The main problem is not the midfield. It is in the absence of Vidic, the defence which seems incapable to stopping conceding early goals. As for the midfield: Giggs and Scholes should not start together in a key match. When they on the ptich together need some strong legs around them to make sure they are not overwhelmed by stronger and more pacy players. Kagawa should only play when there is plenty of defensive cover.
So without getting into a Scholes debate lets agree that he's a top player but now looking to retire. So you lot have Carrick Kagawa Jones Giggs Cleverly We have Lucas Gerrard Allen Shelvey Sahin Leaving Henderson out as he's not really playing at the moment and that's the main 5 each. Giggs again coming to the end of a brilliant career so at THIS moment in time any of our midfield should replace him. (Ducks for cover) Cleverly and Jones are young upcoming midfielders and we would argue all day about who is better when put against Allen and Shelvey and bias would win. So then Lucas better than Carrick? FACT Gerrard better than Kagawa he's not played enough for that to be disputed. OFF WE GO THEN.
Surely you should be comparing Allen with Carrick because they both like to pass 10 yards sideways, although Carrick has the ability to be a lot more creative he just refuses to do it.
Not a fact, opinion. I don't rate Lucas at all so we'll never agree. Gerrard, past it so no point. Allen, exactly what we DON'T need. We need impetus and direction, not pointless little triangles. Shelvey, rather have any of ours, he wouldn't improve us in any shape or form. Henderson is never in a million years good enough to play for Manchester United. Sent from my car in traffic!
Oh, and Sahin isn't actually yours but even so the jury is well out as he's barely kicked a ball. Remains to be seen on him.
Carrick is more of a deep lying playmaker though (when he decides to look forward that is), Lucas is much more of a foul machine.
We were never going to agree. I would have thought Allen would be good in your team finding the wide men, accurate passing and good in the tackle?
Was looking to pick the main 5 but we could go Henderson and Anderson but do we really want to go there?
To be honest the only one I would have in the United midfield is the one your team doesn't own, Sahin, I've liked that guy since he was at Dortmund, he made a mistake joining Real when he did because he was always going to be nothing more than Alonso's backup in that team.
Look how civilised this all is aswell Luv Anyway as Pyscho says, Sahins the one who would be a possibility. Decent player who made a bad career choice. I think our younger midfield is perfectly capable against most teams and the right combination of young and old in the big games is good enough. Thing is SAF doesnt often pick the right one. Carrick as a DM with Clev/Ando and Fletcher infront in bug games. Kagawa out wide. Clev and Ando with Kagawa in front in games where we need less protection. Fletcher when we need a detroyer type.
I'm not one of the more "blinkered" fans, I would agree if I thought any of them would be a big improvement over what we already have, when we play three in the middle of the park like Liverpool our midfield actually looks a hell of a lot more solid too but Fergie prefers to use two with Rooney often dropping back to help out. Fletcher coming back is huge and fills the gap that Lucas could of been useful for, Carrick is our sideways man so I don't see a need for Allen, Gerrard is on the downward spiral now and we already have plenty of old guys of our own so we don't need another, Shelvey I have rarely been impressed with, constantly running out of position like a headless chicken and always looks like a red card waiting to happen, Sahin as I have said I would have and then there's Henderson, I would honestly rather promote Tunnicliffe and see how he does in the first team.