Defensive Midfield

[Fjortoft's Aeroplane]

It looks to me like our defensive midfield options consist of Basham, Basham, or maybe Basham. And now we have an injury problem at the back, there's a chance Basham will play centre-back with J Wallace deputising in midfield.

I like Wallace but against better teams I think a Wallace & Baxter midfield would get overpowered. (I'd consider dropping Baxter ahead of Wallace to be honest - he's so inconsistent). I guess today it should cope ok but I think this is an area we need strengthen before the window shuts.

Who is currently available that would be a genuine asset in this role? It's not a glamorous job so often at this level defensive mid doesn't take many plaudits - Hence me drawing a blank for suggestions myself! UTB!

 

[The_Green_Man]

Young Reedy has got more than enough composure about him to to sit in the middle two and do a job. He's the type of player who will put in the leg work and nip a few ankles, granted he isn't the biggest physical presence and he might not win everything in the air however he has enough about him to chase it down and break the opponents flow of play.

It staggers me how Young Reedy keeps finding himself forgotten by fans when he was one of the few positives of last season.

 

[Chali 2na]

Wallace would possibly be more adept than you might think. Whenever I've seen him he's looked good in the tackle and strong. Once he's fit he could be a real asset for us.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Young Reedy has got more than enough composure about him to to sit in the middle two and do a job. He's the type of player who will put in the leg work and nip a few ankles, granted he isn't the biggest physical presence and he might not win everything in the air however he has enough about him to chase it down and break the opponents flow of play.

It staggers me how Young Reedy keeps finding himself forgotten by fans when he was one of the few positives of last season.

Not forgotten by the manager who keeps naming him on the bench and using him as a sub.

Reed was one of the few positives from Gillingham.

That said I think holding/defensive midfield is his role though.

 

[Chali 2na]

Young Reedy has got more than enough composure about him to to sit in the middle two and do a job. He's the type of player who will put in the leg work and nip a few ankles, granted he isn't the biggest physical presence and he might not win everything in the air however he has enough about him to chase it down and break the opponents flow of play.

It staggers me how Young Reedy keeps finding himself forgotten by fans when he was one of the few positives of last season.

I agree that Reed is a fabulous player but I couldn't see him in a DM sort of role. I think he's a natural replacement for Baxter should he get injured, suspended, arrested etc.

 

[The_Green_Man]

Not forgotten by the manager who keeps naming him on the bench and using him as a sub.

Reed was one of the few positives from Gillingham.

That said I think holding/defensive midfield is his role though.

His composure for such a young lad and his ability to read what is going around him and play the perfect pass astonishes me. I think he has to attributes of a brilliant midfielder and think he destined for a great future in the game.

 

[Hodgyman]

It looks to me like our defensive midfield options consist of Basham, Basham, or maybe Basham. And now we have an injury problem at the back, there's a chance Basham will play centre-back with J Wallace deputising in midfield.

I like Wallace but against better teams I think a Wallace & Baxter midfield would get overpowered. (I'd consider dropping Baxter ahead of Wallace to be honest - he's so inconsistent). I guess today it should cope ok but I think this is an area we need strengthen before the window shuts.

Who is currently available that would be a genuine asset in this role? It's not a glamorous job so often at this level defensive mid doesn't take many plaudits - Hence me drawing a blank for suggestions myself! UTB!

I would normally agree about Baxter but at Peterborough he worked hard for the full 90 minutes and topped it off with a quality goal. J Wallace also did very well when he came on. On the strength of this I would have no qualms about letting Basham go back to centre defence until Collins is fit again or someone new comes in at centre half and let Baxter and J Walace work together in midfield. They played together quite a lot at Everton at youth level so know each other's game

 

[Jon K]

Think Reed is better suited to attacking midfielder not defensive, and the lack of cover for Basham is a concern. Look how bad we were last season when Basham played at centre half!

 

[ZoneManWilf]

Lets just have 2 good midfielders in the centre, and not worry about a 'defensive' one.

 

[itsinyerblood]

I agree that Reed is a fabulous player but I couldn't see him in a DM sort of role. I think he's a natural replacement for Baxter should he get injured, suspended, arrested etc.

Arrested?!?! Bitch!

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Not forgotten by the manager who keeps naming him on the bench and using him as a sub.

Reed was one of the few positives from Gillingham.

That said I think holding/defensive midfield is his role though.

*don't think

 

[Fulwood Blade]

It looks to me like our defensive midfield options consist of Basham, Basham, or maybe Basham. And now we have an injury problem at the back, there's a chance Basham will play centre-back with J Wallace deputising in midfield.

I like Wallace but against better teams I think a Wallace & Baxter midfield would get overpowered. (I'd consider dropping Baxter ahead of Wallace to be honest - he's so inconsistent). I guess today it should cope ok but I think this is an area we need strengthen before the window shuts.

Who is currently available that would be a genuine asset in this role? It's not a glamorous job so often at this level defensive mid doesn't take many plaudits - Hence me drawing a blank for suggestions myself! UTB!

Teams have a defensive midfield to protect crap centre halves.

Adkins way is to play 4-4-2 and to adjust on the field as and when.

According to Bergen, we moved to 4-1-4-1 on Tuesday to protect our lead - ultimately to score a very good 3rd goal based around our new found ability to break with the ball quickly, move it on quickly and cause havoc amongst the defence.

Adkins is now doing ok, and subtle changes to the team may negate the need for defensive midfield - we could always let the opposition worry about SUFC for a change, instead of the other way round.

UTB

 

[The_Green_Man]

I don't think Reedy is solely an out and out defensive midfielder however you are looking at the best assets available to you to do a job and for me Reedy's versatility makes him the ideal choice. Baxter offers plenty going forward and so would Wallace however which player out of the three would be most likely to get on with the dirty work? I don't have Baxter as they type who will run around like an headless chicken chasing the ball down for more than 5 minutes in a game, I don't think he has the stamina for it to be fair.

Youngy is young, raw and eager to impress. Put him in there and he will get in the oppositions faces with his ankle nipping which will knock them off their game. His versatility means that he has more to offer in his game than just this role, he can get his foot on the ball and he can play both a short composed pass or that killer 30 yard pass.

 

[Fjortoft's Aeroplane]

Teams have a defensive midfield to protect crap centre halves.

I think this is precisely the reason to consider strengthening this area! Our centre-halves haven't exctly covered themselves in glory over the past year and one season-long loan signing isn't quite enough to feel like we've turned the corner.

 

[Ginger Gnome]

Think Reed is better suited to attacking midfielder not defensive, and the lack of cover for Basham is a concern. Look how bad we were last season when Basham played at centre half!

We were better because Doyle was better than Basham in central midfield and Basham was better than Paddy McCarthy in defence.

 

[Pinchy]

His composure for such a young lad and his ability to read what is going around him and play the perfect pass astonishes me. I think he has to attributes of a brilliant midfielder and think he destined for a great future in the game.

Have we signed a different Reed? The one we have is too small, lightweight and one-paced. A "brilliant midfielder" creates and scores goals. The one we've got doesn't and was quite appalling in the second-half of last season. So much so that he was twice rightly substituted at half-time. He'll play his football in the lower leagues at best. Wishful thinking doesn't make good players.

Sorry for the uncomfortable truth, I really am.

Ironside.....Ironside....

 

[Pinchy]

I think this is precisely the reason to consider strengthening this area! Our centre-halves haven't exctly covered themselves in glory over the past year and one season-long loan signing isn't quite enough to feel like we've turned the corner.

No, it's precisely the reason to sign another centre-half!

Why do so many of you condone midfielders doing half a job? That way you end up with Nick Montgomery or his Irish cousin Micky O'Monty....

 

[Barney]

Have we signed a different Reed? The one we have is too small, lightweight and one-paced. A "brilliant midfielder" creates and scores goals. The one we've got doesn't and was quite appalling in the second-half of last season. So much so that he was twice rightly substituted at half-time. He'll play his football in the lower leagues at best. Wishful thinking doesn't make good players.

Sorry for the uncomfortable truth, I really am.

Ironside.....Ironside....

Spot on.

Really don't understand the fascination with Reed. He's not a patch on Adams and I said so last season before Che really came on at the start of this season.

He's far too small and weak and in my opinion doesn't have the ability to make up for it like good small players have to. May seem a tad crude but I haven't seen one bit of solid evidence to suggest he's this wonderful midfielder some make him out to be.

A dose of realism is required here, and Reed is nowhere near good enough to feature for us at all this season.

 

[judge]

No, it's precisely the reason to sign another centre-half!

Why do so many of you condone midfielders doing half a job? That way you end up with Nick Montgomery or his Irish cousin Micky O'Monty....

Or sergi o'busquets and Claude mak o'lele