King and Wellens

[RyanB89]

We need to sell wellens and bring in a new midfielder to partner danns, king/drinkwater on the bench.

[seenitall]

One is past it and the other is a lightweight puff of smoke who has been out of form for 18 months

[Iwan is a Welshman]

We did actually employ the 4-3-3/4-5-1 (whatever you want to call it) in the second half of the 2009/10 season. Dyer/Gallagher/Waghorn were often the front three. Fryatt played as a lone striker away at Blackpool and at home to Donny (until his jaw was broken) then played Waghorn up there (think Forest home, Cov home etc).

Valid point actually I'd overlooked that. It didn't work from memory either - I remember bemoaning the lone striker. Regardless, I've had this debate with another lad we go with, to say King hasn't functioned alongside Wellens in a flat 4-4-2 is ignoring the truth.

However, I'd still say the evidence of this season is that something has changed in the players and they can no longer work like that. Personally I think it's Wellens' ageing. We've already heard Wellens can't train at full capacity with the rest of the side.

[RowlattsFox]

For some reason Wellens is seen as a defensive midfielder when he isn't, think he's better in a 3 man midfield alongside a ball winner and an attacking player, which allows him to get on the ball a bit more.

[Fox92]

The midfield were poor yesterday, and I thought Drinkwater was better than both Wellens and King when he came on (for Wellens).

Although I don't think age matters that much (Giggs for example), Wellens' legs are going now. Although he is very good on the ball and most of our good play comes through him, he isn't getting any younger. Regarding King, he doesn't do enough, and he is easily knocked off of the ball. These two in midfield do not work. Wellens is not a defensive midfielder though. He is better driving with the ball, going forward. But for some reason, Sven played Wellens as a holding type player earlier in the season which has continued throughout.

I'd like to see Drinkwater -- Danns, to be fair.

[Leicester_Numan]

I like Wellens but as he said himself, he doesn't train 100% anymore so he can prolong his career. If he trains to 75% of normal but gives 100% in a match that's 100% of 75%. That's not good enough for me or for City. Sorry Richie, time to prolong your career elsewhere. King is the best finisher at the club but as a central midfielder, he's a lightweight. He should either put some muscle on or maybe be converted to a striker

[Babylon]

I like Wellens but as he said himself, he doesn't train 100% anymore so he can prolong his career. If he trains to 75% of normal but gives 100% in a match that's 100% of 75%.

It's standard for older players, Konchesky does the same.

[p_kam]

We all can see that king and wellens doesn't work but it doesn't matter what we think,it is what Nigel thinks,, he needs to open is eyes and see what we all can see but until than it will always be the old guards. We will have a crap midfield until than.

[DANGEROUS TIGER]

You have only began to notice now?

lol

[roachmachine]

seenitall and p_kam absolutely spot on, couldn't agree more, at last some common sense on here :trumpet: :scarf:

[Hinckleyfox]

It's standard for older players, Konchesky does the same.

I agree with Leicester_Numan to be honest, whilst i see your point with Konchesky, he was a premier league left back so 75% of his old ability can still cut it in this league, 75% of Wellens however would put him in League 1 in my eyes. With regards to King, people are forgetting he is only just back from injury and prior to that he had only been out of form for a few games. I say get rid of wellens, keep King, Until January at least.......

[Lettsy]

Wait hold on.........Any King was playing yesterday?! huh. I just saw some flid running (slowing jogging) about the field in his shirt. Didn't actually think he was a football player.

[marbelladave]

Marbella Dave will be all over this like a rash. Like a rash I tell you.

Nah.......... Long since given up trying to educate some of the people on here......

Scow has got it right, NFP started the 2009/10 playing 4-4-2 with King and Wellens in the center and 2 wide men, mostly Dyer and DNG. It lasted a couple of months until we got 'sussed', then NFP dropped one of the wide men and played Oakley, tucked in narrow right.

Playing 4-4-2 with 2 men wide and 2 men up is difficult enough if you have a solid central pairing but to do it with King and Wellens is suicide, we have seen it many times.......