Poyet Eyes Midfield Destroyer

[Captain Sensible]

This is exactly what I think we have been missing. Our midfield is too light, it gets over run and Bridcutt needs help from his partner, he cant be a playmaker if the other guy is trying to be a playmaker and not protect him. We need a "sit in front of the back four" ball winner. Makelele type.

 

[Twinkle Toes]

I wish we had someone like Scott Parker

Absolutely! I guess the good news is that at least West Ham haven't got him any more.

 

[Twinkle Toes]

This is exactly what I think we have been missing. Our midfield is too light, it gets over run and Bridcutt needs help from his partner, he cant be a playmaker if the other guy is trying to be a playmaker and not protect him. We need a "sit in front of the back four" ball winner. Makelele type.

Where would that leave Bridcutt though?

 

[Smithy24]

I wish we had someone like Scott Parker

I think fans of any team would say this...

 

[terryberry1]

Hmmm - interesting! i wonder if they will fit in with gus's style of football.

Think gus's style of football is going to change. We have been found out

 

[terryberry1]

Jimmy Bullard is not a hard man, he is made of glass!

But I agree in your sentiment, we do need a nasty midfielder, I hate to say it but someone like Joey Barton/Karl Henry.

I didn't mean Bullard to be the hard man, Just think it was an opportunity missed when he was available

 

[Marc1901]

If Gus wants to bring in a new midfield that could mean Sparrow wont get much of a look in for a while then.

 

[Captain Sensible]

Where would that leave Bridcutt though?

Bridcutt sits deep I know but he not a play breaker. I thought for a while he can move a little further forward and recieve a ball off the defensive mid.

 

[Muzzy]

I said recently that we need a ball winning midfielder capable of passing to feet and creating space for others... I thought Harley may of been the one for that job but up until now he has been somewhat pedestrian and not an improvement on Dicker at all!

I now believe that Dicker's days are numbered along with Sparrow's and an adequate replacement/s is a must if we want to consolidate in this league!

A towering CD that can dictate the back line will also sort out our defensive problems and Adam IMO, isn't going to be that man.

Still chuffed with our current position but I feel that we could drop like a stone if Gus doesn't act now!

Just my personal observations that will probably get me fired from this board lol.

 

[Acker79]

I like this line:

We need to address that, because we are not aggressive in defence from the middle backwards

What I've been saying, we're standing off and not trying to get the ball back.

 

[terryberry1]

Bridcutt sits deep I know but he not a play breaker. I thought for a while he can move a little further forward and recieve a ball off the defensive mid.

With Bridcutt's quality he could play further forward. I reckon he has a few goals in him too. I showed last season with 2 cracking goals what he can do when he comes forward

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Every Norwich review I glance at seems to have Crofts on the bench. No idea if he's recovering from injury or whether he can't command a starting place in their side. If its the latter, he may well be up for going out on loan to the club that let him go far too easily. He's never been properly replaced.

 

[Southern Scouse]

I know for a fact that Jay Spearing is looking for games. Just not sure if he will drop to the championship. Surprised we were not linked with Shelvey to be honest.

 

[Muzzy]

[QUOTE}What I've been saying, we're standing off and not trying to get the ball back.[/QUOTE]

This was my feeling before the season began... We do not work as a unit to break down other teams when they have possession.. It seems to be left to Bridders all the time and he can't cope on his own... The defence need to push up at least ten yards to be closer to the midfielders to stop other sides from having all the space in between... We do look very weak without the ball!

 

[Barrel of Fun]

...owing to the fact he couldn't get in the Swansea team.

That's not strictly true. Exeter were not willing to sell him unless he was loaned back.

So this is new territory for Harley, but he hasn't had a great deal of time to settle into a new team and at a new level to him.

 

[Muzzy]

The reason we play so deep is simply because Casper is a goal line only keeper and the lack of pace at the back means that our defenders are scared of being turned cheaply and then through on goal with just our keeper to beat!

This was my experience from my playing days.. If my keeper scared me I did tend to play deeper sometimes without even realising I was doing so!

 

[shaolinpunk]

Looking solely at the big three London clubs, Jake Livermore from Spurs? Would fit the destroyer mould but he's started getting in Spurs squad this year even if he can go a bit nuts sometimes. Coquelin from Arsenal? Played holding mid against Spurs, did ok, highly rated by them so game time at a team who plays good football might appeal to them.
No one at Chelsea really.

Further afield, Paul Pogba from United? Very highly rated, he's big, powerful and a box to box midfielder - could be well worth a look

 

[bhawoddy]

If Gus wants to bring in a new midfield that could mean Sparrow wont get much of a look in for a while then.

Id rather play the youth team than Sparrow!

 

[leigull]

I hope he's looking at left backs too.

Bridcutt is a ball winning midfielder. He just needs someone better and stronger than Dicker next to him.

 

[Shooting Star]

Very pleased to hear that Gus has identified the main weakness in the team. We need someone like this who can start our passing football again when we've been pushed deep.

In Gus we Trust.