Uniteds midfield

PHB

It now consists of

Fletcher
Giggs
Richardson

Only one of them is a central midfielder.
I've no idea what the hell fergie does tbh, maybe go to an all out attack formation every game, with 4 at the back, one DM, and the rest attacking. It'd make for some interesting football.

I think David Jones will be recalled from NEC if its possible, hes being doing well there, and did quite well at Preston.
It's going to be a very tough end to the season with pretty much only one central midfielder left.

Hobart

PHB wrote:

It now consists of

Fletcher
Giggs
Richardson

Only one of them is a central midfielder.
I've no idea what the hell fergie does tbh, maybe go to an all out attack formation every game, with 4 at the back, one DM, and the rest attacking. It'd make for some interesting football.

I think David Jones will be recalled from NEC if its possible, hes being doing well there, and did quite well at Preston.
It's going to be a very tough end to the season with pretty much only one central midfielder left.

What about Park? Is he not a midfielder?

Necronomicon

Maybe the return of Fortune will make it somewhat solid. Not a world-beater, no, but reliable nonetheless. And has the kind of steel we need. I'm just hoping that there's no more casualties, and United can maintain second.

PHB wrote:

Fletcher
Giggs
Richardson

Did Park not play in centre-mid/AMC a lot of the time for PSV? He could be deployed there as an emergency choice maybe.

cournioni

Is it possible to get players on loan between now and the end of the season?

Hobart

PORNAPSTER wrote:

Is it possible to get players on loan between now and the end of the season?

You can apply to the FA, but generally no you can't.

leeroybrown

PORNAPSTER wrote:

Is it possible to get players on loan between now and the end of the season?

Typically only goalkeepers are allowed.

A Dub in Glasgo

United are missing Keane (even in his old age state)

Spider_Baby!

Well, will they be playing Rio in that holding role now do ya think?

cournioni

The thought of seeing Fletcher and Richardson playing for the rest of the season is enough to make a grown man cry. They are absolute jokes, not worthy of wearing the United shirt.

Hobart

PORNAPSTER wrote:

The thought of seeing Fletcher and Richardson playing for the rest of the season is enough to make a grown man cry. They are absolute jokes, not worthy of wearing the United shirt.

I have suggested it before, but I would reckon the current "crisis" would warrent putting Rooney into Keane's old position and playing RVN and SAHA up front.

Necronomicon

I agree, Rooney is versatile enough to play there. And with Saha in decent scoring form, I think he should keep his place in the team. I can see Fergie putting Rio there for the rest of the season, as he seems to be conflicted between Brown and Vidic at centre back.

Spider_Baby!

But with the bad luck they're having with midfielders, what if somethin happens to rio???

MrPillowTalk

If anyone happens to see fletcher or silvestre out and about in manchester please run them over, not to kill them but do enough damage to end their football carreers. Fletcher gives the ball away so much its paindul to watch, why does he get played is he fergies secret love child?

Rio and rooney for the rest of the season, we were much better today with saha and rvn up front looked mush more of a threat.

MisterAnarchy

It was a very bad move in hindsight to sell Philip Neville.

TonyD79

In fairness they were playing against the second best midfield in England.

Park plays one great game then the next average then is recalled again after the other arnt up to it.Park should have played today with richerdson at left back and rooney in midfield and Saha up top. As for Jones why wasnt he speed-selected from the youth teams like fletcher and the scottish" young lothar matthius" loaned to preston?!!!

cournioni

Hobart wrote:

I have suggested it before, but I would reckon the current "crisis" would warrent putting Rooney into Keane's old position and playing RVN and SAHA up front.

I totally agree...

I think the team from now until the end of the season should be:

GK: Van Der Sar

LB: Evra/Silvestre
CB: Vidic
CB: Brown
RB: Neville

DM: Ferdinand
LM: Giggs/Park
RM: Ronaldo/Park
AM: Rooney

ST: Saha
ST: Van Nistelrooy.

It surely can't be hard for SAF to see that this is our best eleven.

smemon

have to agree with pornapster's 11, fletcher should be sold in june, it's ridiculous how he gets a game ahead of smith, ronaldo, park etc..

richardson has a bit of class, he's pacey and tricky, needs to work on his upperbody strength though. giggs and ronaldo are liabilities going back, imo we need 2 big name, big presence central midfielders like a makelele, vieira, gerrard, gattuso etc in order to compensate for giggs and ronaldo's defensive qualities.

lack of communication and teamwork are now really lacking, something that is very worrying. you look at van nistelrooy and saha not working together coupled with staight passes up from midfield- there's no togetherness or fluidity there.

THERES ONLY 1 KEANO.

besty

Spider_Baby! wrote:

Well, will they be playing Rio in that holding role now do ya think?

I'd say that's a distinct possibility alright.
In my eyes Fergie will have to choose from the following;

Fletcher
O'Shea
Jones
Fortune (upon return)
Rio
Park
Giggs
Ronaldo

It will be hard to construct a dominant midfield from any of those permutations, but if someone can, it's Fergie.

PHB

GK: Van Der Sar

LB: Evra/Silvestre
CB: Vidic
CB: Brown
RB: Neville

DM: Ferdinand
LM: Giggs/Park
RM: Ronaldo/Park
AM: Rooney

ST: Saha
ST: Van Nistelrooy.

That is not what willl happen, Rio might be able to do a job against Wolves, but he was seriously found out as a CB against premiership opposition.
Fletcher is the best player we have to play in the DM position, whether people like it or not.

Fletcher-Rooney isn't strong enough in midfield to take control of a game.
Another CM is needed, and Jones is the man to do the job imo. Fortune also when he comes back, as is meant to be back just after the league cup final, is not a bad player, and Fortune and Fletcher could hold us over in a defensive sense.

Park played as an AMC in a 3 man midfield, which is totally different to playing as a CM in a two man midfield, even if he is the attacking one.

The realistic options we have I think are

Fletcher
Fortune
Jones

I think UNited are very very very very very lucky that we only have one game between now and the 6th of April, enough time for Fortune to come back, or Jones to be recalled, or something to be figured out.

Nunu

United have been deprived of a fully fit world class central midfielder who has been contracted to the club for the last 2 months and would be starting week in week out at the moment. The Obi Mikel situation both saddens and angers me. I can't for the life of me understand why there is not widespread condemnation of this farce across the football spectrum. How can FIFA justify basically ignoring this situation by putting it on the backburner. This saga is unprecedented and should be at the top of FIFA's agenda and sorted out months ago. The beautiful game really lets itself down from a governing point of view. This wouldn't be tolerated in any other professional sport.

I pray Smith makes a full recovery. It's amazing how the most awful injuries always seem to happen so freakishly with no tackle involved.

Rollo Tamasi

Fergie has two other midfielders on loan who are each doing fantastically in the Championship. Chris Eagles who scored today for Watford (isn't he on loan or has he been sold? and Liam Miller at Leeds is probably their best midfielder and is far better than Fletcher at any rate.

Necronomicon

Rollo Tamasi wrote:

Fergie has two other midfielders on loan who are each doing fantastically in the Championship. Chris Eagles who scored today for Watford (isn't he on loan or has he been sold? and Liam Miller at Leeds is probably their best midfielder and is far better than Fletcher at any rate.

Yep, Eagles is on loan, he spent most of the season with Sheffield Wednesday but he's seeing out the remainder of the season at Watford. I saw them in their demolition of Sheffield United last week, and he was instrumental. Miller is doing well for Leeds too, as I'm sure a few Leeds fans could tell you.

evilhomer

Indeed I would have thought that Miller should be recalled, he is a good option to have and never really got his chance at Utd (Like many other Utd midfielders in the past IMO)

Chucky the tree

Eagles is a winger though, they are sort of wingers so no point in bringing him back.

Fighting Irish

Hobart wrote:

I have suggested it before, but I would reckon the current "crisis" would warrent putting Rooney into Keane's old position and playing RVN and SAHA up front.

:rolleyes: Saha up front, i don't think Saha should be up front at all, united need goals to win games and rooney is a much better bet than saha

Fighting Irish

besty wrote:

I'd say that's a distinct possibility alright.
In my eyes Fergie will have to choose from the following;

Fletcher
O'Shea
Jones
Fortune (upon return)
Rio
Park
Giggs
Ronaldo

It will be hard to construct a dominant midfield from any of those permutations, but if someone can, it's Fergie.

:rolleyes: he is bloody useless

Nunu

Fighting Irish wrote:

:rolleyes: Saha up front, i don't think Saha should be up front at all, united need goals to win games and rooney is a much better bet than saha

Saha was the best player on the pitch today when he came on. But, you seem to be dead against him no matter how he performs. I mean come on he's been on fire, scoring goals, since his return from injury and should have started today.

jesus_thats_gre

PORNAPSTER wrote:

I totally agree...

I think the team from now until the end of the season should be:

GK: Van Der Sar

LB: Evra/Silvestre
CB: Vidic
CB: Brown
RB: Neville

DM: Ferdinand
LM: Giggs/Park
RM: Ronaldo/Park
AM: Rooney

ST: Saha
ST: Van Nistelrooy.

It surely can't be hard for SAF to see that this is our best eleven.

I totally agree with this actually..

Ferdinad should easily be able to play as a defensive midfielder as he is comfortable with the ball at his feet and any lapses in concentration are far less significant than if you are the last man back.

Rooney is also adept at playing quite deep for an average striker so an attacking midfield position behind the front two should suit him down to the ground. He is also blessed with alot of pace and strength and is more than able to hold his own in tackles when covering back..

Combine those two with two of either Ronaldo, Park or Giggs and you still have a very good midfield. I agree that it is somewhat strange that Ferguson has not stuck with this for 2 or 3 games to see how it pans out. Its hardly a massive risk on paper - especially seeing that the season is lost already and they are looking very comfortable for a top 2/3 finish.

---

Van de Sar

---

Neville

---

Vidic

---

Brown

---

Evra

---

Ferdinand

---

---

Ronaldo

---

Park

---

---

Rooney

---

---

Saha

---

Ruud

---

Quite an attractive proposition actually..

jesus_thats_gre

Fighting Irish wrote:

:rolleyes: Saha up front, i don't think Saha should be up front at all, united need goals to win games and rooney is a much better bet than saha

Really?

Career totals for United:

Rooney: 28 in 79 (10 as sub)

Saha: 19 in 52 (22 as sub)


This season:

Rooney: 11 in 36 (4 as sub)

Saha: 10 in 18 (7 as sub)

Jimi-Spandex

I think playing Rio in cm is definitely not the way to go. Playing yet another player, especially one so vitally important to our defence, out of position is not the way to go. Besides, while he comfortable on the ball and his distribution is good, his positional sense is pretty poor.

As for the midfield, I think the best option is to recall Miller from Leeds. I think Dave Jones could do a job, he is doing well at NEC. He's more of an attacking midfielder so I'm not sure if that's what we need, but I reckon he could do well if used sparingly. SAF already called Richie Jones back from Antwerp, but he hasn't even been on the bench since coming back and from what I've seen of him in the reserves he's impressive but I don't think he's ready.

So we've got;

Darren Fletcher (Not crap, but that's another debate)
John O'Shea (When back from injury)
Quinton Fortune (When back from injury, also headless chicken)
Liam Miller* (If called back)
Dave Jones* (If called back)
Richie Jones (If brought up from reserves)
Kieran Richardson (Played there for WBA, but I'm not even going to consider him)

jesus_thats_gre wrote:

---

Van de Sar

---

Neville

---

Vidic

---

Brown

---

Evra

---

Ferdinand

---

---

Ronaldo

---

Park

---

---

Rooney

---

---

Saha

---

Ruud

---

I don't think this would really work, the team seems to me to be a bit to Half and Half. I mean that it's basically five forwards(in the loosest sense of the word) and five defenders. No one to really link the two. I think you'd end up with a team that just plays long balls because they wouldn't really be able to hold onto the ball in the middle of the park. That said, I don't think we have too many realistic options otherwise.

Rooney is definitley an option in a sort of amc role, but I'd want someone who's half decent defensively to be in with him. Which I think quinton fortune could do, if he somehow manages to replicate his best form after being injured for so long or if John O'Shea somehow remembers what he was doing two seasons ago.


Basically, unless SAF brings back and he's got his confidence back or recalls Dave Jones and he's a complete revalation, I'd say we're in for a frustrating couple of months.

Necronomicon

Fighting Irish wrote:

:rolleyes: Saha up front, i don't think Saha should be up front at all, united need goals to win games and rooney is a much better bet than saha

Check your stats before you post nonsense. You seem to have some personal vendetta against Saha, but his scoring record is better than Rooney's at the moment.

Corben Dallas

Uniteds midfield.....

is crap.

ManU have given Chelsea the title this year cause they have'nt got any MF (decent)cover, havent replaced Keane etc. Really like JS Park >future propect can play, is useful.
apart from Giggs (2yrs max left in the game) and Ronaldo (too many invisible games, then brilliant, then Mr Invisible.) thats all Manu have. Duff, Robben and MGP are leagues ahead of Twinkle Toes.

The rest are bit players. Smith is a striker and now looks to be badly injuryed.

If ManU signed Ballack they would be a different team. Why does'nt Fergie play Rooney in MF? he was more of a MF type player at Everton (no?) and with Saha (playin well) and Rude Van as forwards would this not be the best short term solution to the ManU MF crisis?.

PHB

the last time Rio played in the center, we lost 4-3 to Blackburn.
He is much better in defense, and can keep a clean sheet without a DM in front of him on good days.

Is there any Leeds fans who can report on Miller?

wheres me jumpa

I would love to see Miller back and given a chance. Only saw him play once at Leeds and he didnt really impress but I will take the word of others. If he isnt brought back now I think that really is the final nail in the coffin for his United career.

I have seen Eagles play for United a few times and I havent been impressed. Again I will take the word of others but I would sooner see Miller come back in.

Fortune has been out for some time so he will be eased back in. Im not his biggest fan but he is a comabtive player who can play above his level at times. I would certainly welcome him back into the squad.

There are some tough away games left, but seen as we are not in any other competitions I think the addition of Miller and/or Fortune should get us through to finish second.

Remaining Games

Sun 26/2 15:00 Wigan Athletic CCF N

March 2006
Mon 6/3 20:00 Wigan Athletic FAPL A
Sun 12/3 13:30 Newcastle United FAPL H
Sat 18/3 15:00 West Bromwich Albion FAPL A
Wed 22/3 19:45 FA Cup 6th Round FAC6
Sun 26/3 16:00 Birmingham City FAPL H
Wed 29/3 20:00 West Ham FAPL H


April 2006
Sat 1/4 15:00 Bolton Wanderers FAPL A
Sun 9/4 16:00 Arsenal FAPL H
Sat 15/4 15:00 Sunderland FAPL H
Mon 17/4 15:00 Tottenham FAPL A
Sat 22/4 15:00 Middlesbrough FAPL H
Sat 22/4 15:00 FA Cup Semi-Final FAC N
Sat 29/4 15:00 Chelsea FAPL A

May 2006
Sun 7/5 15:00 Charlton Athletic FAPL H
Sat 13/5 15:00 FA Cup Final FAC N

scuba steve

When Fortune and JOS return they will prob be used in midfield. I thought Smith should have been started yday, and maybe it wouldnt have happened to him, but what can ya do now.
Richardon would be OK in CM me thinks, as would Park/Rio/Rooney

Ruskie4Rent

I'd say if we win 9 of our remainig games we will have a good chance of holding second. That with a carling cup win and we could have come out of a terrible season with something to build on. I think Ferdiand/Park/Rooney in midfield could make a target like that probable.

TheMonster

Miller has to be worth one last try - don't think he is good enough. Bring back Jones also and see what he can do.

As an aside who do people think the likely midfield signings will be? Whats the latest on Ballack? Hopefully Obi Mikel will be resolved by start of next season also.

The Muppet

TheMonster wrote:

As an aside who do people think the likely midfield signings will be? Whats the latest on Ballack? Hopefully Obi Mikel will be resolved by start of next season also.

I dont think it will be Ballack. I would not be surprised if Carrick was a target and one other top cLass midfielder. Apparently Fergie has a £30 million budget so in the current deflated market that shoud be enough to get a couple of quality players in.

Villain

Gattuso would be a good buy IMO, or Gravesen, as long as they keep away from Steven Davis I don't mind.

TheMonster

irish1 wrote:

Gattuso would be a good buy IMO, or Gravesen, as long as they keep away from Steven Davis I don't mind.

Can't see Milan selling Gattuso, don't rate Gravesen(granted better than what is currently there but thats not hard)

gracehopper

TheMonster wrote:

Miller has to be worth one last try - don't think he is good enough. Bring back Jones also and see what he can do.

As an aside who do people think the likely midfield signings will be? Whats the latest on Ballack? Hopefully Obi Mikel will be resolved by start of next season also.

i think Fergie will make a move for Diarra from Lyon, he'll cost us though. I would love to see Mascherano sign, he's a class act and very young. I've only seen him play a couple of times but he looks quality.
Scneider(sp) of Ajax is class aswell but there's rumours of him going to milan. I was annoyed that he didnt sign De jong in January. 1 million for him is a steal and he ended goin to hamburg. Although United probably would have payed about 2 or 2.5. either way it still would have been good business

PHB

Jones has started 5 games for NEC so far this year, subbing on 3 times, scoring 4 times. I would like him to get his chance to prove himself, as I still think he is the best prospect of all the young kids at united, including Rossi and Pique.

I expect United to sell out about 30-40 million this summer on central midfield, with money left over form last summer, and money from this summer.
Making a midfield of
x - x - Scholes - Fletcher - Jones - Mikel
hopefully

Ruskie4Rent

What's the latest on scholes' eyes? My friend was telling me that he heard that scholes would be lucky to get his full vision back.

Mitch Connor

was reading this morning that he has a degenerative eye condition, they really only ever get worse. Apparently the club are hoping he can return to full training in pre-season, but are looking at the possibility that he will never play for United again.

If scholes is gone, i reckon the midfield signings will be Ballack and either Diarra or Mascherano.

PHB - Mikel will never ever play for United. FIFA are not strong enough to make a stand, they will simple make all contracts signed null adn void, leaving him free to join Chelsea. Regardless of what has happened behind the scenes, i think the kids head has been turned to much now, and his heart will never be at united.

Nunu

I'm 99% positive that I heard on Eurosport news a couple of weeks ago that Mascherano had signed for Juve and would be joining them in the summer. There's nothing about it anywhere on the web though.

Did anyone else hear this?

Mitch Connor

Nope - didn't even hear they had made a move for him. I did hear he was very very very close to signing for At Madrid in the january trasfer window.

wheres me jumpa

http://www.manutd.com/news/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=306844&itype=466&icategoryid=120

Heinze hopes to back in a month. Some good news at last. I really hope it isnt the end for Scholes. What a horrible way to finish a great career.

MrPillowTalk

wheres me jumpa wrote:

http://www.manutd.com/news/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=306844&itype=466&icategoryid=120

Heinze hopes to back in a month. Some good news at last. I really hope it isnt the end for Scholes. What a horrible way to finish a great career.

Maybe he can play midfield tried everyone else cant be any worse than fletcher

cournioni

Heinze... What a legend!

wheres me jumpa

MrPillowTalk wrote:

Maybe he can play midfield tried everyone else cant be any worse than fletcher

When arrived first I can remember talk of him replacing Keane. I hope for his own sake he gets back for the World Cup.

Also Ole Gunnar doesnt look like making the WC squad, the manager was saying it might next Autumn before he plays. Pity as it would have been a nice way to wrap up his career.

TonyD79

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/default.stm

Also Ole Gunnar doesnt look like making the WC squad, the manager was saying it might next Autumn before he plays. Pity as it would have been a nice way to wrap up his career.

Are norway getting a squad together to go over and go see all the games??:v: