lob-sided?

I tend to agree that it's central midfield and fullbacks that need strengthening. Also with Fabio and Fryers going out on loan next year, there is no real competition for LB and Evra hasn't been at his highest level unfortunately.

If we were only given the choice to strengthen one aspect of our whole team, I would without question strengthen the midfield.

Scholes and Michael Carrick have done a phenomenal job, considering both of them are great passers, one can control a tempo of a game and dictate the play with simple free will, while the other breaks down play protects the back four, but also has a quality eye for a pass two. However, both unfortunately can't now grab a game by it's throat, and neither are able to help out so much in attack anymore.

The game against City was always going to be 5 midfielders, yet when we needed to go 4-4-2 the only thing I was dreading, was getting run over by Yaya Toure. We've played with 5 midfielders a lot this season, if you include Rooney always slotting back in most games and it has just been a cover up to the inevitable point. Playing with 2 midfielders central is asking for us to get over-run and inviting pressure on to us.

We do need a defensive powerful midfielder and an attacking midfielder. I don't care when people start saying, 'If we get someone attacking he'll get in Wayne Rooneys way'. - Well guess what, he's a striker, his job is to score goals which he's doing just fine, and did exceptionally fine when he played a whole season up top on his own.

CM should be (IMO) the first position we address, but will SAF simply ask Scholes to sign another contract? Giggs has recently signed another year, so I think Scholes might be next.

Berbatov is going. So we'll need someone to replace him. Not sure about what's going on with Owen, he's recently got his coaching badges and did post a tweet a few months ago asking if any clubs were looking for a player manager.

Cover for our defenders would be good, but the CM should be priority and I think we need to bring in a couple of players for that position, not just the one.

Then again, how highly does SAF rate Cleverley and Pogba?

CM

Great article.

In order of preference IMO:

A more defensive minded midfielder. Someone who has a bit of bite, can hassle and harry and can tackle and break up play.

A deep-lying playmaker or a more offensive minded midfielder who likes getting forward and who's good on the ball. Someone who can retain possession and get out of tight situations when put under pressure. It would also be an advantage if this player had defensive skills as well.

A left back but IMO a full-back who is comfortable on either side would be extremely useful. It's a pity there aren't many players like Phillip Lahm out there. Marcel Schmelzer, Dortmund's left back who's 24 would be a very good signing I think.

Lastly a powerful striker who can hold up the ball more effectively than any of our other strikers but a striker who's also comfortable with the ball at his feet. Someone who could provide us with a bigger threat from set pieces.

comment by darkphoenix87 (U11503)
posted 11 minutes ago
If we were only given the choice to strengthen one aspect of our whole team, I would without question strengthen the midfield.
_______

To you and the others, I didn't mean you could only pick one position, you can pick as many as you like, I'm just saying the priorities for this window.

You may think we need a CM 1st, then a RB, then a LB then a CB all in this window, i dont mean just pick the most important position only.

Maybe I haven't written it clearly in the OP

Thanks TRS that's exactly what I was after

Little Pea you were clear as day, bar your 'lob-sided' approach

BTW TRS I agree totally with your CM analysis, but it's interesting with the exception of Strootman (who I think would be perfect) we arent being linked with those type of players. They are more the Hazard, Kagawa, Gaitan types.

Ah Pride of the North, good point The annoying thing the damn american spell checker changed that!

How is lob-sided in it's dictionary!!?

there's a lot of weird spellings in the American dictionary good article though

I know. We're being linked with attacking players who play on the wing or behind the main striker. Luxury players basically but players who would still prove to be very good signings.

Up front I'm not too concerned. Welbeck has surprised me and is linking up well with Rooney, he just needs to be a bit more clinical. Chicharito has had a poor second season - constantly offside, but he is a natural finisher and should come good. I'd like to see Berbatov stay, but that isn't happening.

I think we are okay in central defence with Vidic coming back, Rio managing to stay pretty much injury free and Evans stepping up and performing admirably. Plus we have Jones and Smalling, who look to be the real deal. But at full back, I do worry. Rafael, while good going forward is all too often found wanting defensively, while Evra has been on the decline since the World Cup. We have been linked with Leighton Baines and I don't think that would be a bad signing.

Our midfield though, is in need of major surgery!!

Giggs has been one of our greatest servants, but he is clearly past his best. Scholes is a genius, but at 37 he is not a long solution and we should have been grooming a replacement long ago, not bringing him out of retirement to shore up our shaky midfield. Ji Sung Park used to be a reliable presence for the big games, but he has lost it and can barely stay on his feet anymore. Cleverly has shown bags of potential, but looks to be constant sick note. Anderson has had plenty of chances and has all too often flattered to decieve; if he is to remain at the club, he needs a big season. The biggest tragedy of all is Fletcher, I doubt he will ever be able to truly recover from his illness. We need AT LEAST two midfield signings.

For me, it isn't about positions but what types of player we are missing.

I think we need a flexible attacking midfielder, who can play on the left, or in the middle especially. Somebody who is agile, good on the ball and commits players and can play a tricky pass. A Kagawa/ Hazard. Nasri type. People say we have enough wingers, but for me, 3 players in 2 positions over a 50 game season, isn't enough.

A central midfielder - preferably somebody strong, fit and can keep the ball. A Toure/ Felleni. M'Vila type.

A young left back – Somebody to prove both cover and competition to Evra.

A striker – Assuming Berba leaves, we could do with a little experience up top imo, though Welbs is still the man to lead the line for me. Who? Not a clue.

A right back – Not vital, but we still don’t have anybody who has that position nailed down, there are huge question marks over Jones and Rafael, and Smalling is too good a centre half. Though with Vidic coming back, Rio and Evans all a natual centre half, he will probably be shifted to rb again this season.

Fair enough comments BusbyBabes, but I would say Jones isn't a right back so I think he should be cut some slack, especially as he was defensively sound v City and he's simply covered the position in his debut season as a teenager to help the club with injuries or Rafael's lack of form, as has Smalling. I agree if SAF does nothing with that position that Smalling will probably play there either ahead of Rafael or as cover.

However as you know I think we need a stronger RB as one of the worlds top clubs competing at the business end of the season in multiple competitions, and certainly not just have one specialist rb in the whole squad, especially when SAF clearly didnt trust that specialist in our biggest game of the season.

The Wonderfully Sweet Little Pea

Sorry, I did mean there are questions about Jones at right back, not in general, I think he could be a very godo player for us. Bit of a funny one though, seems to play better when acting on instinct, as do Roney and Nani.

A new rb, lb would be ideal, depends on the funds we have I suppose.

Yeah def relies on funds mate, that's why I was interested in the peoples priorities re positions this window.

I don't mind whether any of the improvements are through promoting young players or signings, though on the whole I think both will happen over the next couple of years.

CM - I think we can pretty muchall agree on this. A destroyer in the Tiote mould (though not necessarily him) could go alongside Carrick and make us solid when we need to be. Possibly a deep lying playmaker like Modric or Sahin (for EXAMPLE) - Cleverley plays this role, and I'd be happy with him if he can stay fit.

LB - if Fabio and Fryers are going out on loan, Evra will need competition (or replacement - he's not been playing well for some time).

Then possibly a striker and experienced RB as backup to Rafael. Though these aren't essential in my opinion.

A Kagawa/Götze/Mata style player would help, but to play in our current system a winger, Rooney or Welbeck would have to be dropped.

I would be more then happy with youth promotions, but it looks like a lot are going on loan next year.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

"I've seen a lot of the Dutchman and I'm surprised more isn't spoken of him."

I don't think many people have actually seen him play. I hadn't even heard of him until we were linked to him earlier this season. He's also not very good on FIFA, so the plastics won't have raved about him.

As for those other CM options you suggested - Modric and Khedira. I think they are the type of player we should be looking for in midfield. A destroyer to be backup to Carrick or go alongside him when we need to be solid. And a deep lying playmaker who can make things happen on the pitch.

I like Modric. I think he'd be an improvement on what we have, but not such a large improvement to warrant £30m+. He'd slot into our team nicely. Khedira is a good player, but if I'm honest I think Diarra is better.

Yep true, although Strootman's been upgraded in Football Manager so opinions will change

I've seen him a few times live including in Holland and he's really very good indeed. Has such a sweet left foot. Good pedigree as well in terms of playing at every international level for Holland. I'd be surprised if us being linked with him has any basis in fact though, but he would be a very good signing imo.

I also agree re Modric, but I can see why people have concerns giving the price is prohibitive and doesnt represent value in any way, but he would definitely slot in well imo.