A look at United’s midfield solutions this summer
A skilful, livewire who can conjure something out of nothing, Rodriguez will be available at around £8.9 million (€10 million). As an investment for the future, it looks like we have pulled another one out the bag but I do not think that this signing will affect the other big signings Sir Alex was talking about with two probably being in my previous post.
As stated in my previous post United appear to have tied up at most 3 signings (excluding Patito) but it means that Manchester United still need to improve in the area where we have been weakest this season, the center of midfield.
Away from home, we won the same amount of games as the relegated Blackpool and the 19th title arguably came because of our exceptional home form. Upon facing a team in the ‘Top 6’ away from Old Trafford we have 2 points from 15 available to show for it, with draws against Tottenham and Man City.
Whilst there were a plethora of reasons as to why we only managed to secure 2 points, I think we can look at the midfield especially being one of the main factors so that is where I will focus.
Luka Modric
Since his introduction into the Premier League for £16.5 million, Luka Modric has steadily grown into one of Spurs most coveted treasures. Considered to slight his adaptation to the English game has been phenomenal. This season he was voted the Fans’ Player of the Year, even though most critics were to busy praising Gareth Bale or Rafael van der Vaart.
His incredible technical ability, comfortability on the ball, playmaking prowess and trickery has United fans calling for representatives to thrash a deal for him. As seen under Ramos, he can do a job alongside a player who will sit and allow him to roam into spaces where he will be difficult to pick up.
Especially since his return from a broken leg late in 2009, the physical side of his game has improved greatly. His quality is very evident on the ball but will we have to change our shape to fit him in?
The 4-4-2 we play at the moment, is easily like a 4-4-1-1 or a 4-2-3-1 which means that even if we stuck with a 4-4-2, he can still be used as United have a notable fluidity in changing in formation.
A possible stumbling block in any attempt to sign Modric, is the what is called the ‘Levy Tax’. Manchester United have taken Carrick & Berbatov from Tottenham and it is more than evident with every transfer that Daniel Levy doesn’t like to sell to United without getting top dollar so it is a possibility that we will have to pay over the odds to get Modric in the Red shirt of United.
But a promising factor, is that the only other club which seems to be in for him is Chelsea, who are arch-rivals to Tottenham. So if it came down to it who would Levy rather sell to: United – Tottenham’s ‘parent club’ or Chelsea – their city rivals?
Wesley Sneijder
Having shown he was capable previously 2009/2010 was the season that Wesley Sneijder finally came to the fore front in terms of the world’s best players.
Sneijder formed part of the Ajax side that included the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Rafael van der Vaart and these young stars looked set to take the world by storm. All have experienced varying degrees of success but Sneijder particularly only began to received his due plaudits last season as he played an integral role in Inter Milan’s treble.
However, since the Special One left for sunny Madrid, his performances haven’t garnered the same amount of praise they once did but according to the papers he is still high on the Sir Alex’s list of transfer targets.
Coming from Ajax’s esteemed academy as expected his technical ability is brilliant. He possess a fearsome shot, his passing range is excellent and is proficient with both feet having recently gone on record to say he doesn’t know which foot is stronger out of his left or right.
No doubt, Sneijder is quality but I don’t see his signing as a replacement for the retired Ginger Prince, Paul Scholes.
Sneijder does possess the ability to play in the deep-lying playmaker role but at risk of cutting out a vital part of his game where he schemes in front of the opposition defence.
Sneijder operates best as an attacking midfielder in the hole as such, a role that Rooney came to life in, in the later part of this season. So how will it impact the team? Will Rooney be pushed back up top and Hernandez dropped to the bench after a stellar first season? I doubt it.
If I was to choose on the basis of what was just discussed, I would choose Luka Modric because he will give us a different dimension to what we have now. Snejider is a great player but he would operate best in a three man midfield which doesn’t look like the way forward for United right now.
This piece is the second of a series taken from new United blog ‘Expertise On United‘