The "DM" thread

[Bishop]

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It's funny I remember last season pointing out that Bergvall is a runner and not a passer when the calls were being made for him to fix our midfield progression problems last season.

I think De Zerbi has a problem and Gallagher conditions it. Assuming Gallagher isn't going to be sold we realistically need to move at least 2 of Bentancur, Palhinha, Sarr, Gray and Bergvall on to make space for both a progressive DM and a CM controller/passer and ideally 2x of the passers.

 

[Ace Face]

It's funny I remember last season pointing out that Bergvall is a runner and not a passer when the calls were being made for him to fix our midfield progression problems last season.

I think De Zerbi has a problem and Gallagher conditions it. Assuming Gallagher isn't going to be sold we realistically need to move at least 2 of Bentancur, Palhinha, Sarr, Gray and Bergvall on to make space for both a progressive DM and a CM controller/passer and ideally 2x of the passers.

Assuming Gallagher stays, these two seem to be the ones we'd most like to move on from by general consensus.

 

[Daisuk]

Assuming Gallagher stays, these two seem to be the ones we'd most like to move on from by general consensus.

We loaned Palinha, so don’t really need to move him on. Sounds like RDZ might want to keep him though. I reckon we’ll sell Sarr if Brentford bid around 25 mill for him.

 

[Bishop]

We loaned Palinha, so don’t really need to move him on. Sounds like RDZ might want to keep him though. I reckon we’ll sell Sarr if Brentford bid around 25 mill for him.

That only really gives us space for 1 additional CM unless they are a hybrid CM/DM. When you look at that collection of midfielders there really isn't any ball playing capability in there other than whomever we add but if we only add one guy in for say Sarr going out what happens if that ball player gets injured or has a run of bad form? Back to a midfield of the runners and grafters? That why for me we need to bring 2x ball playing midfielders. One as a starter and one can be a prospect, but they should be players who already clearly possess those attributes, so no projects like Gray who is a bit of a blank canvas or Bergvall who is a very good prospect but a progressive runner rather than a passer. We need a couple of guys who are really good with the ball at their feet and their key attribute is distribution, no half arsing it please.

 

[RunTMC]

That only really gives us space for 1 additional CM unless they are a hybrid CM/DM. When you look at that collection of midfielders there really isn't any ball playing capability in there other than whomever we add but if we only add one guy in for say Sarr going out what happens if that ball player gets injured or has a run of bad form? Back to a midfield of the runners and grafters? That why for me we need to bring 2x ball playing midfielders. One as a starter and one can be a prospect, but they should be players who already clearly possess those attributes, so no projects like Gray who is a bit of a blank canvas or Bergvall who is a very good prospect but a progressive runner rather than a passer. We need a couple of guys who are really good with the ball at their feet and their key attribute is distribution, no half arsing it please.

The good news is that Grey and Bergvall are U21 so they don’t count towards the EPL squad limit. If Paulinha and Sarr goes that leaves just Gallagher and Bentancur. Personally I’d like us to bring in 3 midfielders - a deep lying playmaker, a ball playing CM and an attacking CM.

The bad news is this, plus a striker, plus a left winger, the 2 CBs, GK and Robertson means 9 new players into the squad is a hell of a lot of work to do in one window!