Carlos Sanchez

[Dante Lavelli]

I agree, to an extent, but we need someone else in there with a range of passing that he can play it too, and we need to ensure there is decent movement around him to get someone free. Reo Coker tackles, tracked, worked like a dog and did all the messy bits, but hardly ever found a team mate, we need to ensure that 1, he can, and 2, when he does they are actually capable of doing something with it. I like Westwood, but would prefer us to get someone like Ki who is very good at using the ball and passing it.

I think Ki and Carlos would try and occupy the same spaces too often.  Personally I'd like a mirror image of Delph to play on the right.  I hate to say it but Milner would be ideal (yeah, team I know, get over it etc).  An alternative who might be available could be Dembele but that would also require Randy finding some spare cash.

[Monty]

It seemed to me that Westwood was being forced to do both the screening and the spreading jobs in midfield, and his ineptitude at the former has prevented his really being able to focus on the latter, which he is actually good at. Hopefully Sanchez will free him up to do what does best.

[LeeB]

It seemed to me that Westwood was being forced to do both the screening and the spreading jobs in midfield, and his ineptitude at the former has prevented his really being able to focus on the latter, which he is actually good at. Hopefully Sanchez will free him up to do what does best.

Yes, we might well have the fabled "buzzer, cruncher and spreader".

[tomd2103]

I agree, to an extent, but we need someone else in there with a range of passing that he can play it too, and we need to ensure there is decent movement around him to get someone free. Reo Coker tackles, tracked, worked like a dog and did all the messy bits, but hardly ever found a team mate, we need to ensure that 1, he can, and 2, when he does they are actually capable of doing something with it. I like Westwood, but would prefer us to get someone like Ki who is very good at using the ball and passing it.

I think Ki and Carlos would try and occupy the same spaces too often.  Personally I'd like a mirror image of Delph to play on the right.  I hate to say it but Milner would be ideal (yeah, team I know, get over it etc).  An alternative who might be available could be Dembele but that would also require Randy finding some spare cash.

Totally agree re: the mirror image of Delph and we would need both to start chipping in with regular goals.  To be totally honest Milner would be absolutely ideal in that role.

[eamonn]

Apols if already discussed, but I noted that Carlos spoke French in his press-conference and not Spanish. Any reason why? (I know he played in France before Elche for six years so he clearly has a command of it but it's not his native tongue). Maybe it was for the benefit of the liaison officer Lorna who was interpreting? Although, I'm sure I've seen an interview with her before where she says she can speak Spanish.

In fact, a big-haired midfielder talking in French at his unveiling press conference reminded me of Jean II.

[Monty]

It seemed to me that Westwood was being forced to do both the screening and the spreading jobs in midfield, and his ineptitude at the former has prevented his really being able to focus on the latter, which he is actually good at. Hopefully Sanchez will free him up to do what does best.

Yes, we might well have the fabled "buzzer, cruncher and spreader".

I'd rather one be creator than buzzer, because I'd prefer all of them to buzz as much as possible.

[Dave]

It seemed to me that Westwood was being forced to do both the screening and the spreading jobs in midfield, and his ineptitude at the former has prevented his really being able to focus on the latter, which he is actually good at. Hopefully Sanchez will free him up to do what does best.

Yes, we might well have the fabled "buzzer, cruncher and spreader".

Aren't those all types of cheddar?

[paul_e]

It seemed to me that Westwood was being forced to do both the screening and the spreading jobs in midfield, and his ineptitude at the former has prevented his really being able to focus on the latter, which he is actually good at. Hopefully Sanchez will free him up to do what does best.

Yes, we might well have the fabled "buzzer, cruncher and spreader".

I'd rather one be creator than buzzer, because I'd prefer all of them to buzz as much as possible.

I'm ok with the creator(s) being the wide forward(s) but if they are we really need 1 of the middle 3 to be willing to get in around the box and help either by getting on the end of things or by dragging defenders away from the others. That does depend on Westwood stepping up and taking on the responsibility of setting our tempo.

[bobdylan]

If we can win at Stoke with just Westwood and Delph in the middle, and replacing Westwood with Sanchez makes us even stronger, then I can see Lambert persisting with 4-2-3-1 more often than not this season, except maybe when we're away to the top 7 say.  We've Grealish, Cole, Agbonlahor, Weimann, Richardson, Bacuna and N'Zogbia for the 3 forward positions behind the striker as it is and it looks like one more will arrive given the links, so I doubt we'll have 8 players fighting for just 2 spots in the team, far more likely he'll play 3 attacking players behind the striker and just perm 2 from Delph,Westwood and Sanchez behind them.

[Dante Lavelli]

If we can win at Stoke with just Westwood and Delph in the middle, and replacing Westwood with Sanchez makes us even stronger, then I can see Lambert persisting with 4-2-3-1 more often than not this season, except maybe when we're away to the top 7 say.  We've Grealish, Cole, Agbonlahor, Weimann, Richardson, Bacuna and N'Zogbia for the 3 forward positions behind the striker as it is and it looks like one more will arrive given the links, so I doubt we'll have 8 players fighting for just 2 spots in the team, far more likely he'll play 3 attacking players behind the striker and just perm 2 from Delph,Westwood and Sanchez behind them.

Unless we sign a top notch "10" I'm not sure we have the players for this.  Any two CM risks getting over-run (see Eng with Gerrard and Henderson) and therefore I'd prefer a three, which kind of suits us anyway as Delph especially should enjoy the freedom of knowing Carlos is covering for him.  In a two he would have to resist the urge to push forward too much.  Westwood is not ideal for the third player but even so his strength (metronome type passing) could florish if he doesn't have to also be our defensive wall.

[dave shelley]

It seemed to me that Westwood was being forced to do both the screening and the spreading jobs in midfield, and his ineptitude at the former has prevented his really being able to focus on the latter, which he is actually good at. Hopefully Sanchez will free him up to do what does best.

Yes, we might well have the fabled "buzzer, cruncher and spreader".

Aren't those all types of cheddar?

Sound like Ladies of the Night to me.

[Toronto Villa]

It seemed to me that Westwood was being forced to do both the screening and the spreading jobs in midfield, and his ineptitude at the former has prevented his really being able to focus on the latter, which he is actually good at. Hopefully Sanchez will free him up to do what does best.

Yes, we might well have the fabled "buzzer, cruncher and spreader".

I think I've met all three on a night out at the strippers.

[Mister E]

... Personally I'd like a mirror image of Delph to play on the right ...

I always assumed that Bacuna was brought to play this role and he showed some glimpses of the pace and dribbling capability, although not consistently enough.
My view is that Sanchez' arrival is as much about providing significantly greater tactical flexibility as about correcting an obvious problem in a weak central MF. Sanchez should enable us to play 3-5-2 more effectively, as well as 4-2-3-1 (for example) and other set-ups.

[paul_e]

... Personally I'd like a mirror image of Delph to play on the right ...

I always assumed that Bacuna was brought to play this role and he showed some glimpses of the pace and dribbling capability, although not consistently enough.
My view is that Sanchez' arrival is as much about providing significantly greater tactical flexibility as about correcting an obvious problem in a weak central MF. Sanchez should enable us to play 3-5-2 more effectively, as well as 4-2-3-1 (for example) and other set-ups.

I think that's how Bacuna will develop as well, he needs to develop some composure and the consistency will come from that.  He's still young enough to have time to work on his game.

[LeeB]

It seemed to me that Westwood was being forced to do both the screening and the spreading jobs in midfield, and his ineptitude at the former has prevented his really being able to focus on the latter, which he is actually good at. Hopefully Sanchez will free him up to do what does best.

Yes, we might well have the fabled "buzzer, cruncher and spreader".

I think I've met all three on a night out at the strippers.

Yeah, but did they gel together?