Kroos--Elneny at CM looks good on paper.

Meh, vastly over rated and far from what our team needs.

Serious question. Why would RM sell someone like Kroos? I see him as thier 1st choice CM

Cannon wrote:

Serious question. Why would RM sell someone like Kroos? I see him as thier 1st choice CM

They wouldn't. This is wishful thinking

That Ozil transfer really messed us up..

Think Madrid have proven enough times that they will sell anyone on a whim. Crazy club.

Elneny-Kroos would consist of two midfielders who can both defend and attack, which I strongly prefer to our current set-up.

Don't like Kroos but I could imagine him working well with Elneny or Coquelin, the latter two would have to do most of the running as he isn't very mobile but his overall game is very mature and composed.

Cannon wrote:

Serious question. Why would RM sell someone like Kroos? I see him as their 1st choice CM

They wouldn't. Look at where the rumour came from.

A complete non story if ever you heard one.

He's a fantastic player but I'm not even sure I'd like to see him here. One thing that has become increasingly clear in recent times is that Wenger is unable to build a structurally strong team, so I'm not sure we'd be able to get away with a midfielder that has such slow and rigid movement.

Madrid are similar and that's how the whole Casemiro vs Kroos debate begun despite Kroos being the superior footballer.

Rosanero wrote:

I'm not sure we'd be able to get away with a midfielder that has such slow and rigid movement.

Explain

I understand that part. It was the first part I didn't get. We couldn't get away with it? What do you mean.
Some of the best midfielders are non agile/loitering players. Xavi, Xabi, Motta are a couple who are smart but lack the athleticism.

Kroos would be a gift. Imagine thinking otherwise.

Agree that Kroos is class but in our set up he could only possibly partner Coquelin (obviously Flamini is this type of player too) or maybe El Nenny if he can demonstrate in these last weeks a sufficiently defensive part of his game.

Really though, Kroos is best in a midfield three, I liked when Lahm was partnered behind/next to him at Bayern. At Real he plays in what essentially is a midfield two given the lack of defensive work done by James/Isco, and it's not an ideal set up for him. He does an 8/10 Xabi Alonso impression there, but he's capable of much more.

This would probably drive some here mad but if we got him, this would be the ideal set-up in my view:

Welbeck

Sanchez--------------------Ozil

Kroos---Ramsey

El Nenny

Back five

Savz wrote:

I understand that part. It was the first part I didn't get. We couldn't get away with it? What do you mean.
Some of the best midfielders are non agile/loitering players. Xavi, Xabi, Motta are a couple who are smart but lack the athleticism.

Xavi was very agile even if he wasn't athletic. Kroos is as slow as the other two are despite being almost ten years younger.

He could still play a great role due to his strengths but we'd be including a player with a significant flaw into a team that possibly won't be able to cover for his weaknesses.

Ozil in front of Kroos and Elneny would be electric.

jones wrote:
Savz wrote:

I understand that part. It was the first part I didn't get. We couldn't get away with it? What do you mean.
Some of the best midfielders are non agile/loitering players. Xavi, Xabi, Motta are a couple who are smart but lack the athleticism.

we'd be including a player with a significant flaw into a team that possibly won't be able to cover for his weaknesses.

Arteta wasn't a quick player yet was our starting CM in our first FA cup win in 9 years. Prior to Mikel, Cesc too was slow and we were a very good side. We don't have to have 11 players who are all quick. If Kroos played, the other two midfielders need to be slightly more mobile, but it's not as big of a deal as being made out. Kroos' mobility/work rate isn't up there with the elites of Vidal or Ramsey, but it's not that bad that we'd start saying that we couldn't have him in our team as we might not be able to compensate.

Kroos/Elneny/Coquelin
Wilshere/Coquelin/Kroos
Kroos/Elneny behind Ozil

Any combo would suffice, easily.

Even Flamini/Arteta/Kroos might not win you a CL, but they would be alright.

Real won't sell him and I highly doubt he'd want to come here over other potential destinations.

Savz wrote:
jones wrote:

we'd be including a player with a significant flaw into a team that possibly won't be able to cover for his weaknesses.

Arteta wasn't a quick player yet was our starting CM in our first FA cup win in 9 years. Prior to Mikel, Cesc too was slow and we were a very good side. We don't have to have 11 players who are all quick. If Kroos played, the other two midfielders need to be slightly more mobile, but it's not as big of a deal as being made out. Kroos' mobility/work rate isn't up there with the elites of Vidal or Ramsey, but it's not that bad that we'd start saying that we couldn't have him in our team as we might not be able to compensate.

Kroos/Elneny/Coquelin
Wilshere/Coquelin/Kroos
Kroos/Elneny behind Ozil

Any combo would suffice, easily.

Even Flamini/Arteta/Kroos might not win you a CL, but they would be alright.

Real won't sell him and I highly doubt he'd want to come here over other potential destinations.

Low didn't trust a midfield three with both Ozil and Kroos in it, I'm not sure we should either. Coquelin might be able to make it work given how defensive he is, but, as I said earlier, I need to see more of El Nenny. The other formations you listed would require a formation tweak and would require shifting Ozil wide

ozil and kroos in the same midfield won't work. a flat midfield of el neny/ramsey, coquelin, and kroos sounds nice, but then you're dislodging ozil. i'd still buy him even if it creates selection problems, he's a quality player