Central midfield

[Bergen Blade]

Posted this elsewhere:

Three goals in seven games is a big problem, even though we're playing a bit better now.

I don't think we can keep playing Monty, Ertl and Britton centrally together. The fact that Monty is the one with the best goal record between them shows we need a player with more attacking attributes in there.

Seems there's increasing pressure on the forwards, Evans in particular, to get goals, and maybe it's time now to give Bogdanovic a go. How about midfield though. Reading the match report on the official site, there is only one mention of an attempt from one of the central midfielders, Ertl's finish from a set piece.

IF we're going to continue with the current formation and nobody's coming in, should we give Stephen Quinn a go? Compared to the other three he's a goal machine, and in a central midfield three he'd have even more freedom to make attacking runs.

 

[Wards]

Yep, it was evident we should be giving Quinny a go in the middle - especially at home.

I've no qualms with going with Monty-Britton-Ertl for an away game but we need a more positive midfielder for games at the Lane. Quinn would be suited to this formation IMO.

 

[super_pig]

we still haven't replaced lord brown (after 6 years of me bleating about it).. hello?

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Britton played in the 'deeper role' at Swansea so presumably that's his best position but if he is to play that role, he'll need players ahead of him to do the 'box to box supporting the strikers' and it doesn't take much to realise that Ertl and particularly Monty won't do that. It was interesting that it was Monty who was withdrawn last night in the 2nd half and maybe he'll be the one to be sacrificed if someone else comes in.

It's all gone quiet on the rumour front for loans but I'd be very surprised if we don't bring someone in in the next 2 weeks and the likes of a Halmosi or central midfield player seem to be the target so it seems as though Speed knows where the team need improving. The criticism seems to be levelled at the strikers today, or one in particular, but I still think it's the midfield that's the problem. We have a ball playing defensive midfielder, now we need an attacking one.

 

[Paulus]

we still haven't replaced lord brown (after 6 years of me bleating about it).. hello?

I have it on good authority that his replacemement is already at the club

 

[super_pig]

>Britton played in the 'deeper role' at Swansea so presumably that's his best position
it works for away matches .. but i'm not sure about home games.. three defensive midfielders won't work imo..
>
I have it on good authority that his replacemement is already at the club
i'm stumped mate.. let me in on the secret

 

[Bergen Blade]

we still haven't replaced lord brown (after 6 years of me bleating about it).. hello?

Many thought Britton was the new Brown, but I think we need to realise he's more like the new McCall. I'm a big fan of Williamson, but we need to do something until he is fit.

 

[JohnDenver]

Many thought Britton was the new Brown, but I think we need to realise he's more like the new McCall. I'm a big fan of Williamson, but we need to do something until he is fit.

You're spot-on. Britton plays like McCall but with legs 10 years younger. To me he looks a Premiership footballer in that slot. Moving him upfield will limit his impact on the team.

The notion of Britton playing behind Williamson is a really attractive one. It would give us the best midfield pairing we've had since McCall / Brown.

Roll on 2011.

 

[davidpinder]

Roll on 2011.

When it will be to late

 

[SwissBlade]

Try anything, but just don't ever play Quinn in Central Midfield again

 

[Wards]

When it will be to late

Too late for what?

We'll do ok for now, maybe get a loan in to help us till Willo's back but I don't see us being a team that's got a divine right to challenge for promotion this season. Top half finish would be more than acceptable in my book. It's going to be a big learning curve - we'll win some and lose some, I think we've got to be prepared for that this year.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Try anything, but just don't ever play Quinn in Central Midfield again

There aren't a lot of options Swiss, if we don't get someone in on loan, and continue with 4-3-3. Do you think Monty-Britton-Ertl will chip in with enough goals and assists, given time?

 

[SwissBlade]

There aren't a lot of options Swiss, if we don't get someone in on loan, and continue with 4-3-3. Do you think Monty-Britton-Ertl will chip in with enough goals and assists, given time?

I agree, but for me Quinn is awful in the centre, play him on the left, but not in the centre.

I said it before, Monty is the only player that we can play in the advanced role.

Do we need to play 4-3-3/ 4-5-1 at home or can we try 4-4-2, we seem to have better creative players on the wings like Yeates and Ward and I'd try them at home

If we go 4-4-2 its Monty or Ertl and i'd go with Monty as I've seen more of him

If we go with 4-3-3 at home then we need to keep it as 4-3-3 rather than 4-5-1 otherwise we become too defensive.

My alternative for the centre is

Britton
Monty or Ertl - Ched​

It probably wouldn't work and Ched would have to adapt his mindset, but it may just work

Play Ched in a Rooney/ Scholes or Teddy Sherringham type role...

 

[JohnDenver]

When it will be to late

If you want instant success you're in the wrong place.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

If you want instant success you're in the wrong place.

Yesterday revolution, today despair, great to be a Blade

 

[Nick Jansky]

If we have to sacrifice the first half this season to get back to playing proper football which is a joy to watch for the first time in eons, then that's fine by me. I've always said that I would prefer to watch us winning attractively in this league than being whipping boys in the PL. I'm gonna be patient.

 

[Wards]

I agree, but for me Quinn is awful in the centre, play him on the left, but not in the centre.

I said it before, Monty is the only player that we can play in the advanced role.

Do we need to play 4-3-3/ 4-5-1 at home or can we try 4-4-2, we seem to have better creative players on the wings like Yeates and Ward and I'd try them at home

If we go 4-4-2 its Monty or Ertl and i'd go with Monty as I've seen more of him

If we go with 4-3-3 at home then we need to keep it as 4-3-3 rather than 4-5-1 otherwise we become too defensive.

My alternative for the centre is

Britton
Monty or Ertl - Ched​

It probably wouldn't work and Ched would have to adapt his mindset, but it may just work

Play Ched in a Rooney/ Scholes or Teddy Sherringham type role...

I don't think Ched has the mental capability to play any role in midfield unfotunately. THat's not a dig at him as such but he thinks with the ball at his feet, not 2 steps ahead which those players you've mentioned do with ease.

 

[JohnDenver]

Yesterday revolution, today despair, great to be a Blade

That's the strange thing. I feel no despair whatsoever after last night.

We're witnessing the birth-pangs of something beautiful. Once we've mopped up the amniotic gunk and had a few stitches put in we'll be fine.

 

[raul]

So, grief, static and financial hardship for another 16 years before it's all worthwhile then?

 

[JohnDenver]

So, grief, static and financial hardship for another 16 years before it's all worthwhile then?

Yeah, just wait for the teenage years!

Still, better to travel in hope than arrive.

 

[super_pig]

>I said it before, Monty is the only player that we can play in the advanced role
yeah .. we need monty up there to play all of those killer balls

 

[Nick Jansky]

That's the strange thing. I feel no despair whatsoever after last night.

We're witnessing the birth-pangs of something beautiful. Once we've mopped up the amniotic gunk and had a few stitches put in we'll be fine.

But our perineum will sting like buggery for ages.

 

[JohnDenver]

But our perineum will sting like buggery for ages.

Yeah, but personally I think we should stop moaning and get the ironing done. That dinner won't cook itself either.

 

[Bergen Blade]

I don't think Ched has the mental capability to play any role in midfield unfotunately. THat's not a dig at him as such but he thinks with the ball at his feet, not 2 steps ahead which those players you've mentioned do with ease.

I think that's right. Blackwell tried to play Evans in the hole, without much success.

 

[Elsecar_Blade]

Although I'm not a fan of SQuinny, he's got to be the better option - at home - with Britton and Ertl. Like someone else said, I've no issue with Monty away from home or when we're a goal up and hanging on at home. I'm a big fan of Williamson and I hope he gets back soon to play with Ertl and Britton but until then, I think SQuinny is the answer we currently have in the squad. Yeates in a free role could be a good option too - although away from home, he's too lightweight.

The other problem with waiting for Willo - and I hope I am wrong but ... - is that he seems prone to injury. We can't keep getting him fit, using him for a month and then having him sit out for a few. He could be the answer in the middle with Britton and Ertl/Monty but I'm not getting my hopes up because he might not stay fit.

 

[shorehamview]

The main problem with Willo is that he snaps like a twig the moment someone comes near him. Has he got osteogenesis imperfecta? Or is he just a big nesh bugger?

Small Quinn has gone right off the boil in the last year - he's a shadow of the player he once was. Monty, as some have pointed out, isn't Leonel Messi, or even sometimes Mr. Messy.

The jury is still out on Britton and Ertl because at least the jury has the sense to see that as one swallow does not a summer make, or even a bongo vid make, the few games thay have been in midfield do not a case for either prosecution and defence make. Perhaps they will come good together. We can but hope.

So do we persist with the pairing of Johnny Erlt - Ninja Turtle, and Britton, who is small enough to be able to run out holding Morgan's hand, and try two wingers, perhaps Yeates and Ward/Quinn to feed off them? This might mean getting proper crosses in, but the two strikers will just have to get used to it.

On the other hand, what about a 4-1-2-1-2 formation, with a holding midfielder to be either an enforcer - Monty - or a creative but deep-sitting playmaker - Britton? Team this with two wingers and Wardy or Ertl sat behing the front two of Cresswell and A. N. Other.

There are many permutations with the squad that we have that would do just fine if the players play as well as they are able to, but the one constant is that we can't build a formation around Lee Williamson at the moment because he's as durable as a B&Q shed when the big bad wolf strolls round for tea. Hell, if we're going to pick Willo why not pick Ryan France too, a bloke who's had more time off than Katie Price's pants.

 

[alcoblade]

we still haven't replaced lord brown (after 6 years of me bleating about it).. hello?

You think we should have replaced our 25 goal a season midfield maestro? I bet nobody has thought of that, maybe you should write to the club, including directions to the money tree?



UTB

 

[SwissBlade]

I don't think Ched has the mental capability to play any role in midfield unfotunately. THat's not a dig at him as such but he thinks with the ball at his feet, not 2 steps ahead which those players you've mentioned do with ease.

Yeah you're probably right Wards, I was thinking he's more than capable technically, but maybe he could rise to the challenge, given time.

As Bergen touched on, Blackie tried him in the hole, but if we're assuming Speed is better technically then perhaps he could get the better out of Ched.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

Why don't we try him on the bench?

 

[SwissBlade]

Why don't we try him on the bench?

Possibly, but I think if we have him and Speed rates him, then stick with him