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Jun 6, 2015
11,391
we should definitely get Berardi and fit him in somehow behind 2 forwards. remember last season when we 1st shifted to 4-3-1-2 back in October-November? im not sure who it was, but one of Pirlo or Vidal got injured so we started playing Pereyra behind the forwards. back then, no one was calling it a 4-3-1-2 but rather a 4-3-something because the player movements and quick transition play upfront made us very unpredictable. once Vidal/Pirlo returned, we benched Pereyra again and went for our usual midfield of Pirlo-Pogba-Marchisio-Vidal. most agreed that we looked much better with Pereyra at AM even though he wasnt a real AM either and played our best football in years. Berardi could offer a similar effect like Pereyra did with his intelligent off-ball movement but with a much better end product compared to the Argentine. Berardi can also drift wide to either side, drop behind the forwards or move up high to press the defense. with 2 mobile strikers like Dybala and Morata it could turn out great and thats definitely something id love to see next season
I'm fine with that frontline experiment but there is still Cuadrado and Mandzukic who need to fit in somewhere.
 

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Quetzalcoatl

It ain't hard to tell
Aug 22, 2007
66,773
I don't agree. Khedira is class we just need better cover for him if Asamoah doesn't get back to his best.
I know he's experienced and smart, but what does he really bring? He doesn't score or assist much, is slow as hell and doesn't provide much hustle in midfield. We need a battler in midfield with good technical qualities (not Sturaro)
 
Jun 6, 2015
11,391
I know he's experienced and smart, but what does he really bring? He doesn't score or assist much, is slow as hell and doesn't provide much hustle in midfield. We need a battler in midfield with good technical qualities (not Sturaro)
I agree that we need someone who brings something different to the table compared to Khedira. I still see him as a starter though and 3 goals and 3 assists in Serie A with limited game time is not that bad. He actually has a goal/assist every 203 minutes in comparison Pogba has a goal/assist every 231 minutes.
 

Quetzalcoatl

It ain't hard to tell
Aug 22, 2007
66,773
I agree that we need someone who brings something different to the table compared to Khedira. I still see him as a starter though and 3 goals and 3 assists in Serie A with limited game time is not that bad. He actually has a goal/assist every 203 minutes in comparison Pogba has a goal/assist every 231 minutes.
He's good enough when we're playing in Serie A, but we need a Vidal-type player to take us closer to the top teams
 
Jun 6, 2015
11,391
He's good enough when we're playing in Serie A, but we need a Vidal-type player to take us closer to the top teams
I really think we still have one potential world class midfielder in our ranks in Asamoah if he stays fit and finds his feet again he can be a starter for us. I really hope he becomes the player we need as he has all the attributes to be a huge player for us.
 

Quetzalcoatl

It ain't hard to tell
Aug 22, 2007
66,773
I really think we still have one potential world class midfielder in our ranks in Asamoah if he stays fit and finds his feet again he can be a starter for us. I really hope he becomes the player we need as he has all the attributes to be a huge player for us.
That's a big if.
Khedira was excellent against Bayern and him going off played a huge part in our collapse.
He was great, I admit. He's a good player, but we can improve on him. His positions is one of the-if not only that we can realistically improve upon in our starting team
 

Vlad

In Allegri We Trust
May 23, 2011
24,052
Khedira was excellent against Bayern and him going off played a huge part in our collapse.
Khedira is very good midfielder, composed, intelligent, good on the ball, makes good runs but he played 1600 minutes this year out of maximum 3780. I think it would irresponible from mgt not to think of getting someone more reliable. Pogba for instance played 3500 minutes, Bonucci 3600. ..
 

Boksic

Senior Member
May 11, 2005
14,324
Khedira is very good midfielder, composed, intelligent, good on the ball, makes good runs but he played 1600 minutes this year out of maximum 3780. I think it would irresponible from mgt not to think of getting someone more reliable. Pogba for instance played 3500 minutes, Bonucci 3600. ..
That's a big if.

He was great, I admit. He's a good player, but we can improve on him. His positions is one of the-if not only that we can realistically improve upon in our starting team
:agree:

We badly need a quality alternative to Khedira. Keeping Vidal would have been ideal.

But I have no problems with him being our starting mid, our record when he plays is proof he is good enough.

Only issue for me is his fitness.
 

Xperd

Allegrophobic Infidel
Jun 1, 2012
35,057
Varela is playing ahead of Darmian atm so we could put in a cheeky bid for him.I don't know how he feels there though.Many Italians come back early after an adventure at foreign clubs so it remains to be seen if he's another one of the same.
Fabinho is an ideal option but he'll cost a lot I assume.
Vrsaljko is the likely choice for RB but not a huge fan of him.
As we move along, we're likely to be linked to a lot more names who play at RB who could realistically be a viable choice.

Still believe 4-3-1-2 is what we'll play next season.Allegri won't let go off his TQ fetish and we'll get one in the summer.
 

zizinho

Senior Member
Apr 14, 2013
51,816
I'm fine with that frontline experiment but there is still Cuadrado and Mandzukic who need to fit in somewhere.
depends how we see Mandzukic i think. we didnt have a SS backup for Dybala this season so with Mandzukic starting alongside him we atleast had Morata of the bench who is more technical and less of a traditional CF so he could work in a duo with either Mandzukic or Zaza. if Mandzukic is still seen as a starter alongside Dybala after this season then i dont see why we couldnt play Berardi behind the two. Mandzukic doesent have the speed or technical ability of Morata but he offers physical presence, runs and presses a lot and is often receiving and winning the ball in areas far from the box so that creates space for the other players. in that case, we would have a front 3 of Morata-Zaza-Cuadrado on the bench which is excellent. if Morata is planed as a starter from next season on, we would have 2 similar forwards in Zaza and Mandzukic on the bench which dont really fit well together. i dont think Mandzukic would be happy with such a role so he might want to move on in that case. i think one between Zaza and him is gone in the summer if Morata is seen as a starter alongside Dybala, not because they are not good enough, but too similar. if Mandzukic is happy to be 3rd choice and stays then i think Zaza wont be happy. either way, keeping Morata as the super sub like this season is the only way i see all of our forwards staying.

about Cuadrado, he should always be a starter in 3-5-2 and 4-4-2, and also in 4-3-3 over Berardi in some games depending on opponent or tactics. depending on whats our primary and secondary formation next season, he might still be a starter here. if not a starter then the 1st option from the bench which, with injuries and suspensions, would still get him as much playing time as this season

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I really think we still have one potential world class midfielder in our ranks in Asamoah if he stays fit and finds his feet again he can be a starter for us. I really hope he becomes the player we need as he has all the attributes to be a huge player for us.
thats a big if though. and even if he is healthy, he didnt play for 2 seasons and his fitness is questionable. might be sold i think
 

Xperd

Allegrophobic Infidel
Jun 1, 2012
35,057
One of Asamoah/Lemina won't be here next season.Caceres is a goner.
Hernanes could leave as well.Hopefully Padoin too.

We can only have maximum of 25 players next season.Can't keep them all.
 
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