Central midfield

[Ram1988]

For me we desperately need a runner with pace in midfield who can get in the box and beyond the centre foward. If we play a 352 who will that man be? At the moment we also only really have Sibley who is a natural in the 10 role if we play 3412

[MaltRam]

I think an option would be to go with two deeper midfielders and an extra attacking midfielder. NML, Barks or Sibley behind the strikers or two of them behind a lone striker.

Need a body in midfield though, I agree. I think Warney has said as much?

[FKANorwichExile]

I've liked the look of Radcliffe and wouldn't be against him having a regular spot on the bench, but if Bird or Smith get injured, I wouldn't be confident with him as first replacement. Onomah would be ideal, but probably out of our price range. 

[Ellafella]

8 hours ago, northantsram said:

I do believe we are lacking a physical presence in midfield, someone with some pace and power that enjoys a tackle.

Our midfielders are all good players but a touch lightweight at times.

Very lightweight quite often, although v Blades Hourihane demonstrated 2nd half 2 great thumping tackles in the space of 5 seconds that won the ball and relieved pressure. We definitely need a midfield enforcer pdq. Warne is aware and may need to bring Birdy back there at the base if he can’t find a new player in the market. I do think Rooney is a potential CDM in the style of Eustace - lean but mean. 
Also think following Blades game that we are structurally imbalanced playing 3 at the back - weak on the left and Nelson and Joe Ward don’t gel / haven’t gelled yet. Ward had a poor game v Blades and the Nelson/Ward combo mistake gave Blades the first goal and neither player recovered from it. 
Lots for Warne to ponder on - I hope he’s got a Plan B because any early season setbacks and the level of expectation this season could generate some voluminous groans from our large set of fans at home. 

[McMuffin]

Jay Matete on loan from Sunderland?

Was at Plymouth from January last season. 

Looked powerful and full of running and ran through our midfield in last seasons game we lost 2-1. 

Edited August 1, 2023 by McMuffin

[Ghost of Clough]

7 hours ago, Ram1988 said:

For me we desperately need a runner with pace in midfield who can get in the box and beyond the centre foward. If we play a 352 who will that man be? At the moment we also only really have Sibley who is a natural in the 10 role if we play 3412

As we'll line up mostly in a 3421, that type of player isn't needed.

If Thompson can't be trusted as 4th choice CM (behind Bird, Hourihane and Smith), he may as well leave right now and find a new club.

It all comes down to who where we play Bird as a result of who we can sign - either a CM or AM/SS. This extra player will then be an additional option when we do play 352 - competing with Bird, Hourihane, Smith, Sibley and LThompson in the 3 CM spots, (with DRobinson and Radcliffe in reserve).

[jono]

Don’t forget, in an emergency, there’s Bradley Johnson if he’s got the legs ?

 It would t be that difficult to re register him would it ?

Edited August 1, 2023 by jono

[Magicman]

Thomo can play that role he is better suited in midfield, low centre of gravity, likes a tackle and energetic. 

[sage]

8 hours ago, Rampant said:

Liam Thompson is underated imo

Overrated in IMO. Neat on the ball, turns on a sixpence, but never progresses a move.

[Addingham Ram]

I've never bought into the idea of loaning Premier League youngsters just to fill our squad out.

Yes, a loan or two if they are going to play regularly, like Mount, Wilson etc., but if we have sufficient players for a first team, plus a few extras, then I think we should be calling on our own youngsters to fill any gaps as and when they occurr.

At our level, we need to develop our own talent to be sustainable. I've enjoyed watching so many of our youngsters break through to the first team over the years. Granted, not all have made it, but there's nothing like seeing the odd one shine.

Who didn't get excited by Ebosele for example last year?

How many Premier League loanees actually go on to be top class players anyway, a very small percentage I'd guess.

The Premier League Academy system (certainly at the very top) is set up to hoover up all of the talent, then sell most players on for an over-inflated fee to the lower Premier League clubs, to fund their foreign player purchases who fill their first team. Yet another scandal the Football Ombudsman (or whatever they are going to be called) should be looking in to.

Rant over.

[sage]

1 hour ago, McMuffin said:

Jay Matete on loan from Sunderland?

Was at Plymouth from January last season. 

Looked powerful and full of running and ran through our midfield in last seasons game we lost 2-1. 

Good shout.

[sage]

35 minutes ago, Addingham Ram said:

I've never bought into the idea of loaning Premier League youngsters just to fill our squad out.

Yes, a loan or two if they are going to play regularly, like Mount, Wilson etc., but if we have sufficient players for a first team, plus a few extras, then I think we should be calling on our own youngsters to fill any gaps as and when they occurr.

At our level, we need to develop our own talent to be sustainable. I've enjoyed watching so many of our youngsters break through to the first team over the years. Granted, not all have made it, but there's nothing like seeing the odd one shine.

Who didn't get excited by Ebosele for example last year?

How many Premier League loanees actually go on to be top class players anyway, a very small percentage I'd guess.

The Premier League Academy system (certainly at the very top) is set up to hoover up all of the talent, then sell most players on for an over-inflated fee to the lower Premier League clubs, to fund their foreign player purchases who fill their first team. Yet another scandal the Football Ombudsman (or whatever they are going to be called) should be looking in to.

Rant over.

And if we hadn't had 3 year financial meltdown which resulted in our best youngsters being stripped away from us for peanuts, I imagine we would use our academy lads.

[angieram]

2 hours ago, Ellafella said:

Very lightweight quite often, although v Blades Hourihane demonstrated 2nd half 2 great thumping tackles in the space of 5 seconds that won the ball and relieved pressure. We definitely need a midfield enforcer pdq. Warne is aware and may need to bring Birdy back there at the base if he can’t find a new player in the market. I do think Rooney is a potential CDM in the style of Eustace - lean but mean. 
Also think following Blades game that we are structurally imbalanced playing 3 at the back - weak on the left and Nelson and Joe Ward don’t gel / haven’t gelled yet. Ward had a poor game v Blades and the Nelson/Ward combo mistake gave Blades the first goal and neither player recovered from it. 
Lots for Warne to ponder on - I hope he’s got a Plan B because any early season setbacks and the level of expectation this season could generate some voluminous groans from our large set of fans at home. 

Tbf, our three injured players all can play down the left. It must be very frustrating for Warne that he hasn't been able to assess how they gel pre-season. 

[Jubbs]

1 hour ago, McMuffin said:

Jay Matete on loan from Sunderland?

 

Great shout but unfortunately just had surgery on his knee and out for 8-10 weeks.

[IlsonDerby]

Whether we play 3412 or 343 we only need two CM specialists starting. 
 

Two from Bird, Smith, Hourihane, Thompson with Radcliffe and Robinson getting minutes in the pizza cup should be sufficient. 
 

This obviously relies on Warne getting a number 10 in to free Bird up when needed to go back deeper. 

[sage]

AS soon as CM with pace is mentioned, everyone gets obsessed with runs behind their defence. The most pressing lack of pace is dealing with people running through our midfield , especially on breakaways.  

[Ellafella]

41 minutes ago, angieram said:

Tbf, our three injured players all can play down the left. It must be very frustrating for Warne that he hasn't been able to assess how they gel pre-season. 

Indeed @angieram; very true. Hope fans will be patient over the first 10 games as the best team takes shape. 

[Rich3478]

10 hours ago, Caerphilly Ram said:

Don’t those decent games under Rooney help illustrate there is a player in there? Those games were played at a higher level of competition after all. His touch and control are better than a number of more celebrated players in the squad, perhaps his size is a hindrance at times? Need to get him watching videos of other diminutive midfielders and how they’ve done well in the game, Barry Bannan springs to mind for our current level.
Thommo’s mostly done well in pre-season, I think he deserves a chance to be in and around the squad this season. 

They were games where we were just under huge pressure though and 90% defending. He really struggles to have a positive influence on the ball and pass forwards. His positioning needs work.

Really don’t see much that he adds. If had been signed from another club would be getting slaughtered by now.

if wanting promotion you’d be hoping we control games more than defend, try and play further forward. Think Thomson adds nothing to us in this regard.

[duncanjwitham]

26 minutes ago, sage said:

AS soon as CM with pace is mentioned, everyone gets obsessed with runs behind their defence. The most pressing lack of pace is dealing with people running through our midfield , especially on breakaways.  

That's my biggest concern. I don't really think any of the midfielders we have can really do what Warne wants them doing, they just aren't fit enough or mobile enough.  There were multiple instances last Saturday where they all bombed forward, we lost possession and then they were basically breaking 3-on-3 against our backline, because we couldn't chase back quickly enough.

[Caerphilly Ram]

18 minutes ago, Rich3478 said:

They were games where we were just under huge pressure though and 90% defending. He really struggles to have a positive influence on the ball and pass forwards. His positioning needs work.

Really don’t see much that he adds. If had been signed from another club would be getting slaughtered by now.

if wanting promotion you’d be hoping we control games more than defend, try and play further forward. Think Thomson adds nothing to us in this regard.

But not every player in the team needs to play further forward. In a team sport it’s about combinations within the side. If we had a midfield of Hourihane, Bird and Sibley with all 3 playing in an attacking way the defence would be exposed. If you’re saying Thompson played well in games where we had to defend at a higher level then the attributes you claim not to see are clearly around his ability to play a defensive midfield role, harrying opponents, tackling and playing the simple ball so the likes of Bird and Hourihane can go create. If Smith is first choice in that regard Thompson is his understudy, that’s the role he can play in the squad. 
You’re suggestion that if we’d signed him from another club he’d be getting slaughtered is your opinion, I have a different opinion of him and think he is a good squad option, I’d still think that if we’d signed him from elsewhere. He’s 21, has a good touch, close control, a good engine on him, brave and willing to learn. For me there’s plenty to like about him.