Big powerful midfielders

[1973Blade]

One of the things I liked about Vini Souza is that he was a big imposing midfielder (at least in the Championship). Whilst United over the years have had a reputation for being a physical team it seems to me that we are often lacking a powerful imposing figure in the middle and seem slow and quite weak there. How many other (successful) examples have we had over the years?

 

[Champagneblade]

One of the things I liked about Vini Souza is that he was a big imposing midfielder (at least in the Championship). Whilst United over the years have had a reputation for being a physical team it seems to me that we are often lacking a powerful imposing figure in the middle and seem slow and quite weak there. How many other (successful) examples have we had over the years?

I remember when Nigel Clough bemoaned how we weren’t the best at defending set-pieces. Yet he signed loads of 5’6” to 5’8” players. What did he expect?

 

[1973Blade]

I remember when Nigel Clough bemoaned how we weren’t the best at defending set-pieces. Yet he signed loads of 5’6” to 5’8” players. What did he expect?

Yes, they had to be small and Scottish

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

Sander Berge must be the tallest midfielder we've ever had.

 

[1973Blade]

Sander Berge must be the tallest midfielder we've ever had.

Yes, and I was a big fan of his but for a big man he was quite weak

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

Can't we just beef Callum up a bit?

 

[Rochdaleblade]

SANTOS!!!!

 

[Gin&Juice]

Begin the thawing of Olifanjana

 

[Rodley]

We seem to focus on culture carriers rather than athletic traits. Worlds moving on.

 

[1973Blade]

We seem to focus on culture carriers rather than athletic traits. Worlds moving on.

Definitely, we don't seem to do athleticism and certainly in the Premier League it is essential - which we've twice found out to our cost. If we had gone up last May the same thing would have happened.

 

[Rodley]

Definitely, we don't seem to do athleticism and certainly in the Premier League it is essential - which we've twice found out to our cost. If we had gone up last May the same thing would have happened.

Our problem in the Prem is that we don’t pay decent wages and as a consequence every signing is a huge gamble (or just not at the level necessary).

 

[Nick Jansky]

I remember when Nigel Clough bemoaned how we weren’t the best at defending set-pieces. Yet he signed loads of 5’6” to 5’8” players. What did he expect?

He also brought Conor Coady in on loan to play in midfield for us.

 

[Rodley]

He also brought Conor Coady in on loan to play in midfield for us.

Did he sign Higgopotamus or was that Madkins?

 

[Nick Jansky]

Did he sign Higgopotamus or was that Madkins?

It was Clough.

 

[DifferentClass]

Get Chong down kebab shop.

 

[Silent Blade]

Sander Berge must be the tallest midfielder we've ever had.

Dellas

 

[Paisley Blade]

We seem to focus on culture carriers rather than athletic traits. Worlds moving on.

I watched the first half in a pub in Edinburgh with no commentary.

Encouraged by the first 5 mins, it then seemed they were bigger and stronger than us.

This is a problem.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

Dellas

Thought he was a centre back?

 

[Silent Blade]

Thought he was a centre back?

Came to us as a centre back , struggled in the back 4 formation then he was moved to midfield by Steve Thompson, also Steve Bruce preferred him playing in the midfield. When he went back to Greece, he played in defence again and was an excellent sweeper during the 2004 Euros.

 

[diplomat]

He also brought Conor Coady in on loan to play in midfield for us.

He also opened a season with Alcock (I think it was) at centre half. Who was about five foot eight and a full back.

 

[Revolution]

He also opened a season with Alcock (I think it was) at centre half. Who was about five foot eight and a full back.

In both 2014-5 and 2025-6:

We opened the season at home to Bristol City
We fielded a team that looked like it had been picked out of a hat
We lost

 

[Blade1959]

He also brought Conor Coady in on loan to play in midfield for us.

David Weir signed Coady

 

[Blade In Flame]

Sander Berge must be the tallest midfielder we've ever had.

Yes but he got 5 inches shorter when he jumped for a header.

 

[Nick Jansky]

David Weir signed Coady

Ah right. I stand corrected. I knew it wasn’t Adkins.