Charlie Adam

[Mostar]

Based on now, i'd probably take him over all 4 of them. Carrick's a spent force, Fletcher's not been playing for a while, Anderson's ****e and Cleverley's played about 4 games, nowhere near proven.

But back to the original point, it wasnt about who i'd take, it was about the ridiculous claim that a top four/title challenging side needs all of its CMs to be 'great' at both defending and attacking. It's quite clearly not true.

No it isn't.

Adam's defending skills or lack of it, is nothing new but the problem for me at least yesterday was his inability to create chances and provide good quality passes, which is why we went after him.

Personally it is not good when Lucas and Adam decided to swap their positions at one point and it was Lucas trying to push forward, create chances and find Suarez, Carroll etc.

That is not his role but it is Adam's and yesterday he did so little especially as we had an extra man on the pitch.

As a side note, I'd take 3 out of 4 of those you mentioned over Adam atm.

[el matador]

4 nil to chelsea.

with regards to united fergies tactics have evolved and rooney can tuck in as a 3rd central midfield player and they play a more expansive style with 2 out and out wide players. i dont think theyll do that against us but their defence is looking ****. not sure whether you play carroll against evans and jones or go with the movement of kuyt suarez and bellamy.

norwich didnt really do anything special and they managed to carve utd open on a number of occasions.

anyway getting back to charlie adam, play 3 midfield players, just get him to release the ball to gerrard and let him make the decisions. keep things simple.

[Craig_H]

No it isn't.

How on earth ISNT it???

None of those players i listed are 'great' at both defending and attacking - yet MUFC have always been in the top four and always been a title challenger.

So when Arn claims that a top four/title challenging side needs to have CMs who are great at both defending and attacking, it's clearly nonsense and proven to be nonsense, by Man Utd.

[Craig_H]

craig... utd are very open at the minute and i would go for midfield domination. i disagree that spearing is ahead of henderson because jordan has some serious quality but currently its not being used correctly.

but playing in a few positions will only help his development as an allround top notch midfield player. he needs to be less afraid and just go for it sometimes. i know its tough because our fans are demanding but we appreciate effort committment and players going for it.

I'd put Spearing in because, in my view, the reason for 3 CMers would be to press them, not give them time on the ball and make it very hard for them in possession - Spearing does this better than Henderson does. That's my reasoning.

Putting Spearing in, i can clearly see an important attribute which he excels in and which would be a valuable thing to have in that game. Which isnt the case with Henderson and what he brings to the table.

[Mostar]

How on earth ISNT it???
None of those players i listed are 'great' at both defending and attacking - yet MUFC have always been in the top four and always been a title challenger.

So when Arn claims that a top four/title challenging side needs to have CMs who are great at both defending and attacking, it's clearly nonsense and proven to be nonsense, by Man Utd.

Come down

Your last line was "It clearly is not true" and I replied "No it isn't" so I did agree with you

[Craig_H]

I am calm, i was just adding emphasis

And apologies, when you said 'no it isnt', i thought you were replying to my comment "it was about the ridiculous claim that a top four/title challenging side needs all of its CMs to be 'great' at both defending and attacking"

You highlighted the whole lot of it, not just my last line.

Stop trying to confuse me, i know what you're trying to do

[Bender]

I am calm, i was just adding emphasis

And apologies, when you said 'no it isnt', i thought you were replying to my comment "it was about the ridiculous claim that a top four/title challenging side needs all of its CMs to be 'great' at both defending and attacking"

You highlighted the whole lot of it, not just my last line.

Stop trying to confuse me, i know what you're trying to do

that's easily done

[Mostar]

I am calm, i was just adding emphasis

i thought you were replying to my comment "it was about the ridiculous claim that a top four/title challenging side needs all of its CMs to be 'great' at both defending and attacking"

You highlighted the whole lot of it, not just my last line.

Stop trying to confuse me, i know what you're trying to do

Clearly as you said it is very difficult, almost impossibly to find a player that excels in both areas but in terms of Adam he really needs to up passing aspect of his game cause that is his strength.

I think he is aware that Stevie's coming back his position will be in danger and he is trying "Hollywood" type of passing to demonstrate his value to the team.

Sometime simple 1-2 passing and keeping the ball on the ground is all he needs to do rather then forcing and trying to thread the needle.

[Craig_H]

that's easily done

You, of all people....

[Mostar]

[JohnDoe]

John Doe doesnt agree with this. He thinks it's nailed on that Lucas wont be first choice.

I know it's outrageous, but there's a slight possibility that I've been wrong. In all likelihood I'm absolutely correct as I always am, but I'm opening the door for a chance of Kenny settling down into the formation I've suggested which may help Lucas' chances of saving his position in the first team.

[Nick77]

its amazing how quickly mata has become the main man for chelsea. quality quality player.

I really wanted Mata instead of Downing - a pity he's not English, maybe then we would've been in 4 him...

[BringbackBiscan]

Opta has put any challenges he made in the derby under possession duels. So they're standing by him making 0 tackles in the last two games. Bit confused about what Opta consider a tackle tbh. He did slide in and give away a free.

[BringbackBiscan]

I really wanted Mata instead of Downing - a pity he's not English, maybe then we would've been in 4 him...

Since his agent came out and said he'd only leave for a club in the champions league him being English wouldn't have made a tiny bit of difference in where he headed. So you'll have to make do with our Englishmen Suarez, Enrique & Doni.

[Kenneth]

Opta has put any challenges he made in the derby under possession duels. So they're standing by him making 0 tackles in the last two games. Bit confused about what Opta consider a tackle tbh. He did slide in and give away a free.

Not really bothered tbh.