Whats wrong with our midfiled?

[seagullkev]

how can anyone blame the midfield for saturday. the ball kept flying over them with both defenses happy just to hoof the ball forwards.

 

[DJ Leon]

This place will go into meltdown when we actually LOSE.

 

[BensGrandad]

I like Thomson. The problem is we have noone good enough to play alongside him.

That is so true we lost the midfield as soon as Virgo went up front, had we had Adam El Abd, a ball winner, available to come on for him we would have continued to hold the midfield.

The most urgent need is either get El Abd fit to deputise when Virgo goes up front or sign a back up proven, older, goalscorer. We could also do with another winger to cover both McLeod and Cox as we do not have an adequate deputy.

 

[Da Man Clay]

That is so true we lost the midfield as soon as Virgo went up front, had we had Adam El Abd, a ball winner, available to come on for him we would have continued to hold the midfield.

The most urgent need is either get El Abd fit to deputise when Virgo goes up front or sign a back up proven, older, goalscorer. We could also do with another winger to cover both McLeod and Cox as we do not have an adequate deputy.

Can't really argue with any of that BG. Its obvious Fraser isn't up to the task, and we are woefully inadequate after the first 11.

 

[Mendoza]

If we are talking about central midfielders, our problem is that we only have 2 at the club that are first team picks, Thomson and Livermore

They are very similar in the way they play, just break up play, and lay off an easy pass, and are generally defensive minded. This goes for Tommy Fraser too.

We dont have any other midfielders so try stop gap methods and put Virgo or El Abd in there. But then these 2 play the same way Thomson, Livermore and Fraser play.

We could put Cox in the middle, but then it turns into that diamond thing that went horrifically wrong last season.

Chaimberlain and Loft are the only 2 attacking central midfielders we have, but can we risk putting them in the starting line up so early into the season when a great start is essential?

For all on here who slagged him off, we have never replaced Dean Hammond and we will suffer as a result in terms of attacking play through the middle

 

[Questions]

FFS. We've had 2 games this season. We have 4 points. How can you be sure 'what we need' at this moment?!

Maybe he went to some games last year and watched Thomson ?

Maybe like ?

 

[Questions]

If we are talking about central midfielders, our problem is that we only have 2 at the club that are first team picks, Thomson and Livermore

They are very similar in the way they play, just break up play, and lay off an easy pass, and are generally defensive minded. This goes for Tommy Fraser too.

We dont have any other midfielders so try stop gap methods and put Virgo or El Abd in there. But then these 2 play the same way Thomson, Livermore and Fraser play.

We could put Cox in the middle, but then it turns into that diamond thing that went horrifically wrong last season.

Chaimberlain and Loft are the only 2 attacking central midfielders we have, but can we risk putting them in the starting line up so early into the season when a great start is essential?

For all on here who slagged him off, we have never replaced Dean Hammond and we will suffer as a result in terms of attacking play through the middle

Loft is shit.

 

[Da Man Clay]

For all on here who slagged him off, we have never replaced Dean Hammond and we will suffer as a result in terms of attacking play through the middle

Not so sure about that. We certainly missed him last year but this year I think Virgo will really grow into that role, I have already been impressed with his late runs into the box and fancy him to get more goals from open play than Hammond did.

 

[Mendoza]

Not so sure about that. We certainly missed him last year but this year I think Virgo will really grow into that role, I have already been impressed with his late runs into the box and fancy him to get more goals from open play than Hammond did.

I hope Virgo does grow into the role, especially as Adams has said he will play him at all costs in any position.

Virgo is not a central midfielder, he admits he's never played there, and theres a hell of a lot he need to learn in a short space of time if he cements his position.

I dont know how well it will work with Thomson, as they are both quite similar players, and we need some variety in there.

It seems the purpose of a central midfield is an extra line of defence rather than support for the attack

 

[Twinkle Toes]

I reckon Thomson's done well for us in midfield so far this season. As I see it, the trouble lies in us not having a central midfielder who has the ability to hold on to the ball; dictate the play & provide incisive passes to our forwards & runners. We hugely missed McCleod on Sat - but I think he would be even better with the type of player I just described. I'm starting to rue the fact that we missed out on that Currie geezer tbh..

 

[DJ Leon]

Maybe he went to some games last year and watched Thomson ?

Maybe like ?

Oh right, this is what is wrong with our midfield LAST season. OK.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

True but if you boss the centre of the park you boss the game

I think you have a unique view of this player.

 

[Silent Bob]

Not so sure about that. We certainly missed him last year but this year I think Virgo will really grow into that role, I have already been impressed with his late runs into the box and fancy him to get more goals from open play than Hammond did.

That wasn't all Hammond did though, he remains very underrated, he did a lot of work in midfield and was always available for a pass... bizarrely people thoughy he was anonymous??

Virgo has looked dangerous from crosses but that is about it, personally I'm far from cpnvinced he is a midfield player.

 

[Seagull73]

I think you have a unique view of this player.

I think he's sulking because Thomson wouldn't sign his scrapbook.

 

[Dave the OAP]

By the performances, MA is a good manager but no manger can hide the problems that persist from previous seasons. Last year we masked the problem with two loan players, Racon and Westlake, this season, the problems persist.

I think that is an infinitely sensible post.

Most clubs in our position struggle to get decent centre midfielders as if they are around they tend to be snapped up by the Championship and Premier sides.

Personally I would have Racon bac tomorrow, but we will have to see

 

[sten_super]

I think that is an infinitely sensible post.

Most clubs in our position struggle to get decent centre midfielders as if they are around they tend to be snapped up by the Championship and Premier sides.

Personally I would have Racon bac tomorrow, but we will have to see

I think most of us would have Racon back; but he's now starting for Charlton. I don't necessarily think it's any harder to get a quality centre midfielder than it is any other position. As a league 1 side, if you want someone with quality, it has to be a loan signing. Either that or you take a punt on someone and hope.

 

[chez]

I'm more than happy with Thompson, he'll never be an eyecatching ball sprayer (i like that expression) but he'll always go about his job in a professional and efficient manner. Does the job he's there to do more than well enough IMO.

 

[BensGrandad]

As has been said many times our major problem was taking Virgo,a ball winner out of the midfield. We missed McLeod but if we are going to push Virgo up everytime that murray or Forster do not play or are playing bad then we donot have a player other than Adam El Abd to compensate this move. Thomson will be fine as the brains and playmaker of the midfield carrying out the role that Raccon filled and McLeod is better than Westlake out wide. MAs side in the past and at Coventry relied on 2 ball winning midfielders hence at Coventry he signed denis Wise and Don Hutchinson and when he last time he signed Richard Carpenter and Paul Rodgers.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

McLeod back on Friday night.
Murray up front.
Three points in the bag.


and there will still be people on here moaning about something I suspect.