A Greystone Ram Posted January 12, 2019 Share Posted January 12, 2019 27 games played and I don't think I've ever been totally convinced by our central midfield. We seemed to have struck gold in the away games at West Brom and Middlesborough but the same trio failed to convince after that. What's your best midfield line-up from our current squad? If we're missing someone, what kind of player do you think we're missing? I've seen a lot of fans recently missing Will Hughes (understandably so) but personally i think we need a Jeff Hendrick style player more - an all round midfield player with a bit of physical presence. Thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StringerBell Posted January 12, 2019 Share Posted January 12, 2019 It's a bit like England's midfield in the World Cup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Topram Posted January 12, 2019 Share Posted January 12, 2019 We need someone in midfield that can hold the ball, keep it move with it, atm it’s going straight past them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbo Ram Posted January 12, 2019 Share Posted January 12, 2019 24 minutes ago, A Greystone Ram said: 27 games played and I don't think I've ever been totally convinced by our central midfield. We seemed to have struck gold in the away games at West Brom and Middlesborough but the same trio failed to convince after that. What's your best midfield line-up from our current squad? If we're missing someone, what kind of player do you think we're missing? I've seen a lot of fans recently missing Will Hughes (understandably so) but personally i think we need a Jeff Hendrick style player more - an all round midfield player with a bit of physical presence. Thoughts? Good post. It is the midfield where the biggest problem lies for me. We need a Van Der Laan type figure, someone who can win the ball, control the midfield, provide leadership but also has the legs and energy to get us moving forward.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BramcoteRam84 Posted January 12, 2019 Share Posted January 12, 2019 We’ve missed Hendrick massively since he departed. Mount is better than Hughes (as much as I love Will), we got the balance right through October and November when Bryson was at his best and then when Wilson moved in there when Bryson got injured. Not quite found it since and we need to find it again. I always thought this was the area where we had the least like for like cover at the start of the season, probably won’t be truly addressed until the summer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lukedcfc Posted January 12, 2019 Share Posted January 12, 2019 Danny drinkwater on loan, get on the phone to sarri frank. Chelsea love you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lukedcfc Posted January 12, 2019 Share Posted January 12, 2019 We are a better side with huddlestone as the anchor, not much better, but better. The side that started against West Brom should start every game, we dealt with them quite well and looked balanced. Waghorn must feel devalued at the moment, he was instrumental in our best performances this season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edtheram Posted January 12, 2019 Share Posted January 12, 2019 Just missing someone who is going to have an effect on the game. Too many times this season our midfield has gone missing for one reason or another. I’m not a fan of playing Bryson in there, I don’t think he’s the answer and we seem to struggle with him playing. Mount needs to do more to stand out and lose markers. Evans needs game time otherwise we will never know how good he is fully fit. It’s strange, but we miss a dynamic player in there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carnero Posted January 12, 2019 Share Posted January 12, 2019 7 minutes ago, Jimbo Ram said: Good post. It is the midfield where the biggest problem lies for me. We need a Van Der Laan type figure, someone who can win the ball, control the midfield, provide leadership but also has the legs and energy to get us moving forward.... Van Der Laan & Daryl Powell used to DOMINATE the midfield back in the days when you didn't "need 3" in order to dominate. Oh how they used to moan at Daryl... he'd do wonders for our midfield now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Greystone Ram Posted January 12, 2019 Author Share Posted January 12, 2019 26 minutes ago, Carnero said: Van Der Laan & Daryl Powell used to DOMINATE the midfield back in the days when you didn't "need 3" in order to dominate. Oh how they used to moan at Daryl... he'd do wonders for our midfield now! Couldn't agree more - 'limited' players who played to their strengths, did their job and let others shine. We could do with some of those right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gone Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 1 hour ago, BramcoteRam84 said: Mount is better than Hughes Pint of what you’re drinking please! See you in the Sherwin? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alph Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 We need a midfielder that won't hold Marriott's hand like Mount That won't try too much like Wilson That won't play the way he's facing all the time like Bryson That can move quicker than a rock unlike Huddlestone That can pass unlike Johnson That understands how to defend unlike Holmes That doesn't panic unlike Evans. Someone that actually is a central midfielder. That's comfortable on the ball, creates angles, hits the pass, backs the play up in case he's needed again and then drops it off somewhere else where that person can have a go. They need to be able to play without visualising their name on the back pages. Oh, we are back at Will Hughes again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millenniumram Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 Midfield that played at West Brom has an argument for being our best one at the moment, but Wilson really isn’t a centre mid if we’re heing honest, his general play is poor at times. Said in the summer window we were still desperately missing a Hughes type and that’s still the case now, there’s no one to transition the play. It’s been devastating to us on a number of occasions having Bryson trying to play it, he doesn’t have the ability. Our best midfield at the moment in my opinion is probably Huddlestone Holmes Mount In fact, I think it’s painfully obvious that’s the best we’ve got at the moment, so much so that if that doesn’t start on Wednesday or Saturday at least, I’ll be off on a rant. Holmes is literally the only player in the entire squad who isn’t such a pussy that he can stand the slightest challenge without losing the ball, so is our only hope as a ball carrier imo which is what we need there. He’s also as creative as our players get, so I think he has to play there for now. Long term though we need a player there, that needs to be top priority imo in this window or we’re going nowhere. The other two I actually think are fairly well suited tbf, in a side being set up correctly, which we aren’t at the moment. Once we’re not running round like headless chickens and actually have a game plan and style and organisation we’ll be better. Huddlestone needs to restored immediately, his composure is levels above everyone else and he creates space by luring the opposition in, which once we have someone who can exploit it and create an attack in front of him rather than Bryson we’ll be good. Similar for mount, once there’s more balance and he can actually get forward, he’ll impact the game much more and we’ll see much more of what we expect from him. Its that one position, that’s a big piece of the puzzle. A ball carrier, a creator. A bit of strength and a bit of composure. That’s what we miss. Stop the panic and the lumping and start playing through midfield. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alph Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 2 hours ago, BramcoteRam84 said: .Mount is better than Hughes (as much as I love Will) At some things I agree. He is technically as good if not better. He has better balance and he has that killer instinct. He will risk possession to slide that final ball. He has an instinct for finishing moves. He's probably as good at tackling too. He changes direction better and loses opponents easier. But that's why he's an attacking midfielder that's not doing the central 'knitting' that we need. He wants to open teams up with almost every move. Hughes used to face some criticism for his more tippy tappy nature by those who couldn't understand his role. He feeds Mason Mount. He is the one that's more patient, moves the ball through the pitch in a way that gains Mason Mount an extra yard. A yard he's not getting right now. He's the one that's not looking to shoot because he's holding onto it to create overlaps. He assists the assist. They should never compete for the same spot. Just like Bryson and Hughes never should. Bryson has always been a safe easy passer in his own half. Plays 10 yards max and the way he faces. Doesn't pick the right pass at the right time. Doesn't invite pressure and then pick a pass that beats the press. He's a Mason Mount. Hughes is the one player we haven't got. A central midfielder. Well we have, Tom Huddlestone, but he's so slow that he can't get about enough. He's as unfussy and skilled. Mount just isn't getting the ball where he wants it or often enough. He's too far away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cannable Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 Jeff was a big lad, but never physical Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alph Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 5 minutes ago, cannable said: Jeff was a big lad, but never physical Yeah, I remember him being a poor player out of possession. And not all that great in build ups. Alright but not great. Always saw him as more competition for Bryson than a partner. Never will forget him and Bryson running around chasing shadows in Nigel's 442. Suited neither. Good player but he's better when relieved of defensive duties. I think he's even played up front for Burnley before? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Greystone Ram Posted January 13, 2019 Author Share Posted January 13, 2019 9 hours ago, cannable said: Jeff was a big lad, but never physical Fair point, I did only say a 'bit of physical presence' though. He certainly wasn't as physical as his frame suggested, arguably a bit like George Evans. Think Holmes is actually our most tenacious midfielder and he's 3 foot 6. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Kevin Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 I'm now sitting here hating snakey even more for selling [no giving away ]Will Hughes . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeedsCityRam Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 Grim though Friday was, I saw enough in Holmes' performance to suggest he is capable of filling the 'Bryson' role next season - i.e. the fetcher & carrier. Ideally he'd be replacing Bryson in the side now. I don't necessarily think Mount is the wrong type of player at the apex of our midfield but he's not getting involved enough in the general pattern of play. He doesn't seem to demand the ball as much as a lad with his talent should be doing. His technique was also very poor on Friday, the ball just wasn't sticking with him at all. Gareth Southgate was sat about 5 metres from us (presumably to see him) & can't have been impressed. There is definitely a lack of physicality & muscle in our midfield without Huddlestone in there. Clearly mobility is always the trade off you make but we simply will not win many games with a lightweight 3 in this division. I feel there's enough pace around Huddlestone to compensate & frankly I'd rather a DCM sat in front of the back 4, rather than drifting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoyMac5 Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 6 minutes ago, LeedsCityRam said: There is definitely a lack of physicality & muscle in our midfield without Huddlestone in there. ? Huddlestone is neither of those things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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