Midfield for Saturday

[Geo V]

I was going to do it then but my common sense got the better of me, you do it you don't mind looking stupid im sure.

Time to start a thread on a manager

[Ric Flair]

I think the Midfield will be -

Bell - Oakley - Jimbo - Hendrie

The best midfield we've got right now. I'd also like to see Andy King rewarded for his form for the reserves though and when he comes on, is given the freedom to get forward. I know he lacks pace, but with the right players around him, playing positive football would allow him to get in to the box and i've not seen too many players in our midfield with more composure and ability to score than him, the last being Senor Izzet.

[teblin]

The best midfield we've got right now. I'd also like to see Andy King rewarded for his form for the reserves though and when he comes on, is given the freedom to get forward. I know he lacks pace, but with the right players around him, playing positive football would allow him to get in to the box and i've not seen too many players in our midfield with more composure and ability to score than him, the last being Senor Izzet.

On his debut he coped very well with seyi olifanjana, who is one of the most physical midfielders in the division. I think he well become a good player for this club.

think the big issue with him and other younsters for the club, holloway moaned about having to play them and other players we had at the club when he took over. when he should've been more postive and tried to get results then. and we would not have been in the state now.

We had players at the club who were decent enough to keep us hovering aroung midtable.

[Ric Flair]

On his debut he coped very well with seyi olifanjana, who is one of the most physical midfielders in the division. I think he well become a good player for this club.

think the big issue with him and other younsters for the club, holloway moaned about having to play them and other players we had at the club when he took over. when he should've been more postive and tried to get results then. and we would not have been in the state now.

We had players at the club who were decent enough to keep us hovering aroung midtable.

I think it's an excuse when managers say they can't play youngsters during a current predicament, the experienced players are the very reason of the current predicament.

[Geo V]

I think it's an excuse when managers say they can't play youngsters during a current predicament, the experienced players are the very reason of the current predicament.

Im not sure that your statement is totally accurate mate. It all depends on the players concerned. Some youngsters wilt and it effects there careers never mind season and thats why managers like Alex Ferguson has always tried to rest his youngsters unless he has real world beaters. Arsene Wenger has persisted with younger lads at times and fallen flat on his face and experienced players are usually the ones who have been there, done that and worn the T-Shirt and can get clubs out of holes. Unfortunately the ones we have had over the last two seasons like the Horse, Newton and the current crop aren't getting us the results.

[teblin]

I think it's an excuse when managers say they can't play youngsters during a current predicament, the experienced players are the very reason of the current predicament.

The big word you used there is excuse. Holloway seems to have alot.

[morris1234]

good shout on weso whoever it was, i really think if he can get some hard tackles in then that will help.

this is what id go for, have all 3 defensive minded midfielders in clem oakley and weso, get stuck in and set up counter attacks into hendrie or move the ball out wide for hume or hayles to push wide and get the ball in. going to be a very hard game so we need to pack the midfield and sort out the gap between midfield and defense, which clearly showed against colchester especially for the goal, the defenders backe doff because of the run made by the striker which allowed alito to get in such weak cross that should have been cleared, seen this countless times this year, and sort out the marking, if they leave 1 up front, dont have 3 or even 4 defenders back for god sake.

what id go for.

...............................hendo(alnwick if fit)...........................

stearman......mcauley....kisnorbo.......clapham

................weso.......oakley........clemence

.............................hendrie...........................

.................hume.................hayles...............

subs:

bori (if fit)

howard

chambers

fryatt

worley

[Ric Flair]

Im not sure that your statement is totally accurate mate. It all depends on the players concerned. Some youngsters wilt and it effects there careers never mind season and thats why managers like Alex Ferguson has always tried to rest his youngsters unless he has real world beaters. Arsene Wenger has persisted with younger lads at times and fallen flat on his face and experienced players are usually the ones who have been there, done that and worn the T-Shirt and can get clubs out of holes. Unfortunately the ones we have had over the last two seasons like the Horse, Newton and the current crop aren't getting us the results.

But where's the proof that senior players in these squads in question would have faired any better. I know the same can be said for the youngsters as well, but I belief that exuberance and a lack of fear that youngsters often play with is equally as crucial as experience is at times. That's why a blend of the both is often the best policy. We've got experience and youthfulness in this squad, but look at the ones who have been massively disappointing and the culprits all have promotions, successful relegation battles and/or experience to their name.

good shout on weso whoever it was, i really think if he can get some hard tackles in then that will help.

this is what id go for, have all 3 defensive minded midfielders in clem oakley and weso, get stuck in and set up counter attacks into hendrie or move the ball out wide for hume or hayles to push wide and get the ball in. going to be a very hard game so we need to pack the midfield and sort out the gap between midfield and defense, which clearly showed against colchester especially for the goal, the defenders backe doff because of the run made by the striker which allowed alito to get in such weak cross that should have been cleared, seen this countless times this year, and sort out the marking, if they leave 1 up front, dont have 3 or even 4 defenders back for god sake.

what id go for.

...............................hendo(alnwick if fit)...........................

stearman......mcauley....kisnorbo.......clapham

................weso.......oakley........clemence

.............................hendrie...........................

.................hume.................hayles...............

subs:

bori (if fit)

howard

chambers

fryatt

worley

Clemence is out for the season and a bit more, have you been hibernating or something?

[Bert]

Another option i Can see it being is -

Hume - Weso - Oakley - Hendrie - Hayles

[Chimp]

One things for sure, if Ollie starts Hume on the wing I'm going go mental.

I'd go for:

Bell - Oakley - Weso - Hendrie

[James.]

Haven't read much of this thread but it seems bleeding obvious to me we should play:

LM: Hendrie

CM: Weso

CM: Oakley

RM: Bell

With Hume and Howard up front.

[morris1234]

But where's the proof that senior players in these squads in question would have faired any better. I know the same can be said for the youngsters as well, but I belief that exuberance and a lack of fear that youngsters often play with is equally as crucial as experience is at times. That's why a blend of the both is often the best policy. We've got experience and youthfulness in this squad, but look at the ones who have been massively disappointing and the culprits all have promotions, successful relegation battles and/or experience to their name.

Clemence is out for the season and a bit more, have you been hibernating or something?

sorry i did mean d bell, i was just reading about clemence at the time

[Ric Flair]

Another option i Can see it being is -

Hume - Weso - Oakley - Hendrie - Hayles

I reckon that is what Ollie will go for, he will be treating saturday's game as a dog fight and will want to pack the midfield and then have outlets for the rare ocassion we break forward with the ball on the deck.

Bell has looked quite good to me as well, shame.

[Geo V]

But where's the proof that senior players in these squads in question would have faired any better. I know the same can be said for the youngsters as well, but I belief that exuberance and a lack of fear that youngsters often play with is equally as crucial as experience is at times. That's why a blend of the both is often the best policy. We've got experience and youthfulness in this squad, but look at the ones who have been massively disappointing and the culprits all have promotions, successful relegation battles and/or experience to their name.

Its one of those questions we`ll never know the answer to but if you just look at us and the careers of the young lads who have had a game from say last season or a bot before, you`ll see that none have really come in and totally made the position their own. Stearman has gone from wonderkid to being ridiculed to maybe now being respected again. Mattock early season seemed to do OK but due to lack of experience seemed to be at fault with a few goals from the left. Levi has come in and now is again ridiculed although this season injury has limited his chances. Dodds hasn't had a big chance but has been punted out whilst Weso has started well and then went off the boil after yet another injury and we have signed god knows how many midfielders to take his place as he wasn't cutting the mustard. Logan has played in a problem possie for us but didn't do all that much and has been punted out on loan whilst two loan keepers have been drafted in this season. King has come in and out without doing too much but has shown promise at spells but again, none can really be classed as permanent fixtures who are solid at this stage of their careers.

[Ric Flair]

Its one of those questions we`ll never know the answer to but if you just look at us and the careers of the young lads who have had a game from say last season or a bot before, you`ll see that none have really come in and totally made the position their own. Stearman has gone from wonderkid to being ridiculed to maybe now being respected again. Mattock early season seemed to do OK but due to lack of experience seemed to be at fault with a few goals from the left. Levi has come in and now is again ridiculed although this season injury has limited his chances. Dodds hasn't had a big chance but has been punted out whilst Weso has started well and then went off the boil after yet another injury and we have signed god knows how many midfielders to take his place as he wasn't cutting the mustard. Logan has played in a problem possie for us but didn't do all that much and has been punted out on loan whilst two loan keepers have been drafted in this season. King has come in and out without doing too much but has shown promise at spells but again, none can really be classed as permanent fixtures who are solid at this stage of their careers.

You're absolutely right about most of them. Mattock, Stearman and Wesolowski are still the best in their position than anyone else at this club though IMO. Oakley & Clemence have put in far worse displays than Weso this season and that's on the back of yet more stop start injuries from Wesolowski, mind you Clem has had his problems as well. Mattock at 17, must be forgiven for a proportion of his mistakes, he is best served learning in our first team though because he offers us so much when he plays well, which is a lot more than some give him credit for.

Stearman has come on leaps and bounds, which is fantastic as he was massively under-achieving for almost a season. Would he have improved to this level though if he hadn't been given several different chances by the various managers?.

I think it's hugely important to have both an experienced core of players and some youngsters given as many opportunities as possible if they prove they are up to it. We are nearly there in that respect, but I still think it's too convenient for Holloway to pick an under-achieving experienced player than it is to make an example of them and choose a youngster who is doing well for the reserves.

[Thracian]

Oakley is a better all-round player than Weso is, and he owes us a big performance. I think it's due on Saturday.

He might have been once but it's probably a myth now. Not that I'm bothered. In fact part of me would like him to stick with his Chosen Men for the remainder of the season to see where it finally gets him and how many goals we score.

I mean why would you consider Andy King (four goals in five reserves appearances) when you can have a nice steady midfielder who hasn't scored at all for City or a youngster who kick-started our survival run under Levein and just might feel he's got something to prove after spending much of the season on the sidelines, especially since Holloway's arrival?

[Thracian]

Our midfield is not as problematic as or strikers. We do create enough chances to score goals, something we didn't do last year (hoofing and set pieces was the way we got out of jail).

I don't know what is wrong with Etuhu but I would have liked to have him and Bell on each wing with Hendrie in the middle with either Wesolowski or Oakley. Most likely the latter.

Creative or not our main (available) central midfielders, Oakley (0), Hendrie (1), Wesolowski (1) have scored 2 goals between them in 39 games this season and only one of those was in the Championship. So, no problem at all! And people called Joey Gudjonsson.

[Koke]

Creative or not our main (available) central midfielders, Oakley (0), Hendrie (1), Wesolowski (1) have scored 2 goals between them in 39 games this season and only one of those was in the Championship. So, no problem at all! And people called Joey Gudjonsson.

I didn't say it wasn't a problem. I said it isn't as big of a problem as our strikers. Yes, our midfielders don't contribute enough with goals but they do create chances for the forwards - something we didn't do last season and pre-Holloway. We relied heavily on hoofing and set pieces back then.

I actually agree with you, I do want King in there and give him the license to go forward.

[Thracian]

I didn't say it wasn't a problem. I said it isn't as big of a problem as our strikers. Yes, our midfielders don't contribute enough with goals but they do create chances for the forwards - something we didn't do last season and pre-Holloway. We relied heavily on hoofing and set pieces back then.

I actually agree with you, I do want King in there and give him the license to go forward.

Sorry I sounded grumpy. It still baffles me how such a theoretically decent squad has been so ineffectually managed as to leave us in such a precarious position and the more I think about it the more depressed and frustrated I feel. I'd put Beaglehole in charge for the last three games, I really would. If nothing else goals would be virtually guaranteed, providing people left him alone to make the decisions of course cos he went all defensive when he got a first team chance at Plymouth.

[Ric Flair]

I'm amazed at Oakley's ineptness of recent weeks. The lad was absolutely unbelievable for Derby last season and this year was apparently their best player, admittedly in a very poor team. He's come here, started brightly and then got worse and worse as each game has gone on. He looks a shadow of his former self, but I know he can still cut it if he can find the form and motivation. I wonder why Ollie can't get him performing, it's not as if he's not blessed with natural ability either. He's been class for 10 years and is still relatively young for the level he's at now, given where he's played for the majority of his career.

[Raj]

As I've already made a thread on Strikers, I was wandering what type of qualities we need in midfield on Saturday.

Personally, in the centre I think we need the pitbull-esque play of Wesolowski with the creativity of Hendrie. Weso can break up play and give Hendrie a liscense to push forward.

On the wings I'd go for Bell/Ethuhu/Lackzo/Bori in no particualar order. I would liketo see two out of the four to start, because they are proper, recognised wingers.

No doubt he'll play Hume and Hayles though.

Thoughts?

Good qualities is what we need on Saturday.

[Simon]

I'm amazed at Oakley's ineptness of recent weeks. The lad was absolutely unbelievable for Derby last season and this year was apparently their best player, admittedly in a very poor team. He's come here, started brightly and then got worse and worse as each game has gone on. He looks a shadow of his former self, but I know he can still cut it if he can find the form and motivation. I wonder why Ollie can't get him performing, it's not as if he's not blessed with natural ability either. He's been class for 10 years and is still relatively young for the level he's at now, given where he's played for the majority of his career.

I don't get it either. You wouldn't think he was captain at Derby either would you? There are only a handful of people that appear to be talking in that team right now and they are Hendrie, Kisnorbo, Howard, Stearman and Clapham, and the latter three only sporadically.

That's when I start getting worried.

[Raj]

I'm amazed at Oakley's ineptness of recent weeks. The lad was absolutely unbelievable for Derby last season and this year was apparently their best player, admittedly in a very poor team. He's come here, started brightly and then got worse and worse as each game has gone on. He looks a shadow of his former self, but I know he can still cut it if he can find the form and motivation. I wonder why Ollie can't get him performing, it's not as if he's not blessed with natural ability either. He's been class for 10 years and is still relatively young for the level he's at now, given where he's played for the majority of his career.

Another one who doesnt give a fcuk about our Club.

All will be revealed to us mere mortals in good time about the players who dont give 2 fcuks.

Hopefully sooner rather than later.

[General lee]

Oakleys another tart here for a last big pay check. Play Chambers in the middle with Weso and let Andy King play in front of them and get Forward.

Play Hendrie and Bell on the wing.

3-5-2 Fook it, last chance.

[Candidcamera]

However, Stearman has come on great since he arrived. I don't think the midfield should be changed but King is unlucky as was Weso on Saturday.