First 11

[Mazrim]

Herd is a good young player but I'm 50/50 on him to make it here at the moment, I dont think Hogg will make it. Clark played well in midfield I thought considering his inexperience there.
He's obviously good defensively, tidy on the ball and has an eye for a goal so I wouldn't rule it out now and then.

I'd sooner get a dedicated player for the role though. A Fofana, Witsel, Sissoko, Parker...etc.

[Concrete John]

I agree, Maz.

It's a pretty specialist position these days, so we need a specialist for it.  Parker is the obvious and best choice.

[King of the Nørth]

 Going on current squad;

                           Given

 Young        Dunne       Clark          Warnock

                Makoun        Petrov

Alby                   Delph            Ireland

                          Bent

 I agreed about Hogg & Herd - Mr & Mrs average. Wont make it IMO

[Mister E]

Hogg won't be good enough long term imo.

How well did he do at Portsmouth? - I know he was a first-choice selection in midfield. We don't yet know how that developed his confidence, skills and strength for the forthcoming season ... I guess McGinge will be looking at that right now.

[Merv]

Best I'm hoping for from Hogg is that he can be a limited, but effective, defensive midfield player. Might be useful in some games, or off the bench. Which is fine, but he's not a midfield starter.

What our strongest X1 today shows is that we're badly lacking that midfield general and wide players, in the main.

[Mazrim]

Hogg's best trait (aside from being a dogged tackler) is long range shooting.
If he could suprise us and breakthough, he would be fairly popular for that in the way Hitzlspeeder was.
But I just can't see it. Gardner, Herd, Bannan, Delph, Clark etc are all much better players and will leave him behind.

He'll be a good lower prem/championship player.

[Surrey Villain]

I think Hogg is every bit as good as Reo Coker and I'm amazed that Bannan hasn't featured in these lists. 

[Concrete John]

Personally, I'd put Bannan behind Delph right now. 

[Surrey Villain]

Personally, I'd put Bannan behind Delph right now. 

I assume you mean behind in ranking not position and you are probably right.  We haven't seen enough of Delph yet though but from what little we have seen he appears the complete article.  We could have places for both but they need a 'heavy' alongside them in style and experience.

[Clark W Griswold]

 Going on current squad;

                           Given

 Young        Dunne       Clark          Warnock

                Makoun        Petrov

Alby                   Delph            Ireland

                          Bent

 I agreed about Hogg & Herd - Mr & Mrs average. Wont make it IMO

Yes, thats probably about right at the mo. I'd say.
Better though would be if we sign a real good combative midfielder, play 4-4-2 and ship out Petrov and either Delph, Makoun or Ireland for Gabby.

[King of the Nørth]

Personally, I'd put Bannan behind Delph right now. 

I assume you mean behind in ranking not position and you are probably right.  We haven't seen enough of Delph yet though but from what little we have seen he appears the complete article.  We could have places for both but they need a 'heavy' alongside them in style and experience.

 Thats seems to be the obvious and key piece we are missing from the squad. Whether we play 4-4-2, 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 we need an enforcer to bully opponents into submission to compliment the many ball players we have in Delph, Bannan, Makoun etc

[Surrey Villain]

Personally, I'd put Bannan behind Delph right now. 

I assume you mean behind in ranking not position and you are probably right.  We haven't seen enough of Delph yet though but from what little we have seen he appears the complete article.  We could have places for both but they need a 'heavy' alongside them in style and experience.

 Thats seems to be the obvious and key piece we are missing from the squad. Whether we play 4-4-2, 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 we need an enforcer to bully opponents into submission to compliment the many ball players we have in Delph, Bannan, Makoun etc

That's the word - an enforcer!

[Percy McCarthy]

I think Hogg is every bit as good as Reo Coker and I'm amazed that Bannan hasn't featured in these lists. 

Huzzah! Someone else who rates Hogg! Think it's only us two SV.

[Mazrim]

I like Hogg, I just think his path to our midfield will be congested with better players.

[Percy McCarthy]

I like Hogg, I just think his path to our midfield will be congested with better players.

We're a bit short of defensive midfielders though Maz.