Mascherano's replacement has to be a holding midfielder

[shaunstrudwick]

I think a mixture of Gerrard, Aquilani, Martinez and Lucas would give us loads of different options personally, but it depends how you want to play. I'm more of a fan of balanced partnerships than specialists and I think any two or three of those should be able to play well together depending on the opposition. Only question mark there might be Aquilani as I'm not sure about him yet but even as pretty much a specialist attacker, if he's any good you should be able to use him with any one or two of the other three if they play a more defensive role.

 

this^

 

however Aquilani and Joe Cole are very similar imo so not sure if Aquilani will get games or not

 

Lucas and Gerrard in the middle wouldn't be the end of the world if it meant we could use the money to get Turan and another striker in

[standing_fan]

Poulsen was huge in that Shalke - AC Milan game. He gave Kaka a fucking lesson and Gattuso won't forget him in a hurry. A real competitor. A good replacement for Mash.

[Jose Jones]

It needs to be someone who can get on the ball and pass it a bit as well able to cover and tackle.

I’ve come around to moving Gerrard back, with Cole behind Torres, but we need someone in the middle who is calm on the ball, and can get us playing football.

Not sure who that is though.

[WaltonRed]

Veloso anyone?

[KirkdaleRick]

Poulsen was huge in that Shalke - AC Milan game. He gave Kaka a fucking lesson and Gattuso won't forget him in a hurry. A real competitor. A good replacement for Mash.

 

5 years ago.

[Redshadow]

What about Muntari? I know it was in the news yesterday that Rafa'/Inter (not sure IF Rafa's in full control of who goes in and out there TBH) might offer us him - Now I may be wrong but I think he was pretty exceptional for Portsmouth a few years back as a DM - He cut down United players like he was on a bonus per cartilage when they won at OT in the FA Cup and I'm pretty sure I remember him scoring a couple of brilliant goals in another game as well (can't remember WHO against - THINK it might have been Villa or Brum) showing that he can spring forward as well.

 

He Reminded me of Sissoko TBH but with a bit more positional sense and passing ability (not to mention a Murderous shot). I think he might do well IF he comes here as we ALWAYS seem to increase/maximise the ability of so-called unknown players (before they come to us - Remember Ronnie Whelan and Ian Rush? Or an unknown Argentine called Mascherano? A little known Spaniard named Alonso or a Barcelona Reserve named Luis Garcia - Not to mention the magic Rafa' worked on Peter Crouch's International Prospects AND career.

 

As I said, we Always seem to maximise the abilities of and do FAR better with unknown players who we can mould rather than established so-called 'stars' (remember Cisse when He came here? Or the flop that was Nigel Clough? What about Ruddock? Or Diao/Diouf or Paul Ince? NONE did as well as we thought they would - Maybe something about our club - We're better at MAKING Stars than buying them - Mayhap United are the opposite? Anyway, with all that in Mind - I think Muntari Might be a good replacment for Masch'.

[standing_fan]

5 years ago.

 

YEh Kakas shit now as well. Good point.

[Kopite Pete]

Javi Martinez, but he is probably too young for Hodgson and i doubt he has even heard of him. Maybe a Scandinavian some where will do. Poulsen Maybe?

[WrongIslander]

What about Muntari? I know it was in the news yesterday that Rafa'/Inter (not sure IF Rafa's in full control of who goes in and out there TBH) might offer us him - Now I may be wrong but I think he was pretty exceptional for Portsmouth a few years back as a DM - He cut down United players like he was on a bonus per cartilage when they won at OT in the FA Cup and I'm pretty sure I remember him scoring a couple of brilliant goals in another game as well (can't remember WHO against - THINK it might have been Villa or Brum) showing that he can spring forward as well.

 

He Reminded me of Sissoko TBH but with a bit more positional sense and passing ability (not to mention a Murderous shot). I think he might do well IF he comes here as we ALWAYS seem to increase/maximise the ability of so-called unknown players (before they come to us - Remember Ronnie Whelan and Ian Rush? Or an unknown Argentine called Mascherano? A little known Spaniard named Alonso or a Barcelona Reserve named Luis Garcia - Not to mention the magic Rafa' worked on Peter Crouch's International Prospects AND career.

 

As I said, we Always seem to maximise the abilities of and do FAR better with unknown players who we can mould rather than established so-called 'stars' (remember Cisse when He came here? Or the flop that was Nigel Clough? What about Ruddock? Or Diao/Diouf or Paul Ince? NONE did as well as we thought they would - Maybe something about our club - We're better at MAKING Stars than buying them - Mayhap United are the opposite? Anyway, with all that in Mind - I think Muntari Might be a good replacment for Masch'.

 

Not sure I agree but you put together a good case other than "unknown argentine". I was praying we signed Alonso but fairplay he wasn't exactly a household name but Mascherano was hardly unknown.

 

Good post though.

 

Ah Clough, he wasn't the player we hoped but he did give us that fantastic night against the mancs.

[Jose Jones]

What about Muntari? I know it was in the news yesterday that Rafa'/Inter (not sure IF Rafa's in full control of who goes in and out there TBH) might offer us him - Now I may be wrong but I think he was pretty exceptional for Portsmouth a few years back as a DM - He cut down United players like he was on a bonus per cartilage when they won at OT in the FA Cup and I'm pretty sure I remember him scoring a couple of brilliant goals in another game as well (can't remember WHO against - THINK it might have been Villa or Brum) showing that he can spring forward as well.

 

He Reminded me of Sissoko TBH but with a bit more positional sense and passing ability (not to mention a Murderous shot). I think he might do well IF he comes here as we ALWAYS seem to increase/maximise the ability of so-called unknown players (before they come to us - Remember Ronnie Whelan and Ian Rush? Or an unknown Argentine called Mascherano? A little known Spaniard named Alonso or a Barcelona Reserve named Luis Garcia - Not to mention the magic Rafa' worked on Peter Crouch's International Prospects AND career.

 

As I said, we Always seem to maximise the abilities of and do FAR better with unknown players who we can mould rather than established so-called 'stars' (remember Cisse when He came here? Or the flop that was Nigel Clough? What about Ruddock? Or Diao/Diouf or Paul Ince? NONE did as well as we thought they would - Maybe something about our club - We're better at MAKING Stars than buying them - Mayhap United are the opposite? Anyway, with all that in Mind - I think Muntari Might be a good replacment for Masch'.

 

Excellent use of Mayhap.

I seem to recall Muntari played left midfield when he was at Portsmouth.

I could be wrong there though.

[Hooch]

I still think we should raid Wiagn for Diame or McCarthy. Or both.

[WaltonRed]

Muntari is about 50

[Hooch]

I meant Wigan there.

Spelling fail.

[MrSniff]

I know it is a long shot but what about Daniel Agger?? He is a natural defender and is very comfortable on the ball going forward when he needs to and we all know what he can do with that left foot given the opportunity. I think he could do a very good job in that position!!

 

.......................Reina

 

Johnson.....Carragher......Skrtel.......LB???

 

......................Agger..................

 

Kuyt........................................Jovanovic

 

...................Gerrard cole

 

..........................Torres

 

Gerrard and Cole both Giving Torres the Service & support he requires but Gerrard also dropping in to support Agger as and when he needs to.

 

Just a thought :-)

[mickeydocs]

Javi Martinez, but he is probably too young for Hodgson and i doubt he has even heard of him.

 

Bit of a silly assumption seeing as the person that would have scouted Martinez is still at the club (whether he should still be there of course is another question).

[G Richards]

If money is tight then I'm not overly upset using Lucas. He gets plenty of tackles in (though he does have to learn to not give away so many free kicks). He is a neat and tidy type of player, and he can give it simple to any of Cole, Gerrard, Aquilani - whoever we have playing a little more advanced in the midfield.

 

I do not think we need to play with two holding midfielders, especially against the majority of teams we will face in the Prem.

 

Now, if we are bringing another midfeilder in I think Flamini is a great shout. He looked fantastic at Arsenal, and when he left them they slipped back. He knows the Prem inside out and would be an upgrade on Lucas.

 

Depending on what happens at Real Madrid (I think they are in for Khadeira) they may be willing to let Diarra (the good one) leave. He would be a good acquisition, even with his funny red blood cells.

 

Then there is Defour - Man Utd have been tracking him for ages, and if he proves to be just as good after his injury then he will be a good midfielder.

 

Martinez is perhaps better than all of these, though he would be pricey.

 

Then there's Banega, but we seem to be getting rid of all our Argies, so he might not want to come as he may not have any fellow countrymen here.

 

There are good midfielders out there, but if funds are limited I want to see us bring in a good left back and a good striker first, then another midfielder.

[Guest Captain Jonjo]

Plessis.

[TheHowieLama]

I think both Poulsen and Muntari are younger than Gerrard and everyone is talking like they are well past it.

[zigackly]

I think both Poulsen and Muntari are younger than Gerrard and everyone is talking like they are well past it.

 

Muntari is 25, Poulsen and Gerrard are both 30.

[sir roger]

I watched a fair bit of the England U21's last year & thought that Muamba of Bolton looked a decent athlete who liked a tackle. Never heard anybody raving over him so assume he wouldn't cost massive monies ( i am sure we could sweeten the deal by offering decent loanees to Coyle ).

 

I do agree generally with the op that if Masch goes, we need a more destructive type of midfielder as we seem to have quite a few more expansive mids.

[corsican]

Veloso anyone?

 

No

[Pidge]

Veloso has been sold to Genoa. Which is seriously going to fuck with my FM games in the future.