City look like they will sign Martinez in the summer although i hope this isnt true as we could do with a great all round midfielder like him.If we dont sign Martinez Eriksen would be great who i see as a long term replacement for Scholes.He has shown that he can play in central midfield and can track back when needed aswell.Also sign a more attacking midfielder like Hazard aswell.I would hate to see City sign Martinez whether this is true or not we have to wait and see.We do need to improve our squad who knows who SAF has in mind.

mancrh:

Didn't watch him play apart from our two games, aye mate? He's far from being a 'defender playing as a midfielder'. He's a mobile version of Alonso, in the sense that he's reading the game and intercepting rather than tackling 10 times a game, his ability to bring the ball forward is brilliant, same with his short and long distance passing skills. The only reason he's playing as a center back is because they wanted someone who's solid enough in defending but one that can also bring the ball forward from the back line. Very rare talent, and not your everyday defensive midfielder like M'Vila. That said, as much as he'd be my perfect signing, can't see it happening.

This one.

mate what do mean forget about him. don't deny this, with martinez, we would have a better midfield. no if's or ut's about it, he would improve us lots, so the back 4 would feel less pressure with a man infront of them, and then hopefully either cleverley or a new cm signing will have freedom to attack without worrying about the consequences too much

DBYGFX:

He'd be stupid to go to City, and I distinctly remember Anderson playing CDM, and Hargreaves?

Maybe Anderson played deep but hes not defensive

Didn't watch him play apart from our two games, aye mate? He's far from being a 'defender playing as a midfielder'. He's a mobile version of Alonso, in the sense that he's reading the game and intercepting rather than tackling 10 times a game, his ability to bring the ball forward is brilliant, same with his short and long distance passing skills. The only reason he's playing as a center back is because they wanted someone who's solid enough in defending but one that can also bring the ball forward from the back line. Very rare talent, and not your everyday defensive midfielder like M'Vila. That said, as much as he'd be my perfect signing, can't see it happening.

I can see your point. We dont use DMs in a traditional role... However when we have a 2 man CM we do use one defensively minded CM hence Carrick gets the games he does.

However from watching Martinez surely you can see he is sort of like Carrick, but with the addition of bits of better passing and also he is a player not affraid to tackle. Someone we have lacked for a while really and with the uncertain future of Fletch I can see us going for someone like Martinez.

In terms of Witsel we have no chance I dont think, If we wanted him we would have brought him last summer while he was on the cheap and before he moved.. He hasnt even completed his first season with his latest club and to see him move would be very slim and well the price would be a hell of a lot higher then it was in the past summer. It doesnt seem logical.

He'd be stupid to go to City, and I distinctly remember Anderson playing CDM, and Hargreaves?

We don't use defensive midfielders, we never have really under Fergie. People will say that Roy Keane was a defensive midfielder but the fact is, if you even remember, Keane was an all rounder like Robson when we first bought him, and was scoring goals. He turned into a more defensive player as he developed and when he was partnered with Scholes.

Teams that play the modern way, usually that play a 433 formation, rely on a defensive midfielder to allow the other 2 midfielders to attack alot more. Usually this defensive midfielder is a ball winner and doesnt get forward alot. Martinez and Busquets are good examples and to be honest, theyre more like centre backs that play in midfield.

Alot of people want us to develop a more modern style (myself included) and have a midfielder like this but its not gonna happen. If we buy a midfielder at all, he will more than likely be like the midfielders we have - not defensive and not too attacking but somewhere in the middle. Let City have Martinez. We will go for Witzel