If there has been one thing that has been consistently clear this season it is that we have lacked the quality in central midfield to dominate games like we once did.
I believe it would be wrong to accuse United of lacking depth in the midfield, as I am sure Chelsea and others would be delighted to have the options of players like Fletcher, Anderson and to a lesser extent Carrick in their squads to give them a little more variety and options. But the issue is the quality.
All too often this season the team has simply been overrun in midfield and bar twenty minutes it was the same again on Sunday. Ignoring the fact that Fletcher didn’t start a game where you would expect him to at least add some energy and bite, it has become all too common a theme.
Whilst many have chosen to lay the blame on Gibson when we have performed badly this season, and I wouldn’t necessarily disagree with them (seeing as he is limited across his game), it should be noted it isn’t his fault he is getting picked. It is also not as if the names mentioned above have become rubbish overnight, they are still quality footballers but they require a little stardust next to them (something Scholes can’t do with the regularity of old).
We now need to bring in at least one quality midfielder, preferably box to box and all action. I know people called for Ozil in the summer and others will talk and talk about how we missed VDV, but as I have argued before I don’t believe they are the type of player we need. Too attack minded and would require us to change formation, unless they fancied slotting in on the left or were only used in a five man midfield away from home. But that is the past, they are gone.
There was one thing that has been overlooked is analysis of why there wasn’t any spending in the summer. I for one think it may have had a fair bit to do with Hargreaves and Anderson. Both men were coming back from long term injuries and I would guess that SAF did not want to demoralise either player with the purchase of an all action midfielder. Little was he to know that Hargreaves would relapse and Ando would struggle again with injuries and fitness issues. When considered in that light it makes sense, what didn’t was allowing Cleverly out on loan but that is another discussion.
Where it truly gets frustrating is in January when surely we could have picked up a midfielder to add bite and drive to the midfield, even if it was a stop gap loan. After the last week it becomes clear how needed this is. I think where January becomes complicated is with the performances of Pogba, Tuncliffe and Morrison in the reserves this year. All highly thought of, all have been playing well, and all 17/18, and banging on the door to play. But we know they won’t feature (much this season) however we can’t let them down by not giving them a chance, would new signings jeopardise this?
The press now have us down to buy Rodwell, Henderson, Ashley Young, and Modric. I can’t see that happening, none of them really bring what we need to the team. Surely a De Rossi (huge gamble) or a Defour (another gamble) are more suited?
This pic from @BeardedGenius sums it up for me:
All I do know is the last time I felt like this was in 2005/06 season when we were crying out for a new midfielder, except back then Chelsea were rather good and Arsenal had a little bottle. This time we might still just sneak home with a winner’s medal.
That summer we bought Michael Carrick and despite some initial doubts by most fans we all know what the next few seasons brought, here’s hoping.
Great article and good points through out. I too believe we need a midfielder with “bite” (not the Suarez kind of bite but the good kind) lol. I suggest possibly ashley Young so we would have a midfield of Nani, Fletcher, Young, and Valencia.(left to right) I don’t know it just seems the best option for now, however if we don’t mind being patient we can allow cleverly to come on through.
pastore?? if reports r 2 be believed! all i can say is bring on da wkend so we can demoralise da goons some more, hopefully after barca soften them up 1st 🙂
Players like Anderson, Fletcher and Park are good players, and can be squad players for Man.United. The others ??? I’m afraid to say that they are simply not good enough to play for us anymore.
Next season we should use Giggs as an experienced-player, and Giggsy should mainly come on as a Super-sub really. Players like VDS, Neville, and probably Scholes will retire. Above on that, SAF should get-rid of POOR players like Hargreves, Obertan, BEBE, Gibson, Owen, and Evans to make rooms for TOP CLASS or at least BETTER players, and young talented players from the youth to come in.
In midfield, it is true that, comparatively, players like Fletcher, Park, and Anderson (NOT Carrick I’m afraid) could give more variety and options for the clubs like Chelsea, Arsenal, City, or even Tottenham. However, they will hardly get into the starting-eleven I’m afraid. That’s simply because comparatively they are not good enough. Chelsea have Essien, Lampard and Malouda who all can be rated as top international class players, while Fabregas and Nasri are World Class players for the Gunners (Not to mention Wallcott and Wilshere). City do have Top rated players like Y.Toure and Silva, plus the presence of A.Johnson, Barry, J.Milsner who are all Eng.Int. Bale, Lennon, Modric, and VDV are all better value than our midfield. So, the fact is, it’s no point to keep on praising our players who infact they are not that good.
If SAF BRAVE enough to eliminate all POOR players who we cannot rely on when it’s needed, we then need to bring in at least 2 top class central midfielders next season to strengthen the squad. The first one is the commander who’s big, strong, aggressive, and can be the new leader like Keano. SAF may look at more experienced players and if the age is around 28 plus, it may not be too expensive.
The second one should be a creative midfielder who’s skillful and pacy, can produce some tricks or magic, good at penetration or killer pass, skillful, and can run with the ball. Players like Modric, and M.Marin (Bremen) should be brought into consideration.
For the winger, we MUST go for G.Bale as an UN-Misable. IT’S A MUST REALLY. This lad is a perfect replacement for Giggs. Bale is very quick, good at running with the ball, shooting and crossing, and he can defend very well. He’s young and have a great fighting spirit.
If we can add these 3 into our midfield (We can play 5 in midfield occasionally, or some may say we play 4-3-3 with Nani and Bale on both flanks), we will be untouchable again.
man united are getting exposed big time… Even Blackpool have won more away games. Players like Anderson, fletcher, carrick, oshea, are just second rate players and Rooney just ain’t all that, I’m sorry he’s a decent player but a bit to hyped for me also scholes and giggs would be more at home with a pair of old man smoking pipes and a warm blanket. They still have a good chance for the title tho. Arsena,l man for man are better, with the likes of nasri, wilshere cesc ,theo, van persie, song.. but they still need a big time striker and a defender, but it will be really close.
Sorry where is the creativity found in the central midfield? I’ve never seen Berbatov play as an attacking mid, and if anything you would have to reverse his and Rooney’s position on the pic based on how they’re actually playing. This pic to me looks like at 4-5-1 with Berba playing the “Gerrard” role which I’ve never witnessed.
People have said before that he should play as an attacking mid, but he does not have the pace to do so and is very much a number 9.
If Berbatov play, we have to go with 4-4-2. However, I think the most effective system for modern football nowadays is 4-3-3 or the system that some calls 4-5-1.
AGREE with most of GAZZARO commments. Many players at the club should be eliminated if they aren’t capable of producing top class football for the top team like Manchester United. Sell them and give chances for young talented like Pogba, Welbeck, etc. Then spend Big for real world class players.
My Dream team next season would be;
Rooney
Bale (Tottenham) Nani
E.Hazard (Lille)
S.Parker(westham) Anderson
Evra Vidic Ferdinand VanDerWiel(AJAX)
M.Neuer(Schalke04)
SUBS; Lindegaard, Smalling, Rafael, Fletcher, Park, Valencia, Berbatov.
IN :
M.Neuer (Schalke04)
G.Van Der Wiel (AJAX)
G.Bale (Tottenham)
S.Parker (Westham) (Experienced, Leader, Fighting)
E.Hazard (Lille)
OUT :
VDS (retire)
Kuszczak
Neville (retire)
Evans
Carrick
Scholes (retire)
Hargreves (retire)
Obertan
Bebe
M.Diouf
M.Owen
yes manure need to go back to what fergie does best and thats buy other teams top players,100 mill should be a start.its the only way fergie knows how to manage as your young players are useless.
Scotty parker is the solution…he does great things the Keano does.
We need to overhaul our central midfield since it is obvious that Carrick,Gibson,Bebe, Obertan & co will never be good enough to meet up with United’s ambitions.Bringing in the likes of Gareth Bale,Marko Marin & Samuel Baffour and augementing them with the Pogba & Cleverley will put an end to our persistent nightmares.
Some people really do panic.
We need a new keeper and 2 new central midfielders. Our defence is solid, with good depth, we have Nani, Valencia, Park and Giggs out wide and Fletcher, Carrick and Anderson would be good squad players to have. Up front, Rooney, Berbatov and Hernandez are 3 great strikers, with the prospect of Macheda and Welbeck.
3 signings in the summer and we’ll have no worries. No need for all the panic.