Oakley or Spearing

[Corky]

Spearing currently.

[marbelladave]

I agree. I am not an Oakley fan, but Spearing is also slow and gives the ball away. He is no potential Steven Gerrard. He may run around a lot, but to little avail as he doesn't close down opponents quickly. We have a creative midfielder in Wellens, we need one that will win the ball back for us, stop their midfielders dominating the game as happened in the first half against QPR. Although Oakley does not do this either, I think that he is more effective than Spearing.

Interesting that you should consider Wellens to be a creative player.

I realise that this was why he was brought in, but I have seen little real evidence of that this this season. His pass to Waghorn on monday was good but such balls are all too rare, and, for me, he simply does not play in his front men often or accurately enough. Add to this his tendency to drop deep and try (and fail) to play the deep lying playmaker role makes me feel we need more creativity, not less.

[Sir Fynwy]

Interesting that you should consider Wellens to be a creative player.

I realise that this was why he was brought in, but I have seen little real evidence of that this this season. His pass to Waghorn on monday was good but such balls are all too rare, and, for me, he simply does not play in his front men often or accurately enough. Add to this his tendency to drop deep and try (and fail) to play the deep lying playmaker role makes me feel we need more creativity, not less.

Wellens was a creative player before signing for us, I would surmise that operating in our 3 man midfield with King and Oakley has blunted his creativity and a change of personnel around him may allow him to revert to type.

Spearing adds mobility which unfortunately Oakley cannot match so I'd go for retaining Spearing.

[ScouseFox]

Oakley tries to be too clever. Too many one touch passes when everything needs calming down. Too many extravagant flicks when there's a simple ball to keep possession.

We don't want to be giving the ball away against lower teams, we should be keeping hold of it and breaking them down.

So Spearing for me.

[marbelladave]

Wellens was a creative player before signing for us, I would surmise that operating in our 3 man midfield with King and Oakley has blunted his creativity and a change of personnel around him may allow him to revert to type.

Spearing adds mobility which unfortunately Oakley cannot match so I'd go for retaining Spearing.

Wellens has operated in a 3, 4 and 5 man midfield and manifestly failed to live up to his billing as a creative player.

The suggestion that the addition of another 'water carrier' would free him to play a more creative role is reasonable enough but on his performances this season, where his final ball has often been poor and his shooting almost non existent, there is really no evidence to support this.

Gallagher may not work as hard but his delivery to the front men is better and he does pose a threat around the box, at the very least he will add a much needed goal threat (in addition to King) to our midfield.

[Jimmy]

Wellens main problem is he's been playing too deep, when he's played in a more advanced role his passes are more incisive and more dangerous for the opposition

[Sir Fynwy]

Wellens has operated in a 3, 4 and 5 man midfield and manifestly failed to live up to his billing as a creative player.

The suggestion that the addition of another 'water carrier' would free him to play a more creative role is reasonable enough but on his performances this season, where his final ball has often been poor and his shooting almost non existent, there is really no evidence to support this.

Gallagher may not work as hard but his delivery to the front men is better and he does pose a threat around the box, at the very least he will add a much needed goal threat (in addition to King) to our midfield.

I know you won't agree but this is an open forum so here goes...

Putting one of our better striking options in midfield when we have several alternative midfield options to try out seems a bit strange, we have King, Wellens, Oakley, Spearing and Adams available to take 2 or 3 centre mid spots, surely we can get a working midfield out of that and play our strikers in their natural positions.

[MikeyT]

Give Spearing another run out, he deserves a shot. Didn't play too badly the other day, whereas Oakley has been in a bit of a slump for a while now.

[marbelladave]

I know you won't agree but this is an open forum so here goes...

Putting one of our better striking options in midfield when we have several alternative midfield options to try out seems a bit strange, we have King, Wellens, Oakley, Spearing and Adams available to take 2 or 3 centre mid spots, surely we can get a working midfield out of that and play our strikers in their natural positions.

In the same spirit of debate... two points.

I have pointed out on a number of occasions that that Gallagher is not that effective as a striker inside the box. He has not only missed a few sitters close in but does not appear to have the instincts necessary to take the fleeting chances that appear in and around the 6 yard box. To me he is much more effective around the edges of the 18 yard box and most of his goals have come from distance.

The midfielders you mention are, to me, too samey. King has the potential to be much more but not just yet. We have tried them in various combinations and all have lacked ingenuity and creativity, some thing we have been crying out for, so the suggestion of using Gallagher.

BTW I would be interested to know where you think our strikers natural positions are, particularly Waghorn, N'Guessan and too an extent Dyer also.

[Bettsj2]

I cant remember seeing Oakley playing well this season so Spearing.

[Mikey]

Spearing.

His inclusion on Monday worked wonders, gave our midfield that much needed spark.

[Fox92]

Spearing was great against QPR.

Oakley may have the expirience but he offers little, or nothing.

[DANGEROUS TIGER]

I just really hope Oakley goes at the end of the season. He just is not consistant, and lacks real quality.

[Webbo]

I really haven't seen anything to suggest that Spearing is better than Oakley but he does have youth on his side and the potential to get better. I'd stick with Spearing for now.

[flanimal]

Oakley doesn't seem interested. Give it to a player that wants it.

[sg6]

I think that Spearing looked sharp from the start against QPR and really helped to get that much needed first goal, so definately Spearing to start at Peterborough to hopefully add a bit more pace than Oakley. An early goal would kill Peterborough's confidence and start us off for hopefully another big win!

[Sir Fynwy]

In the same spirit of debate... two points.

I have pointed out on a number of occasions that that Gallagher is not that effective as a striker inside the box. He has not only missed a few sitters close in but does not appear to have the instincts necessary to take the fleeting chances that appear in and around the 6 yard box. To me he is much more effective around the edges of the 18 yard box and most of his goals have come from distance.

The midfielders you mention are, to me, too samey. King has the potential to be much more but not just yet. We have tried them in various combinations and all have lacked ingenuity and creativity, some thing we have been crying out for, so the suggestion of using Gallagher.

BTW I would be interested to know where you think our strikers natural positions are, particularly Waghorn, N'Guessan and too an extent Dyer also.

I don't think I'll bother analysing Dany and lloyds ability as strikers as the club and the majority of professional coaches they have worked with think they are wingers.

[smudger63]

I`d certainly play Spearing, instead of oakley.

Oakley can be left back, ( thats left back in the dressing room, to sort out the half time refreshmemts!)

[marbelladave]

I don't think I'll bother analysing Dany and lloyds ability as strikers as the club and the majority of professional coaches they have worked with think they are wingers.

That old chestnut, shame on you.

[Sir Fynwy]

That old chestnut, shame on you.

Have to admit that the club doesn't even seem decided on Dany as his profile says he is a striker but his write up goes as follows:

Speedy winger signed in the summer from Lincoln City, the Frenchman is set to make a big impact. A product of the famous AJ Auxerre youth academy, he joined Glasgow Rangers on two-year contract in July 2005 then landed up at Lincoln City on 23 January 2007 where his impressive form attracted a lot of attention, giving the Foxes stiff competition for his services.

but that is another discussion.

[marbelladave]

Have to admit that the club doesn't even seem decided on Dany as his profile says he is a striker but his write up goes as follows:

Speedy winger signed in the summer from Lincoln City, the Frenchman is set to make a big impact. A product of the famous AJ Auxerre youth academy, he joined Glasgow Rangers on two-year contract in July 2005 then landed up at Lincoln City on 23 January 2007 where his impressive form attracted a lot of attention, giving the Foxes stiff competition for his services.

but that is another discussion.

Better...

To my mind Danny has looked more effective in central positions in and around the box and I have said on a number of occasions that I think he could be effective leading the line. Given that our current best option in this position is Steve Howard I think that this view is more relevant than ever.

So what I am getting at, in my rather pedantic way, is that a different option up front changes the dynamic in midfield, hence my question.

Whether such radical changes are sensible at this stage of the season really is another discussion. One that would go badly for me I rather suspect.

[bluebeau]

As with the majority of posters I would also play Spearing instead of Oakley. I haven't seen Oakley have a decent game this season, & IMO he doesn't make a good captain (sorry NP).

Surely this has to be his final season with City, promotion or not.

I feel sorry in a way for Oakley because he has been everpresent all season, but we need some extra grit & commitment in midfield, so time for a change..........Spearing.

Jack Hobbs to assume role of captain?

[marbelladave]

As with the majority of posters I would also play Spearing instead of Oakley. I haven't seen Oakley have a decent game this season, & IMO he doesn't make a good captain (sorry NP).

Surely this has to be his final season with City, promotion or not.

I feel sorry in a way for Oakley because he has been everpresent all season, but we need some extra grit & commitment in midfield, so time for a change..........Spearing.

Jack Hobbs to assume role of captain?

A typically English response if I can say that without causing offence...

English football is fixated on workrate and as you put it "grit and determination". Holloway's team had plenty of that, but got relegated because they could not play football, workrate etc is not our problem, lack of creativity is.

Hence my suggestion that Gallagher play a creative role in midfield instead of relying on the 'workrate' of Spearing or even Oakley.

[Sir Fynwy]

A typically English response if I can say that without causing offence...

English football is fixated on workrate and as you put it "grit and determination". Holloway's team had plenty of that, but got relegated because they could not play football, workrate etc is not our problem, lack of creativity is.

Hence my suggestion that Gallagher play a creative role in midfield instead of relying on the 'workrate' of Spearing or even Oakley.

The typical English response seems to be playing players in the positions they are used to rather than putting a winger in as target man and striker in the midfield, seems fairly sensible to me. Obviously we could try moving players around but at this stage in the season it might be better to go with tried and tested rather than experimenting, we played OK on Monday (helped by a poor QPR performance) and I think we'll be OK against a team that is hardly in great form tomorrow.

[okie fox]

Interesting that you should consider Wellens to be a creative player.

I realise that this was why he was brought in, but I have seen little real evidence of that this this season. His pass to Waghorn on monday was good but such balls are all too rare, and, for me, he simply does not play in his front men often or accurately enough. Add to this his tendency to drop deep and try (and fail) to play the deep lying playmaker role makes me feel we need more creativity, not less.

By creative, I mean playmaker. Note, he also set up the first goal against QPR. He picked out Howard, who nodded the ball down for King to score easily. So that is two assists in one game. It is hard to play in the front man in a 4-5-1. However, I think that he has played in Dyer numerous times this season.