Guest Col city fan Posted 22 January 2015 Posted 22 January 2015 Apparently Graham Dorrans is available. Linked today to Palace
ADK Posted 22 January 2015 Posted 22 January 2015 I don't think we have a possession problem. I don't think Pearson has ever been a possession manager either. We might have dominated possession last season but that was just because we were so much better. Unless we are consistently getting <40% then I don't think possession is an issue. For me the midfield is our strongest point, all 5 of our midfielders have had games where they have reached the required level. The only issue has been the quantity of injuries. We started with lots of injuries in midfield and we currently have a similar situation.
Robin JD Popley Posted 22 January 2015 Posted 22 January 2015 To be honest, they've been no better, no worse than any of the others. Hammond has probably been the best and King started the season really well. I think you need to take off your blue tints for a while and accept our midfield has been generally poor at this level. We score so rarely from the central midfield area. We rarely take longer shots from that area and our set pieces have been atrocious. We almost never look like scoring from them. We sit bottom of the table amisdt sides that are pretty much of a muchness with one of the worst records for both goals scored and goals conceded. If we go into our next lot of games relying upon the same set of midfielders who have gotten us to where we are now, I think its bizarre. My only hope is that the central mids and especially Drinkwater, suddenly show that they are finally making the step up. It's not impossible of course, but for me, the central midfield is simply not Premiership quality. If our strikers aren't scoring, we don't look like scoring. Maybe Col, but I also think mate that although midfield have been weaker than they should be this year, my main bug bear has been our defence. THAT is something I think needs addressing as a priority - 'shambles' doesn't cover it most of the time.
Guest Col city fan Posted 22 January 2015 Posted 22 January 2015 Maybe Col, but I also think mate that although midfield have been weaker than they should be this year, my main bug bear has been our defence. THAT is something I think needs addressing as a priority - 'shambles' doesn't cover it most of the time. I'm firmly of the belief that if you score enough, the defence will improve. They will be more confident in the knowledge that if they do slip up and concede, it won't be a disaster because it won't mean we will always lose the game. Our defence is always under pressure. They are neither shielded enough by our midfield, nor are they getting into half time in enough games, confident because we are two nil up. With pressure comes errors.
Manwell Pablo Posted 22 January 2015 Posted 22 January 2015 who? Cattermole, oobbvvvvvvv On a serious note, knee jerk thread. Of course Saturday highlighted a problem in midfield. we had 3/4 of the midfielders at the club out. Over the whole season, it's not been the problem. Bar a few disappointing performances from players I was expecting more from after last season.
psychonaut Posted 22 January 2015 Posted 22 January 2015 I don't think we have a possession problem. I don't think Pearson has ever been a possession manager either. We might have dominated possession last season but that was just because we were so much better. Unless we are consistently getting <40% then I don't think possession is an issue. For me the midfield is our strongest point, all 5 of our midfielders have had games where they have reached the required level. The only issue has been the quantity of injuries. We started with lots of injuries in midfield and we currently have a similar situation. I dont think there is any area you can say has been our strongest point. Perhaps on the wing - with Mahrez and Schlupp having a good run but to say midfield is our strongest point is way off the mark. Drinkwater has been the most disappointing - from being player of the year to one of the worst performing players in our squad. I simply dont think he's able to cope with the pace and physicality of this division. King on the whole hasnt performed to the required level bar a few games at the beginnning of the season (but this was probably expected) - the same goes for Hammond - although he has been slightly more consistent. James and Cambiasso have been the two midfielders that have managed to stick their heads only just above the others - but by no means have been all that great either.
The Quick Brown Fox Posted 22 January 2015 Posted 22 January 2015 If we are bringing no other midfielders in, I would like to see hammond and king in the middle. We started the season with them and we started the season well, it was when we went to our "better" midfielders we started struggling.
RedSoxUK Posted 22 January 2015 Posted 22 January 2015 Anyone saying our midfield is good enough to survive needs to look at how we've performed in 90% of the games this season. The blame cannot be put on Ulloa, who has scored when needed with a lack of shots / shooting (heading) opportunities. And I feel the Leicester faithful, bless there hearts, but if Kramaric can't score 5 goals from 10 shots on target, he's going to be moaned at as he won't have the work rate of Vardy, or the scouse-like link up like Nuge as Kram is a poacher. The reason Ulloa (and Kram when he starts) drop back so much is because there's nobody in midfield actually bringing the ball forward, or confident enough to take on their opposing midfield player. So essentially it's utterly pointless to break the bank on Kramaric, or any striker for that matter, if we're not creating, or creative enough in the center of the park (Mahrez / Schlupp excluded as wingers) then we're going to be forever never scoring more than 1 / 2 goals in a game, or creating enough opportunities for our goal scorers to score goals. It obviously matches with the above posts about our similar CMs, but it's down to our obvious lack of premiership quality and our players inability to be all-round midfielders. Essien would have been great. We need to buy a player who can both take hold of the game, be defensive - and have the ability to attack, score, and create.
Guest Col city fan Posted 22 January 2015 Posted 22 January 2015 Cattermole, oobbvvvvvvv On a serious note, knee jerk thread. Of course Saturday highlighted a problem in midfield. we had 3/4 of the midfielders at the club out. Over the whole season, it's not been the problem. Bar a few disappointing performances from players I was expecting more from after last season. Stick with 4-4-2 for the next few games?
Manwell Pablo Posted 22 January 2015 Posted 22 January 2015 Stick with 4-4-2 for the next few games? I would yeah if we can get the personal back, was the quality that was the problem Saturday not the quantity if you ask me, four unbeaten, 3 wins and one draw playing predominately 4-4-2.
Guest Col city fan Posted 22 January 2015 Posted 22 January 2015 I would yeah if we can get the personal back, was the quality that was the problem Saturday not the quantity if you ask me, four unbeaten, 3 wins and one draw playing predominately 4-4-2. For a bloke who has consistently said three things: - Ulloa was over-priced (God knows where we'd be without his goals) -Schlupp is essentially shite (yet over recent weeks has looked our best prospect) - We didn't need a tenacious midfield battler (such as Cattermole) I won't hold my breath.....
Manwell Pablo Posted 22 January 2015 Posted 22 January 2015 For a bloke who has consistently said three things: - Ulloa was over-priced (God knows where we'd be without his goals) -Schlupp is essentially shite (yet over recent weeks has looked our best prospect) - We didn't need a tenacious midfield battler (such as Cattermole) I won't hold my breath..... He is over priced, a few goals in a short period wont change my mind on that, he very often doesn't play very well at all even if he does pop up with a goal, why do you think we're out in the transfer market trying to sign about 5 strikers. This is a player who could cost us 10 million pounds let us remember. Schlupp's played well about four or five times all season and was back to his bang average self on Saturday, although I have never said he is "shite" Didn't say that, if you want to name a good one then fine, just not Lee Cattermole.
RedSoxUK Posted 22 January 2015 Posted 22 January 2015 Cattermole, oobbvvvvvvv On a serious note, knee jerk thread. Of course Saturday highlighted a problem in midfield. we had 3/4 of the midfielders at the club out. Over the whole season, it's not been the problem. Bar a few disappointing performances from players I was expecting more from after last season. Saturday exposed the midfield for what it really is, weak and sub-standard. You can't compete in the premier league without quality attacking and defensive midfielders - look at our contemporaries Swansea, Everton, West Ham, and even Villa - years ahead in terms of premier league and midfield quality. He is over priced, a few goals in a short period wont change my mind on that, he very often doesn't play very well at all even if he does pop up with a goal, why do you think we're out in the transfer market trying to sign about 5 strikers. This is a player who could cost us 10 million pounds let us remember. Schlupp's played well about four or five times all season and was back to his bang average self on Saturday, although I have never said he is "shite" Didn't say that, if you want to name a good one then fine, just not Lee Cattermole. Ulloa's goals have been fundamental to us winning / drawing games where we've picked up points, to say he's overpriced compared to what he's done is relative to how we would have done with 10m in the pocket playing Nuge or Vardy instead. Ulloa can't score goals if he doesn't get the chances or opportunities to score goals - Diego Costa would struggle in our team.
Guest Col city fan Posted 22 January 2015 Posted 22 January 2015 Saturday exposed the midfield for what it really is, weak and sub-standard. You can't compete in the premier league without quality attacking and defensive midfielders - look at our contemporaries Swansea, Everton, West Ham, and even Villa - years ahead in terms of premier league and midfield quality. Ulloa's goals have been fundamental to us winning / drawing games where we've picked up points, to say he's overpriced compared to what he's done is relative to how we would have done with 10m in the pocket playing Nuge or Vardy instead. Ulloa can't score goals if he doesn't get the chances or opportunities to score goals - Diego Costa would struggle in our team. Absolutely spot on
Babylon Posted 22 January 2015 Posted 22 January 2015 Saturday exposed the midfield for what it really is, weak and sub-standard. You can't compete in the premier league without quality attacking and defensive midfielders - look at our contemporaries Swansea, Everton, West Ham, and even Villa - years ahead in terms of premier league and midfield quality. The only thing exposed on Saturday was that we can't cope with two fit central midfielders. We were completely lacking the option to go to a three that actually turned the game around against Stoke at their place. Of course those teams are years ahead in terms of quality, they have been in the league for years and had the time to invest over a sustained period.
Manwell Pablo Posted 22 January 2015 Posted 22 January 2015 Saturday exposed the midfield for what it really is, weak and sub-standard. You can't compete in the premier league without quality attacking and defensive midfielders - look at our contemporaries Swansea, Everton, West Ham, and even Villa - years ahead in terms of premier league and midfield quality. Ulloa's goals have been fundamental to us winning / drawing games where we've picked up points, to say he's overpriced compared to what he's done is relative to how we would have done with 10m in the pocket playing Nuge or Vardy instead. Ulloa can't score goals if he doesn't get the chances or opportunities to score goals - Diego Costa would struggle in our team. What, out injured? No he's overpriced when compared to how we would of done if we had gone out and spent it on someone else. Or, as I said at the time, take 3-4 or four million more and go out and get some real quality. I am amazed Pearson views Ulloa as 8 million worth of striker yet Shinji Okazaki is "too much" at 10 for example. Ulloa has been very lucky with some of the chances that have landed in his lap this season without them he could well have 3-4 goals, and if he sticks around for the long haul my wager would be he will struggle to keep up his early rate of scoring, as he is already showing in fact. He's scored two league goals since September and even when he has scored we've taken 0 points. He's actually in deceptively poor form and it's being masked by his great start. Don't get me wrong he'd be in my XI alongside Kramaric at this moment in time, but 8 million, dunno how anyone can seriously suggest the opinion we over spent on him is wrong beyond doubt.
Guest Col city fan Posted 22 January 2015 Posted 22 January 2015 The only thing exposed on Saturday was that we can't cope with two fit central midfielders. We were completely lacking the option to go to a three that actually turned the game around against Stoke at their place. Of course those teams are years ahead in terms of quality, they have been in the league for years and had the time to invest over a sustained period. This having time to invest over a sustained period only goes so far. I remember when Southampton came up two divisions in successive years then managed fine in the Prem. O'Neill secured what 8th? In his first year. Get the right players in, they'll do ok. There are examples of teams getting up then going straight down, then other teams making the step up fine. I agree, the longer you are in the Prem, the better the chances of building a squad capable of getting up the table. But it doesn't always work like that. Hull for example, look worse this year than last. Though they are blighted with injury. I think the right manager spends the right money on the right players and plays them the right way.
Dan Posted 22 January 2015 Posted 22 January 2015 It's a pretty valid point about our lack of goals from midfield and one that hasn't really occurred. In-fact other than Ulloa, Schlupp, Cambiasso and arguably Mahrez, no-one's scored as many as they should have done for me. A total of one goal from our defenders and two from our central midfielders. Holy shit.
RedSoxUK Posted 22 January 2015 Posted 22 January 2015 What, out injured? No he's overpriced when compared to how we would of done if we had gone out and spent it on someone else. Or, as I said at the time, take 3-4 or four million more and go out and get some real quality. I am amazed Pearson views Ulloa as 8 million worth of striker yet Shinji Okazaki is "too much" at 10 for example. Ulloa has been very lucky with some of the chances that have landed in his lap this season without them he could well have 3-4 goals, and if he sticks around for the long haul my wager would be he will struggle to keep up his early rate of scoring, as he is already showing in fact. He's scored two league goals since September and even when he has scored we've taken 0 points. He's actually in deceptively poor form and it's being masked by his great start. Don't get me wrong he'd be in my XI alongside Kramaric at this moment in time, but 8 million, dunno how anyone can seriously suggest the opinion we over spent on him is wrong beyond doubt. 7 goals from 15 starts in the prem isn't bad at all for this level, form or not - that period when he wasn't scoring was a reflection of the team. Bony has scored 9 from 16 starts, and Lukaku 6 goals from 19 starts. Ulloa isn't overpriced.
ADK Posted 22 January 2015 Posted 22 January 2015 Ulloa has scored a lot of really good goals too. He's only had 1 tap in and 1 penalty. The others have been really impressive. He scores goals where Nugent and Vardy would simply never score. That is worth 8 million.
dayday Posted 22 January 2015 Posted 22 January 2015 Our midfield only struggle against sides that come to frustrate,when teams open up it suits us better. Why that is I don't know,on Saturday we pretty much waved the white flag as we were always going to struggle,strange as it mind sound,I thought it would have been a good idea to bring Liam Moore on to sit just in front of the back four,just to help the midfield out. It was crying out for something different not like for like subs.
broughtonblue Posted 22 January 2015 Posted 22 January 2015 This thread? Reading it we are weak in midfield, weak in defence and we can't score goals! Other threads complain about our keepers, bloody hell we are doomed
Mayofox Posted 22 January 2015 Posted 22 January 2015 If we are bringing no other midfielders in, I would like to see hammond and king in the middle. We started the season with them and we started the season well, it was when we went to our "better" midfielders we started struggling. Tony Pulis said this afto that although they are interested in Darren Fletcher, there are 3 or 4 clubs chasing him....
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.