Is Knockaert a Central Attacking Midfielder?

[Sharpe's Fox]

I see a lot of posters here saying we should play Knockaert in an advanced central midfield role when we play 3-5-2 because he is "creative."

This I don't disagree with.

What I do disagree with is that he should be utilised as a midfielder that, with the evidence from other championship sides that utilise that position, will link the midfield and foward players with the prime directive of getting assists. He is too rash, too raw, with a few tricks up his sleeve but not the range of passing and (I stress this a lot) ball retention skills like, as an example, Almen Abdi.

Yes he could be given a free role behind the strikers, but he isn't going to get assists. He will shoot. He will run at defences. From the evidence of last season he isn't going to pick out a killer pass, he will try to be Cristiano Ronaldo and win the game on his own. That's why he amazes and frustrates us all!

To summarise I personally feel that Knockaert is a great player who is important to us as a winger who will cut inside, but he shouldn't be used in such a pivotal position in a formation that utilises the strikers as the main goal scoring threat.

I started this thread to see your opinions on whether you think Knockaert is that sort of player. I sincerely hope it doesn't turn into a conversation about condiments although I am aware I am not in control of such.

Fly my pretties! FLY!

[AKCJ]

Yes.

[Guest shearfox]

You do make valid points but he is the type of player who will try something different and make that killer ball... it isn't about being a good passer in general, if you can make several killer balls through trying something different or take on players you will create chances for the strikers. He is a playmaker...

[Ricey]

I think it's worth giving him a chance in that position, he's the only option we have. The fact he'll look to attack and create will hugely improve on our current midfield.

 

I noticed NP go absolutely ape-s**t when Knockaert lost the ball at one point against Birmingham. I think that sums up his feelings on Knocky and shows why he hasn't started him in the league this season.

 

If NP feels he isn't a central midfielder, then I seriously hope he brings in someone who is over the next few weeks. Once the transfer window is shut and the Premier League teams have submitted their squads there will hopefully be plenty of loan options available such as Nick Powell, Josh McEachran or Tom Carroll.

[kingfox]

Most teams who get promoted, as I mentioned on the Charlton post match thread, have a player or players from midfield, who create by getting assists, or score 10-15 a season from midfield. 

 

2011/12 season
Reading - McAnuff 11 assists - Kebe 10 assists

Southampton - Lallana 10 assists

 

2012/13 season

Cardiff - Had Whittingham, we all know how influential he can be

Hull - Brady & Koren - Brady got 13 assists

Crystal Palace - Top Scorer in Murray, plus Zaha and Bolasie were constant dangers.

 

We simply don't have these types of players, the closest we have to them are Dyer & Knockaert, so why aren't we playing them?

 

Top of our assist charts was Marshall last season funny enough...now gone.

Joint second was Dyer & Knockaert both with seven, but right now they aren't getting played why?

 

Forget buying defensive minded midfielders, and playing a flat defensive minded midfield with James-Drinkwater-King.

 

Knockaert needs to be played, in an attacking midfield role, some people say it might not work, but he is our most creative minded midfield, plus he hasn't been given a fair crack at the whip this season yet. I also think as Ricey said we could do with another attacking minded midfield player, Powell looks to be off to Wigan, but someone like Carroll would be ideal. 

[Danizen]

I've always liked the idea of him in a free role but he's been ineffective, this season. There's still time for him to mature into the type of player who would do well in that position but it will require specialised coaching and a lot of patience . From what we saw last season, I think it's worth persevering with.

[GingerrrFox]

Watch David Nugent's goal against Forest at home last season. Knockaert's chip over the top from outside the box is exactly why he should be given a free role on the pitch, with Hammond and Matty James mopping up and doing the donkey work for him.

[Dan]

Definite CAM for me.

 

I completely disagree about him being unable to play a killer pass - he's often so quick to keep the ball moving should we be on an attacking break, but there are times which are becoming far too frequent for my liking, where he is very frustrating and seems to run into dead ends.

 

Needs coaching on when to release the ball. If he gets good at it, he'll be a star player.

 

He's had a very weak start to this season though, for me.

[Sampson]

I've always liked the idea of him in a free role but he's been ineffective, this season..

How can you say that? He hasn't started bar one cup game when he scored and almost every time he's come on he's added energy to the side and we've generally played much better after he came on.

[Fez of Mahrez]

Best game I've seen him play was Hull at home last season where he had a kind of free role across the width of the pitch. He was brilliant. Shame that a) he's inconsistent and b) not given that freedom on a more regular basis.

Agree we need to ditch this Drinkwater/James/King rubbish. Not working.

[dayday]

I think it comes down the manager,Pearson tends to go down the cautious approach,if we had Redknapp or a Holloway type manager, Knockaert would be a certainty to start.

For me he should be playing centre mid,he is a match winner,he might be raw and make mistakes but the only way he is going to iron those mistakes out is by playing.

With the Dean Hammond signing i just hope he is not even more down the pecking order,I think most posters on here would say he is our most talented player at the club,it would such a shame to lose a him as we have only seen glimpses of how good he is.

[Fox92]

I think so. The only worry is he sometimes carries the ball too far, gets frustrated a lot and loses the ball easily. I do think though, you've got to be prepared for all of those if we was to play in this role. 

[Strokes]

With James being suspended and drinkwater being a bit of a bellend, now could be a good time to experiment. Hammond and king, with knockeart advanced, is worth a shout for me.

[bigneville]

Knockaert will not start a game in the 3-5-2/5-3-2 formation in the midfield 3.

 

It's clear he isn't defensively aware enough for NP to play in a midfield 3. He doesn't track back well, and is often caught having to sprint after his man because he is out of position. NP clearly doesn't want a CAM in this midfield 3, and wants King to link the midfield and forwards.

 

Whilst I agree that Knockaert could be a massive threat in this advanced central role, it would almost certainly mean that the two other midfielders would be under very strict instructions to not gamble forward. I'm not sure this is best for the team.

 

The best chance of Knockaert getting pitch time is if we revert back to 4-4-2 or we are requiring a goal in a game. Unless a major injury crisis arrives.

[theessexfox]

Watch David Nugent's goal against Forest at home last season. Knockaert's chip over the top from outside the box is exactly why he should be given a free role on the pitch, with Hammond and Matty James mopping up and doing the donkey work for him.

 

Was going to bring this up. Knocky should definitely play there.

Knockaert will not start a game in the 3-5-2/5-3-2 formation in the midfield 3.

 

It's clear he isn't defensively aware enough for NP to play in a midfield 3. He doesn't track back well, and is often caught having to sprint after his man because he is out of position. NP clearly doesn't want a CAM in this midfield 3, and wants King to link the midfield and forwards.

 

Whilst I agree that Knockaert could be a massive threat in this advanced central role, it would almost certainly mean that the two other midfielders would be under very strict instructions to not gamble forward. I'm not sure this is best for the team.

 

The best chance of Knockaert getting pitch time is if we revert back to 4-4-2 or we are requiring a goal in a game. Unless a major injury crisis arrives.

We have 8 other defensive players in a 5-3-2 if Knocky starts in the 3!

[Bayfox]

I really want us to use him behind the front 2 we can still have 2 sitting and it links the play much better.

[dmayne7]

I see a lot of posters here saying we should play Knockaert in an advanced central midfield role when we play 3-5-2 because he is "creative."

This I don't disagree with.

What I do disagree with is that he should be utilised as a midfielder that, with the evidence from other championship sides that utilise that position, will link the midfield and foward players with the prime directive of getting assists. He is too rash, too raw, with a few tricks up his sleeve but not the range of passing and (I stress this a lot) ball retention skills like, as an example, Almen Abdi.

Yes he could be given a free role behind the strikers, but he isn't going to get assists. He will shoot. He will run at defences. From the evidence of last season he isn't going to pick out a killer pass, he will try to be Cristiano Ronaldo and win the game on his own. That's why he amazes and frustrates us all!

To summarise I personally feel that Knockaert is a great player who is important to us as a winger who will cut inside, but he shouldn't be used in such a pivotal position in a formation that utilises the strikers as the main goal scoring threat.

I started this thread to see your opinions on whether you think Knockaert is that sort of player. I sincerely hope it doesn't turn into a conversation about condiments although I am aware I am not in control of such.

Fly my pretties! FLY!

 

Lost me here. Cleary haven't seen Ronaldo play for a while. If Knocky played like Ronaldo then yes he would try to make things happen but he'd also be one of the hardest working players in the team so I'd take that. 

 

In answer to your question though, he's good in either position really. I personally think he has the ability to play that killer pass and score goals. The thing that concerns me is how much his pace fluctuates. He looked pretty nippy when he joined but has definitely put on weight since he has been here. Some games he simes to glide past players but other times he is painful to watch, especially when he is chasing stuff down. Obviously because his game is about running, pace is a very key attribute and until he sorts that out a bit then he is not going to be as effective.

[KFS]

As mentioned above, the prospect of Hammond and King sat back with Knockaert feeding Vardy and Nugent/ Wood is mouthwatering.

[Loggy88]

I think he could play just behind who ever is up front. I think he would be more consistent in that position rather than out wide.

[brfc24]

Billy big bollocks

[Rich Fox]

Should build the team round him as he is our most talented player

No reason why he cannot play in advanced midfield. If we want so shore things up teach Kasper how to catch crossed might help.

[Kitchandro]

Quite simply, yes.

 

He's made for the central position behind the strikers. Watch the matches from the early part of last season and you'll see what I mean (I know you can't actually do that of course). He was sparying passes all over the place and creating openings, with a good goal threat from himself as well.

 

Even in small glimpses so far this season we've seen what he is  - like against Leeds how he got in between the two banks and fed people making runs. This is what he's suited to because he's a technical player, not a quick player, and not someone who makes half a yard. That's why he's more of a central player than a winger.

 

He's not the sort of player you can expect to be consistent. He won't be in any position for the time being and that includes on the wing. That doesn't mean he's not capable of pulling the strings when he's on form. He does have the talent and range of passing for the central attacking position, he's just too immature to show it every week.

 

The bottom line is we can't waste him on the wing and he should be playing more often.

 

Don't people want us to be playing how we were last October/November? I know I do, and I know where Knockers was mainly playing at that time.

[Guest Col city fan]

Surely the question should be: 'would you play him'?

We all pretty much know that Knocky is tailor-made for that space behind the front two.

But would you change the formation to accommodate him?

For me, that's the issue.

Kitch is right... He's not a winger.

[cjslcfc]

That's the position I see him being most successful in. He isn't a winger, he's far too slow - poor lad's legs move far quicker than he does, it's almost cartoon-like how he runs...

 

He has an eye for a pass and a shot, a bit of creativity in general! He is well suited to the CAM role and I would love Nige to play and persist with him there as I reckon he could give us so much more by playing in that position.

[Johnny Cash]

Played in positon. Scores and is instrumental in turning the game in our favour. Shock!