The Last Piece of the Puzzle,a DM

[Ronwol196061]

I know how much Eric Dier excited Mourinho about managing Tottenham. A prize DM. It was like having a girl that was stunning at school and a great prize and years later you meet her and she is a bit iffy.
We have so many good players.Wingers,AMs but at DM we couldnt be lighter (ok Dier isnt light) so not really watching too much European footie I'm not sure who is out there for the summer to get.
For me it's our number one need and will be the last piece of the puzzle (it's true we need an RB but I dont think it's as critical to our success)
Really I have no idea where our next Dave Mackay is going to come from.
Any ideas?

 

[JimmyG2]

Oliver Skjipjp
You know it makes sense.
We know he can't do it,
because we've never tried him

 

[Ronwol196061]

Oliver Skjipjp
You know it makes sense.
We know he can't do it,
because we've never tried him

I love Skipp. I just thing he is less of a Dier but could be more of a CM type. We need a tough DM.
I'd take Matic till we got one

 

[-Afri-Coy-]

In the traditional sense I agree 100% that we need a good ball playing DM however we do not know how Mourinho plans to set up when he has all the players he needs at his disposal. I hope he does plan to play a DM, and that we have a good target lined up for the summer.

Good DM's are extremely hard to find and can cost quite a penny because of this.

 

[JimmyG2]

I love Skipp. I just thing he is less of a Dier but could be more of a CM type. We need a tough DM.
I'd take Matic till we got one

Good player
but a dirty
cynical bastard.
a smiling assassin.
We won't win
the fair-play league
with him.
Not the way to go
for me.

 

[spids]

I am not sure why people think Skipp is a DCM? To me he looks like a 'busy' player who is a tidy passer. But I have not seen positional and situation awareness from him - that ability to be in the right place to snuff out danger in the Makele mould. And he is not the most athletic either and does not swallow up ground and players alike as he dominates the middle 30m radius for the pitch - as Wanyama in his prime did. He just looks like a sensible, tidy passer, and neither Poch orJose (both of whom have a track record for using very effective DCMs in their best sides have considered him for that role.... Poch: Sneiderlin (when he was good), Dier (when he was good), Wanyama (when he was fit), Jose: Makele, Cambiasso, Stankovic, Matic, )

 

[Japhet]

I very much doubt Skipp will get much of a look in under Mourinho. I'm surprised we've shown no interest in Berge who looks a decent player. I can only assume that we're either not looking for a CDM or we're waiting for the summer to bring in someone better than what's on offer now. I also think that we could possibly follow the Liverpool model of 3 in CM without a dedicated DM, but all 3 sharing defensive duties and pitching in. Mourinho also said something about using Ndombele as the base of his midfield (that's as, not at). I think that means he wants to build the midfield around Ndombele, not necessarily use him as the deepest position. I'd personally like us to have a seriuos look at Florentino Luis but someone like Zakaria would do nicely.

 

[Stopspot]

Skipp will get a loan next season most likely to go out and prove himself, which is the right move.

I'd go for Wilmar Barrios at St. Petersburg. He's impressed me in the CL this season and the Russian league is implementing an even tighter limit on the amount of foreign players each club is allowed in the summer so there will be a fair few players looking to move on.

 

[whitelightwhiteheat]

We need a Kante/Ndidi type. Get that and a left back and we are at the races.

 

[DogsOfWar]

I don't think we'll have an out and out DM. I think we'll go to a central 3 who all work hard but with ability on top, eg, Lo Celso, Gedson, Ndombele, and Winks/Sissoko rotating in. Maybe use Dier to shut up shop occasionally.

 

[Japhet]

I don't think we'll have an out and out DM. I think we'll go to a central 3 who all work hard but with ability on top, eg, Lo Celso, Gedson, Ndombele, and Winks/Sissoko rotating in. Maybe use Dier to shut up shop occasionally.

Yes, at least in the short term. As long as we don't expect those players to hold the fort in a CM2 I think we'll be fine. As I've said repeatedly, I don't think we have the players for a pivot midfield.

 

[bubble07]

Rhe scouting team need to rank the top 10 DMs in world football and aim to sign someone as high up that list as possible

Let's not let Levy fool us. We are one of the wealthiest clubs in world football

I think we could sign Boubakary Soumaré. Not necessarily a full DM but would work well alongside Ndombele

 

[Havre]

Obviously someone like Kante would be amazing, but I think he played his best football in a midfield two next to a passer. I don't think he is as effective as a DM in a midfield three. Similar with N'Didi I think they are both at their best if they can be harassing the opposition when defending. The DM-role in a midfield three is different as your main job is to screen the CDs. I would much rather have a Carrick who could screen and pass than someone like Kante/N'Didi in that role. Sadly I think Berge can become that kind of player. Not sure if Winks is clever enough positionally, but alongside good no. 8s I think Winks will be fine in that role (Rodri is very much in the same mold as Winks - just bigger).

Still think Mourinho is hoping that Dier will wake up. Give me Dier from a couple of years back - and we won't find a better DM than him we could realistically buy.

 

[HildoSpur]

I think we are all getting a bit hung up on needing a DM - do we? If we have N'Dombele playing deeper with Fernandes/Sissoko/Winks/Lo Celso either side of him surely we have enough there to make ourselves a high quality, fluid midfield.

If reports are true that is how Jose sees it. Maybe we all need to get over the whole DM idea.

 

[Mornstar]

Oliver Skjipjp
You know it makes sense.
We know he can't do it,
because we've never tried him

this would make a great chant at the next home game.....especially when sung to the tune of postman pat

 

[danielneeds]

I think we are all getting a bit hung up on needing a DM - do we? If we have N'Dombele playing deeper with Fernandes/Sissoko/Winks/Lo Celso either side of him surely we have enough there to make ourselves a high quality, fluid midfield.

If reports are true that is how Jose sees it. Maybe we all need to get over the whole DM idea.

I just don’t believe that Jose doesn’t want someone in midfield whose first instinct is to spot danger. Yes, these days you can’t get away with a pure spoiler in there, they’ve got to be able to play as well given that opposition teams will press that area between the CBs and the deepest midfielder, but that’s why Dier is so poor there now. Since Dembele’s gone he shits the bed when asked to get hold of the ball on the half-turn and do anything with it.

Both Winks and Ndombele could play there given they can receive the ball, but neither seems to have the instincts to spot danger and people running off them. I don’t care what the ITK intimates, I’d be shocked if we don’t sign someone to thicken it up in midfield. The balance of the side has looked wrong for so long and it’s so bloody frustrating.

 

[whitelightwhiteheat]

Ndombele has given the ball away on quite an alarming number of occasions whenever he is in that spot just ahead of the CBs. Having him back there negates the positive aspects of what Ndombele brings to a team.

 

[JimmyG2]

I am not sure why people think Skipp is a DCM? To me he looks like a 'busy' player who is a tidy passer. But I have not seen positional and situation awareness from him - that ability to be in the right place to snuff out danger in the Makele mould. And he is not the most athletic either and does not swallow up ground and players alike as he dominates the middle 30m radius for the pitch - as Wanyama in his prime did. He just looks like a sensible, tidy passer, and neither Poch orJose (both of whom have a track record for using very effective DCMs in their best sides have considered him for that role.... Poch: Sneiderlin (when he was good), Dier (when he was good), Wanyama (when he was fit), Jose: Makele, Cambiasso, Stankovic, Matic, )

I have never made
great claims for Skipp.
He is strong and eager
and OOOOwn
and has been around
the squad doing very little
for far too long.
Sell, loan or play.

Poor bastard
doesn't even have
his own thread.

 

[THOWIG]

Can call them what ever you like, but we need someone who can retain the ball from defence and carry it forward. If they can protect the back line too then that's even better!

 

[whitelightwhiteheat]

A lot of our problems in recent months have stemmed from our inability to protect our defence, and an inability to maintain possession of the football. Get those things sorted and it's all systems go.

If you compare man for man we aren't a million miles worse than Liverpool - They just have some shape about themselves tactically and they all know their jobs and carry them out effectively.