iam_kramer:

Tuor:

It goes to show how much we have missed Fletch this season.

yeah i agree.
don't know about JAvi Martinez, haven't seen many of his games.
is he a player that "stands on his own" so to say? or is he a passenger.

I live in Spain so i have watched him a lot and i can definately say he stands on his own. He's a very versatile player can play DM, can bring the ball forward and can dictate play. The Bilbao manager has been using him as CB, it would be like signing 3 players in 1.

Tuor:

I mentioned in a post earlier about cleverley and Ando. I would have loved to have seen how we would have progressed if those two stayed fit. Some of the football in the beginning of the season was top class. But as you point out: the injuries came.

For me, it has been the lack of energy in the midfield, and an inability to be able to cope with teams who play a high pressing game. The games against Bilbao and Wigan spring to mind. We couldn't cope with the energy of their midfield's, which was compounded by the fact that they both played with three in the middle. In times past United have had a good balance in the midfield: Roy Keane, Paul Ince, Nicky but, Owen Hargreaves and Darren Fletcher all offered energy and steel to the midfield. It goes to show how much we have missed Fletch this season. His energy, determination and 'passion' has got us through a lot of big crunch games.

I think it is a must that we sign a midfielder with energy and determination; preferably with good technical attributes. Javi Martinez springs to mind. If we can get a player of that ilk, to complement the emerging young talent, I feel we will be far more effective as a team.

If we can sign Martinez, Hazard , Clyne and can keep Pogba i will be more than happy. Number one on my list would be Martinez.

Tuor:

It goes to show how much we have missed Fletch this season.

yeah i agree.
don't know about JAvi Martinez, haven't seen many of his games.
is he a player that "stands on his own" so to say? or is he a passenger.

iam_kramer:

i think we need a midfield commander, i'm going to say it again, Roy Keane. you can say the games changed but we need that sort of attitude.
thing is, i don't think we can just buy this type of player.

Exactly, Roy Keane would fight his own shadow if it looked at him wrong, that's what's missing from this current squad, we have no one with this fighting spirit and leadership.What i would give to have a Keane-Robson type player, but as you say this type of player is very rare.

i think we need a midfield commander, i'm going to say it again, Roy Keane. you can say the games changed but we need that sort of attitude.
thing is, i don't think we can just buy this type of player.

I mentioned in a post earlier about cleverley and Ando. I would have loved to have seen how we would have progressed if those two stayed fit. Some of the football in the beginning of the season was top class. But as you point out: the injuries came.

For me, it has been the lack of energy in the midfield, and an inability to be able to cope with teams who play a high pressing game. The games against Bilbao and Wigan spring to mind. We couldn't cope with the energy of their midfielders', which was compounded by the fact that they both played with three in the middle. In times past United have had a good balance in the midfield: Roy Keane, Paul Ince, Nicky but, Owen Hargreaves and Darren Fletcher all offered energy and steel to the midfield. It goes to show how much we have missed Fletch this season. His energy, determination and 'passion' has got us through a lot of big crunch games.

I think it is a must that we sign a midfielder with energy and determination; preferably with good technical attributes. Javi Martinez springs to mind. If we can get a player of that ilk, to complement the emerging young talent, I feel we will be far more effective as a team.

I think for the most part you're right, but I do think the fight has been there which was what got us back to the top but then what creeps in... you guessed it the inconsistency again and lack of focus and that cost us big against Everton and Wigan. Yesterday had nothing to do with neither... SAF picked the wrong side and made a huge mistake, he took away our identity and chose to play for the draw and that was for me his worst decision all season. I love the man but it's on his shoulders if we loose the title... but thats obvious anyway.

What we need is less injuries better midfielders and to stop relying on Giggs and Scholes so much. It's time to spend money and get serious. Not huge vast amounts but the right quality and youth to take us forward. The midfield can no longer be overlooked, not that it has, I don't know it's just gutting man! Come on the TOON!

forevergiggs:

What scares me more than most is for the last few months we are playing with almost our strongest side and we seen what Bilbao did to us.i've yet to see that passion we are famous for, we are playing like a team of strangers.

Couldnt agree with you more mate! GGR

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