Manchester United must turn their midfield from chaos into control

 

Over the last few seasons it has become more and more evident that Manchester United’s midfield is the area which needs to be addressed and yet it appears to remain untouched.

Bastian Schweinsteiger, Morgan Schneiderlin, Marouane Fellaini, Nemanja Matic, Paul Pogba, Fred and Donny van de Beek have all come in for varying sums of money and all had moments or patches of form but never really established themselves as first regulars.

Academy graduate Scott McTominay and Fred are the preferred partnership for the last few years now, this is less out of design more necessity in that Pogba has never nailed down a role in the team and Matic’s better days are behind him.

They functioned well during Ole Gunner Solskjaer’s tenure in a midfield that was energetic and tenacious but didn’t really control the games in which a top team should do.

The whole team was seemingly built around chaos in sitting deep and hitting teams on the counter-attack in more of a basketball style where United, who had better players in attack, would cause more damage and win games that way.

Midfield is where games are won and lost but they should also reflect what a team and manager should be, the great United teams of the past had tough players but who had great technical ability.

Looking at United’s rivals, their midfields possess a mix of strength and skill that are a big reason as to why they are so far ahead in the league.

This summer with Matic and Pogba seemingly leaving the club at then end of their contracts, it does seem a midfield revolution is on the cards. But if they go then they will need to be replaced, if United already a short at least one then they will have to get three midfielders to stock up for next season.