28 Jul 2021 09:35:36
Happy with the Varane signing. He has all the attributes to compliment Maguire. If they get the partnership right, this could be Daisy and Dolly version 2.0.

I read Shappys post about the cdm (started reading at 8pm, just finished it) and I think he is right about the type of player we need. Before the Varane signing, I would have said we needed a ball winner like Ndidi etc. Now, we need a Carrick. One of the most important jobs of a top class cdm is having the ability to take the ball deep from the defence, on the half turn and start knocking it about from there. Fred and Mctomminay don't have that in their lockers imo. They also need to be able to slip into cb. Maguire and Varane can both run the ball into midfield and the cdm needs to drop and cover.

One of the biggest frustations last season was watching Bruno, Pogba etc dropping deep in attacks to set a rhythm as fred or Mctomminay don't have the passing range to keep things ticking over and change the point of attacks. that's what you want from your cdm in an attacking sense. It frees up the more creative players higher up the pitch.

A player in the mould of a younger Verrati would be brilliant. The only thing that worries me with Saul is that he does like to take a touch or two. You can get your pocket picked very easily in the EPL. I don't think there really is an outstanding candidate but this is now a key position. We need to buy the right player and not just buy for the sake of it. Camavinga looks like he has all the ability to be able to run a midifield in a few years time but he's not the answer now. Whoever we buy, its going to be a fingers crossed situation that they can slip in and nake an impact. Would you put all your eggs in yhe Saul/ Neves basket or do you buy potential in Camavinga and hope we have enough in the squad to cover the work load before he comes of age?

1.) 28 Jul 2021
28 Jul 2021 09:49:29
Declan Rice is yer man.

2.) 28 Jul 2021
28 Jul 2021 10:39:05
James, when you stop and look around at all the top sides how many of them play with a solely defensive midfielder like Ndidi?

If you are a side expected to have the majority of possession and do minimal defending across 90 minutes then what benefit is there in having a key midfield position taken up by a player who only really works well off the ball.

If you are a counter attacking team someone like Ndidi makes perfect sense, but if you want to control the game, dictate the game and have the majority of possession then you need a player like Busquets, Kimmich, Pirlo, Xabi Alonso etc.

someone who is capable of defending but also offers a lot on the ball. I like Declan Rice but I do wonder if he is good enough on the ball for a top side.

I agree Camavinga looks like a top prospect, but I don't think he is ready just yet.

Ruben Neves could be a good option, great on the ball, diligent in his defensive work, ideal age and EPL proven. He might not have the appeal of someone like Saul Niguez but could have a similar or even better impact.

3.) 28 Jul 2021
28 Jul 2021 10:52:21
I have my reservations about varane personally, a lot of people saying he's top 5 in world . I don't see it every time I have watch him without ramos he looked awful. Also I'm not sure if he does compliment maguire their simular types of cb imo.

4.) 28 Jul 2021
28 Jul 2021 11:18:41
Lol dio, Maguire and Varane are similar types?
Had a good laugh reading that.

5.) 28 Jul 2021
28 Jul 2021 11:20:41
Just read an interesting feature on Sky Sports where it basically says Fergie was enroute to France to meet Varane a decade ago as an 18-year-old, whereby Real learned of the impending meeting and asked Zidane to have a word with him too. United turned to their second choice, Phil Jones. Ironic that 10 years later, the two will hopefully be passing again, in opposite directions.

6.) 28 Jul 2021
28 Jul 2021 11:21:33
Shappy, Declan Rice is good on the ball. Ed001 has said, his game is being restricted due to the defensive nature his teams play in.

Ruben Neves is an interesting option considering he has PL experience and good range of passing.

7.) 28 Jul 2021
28 Jul 2021 11:50:39
dio1989 - he (Varane) seemed to cope without Ramos whilst winning the world cup with France.
Although i like Rice i would rather go for Camavinga. I think he's definitely more mobile than Rice who is a very defensive player and he would cost a third of the price. Rice isn't worth 80-100 million, no chance!
I think Camavinga will give you more going forward and we have some fantastic players further up the pith. We need to play on the front foot and get the best out of the likes of Sancho, Bruno, Rashford, Cavani and Pogba (if he stays) .

8.) 28 Jul 2021
28 Jul 2021 12:05:25
Jamesmac8, not sure you can slate Shappy and then write an essay yourself 😂📝.

9.) 28 Jul 2021
28 Jul 2021 14:13:35
TRD, I don't think Rice is poor on the ball, but his passing range isn't that expansive.

Can he hit accurate long balls like Scholes, Carrick, Pogba, Kroos, Busquets, Kimmich, Pirlo, Xabi Alonso etc?

That's the sort of company a top level deep lying playmaker should be keeping.

Rice is a good passer of the ball, but what he really excels at is winning the ball and progressing the ball via carrying more so than passing.

You saw a few times for England when he was given license to play slightly more freely with Phillips covering. He wasn't playing 40-60 yard passes, but moved closer to the opposition goal and played the same fairly safe 10-20 yard passes and occasionally dribbled the ball forward.

He's better at passing than McFred, but that doesn't mean his passing is at the level we should be aiming for.