Midfield

[Woodwardfan]

We need to get behind teams more. 3 5 2 means we don't get to the by-line enough. It's a small whinge but it is what Hanson and Sharp would thrive on.

Couldn't agree more. Bigger point than mine actually. Riley, O'Shea, Chapman could well do just that

3-5-2 not necessarily the cause of the failing though. Why should it be?.

 

[INTERUNITED]

Am I missing something here....aren't we the top scorers in the league (a league in which we top by 5 points)??

 

[Tyler Durden]

You're totally missing my point
I'm not saying he is shit ,get rid I'm just trying to explain why we have so much possesion in and around the final third and don't score more goals

And I agree with much of it.

But the problem lies outside of the front two. Duffy, as important a player as he is, tries to beat everybody in front of him with mixed results, when a simple incisive pass would prove more effective. Coutts, for all his undeniable ability will invariably take the safest option and we also lack anybody who can effectively put a decent ball into the box when required. I have faith that this might change with the inclusion of Jay O'Shea in the team.

 

[Fanny magnet]

And I agree with much of it.

But the problem lies outside of the front two. Duffy, as important a player as he is, tries to beat everybody in front of him with mixed results, when a simple incisive pass would prove more effective. Coutts, for all his undeniable ability will invariably take the safest option and we also lack anybody who can effectively put a decent ball into the box when required. I have faith that this might change with the inclusion of Jay O'Shea in the team.

yeah I have to admit if I was making the subs
Duffy would have been swapped for o Shea or carruthers and Riley would have been given a run out wide

Can't really fault the strikers effort and they played their part in some great football but it's frustrating to play so well and not win

 

[snootyfenooty]

Am I missing something here....aren't we the top scorers in the league (a league in which we top by 5 points)??

Yep, the point you're missing is that two of our best three players in Sharp and Basham (the other's Fleck) are the ones that consistently get more criticism than any other player on this forum. Weird.

 

[Pinchy]

Yep, the point you're missing is that two of our best three players in Sharp and Basham (the other's Fleck) are the ones that consistently get more criticism than any other player on this forum. Weird.

Your 'point' is based on a false premise so he's entirely right to miss it!

 

[snootyfenooty]

Your 'point' is based on a false premise so he's entirely right to miss it!

So, what's the false premise. That these are the three best players, or that the two I mentioned are the ones who attract their unfair share of criticism? Care to elucidate?

 

[8lade]

Just to counter 2(3) arguments here:

I would gladly have none of our players in the high score chart for more goals overall.
Being the highest scorers in the league doesn't guarantee promotion.
Being 5 pts clear does not count for anything until all the teams have played the same number of games. We may only be 1 point ahead and 2 ahead of being in the play offs.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Totally and completely agree with the OP. By a country mile, the best midfield unit in the division.

Some of the stuff yesterday was mesmeric. A pleasure and a privilege to witness.

UTB

 

[GrayBlade]

Not enough goals to be a real quality midfield

Agreed that's probably their single weakness as a group, but then again if as individuals they also added regular goals to their game, I don't think we'd have picked them up to play for us in league one would we?

 

[GrayBlade]

This way of thinking totally disregards the ability to get said chances. Billy gets more chances because he's a better striker than the rest in the league, by quite a distance as well.

I'd rather our strikers get 10 chances in a game and score 2 than get 1 chance and score 1. Goals win games. Billy scores them, and a good amount of them too.

I made exactly that point last season and also when Billy had his dry spell this season and some were saying he should be dropped.

If we'd got another regular goalscorer at this level in attack or midfield who'd get on the end of the chances maybe we could have rested him occasionally, but the facts are that so far nobody else in the team seems to be even there to miss them, let alone score except maybe Freeman.

Most managers say that they don't mind their strikers going through dry spells as long as they're getting into positions to miss them and that's pretty much how I see it with (21 goals in 33 games) Sharp.

 

[BouncinBlade]

He never will be good enough for most of this forum. It's fashionable to dismiss him for some reason.

If I was Billy I would've stayed at Leeds quite frankly.[/QUOTE

tit

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

Agreed that's probably their single weakness as a group, but then again if as individuals they also added regular goals to their game, I don't think we'd have picked them up to play for us in league one would we?

Agreed, midfield players at this level that have their qualities AND score goals are quickly picked up by clubs higher up. It might also be a case of the sum of the parts, and all that. Look at them individually, Coutts was an injured bit of a has-been (so we all thought), Fleck on a free from a mid-table league one team, Duffy released by a just promoted league one side. Doesn't look great on paper but they seem to have knitted into the best midfield in this division by some distance.

 

[finlaytheblade]

Interesting having such a sublime midfield in a team that dominates games and yet we never create enough chances because our final ball is not good enough. Sorry that does not add up.

You have a point Woody we do waste a lot but the style is great to Watch early days yet but given backing I can see Wilder building on what we have
got so far.This midfield is as good as we have seen in ma y a year we are not there yet but with the technic Wilder is bringing to the club means we
Don't need to change that much (style ) just bringing in extra quality to push us on.
This does mean support from the owners as wages will go along side the extra quality brought to the team.We have got a good base to build on next season ( after promotion and I a ccept it's not a given ) .
First and most we must retain the style it is so exciting and enjoyable to watch. Well done Messrs Wilder &Knill !!!

 

[GrayBlade]

You have a point Woody we do waste a lot but the style is great to Watch early days yet but given backing I can see Wilder building on what we have
got so far.This midfield is as good as we have seen in ma y a year we are not there yet but with the technic Wilder is bringing to the club means we
Don't need to change that much (style ) just bringing in extra quality to push us on.
This does mean support from the owners as wages will go along side the extra quality brought to the team.We have got a good base to build on next season ( after promotion and I a ccept it's not a given ) .
First and most we must retain the style it is so exciting and enjoyable to watch. Well done Messrs Wilder &Knill !!!

I'll second that mate.

Going forward, I think we will need a wide player with pace who can take defences on and drive into the box. Whether that's a winger or a new left wingback time will tell. Maybe O'Shea or Chapman will fit the bill, but even without that extra attacking option it's still great football to watch.

 

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

Coutts gave an absolute masterclass yesterday. Top, quality passing, desire. Transformed from the player he was last year. The midfielders are all comfortable on the ball (and want the ball) and it makes such a massive difference.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Coutts gave an absolute masterclass yesterday. Top, quality passing, desire. Transformed from the player he was last year. The midfielders are all comfortable on the ball (and want the ball) and it makes such a massive difference.

Coutts has been giving a masterclass for the best part of 18 months.

But cos he don't eat lightning and crap thunder, this is lost on one or two !!

UTB

 

[Pinchy]

So, what's the false premise. That these are the three best players, or that the two I mentioned are the ones who attract their unfair share of criticism? Care to elucidate?

That those three are our best players. By what yardstick? The most skilful? That's one right. The most effective? Two. The most reliable? One, maybe two.

 

[wizadry]

Coutts has been giving a masterclass for the best part of 18 months.

But cos he don't eat lightning and crap thunder, this is lost on one or two !!

UTB

18 months? What absolute and utter shite.

And it wasn't a masterclass yesterday either, he played well but misplaced quite a few passes straight out of play yesterday and also got the ball took off him more than usual, If that was a masterclass then Fleck should be at Barca. I know, stupid isn't it?

 

[LoughboroBlade]

We need to get behind teams more. 3 5 2 means we don't get to the by-line enough

I don't agree with that – the current formation actually allows for Freeman & Lafferty to get to the by-line quite a lot, which they have been doing all season. This seemed to happen less after the formation change. We have lacked decent wingers all season – regardless of the formation we use next season we need to remedy that in the recruitment over the summer. Trying to crowbar the likes of O'Shea, Done, Scougall into that sort of role, albeit from the bench, has highlighted the problem. Having a fit-again Chapman would be a welcome stop-gap till the summer.

 

[Woodwardfan]

You have a point Woody we do waste a lot but the style is great to Watch early days yet but given backing I can see Wilder building on what we have
got so far.This midfield is as good as we have seen in ma y a year we are not there yet but with the technic Wilder is bringing to the club means we
Don't need to change that much (style ) just bringing in extra quality to push us on.
This does mean support from the owners as wages will go along side the extra quality brought to the team.We have got a good base to build on next season ( after promotion and I a ccept it's not a given ) .
First and most we must retain the style it is so exciting and enjoyable to watch. Well done Messrs Wilder &Knill !!!

Promotion to the Championship brings 5m pounds extra per annum in league payments, that helps.

 

[Silent Blade]

Duffy released by a just promoted league one side.

Duffy was released by Birmingham last summer. He went to Burton on loan last season

 

[Pinchy]

I don't agree with that – the current formation actually allows for Freeman & Lafferty to get to the by-line quite a lot, which they have been doing all season. This seemed to happen less after the formation change. We have lacked decent wingers all season – regardless of the formation we use next season we need to remedy that in the recruitment over the summer. Trying to crowbar the likes of O'Shea, Done, Scougall into that sort of role, albeit from the bench, has highlighted the problem. Having a fit-again Chapman would be a welcome stop-gap till the summer.

I would happily crowbar Done...