Central Midfield

[Lurker#3]

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.

Because we are not creating enough goal scoring chances because we don't have enough attacking threat in the pitch. And FB and CM are the key areas to look at. We need an extra attacking threat in the team. 

I don't think it's a case of just telling players to attack more. MJ is again topping the table for individual stats, but he's have to to work really hard to get any sort of space because the balance of the team around him isn't right so he never has just one bloke to beat, he has 3.

[Duffers]

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.

Because we are not creating enough goal scoring chances because we don't have enough attacking threat in the pitch. And FB and CM are the key areas to look at. We need an extra attacking threat in the team. 

I don't think it's a case of just telling players to attack more. MJ is again topping the table for individual stats, but he's have to to work really hard to get any sort of space because the balance of the team around him isn't right so he never has just one bloke to beat, he has 3.

Exactly this, everyone knows that M/M aren't going to offer anything so teams can double up on the likes of Johnstone and Price. More attacking options gives opposition players more to think about and opens up opportunities elsewhere.

[Josh1873]

It's all well and good saying we should be dropping either Molumby, Mowatt, or even both, in order for us to be more creative and attacking, especially at home in order to break teams down.

But if you remove either or both, then we'd lose control in midfield and concede possession & territory to the opponent. I'm not sure it's as simple as putting a more attack or creative minded player in the lineup and removing Molumby/Mowatt would suddenly see us create a shed load more chances.

I think it's a bit of a lazy comment, tbh.

[GunsOfNavarone]

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.

We know. As evidenced by your bonerfide man crush. Sales of viagra must have quite literally gone through the roof over your way   .

[Josh1873]

Mowatt is indeed a good looking bloke, but he's also a very good player. I think he's key to how we play, and if we want to keep control of midfield, and dominate possession, particularly at home, he needs to be playing.

[Duffers]

It's all well and good saying we should be dropping either Molumby, Mowatt, or even both, in order for us to be more creative and attacking, especially at home in order to break teams down.

But if you remove either or both, then we'd lose control in midfield and concede possession & territory to the opponent. I'm not sure it's as simple as putting a more attack or creative minded player in the lineup and removing Molumby/Mowatt would suddenly see us create a shed load more chances.

I think it's a bit of a lazy comment, tbh.

Derby didn't have a midfield to speak of. They'd win the ball back in defence and go long, there wasn't a midfield to lose control of. It definitely wasn't a game where two holding players were required, you could easily have sacrificed one earlier in the game without losing control of anything.

[Tom Joad]

And Diakite now seems to have dropped a place in the running order. Shame, I think there's a player there.

[Josh1873]

I think the issue is tactical in how we play, rather than personale. On days like Saturday you need to move the ball a lot quicker and play at a higher tempo. You also need the run of the ball and a bit of luck, which was absent!

I'm not sure having Styles in midfield and an untried in our team LB would have made much difference. Or whatever tweaks have been mentioned here.

On the rare occasions I catch PL football - it's often City or Liverpool v the rest. The rest set up like Derby did, and even world class teams, with wonderfully talented individual players, struggle to break down dogged and we'll organised teams who sit deep. It's a really difficult task.

[Lurker#3]

I think the issue is tactical in how we play, rather than personale. On days like Saturday you need to move the ball a lot quicker and play at a higher tempo. You also need the run of the ball and a bit of luck, which was absent!

I'm not sure having Styles in midfield and an untried in our team LB would have made much difference. Or whatever tweaks have been mentioned here.

On the rare occasions I catch PL football - it's often City or Liverpool v the rest. The rest set up like Derby did, and even world class teams, with wonderfully talented individual players, struggle to break down dogged and we'll organised teams who sit deep. It's a really difficult task.

Interesting take. I think the opposite fwiw though. 

We are getting players into good attacking positions, we have more numbers in the final 2 lateral channels than we have before. We are clocking up plenty of progressive passes and having plenty of shots. 

So tactically things are okay. The issue is the chances to play a final pass or take a shot are falling to players without that natural attacking ability and instinct.

[Duffers]

I think the issue is tactical in how we play, rather than personale. On days like Saturday you need to move the ball a lot quicker and play at a higher tempo. You also need the run of the ball and a bit of luck, which was absent!

I'm not sure having Styles in midfield and an untried in our team LB would have made much difference. Or whatever tweaks have been mentioned here.

On the rare occasions I catch PL football - it's often City or Liverpool v the rest. The rest set up like Derby did, and even world class teams, with wonderfully talented individual players, struggle to break down dogged and we'll organised teams who sit deep. It's a really difficult task.

Which is surely a personnel issue?

Mowatt and Mulumby are not known for their dynamism. Campbell was ponderous going forward and SIJ kept stopping and cutting back inside.