Lack of attacking options in Centre Midfield...

[Neecha]

He's scored 1 in the last 7 years according to Wiki ... should fit in nicely

and lack of goal scoring aside is he really any different to what we already have? (assuming he is not overweight and fit)

 

[sahel]

A broken record I know but how can we go a whole season right up until last night (2 shots on target) to realise that this is seriously hindering our promotion challenge. I wasn't convinced OG would get us as far up the table as he has when he joined so he has done well. However before we start calling for another forward what about the lack of goals from Lopez, Buckley, Kaz, Andrews even Ince? Crofty aside who else has chipped in with 10-12 goals this season. IMO we are missing a dynamic attacking midfielder who brings something different to the centre of the park. JFC, Andrews, Dale Stevens all very similar players who like passing sideways a lot, work hard for the team but are all average championship players who never chip in with goals to take the weight off of Ulloa. THIS area would be the first place I would recruit for next season, we lack cutting edge in the final third no craft and rarely see a player beat a man in central midfield and run at the oppositions midfield. I wasn't going to go here but even though Vicente was a pain in the ass at least you could bring him on (when fit which was rare) and he would terrorise defenders he was a game winner, who is our game winner in midfield not inc our wide men?

could not agree with you more. I would also add that Poyet and Garcia are both very defensive managers which I think has cost Brighton promotion in successive years. Even when Vicente (head and shoulders above others) was available he was not picked and Lua Lua has been ignored by both managers. How can Rodriguex be preferred to Lua Lua?. The midfield is the major problem and we need a couple of quick footed and pacy players there. JFC Lopez Orlandi Andrews and Stephens are all much of a muchness and we just need a couple of these not 5 or 6!

 

[Rugrat]

i don't think he is one for running at the opposition either...clearly has some skill..but running a lot doesn't seem one of them...but no matter what we say he is in the dog house ...i don't see him as the saviour ..but an option? He didn't get on the bench for the cup replay...i think that says where he is at with the club

I'd agree with that too. Even though we've not seen much of him my view is that there have been flashes of quality but for the most part huff and puff and some pretty amateur gaffs.

I don't think he's the answer and, regardless of the reason, I guess Oscar doesn't either. I know zero about Stevens ... I thought he was a box to box Crofts type so maybe he comes along with some season saving performances. Otherwise its gone as far as I can see.

 

[Rugrat]

and lack of goal scoring aside is he really any different to what we already have? (assuming he is not overweight and fit)

I genuinely don't know, certainly more physical than any of what was put out last night, but I suspect he's a bit of a loose canon on and off the pitch. Just a hunch, but I think if we see him again it will be the last roll of the dice (which may well be on Saturday!)

 

[Neecha]

could not agree with you more. I would also add that Poyet and Garcia are both very defensive managers which I think has cost Brighton promotion in successive years. Even when Vicente (head and shoulders above others) was available he was not picked and Lua Lua has been ignored by both managers. How can Rodriguex be preferred to Lua Lua?. The midfield is the major problem and we need a couple of quick footed and pacy players there. JFC Lopez Orlandi Andrews and Stephens are all much of a muchness and we just need a couple of these not 5 or 6!

The jury is seriously out regarding Rodriguez but he needs time to adapt to new surroundings, new league, new style etc but regarding Kaz, he hasn't been fully fit all season and IMO hasn't taken his chances when he has started (Hull city away he was awful) he is best coming on and having a go that way. Ive seen mentions of Orlandi on here but there again is he really that different does he really offer that cutting edge in the centre of midfield??

 

[Rugrat]

The jury is seriously out regarding Rodriguez

The jury might be back!

 

[Neecha]

The jury might be back!

what are your thoughts and is that your car?

 

[Rugrat]

I've seen nothing to tell me he's got what it takes, suspect he was brought he as an emergency (cheap) option though the injury "crisis"

It was ... divorce put paid to that

 

[hans kraay fan club]

As I have said on a similar thread the type of player we need is a Frank Lampard obviously we couldnt get him but I am trying to think of an older player out of favour that could come in for 8 weeks to do the same kind of job just as Denis Mortimer did some years ago.

Sounds like Keith Andrews...

 

[Neecha]

I've seen nothing to tell me he's got what it takes, suspect he was brought he as an emergency (cheap) option though the injury "crisis"

It was ... divorce put paid to that

I have heard he likes the high life a bit too much, which to me is the worst kind of player to have in any squad (best and ronaldinhio aside)

Good choice on the car, sorry to hear about the outcome!

 

[BensGrandad]

Sounds like Keith Andrews...

For some unknown reason he hasnt been a goalscorer for us but was for his previous clubs.scoring about 1 in every 6 game's

 

[B.W.]

For some unknown reason he hasnt been a goalscorer for us but was for his previous clubs.scoring about 1 in every 6 game's

The reason is the way we play him / the position we play him in. Maybe his age a problem too.

 

[Mellotron]

Lopez played DOWN THE MIDDLE creates goals.

 

[Rugrat]

Good choice on the car, sorry to hear about the outcome!

Y, pity ... better looking than the Ex, went better, and cheaper to run. There's a moral there somewhere!!

 

[Machiavelli]

Thanks for this Neecha. Like other posters, I'm in agreement, but it's not just attacking midfield, it's also out wide, and it's also lack of back-up for Ulloa. Up until Buckley's two against Bolton, our return from wide players has been utterly dire.
If -- and I realise it's a big if -- Crofts and Orlandi are fit, a midfield three of Crofts, Ince and Stephens/Orlandi looks promising to me. That promise will only really be realised if one (Crofts in all likelihood) manages ten, and the other three manage ten between them. This season Ince, Stephens and Orlandi have managed a grand total of zero between them.
If we can get such a return with Ulloa firing on all cylinders, all of the wide players chipping in with 20-odd goals between them, and back-up strikers contributing too then, and only then, will promotion be a goer.

 

[keaton]

Lopez played DOWN THE MIDDLE creates goals.

Yeah, it does seem pretty obvious. While he wasn't great out wide, he did create or score goals. He looks like a playmaker

 

[Brighton Mod]

Dave in the middle, its so obvious.

 

[willyfantastic]

i agree

i think orlandi playing down the middle offers a bit more attacking intent and a creative option, and i would play dave there in the meantime rather than out wide

i think we need another play in this position though, not sure who

 

[maltaseagull]

I think we are missing Andrea Orlandi's creative influence. He led the team in assists last season I believe.

Agreed. Even when he has played he has not been as good as last season.

 

[Neecha]

Dave in the middle, its so obvious.

What happens when he needs to put in a tackle though?