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Post by stuammo on Oct 22, 2022 21:33:05 GMT
The midfield we currently have isn’t enough for what’s required in any kind of competitive midfield. Some have good points, plenty have bad points but I can’t see a combination that works.
Laurent - good engine, can tackle, big and strong, carries the ball well, best of what we have.
Baker - great at set pieces, has a knack of scoring goals but probably against public opinion I’m struggling with him. As a captain I expect so much more, loves a simple 2 yard pass to a centre half but don’t see him influencing a game, controlling a game in any way.
Smallbone - not good enough yet. Might be in time but not at the moment
Clucas - had his chances. Not happening
Thompson - got a good cross on him, can play on a few positions, not sure he’s good enough
Powell - creatively the best we have. Plays every week if he’s fit but that’s a big if.
That group of players isn’t good enough. We’re seriously lacking in there. Laurent is about it. We need a destroyer to break up play and we need someone who can dictate a game and change the tempo.
Until the midfield is addressed it doesn’t matter who is up front, no service means no goals.
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Post by prestwichpotter on Oct 22, 2022 21:35:46 GMT
Play a 4-2-3-1 with Thompson as the defensive midfielder of the 2, or a 4-3-3 with Thompson sitting to allow Laurent and Baker to get higher up the pitch.
I'd be tempted to drop/rest Laurent at Norwich he's been way too casual in the last 2 home games.........
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Post by greenhoff on Oct 22, 2022 21:36:53 GMT
Both Laurent and Baker were poor today. Both need to do more. Might be worth trying Thompson as a six and letting them both play further forward
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Post by kidcrewbob on Oct 22, 2022 21:40:43 GMT
So goalie dodgy, defence crap, midfield not good enough and no bugger can score…… depressing stuff…
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2022 21:52:16 GMT
Baker is getting worse in each game he plays in, is that fault of what is around him or is causing others problems.
Im starting to think Wilmot is flattering to deceive to.
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Post by benjaminbiscuit on Oct 22, 2022 21:53:01 GMT
Both Laurent and Baker were poor today. Both need to do more. Might be worth trying Thompson as a six and letting them both play further forward Agree been the option for weeks the engine Room simply isn’t good enough going either way and needs greater strength I’d go Thomson Baker. Laurent. Powell And fit the rest round that |
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Post by dirtygary69 on Oct 22, 2022 21:53:21 GMT
I don’t think it’s a case of them not being good enough. It’s not as if we’ve lost the midfield battles overall, it’s just that they don’t seem to do anything out of the ordinary. They are tidy enough and win tackles, they just don’t have much guile or creativity. Baker needs to play further forward, but when Powell is fit enough I’d play him as the most advanced over Baker.
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Post by Jimm on Oct 22, 2022 21:55:21 GMT
Massively missing Allen and his physical presence in the middle of the pitch
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Post by cheadlepotter on Oct 22, 2022 21:56:22 GMT
Baker great at set pieces? He must be better at them in away games as he’s bloody awful at home, especially today.
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Post by insideright on Oct 22, 2022 22:10:07 GMT
Allen, physical presence!?!? FMAL!!!! The useless little Welsh dwarf!
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Post by jhtstokie on Oct 22, 2022 22:12:44 GMT
Massively missing Allen and his physical presence in the middle of the pitch 😂😂 come off it. |
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Post by crouchpotato1 on Oct 22, 2022 22:18:58 GMT
The midfield we currently have isn’t enough for what’s required in any kind of competitive midfield. Some have good points, plenty have bad points but I can’t see a combination that works. Laurent - good engine, can tackle, big and strong, carries the ball well, best of what we have. Baker - great at set pieces, has a knack of scoring goals but probably against public opinion I’m struggling with him. As a captain I expect so much more, loves a simple 2 yard pass to a centre half but don’t see him influencing a game, controlling a game in any way. Smallbone - not good enough yet. Might be in time but not at the moment Clucas - had his chances. Not happening Thompson - got a good cross on him, can play on a few positions, not sure he’s good enough Powell - creatively the best we have. Plays every week if he’s fit but that’s a big if. That group of players isn’t good enough. We’re seriously lacking in there. Laurent is about it. We need a destroyer to break up play and we need someone who can dictate a game and change the tempo. Until the midfield is addressed it doesn’t matter who is up front, no service means no goals. Baker great at set plays😂😂I must be watching different games |
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Post by proudstokie on Oct 22, 2022 22:31:27 GMT
Massively missing Allen and his physical presence in the middle of the pitch You belong on stage mate, good effort!! |
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Post by potterpaul on Oct 22, 2022 23:33:16 GMT
Massively missing Allen and his physical presence in the middle of the pitch Surely you need to add a 😂😂😂 at the end of your post. JFA is doing what JFA did here, adding fuck all to Swansea. Played 6 full games W 1 D 2 L 3 Since his injury (5 games) W4 L1 Swansea were 0-0 against Hull when he went off injured they ended 3-0 winners. Missing Joe Fucking Allen my arse. |
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Post by nottsover60 on Oct 22, 2022 23:38:02 GMT
Massively missing Allen and his physical presence in the middle of the pitch 😂😂 come off it. Give him his due, despite his slight stature Allen was the biggest physical presence we had in midfield last year and Laurent comes nowhere near even though he has a much bigger, athletic physique. It's no coincidence that Baker without Allen hasn't looked half the player he was last year. |
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Post by cobhamstokey on Oct 22, 2022 23:52:10 GMT
I think the problems Smallbone as the most forward of the 3 you expect him to be the creater and he simply isn’t so you either
add steel by bringing in Thompson and let Baker create or get into more dangerous positions
add creativity by bringing in Powell
or go 3 up front.
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Post by nottsover60 on Oct 22, 2022 23:59:21 GMT
I think the problems Smallbone as the most forward of the 3 you expect him to be the creater and he simply isn’t so you either add steel by bringing in Thompson and let Baker create or get into more dangerous positions add creativity by bringing in Powell or go 3 up front. I thought Thompson should have been on for Laurent, who was having a stinker, at half time. |
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Post by gawa on Oct 23, 2022 1:11:09 GMT
Baker could probably benefit from a rest. Played some of the most minutes in the division
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Post by thehartshillbadger on Oct 23, 2022 4:41:43 GMT
Both Laurent and Baker were poor today. Both need to do more. Might be worth trying Thompson as a six and letting them both play further forward Agree been the option for weeks the engine Room simply isn’t good enough going either way and needs greater strength I’d go Thomson Baker. Laurent. Powell And fit the rest round that Nathan Jones likes this |
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Post by The Toxic Avenger on Oct 23, 2022 6:19:13 GMT
Give him his due, despite his slight stature Allen was the biggest physical presence we had in midfield last year and Laurent comes nowhere near even though he has a much bigger, athletic physique. It's no coincidence that Baker without Allen hasn't looked half the player he was last year. Allen’s own form didn’t pick up until Baker arrived. Before that he was all over the place, and people were claiming it was because ‘he’s trying to do everyone’s job’, as if that were commendable as opposed to what someone playing playground football would do. |
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Post by TinkerT on Oct 23, 2022 6:44:30 GMT
Our last two defeats have NOT come from losing the battle in midfield, just crazy mistakes/marking. Baker was poor yesterday but people calling out laurent he was probably our best player with fosu yesterday
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Post by westlandstokie on Oct 23, 2022 6:56:38 GMT
Baker great at set pieces? He must be better at them in away games as he’s bloody awful at home, especially today. I agree 100%. |
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Post by westlandstokie on Oct 23, 2022 6:59:55 GMT
Our last two defeats have NOT come from losing the battle in midfield, just crazy mistakes/marking. Baker was poor yesterday but people calling out laurent he was probably our best player with fosu yesterday I disagree slightly with Fossu. Can be very direct but his final ball is awful…pretty much every time. The opposing fullback susses him out after about 30 minutes then Fossu tries the falling to the floor tactic which never works. This is why he is at Stoke not Brentford. |
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Post by bayernoatcake on Oct 23, 2022 7:30:21 GMT
Massively missing Allen and his physical presence in the middle of the pitch 😂😂😂😂 |
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Post by nottsover60 on Oct 23, 2022 7:35:15 GMT
Our last two defeats have NOT come from losing the battle in midfield, just crazy mistakes/marking. Baker was poor yesterday but people calling out laurent he was probably our best player with fosu yesterday I disagree slightly with Fossu. Can be very direct but his final ball is awful…pretty much every time. The opposing fullback susses him out after about 30 minutes then Fossu tries the falling to the floor tactic which never works. This is why he is at Stoke not Brentford. It didn't take 30 minutes yesterday. First time Fosu got the ball the fullback was all over him, matched him for speed and won the ball. These days coaches show videos of players to the fullback so they know exactly what a winger will do. That's when you find out exactly how good a player is. Fosu has to vary his game quickly to become useful. |
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toad
Academy Starlet
Posts: 159 
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Post by toad on Oct 23, 2022 7:44:42 GMT
We are missing anybody that can progress the ball and allow us to break the lines or penetrate a low block.
Probably only Wilmot in yesterday's 11 that can do it occasionally. Allen did it sparingly for us previously and Kilkenny was brought in to play that role for us this year against teams where we have more of the ball.
All others referenced in this thread aren't suitable for that and are probably more effective in games when we have less of the ball.
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Post by benjaminbiscuit on Oct 23, 2022 8:53:42 GMT
Agree been the option for weeks the engine Room simply isn’t good enough going either way and needs greater strength I’d go Thomson Baker. Laurent. Powell And fit the rest round that Nathan Jones likes this That’s why he’s in the top 6 😉 |
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Post by thehartshillbadger on Oct 23, 2022 8:56:06 GMT
That’s why he’s in the top 6 😉 Our current personnel suit the system too |
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Post by prestwichpotter on Oct 23, 2022 9:28:32 GMT
Thompson in with a clear remit to sit deeper, then let Baker and Laurent have a bit more freedom in a 4-3-3, or drop Laurent/Smallbone and bring in Powell in a 4-2-3-1............
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Post by Pugsley on Oct 23, 2022 10:23:56 GMT
Would love the definitive answer on this. One week they are the best in the division, next week the worst.
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