It's curious (with the caveat that media gossip can and does mislead) that while we're being linked heavily with midfielders, so far none of them fit the profile of the specialist defensive ball winner that I guess many of us assumed Ten Hag would want. Frenkie, Eriksen, Tielemans (no typo this time) who has been linked today are all players associated more with their ability to retain and progress the ball, rather than winning it back and covering a huge amount of defensive space. Even Lisandro Martinez, the Ajax centre back who could easily play in DM, is highly valued for his ability on the ball, to take the ball on the turn, and to break the lines with passing.
So if ETH isn't looking to bring in a destroyer, why might this be? Possible explanations:
1) There was another article this morning (which I have to say was quite excellent https://www.ja606.co.uk/articles/viewArticle/446120) which observed that Ten Hag "is not wedded to a particular shape (double pivot or single DM with two 8s) but rather focuses on having the right blend of attributes across the midfield and good chemistry between the selected players." We've seen that the distribution of defensive / attacking responsibilities between players can vary depending on what players he has at his disposal and what they are good at. So it could well be that he elects to go without a primary ball-winner and instead has two or three midfielders who are all above all very good footballers, and have the discipline, diligence and intelligence to share the defensive responsibilities between them, within the broader framework of a compact team shape.
2) De Jominay / Frong. Could also be that Ten Hag has identified that hard work wasn't the main thing lacking in United's midfield, but that McT (cautious positioning) and Fred (showing for the ball but unreliable passing) weren't suited to the responsibility of ball progression from deep. Put one (or both!) of them next to De Jong and they'll run all day to close down space and to buy FDJ extra time on the ball. In this scenario, the midfield has plenty of legs but it's one injury to Frenkie away from losing its imagination and passing ability.
In reality I suspect there's an element of both here. A midfield squad that adds FDJ + and one more player who is press resistant and able to pass between the lines gives us some depth of cover if we want to play with one designated deep lying creator plus more industrious partners. It also gives us a range of tactical options on a scale from creative total football to more pragmatic blends.
Midfield next season
posted on 1/7/22
50%, RR. Hannibal becoming amazing is a hill and willing to die on.
posted on 1/7/22
*I’m
posted on 1/7/22
Thanks. So you really think there's a chance he could become the Maghreb Masopust?
posted on 1/7/22
The Carthaginian Cesc.
posted on 1/7/22
The Harissa Gullit.
posted on 1/7/22
The Moroccan Moses?
posted on 1/7/22
comment by Boudewijn Pahlplatz (U15867)
posted 45 seconds ago
The Moroccan Moses?
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Oh f*ck, he's Tunisian.
posted on 1/7/22
comment by Boudewijn Pahlplatz (U15867)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Boudewijn Pahlplatz (U15867)
posted 45 seconds ago
The Moroccan Moses?
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Oh f*ck, he's Tunisian.
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Of course he is. He’s the Tunisian Totti.
posted on 1/7/22
The Matmata Mata
posted on 1/7/22
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 7 minutes ago
The Matmata Mata
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