Midfield Presence

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UBee5

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Midfield Presence

This isn't to slag the club or players off, I've been fully behind MB since what happened with Warburton and believe that we've got good grounds for a squad to flourish with all the young talent we're buying.

However, I can't help but feel we lack a proper box to box midfielder. Part of the reason we were so successful under Warbs was because of Jonathan Douglas and Toumani Diagouraga, I understand why they left and why they were sold, but we've just not replaced them. I'm not a fan of Yennaris, whenever I've seen him he's just been clumsy and gives the ball aaway. McEachran doesn't offer much, the only midfielder I rate properly is Woods who is a class above.

Dougie and Dave were both physically brilliant, strong, sprinted all over the pitch but wee class on the ball also. Our midfield lacks that now.
 
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Midfield Presence

It's been our problem for over a year now. We all know what is wrong and the players we are lacking but we cannot find the player/s to make us a better side.
 

Midfield Presence

wanderer paul said:
It's been our problem for over a year now. We all know what is wrong and the players we are lacking but we cannot find the player/s to make us a better side.
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Absolutely and we can't fault the management for effort. We have a model and operate within it.
 

Midfield Presence

Would love a young Bradley Johnson / Leadbitter type... Do we have the finances to get on?
 

Midfield Presence

wanderer paul said:
It's been our problem for over a year now. We all know what is wrong and the players we are lacking but we cannot find the player/s to make us a better side.
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Yep, it's been obvious for a while. Hopefully we can rectify it sooner rather than later
 

Midfield Presence

Disappointing thing is, we found 3 while in league 1 (all of whom fitted in fine at Championship level). Now we can't find any (or aren't looking or can't afford them).
 

Midfield Presence

This annoys me far more than, for example, the "will he/won't he" Hogan to West Ham saga. It's been clear since the end of the 2015/16 season that we're desperately in need of a midfield 'enforcer'... and yet more than 18 months (four transfer windows) with no action. Simply not good enough. We are too lightweight. Of course it's not easy, but compared to finding a 20 goals per season Championship striker it's not exactly rocket science
 

Midfield Presence

I get that we've got to work within the constraints of our finances but surely if we find a Ryan Woods, spend on McEachran then we can find a Douglas or Diagouraga, players we found in League 1.

Or if we can invest in a cloning machine and clone Ryan Woods, Is be happy with that.
 

Midfield Presence

UBee5 said:
This isn't to slag the club or players off, I've been fully behind MB since what happened with Warburton and believe that we've got good grounds for a squad to flourish with all the young talent we're buying.

However, I can't help but feel we lack a proper box to box midfielder. Part of the reason we were so successful under Warbs was because of Jonathan Douglas and Toumani Diagouraga, I understand why they left and why they were sold, but we've just not replaced them. I'm not a fan of Yennaris, whenever I've seen him he's just been clumsy and gives the ball aaway. McEachran doesn't offer much, the only midfielder I rate properly is Woods who is a class above.

Dougie and Dave were both physically brilliant, strong, sprinted all over the pitch but wee class on the ball also. Our midfield lacks that now.
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I completely agree but I think you do JM a disservice so probably would leave him out of this discussion. I thought he looked quality today against a premier team and has steadily got better and better game by game and is turning into one of our better players.
 

Midfield Presence

I think they're trying as when we nearly got George Evans who chose Reading instead. We seem to get close then get outbid by clubs with more wonga.
 

Midfield Presence

The Wolves and Newcastle away games were case in points. If we haven't got the ball in midfield we struggle to win it back as we don't have the physicality. That's what Douglas, Diagouraga and McCormack did for us.
 

Midfield Presence

Nige150 said:
Maybe we should have brought Toums back on loan instead of Ipswich
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No. He had a great first season up with us but was poor last season and not good enough for Leeds, he'd not add to us now.
 

Midfield Presence

It is stupidly obvious we need a holding player. We can't rely on Woods in this role. I know we are looking but this needs to be a massive priority!!
 

Midfield Presence

The title of this thread should be amended. 'LACK OF' should be added in front.
 

Midfield Presence

Chelsea had small players in midfield today. But they were physically strong and quick.

Our small players are lightweight with no great pace.

We've had 3 windows to address the problem. This is the 4th.
 

Midfield Presence

I really do feel our league on promotion team would of beaten our current team.

Maybe I'm dreaming.
 

Midfield Presence

mhead bee said:
I completely agree but I think you do JM a disservice so probably would leave him out of this discussion. I thought he looked quality today against a premier team and has steadily got better and better game by game and is turning into one of our better players.
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You obviously weren't at Wigan. He was utterly wretched and a complete passenger.
 

Midfield Presence

UBee5 said:
This isn't to slag the club or players off, I've been fully behind MB since what happened with Warburton and believe that we've got good grounds for a squad to flourish with all the young talent we're buying.

However, I can't help but feel we lack a proper box to box midfielder. Part of the reason we were so successful under Warbs was because of Jonathan Douglas and Toumani Diagouraga, I understand why they left and why they were sold, but we've just not replaced them. I'm not a fan of Yennaris, whenever I've seen him he's just been clumsy and gives the ball aaway. McEachran doesn't offer much, the only midfielder I rate properly is Woods who is a class above.

Dougie and Dave were both physically brilliant, strong, sprinted all over the pitch but wee class on the ball also. Our midfield lacks that now.
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I can only assume you missed the last 10 games of that season or are addicted to hallucinogenic drugs?
Dougie and Dave were physically brilliant, really? Sorry, coloured laces on the way you camp Scout leader you!
 

Midfield Presence

sonofabee said:
I can only assume you missed the last 10 games of that season or are addicted to hallucinogenic drugs?
Dougie and Dave were physically brilliant, really? Sorry, coloured laces on the way you camp Scout leader you!
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They had been decent for 80% of the season. Our current midfield hasn't been decent or right all season !
Warburton kept picking TD & Douglas until the end despite Mac Cormack being fit and on the subs bench every week.
This was my only issue with Warburton in a season that I found considerably more enjoyable than the current one.
 

Midfield Presence

wadbee said:
They had been decent for 80% of the season. Our current midfield hasn't been decent or right all season !
Warburton kept picking TD & Douglas until the end despite Mac Cormack being fit and on the subs bench every week.
This was my only issue with Warburton in a season that I found considerably more enjoyable than the current one.
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I'm sure we all found that season when we were top 5 for the duration more enjoyable and if we could have kept Pritchard, Gray and Jota who made it possible I'm sure we would.
Maybe I'm tired and in drink but there's been some particularly bolo posts tonight?
 

Midfield Presence

Midfield presents more like.

We have no power, strength, pace or spite in the middle of the park.
 

Midfield Presence

Nada Bee said:
I really do feel our league on promotion team would of beaten our current team.

Maybe I'm dreaming.
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We seem to lose the plot whenever we play Clayton Donaldson despite knowing exactly what he's going to do, so I would tend to agree
 

Midfield Presence

IMO........Dean or Bjelland could move into that "midfield enforcer role"....just IMHO!
 

Midfield Presence

Lush55 said:
IMO........Dean or Bjelland could move into that "midfield enforcer role"....just IMHO!
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Neither is mobile enough. A defensive holding player needs to be able to read the game, get about quickly and to tackle and win the ball, both can do only two out of the three. It's clear from all the names we've been connected to that we're trying to get someone in but we're generally outbid or the player just decided to go elsewhere. This is forcing us to look at players who are younger and younger, meaning they will lack the experience to read the game but at least they can get that if they have the other two qualities.

Woods really is not that player, as he doesn't seem to have any of the qualities, and I feel a fully-fit Yennaris is the only one who approaches it but it seems Smith prefers him further forward. If we do manage to pick one up this summer, we need to make very sure we can hang onto him, that's for sure.
 

Midfield Presence

Its not only the presence but the lack of goals our midfield 3 have got. 2 goals from the 3 is very poor at least. I would only play Woods or Josh not both, I would also have brought in a out and out brickhouse, plus an attacking option that hopefully would add some goals.
 

Midfield Presence

Hopefully still time, if ?
When
Hogan goes ?... 3 maybe come in
 

Midfield Presence

Starting to find it very difficult to conclude anything about our midfield. We are so unbalanced. Nobody that can disrupt/tackle the opposition, no pace to break quickly, no goal scoring threat - who's to say which of our current players would actually shine with some of these ingredients around them. Just feels we have very similar players all over the pitch - Sawyers, Josh, KK - all can pick a wonder pass but not great at other things. We have 4 centre backs and Colin with Field coming on but try to play 4/5 of these centre backs in games.

Half the problem for me is wrong personnel/too much of the same and then trying to make square pegs fit in round holes - Vibe in midfield another obvious example. Can't really blame the players for that.

I don't know what goes on training wise but for me Clarke and Field have to start as they have something different to offer to some of the others. Mac is also a contender for the same reason. Yes we need better but tactically we need to have some balance in my opinion. You could even try a centre back in midfield - we seem to be keen on playing people out of position so why not?!?!
 

Midfield Presence

Lush55 said:
IMO........Dean or Bjelland could move into that "midfield enforcer role"....just IMHO!
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We could do a lot worse.
Oh for a young Terry Hutlock, Billy Bremner or Terry Yorath ?
 

Midfield Presence

We need a strong box to box type. The next Bryan Robson or Steven Gerrard.... For 500K and massive sell-on potential. Must be loads of them about. ;)
 

Midfield Presence

difford said:
Our ex-analyst Ted Knutson has always been surprised by this as he highlights this as Barbet's prinicpal position.

I would - and I would from Tuesday.
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Maybe he can respond himself but I thought he said that he played there as an academy player, not as his principal position.
 

Midfield Presence

Our current midfield are SHOCKING with the exception of Woods. If you think different,wake up.
 

Midfield Presence

Lush55 said:
IMO........Dean or Bjelland could move into that "midfield enforcer role"....just IMHO!
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If you could morph them into one player, I'd agree.

Bjelland has got the technical ability but not the strength or mobility needed - Harlee would carry out the 'enforcer' role superbly, but can't pass a ball to save his life!
 

Midfield Presence

It's not just about a lack of presence and bite in the midfield IMO, it's about a lack of natural width, the lack of correct balance and the lack of any offensively minded players. Currently, our midfield not only fails to act as an effective defensive shield, but it fails to offer much if anything offensively either. This leaves me wondering exactly what it does. It is, and has been for some considerable time, totally dysfunctional and imbalanced.
 

Midfield Presence

ChertseyBee said:
If you could morph them into one player, I'd agree.

Bjelland has got the technical ability but not the strength or mobility needed - Harlee would carry out the 'enforcer' role superbly, but can't pass a ball to save his life!
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Whilst I agree overall - that's harsh on Harlee. He's played some quality balls this year. One in recent memory which split the entire opposition team down the middle and put Vibe through on goal (but he fluffed it). I don't think he'd be mobile/quick turning enough for that midfield role though (and he's good at the back so don't want to lose our best header from there).

Fact is we have one player who could probably do the role for us until we get in a quality replacement....which is McCormack who it looks like we're binning off. Shooting ourselves in the foot completely there.
 

Midfield Presence

Owlsmoor_Bee said:
It's not just about a lack of presence and bite in the midfield IMO, it's about a lack of natural width, the lack of correct balance and the lack of any offensively minded players. Currently, our midfield not only fails to act as an effective defensive shield, but it fails to offer much if anything offensively either. This leaves me wondering exactly what it does. It is, and has been for some considerable time, totally dysfunctional and imbalanced.
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From game 1 this season.
 

Midfield Presence

Interesting that a few posters on here state we need a midfield enforcer and should be able to pick one up for 300-400k. Who are these generals? Can anyone suggest them for the DOFs?
 

Midfield Presence

Owlsmoor_Bee said:
It's not just about a lack of presence and bite in the midfield IMO, it's about a lack of natural width, the lack of correct balance and the lack of any offensively minded players. Currently, our midfield not only fails to act as an effective defensive shield, but it fails to offer much if anything offensively either. This leaves me wondering exactly what it does. It is, and has been for some considerable time, totally dysfunctional and imbalanced.
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Well put, yet we've got a head coach, ROK, Frank and two directors of football and seemingly they can't do anything about this between them. Shocking IMO.
 

Midfield Presence

Frothybaby said:
Interesting that a few posters on here state we need a midfield enforcer and should be able to pick one up for 300-400k. Who are these generals? Can anyone suggest them for the DOFs?
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The most recent one we tried for was transferred for a rumoured 1.7M€ on 17th Jan.
 

Midfield Presence

AJ said:
Starting to find it very difficult to conclude anything about our midfield. We are so unbalanced. Nobody that can disrupt/tackle the opposition, no pace to break quickly, no goal scoring threat - who's to say which of our current players would actually shine with some of these ingredients around them. Just feels we have very similar players all over the pitch - Sawyers, Josh, KK - all can pick a wonder pass but not great at other things. We have 4 centre backs and Colin with Field coming on but try to play 4/5 of these centre backs in games.

Half the problem for me is wrong personnel/too much of the same and then trying to make square pegs fit in round holes - Vibe in midfield another obvious example. Can't really blame the players for that.

I don't know what goes on training wise but for me Clarke and Field have to start as they have something different to offer to some of the others. Mac is also a contender for the same reason. Yes we need better but tactically we need to have some balance in my opinion. You could even try a centre back in midfield - we seem to be keen on playing people out of position so why not?!?!
Click to expand...

Other than AM I agree in total and would like to add that we also have three Left Backs!
 

Midfield Presence

Woods and McEachran total touches -

New positions - last 2 games - 388

Old positions - previous 2 - 258

That's a big difference
 

Midfield Presence

malagakid said:
Woods and McEachran total touches -

New positions - last 2 games - 388

Old positions - previous 2 - 258

That's a big difference
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It is but we still need improvement from the third midfielder. I like Nico and he has done well this season (and on occasions, like last Tuesday, been very good), but, if we are to challenge, he needs to step up another 10/15 per cent (especially in his passing) or we need better.
 
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