I think we can be guilty of over-egging how certain players might not fit together. These are professional players - centre midfielders in this case - playing to the highest levels of the game. We're not talking about Riquelme-style players either. Both Pogba and Fernandes are athletic and mobile.
Fernandes appears to be a harding working player. He also creates and scores a lot. The reality is that we're massively reliant on Pogba in that department and need someone in there to help him.
If the plan is to press higher up the pitch, I don't see an issue with Pogba and Fernandes working next to each other and a CDM holding in behind. It's one of the reasons that I'd like to see Tuanzebe tried at CDM. He has the pace, power and natural defensive instincts to anchor two more offensively minded players.
There are also tactical adjustments that can be made, such as tucking one of the FB's in a little more so that if we lose possession, we haven't ceded too much space in the middle.
United's scouting of Fernandes was well documented many, many months ago. I'm going to assume this was because he was intended to come into a midfield that contained Pogba.
I doubt we will start the season with both Pogba and Fernandes to be honest.
However, you'd like to think the more movement and forward runs around Pog the more you get out of him.
Fernandes looks like he doesn't mind hard work off the ball (based on youtube).
BK, yeah I agree with the over-egging thing.
It’d be nice to have a central midfielder that can take some of the attacking burden off of Pogba as well. It’d free hik up a bit not having so much attention on him from the opposition and he wouldn’t have to try and take so much responsibility to make things happen. That’s providing Fernandes can actually perform this season, of course.
I’m interested to see what happens with Fred this season. He has some good attributes that could prove useful to the team next season, hopefully he’ll be more settled this season and can start to have a more positive impact on games.
comment by Ed The King Woodward (U10026)
posted 21 minutes ago
If the midfield is strong despite not getting the best out of both it’s not the end of the world. It’s worth noting that if we so sign Fernandes we may not see the best out of him in his first season regardless and Pogba may leave next summer if he doesn’t this one. So the signing could be with an eye on getting Pogba’s replacement already settled at the club before he’s even left.
A year’s a long time in football so it’s hard to make projections. When we signed Fred most assumed he’d be in the starting 11 ahead of Herrera, now nobody even considers him in the squad.
And Lindelof went from being a joke to our best cb in the space of a year in the eyes of some, Bailly went the other way (neither have ever been our best cb I migjt add).
So we can’t be too quick to assume Fernandes will even walk into the midfield to play with Pogba as things stand.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Good points
comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 19 minutes ago
I think we can be guilty of over-egging how certain players might not fit together. These are professional players - centre midfielders in this case - playing to the highest levels of the game. We're not talking about Riquelme-style players either. Both Pogba and Fernandes are athletic and mobile.
Fernandes appears to be a harding working player. He also creates and scores a lot. The reality is that we're massively reliant on Pogba in that department and need someone in there to help him.
If the plan is to press higher up the pitch, I don't see an issue with Pogba and Fernandes working next to each other and a CDM holding in behind. It's one of the reasons that I'd like to see Tuanzebe tried at CDM. He has the pace, power and natural defensive instincts to anchor two more offensively minded players.
There are also tactical adjustments that can be made, such as tucking one of the FB's in a little more so that if we lose possession, we haven't ceded too much space in the middle.
United's scouting of Fernandes was well documented many, many months ago. I'm going to assume this was because he was intended to come into a midfield that contained Pogba.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Theoretically tenable, maybe, but you’d be seriously deep-ending Tuanzebe there.
comment by Ed The King Woodward (U10026)
posted 10 minutes ago
BK, yeah I agree with the over-egging thing.
It’d be nice to have a central midfielder that can take some of the attacking burden off of Pogba as well. It’d free hik up a bit not having so much attention on him from the opposition and he wouldn’t have to try and take so much responsibility to make things happen. That’s providing Fernandes can actually perform this season, of course.
I’m interested to see what happens with Fred this season. He has some good attributes that could prove useful to the team next season, hopefully he’ll be more settled this season and can start to have a more positive impact on games.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I wouldn’t be shocked to see Fred go out on loan.
Possibly in January if he’s still struggling. But we don’t tend to loan out our more expensive players, Depay is the only one and I think his attitude had a lot to do with that. I’ve not heard anything negative about Fred in this regard.
I don't have high hopes for Fred. He just doesn't seem to have much of a footballing brain, on or off the ball.
comment by Ed The King Woodward (U10026)
posted 2 minutes ago
Possibly in January if he’s still struggling. But we don’t tend to loan out our more expensive players, Depay is the only one and I think his attitude had a lot to do with that. I’ve not heard anything negative about Fred in this regard.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We’re going to have an issue with squad space if we don’t shift players though, Daz.
Assuming Tuanzebe joins the squad, we’re already oversubscribed.
We really need to shift Rojo and Darmian as a minimum from the defensive players. And if we bring another CB in, I'd also get shut of Jones.
Yes that’s true, but I suspect we’ll only bring in one midfielder so Fred will stay. I wouldn’t rule it out, of course. Possibly Pereira goes on loan also. We’ve got too many midfielders as things stand.
comment by Ed The King Woodward (U10026)
posted 25 minutes ago
BK, yeah I agree with the over-egging thing.
It’d be nice to have a central midfielder that can take some of the attacking burden off of Pogba as well. It’d free hik up a bit not having so much attention on him from the opposition and he wouldn’t have to try and take so much responsibility to make things happen. That’s providing Fernandes can actually perform this season, of course.
I’m interested to see what happens with Fred this season. He has some good attributes that could prove useful to the team next season, hopefully he’ll be more settled this season and can start to have a more positive impact on games.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I too was interested to see what Fred might bring. I'm on the record as to be very sceptical of him from very early on. To me, from what I'd seen, his faults were evident whilst at Shaktar and my hunch was we'd brought a dub. He did however show some promising signs towards the end of the season and his energy has always been good.
But it looks like he's not going to have much if any of a preseason and I think that will be crucial. If he was going to kick on, we'd need to see it over the summer.
Rumours of a loan move away don't sound far-fetched.
comment by Ed The King Woodward (U10026)
posted 8 minutes ago
Yes that’s true, but I suspect we’ll only bring in one midfielder so Fred will stay. I wouldn’t rule it out, of course. Possibly Pereira goes on loan also. We’ve got too many midfielders as things stand.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
One more midfielder in would leave us having to shift TFM and at least two from Jones, Rojo, Sanchez (who could be replaced by any combination of Gomes, Chong and Greenwood, none of whom will have to be registered) and a midfielder.
Lukaku would need replacing, clearly.
I thought it was obvious TFM won’t be a fixture in the squad. I think we’ll move a few defenders on and a midfielder as well.
I think we might be stuck with Sanchez as our back up striker should Lukaku leave. It’s going to be difficult to get rid of him because I don’t think clubs like Sunderland and Portsmouth can afford his wages.
Ravel Morrison is being offered a contract by Sheffield United. Maybe we should be in for him.
comment by Ed The King Woodward (U10026)
posted 14 minutes ago
I thought it was obvious TFM won’t be a fixture in the squad. I think we’ll move a few defenders on and a midfielder as well.
I think we might be stuck with Sanchez as our back up striker should Lukaku leave. It’s going to be difficult to get rid of him because I don’t think clubs like Sunderland and Portsmouth can afford his wages.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
and also
Erickson will go the way of Mata IMO.
Great player, but I think his legs will go before 30.
comment by Ed The King Woodward (U10026)
posted 6 minutes ago
Ravel Morrison is being offered a contract by Sheffield United. Maybe we should be in for him.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Would absolutely love to see the lad turn it around. A truly special talent. I give it 6 months max before he's out the door again or consigned to oblivion and not seen again.
It’d be funny if he gets the winner against West Ham. They hate Sheffield United enough as it is.
I keep reading that we should 'bin'so and so, get rid of deadwood, move players on.
Dead easy to say, but hard to do;
I very much doubt Spurs would let Eriksen sign for United.
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Should we be in for Eriksen?
Page 3 of 3
posted on 16/7/19
I think we can be guilty of over-egging how certain players might not fit together. These are professional players - centre midfielders in this case - playing to the highest levels of the game. We're not talking about Riquelme-style players either. Both Pogba and Fernandes are athletic and mobile.
Fernandes appears to be a harding working player. He also creates and scores a lot. The reality is that we're massively reliant on Pogba in that department and need someone in there to help him.
If the plan is to press higher up the pitch, I don't see an issue with Pogba and Fernandes working next to each other and a CDM holding in behind. It's one of the reasons that I'd like to see Tuanzebe tried at CDM. He has the pace, power and natural defensive instincts to anchor two more offensively minded players.
There are also tactical adjustments that can be made, such as tucking one of the FB's in a little more so that if we lose possession, we haven't ceded too much space in the middle.
United's scouting of Fernandes was well documented many, many months ago. I'm going to assume this was because he was intended to come into a midfield that contained Pogba.
posted on 16/7/19
I doubt we will start the season with both Pogba and Fernandes to be honest.
However, you'd like to think the more movement and forward runs around Pog the more you get out of him.
Fernandes looks like he doesn't mind hard work off the ball (based on youtube).
posted on 16/7/19
BK, yeah I agree with the over-egging thing.
It’d be nice to have a central midfielder that can take some of the attacking burden off of Pogba as well. It’d free hik up a bit not having so much attention on him from the opposition and he wouldn’t have to try and take so much responsibility to make things happen. That’s providing Fernandes can actually perform this season, of course.
I’m interested to see what happens with Fred this season. He has some good attributes that could prove useful to the team next season, hopefully he’ll be more settled this season and can start to have a more positive impact on games.
posted on 16/7/19
comment by Ed The King Woodward (U10026)
posted 21 minutes ago
If the midfield is strong despite not getting the best out of both it’s not the end of the world. It’s worth noting that if we so sign Fernandes we may not see the best out of him in his first season regardless and Pogba may leave next summer if he doesn’t this one. So the signing could be with an eye on getting Pogba’s replacement already settled at the club before he’s even left.
A year’s a long time in football so it’s hard to make projections. When we signed Fred most assumed he’d be in the starting 11 ahead of Herrera, now nobody even considers him in the squad.
And Lindelof went from being a joke to our best cb in the space of a year in the eyes of some, Bailly went the other way (neither have ever been our best cb I migjt add).
So we can’t be too quick to assume Fernandes will even walk into the midfield to play with Pogba as things stand.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Good points
posted on 16/7/19
comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 19 minutes ago
I think we can be guilty of over-egging how certain players might not fit together. These are professional players - centre midfielders in this case - playing to the highest levels of the game. We're not talking about Riquelme-style players either. Both Pogba and Fernandes are athletic and mobile.
Fernandes appears to be a harding working player. He also creates and scores a lot. The reality is that we're massively reliant on Pogba in that department and need someone in there to help him.
If the plan is to press higher up the pitch, I don't see an issue with Pogba and Fernandes working next to each other and a CDM holding in behind. It's one of the reasons that I'd like to see Tuanzebe tried at CDM. He has the pace, power and natural defensive instincts to anchor two more offensively minded players.
There are also tactical adjustments that can be made, such as tucking one of the FB's in a little more so that if we lose possession, we haven't ceded too much space in the middle.
United's scouting of Fernandes was well documented many, many months ago. I'm going to assume this was because he was intended to come into a midfield that contained Pogba.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Theoretically tenable, maybe, but you’d be seriously deep-ending Tuanzebe there.
posted on 16/7/19
comment by Ed The King Woodward (U10026)
posted 10 minutes ago
BK, yeah I agree with the over-egging thing.
It’d be nice to have a central midfielder that can take some of the attacking burden off of Pogba as well. It’d free hik up a bit not having so much attention on him from the opposition and he wouldn’t have to try and take so much responsibility to make things happen. That’s providing Fernandes can actually perform this season, of course.
I’m interested to see what happens with Fred this season. He has some good attributes that could prove useful to the team next season, hopefully he’ll be more settled this season and can start to have a more positive impact on games.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I wouldn’t be shocked to see Fred go out on loan.
posted on 16/7/19
Possibly in January if he’s still struggling. But we don’t tend to loan out our more expensive players, Depay is the only one and I think his attitude had a lot to do with that. I’ve not heard anything negative about Fred in this regard.
posted on 16/7/19
I don't have high hopes for Fred. He just doesn't seem to have much of a footballing brain, on or off the ball.
posted on 16/7/19
comment by Ed The King Woodward (U10026)
posted 2 minutes ago
Possibly in January if he’s still struggling. But we don’t tend to loan out our more expensive players, Depay is the only one and I think his attitude had a lot to do with that. I’ve not heard anything negative about Fred in this regard.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We’re going to have an issue with squad space if we don’t shift players though, Daz.
Assuming Tuanzebe joins the squad, we’re already oversubscribed.
posted on 16/7/19
We really need to shift Rojo and Darmian as a minimum from the defensive players. And if we bring another CB in, I'd also get shut of Jones.
posted on 16/7/19
Yes that’s true, but I suspect we’ll only bring in one midfielder so Fred will stay. I wouldn’t rule it out, of course. Possibly Pereira goes on loan also. We’ve got too many midfielders as things stand.
posted on 16/7/19
comment by Ed The King Woodward (U10026)
posted 25 minutes ago
BK, yeah I agree with the over-egging thing.
It’d be nice to have a central midfielder that can take some of the attacking burden off of Pogba as well. It’d free hik up a bit not having so much attention on him from the opposition and he wouldn’t have to try and take so much responsibility to make things happen. That’s providing Fernandes can actually perform this season, of course.
I’m interested to see what happens with Fred this season. He has some good attributes that could prove useful to the team next season, hopefully he’ll be more settled this season and can start to have a more positive impact on games.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I too was interested to see what Fred might bring. I'm on the record as to be very sceptical of him from very early on. To me, from what I'd seen, his faults were evident whilst at Shaktar and my hunch was we'd brought a dub. He did however show some promising signs towards the end of the season and his energy has always been good.
But it looks like he's not going to have much if any of a preseason and I think that will be crucial. If he was going to kick on, we'd need to see it over the summer.
Rumours of a loan move away don't sound far-fetched.
posted on 16/7/19
comment by Ed The King Woodward (U10026)
posted 8 minutes ago
Yes that’s true, but I suspect we’ll only bring in one midfielder so Fred will stay. I wouldn’t rule it out, of course. Possibly Pereira goes on loan also. We’ve got too many midfielders as things stand.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
One more midfielder in would leave us having to shift TFM and at least two from Jones, Rojo, Sanchez (who could be replaced by any combination of Gomes, Chong and Greenwood, none of whom will have to be registered) and a midfielder.
Lukaku would need replacing, clearly.
posted on 16/7/19
I thought it was obvious TFM won’t be a fixture in the squad. I think we’ll move a few defenders on and a midfielder as well.
I think we might be stuck with Sanchez as our back up striker should Lukaku leave. It’s going to be difficult to get rid of him because I don’t think clubs like Sunderland and Portsmouth can afford his wages.
posted on 16/7/19
Ravel Morrison is being offered a contract by Sheffield United. Maybe we should be in for him.
posted on 16/7/19
comment by Ed The King Woodward (U10026)
posted 14 minutes ago
I thought it was obvious TFM won’t be a fixture in the squad. I think we’ll move a few defenders on and a midfielder as well.
I think we might be stuck with Sanchez as our back up striker should Lukaku leave. It’s going to be difficult to get rid of him because I don’t think clubs like Sunderland and Portsmouth can afford his wages.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
and also
posted on 16/7/19
Erickson will go the way of Mata IMO.
Great player, but I think his legs will go before 30.
posted on 16/7/19
comment by Ed The King Woodward (U10026)
posted 6 minutes ago
Ravel Morrison is being offered a contract by Sheffield United. Maybe we should be in for him.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Would absolutely love to see the lad turn it around. A truly special talent. I give it 6 months max before he's out the door again or consigned to oblivion and not seen again.
posted on 16/7/19
It’d be funny if he gets the winner against West Ham. They hate Sheffield United enough as it is.
posted on 16/7/19
I keep reading that we should 'bin'so and so, get rid of deadwood, move players on.
Dead easy to say, but hard to do;
posted on 17/7/19
I very much doubt Spurs would let Eriksen sign for United.
Page 3 of 3