True but do you think we need all 3 CMs to help out defensively? Seems maybe a tad excessive.
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Perhaps it is but I like the balance and strength of a midfield consisting of Herrera and Morgan and one of Carrick and Bastian.
----------------------------------------------
It's crazy after years of moaning about a lack of midfield that it is now probably our strongest area. But saying that Morgan and Bastian still have to prove their worth at the club but I'm confident they will, especially Morgan.
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There never seems to be a happy medium. For a good few years now we've had one or two areas significantly stronger than the others.
LvG never seems to give a mention to Herrera, worries me a bit.
Think him and Mata were excellent down the right, at times last season.
comment by The Red Side™ (U11275)
posted 28 minutes ago
Guillem Balague @GuillemBalague 5h5 hours ago
On Pedro: LE says he will only leave if United pays the buy out clause, but a source at FCB admits something is "being cooked"....
Guillem Balague @GuillemBalague 3h3 hours ago
The di Maria deal to PSG was all done and dusted yesterday in Paris.
Guillem Balague @GuillemBalague 3h3 hours ago
The di Maria deal agreed with PSG yesterday is for a €63m fee (£44.2m)
And before anyone scoffs, Balague was undeniably the first to break the news of Di Maria's move to United. I assume he has ties with people close to Di Maria.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
At least its not £28m
LvG never seems to give a mention to Herrera, worries me a bit.
------------------------------------------------
This.
2) Mata's lack of pace/physical presence worries me a bit when he is on the wing, but technically he is world class.
________________________________
That is more a worry in the centre, surely? Especially seeing as our right back is Darmain/ Valencia, two physical specimens.
"but I like the balance and strength of a midfield consisting of Herrera and Morgan and one of Carrick and Bastian."
Me too, I just feel sad that we are wasting such a talent in Mata.
2) Mata's lack of pace/physical presence worries me a bit when he is on the wing, but technically he is world class.
________________________________
That is more a worry in the centre, surely? Especially seeing as our right back is Darmain/ Valencia, two physical specimens.
Arab
Unfortunately I think what we've been playing on tour, is 4-3-3 in LvG's mind, or at least a variation of it, I consider it more 4-2-3-1 though. Instead of having one holding player, you have two and one primarily attacking midfielder. I prefer it the other way round tbh, like it was last season.
I hope there'll be personnel changes and a tweak to the shape before Spurs but I'm not sure either will happen.
But wingers that cut in with overlapping fullbacks can be incredibly effective.
_______________
Yes but it is only effective when defenders don't know what the attacker is going to do. If you were a FB you would just force Mata onto his right foot all day long because he ain't going to beat you for pace. At least with Young he can cut inside or go outside. Mata can only really go one way.
"Similarly Depay seems to play his most effective football cutting inside "
_______________
Yes but, like Young, he can cut inside or out which is unpredictable. Unlike Mata, he is also fast so there are a number of things he can do in that position. Mata can only really cut inside and pass the ball. I'm not convinced that is enough and it makes us lopsided.
I would prefer to see a more two footed player with pace out wide. Someone who can cut in or out, cross or dribble. Mata has fantastic technique but you know what he is going to do with the ball before he even receives it. I.e. cut inside and pass...That's all he can do and it is imo one of the reasons why we dont create enough.
How many assists did Mata manage last season and is that enough for a first choice creative midfield player? How many assists has Mata managed in preseason?
Most of our chances and goals come from the left side.
-------------------------De Gea------------------------
Darmian-----Smalling----Rojo/Jones-----Shaw
-----------Schneiderlin---Schweinsteiger---------
--------------------------Herrera------------------------
Mata----------------------------------------------Depay
--------------------------Rooney-------------------------
Yep,pretty much this with Schweinsteiger and Carrick being rotated alongside Morgan.
With a bit more mid power, I can see Mata featuring more this season.
Gotta be a positive.
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posted on 30/7/15
True but do you think we need all 3 CMs to help out defensively? Seems maybe a tad excessive.
------------------------------------------------
Perhaps it is but I like the balance and strength of a midfield consisting of Herrera and Morgan and one of Carrick and Bastian.
----------------------------------------------
It's crazy after years of moaning about a lack of midfield that it is now probably our strongest area. But saying that Morgan and Bastian still have to prove their worth at the club but I'm confident they will, especially Morgan.
-----------------------------------------------
There never seems to be a happy medium. For a good few years now we've had one or two areas significantly stronger than the others.
posted on 30/7/15
LvG never seems to give a mention to Herrera, worries me a bit.
Think him and Mata were excellent down the right, at times last season.
posted on 30/7/15
comment by The Red Side™ (U11275)
posted 28 minutes ago
Guillem Balague @GuillemBalague 5h5 hours ago
On Pedro: LE says he will only leave if United pays the buy out clause, but a source at FCB admits something is "being cooked"....
Guillem Balague @GuillemBalague 3h3 hours ago
The di Maria deal to PSG was all done and dusted yesterday in Paris.
Guillem Balague @GuillemBalague 3h3 hours ago
The di Maria deal agreed with PSG yesterday is for a €63m fee (£44.2m)
And before anyone scoffs, Balague was undeniably the first to break the news of Di Maria's move to United. I assume he has ties with people close to Di Maria.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
At least its not £28m
posted on 30/7/15
LvG never seems to give a mention to Herrera, worries me a bit.
------------------------------------------------
This.
posted on 30/7/15
2) Mata's lack of pace/physical presence worries me a bit when he is on the wing, but technically he is world class.
________________________________
That is more a worry in the centre, surely? Especially seeing as our right back is Darmain/ Valencia, two physical specimens.
posted on 30/7/15
"but I like the balance and strength of a midfield consisting of Herrera and Morgan and one of Carrick and Bastian."
Me too, I just feel sad that we are wasting such a talent in Mata.
posted on 30/7/15
2) Mata's lack of pace/physical presence worries me a bit when he is on the wing, but technically he is world class.
________________________________
That is more a worry in the centre, surely? Especially seeing as our right back is Darmain/ Valencia, two physical specimens.
posted on 30/7/15
Arab
Unfortunately I think what we've been playing on tour, is 4-3-3 in LvG's mind, or at least a variation of it, I consider it more 4-2-3-1 though. Instead of having one holding player, you have two and one primarily attacking midfielder. I prefer it the other way round tbh, like it was last season.
I hope there'll be personnel changes and a tweak to the shape before Spurs but I'm not sure either will happen.
posted on 30/7/15
But wingers that cut in with overlapping fullbacks can be incredibly effective.
_______________
Yes but it is only effective when defenders don't know what the attacker is going to do. If you were a FB you would just force Mata onto his right foot all day long because he ain't going to beat you for pace. At least with Young he can cut inside or go outside. Mata can only really go one way.
"Similarly Depay seems to play his most effective football cutting inside "
_______________
Yes but, like Young, he can cut inside or out which is unpredictable. Unlike Mata, he is also fast so there are a number of things he can do in that position. Mata can only really cut inside and pass the ball. I'm not convinced that is enough and it makes us lopsided.
I would prefer to see a more two footed player with pace out wide. Someone who can cut in or out, cross or dribble. Mata has fantastic technique but you know what he is going to do with the ball before he even receives it. I.e. cut inside and pass...That's all he can do and it is imo one of the reasons why we dont create enough.
How many assists did Mata manage last season and is that enough for a first choice creative midfield player? How many assists has Mata managed in preseason?
Most of our chances and goals come from the left side.
posted on 30/7/15
-------------------------De Gea------------------------
Darmian-----Smalling----Rojo/Jones-----Shaw
-----------Schneiderlin---Schweinsteiger---------
--------------------------Herrera------------------------
Mata----------------------------------------------Depay
--------------------------Rooney-------------------------
Yep,pretty much this with Schweinsteiger and Carrick being rotated alongside Morgan.
posted on 30/7/15
With a bit more mid power, I can see Mata featuring more this season.
Gotta be a positive.
Page 2 of 2