Midfield for me will be the biggest conundrum this season for Manchester United. I think with players like Yoro and Heaven we already have the future starters in defence. While the likes of MdL, Maguire, Martinez, Mazraoui, and maybe Shaw will offer great experience to guide them. Defensively, I think we have enough to have a very good defence this year. Next summer I think we could do with signing a top level CB between the ages of 22-25 who can be the guy to sit between Yoro and Heaven long term.
Up front I think we will solve this summer, Cunha and Mbeumo have already joined (only a failed medical will stop Mbeumo at this point), while we have players like Amad, Mount, Zirkzee and Bruno who can also have an impact further forward. We will also sign a striker this summer. We then have some high potential young players at the club such as Obi, Shea Lacey, Ibragimov and JJ Gabriel coming though who could become key players over the next few years.
After this summer, I think the forward line will mostly be in place for the next few years. Yet the midfield looks like an unsolvable Rubik’s cube. We have many of the components we need in midfield, yet we don’t seem to be able to get the ideal balance.
Mainoo, I think can be a great option in midfield, he has all the skills and the reading of the game, but lacks running power. If he can improve both his explosiveness and his stamina, then he will have absolutely everything to be one of the best midfielders of his generation. Currently, he’s one of those players who’d thrive in a midfield three where he has less space to cover, but lacks the stamina to play in a midfield two where he has more space to cover.
Ugarte has great defensive instincts and is a true terrier in midfield, always snapping at the ankles of the player on the ball. I think he’s a better passer of the ball than he was given credit for, he rarely loses it and the passes he makes are pretty much always good. He just isn’t the guy to get the ball, turn and hit a 60 yard switching pass. The problem he has is that his instincts are to step up and win the ball, he is a front foot defender. Which is fine if he’s paired with a back foot defending player alongside him in midfield. The kind of player who’ll drop off a d protect the space while Ugarte has the freedom to chase the ball and win it back. The problem is I’m not sure we have many players like that to pair with him.
Casemiro, if 6 years younger would be the key centrepiece of our midfield. He’s the guy who has the understanding of when to step up to win the ball and when to drop off a defend the space, he’s a underrated passer of the ball, capable of scoring when he does go forward and great in the air in both boxes. His issue is he doesn’t have the legs to play 90 minutes, definitely not twice a week. If he stays (which looks likely) then, maybe without games in Europe then he can start most weeks and play 60 minutes before making way.
Bruno, I think is slightly underrated when played deeper, his passing is very good. However, when played further forward he takes in the creative responsibility, and that means he plays the highest risk/ highest reward pass more often than not, which leads to us turning over the ball a lot. When deeper he doesn’t tend to do that as much. He’s also like an energiser bunny, he never stops running. He definitely adds legs to midfield. The problem is that he has a tendency to chase the ball, he’s very front footed in his approach, which means he also has to be paired with a back foot partner who’ll drop off and cover him when he steps forward.
Collyer is the final option, he’s and interesting one as he has the defensive instincts to cover space rather than chasing the ball. Its more a question of whether he has the quality to step up and become the player we need him to be. He could be the understudy to Casemiro, being the guy to come on for the final 30 minutes to add more legs later in the game.
Whichever combination we use there will be a clear weakness that could easily be exploited by the opposition. We seem to have a collection of midfielders who all look more suited to being in a three man midfield rather than a two man midfield.
With Ugarte and Bruno definitely being very front footed players, they will need to be paired with one of Casemiro or Collyer to avoid our midfield becoming overexposed. While Mainoo shouldn’t be paired with Casemiro as that midfield pairing will struggle with mobility and covering the space. Which would be suicidal in the dynamic EPL.
I think we will see Casemiro and Bruno be our first choice starting midfield, with either Collyer or Mainoo coming on for Casemiro for the final 30 minutes depending on whether we need to protect the lead or chase a goal.
Ugarte and Casemiro should start against teams where we will have less of the ball.
If we sign another midfielder, then it has to be a back foot, tall, athletic defensive midfielder. Someone who’ll drop off and cover space, while ideally being someone who can also carry the ball forward well through lines of pressure. That could be someone like Lucien Agoumé who seems a good fit.
What we really need to do is make sure we get the balance right. We need one player who’ll step forward to win the ball paired with someone who’ll drop off and cover the space. If you pair two front foot players together then that opens up big gaps in your midfield. Likewise if you play two players who’ll drop off then than invites pressure and give the opposition space to play centrally in front of you.
Add to the odd blend of players we have and the weaknesses they possess, we will absolutely need to avoid injuries, suspensions and drops in form in midfield as we will likely need to regularly chop and change the midfield to suit the opposition. Right now, Collyer and Casemiro are the two most vital players as they are the only ones who can reliably be the back foot player. If we lose one or both of them for an extended period of time, then we could struggle.