Watching Manchester United’s midfield completely swamped by Sunderland on Saturday one couldn’t help but think of the long season ahead. Patently past it’s best and with no effort made to improve the quality this summer, Sir Alex Ferguson stands accused of being negligent in his strategy to improve United’s midfield.
This observation is true whatever restrictions the Old Trafford money men have put in place recently. Certainly, Ferguson is either not willing or not allowed to spend heavily, with the club laying out a net £10 million this summer. So overused has it become that the ‘V-word’ cannot be mentioned without it becoming yet another cliché of the Glazer regime.
Not that the resolution to United’s problems necessarily lies in spending vast sums but Ferguson’s midfield – comprising mostly of players years past their peak, perennially injured, out-of-form or simply not good enough – now cannot compete at the highest level unless the Scot places faith in weight of numbers.
Even then it is almost impossible to make an argument that any United midfielder falls into the – for want of a less hackneyed phrase – ‘world class’ bracket.
Little has changed since the end of the window of course. United began the season with question marks hanging over each member of the midfield other than Nani. Even then fans were right to ask whether the Portuguese winger could replicate his form over the second part of last season in the coming year.
Elsewhere Ferguson possesses plenty of options but little stardust.
Even Paul Scholes, who has been fabulous against mediocre opposition this season, found it impossible to impose himself on the game against Sunderland. It is little wonder, with the 35-year-old’s legs failing him when United’s opponents press fast and hard as the Black Cats did on Saturday.
Scholes’ erstwhile creative successor, Michael Carrick, still appears slumped in the stupor that he has inhabited for more than a year now. The former Spurs player’s ability to screen United’s defence and rotate play at speed was essential to the club winning three Premier League trophies in a row from 2007-9.
Few regard the Geordie in that bracket now; perhaps even the manager, who almost certainly sanctioned a move away from Old Trafford in the summer had any suitable bids been lodged.
Anderson too has much to prove now he is recovered from serious injury. The Brazilian was unlucky to find himself occupying a loose left-sided position against Sunderland after his role at the head of United’s midfield quintet in Valencia last week. But he was again wasteful in possession on Wearside, gifting the ball away one third of the time. Worst still, only one incomplete pass was what might be deemed an attempt to create a goalscoring opportunity.
The Brazilian promises much but has so rarely delivered in his three season’s at Old Trafford to make supporters’ hopes that the 22-year-old will ride to United’s rescue seem fanciful at best.
Even Darren Fletcher is suffering this season, with the Scot’s performance well below the level United fans have come to expect over the past two years. It says much for the improvement in the Dalkeith-born player that fans are disappointed rather than merely resigned to expectation when the Scot fails to lift United from its midfield slumber.
It leaves Ferguson with the rest, which offers little hope of a short term fix, except to those of a perennial optimistic bent. Giggs, a true United legend, will pass 37 this season and can no longer operate frequently on the left wing. Darron Gibson continues to shoot at every opportunity unless a safe five yard pass offers itself instead, although the Irishman frequently traps the ball just as far in any case.
On the left of the Derry Dynamo, Park Ji-Sung can be seen running up any blind alley offered. So poor are the South Korean’s performances since the World Cup that even the clichéd energy seems to have drained from the lifeless corpse that is the 29-year-old’s form. Workrate is his raison d’etre.
Gabriel Obertan’s chances of a first team match in the coming months are minimal, while Owen Hargreaves could make his return in this month’s Carling Cup third round tie with Wolverhampton Wanders. If his leg remains attached at the knee, Ferguson will surely be pleased.
Meanwhile, in the midst the barrage of incompetency United served up on Saturday, £8 million Rafael van der Vaart continues to star for Tottenham Hotspur, £12.4 million Mesut Özil takes La Liga by storm and £12.4 million Wesley Sneijder continues to do what the Dutchman has done for the past year. It’s that V-word again.
Despite the gloom that comes with more dropped points, Bébé made his Premier League début at the Stadium of Light, coming on for Anderson with 10 minutes to go. It’s about as much as Zoran Tošić achieved in two years with the club, so therein lies an improvement at least.
The £7.4 million winger, bought sight-unseen by Ferguson this summer, still has some way to go before the exorbitant fee is recouped by the club. Never has United needed the homeless more than today.
It’s the midfield, stupid
(70 posts) (16 voices)-
Editor & Moderator at http://www.unitedrant.co.ukPosted 2 years ago #
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Anonymous
Unregistered
only the blind can not see that the midfield is lacking..
Posted 2 years ago # -
Anonymous
Unregistered Meanwhile Tosic flourishes in Moscow, Ljajic does the same at Fiorentina.
Remember though, “this is the season for youth”. Wasn’t that what he said.. We should have kept Cleverley as well.
Give Eikrem a go… at least he might look like he cared…
Not good…
Posted 2 years ago # -
Anonymous
Unregistered Its amazing that people contributing to this and other sites have been saying the same thing about our midfield over the year or so. What is wrong with SAF is he blind to the fact that we are just not good enough and is no value in the market is laughable. Buying for the future is all well and good but don’t forget the boss is getting on and will retire soon. What will happen then if the next manager doesn’t like what has been bought and wants in the type of players that fit his system. SAF should be buying now to replace the mediocre midfield he has. How many would get in the Chelsea side? – none I fear. Its years since our midfield frightened team. I feel its going to be a long season.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Anonymous
Unregistered The Ljajic signing – or lack of – is odd. By all accounts he’s been very impressive for the Viola. We’re led to believe that Cleverley was the reason for not going through with it, but then he’s carted off to Wigan. For whatever reason, Fergie didnt fancy Tosic and Obertan is now getting the same treatment.
We can argue about the quality/form, but what is undeniable is a serious lack of energy in the centre. Fletch looks over stretched and generally knackered.
Javi Martinez and Rodwell are obvious signings which fit the current philosophy, but I won’t hold my breath.
Hargo is apparently training well, but again I ain’t holding my breath. I think a lot depends on Ando “doing a Nani”, but at the moment I can’t see it. There are little glimpses of talent – he shields the ball well – but he just gives the ball away all the time – a serious lack of confidence.
I notice you put “If his leg remains attacked at the knee”. I’m sure you meant attached but if Karl Henry plays there’s every chande you will be right.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Anonymous
Unregistered
why critize the midfield. its the midfield all of us would suggest. its got the best combination we have. anderson-fletch-scholes. what went wrong?
likely its the tactics. fergie didn't bring out the best of that combie.
Posted 2 years ago # -
triggs
Member
humblepie said:
why critize the midfield. its the midfield all of us would suggest. its got the best combination we have. anderson-fletch-scholes. what went wrong?likely its the tactics. fergie didn't bring out the best of that combie.
I think if Berba and Hernandez had started we would have beaten Sunderland. There were no outlets until they came on.
But that dosent change the fact that the midfield has (and has for a while) suffered from a lack of quality, form and energy. Fergie spunked a load of money on Ando and Hargo in the summer of 2007. That's the last central midfield purchases we've had. Both, for differing reasons, haven't worked out.
Posted 2 years ago # -
uncleknobheadffs
Member
hargreaves hasn't orked out because he wasn't good enough regardless of injuries
anderson hasn't worked out because he clearly isn't a midfielder in a 442 and we don't have a clue what he is after three years
carrick hasn't worked out because he's not good enough
fletcher hasn't worked out because he's not good enough
scholes is no longer good enough
giggs is no longer good enough
gibson isn't good enough
valencia isn't good enough
obertran isn't good enough
oshea...
LKHM
hoofingPosted 2 years ago # -
triggs
Member uncleknobheadforfucksake said:
hargreaves hasn't orked out because he wasn't good enough regardless of injuriesanderson hasn't worked out because he clearly isn't a midfielder in a 442 and we don't have a clue what he is after three years
carrick hasn't worked out because he's not good enough
fletcher hasn't worked out because he's not good enough
scholes is no longer good enough
giggs is no longer good enough
gibson isn't good enough
valencia isn't good enough
obertran isn't good enough
oshea...
Who is good enough to you? Who would you have United sign (who is actually gettable, i.e. not Xavi etc.)?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Anonymous
Unregistered yup, pretty beat up point but doesn’t hurt to highlight the ordinary united mid fld once again. if only it could be brought the attention of the ppl that matter – at the club. if united does well this season, it will be another case of overachieving. i don’t give a merdaa about cups and trophies this season cus frankly – i don’t think we’ve a good enough squad to win it. but while being realistic, i do expect united to continue playing good football. with this lack of connection and build up play from mid fld, even that is proving elusive
Posted 2 years ago # -
I am very concerned about the state of the midfield, but the fact is we have a number of midfielders who I feel are actually good enough, but have run out of form. I think, quite clearly, we are struggling as a side to get going. It is unfortunate, with Berbatov in the form of his life, that the team around him is struggling so much.
I think what United need to get going is to really go to town on a side - any side - to get the season fired up. Form comes from confidence, confidence comes from performance, performance comes from form.... >,< .... So what is needed is someone to come to OT looking extremely poor. I was hoping that would be Liverpool - and it should have been, we should have won 5 or 6 nil - but the defence let United down with an extremely patchy performance that cost us that thumping with two silly errors.
Carrick and Fletcher are currently in a severe slump. What they need is a stirring performance to get them going again. I believe Anderson needs time in central midfield - not out on the wing "doing a job" - to get his game back. I think 4 - 5 - 1 could be the answer. Whack all three in midfield, Carrick sitting, Fletch + Ando box to box, with Berbatov up top, stick Rooney out on the wing (controversial I know...) with Nani on t'other one, and play 4 - 5 - 1 in defence, 4 - 3 - 3 going forward.
My suggestion would be in the Carling Cup, play a strong midfield - Bébé / Fletch / Carrick / Ando / Nani, with Hernandez up front, and go with the intention of absolutely tonking Wolves. No respite, no stopping, just aggressive, attacking football. Really go out with one intention - to fucking hammer them 4 or 5 nil and really give them a shoeing.
Rooney is quite simply stressed out to fook, and probably needs time out to spend with his missus and his kid. He shouldn't be playing for England, he should be getting his heead right. For me, that leaves a great opportunity for Obertain and Bébé to really prove they are up to the job at United. Give them the opportunity to play 3 - 6 games in a row in the Premier League. Full starts, not 10 mins here and there. And if one of them sparkles, good.
I feel like we need to accept this season is not going to be a trophy filled one unfortunately and build for the next. Chelsea will smash through the average dross that occupies the Premier League all season like they already have. That leaves the domestic cups. I'd prefer the FA Cup if possible though I think Arsenal will go all out to win that - all on the provision that next year we're ready and able to properly challenge.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Anonymous
Unregistered While it’s true that a lot of our midfielders are in a rut I still firmly believe Anderson has what it takes to succeed here.
He’s struggling,just like Carrick is right now but I see a spark in him which makes me believe that he has the balls to establish himself in our midfield.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Anonymous
Unregistered At the end of the day, in order to mask the lack of quality central midfielders we will be playing 4-5-1 in many of the more difficult games.
The definition of “difficult” is growing by the day, due to our lack of quality, but also the opposition improving.
For the record I’m not that discouraged with our 6 wingers, Nani, Valencia, Giggs, Park, Obertan & Bebe aren’t that bad a group.
However its the central midfielders is the group that provides the real worry. Unfortunately centre mid is probably the key battleground when deciding the outcome of any game.
In all honesty Cleverley and Eikrem are quickly looking like better prospects than the likes of Hargreaves, Carrick & Anderson. They are undoubtedly fitter & more dynamic on the ball.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Alfonso Bedoya
Moderator
Two signings...
If Fergie splashed the neccessary, and signed two of, Rodwell, De Rossi, Sneijder... we'd be fine... end of.
Two of those would cost a quite a few quid... but so what? We're SUPPOSED to be one of the wealthiest clubs in the game, with a great wad of cash in the bank, just waiting to be spent.
What's the problem?
"Badges, to god-damned hell with badges! We have no badges. In fact, we don't need badges. I don't have to show you any stinking badges, you god-damned cabrón and ching' tu madre! Come out from that shit-hole of yours. I have to speak to you."Posted 2 years ago # -
Alfonso Bedoya
Moderator Unregistered User said:
While it’s true that a lot of our midfielders are in a rut I still firmly believe Anderson has what it takes to succeed here.He’s struggling,just like Carrick is right now but I see a spark in him which makes me believe that he has the balls to establish himself in our midfield.
I don't know what "spark" you're on about mate... perhaps it's the "spark" that lights the big, fat joint in his gob, cause he plays like he's fuckin stoned.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Anonymous
Unregistered The fact that he was able to dominate the midfield against the likes of Gerrard and Fabregas in his 1st season showed us all that he definitely has something in him.
It’s a pity that he hasn’t been able to build on his performances in his debut season but I still believe there is a chance that he can impress again.
Atleast that’s what I’m hoping for !
Cheers.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Anonymous
Unregistered
Unregistered User said:
For the record I’m not that discouraged with our 6 wingers, Nani, Valencia, Giggs, Park, Obertan & Bebe aren’t that bad a group.Let's see... Nani is improving but often infuriatingly inconsistent, Valencia's injured, Giggs (Legend) no longer has the pace to breeze past right backs and put in a killer cross, Park is useless as a winger, while Obertan and Bebe have yet to do anything. What encouragement is there to found in this group?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Alfonso Bedoya
Moderator RobDiablo said:
Let's see... Nani is improving but often infuriatingly inconsistent, Valencia's injured, Giggs (Legend) no longer has the pace to breeze past right backs and put in a killer cross, Park is useless as a winger, while Obertan and Bebe have yet to do anything. What encouragement is there to found in this group?I must correct you Rob Lad.
"Park is useless as a winger"???
Park is useless...
Period!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Alfonso Bedoya
Moderator Park was usefull once, when he was "three lung"... he was like a moving obstacle, that opposing players had to dodge and pass around... very tricky for teams that couldn't pass the ball, and frustrating as fuck for teams that could.
Now he's just a fuckin bollard!
Posted 2 years ago # -
uncleknobheadffs
Member anderson has never 'dominated' gerrard, our wins at anfield in the last few years have been flukey smash and grabs after being battered, struggling to keep the ball, rio and vidic playing out their skin and us nicking a goal on a setpiece,
any domination he had of fabregas was that cup game at ot when we0beat an arsenal team that were barely interested
Posted 2 years ago # -
bman
Member
This post could have been written at any time over the past 5 years, and probably was. Our midfield has problems and lots of room for improvement, but it's also perennially underappreciated. Fletcher and Scholes are still two of the best midfielders in England. Hargo was before he was crocked. You talk about "relying on numbers" as if that's a sign of weakness. FFS, United is the only top team in Europe to consistently play with only two central midfielders, sign of weakness my arse, that's a sign of confidence.
The main problem was Owen offering nothing for Fletch, Scholes, and Anderson to work with. Actually no, the main problem is on the left of midfield, we need a genuine left-sided player to give us balance. Not only are Scholes and Fletch usually playing 2 against 3 in the middle, they're doing it without proper outlets on the left side of the pitch to compensate. Too much reliance on the right side for attacking makes them look limited, when really they are just lacking options.
Carrick's form has dropped, and Anderson and Hargreaves haven't worked out well so far. The problem is not that Fergie hasn't invested in midfield, because he's invested big money in all three of those players, the problem was that the money was spent poorly.
We are always shite at the start of the season, I don't know why, it's infuriating.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Anonymous
Unregistered Give Anderson a run in the team in central midfield. We have to make a decision on him. Either he can be the answer to our problems or we sell him and buy someone who is.
And now with Valencia injured play Obertan. I’d prefer to see him on the left wing than Park or Giggs.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Anonymous
Unregistered I think there’s no chance of de Rossi moving. Mourinho couldnt convince him to go to Real in the summer. But I agree he’s exactly what we need.
Obviously in hindsight Fergie should have included Sneijder in the Ronaldo deal. Now his wage demands are beyond United.
Rodwell, Martinez and Defour are/were all targets. Why Fergie didnt bring at least one in – I’d love to know.
If Carrick and Ando’s poor form and Hargo’s injuries continue surely someone will arrive in January.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Anonymous
Unregistered @ rip bri and gary coleman – I agree on Ando. Not been a fan of him since he signed, preferred Nani and saw more potential in him.
@ bman – Problem was Kiko and Owen were rubbish and need to be slated. Owen needs to show he IS still more than a carling cup player. Kiko needs to show he has what it takes cos he won’t get many more opportunities.. Petrucci, King, Diouf, Hernandez, maybe even Bebe on his coattails. Bebe has more pace than Hernadez!! He will be class down our left. I would play him there and say, “Sink or Swim.” Gibson isn’t getting games nor Ando. I am not Ando’s fan but he should play ahead of Carrick. Gibson ahead of Fletch. Say to both of them, ya better improve to play.
Valencia is a massive loss too.
positive note – Defour and De Gea bids are due in june (£12m + £18m?). Both are available and we have 30 mill to spend. We’d get £6m + back by selling one of Park, Carrick, Gibbo, Ando.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Anonymous
Unregistered Also, let’s admit two things, it’s a long season AHEAD of us.
2 – As there are 31 games left in the league, ‘Pool (of Merseyside not Blackpool…) will be top 10 if not top 6 at the end of it. And we have 31 games to gain four points on a fit and playing well Chelsea. Form will dip for them too.
Posted 2 years ago #
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