After yesterdays game...is Morgan Schneiderlin someone we need

[stemark44]

Schneiderlin is an excellent player who would be ideal for us but we should have bought him 2 years ago.....now he will cost £25m.
Delph is another excellent player who would be ideal for us but we should have bought him in January.........now he will cost £15m+.
Same old story with the clowns running our transfers.
Add those two to our midfield of Mason and Bentaleb, along with the young guys coming through and we would be sorted in midfield for years to come.

 

[dannythomas]

He is way more likely to go to Arsenal. Why should he go from 1 Europa level team to another ?

 

[SpursDave88]

I would like James McCarthy. I think Paulinho, Dembele and Stambouli will all be moved on. What we do not need is some big lump that can't actually play football.

 

[millsey]

He got beasted by Bentaleb yesterday.

The priority should be switching to 4-3-3 with a dedicated DM, not pointlessly changing the personnel yet again to try to fix a fundamentally broken system.

Better find another manager then

 

[cookiemonster]

I've said all along that while he is certainly a good player, anything over 15m and we are getting ripped off.

There are players in every team that play that role. Personally I don't see what makes him that different from Bentaleb and I'd rather let him grow as a player.

I believe that with Bentaleb, Mason, Stambouli, Dembele, and now Alli (+maybe Capoue/Paulinho), the DM/CM spots are the least of our concerns, we are at the very least solid there, if unspectacular. I think signing two quality wingers and maybe another CB is a far more necessary transfer.

We are leaking goals like there is no tomorrow due in part to a lack of a competent DM and you are saying the position is the least of our concerns?

 

[Krafty]

There is a big space for a proper, accomplished defensively-minded central midfielder, someone who can provide proper protection, control and calmness in front of the defensive, and be the lynchpin from which the rest of the midfield and attack can work from. If they are able to dictate the play as well, then even better.

I think Bentaleb will improve as a player if he is allowed to roam forward more often. He glides effortlessly past opponents, has deceptive upper body strength and I think his passing higher up the pitch and movement can be effective. In a deeper starting position he struggles to see the whole pitch and can get stuck playing backwards and sideways, rather than switching the play quickly or passing forward into feet.

Mason still has a role, especially in games against weaker opposition where his mentality can keep the side focused, as we can be a bit slack at times.

If Poch wants another central midfielder, then so be it. With Mason and Bentaleb first choice, Eriksen playing in the advanced role, Alli coming in, and the potential of Veljkovic/Onomah/Winks making the step up into the senior squad for the next season, we could easily sell three of Stambouli, Paulinho, Capoue, Dembele or Carroll, perhaps more, and bring in £15million+. That makes Schneiderlin's signing more financially palatable. Whether he is exactly what would benefit us most, I don't know but I would trust Poch's judgement.

Regardless of the new TV deals, we have a squad full of valuable assets that can bring in some money, or just save us money in wages by selling them. Getting rid of them is so important and really has a big factor on how effective our future signings can be.

 

[crokey]

I'd spend on Schneiderlin and take Nigel De Jong on a free and have them with Bentaleb in a 433

 

[double0]

Most people say we need another midfielder. We've had them all from Modric Jenas Huddlestone Parker Zokora Sandro Dembele Capoue Carrick etc etc and I tell you what, we've always complained about the midfield.

The obvious problem that needs to be addressed is at CB, possibly full back as well. I would priorities in order keys
1 Commanding/ leader /quick/ reads and organise defence/CB
2 scoring wide players with pace two
3 centre forward to rotate with Kane
4 DM.

 

[crokey]

Most people say we need another midfielder. We've had them all from Modric Jenas Huddlestone Parker Zokora Sandro Dembele Capoue Carrick etc etc and I tell you what, we've always complained about the midfield.

The obvious problem that needs to be addressed is at CB, possibly full back as well. I would priorities in order keys
1 Commanding/ leader /quick/ reads and organise defence/CB
2 scoring wide players with pace two
3 centre forward to rotate with Kane
4 DM.

Bentaleb and Schneiderlin are on another level than that list, apart from Luka of course who is hands down the best midfielder in the world.

EDIT: Ok I didn't see Carrick and Dembele, did you edit? They get a pass too

 

[Shea]

I would like James McCarthy. I think Paulinho, Dembele and Stambouli will all be moved on. What we do not need is some big lump that can't actually play football.

Capoue will surely be out there do also

If anything one of Stambouli or Demebele are more likely to be kept than him

I think we will sign at least one CM because of the amount of deadwood we need to shift in that area though I do agree we arguably have more pressing concerns in the squad

 

[DaSpurs]

We are leaking goals like there is no tomorrow due in part to a lack of a competent DM and you are saying the position is the least of our concerns?

Because there is more than substantial evidence pointing to other areas of the pitch as the reason why we're being exposed. It is not as simple as "conceding lots of goals, therefore our defensive line is bad and it's the fault of having no dedicated DM."

 

[jurgen]

I guess I don't believe we'd put up the money for Schneiderlin anyway - but you can see some logic in building on top of the midfield base. We probably do need to replace one of our CB's but there must be some reason why we're exposed so often.. would it solve the problem or just make another decent player look rubbish? He's not a fantasy signing, and is definitely going to be overpriced, but he might be just the type we need.

Likewise, scoring goals hasn't actually been so much of a problem, its just we concede almost as many as we put in. I think we're all frustrated by all of our wide options at one time or another.. but when you see Eriksen & Chadli 12 goals, Lamela and Townsend 5 goals - on top of a 30 goal Kane - that is actually not too bad. Of course it could still get lots better, and hopefully we'll get someone else in for that role but a lack of solidity is costing us dearly. Give Bentaleb a really good partner and who knows what we could do.

 

[DaSpurs]

Schneiderlin is an excellent player who would be ideal for us but we should have bought him 2 years ago.....now he will cost £25m.
Delph is another excellent player who would be ideal for us but we should have bought him in January.........now he will cost £15m+.
Same old story with the clowns running our transfers.
Add those two to our midfield of Mason and Bentaleb, along with the young guys coming through and we would be sorted in midfield for years to come.

Agreed, I really think we should have snapped up Delph while they were in the shitter. Would have been a tremendous deal with his contract running down, and what we could really use in midfield (more dynamism and athleticism, playmaking ability).

 

[Phil-spur99]

I would like James McCarthy. I think Paulinho, Dembele and Stambouli will all be moved on. What we do not need is some big lump that can't actually play football.

He's been excellent against Utd today, MoM.

 

[Phil-spur99]

In the same way that we get our best players poached year after year we should be looking pick off some of the best players from those teams in the tier around and below us. There are some good players there that would definitely improve the quality of the team. Unfortunately, the problem is the price tags as they prove themselves in the PL and the fact that the "Big Four" come in for them. For example:

Begovic (Stoke - if Lloris is sold - hope not)
Clyne (Time to have got him would have been last season)
Coleman (Again, probably too expensive now but a definite upgrade on Walker, he has a brain for starters)
Stones (Promising young CB)
Alderwield (Southampton - on paper should work well with Jan)
Robertson (Hull - promising LB / LWB)
McCarthy (Good holding player, alternative to MS)
Mirrales (Could use Lennon in exchange)
Tadic (Like the look of him)
Benteke (Would be pricey now)

I appreciate that people will say these will be expensive, that is because most of them are proven in EPL and you do not take risks of 18m-25m players failing to settle, Paulinho and Lamela. Also we have a lot of deadwood to shift that some of those clubs should be interested in.

 

[DaSpurs]

I would like James McCarthy. I think Paulinho, Dembele and Stambouli will all be moved on. What we do not need is some big lump that can't actually play football.

Agreed, I would much prefer McCarthy. I think he would improve us both offensively and defensively beyond what Schneiderlin would.

That having been said, I'm not opposed at all to a Schneiderlin buy. Gives us a leader in the middle and a good holding mid for the double pivot. Would personally prefer a playmaker as I think midfielders shouldn't be entirely deep passers and another bank of CB's, but rather generals of the pitch, but I suppose Poch has his own rigid ideas.

 

[Japhet]

He got beasted by Bentaleb yesterday.

The priority should be switching to 4-3-3 with a dedicated DM, not pointlessly changing the personnel yet again to try to fix a fundamentally broken system.

Don't agree with that at all. Bentaleb had a good game but Schneiderlin wasn't 'beasted'.
How many chances did our AMs get? Steven Davis alone had 3 sitters and its our deep midfielders who should be cutting that out. Bentaleb also stood rooted to the spot allowing Schneiderlin a run to the near post at a corner for a free shot which Lloris did well to keep out. Don't remember Bentaleb getting anywhere near a goal scoring opportunity.
Schneiderlin also did a much better shielding job.

It's all academic because I think we've missed the boat with Schneiderlin. Bentaleb is coming on but IMO he's nowhere near as good as a lot of people like to think

 

[Gaz_Gammon]

I agree, to do that is laughable.

He also scores a few goals which is something we don't really get from Bentaleb or Mason. A player who can chip in half a dozen or so goals in that position would make a big difference. If either of our current pair can make that improvement next season all well and good, I can maybe see Mason doing that but not sure about Bentaleb who is fast starting to remind me of Ray Wilkins with blinkers on. Hopefully some natural progression will occur with both players. If one or both start to chip in with a few goals and Bentaleb stops his habit of passing sideways blind then its all good.

So would I sign Schneiderlin? Probably, yes.

Good post A&C and fine summing up of our current duo of Bentaleb and Mason who i think compliment each others game well.

I'd take Schneiderlin at any cost to be quite honest and if he fits into a similar role to the one he does at Saints then he would be worth every penny. He is PL proven, would add a different dimension to anything we currently have and can score goals, oh and we have spent way more on players than what he would cost who cannot even get into the starting eleven this season.

If we were to buy one player this Summer he would be the one for me.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

In the same way that we get our best players poached year after year we should be looking pick off some of the best players from those teams in the tier around and below us. There are some good players there that would definitely improve the quality of the team. Unfortunately, the problem is the price tags as they prove themselves in the PL and the fact that the "Big Four" come in for them. For example:

Begovic (Stoke - if Lloris is sold - hope not)
Clyne (Time to have got him would have been last season)
Coleman (Again, probably too expensive now but a definite upgrade on Walker, he has a brain for starters)
Stones (Promising young CB)
Alderwield (Southampton - on paper should work well with Jan)
Robertson (Hull - promising LB / LWB)
McCarthy (Good holding player, alternative to MS)
Mirrales (Could use Lennon in exchange)
Tadic (Like the look of him)
Benteke (Would be pricey now)

I appreciate that people will say these will be expensive, that is because most of them are proven in EPL and you do not take risks of 18m-25m players failing to settle, Paulinho and Lamela. Also we have a lot of deadwood to shift that some of those clubs should be interested in.

I don't agree on all the names per se, but the approach is tempting. There are some really interesting players scattered around the league, and having a few of them could be a smart move.

 

[Teddy Klinsmann]

I would like James McCarthy. I think Paulinho, Dembele and Stambouli will all be moved on. What we do not need is some big lump that can't actually play football.

Was superb vs MUFC today. Bossed the game and didn't let Utd have a sniff. Gary Neville said he was best player on pitch.