How has it got to this with Manchester United’s midfield? It was always going to be difficult to replace someone of the majesty of Paul Scholes. But it wasn’t as if we didn’t see his retirement coming. The brilliant playmaker soldiered on for Manchester United until he could give no more. But a replacement still hasn’t been found. Manchester United spent £27.5m on a midfielder in the summer but we still haven’t figured out the purpose of that signing.
In the longer term Manchester United will surely spend big money on a brilliant creative midfielder. But when you look around the January market it’s hard to identify many players who are available and who could come in and do a great job straight away. Sneijder is one but, at 29, he may be deemed too old to make a big outlay on. That’s not to say David Moyes shouldn’t sign him. We think he’s exactly what Manchester United need right now.
One excellent attacking midfielder is gettable and has been touted for a transfer today. Arsenal are reportedly keen on taking out-of-favour schemer Sebastian Giovinco on loan until the end of the season. The diminutive creator, who can play in a range of attacking positions, could also prove to be a really good short-term fix for Manchester United.
He may not have the range of passing of a Scholes, but few do. What he does have is bags of energy, pace, dribbling skills and a good football brain. He puts teams on the back foot with his desire to run with the ball at the opposition and we think that he could do some real damage sitting next to Micheal Carrick in the midfield. He would offer the same sort of probing runs from the middle that United often ask of Ryan Giggs. But, at 26, one would hope that Giovinco could offer more intensity than the legendary Welshman.
We aren’t saying that Giovinco is the long term answer to Paul Scholes. But, with a dearth of available class in January, Giovinco might provide Manchester United with more speed and dynamism in the attacking midfield areas.
Let’s see the lad in action
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Lugano
Jan 10, 2014 at 7:39 pm
NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! A line in ur post said he could do a good job besidc Carrick in midfield….I say NOOOOOOO!!!!! We say Carrick is Pirlo-esque,sits deep,waits for the loose pass and intercepts..Pirlo succeeds in his role because he had always had a Vidal/Pogba/Marchisio to do the hard running. In all fairness,Giovinco has no place in CMF. Best,ahead of 2 midfielders. He brings ”pace,trickery…”….Moyes might as well draft Nani into the same role because he brings the same(with the frequent insane moments though). For me,Giovinco is a NO!