LondonBlade89
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Disclaimer: First time doing a poll, so if there are any errors, my apologies and I'll try and fix.
This arguably been the most important role in the side ever since CWAK took over. Paul Coutts was the guy who kept us ticking in the early days. When he got injured, we looked lost. Lee Evans and John Lundstram just weren't up to it and the team suffered massively. In steps Oliver Norwood and essentially overnight we're a better side. Forget "the Duffy role", this is the one that makes us tick. Last year in the Premier League we looked at our best when Norwood was on song. When he wasn't given as much time on the ball, he didn't play as well and we suffered.
Fast forward to this season and CWAK clearly envision Berge in this role. As good a playmaker as Norwood is, there are questions over his athleticism. In those games where we're being over-run in midfield, or they stick men on Norwood, we came unstuck last year. I reckon Berge must have been seen as the answer. A player with strength, power and athleticism, and most importantly an ability to drive past the press and (hopefully) dictate.
The very early evidence suggests to me that Berge isn't ready for the job. Our CM/CDM role requires the player to absolutely be the one of our main players on the pitch. Dictating play, taking responsibility. For me, Berge already looks a serious player, and so I don't want to knock his quality, but right now I'm not sure he's got the mindset or confidence to take everything on his shoulders from kick-off (arguably he did against Leeds but that was only when legs were tiring, IMO).
These are very early days, particularly for Berge in the role, but the question is what do you do?
Get Norwood back in the side, accept the slight drop in athleticism but hope we can find a way to free him up and dictate?
Stick at it with Berge, hoping he'll settle into his role under the guidance of CWAK.
Go with Ampadu. He played at CDM last night against Wales and he looked seriously confident on the ball against Leeds. At the very least, he seemed to have the mindset of a player who was keen to dictate.
Or do you go with someone else, or tweak the midfield all together? Go wild and play Norwood and Berge together. Berge winning the ball, driving forward with runs, Norwood dictating play.
This arguably been the most important role in the side ever since CWAK took over. Paul Coutts was the guy who kept us ticking in the early days. When he got injured, we looked lost. Lee Evans and John Lundstram just weren't up to it and the team suffered massively. In steps Oliver Norwood and essentially overnight we're a better side. Forget "the Duffy role", this is the one that makes us tick. Last year in the Premier League we looked at our best when Norwood was on song. When he wasn't given as much time on the ball, he didn't play as well and we suffered.
Fast forward to this season and CWAK clearly envision Berge in this role. As good a playmaker as Norwood is, there are questions over his athleticism. In those games where we're being over-run in midfield, or they stick men on Norwood, we came unstuck last year. I reckon Berge must have been seen as the answer. A player with strength, power and athleticism, and most importantly an ability to drive past the press and (hopefully) dictate.
The very early evidence suggests to me that Berge isn't ready for the job. Our CM/CDM role requires the player to absolutely be the one of our main players on the pitch. Dictating play, taking responsibility. For me, Berge already looks a serious player, and so I don't want to knock his quality, but right now I'm not sure he's got the mindset or confidence to take everything on his shoulders from kick-off (arguably he did against Leeds but that was only when legs were tiring, IMO).
These are very early days, particularly for Berge in the role, but the question is what do you do?
Get Norwood back in the side, accept the slight drop in athleticism but hope we can find a way to free him up and dictate?
Stick at it with Berge, hoping he'll settle into his role under the guidance of CWAK.
Go with Ampadu. He played at CDM last night against Wales and he looked seriously confident on the ball against Leeds. At the very least, he seemed to have the mindset of a player who was keen to dictate.
Or do you go with someone else, or tweak the midfield all together? Go wild and play Norwood and Berge together. Berge winning the ball, driving forward with runs, Norwood dictating play.