Matic/Fred/McTominay - do we really need to sign a new DM?

M Bison

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I think its pretty unanimous across the fan-base that we're crying out for a RW, I don't think many would dispute that. However, a lot of the threads discussing transfer activity go on to say that we should be signing a new DM.

Earlier in the season I would have agreed but with Fred playing out of his skin, Matic all of a sudden looking the part and McT returning from injury, do we actually need another DM? Assuming we play 3 CM's, with Bruno and Pogba (assuming he's now staying) thats 5 players for those positions, plus potentially Garner and, fingers crossed, Gomes. It feels as though we have ample options there.

This isn't a thread to outline what positions people believe we need to sign, more asking the question on whether we should sign another DM or go with what we have.
 
I think we do. One of them gets injured and we suddenly look thin in that department again. Unless we think Andreas can fit and grow into that role next year
 
I'd say it's not as much a priority as RW is. Especially if Pogba stays, as it'll mean more rotation and backup in midfield. It could certainly bolster the squad though.
 
McTominay is more of a B2B than a DM. Matic is the only DM we have and he's not getting any younger.
 
I know Sancho is our priority but I would really love for us to buy Ndidi. He is one of the best ball winners I have seen.
 
I think so.

I've been a big fan of Matic's since signing him, but I don't think he has it in him to play as much as our first choice DM needs to. I'm glad he's getting the recognition he deserves, though. Brilliant player.

As for McTominay and Fred, neither are DMs, imo. They both work best next to a sitting midfielder whilst they cover every blade of grass in the pitch.
 
Yeah like others have said we need to replace Matic, and we're best doing that whilst we can slowly integrate rather than doing it when we have no DM at all.
 
AshRK said:
I know Sancho is our priority but I would really love for us to buy Ndidi. He is one of the best ball winners I have seen.
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yep, the only thing about this is that someone Has to miss out, but the players should be expected to respond positively to increases competition for places.
 
DVG7 said:
yep, the only thing about this is that someone Has to miss out, but the players should be expected to respond positively to increases competition for places.
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I like what Matic has done but I still don't think he can do a solid job week in week out without getting burnt out. I feel Ole will eventually go for a 433 formation so all of the midfield options will start most of the games. My only concern will be this may limit Garner and Levitt's playing time. Maybe loan for them would be good.
 
I understand your sentiment but please dont blind sided by few good performances. Don't forget how so many on this forum were complaining about Matic slowness etc few months back.
I dont want to lose another season with a regret not signing a proper DM killed us again.

There is a lot of options available on cheap so we need to fix this position in this summer rather wait and pay double for same player a year after.

Zakaria/Soumare/Partey/Saul lot of good options available in current market for around 40-50M except Saul so I would say take the advantage of it .
 
YES

We need a RW more, but we still need a DM. Matic isn't getting any younger and he can return to his old form at any time. Assuming that Pogba is leaving and that Mata should be more of a 3rd choice player, we're stuck with 4 players for 3 positions. That's not enough.
 
We do need another DM, especially as matic is getting along a bit now and Mctominay is not exactly a defensive shield.

We need someone with great positioning, a cool head and decent passing ability. Having said that, don't think it's a priority area for this year.
 
Everyone saying only Matić is a DM out of the 3 but if you were to draw out your ideal midfield using our current personnel, I don’t think Matic would be in it.

Id say it’s probably Fred holding with Bruno and Pogba either side.
 
RW is obviously one of the weaker position in the squad, but as the cliché goes, solid team is built around solid and consistent defensive players so the offensive ones can "flourish". Matic is the only specialist DM in the squad, so getting someone as backup should be priority. Plus, the likes of James, Greenwood, and even Chong can fill in the RW position for the time being.
 
Ole said we need 2-3 players. I think DM must be one of them. 20-23 y.o. with bags of potential who can become Matic understudy and play instead of him in less important matches. Ole is great at developing players. I’m sure if he signs a good talent (he has a good eye too) we’ll have a top player in a season.

I‘d like to see Camavinga from Rennes in the United shirt. despite being only 18, he has 4.3 tackles per game (who scored), the highest in Europe!
 
The thing with Matic is he’s playing regularly and looks back to his old self. Bring in a DM and bench him and you may as well sell him as he’s so poor when not on his A game. Some players are good bench options but he really isn’t. Personally his form means we should only bring in the right DM, if we can’t get them in, wait another year until we can and prioritise elsewhere.
 
Yeah, Matic should be a rotation option and is great cover but we can’t expect him to play twice a week. None of the others are really defensive mids either.
 
I definitely don't think we can rely on Fred as a defensive midfielder. He's all energy and I like that about him. But the physical strength and awareness required to play in that slot week in week out are his strengths. McTominay though, can be a great defensive midfielder next season.

Eventually we should find and ease in a replacement for Matic. Having these guys takes the pressure away from having to fit this player in right away. This is how clubs build squads in a responsible manner.
 
McTominay and Fred are not DM's and Matic has had a few decent games amongst a sea of really bad ones over the last 18 months, playing as a back-up might help him as it has Mata. Also if Pogba is going to stay then we absolutely need a dedicated holding midfielder to play behind him and Bruno.
 
Didn't Ole say we needed a fullback, 2 midfielders, winger, and striker, before the January transfer window?

And this matches to his latest comment about needing 2-3 more players i.e. fullback, midfielder and winger
 
No. In a 4231, you don't necessarily need a specialist defensive midfield, because often in a double pivot, the two at the base will dovetail like centre midfielders used to do back in the day. In Fred and McTominay, despite none of them being specialist defensive midfielders, due to their skillset and dynamism, they have the ability to cover every blade of the pitch, and if I'm honest, we look pretty solid when they two play. I'd even add Matic in there, who has also been solid of late, too.

With the three you mentioned, with Pogba or possibly Bruno dropping deeper to play alongside one of them, we have enough defensive/hardworking midfielders. We've seen the level Bruno has taken to since his arrival. We need more of those type of players, in my opinion.

If Bruno is definitely going to be our 10 next season, and we sell Pogba, then I would get Fabian Ruiz. We're more in need of a pace setter in midfielder and someone who can consistently find forward passes, rather than hardworkers, in my opinion.

In an ideal world, I'd keep Pogba, which would allow us to play him deep as a 6, or as a 10, if/when we decide to rotate Bruno.

Bruno
Fred Pogba

Matic and McTominay to rotate.
 
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If Pog stays, we are fine. If he goes, we need a top midfielder.. Just Bruno as a replacement isnt enough..
 
M Bison said:
Everyone saying only Matić is a DM out of the 3 but if you were to draw out your ideal midfield using our current personnel, I don’t think Matic would be in it.

Id say it’s probably Fred holding with Bruno and Pogba either side.
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No but ideally

Pogba Bruno
New DM

Or

Bruno
Pogba Fred
New DM​
 
-Supreme- said:
Didn't Ole say we needed a fullback, 2 midfielders, winger, and striker, before the January transfer window?

And this matches to his latest comment about needing 2-3 more players i.e. fullback, midfielder and winger
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when did he say thaaaat?
 
Walters_19_MuFc said:
No. In a 4231, you don't necessarily need a specialist defensive midfield, because often in a double pivot, the two at the base will dovetail like centre midfielders used to do back in the day. In Fred and McTominay, despite none of them being specialist defensive midfielders, due to their skillset and dynamism, they have the ability to cover every blade of the pitch, and if I'm honest, we look pretty solid when they two play. I'd even add Matic in there, who has also been solid of late, too.

With the three you mentioned, with Pogba or possibly Bruno dropping deeper to play alongside one of them, we have enough defensive/hardworking midfielders. We've seen the level Bruno has taken to since his arrival. We need more of those type of players, in my opinion.

If Bruno is definitely going to be our 10 next season, and we sell Pogba, then I would get Fabian Ruiz. We're more in need of a pace setter in midfielder and someone who can consistently find forward passes, rather than hardworkers, in my opinion.
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What about if we play both Pogba and Bruno with Bruno as a #10?
 
I’d quite happily keep Matic and develop Garner in the role! Not sure why everyone is worried about his age?31/32 is no age for a player in his position! I mean Scholes, Giggs and Carrick have played there for us in their mid to later 30’s!
I’d happily splurge our whole budget on Jadon and a top class striker
 
Matic, Fred and Mctominay should be our back up midfield. A new DM (Partey), Pogba and Bruno should be our first choice midfield.
 
DM is a specialist position and, currently, Matic is the only one we've got, which makes a new one fairly vital. Not as vital as RW but it should definitely be higher up the list of priorities than someone like Grealish. That's assuming we keep Pogba.
 
Thiagoal said:
I’d quite happily keep Matic and develop Garner in the role! Not sure why everyone is worried about his age?31/32 is no age for a player in his position! I mean Scholes, Giggs and Carrick have played there for us in their mid to later 30’s!
I’d happily splurge our whole budget on Jadon and a top class striker
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The worrying is that at 31 he needs to be rested like a 35 year old player. Don't want to imagine in a few more years.
 
The only position we need is RW, and it should be prioritized.

Signings in other positions depend. If a top player in any position is available for the right price we should look to strengthen, but we don't have to sign in any other position, and we most certainly don't need to break the bank or overpay for other positions.
 
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