Modric

[karthy]

Jun 12, 2012 14:34:21 GMT karthy said:

why does it have to be a spurs player. If we don't get Modric, I'd go for Strootman or Cabaye.

Cabaye can and does all the things Modric does , Strootman we , well most of us agree is someone who will fit into our team right away.

Parker - hell no.

And yeah i go with the point that we need Midfielders who can tackle and get possession and also look to be creative or get the pass to keep the game flowing.

if Nothing works out for us financially. I'd stick in the "Punisher" in the middle , if not tunni/clevers

Exactly what i said 2 pages ago. if nothing go for Jones in the middle.
But you have options on Modric - surprised that no one is taking about Cabaye though.

[Tatty]

[Dan United]

Jun 13, 2012 12:01:06 GMT Stew said:

I think Jones did well in there earlier in the season when he played alongside Carrick. I think he's worth a shout there espically as there is going to be a log jam at Centre Half half if Vida regains fitness. He's still young enough to be moulded into a defensive mid and then could drop back when Rio and the Serb ride off into the distance.

This is if we don't sign another player obviously.

I'll be honest, for most of last season I thought Jones was nothing more than an expensive John O'Shea. He started brightly, but as the season wore on he looked a lot less impressive.

THe kid has talent, but I hope it's not scuppered by his versatility.

[jimbonda]

Jun 13, 2012 16:55:51 GMT Dan United said:

Jun 13, 2012 12:01:06 GMT Stew said:

I think Jones did well in there earlier in the season when he played alongside Carrick. I think he's worth a shout there espically as there is going to be a log jam at Centre Half half if Vida regains fitness. He's still young enough to be moulded into a defensive mid and then could drop back when Rio and the Serb ride off into the distance.

This is if we don't sign another player obviously.

I'll be honest, for most of last season I thought Jones was nothing more than an expensive John O'Shea. He started brightly, but as the season wore on he looked a lot less impressive.

THe kid has talent, but I hope it's not scuppered by his versatility.

yeah this worries me too.
part of me wants to see jones and smalling paired together at the back from the off next season. if vida regains full form and fitness then obv he's back in.

[Bestie]

Keep Jones as far away from our last line of defence as possible thanks. He is not ready for that, doesn't yet have the defensive 'thing' that top centre-backs have. How could you leave Evans out of any 'youthful' CB pairing after the season he had as well?

I would love to see The Punisher playing in that deep midfielder role beside Carrick, some of those driving runs he made from right-back would be more than welcome from the edge the centre circle.

[ginger18legend]

Jun 13, 2012 20:05:07 GMT Bestie said:

Keep Jones as far away from our last line of defence as possible thanks. He is not ready for that, doesn't yet have the defensive 'thing' that top centre-backs have. How could you leave Evans out of any 'youthful' CB pairing after the season he had as well?

I would love to see The Punisher playing in that deep midfielder role beside Carrick, some of those driving runs he made from right-back would be more than welcome from the edge the centre circle.

+1

[moxdevil]

I don't like seeing defenders play in midfield, especially at the level that we play at. Jones in midfield next season would be yet another band aid and there really shouldn't be a problem for us to find a better option of a midfielder than playing people out of position in such an important part of the field.

Would love to see Modric at United but don't see it happening.

[Bestie]

I mean we fully convert Jones into a midfielder, not consider him a defender filling in there.

He's good enough going forward to offer us something there, has bags of energy that you need in the middle of the park. He could legitimately give us an 'engine' in there that we haven't had for any real length of time in years. Plus, he can tackle, and can learn to defend without the pressure of knowing any mistake he makes will lead to a free shot on our goal. Then, in about ten years time he can step back into the centre of defence. Plus, I prefer a future captain to be in midfield where he can really infuence things.

[jimbonda]

i haven't seen the quality in his passing that you need of a united center mid.

he looks a center half all day to me, and since when has playing at center half stopped a player from going on a marauding run forward if it's in his game?

[Jayrannasaurus]

I love seeing Jones make those marauding runs forward and he has the added capabilities of absolutely crunching players as he's played as a defender for so long. He's got a good engine too so I'm all for trying him out there, and only there.

Thing is though, it could derail a player's career if we move him into central midfield and, when it doesn't work out, try and move him back again. Still, he's much more shaky at the back than either Smalling or Evans so, unless there's a central defensive crisis, his best shot at first team footy should be competing for RB with Rafael or central midfield.

As you say though jim, his passing is suspect. I'd much rather we actually just bring a player in who can do what we need.

[ScholesEvilTwin]

Modric should be easier to get now Redknapp is leaving

[Bestie]

With Carrick, Kagawa, Cleverley and for next season Scholesy, in the squad, I'm quite happy to give Jonesy a 'win the ball back and pass it 5 yards' brief.

[Ole's Red Whiteknight03 Army]

Bestie's talking a lot of sense in this thread. Jones has looked much more assured in midfield than at CB and fits all the requirements of the box-to-box type we're looking for. Not that Carrick should be dropped after last season, but Jones-Modric would be the youthful, energetic, actually mobile and capable of pressing version of Carrick-Scholes. I could probably live with that.

I can't help but wonder if the Redknapp fit pitching and Modric/Bale rumors are connected. He always leaves right before the club goes in the tank and sells it's best players....

[sleel6]

oldtraffordfaithful.com/will-the-new-season-see-us-employ-new-tactics/

Thought this was a good article on the formation for next season. Didn't know where else to post it.

[shrike59]

Jones can make a nice run or two a game but I prefer him as a defender.