Norwood & Berge & Midfield

[Bucksblade]

Much better fist half with Norwood as berge is too predictable sideways and backwards in Norwoods position. But Blades need a creatfull midfield leutenant as the team get tired there are large gaps for opposition to exploit. Just becomes a backs to wall fight and no threat apart boot it to McBurnie to head up into air and a Fulham player says thanks very much and starts another attack. Whats happened to Fleck this season. The midfield needs more creativity in Jan window to drive forward and hopefully Brewster and Mouse / Burke will be playing together and have some service.

McBurnie works hard but no result 90% of time and more options are required.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

I thought the game was begging for Ampadu to be introduced when Norwood's legs began to tire.
He might turn out to be the solution in that position.

Today we saw all the best & worst of Norwood. With the ball, exceptional. Without it, too pedestrian.

 

[Blade56]

I thought the game was begging for Ampadu to be introduced when Norwood's legs began to tire.
He might turn out to be the solution in that position.

Today we saw all the best & worst of Norwood. With the ball, exceptional. Without it, too pedestrian.

I thought Ampadu might be an option for Norwood. I seem to recall he’s played MF.

 

[Alex Cheeseright]

I thought the game was begging for Ampadu to be introduced when Norwood's legs began to tire.
He might turn out to be the solution in that position.

Today we saw all the best & worst of Norwood. With the ball, exceptional. Without it, too pedestrian.

100% right. I was screaming for Ampadu's introduction for Norwood. But CW couldn't hear me. Next time I'll open my window.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

I thought Ampadu might be an option for Norwood. I seem to recall he’s played MF.

Plays there quite often for Wales. Also played a lot of his junior level stuff in that role for Chelsea. Their fans, as with Wales', are torn as to whether he is a centre half or a central defender.

In honesty, in the games I've seen him, he looks more comfortable at the back bringing the ball out. In our system, his best position would be RCB.
But he's not getting in in front of Basham unless there's an injury.

The CDM role could be his if he steps up to it.

 

[GatefordBlade]

I thought the game was begging for Ampadu to be introduced when Norwood's legs began to tire.
He might turn out to be the solution in that position.

Today we saw all the best & worst of Norwood. With the ball, exceptional. Without it, too pedestrian.

his passing in the first half was excellent but second half the fulham midfield ran past him with embarrassing ease even if that’s not one of his better attributes I’d expect more. I also hope Ampadu is considered for that position

 

[Caseh]

We looked ordinary as soon as Berge tired, which was always going to happen - hes played 90 mins 3 times in a week

 

[Hollinsend]

Tactical subs also limited by Lowe's injury early on. Brewster was always going to get minutes, which only left one option. Glad CW chose Billy in the end.

 

[adebo]

I thought the game was begging for Ampadu to be introduced when Norwood's legs began to tire.
He might turn out to be the solution in that position.

Today we saw all the best & worst of Norwood. With the ball, exceptional. Without it, too pedestrian.

Exactly this, can you use Ampadu or Osborne with the legs to close out games,? we do need Norwood to get us playing we have no control and rotation without him

 

[Roygbiv]

I thought the game was begging for Ampadu to be introduced when Norwood's legs began to tire.
He might turn out to be the solution in that position.

Today we saw all the best & worst of Norwood. With the ball, exceptional. Without it, too pedestrian.

Agree with this. When we are in control Norwood is pivotal to it with his passing and off the ball positioning. When the game gets stretched he really struggles due to his lack of mobility

 

[FriethBlade]

Problem in midfield is simple and its been the same for ages except for brief spells when Fleck and Berge fill the gap...there is no penetration, athleticism or trickery ...we.... are....very....very...slow and predictable.

This makes it incredibly difficult for the strikers as defenders never have to leave their side to close down a marauding midfielder. A player like Lookman would make the world of difference.

 

[Revolution]

Time and time again in the second half when a move broke down the midfield were too slow to react. It was disconcerting after such a good first half on the front foot.

a tiny consolation is we won’t have the ball in the next 2 games so they won’t get caught high up the pitch.

 

[saw516]

The hope now is that with the signings we made this window January should be focused almost entirely on trying to find a bit of midfield quality. Our forwards are out of form but I think we will have enough up there to survive if they can find their scoring boots again, we need to add a bit of quality behind to support them

 

[CaptainMorgans]

I was criticised a lot last season & during the Summer for allegedly being too critical of Norwood.
In truth, I really rate the lad. He's got bags of ability on the ball and his set pieces (usually) are on point.

However, my overarching point has always been that if we are to take our game to the next level then we will need better in that position.
The next level is becoming an established mid-table Premier League side. Which of those sides that occupy those positions would swap their player for Norwood?

When Norwood plays we're somewhat limited in what we can do as a team. He has to sit deep and try to dictate from there as he doesn't have the legs to get back if we lose the ball.
He also can't give and receive in tight situations, he's not good when being closed down. When he loses it, the opposition are charging at our defenders often with men over as our wing backs have pushed up.

Unless Ampadu is up to it, Norwood does have to start there though. We don't get the best out of Berge in that sitting role & our shape (with the ball) is better with him in the team.
I do think our recruitment should have focussed more on our midfield this summer (I was crying out for us to make a move for Buendia). Maybe it's one to look at in January.

 

[Trafford]

First half Norwood played Deep (quarter back role) and created lots of opportunities. Second half he was a bit further forward and the game passed him by.

Berge did the opposite - played in a more forward role in the first half and Should have created / scored goals if more composed in the area.

The trouble with playing them both is that neither track their man and spaces open up all over the place. We were lucky that it didn’t cost us all 3 points today, after a very promising start.

 

[Varkanoid]

Tactical subs also limited by Lowe's injury early on. Brewster was always going to get minutes, which only left one option. Glad CW chose Billy in the end.

Lowe looked as though he'd been told to fill JoC's role as he was starting to get forward at every opportunity. I do hope this is what they have practised as hopefully he will be fit for Liverpool. If he had not gone off would have been interesting.

 

[Alex Cheeseright]

First half Norwood played Deep (quarter back role) and created lots of opportunities. Second half he was a bit further forward and the game passed him by.

Berge did the opposite - played in a more forward role in the first half and Should have created / scored goals if more composed in the area.

The trouble with playing them both is that neither track their man and spaces open up all over the place. We were lucky that it didn’t cost us all 3 points today, after a very promising start.

Well spotted. That was we did so well last year. CWAK are you reading a lot of these very observant comments?

 

[Hollinsend]

First half Norwood played Deep (quarter back role) and created lots of opportunities. Second half he was a bit further forward and the game passed him by.

Berge did the opposite - played in a more forward role in the first half and Should have created / scored goals if more composed in the area.

The trouble with playing them both is that neither track their man and spaces open up all over the place. We were lucky that it didn’t cost us all 3 points today, after a very promising start.

Berge's energy levels dropped second half - CW commented on the effect of three games for Norway since we last plalyed

 

[Bergen Blade]

Berge's energy levels dropped second half - CW commented on the effect of three games for Norway since we last plalyed

I think Ampadu will be tried in holding midfield at some stage during our upcoming games. Hopefully his defensive qualities will ease some of the work load on the other midfielders. I think both Berge and Lundstram ran out of steam second half today.

 

[The Vicar]

When under pressure we lack a defensive midfielder [henderson, rice, phillips etc] to sit in front of the back 3/5. Ollie is v invisible at this & Berge at 6'4" looks more like 4'6" for some reason.