Midfield

[noelpne]

I thought that in that last game of last season when DJ was
- Tried? - Square-peg-in-round-holed ?
- Experimented ? ..........in a left wing-back position, that he actually did ok.
I think Lowe should persevere with him in that position. Maybe then both Browne & McCann could be both accommodated to DJ's right, in a fluctuating middle. ?

 

[jcpne]

I don't understand how our midfield 3 has the reputation it has. I've lost count we've been left saying "if our midfield get a grip of this we'll batter them". They don't control games. The whole point of having a midfield 3 is to always have an option wherever you are on the pitch. I don't get the hype with Whiteman aswell. Obviously classy but doesn't impose himself as regularly as he should for me. You always knew when Pearson was on the pitch.

 

[Muzza]

Agree with the point that nobodys praising Lindsay for a few excellent interventions today, o.k hes a had a few stinkers and people jump in, so lets record the fact, yoday he had a good game!!

Think you'll find in the matchday thread there's quite a number of people (including myself) praising Lindsay and calling him MOTM.

 

[Seamustasmania]

Over reaction, on another day we’d be purring over them and want a new deal for Johnson as soon as possible. A good result in a tough away derby. Johnson will have his moments when we need them.

We needed them yesterday and every day. He was given a bollocking for pulling out on a fifty fifty and during the commentary it was mentioned how unusual it was to see him slide tackle. I thought they were kidding but casting my mind back I can’t recall him doing a McCann. Usual a player goes past him and he gets booked for pulling him back by the shirt . I’m sorry, he’s a good player but not good enough often enough. I saw enough of Woodburn to see he could be a contender

 

[Durutti]

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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.

Well in that situation a manager tells him he's dropping him due to a poor game and positional issues in midfield. If you want minutes in my team you have to compete with Potts for RWB. If you aren't up for that, let's strike a deal with Sunderland

I think you are right though.

 

[Durutti]

Think you'll find in the matchday thread there's quite a number of people (including myself) praising Lindsay and calling him MOTM.

I'm pleased about that. That whole HMS Lindsay shite needs putting to bed. He guy has had his fitness issues but in the time he has been here there have been some truly woeful performances from many others that get away with it whilst he is just the scapegoat

 

[Wisemen say]

I'm pleased about that. That whole HMS Lindsay shite needs putting to bed. He guy has had his fitness issues but in the time he has been here there have been some truly woeful performances from many others that get away with it whilst he is just the scapegoat

He looked leaner and fitter yesterday than last season. 👍

 

[andyg156]

I am totally unconvinced by the summer recruitment so far. The team feels weaker than last season on paper and we needed to improve the midfield badly which probably won't happen. Well Lowe could do one thing which is giving McCann a decent run of games, he has had 10 months to do it but he hasn't, I don't see him ever giving McCann a chance to get into the team. Either sell him or play him.

Not necessarily the recruitment. More the shit we have as the Spine if the team is the issue .

 

[richiepne25]

Lazy performances from the midfield yesterday. Happy to let the defenders pass it round the back and then for them to launch it over their heads. Very rarely showed for the ball. Performed like it was a preseason game and went through the motions. No fight or desire to get on the ball and dictate things.

 

[Schofe]

DJ is a difficult one, personally i see the reasons for leaving him on. Ge can pick a pass, score from distance and is technically pretty solid, unlike Browne. Not saying DJ played well yesterday because he didn’t.

Browne is very limited and the sooner its realised the better. The bloke has a terrific engine and is box to box runner/pressing midfielder. However if he doesn’t do that (pressing etc) then he’s anonymous at best. Yesterday he certainly looked a yard off it.

At risk of sounding a broken record here, as I’ve probably said it for over 2 years, in my opion Browne and DJ together simply doesn’t work very often.

Until an RWB is signed, if Browne has to start (which shouldnt be a certain) then i tend to agree he should be as a wingback. McCann and Ledson with Whiteman would offer far more balance and bite to the midfield.

All about opinions of course.

 

[Walton]

I don’t think that McCann was as bad as is being made out against Leicester, firstly he was having to try and keep Vardy quiet (a top class Premier League and England international).
He was always available when playing out from the back and often found plenty of space out wide.
He was often in the right place at the right time and so proved that by getting on the end of a cross to nod home what may have been a simple header, but you have to be there to do it.
Leicester are a decent team and have some quality and McCann wasn’t the worst player on the pitch.

 

[Aragorn]

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)

Played out of position so can't comment.

 

[Bullmassive 61]

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

Don't talk shite, your slagging a player off for playing in a position he is alien to, against a Premier League who will know he's not a RWB, not one player in our first team squad could play in that position, look at Potts yesterday against a team that was in League one last season, how good was he and then Browne, he'll play anywhere coz he's captain and we can't do without him, Jack of all trades master of none, so don't have a go at McCann when it is down to the management side of our club to bring in a RWB, or two, that have experience in that position

 

[baypne]

We have competition for places in midfield which should mean they have high standards in games, poor 60mins and they're subbed or lose they're place for the next game... ruthless not favourites.
If Browne has a poor game then Ali should come in, Woodburn for DJ and Ledson for Whiteman, that's the rotation as I see it.
Yesterday all 3 of those could have been made but I'd have left Whiteman on as not to disrupt it too much.
All opinions of course...

In previous seasons our bench has been very poor at times, other than Centre forward and RWB we have decent subs waiting or players wanting to fill their shirt and that goes through the team, captain, top goal scorer even keeper shouldn't be nailed on if they don't perform.

 

[pne1881]

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

^^^This^^^

Not a prayer that Browne is RWB.

Contrary to almost everyone it seems I thought Potts was fine yesterday. Yes he had a lot to improve on but under RL he's been steady enough without being spectacular.

 

[pne1881]

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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.

No they don't & no he hasn't.

 

[Durutti]

^^^This^^^

Not a prayer that Browne is RWB.

Contrary to almost everyone it seems I thought Potts was fine yesterday. Yes he had a lot to improve on but under RL he's been steady enough without being spectacular.

Fair enough. Don't think Potts was terrible but as Brady was trying to do (and failing), the WB'S are there to start the attacks really. If anything, Potts played full back and was disciplined but it ruins the system a bit.

 

[Doyler]

I'm pleased about that. That whole HMS Lindsay shite needs putting to bed. He guy has had his fitness issues but in the time he has been here there have been some truly woeful performances from many others that get away with it whilst he is just the scapegoat

Fitness issues? Pretty sure he’s been consistently fit since he joined.

And that’s probably his best attribute as a footballer.

 

[Durutti]

Fitness issues? Pretty sure he’s been consistently fit since he joined.

And that’s probably his best attribute as a footballer.

Had not played in months when he first joined. Had zero match fitness.

 

[Tarkovsky]

I thought DJ was playing so deep yesterday, when he plays and stays in and around that number 10 role he’s the only player who’s ever had a game where he’s been absolutely unplayable by the opposition.

The telling tale for me is, when you watch Brady, a player who’s performed at the top level, and been promoted from this division a number of times, and how quick he gives and tries to go, yesterday it seemed he was a pace way above the rest of the team and in turn, means he has to slow his game down.

I think with the three for me, there’s no need for such a box to box engine necessarily, Johnson will create if allowed, Whiteman can keep it ticking over, and then you have a spare space for a ball winner and combatant, for me that’s probably McCann. Browne can have great days, but I don’t see him as a better creator than DJ, ball winner than Mccann, or a passer than Whiteman.