchez can play there too. Letting Mata go would also mean more chances for Gomes as a 10 next season.

So 2 midfielders, a top CB, replace Zlatan with a Fox in the box type and we’re laughing. Add to this TFM for RB, Tuanzebe for CB, Pereira for CM and Gomes for 10 and we’d have a squad with a fantastic mix of youth/ experience, with players able to play different styles and systems. Offload Darmian, Smalling, Jones, Fellaini and Mata along with Carrick and Zlatan. Fantasy Football stuff perhaps 🙈.


6.) 28 Jan 2018
28 Jan 2018 13:38:18
Offload Jones and Smalling? Don't see that happening.


7.) 28 Jan 2018
28 Jan 2018 14:27:50
Weigl looks a decent player, but our recent track record in buying players from the Bundesliga wouldn't exactly fill me with confidence.


8.) 28 Jan 2018
28 Jan 2018 22:38:20
Ndidi at Leicester?