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25 May 2016 03:58:23
Just diverting a bit from the Jose craze.
Who is / are your fave midfield pairing?
Robson / Ince
Keano/ Incy
Keano/ Scholesy
Scholesy / Carrick
Sadly did not have the chance to see Muhren, Wilkins in action for United. Started supporting United in 85 cup final.
Honorary mentions - Webb, Butt, Hargreaves, Fletch.
1.) 25 May 2016 04:55:24
Been a Man Utd fan since the mid 70's and I have to say Keane/ Scholes was by far the best United centre midfield I ever saw, add Beckham and Giggs and that is the best Midfield ever IMO.
2.) 25 May 2016 06:15:05
I'm with herbie I think that four are the best I've ever seen in any shirt.
3.) 25 May 2016 07:26:12
Keane/ Scholes all day long.
Arnold Muhren was a tremendous player. Trouble was he was 5 steps ahead of everyone! If he had played with better attacking players in his time with us that would have been interesting. As for Square Ball Wilkins. he'd have been great in a Van Gaal team lol.
4.) 25 May 2016 07:32:17
Keane scholes. That midfield had it all.
5.) 25 May 2016 08:12:19
The Keane/ Scholes partnership was the best, possibly the best ever, add Giggs and Becks, man, wish I'd have appreciated it more at the time.
6.) 25 May 2016 08:26:04
I have been lucky enough to watch various Utd teams over the last forty odd years and seeing George Best Cantona and the attacking trio of Ronaldo Rooney and Tevez has been a privilege but watching the Utd midfield of Keane Scholes Giggs and Beckham was fantastic. They had it all pace passion invention determination and entertained whilst being in complete control of most matches. They also had a fantastic spirit and will to win and they related to the fans in a way many modern players don't.
7.) 25 May 2016 08:42:04
Keane/ Scholes for me.
It's only in the last few years that we really appreciate how good a midfield consisting of Beckham, Scholes, Keane and Giggs was!
Good enough for any team. Veron couldn't displace any of them at the time.
Apart from Utd fans Scholes was so underrated by other football fans and not including the England managers. The England team should of been built around him and not Gerrard.
8.) 25 May 2016 09:37:08
What amazes' me about that midfield is the state of some of the pitches they played on and still looked like they wer on a bowling green, today a bad pass/ bad touch the players are looking down blaming the immaculate pitch.
9.) 25 May 2016 09:52:45
Think Robson and Ince were fantastic midfielders in their own right but as a partnership lacked a bit of creativity or genius that Scholes had.
Keane wasn't the most technically gifted midfielder but was so driven and improved the standard of everyone around him through his leadership and never say die attitude.
Any of those four would walk into any midfield in the world right now.
10.) 25 May 2016 10:58:31
scholes/ keane is the best ever we have had.
11.) 25 May 2016 12:23:55
Keane and scholes all day everyday.
24 May 2016 07:00:43
To compete effectively 4 competitions, I think we need 7 central midfielders for the 3 places if we play a midfield 3.
We have Mata, Bastian, Morgan, Fellaini, Herrera, Carrick, Blind and Mensah.
So whos in and whos out?
{Ed025's Note - keep carrick and mensah...bin the rest for me robbo..
1.) 24 May 2016 07:05:01
Morgan will thrive under mou.
2.) 24 May 2016 07:07:33
Morgan and Herrera don't deserve a fresh start under new management Ed025?
Blinds versatility would be useful. the O shea and Park role if you will.
I would bin Fellaini!
{Ed025's Note - morgan needs to step up to the plate if he wants to stay robbo, for me herrera always flatters to decieve, he looks busy but actually achieves very little very much like blind, not in your face midfielders who will bust a gut for the shirt for me mate and thats the problem..
3.) 24 May 2016 07:23:49
Fellaini and mata will leave. Others will stay is my guess.
4.) 24 May 2016 07:24:59
I'd be keeping Blind for sure - utility player.
{Ed025's Note - average joe for me..
5.) 24 May 2016 08:19:31
Carrick needs to go.
6.) 24 May 2016 08:24:20
Surely the mark of a good manager is to take players and make them better? This is the million dollar question are Morgan, Herrera, memphis one or two season wonders from smaller clubs who can't step up or were they held back by LVG s methods?
Will be interesting but I think all 3 deserve another 12 months as does Januzaj - if nothing else one of the things that I noticed in the last 12 months was our bench was often lightweight, if nothing else there is a place for Blind and Herrera on the bench which by default means there will be better players in the starting 11 - and that's got to be a good thing.
7.) 24 May 2016 08:42:06
I think Joses midfield 3 will have very clearly defined roles.
I think we will have a DCM whos primary role will be breaking up opposition attacks, protecting the back four and linking play between the defence and midfield.
A box to box midfielder have a lot of energy, be highly mobile, positionally aware and disciplined and able to attack and defend equally well.
A creative player who's primary role is creating scoring opportunities for the forwards but who is mobile and physically strong enough to drop deeper and help out defensively when the opposition has possession.
I think TFM has the potential to develop into a fantastic DCM and already has the physique but for now lacks a little technical ability. He would be a good back up option for the position
If we were to keep Fellaini, which I hope we don't, DCM is the only role that he fits at all. Big and strong, useful for set pieces offensively and defensively but not technically good enough to play higher up the pitch. Still a liability with those elbows which he will be pulled up on more next season by refs
Schneiderlin is seen by many as a DCM but for me is a box to box midfielder who is capable of both defending and attacking. He has struggled a little this season from not playing alongside a DCM like he did with Wanyama at Southampton. He would be my first choice box to box midfielder and I think he would excel with a DCM next to him giving him more freedom to push higher up the pitch.
Herrera has also struggled this season, he hasn't been given a run of games or been played in the same midfield set up consistently. I believe he is at his best as an attacking CM, he's not as creative and doesn't haHe as much vision as Mata but he's much more mobile and defensively able. He is more than capable of arriving late in the box or scoring from outside the area. I think he could improve vastly under Jose
Carrick I don't think fits the system and lacks mobility, may be worth keeping for one more year to provide cover and leadership. I think I'd let him go
Bastian again lacks mobility and its hard to see where he would fit. I think he will stay given his huge wages, hopefully he will provide leadership and mentor the younger players
Blind I don't think is good enough to make any position his own, lacks pace and physicality to be a DCM but is versatile enough to warrant a place in the squad
Mata has been sold by Jose before, fantastic creative number 10 and genuine nice guy. Lacks pace and defensive ability, can't see him staying
Rooney may well be deployed in the advanced midfield role, works hard, flashes of brilliance but Jose would need to get him performing at a high level consistently which Rooney hasn't sustained for a number of years. Is he capable of that anymore?
Januzaj, Lingard and Pereira are all capable of playing the attacking CM role as well but need to prove they are good enough to be first choice.
I expect Carrick, Fellaini, Mata and possibly Januzaj to leave with an experienced DCM being brought in whilst TFM develops.
8.) 24 May 2016 08:58:55
Boyfromburrenway.
Spot on mate.
One of the hallmark of a great manager is improving the standard and performance of a seemingly average or just above average players.
Juxtapose to this, a good player can perform badly under bad management.
Point in case the likes of Mike Phelan, o Shea, Phil Neville, Quinton Fortune, Park Ji Sung were important cog in Fergies machine.
Not saying at this time Morgan and Herrera are definite non starters and should just be squad players, just that our squad must have the quantity and quality to challenge.
9.) 24 May 2016 09:18:20
Firstly a thank you to LVG, wishing you all the best in your well deserved retirement.
Next on what midfielders we may keep or not.
I actually think MF will be kept and part of the squad and I hope Mata manages to sort out any differences with JM.
Missing from Robbo's list is Rooney, I think he will stay?
The others not too sure but if Basti can reach a decent level of fitness (he is 2 years younger than Carrick) then he should also stay.
Therefore I'm going with Fellaini, Matta, Rooney, TFM and Basti, also (I hope) add Matic to this list.
10.) 24 May 2016 11:13:25
Mata, Fellaini, Carrick, Herrera and Bastian all have to go.
Simply not good enough.
11.) 24 May 2016 11:18:37
I really think Schweini is done, he looked massive and is now getting injured very frequently, a bad piece of business all round.
Many think Blind is average but he has been one of our best performers this year, a very usful player to have in the squad (he's also very dishy) .
The issue fame is the lack of pace and dynamism I nth middle. Herrera is busy but I've not been overly impressed with him so far. Carrick, Fellaini, Rooney, Mata, and even Schneiderlin don't have much pace. Now if we play 4-4-2, or 3-5-1 then we can try and get pace out wide and hold the middle but I think we should be looking for a powerful box to box player.
12.) 24 May 2016 08:52:12
I think mata will stay.
24 May 2016 06:56:24
To give or not to give Carrick a yr contract?
He won't be a regular. He will get his 15 -20 games from cup, Euro and to close the games when we have a comfortable lead in league games.
Him, Wazza will be the last men standing from the outstanding Moscow final team. Crucially his seniority and experience should be useful in the dressing room and training session which would be beneficial for team bonding, for new players settling in, advice for young players and hopefully during title run in.
We should not just dismiss that. As it is, the team is already lackind experienced heads.
Your thoughts?
1.) 24 May 2016 08:01:02
I agree, we still look a better side with Carrick in the side than not. Mourinho generally plays 4231 when in a match he expects to win and more of a flat 433 in a big game. As long as we have plenty of energy to do a bit of the running Carrick should be fine for another year or two as he looks after himself well. He also fits in with the above formations.
This season our CM's have been poor but I'd say out of the players who play in a deeper midfield role he has been the most consistent.
2.) 24 May 2016 09:02:29
Rjmanutd.
I see yr point. If carrick is to start, it has to be in a midfield 3.Personally I will not start him as we should be getting more from Morgan and Ander. But Carrick would be in my midfield for next season. Just not a regular starter, his other virtues could prove beneficial.
3.) 24 May 2016 09:18:33
There are plenty of games to go around next season if we are able to progress in the Europa League to the latter stages. Ultimately, I think he will get another year and this is the right decision in my opinion.
I think Mourinho will bring in another CM as well so I'd expect to see Fellaini and possibly another CM leave. It'll be interesting to see how we shape up in the early part of next season as I don't think Mourinho will know his best side for a few months.
4.) 24 May 2016 11:03:13
Another year. We dumped all our experienced players last time, and suffered for it. Only one of our midfielders who knows how to ping a pass forward, and like it's been mentioned above, there's a lot of games to go round next season.
5.) 24 May 2016 11:19:49
He needs to stay. Experience, quality (albeit probably less often), and he seems a msencible good guy. We need a few old heads and right now we don't have enough. It's a shame Carrick and Rooney couldn't get hold of the youngsters and read them the riot act.
23 May 2016 11:08:13
Now with the inevitable appointment of Jose beckoning unless Ed screws this one up, Ha! ha! where does Giggsy go from here?
If he is to leave then he should build his cv with another Mid table Premier league side or Championship, League one 1 side. Now if in 5 - 8 seasons he has won promotions or won a cup or 2 or qualified for Europe then he can be considered for the post. Not now, Bilic, Koeman, Poch as it stands are more qualified.
Knowing the United way, Knows the place inside out should not be the only criteria to get the post. If it was, Sparky and Blanc should be seriously considered.
Now I adore Giggsy to pieces, but this is hardly a time for sentiment to rule.
1.) 23 May 2016 11:44:39
Never mind Gigsy, seperate issue is Blacburn have asked to speak to Warren Joyce according to BBC - huge blow if he takes the managers job there IMO.
2.) 23 May 2016 12:00:47
Busy few days at Carrington!, that's a kick in the teeth if warrens gone.
3.) 23 May 2016 12:13:21
it seems giggs is leaving too along side hoek, stuivberg and some other of van gaal's staff.
4.) 23 May 2016 14:09:50
If JM does come in as the new manager then I would like to see WJ given the assistant managers role. I think he would do a fantastic job with JM and having worked with all the youth at some point be a very welcomed addition to the new management structure of the first team.
23 May 2016 04:35:58
Moran / Mcgrath, bruce/ pallister, stam/ johnsen, vidic/ rio. all superb pairing.
Cant say the same about Blind/ smalling though they are important members of the squad.
So who would be the new centreback or centrebacks?
Subotic?
Badstuber?
Bruno martins indi?
Benatia?
Toprak?
Varane?
This is a crucial area for the manager to adress.
{Ed001's Note - Jose loves Varane. Indi was a target of LVG.}
1.) 23 May 2016 05:32:59
Ed001.
Have the feeling smalling, Jones and evans were groomed to take over from vidic rio. Now we only only have Smalling with any semblance of being a decent centreback but certainly not at rio vidic stams stature as yet.
In the league Alderweild, Huth, have been awesome.
Hope this is sorted out fast. Whether Smalling with a new partner or a new pairing with Smalling.
{Ed001's Note - Smalling? He does not even have a semblance. He would barely be considered decent in a pub side.}
2.) 23 May 2016 06:15:04
Have to agree with you Ed0001. My point is in the event we manage to secure only one centre back, then who else in the current set up could rightfully argue that they are worthy of being the regular centreback? Rojo? Jones? Mensah? Smalling seems to be the best of a poor lot.
{Ed001's Note - I would go with Mensah out of those, though I feel he would be better in midfield. You have a point though, it is not much of a choice. You have to wonder how it was allowed to end up that way.}
3.) 23 May 2016 06:26:45
I have to admit I have not watched much of Mensah except in first team action. he's a beast, his physique, touches and movements reminds me of Desailly. Ironically Desailly could play central midfield and centre back equally well.
I like the looks of Mensah and I hope he gets his 20 -25 games next season, jose or no jose.
{Ed001's Note - good point, maybe he could end up being equally good in both roles, he certainly seems intelligent enough to do that.}
4.) 23 May 2016 07:52:09
if we look at it Jones, Rojo aren't good enough, Blind isn't a central defender, Smalling isn't good enough so that leaves us with what exactly. I'd rather promote Fosu and sign 2 top centre backs then I dunno Blind, Smalling or McNair as squad players?
5.) 23 May 2016 07:02:36
Varane and Marquinhos would be ideal, I think they could be as good as any of the legends listed above.
In reality one of them next to stones or garay would b a huge improvement on where we are now.
Outside chance, as much as I dislike him. John Terry. His legs are gone but he is a leader, a young CB could learn a lot from him and not a bad back up option in comparison to Jones, Rojo, Smalling.
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24 May 2016 09:02:29
Rjmanutd.
I see yr point. If carrick is to start, it has to be in a midfield 3.Personally I will not start him as we should be getting more from Morgan and Ander. But Carrick would be in my midfield for next season. Just not a regular starter, his other virtues could prove beneficial.
24 May 2016 08:58:55
Boyfromburrenway.
Spot on mate.
One of the hallmark of a great manager is improving the standard and performance of a seemingly average or just above average players.
Juxtapose to this, a good player can perform badly under bad management.
Point in case the likes of Mike Phelan, o Shea, Phil Neville, Quinton Fortune, Park Ji Sung were important cog in Fergies machine.
Not saying at this time Morgan and Herrera are definite non starters and should just be squad players, just that our squad must have the quantity and quality to challenge.
24 May 2016 07:07:33
Morgan and Herrera don't deserve a fresh start under new management Ed025?
Blinds versatility would be useful. the O shea and Park role if you will.
I would bin Fellaini!
{Ed025's Note - morgan needs to step up to the plate if he wants to stay robbo, for me herrera always flatters to decieve, he looks busy but actually achieves very little very much like blind, not in your face midfielders who will bust a gut for the shirt for me mate and thats the problem..
23 May 2016 14:34:43
United was too big a job for him. Seriously what had he won or achieved significantly to get the job then? If he had won a league cup or fa cup and say brought Everton to a Euro league final or kept Everton in the top 4 for at least 2-3 seasons then I could at least understand his appointment.
It still fazes me.
23 May 2016 12:04:58
Retaining De gea would be one of Joses first task.
The 4 you have named are definite upgrade and would potentially do well in a Mourinho side.