Midfield 'Enforcer'

Status
Not open for further replies.
badgerbee

badgerbee

Mafeking Avenue........gets you there!!!!
Joined
28 Jan 2008
Messages
33,778
Reaction score
31,621
Location
Langport, Somerset

Midfield 'Enforcer'

Whilst I realise I'm in danger of becoming like Magicbees and his search for Strikers, I'm becoming more and more concerned that we're in need of a midfield 'hard man' for the coming season.........particularly in light of the imminent departure of Jonathon 'Josh' Douglas. (Despite his obvious qualities, I don't think Toumani fits this bill)

Our midfield currently exudes quality but, like last year, I think they need some sort of protection from the (northern??!!) bullies of The Championship. I felt we were light in this department last year, which ultimately cost us promotion, and are even more so this season as I can't see anyone in the current squad who can mix it with the more 'experienced' tough men we'll come up against.

Unless I'm mistaken I really think we're in need of an experienced head before the season starts........ any thoughts??..........
 

Midfield 'Enforcer'

badgerbee said:
Whilst I realise I'm in danger of becoming like Magicbees and his search for Strikers, I'm becoming more and more concerned that we're in need of a midfield 'hard man' for the coming season.........particularly in light of the imminent departure of Jonathon 'Josh' Douglas. (Despite his obvious qualities, I don't think Toumani fits this bill)

Our midfield currently exudes quality but, like last year, I think they need some sort of protection from the (northern??!!) bullies of The Championship. I felt we were light in this department last year, which ultimately cost us promotion, and are even more so this season as I can't see anyone in the current squad who can mix it with the more 'experienced' tough men we'll come up against.

Unless I'm mistaken I really think we're in need of an experienced head before the season starts........ any thoughts??..........
Click to expand...

Experience is good if it means players in their prime, but if it means "old" then I think it's overrated in football speak.

One position im questioning is defensive central midfield who breaks up the play, intercepts, tackles and clears, but I'm led to believe Josh McEachran is excellent in that position.
 

Midfield 'Enforcer'

badgerbee said:
Whilst I realise I'm in danger of becoming like Magicbees and his search for Strikers, I'm becoming more and more concerned that we're in need of a midfield 'hard man' for the coming season.........particularly in light of the imminent departure of Jonathon 'Josh' Douglas. (Despite his obvious qualities, I don't think Toumani fits this bill)

Our midfield currently exudes quality but, like last year, I think they need some sort of protection from the (northern??!!) bullies of The Championship. I felt we were light in this department last year, which ultimately cost us promotion, and are even more so this season as I can't see anyone in the current squad who can mix it with the more 'experienced' tough men we'll come up against.

Unless I'm mistaken I really think we're in need of an experienced head before the season starts........ any thoughts??..........
Click to expand...

We aren't really sure about the qualities of our new signings yet (I've only seen them in action once) but agree that we were lightweight last season and too easily bullied off the ball . Only Alan Mac from last season's squad could provide any effective enforcement (plus JD on occasions) and Mac's game time this season looks like it might be limited. But have any of the 'new boys' shown a physical aspect to their game?
 

Midfield 'Enforcer'

One of my fears is that with our search for beautiful football we don't include a dirtbag to play the ref and kick the other lot, I disagree that JD was an enforcer though.
 

Midfield 'Enforcer'

red_and_white said:
Experience is good if it means players in their prime, but if it means "old" then I think it's overrated in football speak.

One position im questioning is defensive central midfield who breaks up the play, intercepts, tackles and clears, but I'm led to believe Josh McEachran is excellent in that position.
Click to expand...
Hopefully will do the job when fit......but out injured for the next 3 months......
 

Midfield 'Enforcer'

NorthamptonBee said:
One of my fears is that with our search for beautiful football we don't include a dirtbag to play the ref and kick the other lot, I disagree that JD was an enforcer though.
Click to expand...

Fair enough …… agreed that JD was not the 'enforcer' last year....but was probably the closest we had......even further away this year ??!!……
 

Midfield 'Enforcer'

Did Bournemouth and Watford have someone like this in their team last season? I don't think they did but honest question...
 

Midfield 'Enforcer'

IMO .......I noticed yesterday that at times there were big gaps especially in the left of midfield that could have been exploited/covered......Naaarwich managed to utilise that space comfortably.
 

Midfield 'Enforcer'

Been banging on about if for ages, some nasty, snarling winner needed to let the flair players do their job without fear. JD wasn't that player anyway, Macca was in league 1, think we need a new Guvnor but suspect we may try to out football everyone that I doubt is possible?
 

Midfield 'Enforcer'

We just need a defensive midfielder, smart and intelligent. Hopefully that is Kershbaumewofhauiofhasods\h
 

Midfield 'Enforcer'

sonofabee said:
Been banging on about if for ages, some nasty, snarling winner needed to let the flair players do their job without fear. JD wasn't that player anyway, Macca was in league 1, think we need a new Guvnor but suspect we may try to out football everyone that I doubt is possible?
Click to expand...

To be fair Mac's not really had an opportunity in midfield since promotion.

fully fired up and fit i'd be happy for him to get a chance to stake a claim, he's a good footballer as well as adding the steel ?
 

Midfield 'Enforcer'

PJ said:
To be fair Mac's not really had an opportunity in midfield since promotion.

fully fired up and fit i'd be happy for him to get a chance to stake a claim, he's a good footballer as well as adding the steel ?
Click to expand...

Macca is my hero and if fully fit he may be that man. Looking at his previous form I hope I'm wrong but think it may be asking a bit too much to expect him to dominate as he did in league 1.
I'd love to be proved wrong
 
Last edited:

Midfield 'Enforcer'

Surely, what is needed is a player who is quick to close down and is prepared to tackle and win the ball, then move it on quickly - preferably forward' if that's an "enforcer", then so be it. We've lacked that type of player for some time; it certainly wasn't JD. Toumani will stick a foot in... on the end of a gangly leg and Judge does his fair share of getting stuck in, although his timing is not always the best. I've not seen Kirchbaumer to form an opinion. McCormack has the drive and aggression but is he capable of the zippy passing we seem to need at his level?
 

Midfield 'Enforcer'

zuko said:
Skip to 2:20 for the answer:

https://youtu.be/5BxFWpBJMmA?t=2m17s
Click to expand...

Zuko, I'm a massive Macca fan, all I'm offering is he has struggled at this level before in other sides. He was magnificent for us and largely responsible in my eyes for getting us up. I'd love him to reproduce those displays and that impact in this division.
 

Midfield 'Enforcer'

jlove said:
Surely, what is needed is a player who is quick to close down and is prepared to tackle and win the ball, then move it on quickly - preferably forward' if that's an "enforcer", then so be it. We've lacked that type of player for some time; it certainly wasn't JD. Toumani will stick a foot in... on the end of a gangly leg and Judge does his fair share of getting stuck in, although his timing is not always the best. I've not seen Kirchbaumer to form an opinion. McCormack has the drive and aggression but is he capable of the zippy passing we seem to need at his level?
Click to expand...

:sorted:
 

Midfield 'Enforcer'

I don't know why some doubt Mac in mid at this level. He's an interesting combo as he can play as well as eat flesh.
 

Midfield 'Enforcer'

beebopalula said:
I don't know why some doubt Mac in mid at this level. He's an interesting combo as he can play as well as eat flesh.
Click to expand...

:imwith:
Younger than he looks too, but prefer if you told him that than me ;)
 

Midfield 'Enforcer'

sonofabee said:
Been banging on about if for ages, some nasty, snarling winner needed to let the flair players do their job without fear. JD wasn't that player anyway, Macca was in league 1, think we need a new Guvnor but suspect we may try to out football everyone that I doubt is possible?
Click to expand...

douglas??
 

Midfield 'Enforcer'

Douglas was not a snarling nasty winner for the second half of last season. Whether he is a pain in the arse to manage or not he didn't have a very good last four months for us.
 

Midfield 'Enforcer'

red_and_white said:
Experience is good if it means players in their prime, but if it means "old" then I think it's overrated in football speak.

One position im questioning is defensive central midfield who breaks up the play, intercepts, tackles and clears, but I'm led to believe Josh McEachran is excellent in that position.
Click to expand...

Hopefully you also noticed that our player of the year was quite good in the holding roll, he got player of the year doing it.
 

Midfield 'Enforcer'

badgerbee said:
Hopefully will do the job when fit......but out injured for the next 3 months......
Click to expand...

.......................and then playing 'catch-up' for the next three?.........................

blunstone said:
douglas??
Click to expand...



...........................I can understand you making that suggestion as you are a Ra-Ra, but would you want him in your team? - nah, thought not...........................

condorman said:
Douglas was not a snarling nasty winner for the second half of last season. Whether he is a pain in the arse to manage or not he didn't have a very good last four months for us.
Click to expand...

.........................totally agree......................

mhead bee said:
Hopefully you also noticed that our player of the year was quite good in the holding roll, he got player of the year doing it.
Click to expand...


.............................the 'holding' role is not, IMHO, the same as 'enforcer'.........................

mhead bee said:
No, far from it. His legs have gone and he didn't do that type of thing anyway.
Click to expand...

...............................yep.........................
 

Midfield 'Enforcer'

Bjelland has played the role at both club and internationally.
 

Midfield 'Enforcer'

WisBee said:
...................isn't he injured at the moment as well?.........................
Click to expand...

Possibly but is it long term? I hope not
 

Midfield 'Enforcer'

Isleworth_Bee said:
Toums won player of the year in a holding role didnt he?
Click to expand...

Yeah..........but not as a nasty, in the ref's face, hard-man type.............like we really need.............
 

Midfield 'Enforcer'

badgerbee said:
Yeah..........but not as a nasty, in the ref's face, hard-man type.............like we really need.............
Click to expand...

Doesn't need to be in the ref's face, just needs to put fear into the opposition.
 

Midfield 'Enforcer'

A nasty hard man ..

That's so 1970s

Let's just stick with good footballers.
 

Midfield 'Enforcer'

Lets get Roy Keane in to be the nasty coach or the enforcement philosopher...
 

Midfield 'Enforcer'

We are Bees said:
A nasty hard man ..

That's so 1970s

Let's just stick with good footballers.
Click to expand...


Spot on mate, all this nasty, bully, enforcer is nonsense, those so called type players can't get away with that anymore. What we need is player like Craig Leadbitter...
 

Midfield 'Enforcer'

I'm not sure Macca is the answer but hands up who thought Toums would dominate our midfield last season? If that's what's missing than he may not have the distribution and overall quality but he would bully the opposition and provide a bit of steel.
 

Midfield 'Enforcer'

badgerbee said:
Whilst I realise I'm in danger of becoming like Magicbees and his search for Strikers, I'm becoming more and more concerned that we're in need of a midfield 'hard man' for the coming season.........particularly in light of the imminent departure of Jonathon 'Josh' Douglas. (Despite his obvious qualities, I don't think Toumani fits this bill)

Our midfield currently exudes quality but, like last year, I think they need some sort of protection from the (northern??!!) bullies of The Championship. I felt we were light in this department last year, which ultimately cost us promotion, and are even more so this season as I can't see anyone in the current squad who can mix it with the more 'experienced' tough men we'll come up against.

Unless I'm mistaken I really think we're in need of an experienced head before the season starts........ any thoughts??..........
Click to expand...

Toumani has played over 200 Brentford gamss - he has the experience
Toumani has broken someone's foot this season - he has the menace
He is tall, gangly and a handful

He can do this job and lets not forget, he can play football too

All the players should carry some physicality into the game, as well as earning their place in the team - they should not just be in the team to provide a bit of muscle.
 

Midfield 'Enforcer'

we need a midfield of John Hollins,Roy Keane and Billy Bremner , that should do it :rolleyes:
 

Midfield 'Enforcer'

Don't think this position/role exists anymore and today's officials make it a moot point really.
It's a bit like putting a bouncers hands behind his back, he can't enforce anything.
 

Midfield 'Enforcer'

Gavin mahon in my lifetime was quite tasty
 

Midfield 'Enforcer'

Ghost said:
Don't think this position/role exists anymore and today's officials make it a moot point really.
It's a bit like putting a bouncers hands behind his back, he can't enforce anything.
Click to expand...

Disagree-you only had to see us being bullied in mid by Middlesborough to see that we needed someone to put in a bit of our own in the same way.OK the Ron Harris mode has gone but there's still plenty of room for intimidation.
 

Midfield 'Enforcer'

Against Middlesborough's centre midfield, we weren't being bullied, they were just better players and we were chasing shadows. I don't think closing down and winning tackles is "enforcing", it's just winning the midfield; just better play. Similarly, against Norwich, the likes of Howson were better than we had out there.
 
74 More Posts...
Status
Not open for further replies.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom