₦airaland Forum

TheLequte:
But will this idea/strategy work in the PL?

Remember even Pep the master technician had to get physically strong 6s to protect his defense, break up play and stop counters. Their high level of technicality also helped the team control games and this ultimately won them the league.

Such kinds of players are rare and expensive. We’ve missed out on Anderson and Tchouameni, who I think could do that job to a high degree. Who else can we get that fits that profile?

That’s a fair point, and I’m not convinced it will work as well in the prem. The physical demands are on another level. Even Pep eventually realised that technical quality alone wasn’t enough and brought in physically dominant midfielders who could cover huge spaces, stop transitions, and still be excellent on the ball.

Football is full of calculated gambles these days. Clubs back certain profiles or tactical ideas, and if they don’t work, they adapt and move on. That’s why I agree we need to sign at least one natural No. 6. If Carrick’s midfield of No. 8s works, great. If it doesn’t, you’ve got a proper destroyer who can sit in front of the back four, break up play, and give the team more balance.

Given how shrewd INEOS has been in the market so far, I’d be happy to gamble on someone like James Garner, Manu Koné, or Sangaré. They all bring a good mix of athleticism, defensive work, and technical quality

afrodoc:
I think you are right. Carrick having been a DLP himself probably does not fancy pure destroyers.

I really don’t know who we can get. The club has surprised most of us with these 2 deals so maybe they have someone in mind.

Bruno G is 28 and it seems Newcastle want close to 100m pounds for him so he is not an option for us.

The one player I can think of that fits the description is James Garner but there will be other options out there for the club to identify.

I agree. Carrick’s playing background definitely shapes how he sees the midfield. He seems to value players who are comfortable on the ball and can control games, rather than just having a specialist ball-winner sitting in front of the defence.

I also think the club probably has someone lined up already, and considering how astute the recruitment has been so far, I’d recommend James Garner as well. Also, maybe someone like Sangaré from Lens or Manu Koné at Roma could also fit what Carrick is after. They all have the athleticism to cover ground while being comfortable in possession. I’m not saying they’re perfect fits, but they seem much closer to that profile

afrodoc:
We need options off the bench and flexibility. The 3 players are more naturally suited to be 8 but we can get some minutes at the 6 position from them.

Santos can play with Mainoo and alternate the 6 and 8 positions. Tielemans can be the 8 and play with either Mainoo or Santos as the 6.

If we get a proper quality no 6 the midfield would be structured properly. Someone athletic and with long range passing ability.

I think the club’s midfield purchases are skewed towards Carrick’s preference for using 8s in midfield. It mirrors what we’ve seen at PSG…prioritising technical, ball-playing midfielders who can also do the defensive side of the game, rather than relying on a traditional No. 6. It gives the team better control, improves ball retention, and allows more fluid build-up play.

That said, I still think we need a 6. The club will likely sign a natural defensive midfielder. A player with energy and the legs to cover ground, break up play, protect the back line, and provide balance when needed.

Who would you recommend at this point?

CrystalTiger:
Journalists are crashing out online 😂😂😂

No more leaks 😂😂😂

United really dealt with this man 😂😂. I remember he was blacklisted from press conferences during ETH era. I despise him. He literally hates United, but shows fake love. He feeds off United news but kept writing trash about United. I’m glad he’s now part of the bomb squad journalists

Beorn:
For me, it depends on the price and most importantly, if we are still getting a 6.

I'm not excited about the news because of his age. He's 29 FFS. Shouldn't we building our midfield with younger players who would give us more years before they gas out? Youri has 2 or maybe 3 years max at the top before he would be offloaded.

Don't want to be pessimistic but I can't help it. Anyway, I hope he comes good for us.

It’s a good signing and the price is reasonable. It’s actually worth being excited about. He’s prem proven and his stats great. Bruno G will be 29 in few months but Newcastle want 100m for him. We have a similar signing, similar age and stat for way less.

The price and the caliber of player Youri is beats any concern about his age or how many years he has to give us. Big ups to INEOS for this

I observed yesterday that we might have the Ten Hang problem repeating itself whenever we face teams that sit back if we don’t get rid of Maguire or Martinez or both from the starting lineup or find a way to fix the problem.

When playing against teams that seat back in this Carricks system, the midfielders are expected to press higher and with intensity also the backline are expected to pus higher as well. However, with Maguire and Martinez, we don’t have the recovery speed in behind so they stay back

What we have now is a high press without intensity and a low backline resulting to wide open midfield - Recipe for disaster

Nigeria - Largest producer of corrupt politicians

Obsession with system footbal has made Amorim lack awareness of the team. The Media and everyone recently praised Dorgu for playing his best game for United on the right side (Same position he plays for Denmark), today, Amorim swapped him to the left. It’s clear Dorgu plays better on the right. Same thing with Yoro, he plays better in central defense but Amorim keeps playing him as RCB

afrodoc2:
Ayden Heaven currently playing far better than Yoro.

Yoro is a fine defender and he’d probably play better than Heaven in CCB. Sadly, Amorim uses him in a way that exposes him to his flaw which is marking runners and quick wingers/covering space in a RCB role which seems like playing RB in the heat of the game this is why Sulemana of Southampton cooked him earlier this year and he struggled to mark Roger’s from the flank against West Ham

The culprit is Amorim whom haven’t been playing to his strength which is at the centre

odizeey:
I have a feeling it's because of his brother's stunt. E no wound since na now when road clear he won wound.

The update from the club app says “The Academy product was an option to come into the side for the game at Aston Villa, with Casemiro suspended, but sustained the injury in training on Saturday.
"He got an injury in the last training," the boss told Sky Sports. "After training, he went to the doctor. He got something in his calf.
"We are going to assess but he is out of this game.

I don’t think they’d be lying about the matter

odizeey:
Why Mainoo no dey team

Injured in training

MRTA7:
If we face Villa with that defence it might get really ugly for us really quickly.

Might actually not get any ugly. This team can square up with any team in terms of attack and individual brilliance. Our main issue is midfield and defense and ultimately the system - that’s why despite a win, you’ll still feel that void. This team is capable of playing 5-5 against Mobi Stars and also against Barcelona

We’re now like 15 years ago Stoke City….Without the physicality

We’re not creating anything. No way out

akwesenana:
12 wins in 12 months is atrocious.

Averaging once per month, PERIOD

This is the original fear fear formation
2 midfielders should do everything while 5 defenders just position and not allowed to jump in. Even prime Ngolo Kante and Makele will suffer in this formation. Your striker will suffer with this formation due to no service. Even you, the fan will suffer!!

afrodoc2:
Bruh, the guy fell on the floor for at least 3 of those corner kicks.

Amorim started looking at the floor during corner kicks so that Bayindir will not kill Amorim's mother's son for her. Hehehe.

There was a time he fell and wanted to cry when he stood up lol. That feeling when you fkd up but thought it wouldn’t happen again only to see yourself repeat it inadvertently

StarchAndBanga:
I still think the Man-U players don't do enough to protect the keeper during corners.. I saw instances where Fulham were employing Assnal's dark art tactics of disrupt the goal keeper during corners

It’s see finish. I believe it’s already a common knowledge since last season that our goal keepers are frail and erratic especially during set pieces. So all teams do is try to disrupt our goal keepers during corners and it works for them or almost does

nitrogen:
Give him his players, he was successful at Sporting, he needs time, he does not need to be flexible, yen yen yen. See una life outside!

First sign of bad manager of anything whether company, department or business is if they can’t work with or implement their style with the human resources they meet on ground. Anytime you hear that a coach needs his own players to implement his style….Run oo

How can a formation be set up to be ultra defensive yet its open like a motorway at the same time

This man actually said we will suffer but I never imagined it will start this early

Play like lions as underdogs but play like chickens as favorites. Welcome to Amorim style

Fulham look more dangerous. Its like our midfield is non existent

You cannot see the impact of Amorim ball with any squad on ground. You need to clear the squad and get a new one before you can see the impact

Leyqute:
Had to go look for the original

I hope he’s trying to catch it with both hands and not push it. Enough of attempting to push high flying shots with both hands

I’m eager to see the magic Amorim wants to do that would make fitting Bruno in this starting line up make sense and won’t come back to haunt him. Central midfield with any of our midfield - We’re cooked except he want to play score me I score you football. He can’t play upfront when we now have a lethal striker, Cunha and Mbeumo who are obviously better in that position and also new expensive signings whom he must place. We’re all waiting to see how he plays Bruno and not appear sentimental

The team need to keep the ball better with passes and also learn how to utilize space to drive with the ball. The players have all mastered the act of make e no spoil for my hand especially the midfield. So many reckless passes and not knowing what to do with the ball when in possession

CrystalTiger:
Unpopular Opinion-- Tom Heaton is better than Onana..

Definitely better. There's a De Gea esque save he made with his right foot. If it were Onana it would have been a goal. Ball playing goalkeeper that can’t make a save with his feet. Onana would have tried to save it with his hand and then the ball with go under his arm or he will miss it due to his slow reflex. Also Matato played the RWB better than Dalot

Within 30 seconds. Cunha had the ball and calmed the play and we built on that. In the same short time Bruno had the ball, his instant pass went straight to the opponent and were back defending

Press looks sharper

This looks like a highlight of last season. Losing control of midfield to every opponent, difficulty making passes and creating chances. We don’t have the players to deal with this 2v3 midfield. This 343 formation or whatever Amorim is doing is not working for us and he has no plan B

Amorim should be pragmatic next season and play counter attack instead of trying to be on the front foot with these crop of immobile midfielders without manourvering abilities and a toothless striker. All our opponents had to do to win or score us first was seat back, counter and take their chances.

Any small counter against us last season, the team is left with 3 defenders sometimes two to defend against like 4-5 attackers. While others would still be jogging back to recover their position.

We were compact and played better when we counter big teams but once other teams counter us we’re done except when we were lucky