26 Sep 2016 14:43:30
I see a lot of people discussing the CDM role and that we need a player who can do this but Saturday's performance should suggest that an out and out CDM, which there are far and few between, is not a necessary requirement. Herrera I thought was excellent and the midifeld looked like it had good shape and balance and this is without the ''CDM''.
When you look at our history, we have never had this CDM. Roy Keane will be people's first name but I would not consider him a CDM. Carrick is not a CDM. Robson was not a CDM.
What we need, IMO, are midfielders who are combative and offer energy in the middle of the park and can also maintain possession. Herrera brought this to the team on Saturday. This brings me onto the Schneiderlin debate further down the page, he is another player that offers what Herrera did if allowed that role. For Southampton he was not used as this CDM people seem to crave for, he offered energy and a physical presence and also some creativity when in the right position.
Personally I think we need to get away from wanting a CDM.
There is a lot of admiration for Liverpool and Klopp on this page at the moment and they do not play with a CDM. I hope the teams style and set up remains as Saturdays with Herrera given an important role in the starting 11.

1.) 26 Sep 2016
26 Sep 2016 17:44:25
Personally I am of a similar view, I think we give too much respect to our opponents by playing with a specilist CDM in probably around 90% of our games.

Certain games against certain teams we will have to, but not against most.

I feel what we really need in our squad a choice of three midfielders to work with Herrera and Pogba to add the right balance depending on opposition. I think those three should consist of a true No.10, a deeplying playmaker and a true DM destroyer. Atm I would say we have Mata and Mkhitaryan fighting it out for the No.10 role and Fellaini and Schneiderlin battling for the DM role, personally I'm not sure either have done enough to win that role long term, maybe TFM could given time. That leaves just Carrick as the deeplying midfielder and the area of the pitch we probably most need to find a long term replacement for.

Horses for courses, the way we set up against Leicester won't work against everyone, but for me it has shown that Herrera and Pogba should be the two integral players of our midfield and everyone one else should be fighting for the last spot.

2.) 26 Sep 2016
26 Sep 2016 18:10:33
Totally agree, gents.

I thought the midfield combination was excellent. It allowed Ibra to move into areas of the pitch which pulled the LC defence all over the place. It also allowed Pogba to excel, which is key.

3.) 26 Sep 2016
26 Sep 2016 20:38:28
That midfield combination was perfect against Leicester. But I feel when they went to a midfield three with a CAM, our team got a little stretched. I think In them sort of games coming up against a two, Herrera and Pogba with mata just in front would run the show like Saturday. But against a team like city, we were stretched and outnumbered from the first minute, so with a holding player it would take the pressure of Herrera and Pogba.

4.) 27 Sep 2016
27 Sep 2016 07:14:56
My concern is what do we do with blind? He was fantastic at lb, do we bring Shaw back in? Should we play a trio of blind Herrera pogba?

5.) 27 Sep 2016
27 Sep 2016 11:01:51
This analysis is being done after we won comfortably without using a specialized CDM against a team that had lost its CDM (Kante) . Looking at it, they played 2 top, thus thinning their mf and giving us the edge in that area of the pitch, this made it easier for us. Watford also played 2 up front but 5 in the mf to compensate for the sacrifice up front. So IMO a CDM may be necessary at times, it is up to a good coach to study his opponents and know which mf to field.
Kante looked lost against arsenal as the ball was knocked around him.

{Ed001's Note - Kante was not a CDM at Leicester, but Conte is trying to use him as one, which is why they are struggling so badly.}

6.) 27 Sep 2016
27 Sep 2016 12:56:40
I agree with Ed001, at Leicester Kante would press and win the ball high in the opposition half to allow Mahrez and Vardy to capitalise. I think people misinterpret a CDM for a player who breaks up play but in my opinion, Makelele was the one true CDM as very rarely did he venture past the centre circle in the oppositions half. Keane, Viera, Robson, Gerrard, Kante, Vidal, Essein, Verrati and even Schweinsteiger in his prime are/ were not CDM's but combative CM who have/ had energy, could offer a goal and an assist and could break up play and I think Herrera offers this.

7.) 27 Sep 2016
27 Sep 2016 19:36:00
I think when we had a chance, we should have got Javi Martinez. He is somewhere close to the best I have seen in that position although Bayern have used him differently.

A CDM seems more like a position in the European games. The premier league is more gung-ho and such players are mostly wasted here.

8.) 27 Sep 2016
27 Sep 2016 20:43:09
I think if we signed verratti and played him in the Pirlo role with Pogba and Herrera ahead of him we would have a midfield that could compete with any in the world. Herrera is a top CM, maybe not quite in the elite group but very good non the less, he will prove it given a run of games.