Midfield Balance

[JoelfuckingGlazer]

Tielemans for 35m is outstanding business. In his prime. PL proven, here for the right reasons and apparently a boyhood United fan. And his profile is perfect, he can play with any of our other midfield options. And it's a deal which indicates that the club knows we need 6 or 7 bringing in this summer, so we can't be hung up on this idea of 'marquee' signing.

[Remi Moses]

The pattern emerging is that United are building a midfield around hybrid progression players rather than fixed specialists. Mainoo regularly connected play from deep last season because of his press resistance, progressing through accurate short passes or by carrying through pressure. Tielemans has become more of a deep-lying playmaker, progressing through long passing, switches and early vertical balls. Santos showed at Strasbourg that he can crash the box and score goals, but at Chelsea he also proved he can sit deeper, release runners like Caicedo and Enzo, duel well, and punch fast central passes through the lines.

The common thread is that all three are comfortable receiving deep and each has a reliable progression route. That allows fluid rotation rather than rigid 6/8 roles. The missing traits are athleticism, ball-winning and aerial dominance. But a player who offers those qualities while also being press-resistant and progressive is essentially a world-class midfielder. That may explain why United appear to have saved their biggest midfield spend for this final profile.

[JoelfuckingGlazer]

I also think we're planning for an eventually move to a flatter midfield 3 post Bruno. One where any 3 from a pool of 5 or 6, could be deployed.

[Remi Moses]

Great, in depth look at Andrey Santos:

[Felwin]

Mount injured against PSG...

Nothing left to say is there?

[FuB]

Got kicked on the ankle so hopefully just a bruise

[Jason]

Tielemans has looked quality. He will bring a lot if he can stay fit.

Overall the mf is much better than last year with Santos and Tielemans added. Will miss casemiros winners, but hopefully the better balance and control helps to counter that.

If Mount can stay fit all the better, but for all the doom and gloom on transfers, Tielemans, Santos, Mount, Mainoo offer a good mix if fit.

I would still like 1 more tbf, to help with the load over the season.

[JoelfuckingGlazer]

I really like the 2 midfielders we've added. I think they could fundamentally change how we play, as we've seriously levelled up the mobility and press resistance of that area of the pitch. We're clearly struggling to land this 3rd 'marquee' midfielder signing - we're being linked with an 18 year old at Leicester who's played half a season in the Championship. If we can't get established quality, I'd rather sign young potential than overpriced squad filler. I imagine our plans have been disrupted by having to take Rashford's wages back on the books - we were clearly expecting him to have moved on.

Left Back and Centre Back are problems though. No way is Shaw playing every game this season, Martinez is a crock, De Ligt might never play again, and Heaven is promising but raw.

[dozer]

Tielemans has looked quality. He will bring a lot if he can stay fit.

Overall the mf is much better than last year with Santos and Tielemans added. Will miss casemiros winners, but hopefully the better balance and control helps to counter that.

If Mount can stay fit all the better, but for all the doom and gloom on transfers, Tielemans, Santos, Mount, Mainoo offer a good mix if fit.

I would still like 1 more tbf, to help with the load over the season.

I find that point about an improved midfield debatable. Casemiro's contribution as a goal threat, as a deep lying midfielder was world class. Our main threat in set pieces is over.

If both the new midfielders turn out to be successes then we would have improved significantly in general gameplay, yes.

[fat maradona]

I find that point about an improved midfield debatable. Casemiro's contribution as a goal threat, as a deep lying midfielder was world class. Our main threat in set pieces is over.

If both the new midfielders turn out to be successes then we would have improved significantly in general gameplay, yes.

He was only marginally a very good player in his first and last seasons, in between those, every single fan moaned about how we'd signed a mercenary. Sure we're gonna miss him but from what I've seen in pre-season, Santos is less of a liability in our third and Tielemans will offer a far superior range of passing. And so I'd agree, we've improved our midfield this summer but not to the level that the club had suggested.