₦airaland Forum

Plenty mentions on top Fred. If he's available, he'll be one of the first on the team sheet. I hope you people don't take these things too serious? I no wan hear say brain burst because of too much lamentations o

TheLequte:
You’re a clown

No vex

TheLequte:
Was Jones taking CKs during Fergie’s time? Cos I remember that was the last time we won the league.

He may have taken once or twice sha
We have also won other competitions with Jones o

Nezzjnr:


Not that kind suffering o jare

I mean Jones taking a Corner for us

So now we do score from corners like beans abi?

Nezzjnr:
Omooooo we have really suffered

Baba even dey raise him hands

You mean you were suffering when you won the league and other competitions?

patrickmuf:
Eph12, don't mind them...

Fred will shame them all...

I honestly don't care. He should even be banned or get injury so VDB can play there make we rest

MRTA7:
So Fred might not be able to play our next match. I imagine Donny will still be on the bench though.

Because Fred is not the one blocking Donny. Pogba and Bruno is

ChristineC:
like I have said before, a good manager will select players on what they can do in peculiar formations he decides to employ.
let's take Fred for example; the only reason he gets on the pitch is because he has the engine to put himself about all game. yes he gets dribbled a whole lot but still an irritant to some opponents depending on tactic...
in a 4-4-2 diamond for example, that attribute is a waste of space especially when that's about all he has in his locker. some say he's good at freekicks but that becomes unimportant when 1001 others in the team can take it.
the featured DM and double CM here will have much less space to cover in midfield, therefore the manager will or should prioritize more fitting qualities.
Matic has better positioning, press resistant, better passing, more useful defending set pieces and even more of a goal threat.
McTominay has better presence, goal threat and offers genuine option on set pieces in both boxes.
VDB has better vision, recycle possession better and also a goal threat.
Pogba has better passing, useful at set pieces and goal contribution threat as well.
so, except for injuries, playing Fred in this set up will only amount to a waste of quality.
remember this is only an illustration.

I understand your point here. However I'm not sure how this relates to what we're discussing.

My point is that, no matter the personnel, we'll need CDMs that can keep up with opponents because of the way we easily lose the balls in attack. No one player in this team can do that currently. Not Matic, not Tom, not Fred, not Donny. Our press gets beaten easily and before you say Jack Robinson, they're in our half. Especially when you consider that the FB may be higher up the pitch at that point, that's a big problem for just a single DM. This happens a lot in our matches. That's why I think using two very defensively aware midfielders is the way to go. Ole will be very mad to change that and it will hurt him. Even in a 352 where you expect the WBs to join the attack, you need the two CM there to be very defensively aware. Using a 442 will be madness in today's football, I don't care the players you have in your team. Your midfield gets over run, you're finished.

To be very clear, I'm kinda particular about how we show up when we're without the ball. What are we doing to get the ball back?

ChristineC:
the personnel quality is not the same.
AWB and Dalot will play right back with different qualities. they will both still be right backs.
Matic will always be more creative with his passing than Fred in the same DM position.
Cavani will always press better and make more runs in behind than Martial from the CF position. it doesn't change that both will function as CF.
not exactly sure what you mean by 'roles on the pitch'.

When you look at Giroud in the french team, he's the CF but what was his role? His role was to hold the ball and allow others run in. Benzema as a striker won't function same way as when Ronaldo is on the pitch or when he's not. Though his position is the CF, his role changes.

With Matic and Cavani and all the others, will the team press as a unit and play as they should when they're not with the ball? Will the team stop being in a hurry to lose the ball?

Expert17:
All agents dey complain either openly or behind closed doors.

Especially when the player benching your client no too sabi (eg Fred), even blocked his transfer to Everton.

Lol try dey read. At Everton, he's talking about replacing the likes of James and Sig. I'm forced to ask if you understand football positions and roles

In case you don't still understand, Donny is not a DM

ChristineC:
creative players don't necessarily mean more forward players.
these midfields here will be more creative than anything a McFred (4-2-3-1) partnership can offer, and at the same time not being exposed.

4-4-2 diamond midfield
- - - - - - - - Matic - - - - - - - -
McT/VDB - - - - - - - - Pogba
- - - - - - - - Bruno - - - - - - - -

3-5-2 midfield (3-4-1-2/3-4-3 attacking)
Dalot - McT - Pogba - Shaw/Telles
- - - - - - - - Fernandes - - - - - - - -

You're making this about McFred and that's the problem. I'm not fixed on those two players, I'm looking at the roles on the pitch and how important they have been in the matches we have won under Ole. At the end of the day, Matic & McT/VDB will give you same thing. But if you think because it's Matic, then Tom or VDB can go camp in the opposition box, you're in for a huge shock

ChristineC:
this is with respect to our default formation.
Ole has used 4-3-2-1, 4-4-2 diamond, 4-3-3, 3-5-2 (3-4-3/3-4-1-2) and even 4-5-1 (with Lukaku) during his time at the club.
he seem to have settled on a 4-2-3-1 which is now default.
while rumors (true or not) have it that his preferred is 4-3-3, it's also good he appreciates the fact that he doesn't have the personnel for it.
that doesn't mean other formations wouldn't incorporate more attacking/creative options than McFred and still be balanced.
there'd be no need for McFred in a 3-5-2 or 4-4-2 diamond for example.

Whatever the formation, the defense still needs protection because we lose the ball too easily. I don't see how more attacking players would automatically solve that problem

ChristineC:
simple selections can cover the DM. our win % with McFred is actually impressive. sadly, it takes out starting spot of one forward overflowing with talent, but it is what it is for now. I actually think Martial has made a mistake not seeking a move this summer.
I hope Ole doesn't act like Moyes who brought Fellaini and began using him in DM instead of SS because of what pressers say or playing "the United way". LvG/Jose came and used him properly, and the impact was clear.

4-2-3-1 is our starting default, so any of these combos should work.
- - - McTominay - Fred - - -
or
- - - Donny - Matic - - -

I mentioned something similar to this which you contested the other day. The reality on ground is that we must play two CDM which takes out one attacking player. This is a must, whether against perceived strong teams or not if we're to have any consistency this season. Having superior attacking firepower won't do shit if we're to win something

kokanepyramid:
In the pipe man

Nice one

TheLequte:
He used VDB and Matic in midfield in the last preseason game and said the first EPL game was a toss up between the duo.

VDB also played the last indoors game vs Stoke City and he blocked a loan move for him to Everton.

I just hope he knows what he’s doing.

With Matic on the field, I don't think VDB was the CDM. It will be interesting to see how he functions there

kokanepyramid:
If I see that 50k now ehn I fit enter Maldives for honeymoon

You don marry?

TheLequte:
He’s probably planning to use VDB for that task.

I don't think he's going to use VDB for anything. No evidence on this whatsoever. Not in preseason, not in training, not in press conference.

benji93:
You are not following. The point was he is very predictable offensively, but that man thought bringing up his exploits offensively would help us understand his greatness as a defender. Next time if you don't get a point, ask questions. Very simple stuffs.
With Sancho only time will tell. We have seen someone with similar G and A from the same team fall below expectations. We can only hope history does not repeat itself.
And as for your last sentence, i am not sure what you mean here. As in "i knew something was off about this guy". You come here and make statements like this to create an impression that you are smart. Nobody cares about it. The last time i checked some people were dragging you on some of your opinions on Fred. Whenever you want to reply someone, address their point directly and stop making condescending remarks. You do not know who some of us here are outside this forum.

Don't you think this is too long?

benji93:
One thing is certain, proper football analysis and Chelsea fans should not be in the same sentence. Maguire is the most expensive CB and England number 1 CB, so what? How much do those speak to his quality? One of the most expensive CBs in the world? Is that his job as a CB? You mean the defender that constantly drives the ball with the outside of his foot? Continue. You mean Sancho that was playing in Bundesliga? A farmer's league? Who gives a shit about whether he's 21? History has shown us some players start out promising but then fade into the horizon before they can even get to their prime. Ofcourse Chelsea fans don't know that. Do you know Mkhitaryan's G and A totals at BVB before he joined Man Utd? Man Utd has the best tacking right back? Does that amount to being the best right back? A player that constantly takes himself out of position, and is almost a liability offensively? Unless ofcourse there's no traffic. Say something else, or you stop talking about issues you cannot properly argue or you go back to your page and discuss with your fellows.

So Maguire is not quality because he drives the ball with the outside of his foot? Na wa o

Even Sancho is not quality too? I knew something was off about this guy but afro doc won't let us hear word

odizeey:
Then lets support our coach.

We're supporting him, he's not supporting us

JayKayMaybachz:
Baba naso dem dey take lower for us..?? Tok true

We are doing ourselves more harm holding on to players we don't need, and then claiming that the sale of those same players is affecting the purchase of the players we need. We need to get back to winning trophies

slimghost:
Same Ole! Won’t use VDB and yet blocked his sale. That transfer sum and James’ would have been enough to sign a DM like Bissouma.
Ole doesn’t need a DM, don’t mind these guys please. They are already building up excuses for him.

I don't know the matches Ole keep talking about when asked about VDB.

JayKayMaybachz:
High wages and potential buyers not willingly to meet our demands..

Lingard and Westham

Then lower the fucking demand. There are clubs that will pay Pogba bills easily please. This club is not entertaining any request for him.

Some players were given new contracts even recently. New contracts for doing what exactly? I don't see how this is not on the coach

hensben:
Yeah with good tactical structure too. Conte will fit Man U very well.

I agree. Conte will bring that discipline on the field. The quality is already there

hensben:
The fault of the coach

Yes and I don't think that's going to change

JayKayMaybachz:
True that.. These are on the coaches and on the players themselves

Yes. But I don't think they'll be addressed because we have been here multiple times in the past

JayKayMaybachz:
SMH

Bros he did.. CB, RW and CDM.. To an extent a RB. It was mentioned before the previous season ended. The Glazers had a net spend of £75-100 Million max.. Meaning if Ole needed a DM, either Pogba or DvB be sold and Bailly too to raise funds for a CDM. Since that didn't happen.. They have to wait.

Lauriel (Athletic) Shragger and even Ducker who are reliable journos for Man Utd mentioned this.

Who is blocking the sales of these players you mentioned?

odizeey:
The point is that Glazers are not at fault for him not getting a DM.

And yes, the DM position was more pressing than that of a CB

Well I don't like speculation. Ole has said it many times that he's okay with his squad. I'll take that

hensben:
With a good DM you won’t even notice CB flaws. Christensen is not better than Lindelof.

The DM is not superhuman. With the way we play, the DM will need super powers to be all over the place

JayKayMaybachz:
DvD might leave next summer.. He wasn't Ole's ideal CM.. The Glazers made the signing considering the price was okay and the relationship with Vander Sar.. Ole's choice was Grealish but Aston Villa priced him out.. They Glazer's won't sanction the deal.. So they compensated us with DvD. If you notice, he doesn't really fit into Ole's pattern of footy. He loves risk takers like Bruno, Pogba et al. So here's where Bellingham comes in.. Remember, Ole wanted to sign before he chose Dortmund same with Haaland. Bookmark this page.. Utd will get 'em both. Pogba will renew his contract too

Any quality signing is welcome. Until I see them play in our team, I won't accept much. One thing I know is that we need to stop losing the balls too much and also increase the intensity and coordination of our press

odizeey:
Was his position more important than that of a DM?

They were both important. Varane came in cheap, there's no way we would have passed on that. I don't see how Varane's purchase prevented that of a DM

hensben:
They are supposed to sign a DM before thinking of Varane.

No! Varane was important as well