Our midfield next season

We have several threads regarding next season and almost in every one, the midfield gets little attention. Tito said ‘when we talk about midfield, he would have something to say’ well this is the thread for it.

Our current midfield is Modric, Casemiro and Kroos with the backups being Ceballos, Llorente, Valverde and sometimes Isco. Clearly there has to be some major changes. While Casemiro is likely to remain, Modric and Kroos are under the microscope and indeed it seems the club is looking for better alternatives to replace at least one of them. Isco is thought to be a misfit in the club with his performance this season as well as his limited effectiveness. And Hazard coming in only makes his role all the more in doubt. Yet Zidane says he likes him and Isco says he wants to stay? So who knows for sure? Then with the three kids as backups, they all have shown they belong with some good performances. They are not the inexperienced kids that were here a year ago. However in a revamped midfield, they won’t get a lot of playing time that they need to continue their development. I don’t believe any of them are ready to push for a starters role and as Zidane said re Llorente, it is probably best to send him out on loan again to give him the playing time he needs. So while all three could possibly go out on loan, reality is one or two of them will probably  stay as we do need backups.

The names mentioned most are Pogba and Eriksen. there always seems to be a but with regards to Pogba in terms of a probable ridiculous high cost. There also has been talk about Ndombele, but interesting nothing from club!

So my thought is likely Eriksen in and one of Kroos or Modric gone. And Isco possibly being first substitute! One issue I foresee is lack of cover for Casemiro.

I'd like to see a move to 4-2-3-1

CMs: Casemiro + new MF (backups, Fede, Llorente, Ceballos (small teams/advanced CM in a 4-3-3), Kroos (small teams/advanced CM in a 4-3-3))

LW: Hazard/Vinicius/Rodrygo

AM: Hazard/Isco/Asensio/Kroos

RW: New RW/Asensio/Vinicius (to the extent he can adapt to the other side)/Rodrygo (to the extent he can adapt to the other side)/Vazquez

Move Modric on. If Kroos stays, it's more in a backup CM/deeper lying AM/advanced CM (similar to Modric's current role, for when we play 4-3-3)

I will need some time on this one, because sadly, I have a whole lot to say about the shambles we have seen in the middle of the park.....not just this year either

mrnick has put forward an idea for a 4 3 2 1, in theory, i like it, especially because, even when we won la liga and ucl, i always felt there was very little penetration from the midfielders in the final third. a 4 2 3 1 will mean we have a proper attacking mid, not recycling possession and actually creating. same with the wingers, they too are tasked with being creators and can score if need be. all in theory

in reality; if we do dumb stuff like play CMs as wingers or play people out of position, we are screwed. toni kroos has been worse than modric, but if i'm flo, i'm listening to offers for modric , asap. he is older and doesn't have the same skillset of kroos from set pieces. unlike kroos, modric is a lot more physical, at this age we should be looking to life after luka

kroos can work in a 4 2 3 1 where he isn't tasked with penetrating defense nor defending; problem is, it puts a lot of pressure on the dm. and if we do get pogba, who isn't a dm, then its dangerous to have him and kroos. if we have those 2 strolling in the middle of the park, we are done for.

kroos and modric are expendable , it isn't even a question. if kroos stays, he should not be an automatic starter. its high time he started fighting for his position. i still like casemiro, but not to the point where he should be an automatic starter. if we stay with 4 3 3, one of those midfield 3 must be able to create something in the final third, and i don't want to see some square peg round hole situation like hazard playing CM

Pogba/Kante...  and neither are available lol.  We'd need to overpay extensively.

Ndombele could work too...  but i'm worried due to his lack of experience.  With a double pivot, you need CMs who know what they're doing.

More than Pogba... we need Kante.  He allows for a whole lot more combinations since you don't have to worry about defensive side of the midfield and he's plenty good enough with the ball.  Much more valuable than Pogba imo.  Just not as sexy.

if we play 4 2 3 1, isco can stay but not as a starter, rather as competition for the attacking mid, maybe that's hazard, anything besides 4 2 3 1, isco doesn't have a place here, he is not iniesta (who actually marked, played defense, and was a better ball distributor), and he is not a winger. if there is no place for him, sell, i'm sure there are clubs that will pay good money for his services

its dangerous to loan valverde ceballos and llorente out all in one go, i'd wait to see who we get first. last thing we want is a thin squad or a situation where we have our starters playing first round copa del rey games. we'll definitely have to loan out at least 1 or even 2, but i'd wait till summer. they've had flash in the pan games here and there.

ceballos did score that late free kick winner, but their moments haven't been fantastic enough for me to say they should all stay. i do like that llorente works hard though, i'll give him that. i'm not a fan of valverde

i like kante, but he isn't the first midfielder we should sign, i would address the attacking aspect first before him. and i doubt it'll happen, chelsea cannot afford to lose kanta and hazard (i'm not a big fan , but i've come to terms with the fact the club wants him at all cost). i haven't seen Ndombele play