i don't think we will sign one but i hope we do

what happened to the Portuguese tramp

Moutino -could be the long term answer (improvement??) to scholes - can pass well and tackle!
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Improvement? I think replacement is a huge stretch to be honest.

every time we're linked with someone their percieved ability seems to spiral out of control. didnt hear anyone raving about mountihnio a few weeks ago

i say improvement optimistically! lol a 2/3 years down the line..a few seaons with top coaches, feeling the premiership way and developing his game..i'm not expecting anyone to walk into our team and hi the ground running

It shouldnt be overly hard to replace a 37 if anyone's truly honest, even if it's one who is not as strong in the passing department.

Dembele was good for Fulham last year, he reminded me of Scholes in the way he kept the ball and moved it on. He is a converted Number 10 into a CM, like Scholes again.

Stretty - #FreeLuka (U3123)
posted 8 minutes ago
It shouldnt be overly hard to replace a 37 if anyone's truly honest, even if it's one who is not as strong in the passing department.
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I have to disagree, even this season he provided our midfield with a calmness and quality we lacked prior to his return.

He still dictates the tempo in most of the games he plays. Only the likes of Xavi and Pirlo are as good, they are few and far between.

The thing is though, we will rarely go up against a team that has a midfielder that has the ability to dictate a game in the way xavi etc can.

But we will have a lot of players against us who are good on the ball, can play a bit and make things happen.

As I say, we can get a quality CM in, but it will have to be one with different qualities to scholes, but as I say at 37 that doesnt mean it will be any less a player, just a different player and one that can on the whole offer us more.

I have to disagree, even this season he provided our midfield with a calmness and quality we lacked prior to his return.

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But only for about an hour, and then he really struggled.

Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 13 minutes ago
I have to disagree, even this season he provided our midfield with a calmness and quality we lacked prior to his return.

.....................

But only for about an hour, and then he really struggled.
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As did the team. He clearly is not what he was, but in the last 5 or 6 years he has developed into a real play maker, which we clearly missed until his return.

I think there was just a lack of mobility pairing Scholes with Carrick, which was clear to see vs Spurs.

Interesting bleacher's report. I have not heard off a couple of those listed there.

Scholes is quite frankly a liability and despite his impressive exploits last season, we 'desperately' need reinforcements.

Scholes is quite frankly a liability

Might i remind you what a liabilty means according to my lexicon?

I am a massive fan of Scholes, he is a legend but on balance it is time to move on.

People salivate about his cameo last season forget a few key things: he struggled to be effective past 60 mins and he only played about half a season.
Now he has a full season, do you honestly think he would be as effective? not to mention a year older, possible injuries and fitness worries et al

And welcome to the site

He's getting pretty old, and the old grey mare ain't what she used to be...but please please don't knock the man...was and still is a great player and alegend to boot...age catches all of us, but he ain't done yet although no longer a superduderstar!

So what type of midfielder do you guys think we need. Someone who can dictate play or someone who breaks things up?

I don't think anyone with any sense can knock scholes.. World class, legend, professional. A football role model.
But
At 37 he gets tired about 60 mins in and then makes rash decisions.
I don't think anyone we buy can/will replace him. Plus with carrick being a midfield regular we need someone with energy, toughness, an ability to push forward and off course masterful passing.
It's a question of who shows promise in those...who can be developed ?!?

i think strootman would be good as he can pass well and breaks up play with ease

In one word Goetze! But he is not available.
So realistically settle for this...
DeGea
Rafael Vidic Rio Evra
Carrick Dembele
Valencia Kagawa Nani
Rooney

so no Modric,Moura,Moutino... Wellbeck/Hernadez to come in..likewise Ashley young on the wing...
Midfield Giggs,Scholes,Cleverley,Powell,Petrucci(?)
Defence Evans,Smalling,Jones,Keane(?)
out: Anderson,Berba,Macheda
Fletch..who knows ???
Baines possibly ??

Goetze is essentially Kagawa's role so i dont see that being a feasible or needed signing.

we also need a new big game player now park has gone

Bleacher reports not highly regarded but I dont mind reading articles about players I never heard of- like joe Allen, wouldnt mind a signing in that vein

Red Connoisseur... not so really as they both played together in Dortmund team. Maybe a little lightweight the two of them. Do you think we need a Tiote type player then. SAF does not like destroyer types though. I think Rooney and the fact we play two wingers in a way creates a problem as I do think we need 5 across the middle in the biggest games with attacking options from midfield. After all Barca,Spain and top teams play this way. It's possible we don't need a CM at all but that relies on Carrick being consistently good and Cleverley doing the business too. What I guess we really need is a commanding midfield player really like De Rossi in his prime,Keano in his prime,Essien in his prime or dare I say it Yaya...

Anyone heard of anyone on the bleacher report link..
There's a couple that they say are very good.. The guy from swansea's stats are pretty damn good !