Lazar Samardžić

[Sawyer]

Can't lie don't rate this guy as others do.

Not bad for a bench option though.

 

[magnesium]

This mean Barella go to City next year?

 

[pupivn]

This mean Barella go to City next year?

Either Hakan or Mkhi gone next, or even both

 

[magnesium]

If only we replace Correa with Dybala.
What a creative squad we had.

Still have question why Samardzic instead physical midfielder.

 

[dynasty27]

If only we replace Correa with Dybala.
What a creative squad we had.

Still have question why Samardzic instead physical midfielder.

He's not unphysical. Frattesi provides physicality too.

 

[ElDuccio]

Good upgrade. Udineses assist man, also scored some goals. Maybe their best player. And still very young!

 

[RickyMaravilla'sRightFoot]

Hope this gets over the line. We've been in desperate need of a player with his qualities for ages.

Our lack of physicality in midfield is somewhat concerning, but we could (in theory) change our formation occasionally to accommodate. I remember Inzaghi at Lazio playing with something akin to a 361 at times. I think Samardzic could play attacking mid in this setup with someone who can make intelligent movements up top. It is a bit absurd to think that Inzaghi would have a 2nd formation though..

 

[bubba zanetti]

Yes, bring it on! Lets play sexy football for once

 

[thatdude]

Realistically we haven’t played with a physical midfielder for years. Brozo was the closest thing we’ve had to a DM and that was never his biggest strength. I think a lot will depend on how we decide to set up.

Towards the end of last year we were still very defensively solid with a Mkhi - Brozo/Hakan - Barella midfield. We had to sit deep and eliminate the space between our lines and space in behind our slow back line but it worked. I assume Inzaghi intends to do the same this year. Realistically until we don’t have Acerbi in the back line we really don’t have an option. Even Darmian and Bastoni aren’t exactly speedsters.

We will be a bit more dynamic on the counter this year with the addition of Frattesi. Thuram is obviously an upgrade over Dzeko in this aspect. If we can add someone like Balogun then I’d say we’re well set up for that game plan.

 

[kurt0411]

To the people that are complaining about non physical midfield….you must not remember the days of Medel-Felipe Melo-Kondogbia

 

[pupivn]

Hmm I think football has passed the point of depending on a destroyer in midfield. Real Madrid trio doesn’t scream physical and they has been winning and on top.

 

[sdvroot]

Can't lie don't rate this guy as others do.

Not bad for a bench option though.

Oh no my friend, I see him as a future football star, a very cool player.

 

[ronnyle]

Incoming 0-3-8-0 formation

Bring Palacio back

 

[thatdude]

Hmm I think football has passed the point of depending on a destroyer in midfield. Real Madrid trio doesn’t scream physical and they has been winning and on top.

Casemiro was their defensive presence. And yes they have missed him because Touchameni hasn’t lived up to expectations yet. They still made it to a CL semi final though.

Man City played with a defensive midfielder and a converted center back in midfield during the final. Liverpool won with Fabinho in his prime. Chelsea won with prime Kante. Off the top my head the last team I can think that won without a DM was Milan, and even they had Gattuso.

I don’t think there’s any evidence that a physical presence isn’t still important. I personally would have kept Agoume in the squad over Asllani for that reason. However, as I said we did prove you can be defensively solid without a DM if you set up your team the right way. However essentially all 11 have to chip in defensively.

 

[pupivn]

Casemiro was their defensive presence. And yes they have missed him because Touchameni hasn’t lived up to expectations yet. They still made it to a CL semi final though.

Man City played with a defensive midfielder and a converted center back in midfield during the final. Liverpool won with Fabinho in his prime. Chelsea won with prime Kante. Off the top my head the last team I can think that won without a DM was Milan, and even they had Gattuso.

I don’t think there’s any evidence that a physical presence isn’t still important. I personally would have kept Agoume in the squad over Asllani for that reason. However, as I said we did prove you can be defensively solid without a DM if you set up your team the right way. However essentially all 11 have to chip in defensively.

Hence I used the word destroyer, all players you listed are not really DM in traditional thinking. They can play aggressively, not physically only and more offensive in mind as well. We do and still need physical attribute in play but not DM as focus point in midfield.

 

[sdvroot]

I wonder if we'll include players in this deal? Sensi got to go somewhere.

 

[sdvroot]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1685317964088713216

It says here we give 20m plus Fabbian, hmm, maybe it's a little expensive.

 

[ElDuccio]

well, it's their best players, he´s still very young too, what do you expected

 

[SiamoNoi]

You just know Barella is going next (will become another traitor after Skriniar and Brozović). This club is in a sad sad state.

 

[thatdude]

Hence I used the word destroyer, all players you listed are not really DM in traditional thinking. They can play aggressively, not physically only and more offensive in mind as well. We do and still need physical attribute in play but not DM as focus point in midfield.

Yeah my point was that I still think we don’t have that type of player in our squad. Frattesi is probably the closest thing right now and he’s really just a box to box. Historically it hasn’t worked at the highest level without a DM, but we did well without one at the end of last year and suspect we’ll be fine again. Who knows if we’re very successful with it more teams may copy it, that’s how football evolves.

However in my opinion the “best version” of this team would still involve a DM and more athletic CBs.