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Midfield

Midfield

PetePNE said:
Not an "Ali McCann lover" as hes not had a run of games in his best position imo. Also I don't think picking out 1 performance in a pre season friendly against a solid premiership team whilst playing out of position is fair.. but was just thinking if we are going to play three in the middle of the park it would help if one of them could tackle 👍
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I do agree, my point is that McCann , even tho playing out of position probs hasn’t done enough to force his way in - needs to bide his time and where ever he plays, play well and cement his spot
 
Good players can and should be able to play anywhere and influence the game - if Alan Browne hasn’t done enough today away at Wigan then someone (like Ali Mcann and Ryan ledson) should then be given a go
 
STF72 said:
First game of season away at Wigan, they were always going to be up for it first game back in championship and momentum from last season. We had enough chances to win Parrot Riis and a few Lindsay headers from set pieces, Keeper Brady and 3 centre backs looked solid Riis and Parrot will only get better the more game time together. Whiteman is the only midfielder we have to do the role he does, Woodburn and McCann to start against Hull more energy from these 2 and more creativity from woodburn than Johnson offers. If Alvaro is right footed try him at RWB
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I wonder if Utd have insisted he only plays at LWB?
 
SuperTom said:
Alan Browne HAS to play RWB. He’s miles better than Potts there and it would allow us to get McCann / Ledson in the team.
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How exactly is AB better there? Does he get forward more, no, he runs into 2 players and loses it. Is he stronger, nope. Does he slow the game down just like Brad does, yep. Is he better at tackling, I'd say on a par. Is he fitter, same. I wouldnt say either are better passers, more skillful or better positionally ... They're both runners so what qualities does AB possess that puts him ahead of Brad? Genuine question because I dont see it. I'm by no means saying Potts is the answer there but I don't see any attributes that AB has that are superior to Potts.
You're point seems to be about getting Ali into the team....so would dropping AB, captain doesn’t and shouldn't mean auto pick.
 
sw1980 said:
I do agree, my point is that McCann , even tho playing out of position probs hasn’t done enough to force his way in - needs to bide his time and where ever he plays, play well and cement his spot
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Maybe not
sw1980 said:
I do agree, my point is that McCann , even tho playing out of position probs hasn’t done enough to force his way in - needs to bide his time and where ever he plays, play well and cement his spot
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I no what you mean but the only way he plays well is by getting minutes in his preferred position. I think moving Browne out to RWB and playing either McCann or Ledson in midfield makes us a bit harder to play through. Either way what do I no happy with a point and on to the next one 😃
 
Wisemen say said:
McCann is not a RWB never wiill be we all knew that from last season, so only RL knows why he played him their against Leicester, not learning by mistakes. 🤔
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Yes, that seemed a pretty pointless exercise.

He’s good enough IMHO to justify being given a run of games in his correct position.

Very frustrating situation to have two undroppable midfielders AB & DJ which negates completely any value in this “competition for places” motivation theory. No incentive for them to play to the expected level and no opportunity for quality players deserving their own chance.
 
PetePNE said:
Maybe not

I no what you mean but the only way he plays well is by getting minutes in his preferred position. I think moving Browne out to RWB and playing either McCann or Ledson in midfield makes us a bit harder to play through. Either way what do I no happy with a point and on to the next one 😃
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Agree here defo
 
The most worrying thing of all is that as you mention, Ledson is ahead of McCann in the pecking order. Because he is average at very best.

For me Alan Browne simply isn’t good enough technically to play in one of those 8 roles. There’s a reason Alex Neil played him as a running 10 - he can run for days, hits the box well, and is good at pressing.

What he isn’t good at is unlocking a defence, crossing, or dribbling past a man. So why he gets picked in the #8, I really don’t know.
 
26-0 said:
Yes, that seemed a pretty pointless exercise.

He’s good enough IMHO to justify being given a run of games in his correct position.

Very frustrating situation to have two undroppable midfielders AB & DJ which negates completely any value in this “competition for places” motivation theory. No incentive for them to play to the expected level and no opportunity for quality players deserving their own chance.
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Just putting this 'out there' but who do we have who can challenge for DJ's place?
 
sw1980 said:
Your talking about McCann needing to start etc but the 45 min first half he produced against Leicester (albeit from right wing back) was bloody woeful.

If I’m a gaffer I’m thinking I can’t rely on him… kept giving the ball away, was miles off it … I know all you Ali McCann lovers will have a pop at me, but for me he hasn’t done enough (albeit playing out of position at wing back)

Have a look back at Ali Mccanns first half performance against Leicester and no wonder Ryan Lowe has his doubts
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I had doubts about an electrician because he was shit at surfing.
 
Flippin_lump said:
I had doubts about an electrician because he was shit at surfing.
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Shite post 🤣 - I’m a left winger, been playing centre mid all season, and if I was playing right wing back I’d try and produce a bit more than Ali McCann did in that position pre season. Good players should be able to retain the ball better than he did against Leicester - I’m just trying to give some perspective on why Ali isn’t being picked at the moment
 
sw1980 said:
Shite post 🤣 - I’m a left winger, been playing centre mid all season, and if I was playing right wing back I’d try and produce a bit more than Ali McCann did in that position pre season. Good players should be able to retain the ball better than he did against Leicester - I’m just trying to give some perspective on why Ali isn’t being picked at the moment
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The post was incredible and you know it.
Some players are like a fish out of water when playing in an unnatural role. Some players can play all over. He's not one of them. Maybe he called Lowe a twizzle and that's why Lowe doesn't rate him.
 
Hurlock. T said:
Is it the individuals or the system? It’s hard to say really but the complete lack of creativity makes me think we’re back to the days of don’t concede and hope we nick something. If that’s the case it’s gonna be a fkin long season … again.
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Think it's the system. I don't like it one iota and its resulting in players (in midfield) slightly out of position. Johnson plays slightly deeper in this system. He is much better pushed up behind the striker(s). Playing Browne alongside him unbalances things. Would be much better if McCann played alongside Whiteman, giving Johnson freedom to play his best advanced role. Browne is technically poor especially his passing. Browne strengths are his energy, ball recycling (which is excellent) and late runs (he does offer some goal threat). A captain he aint. Lowe needs to be more flexible. Some tweaks to positioning is needed. Why do we need two eights yet no ten. Also stop trying to force Browne in at all costs. As for Ledson my view remains the same as when he joined...he is mid table league one. He ain't a 6 and definitely not a 10. Limited as an 8. Simply does not have the quality, he is rash, positionally suspect and has no awareness of what's behind him. He thinks he is Platini playing his Hollywood balls that come of rarely and his set pieces are shocking. Oxford U have had a number of terrific midfielders in recent times that have moved to the Championship and beyond and we have ended up with Ledson!!
 
asparks216 said:
Think it's the system. I don't like it one iota and its resulting in players (in midfield) slightly out of position. Johnson plays slightly deeper in this system. He is much better pushed up behind the striker(s). Playing Browne alongside him unbalances things. Would be much better if McCann played alongside Whiteman, giving Johnson freedom to play his best advanced role. Browne is technically poor especially his passing. Browne strengths are his energy, ball recycling (which is excellent) and late runs (he does offer some goal threat). A captain he aint. Lowe needs to be more flexible. Some tweaks to positioning is needed. Why do we need two eights yet no ten. Also stop trying to force Browne in at all costs. As for Ledson my view remains the same as when he joined...he is mid table league one. He ain't a 6 and definitely not a 10. Limited as an 8. Simply does not have the quality, he is rash, positionally suspect and has no awareness of what's behind him. He thinks he is Platini playing his Hollywood balls that come of rarely and his set pieces are shocking. Oxford U have had a number of terrific midfielders in recent times that have moved to the Championship and beyond and we have ended up with Ledson!!
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Should play 2 holders and DJ as a 10.
 
sw1980 said:
Go and watch the first half of the Leicester pre season friendly - Ali McCann worst player on the pitch (albeit at right wing back admittedly)
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Why sign a brain surgeon and complain his brick laying skills are poor. He ain't a wing back. What is this obsession with this manager (who can talk a good game) who wants to shoehorn square pegs in round holes and unbalance his team so non captain Browne can play. His daft system is holding us back especially in midfield.
 
I think, given we won't be shifting NeverinamonthofSundays, we are going to have to bite the bullet and shift Browne to rwb. If he's good enough to play there for Ireland then he should start for us and give McCann or Woodburn a chance to play. Potts OK for general cover and energetic sub but sadly he isn't of the requisite standard in a team with any aspirations in the Champ.
 
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Lee Trundle said:
Browne being less shit at rwb than he has been in the 8 is not an argument for him to start there. Need to be recruiting before the end of the window
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We couldn’t get anyone in better than Browne would be at RWB.

All his attributes fit in at that position. He must have told Lowe he doesn’t want to play there hence his constant midfield selection.
 
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