[Albion] The Midfield

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Despite having ELEVEN first team players available, the midfield remains Albion's Achilles heel. Yes, we need another striker but we all know how that should and probably will be addressed; by signing one. And we know the club are in the market for a left-back. But in terms of the overall structure and make-up of the team, despite an abundance of players, the midfield rarely works.
We have, in no particular order: Alzate, Trossard, Mooy, Propper, Stephens, Bissouma, GroS, Mac Allister, March, Ali J and happily now, Lallana. Have I left anyone out? Apart from Trossard with five goals, none of the others managed more than two. Both Dunk and Webster scored more. The majority of Potter's team changes came in midfield as he struggled to find the right formula. His task made harder with none really performing consistency well enough over the whole season.
We don't yet know who we'll be playing against on September 12th but if he's fit, Adam Lallana is a certain starter. But who plays alongside him?

 

[Sheebo]

Mooy has had a rough time on here recently. He was excellent for that purple patch and will rediscover that form - mark my words. Alzate will also continue to shine. I think we’re well covered everywhere apart from LWB / LB and up front.

 

[Megazone]

Bissouma has started to show real top class potential. I can see this coming season being a stand out one for Yves. Knowing he's got the international standard of Lallana, Propper and Mac Allister to play alongside in the middle will really give him the quality to up his game. I'm actually drooling at our midfield right now.

 

[Swansman]

It is a bit messy. I'm quite sure that a few of those you mentioned wont be around when the season starts, but its really hard to tell how many will leave, if there will be any signings and the plan for Molumby.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Need a genuine leader to take midfield by the scruff of the neck and drive them forward IMHO

 

[macbeth]

I think the question isn't so much who do we need to bring in, though I like the sound of that Barcelona B guy we've been linked with, but rather which midfielder do we sacrifice and ship out in order to bring in someone new?

 

[Braggfan]

I think Molumby will start featuring this season

 

[northstandsteve]

Definitely

 

[Marshy]

I expect Molumby to be getting regular game time by the end of the season.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

I think Molumby will start featuring this season

Thought the plan was for him to have another year out on loan?

 

[Braggfan]

Thought the plan was for him to have another year out on loan?

Maybe it is? I thought after his season loan, and the club telling Millwall that he was in our plans when they wanted to buy him, that maybe he would be getting a look in for the first team. He certainly seems to have had a very steady season of development. But who knows what they have planned. I personally think he's ready to be given a shout. I would worry that he's getting to a level where if he goes somewhere on loan and plays well we could have another Ben White scenario on our hands.

 

[blue-shifted]

Despite having ELEVEN first team players available, the midfield remains Albion's Achilles heel. Yes, we need another striker but we all know how that should and probably will be addressed; by signing one. And we know the club are in the market for a left-back. But in terms of the overall structure and make-up of the team, despite an abundance of players, the midfield rarely works.
We have, in no particular order: Alzate, Trossard, Mooy, Propper, Stephens, Bissouma, GroS, Mac Allister, March, Ali J and happily now, Lallana. Have I left anyone out? Apart from Trossard with five goals, none of the others managed more than two. Both Dunk and Webster scored more. The majority of Potter's team changes came in midfield as he struggled to find the right formula. His task made harder with none really performing consistency well enough over the whole season.
We don't yet know who we'll be playing against on September 12th but if he's fit, Adam Lallana is a certain starter. But who plays alongside him?

Are Trossard and Ali J midfielders?

In central midfield, I would imagine Bissouma will cement his first name on the midfield team sheet and Alzate, Stephens, Molumby and Propper will compete over (usually) one more spot

Further forward, Lallana and Trossard, you'd have thought are in the box seat to get the most game time out of the rest. Mooy, McAllister and Gross are probably competing for one space

Having said that, I'm sure there will be more comings and goings

 

[blue-shifted]

Need a genuine leader to take midfield by the scruff of the neck and drive them forward IMHO

Yves Bissouma has been doing that brilliantly since the restart

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Yves Bissouma has been doing that brilliantly since the restart

Bit of an enthusiastic, entertaining and erratic loose cannon tho eh? He's all over the place. Hardly what you'd term a midfield general.

 

[B52]

Need a genuine leader to take midfield by the scruff of the neck and drive them forward IMHO

Mabee Adam Lallana could do a job?

 

[Megazone]

Bit of an enthusiastic, entertaining and erratic loose cannon tho eh? He's all over the place. Hardly what you'd term a midfield general.

If you can get yourself a Premiership quality midfield general who carries the team and wins the battles in the middle, then you've got yourself one of the best players in the world. Tell me of these midfield generals you speak of who are doing it in the Prem?

The last 2 players of this type I can remember good enough for the Prem were Viera and Keane. I think that people thought Joey Barton was going to turn into one of these type of players but it just turned out he was a nasty piece of work.

 

[Swansman]

Thought the plan was for him to have another year out on loan?

I think he will get a chance or two in the pre-season and then they will make a decision about what to do. However I guess a loan to a Championship team that play a bit more like Brighton wouldnt be unlikely.

 

[blue-shifted]

Bit of an enthusiastic, entertaining and erratic loose cannon tho eh? He's all over the place. Hardly what you'd term a midfield general.

Midfield general is exactly what I see in him. He can tackle, he can read danger, he can carry the ball forward, he has energy, he gets his shots away.

I get that he is youngish and fairly inexperienced and at this stage he chucks in a few bad games. In a year's time though I very much believe he will have added more consistency, more goals and will be considered part of the leadership group

 

[zefarelly]

Bit of an enthusiastic, entertaining and erratic loose cannon tho eh? He's all over the place. Hardly what you'd term a midfield general.

more a midfield Colonel with an Uzi

 

[Swansman]

If you can get yourself a Premiership quality midfield general who carries the team and wins the battles in the middle, then you've got yourself one of the best players in the world. Tell me of these midfield generals you speak of who are doing it in the Prem?

The last 2 players of this type I can remember good enough for the Prem were Viera and Keane. I think that people thought Joey Barton was going to turn into one of these type of players but it just turned out he was a nasty piece of work.

Society doesnt really produce these types of individuals today and the odd exceptions dont become footballers. The Keane/Vieira personality barely exist today. In the age of social media you need to be 100% acceptable and "nice" in order to be able to belong to a group (like a football team), and if you arent like that you are going to be alone at home drinking energy drinks, playing League of Legends and crybating to Pornhub while screaming your hatred of everything and everyone into the empty cyberspace.

As the eternal student, I have been hanging out with people in their early 20s for about a dozen years now... kiddos with fierce passion, leadership qualities and the ability to take initiatives are strangled by this society.