matty98 Posted 19 March 2015 Posted 19 March 2015 Just been looking back at the line-ups this year, and not a single game have we seen a James and Drinkwater pairing? Could this be the reason for our inability to control games?
Bettsj2 Posted 19 March 2015 Posted 19 March 2015 that's because Drinkwater was woeful when he played Decent home to Spurs on boxing day. Not played since.
Guest Col city fan Posted 19 March 2015 Posted 19 March 2015 I've made my views on this clear all season. Right from day one. In fact, before the season kicked off. The midfield of any side it's the engine room. It's the creator of chances, it's the shield for the defence. You either play box to box midfielders with incredible fitness levels to get up and down, or you play a formation where one (or two) blokes play the defensive role, freeing up the others to simply attack and create. Our midfield has done neither. It's been neither. Far from Cambiasso being 'class', IMO he's served little purpose. Neither has James. He's primarily defensive in his attitude, yet has been expected to get forward to link up play. The stats of any of our midfield players have been truly dreadful all season. For me, our demise over this season has primarily been down to Pearson not sorting out our midfield. He's relied on an ageing midfielder, well past his best and a formation which has not enabled him to be at his best. Our player of the season last term has hardly featured, whilst our best passer of the ball (King) has been benched. We've neither had the energy to track back, thus placing our defence under all sorts of pressure, nor had the creativity to supply our strikers with many chances. Our midfield at this level has been very very poor. Pearson has never addressed this. And it looks like we are going down.
Arriba Los Zorros Posted 19 March 2015 Posted 19 March 2015 Disagree with the above from Col City Fan, James and Drinks should have played together all season as they are more than capable with Cambiasso in a more limited role as a sub or when needed in certain games. They never got the chance to play together at start of the season due to injuries, and Drinky has been poor in other combos he was tried in (when James was injured) so has subsequently been dropped, that is the reason why it did not happen
Dickov22 Posted 19 March 2015 Posted 19 March 2015 that's because Drinkwater was woeful when he played Absolute bullshit
shailen Posted 19 March 2015 Posted 19 March 2015 Cambiasso and James have been our best two central midfielders. Cambiasso has chipped in with goals and could have had a few assists if our strikers took their chances. James hasn't contributed at all to our attacking play. Neither have King or Drinkwater, who both have looked worse tbh. In reality, we are a team that like to play out wide and attack with wingers. This team even last season was all about our width, stretching defenses and playing with a real tempo. Naturally the midfielders are not going to have the best stats but they definitely need to have contributed more without a doubt.
lcfcjw16 Posted 19 March 2015 Posted 19 March 2015 Dean Hammond needs to be back in our starting 11. Without a doubt
hamptonfox Posted 19 March 2015 Posted 19 March 2015 Spot on with this thread. The James-Drinkwater pairing has had no chance this season, and was very successful in a history breaking season last year. All of our central midfielders, and midfield pairings/groupings have failed to protect, create and score sufficiently enough to affect our performances to help win matches. We now have nothing lose but to give these two the option to succeed again. why this hasn't happened before now is a complete mystery to me.
Bayfox Posted 19 March 2015 Posted 19 March 2015 Absolute bullshit No. Fact. He has been a major disappointment. Not looked anywhere premier class.
Dan Posted 19 March 2015 Posted 19 March 2015 I remember the partnership getting one start - Spurs at home, a game we dominated the midfield. I like Cambiasso but why exactly have we neglected those two as a pairing?
st albans fox Posted 19 March 2015 Posted 19 March 2015 I remember the partnership getting one start - Spurs at home, a game we dominated the midfield. I like Cambiasso but why exactly have we neglected those two as a pairing? You remember wrongly then King came off at half time James came on The only game started as a 'pairing' was at anfield infront of Hammond. V good first 37 mins until DD got injured and EC came on. Tbh, we were good throughout so it was clearly Hammond screening that was the key. They did play together at Newcastle and soton but on a diamond with DD wide so I'll ignore that
Dan Posted 19 March 2015 Posted 19 March 2015 I've said the same about both Cambiasso & Ulloa all season - both are good players but neither fit the style of play that is most effective for this group of players.
Izzy Posted 19 March 2015 Posted 19 March 2015 After last season I told my mates who support other clubs that DD would set the Premier League alive and be pushing for an England place by the end of this season. Boy, do I feel like a complete knob now.
lcfcsnow Posted 19 March 2015 Posted 19 March 2015 There's a potentially great midfield in James Drinkwater and Cambiasso but we seem more concerned with playing an extra defender.
shailen Posted 19 March 2015 Posted 19 March 2015 Why are people talking about last season. They were excellent last season, but so was Pearson's management. They have been shocking this season. If people are willing to give them a chance, why not extend this out to Pearson based on last season
Dan Posted 19 March 2015 Posted 19 March 2015 You remember wrongly then King came off at half time James came on The only game started as a 'pairing' was at anfield infront of Hammond. V good first 37 mins until DD got injured and EC came on. Tbh, we were good throughout so it was clearly Hammond screening that was the key. They did play together at Newcastle and soton but on a diamond with DD wide so I'll ignore that Well OK I may have got the details wrong but I distinctly remember it being the second half we absolutely battered them and were it not for the usual shit defending/finishing we'd have won comfortably, so the point stands. Your example as well just backs it up. It's right near the top of Pearson's list of mistakes from this season.
st albans fox Posted 19 March 2015 Posted 19 March 2015 Well OK I may have got the details wrong but I distinctly remember it being the second half we absolutely battered them and were it not for the usual shit defending/finishing we'd have won comfortably, so the point stands. Your example as well just backs it up. It's right near the top of Pearson's list of mistakes from this season. I agree with you - just getting the facts right before someone dismisses your thoughts based on the mistake rather than the real point you were making.
smudgerfox Posted 19 March 2015 Posted 19 March 2015 I've made my views on this clear all season. Right from day one. In fact, before the season kicked off. The midfield of any side it's the engine room. It's the creator of chances, it's the shield for the defence. You either play box to box midfielders with incredible fitness levels to get up and down, or you play a formation where one (or two) blokes play the defensive role, freeing up the others to simply attack and create. Our midfield has done neither. It's been neither. Far from Cambiasso being 'class', IMO he's served little purpose. Neither has James. He's primarily defensive in his attitude, yet has been expected to get forward to link up play. The stats of any of our midfield players have been truly dreadful all season. For me, our demise over this season has primarily been down to Pearson not sorting out our midfield. He's relied on an ageing midfielder, well past his best and a formation which has not enabled him to be at his best. Our player of the season last term has hardly featured, whilst our best passer of the ball (King) has been benched. We've neither had the energy to track back, thus placing our defence under all sorts of pressure, nor had the creativity to supply our strikers with many chances. Our midfield at this level has been very very poor. Pearson has never addressed this. And it looks like we are going down. Agreed. Cambiasso is class - albeit fading class - and can't play in a central two. For his first Prem season James has been okay - but no-one else, other than Hammond has been close to good enough. King just has tool little impact on a game and DD has been THE disappointment of the season. But we went into the season with no central midfielder who'd played in the Prem before - that has been a serious deficiency. McArthur would/could have made all the difference. Alongside him Canmbiaso could have been used sparingly and James, and DD could have been introduced to the Prem more gradually. King should have been sold - he's had very little impact in recent seasons and was never going to make the step-up. Painful maybe but that's what was needed. Why did we not go through with the McArthur deal?
Tuna Posted 19 March 2015 Posted 19 March 2015 Remember when we all collectively went 'Oh Fook' when Drinks got injured on the opening day?
lgfualol Posted 20 March 2015 Posted 20 March 2015 My favourite pairing this season is King & Hammond. Those two really performed pretty well at the start of the season.
Hirsty The Blue 94 Posted 20 March 2015 Posted 20 March 2015 Because no 2 from our midfielders are capable of playing as a pair at this level. Need a 3rd man in there, and I would suggest if Nigel is adamant on 3 centre halves for the Wing back to provide the width. This is probably the only thing I have agreed with Col on is that our midfielders are much of a muchness. Not really attacking or defensive minded, not creative nor ball winners. We have 5 or 6 players who play in the centre of midfield who have no distinguishing features. I guess the closest we have to that is Hammond who has done a good job as an anchor, and his calf injuries could have cost us a good chance of staying up.
muzzy1981 Posted 20 March 2015 Posted 20 March 2015 Camby has been decent at times but I've been very surprised at how much he has played, considering his age and the fact that Drinky has great potential at prem level. It would have been nice to see Drinky feature more, to gain prem experience. He must be severely demotivated, which doesn't bode well for next season. Only the top teams with world class players can really afford to play 2 in midfield, therefore 3 really is a must for teams like us and for me we never signed that elusive defensive midfielder, a player who has no interest in getting forward but just sits in front of the defence, Hammond is exactly that player but not convinced he could perform to a high standard all season. Its just one of several areas we have got wrong this season, Nice learnt from his mistakes a couple of seasons ago so let's hope he does again
Lisac Posted 20 March 2015 Posted 20 March 2015 Because no 2 from our midfielders are capable of playing as a pair at this level. Need a 3rd man in there Absolutely this. The need to play 3 in central defence would disappear with more support up front, and attacking play and counters would benefit greatly.
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