Defensive midfielders

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Champagneblade

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It feels we need to replace the ones we lost last season.

Let’s stop pretending (yes, you Ruben) that Peck is one. He’s a play maker as is Arblaster, who functions best alongside a destroyer.

We have Soumaré but last year we had Souza and Choudhury.

Any candidates?

Freebies:
Nampalys Mendy - was at Leicester and played last year at Lens. 33 years old.
Jairo Reidewald - was at Palace and played last year at Royal Antwerp and played centre back and left back.
Josh DaSilva - Was at Brentford. Big gamble on fitness though.

Buy
Hamza Choudhury - would be my ideal choices played right back for Leicester already though.
Lewis Travis - Blackburn captain, I may have read he was close to joining Derby. Shithouse.
Will Smallbone - seems he has played there before and could be a player on the move

Loan
Tim Iroegbunam - maybe if Everton get some more Midfielders in.
Albert Sambi-Lokonga - can’t see him being in favour at the Gunners. Still there.

Left field choice
Play Ben Godfrey there. I read from some Norwich fans he did a good job there. If we got Tanganga and Mee and Seol then along with Burrows that could then open up to play him alongside Peck in midfield.

Further suggestions?
 

It feels we need to replace the ones we lost last season.

Let’s stop pretending (yes, you Ruben) that Peck is one. He’s a play maker as is Arblaster, who functions best alongside a destroyer.

We have Soumaré but last year we had Souza and Choudhury.

Any candidates?

Freebies:
Nampalys Mendy - was at Leicester and played last year at Lens. 33 years old.
Jairo Reidewald - was at Palace and played last year at Royal Antwerp and played centre back and left back.
Josh DaSilva - Was at Brentford. Big gamble on fitness though.

Buy
Hamza Choudhury - would be my ideal choices played right back for Leicester already though.
Lewis Travis - Blackburn captain, I may have read he was close to joining Derby. Shithouse.
Will Smallbone - seems he has played there before and could be a player on the move

Loan
Tim Iroegbunam - maybe if Everton get some more Midfielders in.
Albert Sambi-Lokonga - can’t see him being in favour at the Gunners. Still there.

Left field choice
Play Ben Godfrey there. I read from some Norwich fans he did a good job there. If we got Tanganga and Mee and Seol then along with Burrows that could then open up to play him alongside Peck in midfield.

Further suggestions?
I think we'd have been fine with the 6 players we have if fitness wasn't an issue. (3 positions in midfield)

Arblaster
Peck
Davies
Soumare
Hamer
Ohare
 
I've said it a lot on here, but Alex Robertson at Cardiff would fit us like a glove. Not an out-an-out destroyer like Souza, more like a ball-playing midfielder who can also do the defensive side, like Ampadu at Leeds or Cullen at Burnley.

player_comparison (8).webp
 
It feels we need to replace the ones we lost last season.

Let’s stop pretending (yes, you Ruben) that Peck is one. He’s a play maker as is Arblaster, who functions best alongside a destroyer.

We have Soumaré but last year we had Souza and Choudhury.

Any candidates?

Freebies:
Nampalys Mendy - was at Leicester and played last year at Lens. 33 years old.
Jairo Reidewald - was at Palace and played last year at Royal Antwerp and played centre back and left back.
Josh DaSilva - Was at Brentford. Big gamble on fitness though.

Buy
Hamza Choudhury - would be my ideal choices played right back for Leicester already though.
Lewis Travis - Blackburn captain, I may have read he was close to joining Derby. Shithouse.
Will Smallbone - seems he has played there before and could be a player on the move

Loan
Tim Iroegbunam - maybe if Everton get some more Midfielders in.
Albert Sambi-Lokonga - can’t see him being in favour at the Gunners. Still there.

Left field choice
Play Ben Godfrey there. I read from some Norwich fans he did a good job there. If we got Tanganga and Mee and Seol then along with Burrows that could then open up to play him alongside Peck in midfield.

Further suggestions?
Read my mind mate just commented on another thread
 
I think we'd have been fine with the 6 players we have if fitness wasn't an issue. (3 positions in midfield)

Arblaster
Peck
Davies
Soumare
Hamer
Ohare
I’m seeing it either as a 3-4-2-1 or a 4-2-3-1 to get the best from O’Hare and Hamer and the current personnel.

That means I need two deeper midfielders.

So I’m looking at:
Arblaster/Peck
New Guy/Soumaré

Then further forward:
Hamer/Barry
O’Hare/Brooks

If 4-2-3-1 perhaps Ukaki and a new winger added to the mix and/or Oné giving it a go there.

Either way I’d be happier with one more DM.

Anything from Davies a bonus but I am not counting on him.
 
There's some real gems out there , I was watching Serbian football Sunday and there was a young lad who really stood out ( wish I'd done some digging now on him) but my point is we need a director of football/recruitment , personally I think bettis needs to relinquish that side of the club and concentrate on the commercial side .
I'm probably wrong but we need people out there watching games from foreign leagues to the lads on a Sunday morning who probably never got involved as kids !! And believe me I've seen some lads on the local park with the right coaching and physical training would be good enough.
 
It feels we need to replace the ones we lost last season.

Let’s stop pretending (yes, you Ruben) that Peck is one. He’s a play maker as is Arblaster, who functions best alongside a destroyer.

The thing about Peck is I would never describe him as a playmaker…..he hardly creates any chances
And he never scores or comes close to scoring goals.

I think Peck is an excellent “pass and move” type player.
Shows for the ball well, good first touch and makes loads of easy short passes keeping possession.
If a team likes to keep possession then Peck is a good player to have.

He’s a bit slow but also a good worker, good competitor, wants to win and a reasonably aggressive tackler
But as he’s a little slow then sometimes, against quick tricky players his tackles are a bit late, giving away a foul.

Overall think he’s a good all round footballer, still not quite good enough for upper Championship level, but he’s still young and developing.
 
It feels we need to replace the ones we lost last season.

Let’s stop pretending (yes, you Ruben) that Peck is one. He’s a play maker as is Arblaster, who functions best alongside a destroyer.

We have Soumaré but last year we had Souza and Choudhury.

Any candidates?

Freebies:
Nampalys Mendy - was at Leicester and played last year at Lens. 33 years old.
Jairo Reidewald - was at Palace and played last year at Royal Antwerp and played centre back and left back.
Josh DaSilva - Was at Brentford. Big gamble on fitness though.

Buy
Hamza Choudhury - would be my ideal choices played right back for Leicester already though.
Lewis Travis - Blackburn captain, I may have read he was close to joining Derby. Shithouse.
Will Smallbone - seems he has played there before and could be a player on the move

Loan
Tim Iroegbunam - maybe if Everton get some more Midfielders in.
Albert Sambi-Lokonga - can’t see him being in favour at the Gunners. Still there.

Left field choice
Play Ben Godfrey there. I read from some Norwich fans he did a good job there. If we got Tanganga and Mee and Seol then along with Burrows that could then open up to play him alongside Peck in midfield.

Further suggestions?
Not sure what's going on with Lewis Travis, that deal seems to be dragging on a bit, surely we could make a late move.

Joe Rothwell if he's still available, creates a lot from deep and two recent promotions.

Sam Field at QPR is always steady in the championship, and haven't QPR just signed Isaac Hayden?
 
I've said it a lot on here, but Alex Robertson at Cardiff would fit us like a glove. Not an out-an-out destroyer like Souza, more like a ball-playing midfielder who can also do the defensive side, like Ampadu at Leeds or Cullen at Burnley.

View attachment 220228
I think the Souza approach worked well - no options closer to his mold?
 
I think we'd have been fine with the 6 players we have if fitness wasn't an issue. (3 positions in midfield)

Arblaster
Peck
Davies
Soumare
Hamer
Ohare
Blaster & Peck are mid-midfielders

Hamer & oHare are attacking midfielders

Soumare isn’t Vini but could do a job

Davies isn’t a destroyer, but is made of papier mache anyway, so can’t be relied upon

I’d go all out for Choudhury, the deal will fund itself it our marketing team tap into the Bangladeshi fan base
 
Not sure what's going on with Lewis Travis, that deal seems to be dragging on a bit, surely we could make a late move.

Joe Rothwell if he's still available, creates a lot from deep and two recent promotions.

Sam Field at QPR is always steady in the championship, and haven't QPR just signed Isaac Hayden?
Rothwells at rangers getting rings run round him every week
 
I've said it a lot on here, but Alex Robertson at Cardiff would fit us like a glove. Not an out-an-out destroyer like Souza, more like a ball-playing midfielder who can also do the defensive side, like Ampadu at Leeds or Cullen at Burnley.

View attachment 220228
I think this is very much what we should be looking at. I get the feeling that Selles doesn't want 3 CM each with a specific role to play. he wants 3 who can do an assortment of roles.

Currently we have Hamer as our best player but who only does one element of the role. (ie produces moment of magic and chances)

O'hare works hard, presses and links play but isn't quite substantial enough to really scrap it out.

Peck is similar to o'hare with maybe more substance but less press

Soumare actually looked against Birmingham like he had a bit of it all but more defensive minded.
 
I think the Souza approach worked well - no options closer to his mold?

You'd be looking at someone like Tronstrad at Blackburn or Franco at Swansea. I like Alex Matos at Chelsea, but he's very raw. I think I'd prefer someone a bit more versatile though. Puts a lot of pressure on Hamer as the only creative / goalscoring option in a midfield 3.
 
I think we'd have been fine with the 6 players we have if fitness wasn't an issue. (3 positions in midfield)

Arblaster
Peck
Davies
Soumare
Hamer
Ohare
Nah only Soumare is a DM from those.

Think I started a thread on N. Mendy a couple of years ago Champagneblade Gerrimin asap.
 

Blaster & Peck are mid-midfielders

Hamer & oHare are attacking midfielders

Soumare isn’t Vini but could do a job

Davies isn’t a destroyer, but is made of papier mache anyway, so can’t be relied upon

I’d go all out for Choudhury, the deal will fund itself it our marketing team tap into the Bangladeshi fan base

Nah only Soumare is a DM from those.

Think I started a thread on N. Mendy a couple of years ago Champagneblade Gerrimin asap.
I agree you both regarding the DM position but if Soumare is fit and decent we wouldn't need another DM playing with him.

What we currently have this midfield 3 would surely be good enough defensively and attacking?

Hamer Soumare Arblaster
 
You'd be looking at someone like Tronstrad at Blackburn or Franco at Swansea. I like Alex Matos at Chelsea, but he's very raw. I think I'd prefer someone a bit more versatile though. Puts a lot of pressure on Hamer as the only creative / goalscoring option in a midfield 3.
Not sure I agree, if you've got both Barry and Brooks contributing goals, flair and creativity too then it's OK to have Hamer as the main central attacking force. But what we can all agree is a trio of Hamer, O'Hare and Peck is definitely too powder puff. I do like O'hare but maybe he's better as a sub?
 
Not sure I agree, if you've got both Barry and Brooks both contributing goals, flair and creativity too then it's OK to have Hamer as the main central attacking force.
Neither are good creators (Brooks might be, but not playing as an inverted winger). 4 assists between them last season. Our only chance creators at the moment are Hamer and Burrows - need another.
 
I'm probably wrong but we need people out there watching games from foreign leagues to the lads on a Sunday morning who probably never got involved as kids !! And believe me I've seen some lads on the local park with the right coaching and physical training would be good enough.
There are thousands and thousands of kids out there with the ability. There are precious few with the mentality and willingness to make the necessary sacrifices.
 
There are thousands and thousands of kids out there with the ability. There are precious few with the mentality and willingness to make the necessary sacrifices.
Non-league is great for this: players with outstanding technical ability but lacking in work ethic up against someone who's wrung every ounce out of their talent through hard work. It's often a lot more even than it should be.
 
Non-league is great for this: players with outstanding technical ability but lacking in work ethic up against someone who's wrung every ounce out of their talent through hard work. It's often a lot more even than it should be.
All this. Also natural physical gifts Nick Jansky . Body and lungs etc. And more scientific stuff probably!
 
All this. Also natural physical gifts Nick Jansky . Body and lungs etc. And more scientific stuff probably!
There's a reason only 1 in 10,000 makes it. The crossover point at the centre of the Venn diagram is vanishingly small. Technical, tactical, physical and mental all need to be there.
 
Not sure what's going on with Lewis Travis, that deal seems to be dragging on a bit, surely we could make a late move.

Joe Rothwell if he's still available, creates a lot from deep and two recent promotions.

Sam Field at QPR is always steady in the championship, and haven't QPR just signed Isaac Hayden?
Travis is not the best technically but is a dirty so and do and hard working. He'd be a cheapish player that would allow the ball players in front to do their jobs.

I'd rather him than Ings or Redmond.

A central defensive spoiler is more important than any other position for me.
 
Don't think Leicester will sell Hamza. Selles needs to play Spumare because he's definitely more of a dcm than Peck. I'm guessing that Soumare and possibly Zetterstrom are AI signings. Only time will tell but Selles seems reluctant to use Soumare. Why not give him 20 mins v Millwall at least? We know Selles wanted the Everton lad too which makes me think that Soumare was the boards/AI Souza replacement. That's just my guess.
 
It’s a shame Iroegbunam doesn’t look like it’s going to work out, thought we’d still have a chance even after his start but then he started again in a win. Lokonga is a good shout, only has a year left too so could be someone we can get permanently.
 
It feels we need to replace the ones we lost last season.

Let’s stop pretending (yes, you Ruben) that Peck is one. He’s a play maker as is Arblaster, who functions best alongside a destroyer.

We have Soumaré but last year we had Souza and Choudhury.

Any candidates?

Freebies:
Nampalys Mendy - was at Leicester and played last year at Lens. 33 years old.
Jairo Reidewald - was at Palace and played last year at Royal Antwerp and played centre back and left back.
Josh DaSilva - Was at Brentford. Big gamble on fitness though.

Buy
Hamza Choudhury - would be my ideal choices played right back for Leicester already though.
Lewis Travis - Blackburn captain, I may have read he was close to joining Derby. Shithouse.
Will Smallbone - seems he has played there before and could be a player on the move

Loan
Tim Iroegbunam - maybe if Everton get some more Midfielders in.
Albert Sambi-Lokonga - can’t see him being in favour at the Gunners. Still there.

Left field choice
Play Ben Godfrey there. I read from some Norwich fans he did a good job there. If we got Tanganga and Mee and Seol then along with Burrows that could then open up to play him alongside Peck in midfield.

Further suggestions?
In a similar fashion to your Godfrey suggestion I've been wondering whether Seriki could be a poor mans Choudhury and be a defensive sitter/destroyer?? He's got the size, pace and athleticism to get round the pitch and cover. I'd rather us go out and sign someone specifically for the role, but if we don't then it could be worth a try, in training or the U23 at least to see how he gets on.
 
In a similar fashion to your Godfrey suggestion I've been wondering whether Seriki could be a poor mans Choudhury and be a defensive sitter/destroyer?? He's got the size, pace and athleticism to get round the pitch and cover. I'd rather us go out and sign someone specifically for the role, but if we don't then it could be worth a try, in training or the U23 at least to see how he gets on.
Decent idea but Seriki's instincts are to attack - I'd move him to RW - he takes on & often beats his man
 

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