nadavTKL 1,787 Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 Costa, R. Rodriguez, and Rakitic in, Luiz, Ba, Mikel, etc. OUT sounds like a good start for the transfers. the rest would be depth (for center midfield)Did Rakitic ever played in a pivot midfield? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mufassir08 2,400 Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 Did Rakitic ever played in a pivot midfield?Yes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucio 5,418 Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 Did Rakitic ever played in a pivot midfield?according to the stats. he has played there 15 times out of 39 games this season Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magic Lamps 11,692 Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 Did Rakitic ever played in a pivot midfield?Sure. Rakitic would be an immense signing my favourite for the pivot after Kovascic.Ivan Rakitic is a complete box-to-box midfielder, a mixture of Lampard and Schweinsteiger, maybe not as talented but a tad faster. He has amazing set pieces, can cross, decent passing over all ranges, is able to keep and distribute the ball with pace and in tight spaces. He would be perfect as the more offensive player next to Matic, cos he, even though never neglecting his defensive responsibilites has the ability to arrive in the box just at the right time hence he uses to score regularly. His weaknesses are that he sometimes lacks accuracy when under pressure and he does not break through the opposition's midfield with passes and dribblings as much as he should (see Kovascic who does just that with ease). He also is already 26 so I have no clue if he will still develop. Though a bonus is, Rakitic is a big game player. btw speaking of kovascic/Rakitic + matic anyone got an idea whether there is still bad blood between Serbia and Croatia and would that affect a DP partnership? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LAB 1,030 Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 btw what happens with Halilovic after Barcelona ban? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BloodIsBlue 291 Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 If United get Reus.... I'm more worried about them getting Nico Gaitan, tricky guy to play against truly world class but goes under the radar. I really doubt United will get Reus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BloodIsBlue 291 Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 btw speaking of kovascic/Rakitic + matic anyone got an idea whether there is still bad blood between Serbia and Croatia and would that affect a DP partnership?I would expect professionalism and that they bury that hatchet. Would be a nice gesture to have them play well together and at least be friendly to each-other. It would be really unprofessional to take you're racist predisposition against Croats/Serbs to your job. That didn't really cross my mind when I was thinking about how perfect he would be in our pivot, Branislav is much more social and friendly than he looks and I'm sure Matic isn't a jerk. I'm sure the players can easily handle it, some fans however might not like it. (deadly Kovacic tackle) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yeboii 1,844 Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 btw what happens with Halilovic after Barcelona ban?Good question. Maybe he can go since he has already signed with them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueLyon 9,359 Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 Paco Alcacer and Morata could turn into very good strikers. Both very young still. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Chels 2,502 Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 This is what a United fan thinks we should do, and I have to say I agree completely with his suggestions. Here's hoping the board do too!Of all of the title contenders I think Chelsea are going to be the most radically different.Obviously they'll bring in a world class striker, but I'm in agreement with a few here that they'd be pretty mad not to sign Shaw. Move Azpilicueta back to his natural RB position with Shaw on the left. Just imagine how good the left side of their attack would be with Hazard and Shaw over there. Currently Hazard has to take on 2 or 3 defenders when he receives the ball out there because Azpilicueta doesn't overlap often and isn't an offensive threat. If he had the pace and technical ability of Shaw to play off of and to draw defenders away from him that could be special.Then on the other side you have the ridiculous work rates of both Willian and Azpilicueta. Their defense could be even better next season than it is this one.Almost as important as a striker for them is a new midfielder in the Koké/Kroos/Modrić mould. Someone to pull the strings.If they make these signings they'll have one hell of a side. They've been able to advance to the last 4 of the CL with midfielders like an ancient Lampard, Luiz, and with that liability Ramires. I'd imagine that next season when Matic isn't cup tied and if they sign another as well as a striker they'll be a real contender to win the thing again. Blue-in-me-Veins, kellzfresh, mediator and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Skipper 20,609 Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 This is what a United fan thinks we should do, and I have to say I agree completely with his suggestions. Here's hoping the board do too!He isn't the first to say that... It's what most people on here have been screaming for over these last few months... A LB, a CM and a ST. Rmpr, Toli, bababoom and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post! bababoom 4,478 Posted April 10, 2014 Popular Post! Share Posted April 10, 2014 ^ agree completely with that United fan, at least one talks sense, eh?I'm 100 percent sure we'll get a Striker and a Left back, i'm not so sure about the midfielder, though i hope we do. You only have to watch the Palace game to see how our midfield struggle to create when teams sit deep, we need a creative midfielder who has the vision to spot the likes of Hazard, Oscar and Willian in tight areas. Right now our attackers have to come deep to get the ball. Pizy, Reddish-Blue, The Chels and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pizy 18,994 Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 He isn't the first to say that... It's what most people on here have been screaming for over these last few months... A LB, a CM and a ST.We just have to hope that José and the board agree with us about needing another midfielder. I have serious concern that we won't address the issue and will continue on with Lamps being an important player for us. Hope he and Mikel are both replaced.Edit: Wow, James. We posted pretty much the exact same thing at the same time! bababoom and The Skipper 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucio 5,418 Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 Paco Alcacer and Morata could turn into very good strikers. Both very young still.scored hatrick vs basel tonight. bernat was class too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pizy 18,994 Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 So who would you guys predict is going to be our main title rival next year? Or do you think it'll be like this season where there are 3 or 4 clubs in with a shot?Think Liverpool will fall back a bit and Arsenal will slightly improve but not enough to win the whole thing. I personally think they'll be a pretty nice gap below ourselves and City and the 3rd placed side. United are the wildcard. Say they bring in Reus, Kroos, Carvalho, and Shaw and suddenly they have an amazing squad again when RvP is back and Mata settles in more. They may have a Liverpool-esque season next year with no CL games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Skipper 20,609 Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 So who would you guys predict is going to be our main title rival next year? Or do you think it'll be like this season where there are 3 or 4 clubs in with a shot?Think Liverpool will fall back a bit and Arsenal will slightly improve but not enough to win the whole thing. I personally think they'll be a pretty nice gap below ourselves and City and the 3rd placed side. United are the wildcard. Say they bring in Reus, Kroos, Carvalho, and Shaw and suddenly they have an amazing squad again when RvP is back and Mata settles in more. They may have a Liverpool-esque season next year with no CL games.Can't say until the end of the next transfer window. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Chels 2,502 Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 We just have to hope that José and the board agree with us about needing another midfielder. I have serious concern that we won't address the issue and will continue on with Lamps being an important player for us. Hope he and Mikel are both replaced.Edit: Wow, James. We posted pretty much the exact same thing at the same time! I think whether we get a top class CM in or not largely depends on how much Mourinho values Ramires. Sadly I reckon he thinks Ramires' athleticism outweighs his complete lack of footballing ability (http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1481721/jose-mourinho-tried-sign-real-madrid-inter?cc=5739) and that a Ramires-Matic pivot is the way forward. In that case he'd probably be reluctant to spend heavily on a back up. He isn't the first to say that... It's what most people on here have been screaming for over these last few months... A LB, a CM and a ST.Yes but my point is that if a fan of another team can pinpoint exactly where our problems lie and where we need improvements, then the club itself should definitely be able to as well - but of that I'm not so sure. The Skipper 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueLyon 9,359 Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 scored hatrick vs basel tonight. bernat was class tooYup, his first was absolutely amazing. I feel he will come very good in few years. Looks quite strong and skillful on the ball too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reddish-Blue 2,515 Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 So who would you guys predict is going to be our main title rival next year? Or do you think it'll be like this season where there are 3 or 4 clubs in with a shot?Think Liverpool will fall back a bit and Arsenal will slightly improve but not enough to win the whole thing. I personally think they'll be a pretty nice gap below ourselves and City and the 3rd placed side. United are the wildcard. Say they bring in Reus, Kroos, Carvalho, and Shaw and suddenly they have an amazing squad again when RvP is back and Mata settles in more. They may have a Liverpool-esque season next year with no CL games.Even if United make all those signings...they won't be better than 3rd in the EPL with MOYES in charge.I still think our main rival next year: City. I'm expecting Liverpool to drop off a little bit as their players should be more fatigued from CL football Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueLyon 9,359 Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 Even if United make all those signings...they won't be better than 3rd in the EPL with MOYES in charge.I still think our main rival next year: City. I'm expecting Liverpool to drop off a little bit as their players should be more fatigued from CL footballIf Suarez leaves, Lpool will be 6th max. I think Real will go all in, 100mio again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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