Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: onje_villa on October 07, 2012, 05:09:07 PM
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Suggestions to improve our porous midfield?
451?
Revert to using wingers?
Find a midfield general from a hidden cupboard at Bodymoor Heath?
Stop kidding ourselves El Ahmadi is the new Lothat Mattheus?
Get Lambert on the pitch?
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Get Morty and Sid to impregnate every woman in Birmingham of child bearing age, then pray that for the next 20 odd years we carry on just flirting with relegation without dropping through the door.
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Suggestions to improve our porous midfield?
Sign some decent players.
We all knew the midfield was simply not good enough, as we approached the end of the transfer window we signed Ashley Westwood - Enough said.
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I thought el ahmadi has done well in recent games and didn't think our midfield was porous until the subs
But I do agree that el ahmadi isn't really a defensive midfielder and I'd be trying to get one in; moreso if he goes to the African nations
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When N'Zonzi was available at the end of the season we should have got him. We lack height and physical prescence in the middle of the pitch, he would have done a job for us in certain games and wouldn't have cost us a fortune.
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I thought the midfield looked good against Newcastle and Swansea but he has changed it since, bringing in a not-yet-fully fit Albrighton and now bringing back Delph who is too similar to El Ahmadi but not as good as him (I appreciated we lost Ireland to injury). We therefore rely a lot on Holman's energy but when his performance is a little flat like it was today, you see that without it he is not the most technically gifted footballer and we start to look unbalanced. I think Lambert needs to go back to basics, Bannan played well last week when he came on and is versatile - he should play ahead of Delph for me at the moment.
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Get Morty and Sid to impregnate every woman in Birmingham of child bearing age, then pray that for the next 20 odd years we carry on just flirting with relegation without dropping through the door.
I'll nominate my missus and make Sir Dennis or Sid a cuppa after.
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El Ahmadi is ok-ish, you could imagine him playing for Wigan.
Holman is a hard worker, a Bremner/Carrodus clone, but needs some talent around him.
Ireland is supposed to be talented, but we've seen precious little of it.
Delph just isn't good enough for the Premiership.
N'Zogbia is erratic.
Albrighton - Oh dear.
Bannan - Ish don't think so.
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There seems little width at all in the side (not having seen today's proceedings). I was hoping that buying attacking fullbacks this would be our outlet, but they are not getting forward enough for me
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Which is why Bent ain`t playing - they are not creating chances from the flanks - Lambert does not favour this type of play so we have to get used to it :(
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I despair when I think of our central midfield options. Too many squad fillers, no stand out quality. Delph, Bannan, Herd even Ireland to an extent aren't really first eleven quality midfielders at this level.
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I'm not even sure the midfield looks that bad on paper.
El Ahmadi certainly has good technique.
Bannan's technique alone could probably see him play for one of the top clubs.
Holman on a good day has a phenomenal engine and decent quality.
I don't think Delph is good enough but to be fair to the bloke he's been far better the last couple of games.
The problem is the shape at times, like so many have said, teams can just seem to run through us at times and going forward sometimes they get in each other's way. Could be just getting used to each other, though we do lack real presence as others have said.
What about this for a midfield?
Bannan El Ahmadi Herd Holman
Could that work?
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We are looking at the guy from Wolves apparently.
Did'nt think KEA and Delph were too bad today tbh.For me we missed Ireland, are carrying Albrighton, and Gabby is an enigma, doesn't look like scoring to me.
Hes filled the squad with good squad players, the next couple of signings need to be 6/7 million quality players.If that means selling Bent then so be it.
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From the bits I saw on my feed, El Ahmadi does not seem strong enough physically. Several times he seemed to be eased off the ball by a Spurs player. Needs to get some bulk training done.
Also we don't seem to have anyone taking command in midfield, directing operations, telling players what to do etc. An opponent passes the ball then makes a run for the return and we just let him go and look at the others to see if they are going to pick him up. Nobody seems to be shouting at each other as to who to pick up etc. We are not getting near enough to them in midfield at all, letting them have far too much space.
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El Ahmadi is ok-ish, you could imagine him playing for Wigan.
Holman is a hard worker, a Bremner/Carrodus clone, but needs some talent around him.
Ireland is supposed to be talented, but we've seen precious little of it.
Delph just isn't good enough for the Premiership.
N'Zogbia is erratic.
Albrighton - Oh dear.
Bannan - Ish don't think so.
I agree with all that. From that list it does show a lack of back-bone, too many light-weights, if some of them do have the skill /potential, they get pushed of the ball too much.
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Stan would have fitted well into that group.
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He isn't to everyone's taste but we miss Ireland. He at least has some invention about him and I think it shows when he dosen't played we've struggled big time in midfield generally.
Might see Westwood again before too long but again another player who needs time learning at this level.
I can't think of another premier league club where the quality and strength in depth in one area of the pitch has decreased in such a short period of time.
In the 09/10 season our first choice midfield was Young...Milner....Petrov...Downing with decent back up in Sidwell, NRC and Gardner.
Now we have very little quality in there, too many youngsters who still have question marks over them and likes of Ireland and N'zogbia who have struggled to justify the money spent on them.
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I think the person that said we have a lot of squad players in midfield but no real first teamers is about right. This presents two problems, firstly there is an overall lack of quality and secondly players like Bannan, Herd, Gardner, Delph, Westwood and even Holman and Ireland will not get enough game time to fulfil their potential, due to the number of players that are fighting for a couple of spots.
Maybe in January we need to lose a couple of the squad players either on loan or selling them (risking that they make it somewhere else) and buy a more established player?
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Yep, would loan out Delph and Bannan and probably sell both at the end of the season as don't think either will make it here if we want to improve significantly.
Holman and Ireland are good enough for the level we're at and I still think KEA will be a good signing in the long term but needs better quality alongside him.
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Ireland's detractors may now realise in our current squad we have no-one with his quality at keeping the ball and linking the play, we've missed him a lot and he can't come back soon enough for me.Ultimately we are now reaping the "benefits" of our decreased wage bill , what we'd give for a James Milner now !
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When N'Zonzi was available at the end of the season we should have got him. We lack height and physical prescence in the middle of the pitch, he would have done a job for us in certain games and wouldn't have cost us a fortune.
This - he is playing really well at stoke according to my mates
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I remember Paul Merson's debut for us, at the time we had a solid enough midfield anyway, but some of the incicive passes he played that day made you think 'ah, thats what we've been lacking!'.
Its all well and good having 'technically proficient' players like Banann and KEA, but this level demands exceptional players, 'good' players are just run of the mill. Unless you are Everton I suppose.
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Ireland is supposed to be talented, but we've seen precious little of it.
To be fair to Ireland , we had looked so much better with him in the team.
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KEA is tidy. Good with the ball. He needs a decent player alongside him to do the dirty work and allow him to try and impose himself on the game more. For me though, we don't have a decent enough central combo to play two central midfielders. Too weak, too lightweight, too average. KEA+decent signing in Jan could work. Delph and Bannan and Herd aren't good enough.
Holman I really like. He's not a game winner. He's certainly a regular starter and worthy of it in my mind. We just need more reliable flair players than Ireland and CNZ to compliment someone like Brett.
If we sort the midfield I think we'll be okay. If we don't, then I'd worry a lot about surviving. It may come down to 3 teams being crapper than us like last season to survive.
Oh and we miss Stan. We miss an experienced head and Stan was very good playing the deep role. Not a tough tackler but reads the game well.
Shoot me down but NRC is still around and I actually think on a free till the end of the season, he'd be ideal. He'd work hard and graft in the middle, allowing the likes of KEA more freedom. He's better than Delph and Bannan. He's more equipped for the top flight and performs consistently. He might not be Pirlo, but as long as he keeps it simple he's okay. I think in terms of experience and influence, he'd also be useful right now.
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Surely the answer at the moment is Herd? Combative, energetic and does not take shit, surely he should be in with KEA, protecting the back 4. Delph is a lovely footballer, but if I was going over the wall, I would prefer Herd was alongside me than any of our other options.
We registered 25 players, so NRC could not play till Jan anyhow, and I think come Jan someone better than him will arrive in there. They will have had 6 months to find a midfield general by then, and be swelled with Bent transfer cash from Liverpool no doubt!
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Surely the answer at the moment is Herd? Combative, energetic and does not take shit, surely he should be in with KEA, protecting the back 4. Delph is a lovely footballer, but if I was going over the wall, I would prefer Herd was alongside me than any of our other options.
We registered 25 players, so NRC could not play till Jan anyhow, and I think come Jan someone better than him will arrive in there. They will have had 6 months to find a midfield general by then, and be swelled with Bent transfer cash from Liverpool no doubt!
Agree with all that Ozzjim, including the likelihood that Bent will be off unfortunately. The silver lining will be who we can buy to fill other gaps.
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We really do miss Petrov.
KEA is decent, I'm just not sure who the best players are along side him.
Delph goes missing far too much. Bannan thinks that every pass should be an assist.
Maybe Herd should be given a chance to do the dirty work behind two more 'technical' players like Ireland and KEA?
Herd
Ireland KEA
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I agree Herd should be given a try.
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I think we need to play 3 in centre midfield with N'Z and Holman wide. KEA, Herd and Delph would provide the legs, but wouldn't be that useful going forward. Maybe KEA, Bannan and Holman? I don't fucking know... I'll leave this up to the manager.
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Go back four years and we were saying the same things only then we were trying to get into Europe. Midfield has been our great weakness all along, a top midfield takes the pressure of the defence and gets supply to the forwards something we havn't seen for many a year,i would like to hear peoples opinions of when was the last time we had a good midfield and who were the players. We still don't know if the newcomers are going to make it, far too early, we are playing a better style which all supporters were crying out for,as for Bent he just isn't what Lambert likes in a big man, he likes the guy at Norwich.
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I thought Bannan done well against Newcastle and Swansea,he was keeping things a lot more simpler than he's done before. Without Ireland in the side,we need more players with good ball retention skills,so I'd stick him in at the minute.
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Maybe we need to find a formation, and stick with it. I don't think this diamondy thingy works. We need some width. Maybe we should go with 4-4-2? with the second striker playing slightly deeper making the midfield a 5 when we don't have the ball?
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Our problem at Southampton and Spurs was the narrow midfield left the FBs exposed with no cover infront of them. When you consider both FBs are young guys trying to step up to the PL level, then this makes us very vulnerable and could also do them longterm damage confidence wise. This has lost us two games now and we need to find a way of fixing it.
I agree with Herd playing as the 'rat catcher' type - doing all the dirty work! However, as another option we could play Clark next to KEA to try and give a more solid base, at the sacrifice of one of the strikers, once Dunne is fit. That gives us more experience at the back and a more solid looking centre. Two of the other three midfielders getting further forward would then find themselves a little wider, which should naturally offer some protection infront of the FBs, especially if one of them is a hard worker like Holman.
Something like this:-
- Guzan -
Lowton - Vlaar - Dunne - Bennett
- KEA - Clark -
Holman - Ireland - Gabby
- Bent -
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Holman covers a lot of ground but playing 2 positions simultaenously might be beyond even him.
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Holman covers a lot of ground but playing 2 positions simultaenously might be beyond even him.
I don't know - he does twice the running of some of our players!
But I've changed it just so as to not put too much pressure on him.
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Delph looks like he's got a red card in him every game, KEA needs to get forward in my opinion, we need to maybe get Herd back in and maybe use wingers, our midfield is workman like but not a lot creatively
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Holman - RW
Herd - CM
KEA - CM
Bannan (or Ireland, when fit) - CM
N'Zogbia - LW
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Your right Concrete John when the second goal was scored you could have driven a bus down their right hand side
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I actually thought N'Zogbia looked interested when he came on
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I'm concerned by the lack of creativity, surely with Ireland out either or both N'Zogbia or Bannan should have played. Too many industrious players and too little spark (bit like last season).
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When N'Zonzi was available at the end of the season we should have got him. We lack height and physical prescence in the middle of the pitch, he would have done a job for us in certain games and wouldn't have cost us a fortune.
Would've gone for Diame personally.
O.k he would've wanted a decent wage but he's young and from what I've seen he's been a monster for West Ham this season.
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I just don't get Albie's promotion to first-team football in the last two games, as a sort of extra tucked-in MF.
With what we've currently got, I'd put KEA, Herd and Delph in a tight midfield three; I'd have Holman and Weimann ahead of them to support a front runner - either Gabby or Bent (with the one not used coming on for 30 minutes or so).
Doing this would tighten the central MF area. It would probably leave us less creative but would make us a much more solid outfit. It would rely on the FB getting more forward than they are currently doing.
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I'd have Herd in ahead of Delph. Delph just isn't suited to a defensive role.
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Our problem at Southampton and Spurs was the narrow midfield left the FBs exposed with no cover infront of them. When you consider both FBs are young guys trying to step up to the PL level, then this makes us very vulnerable and could also do them longterm damage confidence wise. This has lost us two games now and we need to find a way of fixing it.
I agree with Herd playing as the 'rat catcher' type - doing all the dirty work! However, as another option we could play Clark next to KEA to try and give a more solid base, at the sacrifice of one of the strikers, once Dunne is fit. That gives us more experience at the back and a more solid looking centre. Two of the other three midfielders getting further forward would then find themselves a little wider, which should naturally offer some protection infront of the FBs, especially if one of them is a hard worker like Holman.
Something like this:-
- Guzan -
Lowton - Vlaar - Dunne - Bennett
- KEA - Clark -
Holman - Ireland - Gabby
- Bent -
That does look a lot more solid than the formation we are currently playing. It would be similar to the formation Albion played against us the other week, but I do have my doubts about Bent as a lone striker. As Long showed in that game, a striker really has to work hard when he's up on his own and I just can't see Bent putting that kind of shift in.
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Our problem at Southampton and Spurs was the narrow midfield left the FBs exposed with no cover infront of them. When you consider both FBs are young guys trying to step up to the PL level, then this makes us very vulnerable and could also do them longterm damage confidence wise. This has lost us two games now and we need to find a way of fixing it.
I agree with Herd playing as the 'rat catcher' type - doing all the dirty work! However, as another option we could play Clark next to KEA to try and give a more solid base, at the sacrifice of one of the strikers, once Dunne is fit. That gives us more experience at the back and a more solid looking centre. Two of the other three midfielders getting further forward would then find themselves a little wider, which should naturally offer some protection infront of the FBs, especially if one of them is a hard worker like Holman.
Something like this:-
- Guzan -
Lowton - Vlaar - Dunne - Bennett
- KEA - Clark -
Holman - Ireland - Gabby
- Bent -
That does look a lot more solid than the formation we are currently playing. It would be similar to the formation Albion played against us the other week, but I do have my doubts about Bent as a lone striker. As Long showed in that game, a striker really has to work hard when he's up on his own and I just can't see Bent putting that kind of shift in.
I think that PL sees Clark as a CB; otherwise, I think we'd have seen him trying him out during the close season or in these frist few games.
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We know what Herd and Delph can and can't do, maybe see what Westwood can do alongside KEA.
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Good idea. Westwood compares himself to Carrick, which probably means he'll be ok at 5 yard passes and passing sideways.
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Good idea. Westwood compares himself to Carrick, which probably means he'll be ok at 5 yard passes and passing sideways.
Think Carricks a lot better than that (now). He was excellent last season. Granted it's taken him till his 30's to finally hit his potential.
I'd try Westwood though. See what he can do.
I do think 3 man mid is the way to go. Unless you have two quality midfielders in the centre, you cannot play a two man centre mid in this league. I don't think sacrificing a striker will harm us because whenever we play two up, one of the front men has to come very deep or go wide to get into the game and is pretty much never in the box. Gabby plays well enough wide to take up a winger role IMO.
I'd bring back Herd and have him anchor things. He's the only one who can do it and we need it. Lambert doesn't seem to rate him though.
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I'd like to see westwood have a go as well. We need someone with a bit more discipline in there who just does the dirty stuff.
I'd go
KEA - Westwood - Bannan
Holman - Weimann/Gabby
Bent/Benteke
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I'd like to see westwood have a go as well. We need someone with a bit more discipline in there who just does the dirty stuff.
I'd go
KEA - Westwood - Bannan
Holman - Weimann/Gabby
Bent/Benteke
I agree Westwood should be given some match-time but your phrase "just does the dirty stuff" describes Herd to a tee ... I'm amazed he has not been given more starts alongside KEA.
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We lack a dominant midfielder, we dont have any one right now as good as NRC or Petrov who were not world beaters but could do a job. Now we are powder puff light and this is a big problem.
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I've heard Lambert was distinctly unimpressed with Herd's performance at Gatecrasher.
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KEA stretchered off for Morrocco. Step forward Westwood ?
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I've heard Lambert was distinctly unimpressed with Herd's performance at Gatecrasher.
That seems unfair, if true. It was last season before Lambert was here, he was punished, he also apologised, time to move on.
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I suspect lambert was distinctly unimpressed with herd's ability to pass the ball under any kind of pressure since lambert arrived
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Herd is a decent player, but he has always struck me as the kind of lad that won't improve a whole lot whereas I think Bannan, Gardner, Albrighton at least have the potential to become better players.
Delph has never impressed me. I just can't see it happening for him.
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We lack a dominant midfielder, we dont have any one right now as good as NRC or Petrov who were not world beaters but could do a job. Now we are powder puff light and this is a big problem
you are correct anybody watching us you can see this all day long
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Namechecking Reo Coker is a bit daft, the best he can manage is a short term contract at shitty Ipswich.
He's shot it in the top flight.
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Namechecking Reo Coker is a bit daft, the best he can manage is a short term contract at shitty Ipswich.
He's shot it in the top flight.
Means he's a free agent again in the January transfer window. Smart lad our Nige as he knows that's when Milan, Barcelona, Juventus etc will realise they need his talents.
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NRC in a white linen suit in the nightclubs of East Anglia.
People of Norfolk beware.
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NRC in a white linen suit in the nightclubs of East Anglia.
People of Norfolk beware.
The good people of East Anglia might quite like someone in a white suit - Linky (http://www.lynnnews.co.uk/news/latest-news/linnets-embroiled-in-race-row-after-match-1-4359493)
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Interesting how much better we played today with proper technicians in the team. I'd include KEA in that too, he's got good technique and you can't help but think with the like of him, Bannan, Westwood and Ireland in the team our midfield shouldn't be as bad as we saw against Norwich.
I still think we need a Cattermole type player in the side, perhaps we can sign one in January.
Really impressed with Westwood today, looks calm and pretty decent on the ball, definitely look forward to him becoming a fixture in the side.
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Westwood is exactly what we need in there. Also if you noticed he was directing the players around him as well, so very much the leader type figure we need.
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Westwood is exactly what we need in there. Also if you noticed he was directing the players around him as well, so very much the leader type figure we need.
Yes he was superb, bannan and Ireland were good too, I might be tempted to add kea to the midfield next week against Man U and leave out Weimann .
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Westwood is exactly what we need in there. Also if you noticed he was directing the players around him as well, so very much the leader type figure we need.
That's the dirty stuff I meant before, he was niggling them all the time, and when he couldn't get there himself he was calling others to do it. I think he could end up being an important player for us, organisation and confidence has been our downfall in midfield and hde came in and provided both. Someone said him and Bannan were like our xavi and iniesta and, whilst not in that class, it's exactly right, they played brilliantly as a pair.
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Westwood is exactly what we need in there. Also if you noticed he was directing the players around him as well, so very much the leader type figure we need.
Yes he was superb, bannan and Ireland were good too, I might be tempted to add kea to the midfield next week against Man U and leave out Weimann .
I wouldn't.
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Westwood is exactly what we need in there. Also if you noticed he was directing the players around him as well, so very much the leader type figure we need.
Yes he was superb, bannan and Ireland were good too, I might be tempted to add kea to the midfield next week against Man U and leave out Weimann .
I wouldn't.
Was thinking about this, and (as much as I'm a fan) I think I'd choose Ireland to make way, push Bannan up and slot KEA next to Westwood.
Was also going to say, I was worried about the combativeness of a midfield two of Bannan and Westy, especially against a team with a thug like Cattermole in their midfield, but they did fantastically and very well surpassed my expectations.
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Westwood is exactly what we need in there. Also if you noticed he was directing the players around him as well, so very much the leader type figure we need.
He reminded me very much of Scott Parker today. Very tidy and focused.
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Think KEA will come back in and him playing alongside Westwood in front of the back four will give them outlet options so they do not need to hoof it upfield straight to an opponent so it comes straight back again. Benteke must start up front, so it is then who does he play as the three behind him out of Ireland, Bannan, Gabby and Weimann.
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Any news on whether Delph was dropped or injured? Will Lambert revert to putting him back in? I hope not.
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I've been a big critic of Bannan but today he became a man.
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Any news on whether Delph was dropped or injured? Will Lambert revert to putting him back in? I hope not.
Was on the bench.
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I think KEA flatters to decieve, I am bemused that some think that he should get his place back, someone please remind me what he actually does.
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I think KEA flatters to decieve, I am bemused that some think that he should get his place back, someone please remind me what he actually does.
I just think we need to bolster the midfield a bit against utd, kea and Westwood holding with bannan , Ireland gabby in front of them and of course benteke.
Utd have more quality and our defence needs plenty of protection - I wouldn't by any means say kea should start every game but I do see him being useful against utd.
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I think KEA flatters to decieve, I am bemused that some think that he should get his place back, someone please remind me what he actually does.
I think to be fair, KEA does a lot of the same things Westwood and Bannan do. He is good on the ball and a good passer and I think he's been struggling to play alongside Delph.
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I'd bring back KEA for next week as it would be very naive to just assume Westwood can hold on his own next week.
Would keep Weimann in as he'd help out the full back. I think Holman is a must in these games purely for his energy imo.
Bannan to me seems to play better in away games than at VP.
.................KEA.............Westwood
Holman............Gabby......Weimann,
Benteke
Perhaps?
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I wouldn't be too convinced about playing Gabby in the middle, I think he either needs to be upfront or out wide.
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Kea. Westwood
Gabby. Ireland. Bannan
Benteke
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I've always said Barry Bannan has that extra bit of class rarely seen in footballers.
If he can get his life in order he could be world class.
Maybe Lee Hendrie should have a word with him.
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I've always said Barry Bannan has that extra bit of class rarely seen in footballers.
If he can get his life in order he could be world class.
Maybe Lee Hendrie should have a word with him.
World class is too strong , premiership class certainly.
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Kea. Westwood
Gabby. Ireland. Bannan
Benteke
This is what I'd go with for the United game, but for games such as the one today I'd play KEA behind Ireland and Bannan in a midfield 3.
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Kea. Westwood
Gabby. Ireland. Bannan
Benteke
This is what I'd go with for the United game, but for games such as the one today I'd play KEA behind Ireland and Bannan in a midfield 3.
On today's display I think Westwood deserves a run in the side , he was that good and I'd keep him in the team if a choice of him or kea - certainly if he performs like he did today.
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I've always said Barry Bannan has that extra bit of class rarely seen in footballers.
If he can get his life in order he could be world class.
Maybe Lee Hendrie should have a word with him.
World class is too strong , premiership class certainly.
Maybe, but he certainly has the ability to bring something completely different to the table.
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Kea. Westwood
Gabby. Ireland. Bannan
Benteke
This is what I'd go with for the United game, but for games such as the one today I'd play KEA behind Ireland and Bannan in a midfield 3.
On today's display I think Westwood deserves a run in the side , he was that good and I'd keep him in the team if a choice of him or kea - certainly if he performs like he did today.
Well this was the tough decision. In the system I described, you've really got to pick one, and I'm going on the fact that El Ahmadi's had quite a few strong games for us, as opposed to just the one superb one Westwood put in today. Not to say I don't believe Ash is more than capable of fighting for and eventually winning that spot.
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Kea. Westwood
Gabby. Ireland. Bannan
Benteke
Against ManU? Agree about the 2 DM's. I would put Holman on though to run run run to keep the pressure off us.
Westwood Kea
Holman Bannan Gabby
Benteke
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Kea. Westwood
Gabby. Ireland. Bannan
Benteke
This is what I'd go with for the United game, but for games such as the one today I'd play KEA behind Ireland and Bannan in a midfield 3.
On today's display I think Westwood deserves a run in the side , he was that good and I'd keep him in the team if a choice of him or kea - certainly if he performs like he did today.
Well this was the tough decision. In the system I described, you've really got to pick one, and I'm going on the fact that El Ahmadi's had quite a few strong games for us, as opposed to just the one superb one Westwood put in today. Not to say I don't believe Ash is more than capable of fighting for and eventually winning that spot.
really when was that?
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From what I saw on the extended highlights on Sky, we looked a lot more comfortable in that formation than we have in previous weeks. The only changes I would consider for next week to the team that started against Sunderland would be a replacement for Bennett if he is injured (looked like he started the game with some protection on his knee and the problem was with that - might have reopened the cut that he had on there) and maybe bring KEA in for Westwood or Bannan. Apart from that, I wouldn't change too much else.
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Unless anyone is injured i'd start with the same side as today for the next game. Let players know that if you get the shirt and play well you keep it.
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I'd bring back KEA for next week as it would be very naive to just assume Westwood can hold on his own next week.
Would keep Weimann in as he'd help out the full back. I think Holman is a must in these games purely for his energy imo.
Bannan to me seems to play better in away games than at VP.
.................KEA.............Westwood
Holman............Gabby......Weimann,
Benteke
Perhaps?
You'd drop Bannan after today's performance?
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I'd stick same as but perhaps sacrifice Ireland for KEA.
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Unless anyone is injured i'd start with the same side as today for the next game. Let players know that if you get the shirt and play well you keep it.
Agreed: Bring KEA and Holman on at some point during the game, but yesterday's front 6 are getting plaudits and should be given the chance to build on it.
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Unless anyone is injured i'd start with the same side as today for the next game. Let players know that if you get the shirt and play well you keep it.
Agreed: Bring KEA and Holman on at some point during the game, but yesterday's front 6 are getting plaudits and should be given the chance to build on it.
Agree totally. Midfield looked the best we've had all season yesterday. Width with balls being passed forward!
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Yes very good performance yesterday but that was against Sunderland who have quite a few mediocre players. The next game is against Man U who have exactly the opposite.
Anybody think we should man mark Van Persie?. Holman or Chris Herd could do this job. Rooney is far too strong physically to be man marked. Benteke should give Rio and Johny Evans a rough time. Evans does not have the weight or height to deal with Beneteke and Rio (in his later years) cannot turn quickly so Weimann and Agbonlahor could turn this to our advantage.
I hope Nathan Bakers fit for this one as I just dont have the confidence in Clark that I do with young Baker.
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You'd man mark their centre fwd with one of our midfielders? Can't say I would!
Let's not go overboard about yday. Good away performance in a drab game. But if Sunderland ha nicked it we'd be talking about our lack of punch. Next 3 games will be altogether different. I still suspect kea and Holman will have key roles to play. It's possible both will start v man u.
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We gave Sunderland 54% of possession yesterday. If we give ManU the same space in midfield we will be in trouble.
If the whole thing looked a lot better, and it did, maybe that was down to formation more than players, although Westwood did look very good.
Maybe KEA would look the good player that he was in the early games playing in that formation. Most of the criticism I have seen is that he passes sideways a lot. Maybe that's because the only other option has been a fighting hoof up to Benteke or whoever. In the absence of Stan he is still our best midfielder.
KEA Westwood
Weimann ???? Agbonlahor
The central spot between the two wider players is a tough one.
Bannan and Ireland looked good only in parts yesterday. Each could be a luxury too far against a better team. Logically Delph would be a better player pushed forward, but that was the Delph we bought not the one we have today. Holman has plenty of industry but little else, you need more in a position like that. It would be fanciful to try Carruthers or Johnson there.
Time for Lambert to earn his corn. ManU are beatable if we get it right.
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Yes very good performance yesterday but that was against Sunderland who have quite a few mediocre players. The next game is against Man U who have exactly the opposite.
Anybody think we should man mark Van Persie?. Holman or Chris Herd could do this job. Rooney is far too strong physically to be man marked. Benteke should give Rio and Johny Evans a rough time. Evans does not have the weight or height to deal with Beneteke and Rio (in his later years) cannot turn quickly so Weimann and Agbonlahor could turn this to our advantage.
I hope Nathan Bakers fit for this one as I just dont have the confidence in Clark that I do with young Baker.
To be fair I'd normally agree with you but thought Clark was excellent yesterday, maybe the competition for his place is doing him some good.
Think Man U will be very very tough. Two young full backs up against Young and Valencia with Rooney and Van Persie too. I think the league's theirs this season I really do. Van Persie is just going to give them so many more goals.