Midfield pairing

[jono_t2000]

Name your preferred midfield pairing

For me, it must include Hamer

1) Because he's out of place at LW

2) Neither Blaster or Souza are progressive ball carriers, meaning opposition can stand off them knowing that they're always going to look for a pass rather than bring the ball forward themselves.

 

[thehet]

2 in 2 and out of place.

Next.

 

[Houston_Blade]

Name your preferred midfield pairing

For me, it must include Hamer

1) Because he's out of place at LW

2) Neither Blaster or Souza are progressive ball carriers, meaning opposition can stand off them knowing that they're always going to look for a pass rather than bring the ball forward themselves.

While I partly agree, Hamer has scored 2 in 2.

I assumed we’d have lost Souza by now so would have gone with Hamer and Arblaster as first choice. At the moment I wouldn’t want to drop any of them, Arblaster has a goal, Hamer 2 and Souza has been a massive improvement on last season.

 

[thehet]

Blaster MoM v Preston and Souza a close 2nd

Your observation doesnt stack up.

 

[Thrice]

Too many options in midfield is a good problem to have, I guess. Ideally, you want all 4 of Hamer, O'Hare, Arblaster and Souza on the pitch. But that means one of them has to play the left side.

 

[3Cheers4Ramirez]

Souza is not capable of forming a decent partnership

 

[jono_t2000]

Blaster MoM v Preston and Souza a close 2nd

Your observation doesnt stack up.

Against a poor Preston who got spanked by more than we put past them today.

We saw how a slightly stronger midfield 3 in QPR side dominated midfield, so much so that we looked like the away team trying to hit on the counter.

 

[Fjortoft's Aeroplane]

Whilst I'm encouraged to see us with some talented youngsters that can play midfield, I'm a bit worried that Hamer & Souza are the only experienced hands (counting O'Hare as a striker of sorts for now).

We could probably do with recruiting an experienced pro, someone aged around 27-29 who's proven at this level. A bit like the Norwood of 2019.

 

[Melbourne Blade]

Shackleton an option along with Peck if performances don't improve on next 2 games.

 

[Tony_Kaufman]

The midfield three up top needs someone to drop back as Arblaster and Souza are playing really deep. There's a huge gap between the two parts of the midfield and it either needs Arblaster to carry the ball and play box to box to link up with Hamer/O'Hare/Brooks, or for O"Hare to drop back to collect it from Arblaster/Souza like Didsy used to. It's not a huge change and doesn't need a change of players or a new signing.

O'Hare drops back and Moore drops to fill in for him. As soon as O'Hare has the ball, who will keep it and carry it, Moore can push up top again.

 

[jono_t2000]

The midfield three up top needs someone to drop back as Arblaster and Souza are playing really deep. There's a huge gap between the two parts of the midfield and it either needs Arblaster to carry the ball and play box to box to link up with Hamer/O'Hare/Brooks, or for O"Hare to drop back to collect it from Arblaster/Souza like Didsy used to. It's not a huge change and doesn't need a change of players or a new signing.

O'Hare drops back and Moore drops to fill in for him. As soon as O'Hare has the ball, who will keep it and carry it, Moore can push up top again.

I think you're pretty spot on here mate.

 

[Bladezz]

Name your preferred midfield pairing

For me, it must include Hamer

1) Because he's out of place at LW

2) Neither Blaster or Souza are progressive ball carriers, meaning opposition can stand off them knowing that they're always going to look for a pass rather than bring the ball forward themselves.

Hamer 2 goals and 1 assist in 2 games.

Blaster had a quiet game he’s a young lad learning this will happen.

 

[AWetFlannel]

Name your preferred midfield pairing

For me, it must include Hamer

1) Because he's out of place at LW

2) Neither Blaster or Souza are progressive ball carriers, meaning opposition can stand off them knowing that they're always going to look for a pass rather than bring the ball forward themselves.

I think Arblaster is a progressive ball carrier, not that you really need one in a double pivot.

 

[Rodley]

Midfield wil be fine, just need an experienced centre mid who can help see out a game. Think we’ve got greater questions to answer at centre half and up front.

 

[Nick Jansky]

Name your preferred midfield pairing

For me, it must include Hamer

1) Because he's out of place at LW

2) Neither Blaster or Souza are progressive ball carriers, meaning opposition can stand off them knowing that they're always going to look for a pass rather than bring the ball forward themselves.

Arblaster is a progressive ball carrier.

 

[Brian Deane]

There was huge holes across the midfield in the 2nd half. It made it easy for QPR and very difficult for ourselves to have an option once we got possession back other than to go long.

 

[jono_t2000]

Arblaster is a progressive ball carrier.

Agree to disagree

 

[Blademan89]

Against a poor Preston who got spanked by more than we put past them today.

We saw how a slightly stronger midfield 3 in QPR side dominated midfield, so much so that we looked like the away team trying to hit on the counter.

You must have only tuned in for the 2nd half then on that observation.

1st half we cut them open at will and played through them, with some lovely touches and passes, fast flowing attacks. We was only in 2nd gear.

2nd half they came out and stepped it up and took more risks whilst we didn't and our players didn't react, 2nd half was unacceptable.. but they didn't dominate us.

 

[jono_t2000]

You must have only tuned in for the 2nd half then on that observation.

1st half we cut them open at will and played through them, with some lovely touches and passes, fast flowing attacks. We was only in 2nd gear.

2nd half they came out and stepped it up and took more risks whilst we didn't and our players didn't react, 2nd half was unacceptable.. but they didn't dominate us.

I watched the whole game and even said at half time the score flattered to deceive.

Apart from the goal we didn’t have another shot on target that half.

Even Wilder said after 20-25 mins we lost control.

We honestly looked like the away team trying to counter.

It was pretty obvious that despite being ahead we were losing the midfield battle.

 

[BigBed]

I think Ohare needed to be replaced sooner, as second half, he hardly touched the ball, and just sempt to be chasing shadows, that said, he played great 1st half...
I think Wilder needs to use his subs better, he seems to have turned into Hecky, instead of making a couple of subs to seal the game, he waits to long, then makes subs to chase it....
Have to be better, but, still early days yet, I don't think we need to be spitting dummies just yet.

 

[Ndiayewillalwaysloveyou]

Surely Wilder still wants a CM because we had Dozzell for most of pre season?

 

[CaptainMorgans]

Surely Wilder still wants a CM because we had Dozzell for most of pre season?

I think Sydie Peck convinced him enough.
Agree we need another one in there though.

 

[Ndiayewillalwaysloveyou]

I think Sydie Peck convinced him enough.
Agree we need another one in there though.

Wouldn't have been as bothered lf Davies and Shackleton didn't have injury concerns Capt.

 

[Railway Blade]

There was huge holes across the midfield in the 2nd half. It made it easy for QPR and very difficult for ourselves to have an option once we got possession back other than to go long.

I think partly the reason for that is that QPR gambled and basically left the two centre backs covering Moore and pushed everyone else further up the pitch therefore outnumbering us in midfield. The worrying thing is we did nothing to counteract this until it was too late.

 

[NotFallowfieldBlade]

I hope Wilder doesn't get stuck to a 4231 plenty of other ways to play

For me, the best midfield is Hamer/Souza/Arblater in a 433

He probably should have done that when QPR had all the ball on Saturday when it was obvious a 2 was getting overrun

 

[MTBlade]

I watched the whole game and even said at half time the score flattered to deceive.

Apart from the goal we didn’t have another shot on target that half.

Even Wilder said after 20-25 mins we lost control.

We honestly looked like the away team trying to counter.

It was pretty obvious that despite being ahead we were losing the midfield battle.

Very similar to how I saw it.

I thought i was on my own, looking at most reviews of the game.

At least im not on my own, as i thought i was goind mad.

At least theres two of us.

 

[Bergen Blade]

I hope Wilder doesn't get stuck to a 4231 plenty of other ways to play

For me, the best midfield is Hamer/Souza/Arblater in a 433

He probably should have done that when QPR had all the ball on Saturday when it was obvious a 2 was getting overrun

Wilder did change to 4-3-3/4-5-1 after about 70 minutes.



I really don't like Souza as an 8, but the tweak had some effect on the game's momentum. But then the equaliser happened...

 

[FTPE]

Gus has to play high because he's better in the final 3rd, and poor at defending.
O'hare has to play high because he's an excellent presser, never tires and is currently our most creative player.
We look like a Southgate team having to have 2 holding midfielders. If Souza could do it on his own (which he absolutely cant) it'd free us up to play our midfielders more to their strengths.