The Midfield

[Dave]

I'd get him in like a shot. He's a horrible, self righteous wanker but one that won't stand for losing or people not performing to their optimum. We're too nice to play against, and that needs to stop.

Isn't that what people thought when Roy Keane joined the club?

Yeah that's why he walked so early.

That's my take.

Yeah, it's not like stopping the players being too accepting of losing or helping them play to their potential might have been a big part of his job or anything.

The massive arsehole.

[Risso]

With the state of our current midfield does anyone think we should have kept Carlos Sanchez and not sent him out on loan?

No. I'd rather see Westwood play to be honest. He might be utterly crap, but Sanchez is worse AND continually gives the ball away.

[eamonn]

Sanchez is better without the ball and at least offers some protection to the defence. And doesn't point pointlessly.

[Matt Collins]

I've not seen the last two games. But from what I've heard they sound like the worst two performances of the season

I'll admit a bias here - I've never been convinced by Jedinak. But I wonder if it's a coincidence that these are the two games he's played in? He's probably the worst passer of our midfield options I think? Could that be contributing to our inability to get up the pitch?

Might be bullocks. As I say I haven't seen the full games

[tomd2103]

I've not seen the last two games. But from what I've heard they sound like the worst two performances of the season

I'll admit a bias here - I've never been convinced by Jedinak. But I wonder if it's a coincidence that these are the two games he's played in? He's probably the worst passer of our midfield options I think? Could that be contributing to our inability to get up the pitch?

Might be bullocks. As I say I haven't seen the full games

To be honest Matt, from what I've seen of Jedinak so far, he is the type you just sit in front of the defence and he offers a physical presence.  With players like that, you obviously need a bit of mobility and ball playing around to give a bit of balance.  I don't think playing him in a midfield two is going to do him any favours really.

[Sexual Ealing]

Sanchez is the worst player I've seen play for us in a long time. And I include Harry Redknap's wife in that.

[Matt Collins]

I've not seen the last two games. But from what I've heard they sound like the worst two performances of the season

I'll admit a bias here - I've never been convinced by Jedinak. But I wonder if it's a coincidence that these are the two games he's played in? He's probably the worst passer of our midfield options I think? Could that be contributing to our inability to get up the pitch?

Might be bullocks. As I say I haven't seen the full games

To be honest Matt, from what I've seen of Jedinak so far, he is the type you just sit in front of the defence and he offers a physical presence.  With players like that, you obviously need a bit of mobility and ball playing around to give a bit of balance.  I don't think playing him in a midfield two is going to do him any favours really.

That makes a lot of sense to me. Unfortunately we haven't really bought played to suit a 433. We wouldn't have bought McCormack and instead we'd have bought more of a box to box type

[RussellC]

In the Brentford game, Jedinak was seemingly the only midfielder in our side prepared to play a forward pass. Yes, they didn't all come-off but it was his (excellent) pass that lead directly to Kodjia's goal.

Pass-completion is probably the most misleading stat that there is. Westwood is a good passer in the sense that he rarely misplaces one, but that's largely because he rarely takes a risk and therefore rarely makes any telling passes during 90 minutes.

[tomd2103]

I've not seen the last two games. But from what I've heard they sound like the worst two performances of the season

I'll admit a bias here - I've never been convinced by Jedinak. But I wonder if it's a coincidence that these are the two games he's played in? He's probably the worst passer of our midfield options I think? Could that be contributing to our inability to get up the pitch?

Might be bullocks. As I say I haven't seen the full games

To be honest Matt, from what I've seen of Jedinak so far, he is the type you just sit in front of the defence and he offers a physical presence.  With players like that, you obviously need a bit of mobility and ball playing around to give a bit of balance.  I don't think playing him in a midfield two is going to do him any favours really.

That makes a lot of sense to me. Unfortunately we haven't really bought played to suit a 433. We wouldn't have bought McCormack and instead we'd have bought more of a box to box type

Agree with the bit in bold.  I still think we probably need the solid base of a midfield three, but as you say we are a player missing to play that formation.  Jedinak, Westwood, Gardner and Lyden are all defensive midfielders, which only really leaves Tshibola and at a stretch Bacuna (though I haven't really seen him have a decent game for us in central midfield) as more attacking options.  In a diamond formation, we could still have Ayew or Grealish behind two from McCormack, Kodjia, Adomah or Gestede. 

[footyskillz]

It looks like Bruce is addressing the midfield . Initially he got "legs round Jedinak " players who would do the running so jedinak tidy up and bulldog play could be utilised. Now with window and hopefully addition of forest and Barnsley captains -2 of the best midfielders in this league could prove a more explosive midfield.
I actually think houraine and lansbury could play as a two as  they have engine and tackling ability.  However what I do hope is this extra competition for places means Gardner Westwood and Tishbola will up their game. Having also linked with winger /wing backs left sided players schlupp and Brady cainey and downing think 3 of 4 or 5 places ' midfield ' up for grabs.  If central defender bought could look at a 3-5-2 or 3-4-1-1 formation.
Interesting  times but I'm immensly happy that houraine and lansbury are in the offing as will boost energy ,goals and drive from midfield.

[Singapore Villa]

This thread surely has to be the shortest on H&V seeing as we don't have one (a midfield)....

Maybe we should lock it and then only reopen it on 1st Feb if Tone and Brucey have bought one.

[footyskillz]

We’re short in the final third,” Bruce said. “We need to improve all over the pitch, we huffed and puffed"

I hope Bruce blows the transfer house down and brings in 2 or 3 attack minded players from the midfield. 

[Des Little]

What is this 'midfield' you speak of?

[Ads]

The midfield has to set the tempo and provide impetus. Ours does none of this.

As ordinary or poor as Wolves are, they had a couple of players capable of shifting through gears to drive the game on or spread the play quickly.

It's not hard to see why we have scored a goal a game when we have such an imbalanced midfield lacking players capable f hitting the box or creating anything of note.

[Rico]

We don't have a midfield!