cc_star Posted 20 March 2015 Posted 20 March 2015 The only midfield pairing we've had all season was Hammond & King in the early games, when James & Drinkwater was injured and Cambiasso was obviously coming up to speed Since their introduction we've generally been woeful in midfield... and it's been two individuals playing, not a proper pairing Occasionally those individuals have shone like Cambiasso at Goodison Park, but that's about it There needs to be a midfielder or two (4231) tasked with protecting the defence, I thought that was the whole reason if signing Cambiasso, but we've been woeful at it. It's not negative to do this as it allows the fullbacks to be attacking players without sacrificing cover at the back
Guest Posted 20 March 2015 Posted 20 March 2015 we have such a poor attack and defence that we haven't been able to play the extra midfielder that we need to.
Fox Ulike Posted 20 March 2015 Posted 20 March 2015 There's a potentially great midfield in James Drinkwater and Cambiasso but we seem more concerned with playing an extra defender. This. The reason our CMs have under-performed is because they've been out-numbered by a midfield three in most games. The simplest explanations are usually the right ones.
cc_star Posted 20 March 2015 Posted 20 March 2015 we have such a poor attack and defence that we haven't been able to play the extra midfielder that we need to. The extra midfielder would help both those things, it would help cover the defence... and it would allow a box-to-box midfielder to support the front more
Guest Posted 20 March 2015 Posted 20 March 2015 The extra midfielder would help both those things, it would help cover the defence... and it would allow a box-to-box midfielder to support the front more Theoretically yes. Sadly our midfielders haven't been seen able to help our defense or our attack.
st albans fox Posted 20 March 2015 Posted 20 March 2015 Surely the strangest thing to be derived from this thread is why the management can't see it??????
desertfox2 Posted 20 March 2015 Posted 20 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.
desertfox2 Posted 20 March 2015 Posted 20 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. Exactly. The problem has been though that we have no variety in our wide players so for any team playing us we are easy to work out and stop playing. In that we had knockaert and dyer to fill in last year and rotated our wide players much more and had a plan b. For whatever reason unless he absolutely has to Pearson doesn't seem to want to play knockaert or Albrighton. Add to that there's nobody to cross to now as Ulloa has been dropped and we are focked. With all the changes this season it doesn't even seem like we have had a plan A never mind a plan B. Running out of time to fix as well.
Guy Posted 20 March 2015 Posted 20 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 Indeed, this is primarily why we accrued 102 points last season and why we've only managed a miserly record breakingly low amount (for us in the prem) of 19 this season to date!!
RedSoxUK Posted 20 March 2015 Posted 20 March 2015 If we're doing a hindsight thing, then it really went tits up when we failed to sign James MacArthur, think both (with Cambiasso) should have signed in positions we really needed to bulk up in order to get some control in the midfield. as for the Drinky - James partnership, James has looked head and shoulders above Drinkwater in his movement, positioning, passing, and defensive work while being on the pitch. Drinkwater's looked mediocre at best, and I think that's down to us not being a possession team, being weaker than oppositions not allowing our midfield two to control games - especially at home. Drinkwater vs Stoke was a very tame performance. That being said, I would like to see the two of them work together, because I think they have a better understanding of each other's game. I would gladly sacrifice a CB (any, it doesn't bother me at this stage) to play with 3 CMs Cambiasso behind, James and Drinkwater just in front. if not Drinkwater then Hammond.
Arriba Los Zorros Posted 20 March 2015 Posted 20 March 2015 Cambiasso James behind, Cambiasso and Drinkwater just in front. if not Drinkwater then Hammond King IMO Cambiasso is not a holding player, given how easily people brush past him
Guest Col city fan Posted 20 March 2015 Posted 20 March 2015 I've actually been disappointed that we've not built upon the Drinkwater/James combo. I along with others, we're even suggesting that Drinkwater could be knocking on England's door at some point. It's been a huge shame IMO that he's not come through this season to be the player I hoped he would. The only young player IMO that Pearson has developed to look better than he did last season is Schlupp. Mahrez seems to be going backwards, Knocky is off the radar, Moore is on loan and Drinkwater has hardly featured. These were all players who the bulk of us thought could have a real part to play this season. Instead we've stuck with Cambiasso, we've brought in Upson and stuck also with Konch. Very disappointing really.
Guest Posted 20 March 2015 Posted 20 March 2015 I've actually been disappointed that we've not built upon the Drinkwater/James combo. I along with others, we're even suggesting that Drinkwater could be knocking on England's door at some point. It's been a huge shame IMO that he's not come through this season to be the player I hoped he would. The only young player IMO that Pearson has developed to look better than he did last season is Schlupp. Mahrez seems to be going backwards, Knocky is off the radar, Moore is on loan and Drinkwater has hardly featured. These were all players who the bulk of us thought could have a real part to play this season. Instead we've stuck with Cambiasso, we've brought in Upson and stuck also with Konch. Very disappointing really. James is a young player.
Fox92 Posted 20 March 2015 Posted 20 March 2015 Drinkwater should be back in. He's the only midfielder with a little bit of pace and the only midfielder that drives with the ball. It's so painful watching James run with it or try and get on the end of a pass because he isn't fast. We miss a midfielder like Izzet so much.
Jimmy Posted 20 March 2015 Posted 20 March 2015 Drinkwater should be back in. He's the only midfielder with a little bit of pace and the only midfielder that drives with the ball. It's so painful watching James run with it or try and get on the end of a pass because he isn't fast. We miss a midfielder like Izzet so much. the last game he played, Hamer's last start, he played 5 passes in a row 60 yards back to Hamer, each kick got worse and worse, that eventually lead to them scoring, he doesn't drive forward any more and looks like he doesn't even want the ball, someone will pass it to him when under pressure and he fires it straight back to them when they still have someone right on them and clearly don't want the ball at that moment.
Fox92 Posted 20 March 2015 Posted 20 March 2015 the last game he played, Hamer's last start, he played 5 passes in a row 60 yards back to Hamer, each kick got worse and worse, that eventually lead to them scoring, he doesn't drive forward any more and looks like he doesn't even want the ball, someone will pass it to him when under pressure and he fires it straight back to them when they still have someone right on them and clearly don't want the ball at that moment. The confident Drinkwater will drive forward though. He obviously lacks confidence, like most of the players. Team has been changed far too much.
Jimmy Posted 20 March 2015 Posted 20 March 2015 The confident Drinkwater will drive forward though. He obviously lacks confidence, like most of the players. Team has been changed far too much. yes but Drinkwater who lacks confidence is a liability
Fox92 Posted 20 March 2015 Posted 20 March 2015 yes but Drinkwater who lacks confidence is a liability Oh yeah I do agree.
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