Do United need a new center midfield player?

Manchester United are in search of a midfield player who can replace Paul Scholes in the coming year. United already have a huge pool of midfielders (7 first team players plus 4/5 young players) who Sir Alex Ferguson can pick from depending on the game and what tactics he plans to adopt.

Last season we started off with Anderson and Cleverley in the centre who formed an excellent partnership which brought forth some attractive football last season. When Cleverley got injured, Carrick came into the side and he had arguably his best season in a United shirt, add to the mix the old masters Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes and you have 5 very good midfielders. On top of that we have Jones, who I think could develop as a holding midfielder, and our new acquisitions, Kagawa and Powell. So looking purely at the talent we have, I can’t see how another player could come into the side when we have so much talent already.

I think it would be unfair on Cleverley and Anderson and the other young players on the cusp of first team action if we brought someone else in. Cleverley and Ando as I stated earlier, started last season so well that they merit more games together. In Cleverley, we have a midfielder who could become as good if not better than Modric for example. His awareness to find space and pop the ball off is brilliant for such a young age. Also with Scholes signing on for another year we have his talent and experience in the midfield as well

Last season, the fans weren’t happy at how we did not deliver in the big games both in terms of creating chances and stopping teams from keeping possession. In Kagawa, we have a player who can create a chance out of nothing and more importantly who can press further up the pitch and stop teams from keeping the ball. Combined with Cleverley and Carrick, teams won’t find it as easy against us to keep the ball plus the three of them can pass all day long.

So to conclude, Cleverley needs time to show progress, Anderson I think should get one more year as has been hit by so many injuries, plus Scholes is around for one more year. Next summer, two midfielders will have to come in to replace Giggs and Scholes and it also depends on how the young players adapt and develop in the coming season.