Central Midfield - Signing required

[Saint Charlie]

We really need to sign someone in this area. Hammond and Morgan played well together but as soon as one is unavailable to quality of the team drops a lot. Wotton really can't play in a 4-4-2 as he isn't mobile enough. James has done ok, but we need someone who can influence the game more. We got dominated by a good Ipswich midfield, and it sounds like they didn't do too well last night.

 

I really hope Pardew is able to bring someone in. A central midfielder anywhere near as good as most of his other signings, and with a bit of consistency both in performance and team selection, and I think we would have a really decent team capable of going on an excellent run until the end of the season.

[shurlock]

copied and pasted from the thread (didn't see this one)

 

Pretty clear that midfield has been a problem for a while - even brought up while we were winning. To this extent, worth considering Pards signings.

 

Defense

 

Jaidi

Seaborne

Fonte

Murty

Harding

Semi

 

Midfield

 

Hammond

 

Attack

 

 

Waigo (could be termed a midfielder but hardly going put in a shift)

Antonio (could be termed a midfielder but hardly going put in a shift)

Connolly

Lambert

Barnard

 

The lack of balance, especially the neglect of the midfield is blindingly clear. Without wanting to obvious, the fact that we've conceded goals or at other times not scored enough shouldnt just be seen as the problem of the defense and attack but also reflects the protection and service the midfield provides.

 

Now worth considering what Pards inherited: we lost Surman, probably our most cultured midfielder and one of the club's prized assets. Gillett who featured prominently last season can’t get a look in this one, so that's one less option in the middle. Wotton who was himself brought in to shore up the massive exodus of midfielders at the end of the 2007/8 season -Viafara, Safri, Idiakez, Licka etc- hence Portloo/Wotte's first signing- has not quite lived up his midfield general moniker while we never really replaced Cork who was a class act and ended up playing lots of games (more so than Schneiderlin).

 

All of which is to say that we've done the least in the area we've been most decimated over the past few seasons. Of course, there's an argument for saying we were also hit in other areas -say upfront (Rasiak, John, BWP etc) but at least we went out of our way to secure somebody like Lambert. Can't say the same thing about our midfield.

[david in sweden]

We really need to sign someone in this area. Hammond and Morgan played well together but as soon as one is unavailable to quality of the team drops a lot. Wotton really can't play in a 4-4-2 as he isn't mobile enough. James has done ok, but we need someone who can influence the game more. We got dominated by a good Ipswich midfield, and it sounds like they didn't do too well last night.

 

I really hope Pardew is able to bring someone in. A central midfielder anywhere near as good as most of his other signings, and with a bit of consistency both in performance and team selection, and I think we would have a really decent team capable of going on an excellent run until the end of the season.

 

It's pretty obvious that we needed reinforcements at the back, especially after Murty's injury / departing Trotman...and now we've got them.Fonte & Co...but the lack of punch in midfield has always bothered me.

AP has persisted with Schneiderlin (who does have some class) although he's been subbed 10 times this season, which suggests "something" not quite right, plus sadly he hasn't scored once yet. You don't expect MF players to be your top scorers but they ought to get one or two. Papa Waigo has 6, Hammond and Antonio 3, even the much maligned Lloyd James has now scored 2. (now injured) ..so with both Hammond AND James out, the MF is a bit weak and our highscoring strikers get no service.

 

Wotton is no Hammond, but I think he's worth his place in the squad and we seem to do well when he plays...but the rest of the MF looks a bit unbalanced. Papa Waigo and Antonio are there for their speed (and goals it seems).

Lallana is continually changed between striker and MF, but at last we see a fit Lee Holmes available to play.

 

Doesn't leave much more to choose from, Mills is best at FB, and most of the bench are defenders; Thomas, Perry ...Lancashire!...and why on earth we have Gillett back I don't know... as I thought he'd sold himself to Donnie ?

 

We need some creativity in the middle ..and not just ONE either...and some quality. We can't afford any more injuries in MF.

 

A ..Fisher, Case, or Marsden-type would be a useful addition right now.

[iansums]

Totally agree, a quality midfielder is a must. I said it a few weeks back when everyone was banging on about the defence conceding too many goals. And yes, improvements had to me made and AP has done that. But sometimes you put pressure on your defence by not protecting them or dominating midfield by retaining posession.

 

I hope the fact that Brian Stock was nowhere to be seen for Doncaster last night means he's on his way here.

 

Also, we should not forget that AP has virtually bought a whole new team and it does take time for them to gel. This is something that Leeds, Norwich, Charlton etc. did not have to contend with.

 

Even if we don't make the play-offs I would like to think we will hit the ground running at the start of the new season. Now that would make a change!!

[thorpie the sinner]

Absolutely essential!!!! we are pretty much planning for next season already!

[Saint Fan CaM]

copied and pasted from the thread (didn't see this one)

 

Pretty clear that midfield has been a problem for a while - even brought up while we were winning. To this extent, worth considering Pards signings.

 

Defense

 

Jaidi

Seaborne

Fonte

Murty

Harding

Semi

 

Midfield

 

Hammond

 

Attack

 

 

Waigo (could be termed a midfielder but hardly going put in a shift)

Antonio (could be termed a midfielder but hardly going put in a shift)

Connolly

Lambert

Barnard

 

The lack of balance, especially the neglect of the midfield is blindingly clear. Without wanting to obvious, the fact that we've conceded goals or at other times not scored enough shouldnt just be seen as the problem of the defense and attack but also reflects the protection and service the midfield provides.

 

Now worth considering what Pards inherited: we lost Surman, probably our most cultured midfielder and one of the club's prized assets. Gillett who featured prominently last season can’t get a look in this one, so that's one less option in the middle. Wotton who was himself brought in to shore up the massive exodus of midfielders at the end of the 2007/8 season -Viafara, Safri, Idiakez, Licka etc- hence Portloo/Wotte's first signing- has not quite lived up his midfield general moniker while we never really replaced Cork who was a class act and ended up playing lots of games (more so than Schneiderlin).

 

All of which is to say that we've done the least in the area we've been most decimated over the past few seasons. Of course, there's an argument for saying we were also hit in other areas -say upfront (Rasiak, John, BWP etc) but at least we went out of our way to secure somebody like Lambert. Can't say the same thing about our midfield.

 

 

Excellent post. It is now extremely urgent to bring in 1-2 new PROPER midfielders, one of whom can partner Hammond consistently and provide an engine that will deliver to the strikers/wingers. Schneiderlin is not that player - if anything he should be understudy to Hammond. James is OK and getting better, however he does not have a top footballing brain or pace to really get an attack moving fast through central midfield. We nearly always seem to go hoof to Lambo or wide to the wings (but then rarely get to the byline).

[NickG]

think something will happen, strange that Gillet disappeared last night

[Andyb1]

Agree we miss Hammond a LOT...

[SOTONS EAST SIDE]

think something will happen, strange that Gillet disappeared last night

Yes and Stock was not in Donny's squad last nite!!

[Window Cleaner]

Yes and Stock was not in Donny's squad last nite!!

 

 

He has an ankle injury, maybe the same one that kept him out for 3 months or so earlier this season. I don't know, it was obvious we wouldn't take a chance on him before we saw how that reacted to playing a couple of games.

[eelpie]

James is OK and getting better, however he does not have a top footballing brain or pace to really get an attack moving fast through central midfield. We nearly always seem to go hoof to Lambo or wide to the wings (but then rarely get to the byline).

 

Yet Lloyd has found scoring form when others haven't. He scored our only goal last night at Brentford high into the net from 20 yards, and nearly scored against Ipswich; his tremendous, powerful long range shot was on target and only just got parried away by the Ipswich keeper.