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+--- Thread: Central Midfield (/showthread.php?tid=38722)
Central Midfield - Lurker#3 - 09-15-2025
I know it's been done to death. But we really need a change in there sooner rather than later.
Molumby and Mowatt, as hard as they try, are never going to work as a pairing. Recently we have played Molumby deeper and pushed Mowatt on which I thought could have worked. But it hasn't. Mowatt hasn't got the running ability to get up and down effectively enough so when he does his quality in possession decreases. Molumby has improved his passing from deep, but doesn't provide the cut and thrust Mowatt does from that deeper area.
I would not be against resting them both and going with Collyer and Styles, with Taylor coming in at LB.
RE: Central Midfield - Josh1873 - 09-15-2025
I wouldn't drop both. I think we're a better team when Mowatt plays compared to when he doesn't.
Would Collyer or Styles provide any more creativity? I'm not so sure. I don't think we've got that type of creativity in midfield, and we have to make do with what we've got.
We desperately need a Koumas or Dorrans type midfielder who can grab a game by the scruff of the neck, take it over and create something out of nothing. Maybe Price can step up and fulfill that role? I really rate Price but I don't think he's that type of player.
RE: Central Midfield - Lurker#3 - 09-15-2025
(09-15-2025, 07:35 AM)Josh1873 Wrote: I wouldn't drop both. I think we're a better team when Mowatt plays compared to when he doesn't.
Would Collyer or Styles provide any more creativity? I'm not so sure. I don't think we've got that type of creativity in midfield, and we have to make do with what we've got.
We desperately need a Koumas or Dorrans type midfielder who can grab a game by the scruff of the neck, take it over and create something out of nothing. Maybe Price can step up and fulfill that role? I really rate Price but I don't think he's that type of player.
Styles has contributed more this year with goal contributing actions in half of our league goals. Also Taylor has a decent record in terms of his passing and creative stats.
Somehow we need to address the lack of balance.
My thoughts with Collyer is he obviously is more mobile and covers the ground better than M&M, so we could be a bit more expensive in terms of commuting 2nd/3rd man runners.
RE: Central Midfield - Duffers - 09-15-2025
Horses for courses.
Molumby and Mowatt are fine for tough away games like Stoke, and Boro this week, where we’ll be expected to dig in and battle for a result. They’re not suitable for games like Derby at home where the opposition are just going to stick everyone behind the ball and wait.
RE: Central Midfield - SW4Baggie - 09-15-2025
Agree with every word Lurker - as usual - but I think the issue is bigger than this - I don’t think we have a pairing in our squad that’s suited to a 2 man central midfield. The M&M axis works when we can sit in and play for a point, but I can’t see a partnership that enables us to really lay a glove on teams. I still think a midfield 3 gives us the best options but that makes it difficult to fit Mikey in with a back 4, and we’ve not got any wingbacks to facilitate a back 3 unless we play Price wholly out of position again.
Not signing a rangy, powerful central midfielder was a huge oversight this summer - it’s the position we’ve been crying out to improve for 4 windows now.
RE: Central Midfield - Lurker#3 - 09-15-2025
(09-15-2025, 07:47 AM)Duffers Wrote: Horses for courses.
Molumby and Mowatt are fine for tough away games like Stoke, and Boro this week, where we’ll be expected to dig in and battle for a result. They’re not suitable for games like Derby at home where the opposition are just going to stick everyone behind the ball and wait.
It all depends on the balance of the rest of the team.
If you have 2 cloggers in CM you need more threat from wide and fullback.
We seem to get this balance wrong slot more often than we get it right.
RE: Central Midfield - Duffers - 09-15-2025
(09-15-2025, 07:52 AM)Lurker#3 Wrote:(09-15-2025, 07:47 AM)Duffers Wrote: Horses for courses.
Molumby and Mowatt are fine for tough away games like Stoke, and Boro this week, where we’ll be expected to dig in and battle for a result. They’re not suitable for games like Derby at home where the opposition are just going to stick everyone behind the ball and wait.
It all depends on the balance of the rest of the team.
If you have 2 cloggers in CM you need more threat from wide and fullback.
We seem to get this balance wrong slot more often than we get it right.
It was obvious pretty quickly that all Derby were going to do was sit back and launch it forward when they did win the ball back. Didn’t need two holding midfielders to deal with that.
We offered very little from wide positions all game either.
As you say, the balance needs looking at.
RE: Central Midfield - Ted Maul - 09-15-2025
For games such as Saturday I think the below team could work.
Griffiths; Campbell, Phillips, Mepham, SIJ; Price, Mowatt, Styles; Johnston, Heggebo, Maja - 4-3-3.
SIJ to provide the width on the left and Maja tucking in to play centrally, Johnston on the right. Styles and Price playing as high 8s. Back three in possession, with Mowatt keeping us ticking over as per.
RE: Central Midfield - Cheshire East Baggie - 09-15-2025
(09-15-2025, 07:43 AM)Lurker#3 Wrote:(09-15-2025, 07:35 AM)Josh1873 Wrote: I wouldn't drop both. I think we're a better team when Mowatt plays compared to when he doesn't.
Would Collyer or Styles provide any more creativity? I'm not so sure. I don't think we've got that type of creativity in midfield, and we have to make do with what we've got.
We desperately need a Koumas or Dorrans type midfielder who can grab a game by the scruff of the neck, take it over and create something out of nothing. Maybe Price can step up and fulfill that role? I really rate Price but I don't think he's that type of player.
Styles has contributed more this year with goal contributing actions in half of our league goals. Also Taylor has a decent record in terms of his passing and creative stats.
Somehow we need to address the lack of balance.
My thoughts with Collyer is he obviously is more mobile and covers the ground better than M&M, so we could be a bit more expensive in terms of commuting 2nd/3rd man runners.
Yes, I'd say in the 34 minutes plus stoppage time we've seen from this guy, he's quite obviously more mobile and covers the ground better that M'n'M. He'll carry on being the answer until we see him play more than just cameo appearances. On Saturday he seemed to me to be bereft of ideas at times as we were pressing to equalise.
Seriously though, why is central midfield the problem? Get Maja on the pitch instead of Heggo, get the wide attackers to attack instead of passing back all the time - we'd be 2 or 3 points better off and not worrying too much about central midfield.
RE: Central Midfield - BaggieSloth - 09-15-2025
If anything was to change here - I think the obvious is to play Mowatt and Collyer. Would it be better than M & M though?
I was also saying at the game on Saturday, id love for Styles to get a run in the middle of the park - but unfortunately i dont think we will see that any time soon.