Defensive midfield at Peterborough

[Bergen Blade]

Who would be your choice?

 

[SotonBlade]

I'd pick Doyle and Basham if i'm honest.

I'd also bring Collins back into defence and Baxter instead of Scougall

 

[SwissBlade]

Doyle reed and Baxter in the middle for me

 

[Revolution]

The idea of Reed as a defensive anything at this point in his career is scary. He simply does not have the physicality for the job.

 

[INTAKE BLADE]

Never thought i would say it but Doyle for me, rest have been poor, also reinstate Collins his experience is needed, saying that i don't think we will get anything tonight, they will be too pacey for our pedestrian side.

 

[Houso]

I agree with Sots.

Have Doyle protecting the back 4, Basham doing the box to box and have Jose sat off Higdon's shoulder.

 

[FTPE]

Can't fuckin believe I'm picking Doyle, that's soooooo depressing but reed isn't physical enough and basham isn't up to speed either.
Jose of higdon as the above poster says too would be nice.
I like scougall but he's not fit.
Have to start JCR too which I also thought I wouldn't be saying

 

[Gavlar]

have gone for micky doyle, we are in a dire mess atm if we need him as our saviour

 

[forever_blade]

Doyle & Davies sitting, Baxter infront of them.

Will keep banging on about putting Davies in there as Clough obviously wants to fit him in & he's played CM for Notts County previously, scored 16 goals from that position & outwide in that spell infact plus his distribution will be key in us keeping hold of the ball.

Murphy & JCR on the wings, Higdon uptop - hit Higdon into FEET & play off him

 

[Tazzy]

gone for doyle but was expecting so much more from the new lads to forget about him

 

[OllyBlade]

Howard
Alcock, Collins, McGahey, Harris
Davies, Doyle, Basham, JCR
Higdon, McNulty
​

That would be my team. Or, if we are set on not going 4-4-2, Baxter in for McNulty.

 

[billyblademan]

Howard
Alcock, Collins, McGahey, Harris
Davies, Doyle, Reed, Murphy
Scougall
Baxter.
​

Reed picked only because Basham and McGinn are garbage. Having Fat Boy up front will at least mean we won't hoof it.

 

[cooperblade]

I'd go:

Howard
Alcock Collins McGahey Harris
Doyle
JCR Basham Baxter Murphy
Higdon

 

[blader]

I'd go:

Howard
Alcock Collins McGahey Harris
Doyle
JCR Basham Baxter Murphy
Higdon

Bang on for me too coops. Like your style

 

[Bergen Blade]

I agree with Sots.

Have Doyle protecting the back 4, Basham doing the box to box and have Jose sat off Higdon's shoulder.

I'd pick Doyle and Basham if i'm honest.

I'd also bring Collins back into defence and Baxter instead of Scougall

Actually I'd like to see people's preference for this role within the current formation, if you don't mind? There are others who would like us to play 4-4-2 or 3-5-2, but let's say that Clough sticks with the same set up which has one central midfielder anchoring, flanked by two who attacks more when we're on the ball. Like this:

 

[Grecian2000]

I think that picture nails it Bergs, far too little movement.

 

[OllyBlade]

Actually I'd like to see people's preference for this role within the current formation, if you don't mind? There are others who would like us to play 4-4-2 or 3-5-2, but let's say that Clough sticks with the same set up which has one central midfielder anchoring, flanked by two who attacks more when we're on the ball. Like this:


View attachment 9182

The guy he signed for the role is predictably injured, and both Reed and Doyle have their weaknesses. Probably Doyle the better option for this fixture.

But it's clear with Scougall and Basham both out of form as they are, and the wide players showing nothing, that this formation is ineffective at the moment. You are right in that Clough probably will persist with it. But I think at the moment it's more fun to imagine a universe where anything is possible, like us maybe scoring a goal from open play in the league

 

[Grecian2000]

Gone for LSF (sorry Doyle).

Reeds not ready for that role, haven't seen anything from Basham to get in front of him yet.

Said in another thread we've replaced too many, we didn't need to do it all at once. Back to the majority of last seasons team for me.

 

[Foxy]

I'd go...

Howard

Alcock

McGahey

Collins

Harris

Flynn/JCR

Basham

Doyle

Murphy

Baxter

Higdon

Murphy & Baxter switching regularly. Davies on for Flynn/JCR on 60 minutes (unless either are still regularly creating). Reed on for Doyle if we are struggling to create.

 

[Rollerball]

Howard
Alcock Collins mcgahey mceverly
Doyle
JCR Baxter murphy
Mcnulty
Higden
Defensive enough with what should be fire power to damage,
Doyle helping back four and possibly getting ball for Baxter to either run/meander with ball or pass it forwards or wide



And foxy can you maybe set up a pitch template for this sort of thing so we can all play andy (great move there by man united) grey please

 

[MBoreman]

I'd have Doyle anchoring with Reed and Baxter ahead of him.

We've signed too many players, especially in midfield. I said at the start of the window we needed 3-5 good players (full back, centre back, quality dominating central midfielder, a striker and another striker/winger). It could be argued those signings are Alcock, Butler (McGahey not counting as he replaced Maguire), Wallace (hopefully), Higdon and McNulty. Any signings besides those are excess as signing many players at once near enough never works bar the anomaly of Charlton.

 

[Greeny96]

Am I the only person who thinks Doyle is a very poor footballer. He has effort and work rate but very little ability in my opinion.

 

[MBoreman]

So my team tonight would consist of:
Howard
Alcock Collins McGahey Harris
Flynn Doyle Reed Murphy
Baxter
Higdon

Longer term however I'd like to see Wallace in for Doyle and Diego/McNulty in for Higdon with the wingers and front 2 interchanging a lot (Flynn less so but Murphy going up top etc).

 

[Railway Blade]

I'd probably go with Foxy's team except I would probably have Collins rather than Butler but there's not much between the two. Basham & Doyle sitting with Baxter in front of them. I would prefer JCR to Flynn as JCR and Baxter have been the only bits of bright sparks in an attacking unit off form.

 

[SotonBlade]

My pick.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

I'd probably go with Davies in there alongside Doyle. Need Wallace fit as I'm sure that's where Cough wanted him, with Basham alongside.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

 

[Darthblade]

Am I the only person who thinks Doyle is a very poor footballer. He has effort and work rate but very little ability in my opinion.

You are not my friend. It will reflect very badly on our squad and management if we need to resort to recalling Doyle at all this season. Great guy, totally ineffective on the pitch. No mobility, pace, vision or passing from him. he was the weak link in our team last season and would continue to be so this season, if selected.

What we need, is for our players to "man up" and deliver what they're paid to do and that is put in 95 minutes of quality graft !!! And the players feeling sorry for themselves at not making the team need to look in the mirror and tell themselves how lucky they are to be playing football professionally, for a decent sized Club, with good support ( notice no sneaky MASSIVE in there ) and stop with the "throwing teddy out of the cot" !!
UTB & FTP

 

[bartman]

Am I the only person who thinks Doyle is a very poor footballer. He has effort and work rate but very little ability in my opinion.

It depends what you are expecting from your midfield. Doyle isn't your all action ,box to box, goal scoring midfielder. However, he is 'ratter', scrapping for second balls, getting tackles and he is good at tracking midfield runners which is something we have lacked from the midfielders who have played in the first two league games.He is also in the refs ear a lot trying to influence decisions. This doesn't sound like an asset but we have all seen opposition players do it to the ref with good effect (e.g.Bristol City the other Saturday)

His passing is average (to say the least) but if you watch him, he talks and organises the players round him. He is not who we want long term but at the moment but I think Doyle alongside Reed or Basham may be the best option in the short term(possibly until Wallace is fit)

So for me, in the role he does for a L1 side, he is not a poor footballer. He is just the type of player (like Monty) that is the first to get the criticism when things start to go wrong as it is rare that he is a 'star' performer in a game

 

[Punk Blade]

Howard
Alcock Collins mcgahey mceverly
Doyle
JCR Baxter murphy
Mcnulty
Higden
Defensive enough with what should be fire power to damage,

Using 'defensive' to describe any aspect of a team consisting of a striker, a striker behind him and three forwards behind them in midfield is brave!