He may not be the midfielder we want but he's the midfielder we need.
Even though he's closer to his bus pass than his birth certificate he's the only leave-your-foot-in, booking-waiting-to-happen midfielder we've got that's anywhere near the first team.
If having Norwood as the main passer is the imperative it seems to be for this team, and in the absence of Slater being given any trust then surely he's the only option we have that adds bite at this level.
There will be games where we get to simply out football teams and you get away with having Hourihane and Norwood as a pairing but in many you have to outcompete to get a chance to outplay. I'd like to see more of this guy show his experience and get stuck in there alongside Norwood.
That double pivot thing just doesn't work for us. It's far too passive and just asks too much of other players.
I'm not thoroughly dismissing Sander but his attribute has to be that of where he runs forward with the ball rather than deep lying square passer.
Up top in this 3-4-3 type system, I'd like to see N'Diaye/Didzy share minutes, Brewster/Billy share minutes and then Gibbs-White/Sander tie down the other spot. I think that is a good blend of experience and ability in key areas. The other forwards we should be pushing towards the exit be that through loans or unlikely sales.