|
Post by AlbertTatlock on Jan 10, 2021 18:44:06 GMT
It's been woeful especially since the return of Clucas, Allen and JOM. Clucas yesterday offered nothing and was a passenger most of the game he was even worse at LB replacing McClean who was just as poor. Strolled about the pitch like he was too good to be bothered, took a couple of good set pieces but hat was about it. Allen was Allen ran about a lot but offered nothing, no creativity or link up play and was often second to every ball, JOM might as well not have been on the pitch slow poor passing. What did Cousins do wrong he certainly wasn't as bad as the three that have returned to dislodge him. We really do need a clear out not just of the dead wood but of some of the bigger names too, I wouldn't be too disappointed if we were to offload all 3 of Allen, Clucas and JOM there's loads of mediocre midfielders out there that could do as good if not better job than them. Gouranga.
|
|
|
Post by gingerninja on Jan 10, 2021 18:50:00 GMT
Our midfield balance hasn't been right all season for me. I am tired of commentators saying what a strong midfield we have, teams seen to find so much space at times,whereas we don't.
|
|
|
Post by robwahlmann on Jan 10, 2021 19:01:21 GMT
I thought our midfield matched Leicester's quite well yesterday, but you could see that they weren't completely match fit as they struggled more the longer the game went on. The same with Shawcross who obviously tired the last half an hour.
|
|
|
Post by Mr Ron Agent on Jan 10, 2021 19:15:40 GMT
I find this point of view quite baffling. Our midfield has improved enormously with Mikel and Allen in the team. Their first ever start together was against Bournemouth and the improvement from the Forest game where they continually pinned us into our own was there for all to see. Bournemouth have dominated possession in virtually every game they’ve played this season and would have expected to do so agaInst Stoke. The midfield play of Allen and Mikel In combination with Powell enabled Stoke to keep possession and pin back Bournemouth for long periods. Allen, Mikel and Clucas were also decent yesterday against Leicester for most of the first half. I think we can be optimistic that we have a very decent Championship midfield for the second half of the season if these three can remain fit.
The problem at the moment is absolutely not the midfield, it is the lack of cutting edge on the flanks and up front, with the continued use of the awful Brown and the inexplicable cold shouldering of the talented Verlinden.
|
|
|
Post by shrewspotter on Jan 10, 2021 19:18:27 GMT
I genuinely think if we are playing a 4-3-3 then it’s Cousins, Tymon and Powell for me
Allen and Clucas could be sold as far as I’m concerned, both have been disappointing over the last few seasons considering their price tags and experience
|
|
|
Post by mickstupp on Jan 10, 2021 19:27:39 GMT
Clucas, Allen and especially Mikel are playing on reputation alone. I’d try to move all three on if it’s possible.
I’d like to see us try for Rothwell at Blackburn, and Pearson from Preston. Them two, plus Cousins, Tymon, Booth and Powell competing for the three slots in midfield.
|
|
|
Post by gingerninja on Jan 10, 2021 19:30:39 GMT
Clucas without the goals is a waste of space, his passing is never creative and he offers no protection for the back four. I would lose no sleep if he were to be moved on.. needs a complete overhaul. I think Mikel and Allen would be good pro's to help the younger players.
|
|
|
Post by ohbottom on Jan 10, 2021 19:43:18 GMT
It's been woeful especially since the return of Clucas, Allen and JOM. Clucas yesterday offered nothing and was a passenger most of the game he was even worse at LB replacing McClean who was just as poor. Strolled about the pitch like he was too good to be bothered, took a couple of good set pieces but hat was about it. Allen was Allen ran about a lot but offered nothing, no creativity or link up play and was often second to every ball, JOM might as well not have been on the pitch slow poor passing. What did Cousins do wrong he certainly wasn't as bad as the three that have returned to dislodge him. We really do need a clear out not just of the dead wood but of some of the bigger names too, I wouldn't be too disappointed if we were to offload all 3 of Allen, Clucas and JOM there's loads of mediocre midfielders out there that could do as good if not better job than them. Gouranga. We're obviously not watching the same game Albert, as I think Allen and Obi coming back into the side has improved our MF no end. Most games this season we seem to be overrun in MF, 1st half yesterday they matched PL oppo, and against Bournemouth Thompson had much more space to play than in previous games thanks to the platform Joe & Obi provided. Sadly, other areas of our play did not improve....
|
|
|
Post by Championship Potter on Jan 10, 2021 19:48:37 GMT
Think the problem with all three together is the lack of legs. Given their age they simply don't cover enough ground and can't recover quickly enough if we lose possession. We need Cousins in and then possibly one of Thompson and Tymon too. I worry that if MON is blinded by reputation he may opt to go with Allen/Clucas/Mikel more than we should. None look fully fit at the moment and not sure any of them merit a starting place currently.
|
|
|
Post by bayernoatcake on Jan 10, 2021 19:57:50 GMT
At the minute it should be Cousins and another.
|
|
|
Post by boskampsflaps on Jan 10, 2021 20:07:18 GMT
Looked worse since dropping Cousins but I thought there was a glimmer of hope in the first half, it didn't last long.
|
|
|
Post by hardcastle on Jan 10, 2021 20:13:35 GMT
Agreed. The trio started OK. Allen looked up to speed. All three tired. Mikel and Clucas continue to be poor. Cousins, Allen and Powell would be my choice with Joe coming off after 70.
|
|
|
Post by march4 on Jan 10, 2021 20:15:40 GMT
This would be my order of priority when picking midfield players -
1 Cousins
2 Anybody else to fill the positions.
|
|
|
Post by iglugluk on Jan 10, 2021 20:38:24 GMT
Hard to say which area looked poorest yesterday. The defence ( minus Bursik ), the midfield and the attack were pretty bad for almost the entire game. The only ok element was the defence for about the first 30 minutes or so. I was very disappointed with just how badly the team played.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2021 20:54:57 GMT
Mikel is adding nothing to side at all. We need Cousins back in shielding the defence. Allen sets the pace of the game which is something we have missed massively. Then Clucas when upto speed will be the creator and goalscorer we have desperately missed. We have far bigger concerns right now.
|
|
|
Post by BuzzB on Jan 10, 2021 21:45:04 GMT
We are a good competitive side up to the final third, whichever midfield we play. More than a match for anyone in this league. Up top is another matter, its where it all falls to bits right now.
|
|
|
Post by collo68 on Jan 10, 2021 22:11:22 GMT
We are a good competitive side up to the final third, whichever midfield we play. More than a match for anyone in this league. Up top is another matter, its where it all falls to bits right now. Absolutely spot on, put a couple of decent forwards players with Fletcher and Powell and we will be definitely in the top 6
|
|
|
Post by cobhamstokey on Jan 10, 2021 23:07:06 GMT
We desperately need a CM who’s first thought is to move the ball forward. At the moment to a man they look to go back.
|
|
|
Post by thehartshillbadger on Jan 10, 2021 23:12:54 GMT
The formation is the problem, it’s a nightmare for any midfield
|
|
|
Post by malisastokie on Jan 11, 2021 3:40:31 GMT
Our central midfield is not our problem.
We have 2 monumental problems.
1. Campbell injured and even if FFP did not exist we have demonstrated a sheer lack ability to procure a forward who can score goals.
2. No left back forcing us to play a structure that requires us relying on players with no technical ability.
We have brought the new kid in from Germany, but if we don’t get a left back in , he will join Verlinden warming seats.
Campbell’s absence in all honesty can not be solved in this window.
So we must get a left back in to allow us to go 4 at the back and play more creative V effort players out wide.
Until we address those issues no combination of Allen / Mikel/ Clucas / Thompson or Cousins will do jack shit to change the 1-0 losses or 1 all draws to become wins.
I honestly believe if Campbell’s was not injured we would be in the top 3 vying for automatic promotion not trying to sneak into the play offs.
|
|
|
Post by TinkerT on Jan 11, 2021 5:44:45 GMT
We desperately need a CM who’s first thought is to move the ball forward. At the moment to a man they look to go back. Good old Charlie adam
|
|
|
Post by cobhamstokey on Jan 11, 2021 9:37:22 GMT
We desperately need a CM who’s first thought is to move the ball forward. At the moment to a man they look to go back. Good old Charlie adam That was my first though just a quicker more mobile version. Someone like Barry Bannon just better.
|
|
|
Post by pez75 on Jan 11, 2021 9:41:05 GMT
Apart from set pieces Clucas has offered absolutely nothing since his return. I hoped he just needed a couple of games to get back in the groove but it looks more unlikely with every game. I am not a massive fan of Thompson but I would play him before Clucas at the moment.
|
|
|
Post by clb91 on Jan 11, 2021 14:12:57 GMT
Our midfield has been the issue all season. They all do there job, but creating chances is none existant.
People finger pointing Allen and Clucas after 2/3 games back from injury is laughable. Probably the only two midfield players we have, in the system MON frustratingly keeps playing on our books that will offer any creativity going forward.
Lets hope the management change it up.
|
|
|
Post by chiswickpotter on Jan 11, 2021 14:33:19 GMT
Mikel is adding nothing to side at all. We need Cousins back in shielding the defence. Allen sets the pace of the game which is something we have missed massively. Then Clucas when upto speed will be the creator and goalscorer we have desperately missed. We have far bigger concerns right now. One hundred per cent. Cousins is a limited player but if he has two creative players with him that is fine. Powell and Allen provide mobility and a willingness and ability to get on the ball. Clucas has been poor for a while now and doesn’t deserve to start. Mikel is too immobile and isn’t a defensive midfielder - he is playing there because he is too immobile to play further forward - as he lacks the awareness to spot danger early.
|
|
|
Post by theteacher on Jan 11, 2021 15:31:35 GMT
Advocating that Cousins comes back into the team to play in front of a back five makes us even more defensive.
I am in total agreement that he needs to play but only when we play with a back four - need to have a left back first to allow that to happen IMO.
The current formation (because of injuries) is the main issue.
|
|
|
Post by brinsleymaclagan on Jan 11, 2021 15:40:04 GMT
As soon as I saw the team I was concerned that all 3 midfielders had recently returned after injury, and wondered why at least one of them wasn’t left out. Surely it would have been sensible to play Mikel and Cousins, allowing Allen to supplement our pathetically insipid attack! At the moment I feel that opponents can see (especially as we’ve been on TV a few times recently) that our attack is completely ineffective, so they can afford to take a few chances and push further forward.
|
|
|
Post by Ron on Jan 11, 2021 16:02:18 GMT
Some very interesting points of view. Are people forgetting Sam Clucas was our top scorer last season and has been dogged by injury this? Insane to think folk don’t rate him!
As said before - I don’t get the Allen hate our midfield couldn’t string a pass together when Tymon and Cousins started together- Cousins was doing the work of too. Tymon is very poor.
Mikel is neat n tidy but doesn’t have the legs. Cousins shown capable and should play ahead of him.
As others have said our issue is the total lack of pace, creativity and lack of quality finisher in the final 3rd. The mid use of Powell is also a little baffling.
|
|
|
Post by pez75 on Jan 12, 2021 14:39:40 GMT
Some very interesting points of view. Are people forgetting Sam Clucas was our top scorer last season and has been dogged by injury this? Insane to think folk don’t rate him! As said before - I don’t get the Allen hate our midfield couldn’t string a pass together when Tymon and Cousins started together- Cousins was doing the work of too. Tymon is very poor. Mikel is neat n tidy but doesn’t have the legs. Cousins shown capable and should play ahead of him. As others have said our issue is the total lack of pace, creativity and lack of quality finisher in the final 3rd. The mid use of Powell is also a little baffling. I have not seen anyone say they dont rate Clucas, just that he isnt cutting it at the moment. Whether that is fitness, game-time or MON's tactics who knows but his contribution recently has been zero other than a few free-kicks. Allen has shown glimpses of his class and I dont think he is far off at all. I am with Nige on Mikel, he is an absolute Rolls Royce but has to be played correctly. I think if we continue to play wing backs, then him and Cousins could sit together with Joe in front slightly advanced. With Powell and whoever is fit up top.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2021 14:42:17 GMT
We have had endless permutations at left wing back from poor to absymal
Yet on paper Clucas ought to be our least bad bet ,at that position
He has had a below par season clucas , but I can't understand him being overlooked at LWB, given the awful alternatives
Hopefully the rumours we will sign a LWB are true
|
|