Creative Midfielder

[modern matron]

77% and we rarely if ever got in behind, pretty poor if you ask me. We desperately need someone who can find that killer pass. If you watch Osvaldo and JRod they are always looking to get in behind but the right ball never comes.

 

Ever Banega in January anyone?

 

Most needed signing for us.

[Wiggles31]

Couldn't agree more.

 

To have 77% of the ball and no get in behind is disappointing. Osvaldo is screaming for that killer pass.

 

Freak game.

[Smirking_Saint]

We had 21 shots, 9 on target. Thats not bad going. We've been doing ok until this little run of bad form. We need to cut out silly mistakes and IMO drop Lambert as he doesnt suit the system.

[Wiggles31]

We had 21 shots, 9 on target. Thats not bad going. We've been doing ok until this little run of bad form. We need to cut out silly mistakes and IMO drop Lambert as he doesnt suit the system.

 

But surely having a creative midfielder would have created more clear cut chances. Can only see it improving the side.

[Barry Sanchez]

77% and we rarely if ever got in behind, pretty poor if you ask me. We desperately need someone who can find that killer pass. If you watch Osvaldo and JRod they are always looking to get in behind but the right ball never comes.

 

Ever Banega in January anyone?

 

Most needed signing for us.

Would love him but seriously would he? What could we offer him?

[Smirking_Saint]

But surely having a creative midfielder would have created more clear cut chances. Can only see it improving the side.

 

And potentially detracting from the high pressing ? It all depends on the trade off, besides, we have one, Ramirez would look much better if he was passing to a more mobile striker but he probably doesnt fit the system.

[Wiggles31]

Davis was sort of playing the role and to be fair had a great game.

 

Just think a player with the knack of making killer passes would improve our attacking game drastically.

 

Would love to see us get in behind more. Starting to sound like Tom Daley.

[Wiggles31]

And potentially detracting from the high pressing ? It all depends on the trade off, besides, we have one, Ramirez would look much better if he was passing to a more mobile striker but he probably doesnt fit the system.

 

Don't see why it would detract from the high pressing. Sadly Gaston could have been that player but we all know he won't be.

[Rebel]

We need a centre forward just as much to finish things off and put the ball in the back of the net!

[Smirking_Saint]

Don't see why it would detract from the high pressing. Sadly Gaston could have been that player but we all know he won't be.

 

Because only the best teams can afford those creative, hard working players, you are talking the Wilsheres and Rooneys of this world. Tonight we just played poor, Cork seemed out of position at times, Yoshi was too tight for the first, and the third was a team fault followed by a worldie.

 

Teams tighten up against us, and we play narrow so they tend to tighten up around the box which means we need deep crosses or very quick passing. I think Ossie will work with our system, and we will all click, as I said before its the silly mistakes we are making and lack of depth that worries me at the moment.

[norwaysaint]

Would love him but seriously would he? What could we offer him?

 

we could offer him the chance to be a celebrated signing one minute and then derided as another expensive foreign waste of money if he's not been a big success after ten games. Before we sign him, we ought to work out what silly snide version of his name we're going to use at that point. How about Eversobad Banega? Ever Banegative impact? Ever Banegash?

[Restark19]

for me we need a Rooney type player, can get up and down the pitch, in the oppositions faces while also having the quality to spray those passes around from in 'the hole' and (when he's not his game) being lethal infront of goal. Unfortunately there are few of these players on the market and almost none in our price range who would be happy to join us

[saint-crinny]

We struggled to strike the balance between defence and attack in the last few games really. Didn't really create anything decent against Arsenal and Chelsea and sides like those two will get goals against you eventually (or we just hand them to them like against Arsenal and loads of our other conceded goals) - today we just bombed forward like maniacs at times, but without cohesion and ended up tossing a lot of balls into the box.

 

So agreed we could have done with that intelligent user of the ball in there today, echo the sentiments on Gaston, so frustrating that he isn't that player for us (in MP's mind at least).

[Saint_clark]

I think it's part of Pochettinos style that we don't try too many "killer" passes. Frustrating, but he's the boss.

[Smirking_Saint]

I think it's part of Pochettinos style that we don't try too many "killer" passes. Frustrating, but he's the boss.

 

Less risky passes, less shots mean that you keep possession. As I said it wasnt a problem when we were not making mistakes and thus were not letting in goals.

 

I think when Ossie clicks he'll play instead of RL and goals will come but its keeping it ticking over til then.

[110_Persaint]

Need.

 

Gaston.

 

Back.

 

(Fast)

[melmacian_saint]

Move to next comment.

Edited 5 December, 2013 by melmacian_saint

[110_Persaint]

Banega would be a Spanish-speaking Ramirez.

[Wiggles31]

We're sometimes too predictable with the ball and don't release it early enough. Don't get me wrong we are a fantastic side but if we had a player who could play that pass we would create many more clear cut chances. We didn't create enough for having 77% of the ball.

[Barry Sanchez]

Banega would be a Spanish-speaking Ramirez.

 

Oh dear.

[CanadaSaint]

Davis is a very good journeyman midfielder, but that's all he is. If we rely on him to be our main creative force, which we did tonight, we'll see more games like this - lots of possession but little ability to turn it into goals.

 

If our management sees Davis rather than Ward-Prowse as the fulcrum for our attacking game, as suggested by the tactical substitution before half time, which also reduced our set piece effectivenes by 50% or more, then we might have another problem.

 

Don't get me wrong - I really like Pochettino, but he does some very strange things and IMO is being out-managed a little too often and a little too easily for my liking.

[RonManager]

Davis is a very good journeyman midfielder, but that's all he is. If we rely on him to be our main creative force, which we did tonight, we'll see more games like this - lots of possession but little ability to turn it into goals.

 

If our management sees Davis rather than Ward-Prowse as the fulcrum for our attacking game, as suggested by the tactical substitution before half time, which also reduced our set piece effectivenes by 50% or more, then we might have another problem.

 

Don't get me wrong - I really like Pochettino, but he does some very strange things and IMO is being out-managed a little too often and a little too easily for my liking.

 

I see what you're saying but I think we're being so pulled about by all the injuries occurring almost at once, that there's a certain amount of thinking on your feet/fire fighting going on at the moment.

[DuncanRG]

we could offer him the chance to be a celebrated signing one minute and then derided as another expensive foreign waste of money if he's not been a big success after ten games. Before we sign him, we ought to work out what silly snide version of his name we're going to use at that point. How about Eversobad Banega? Ever Banegative impact? Ever Banegash?

 

Big fan of this post, haha

[shurlock]

Davis is a very good journeyman midfielder, but that's all he is. If we rely on him to be our main creative force, which we did tonight, we'll see more games like this - lots of possession but little ability to turn it into goals.

 

If our management sees Davis rather than Ward-Prowse as the fulcrum for our attacking game, as suggested by the tactical substitution before half time, which also reduced our set piece effectivenes by 50% or more, then we might have another problem.

 

Don't get me wrong - I really like Pochettino, but he does some very strange things and IMO is being out-managed a little too often and a little too easily for my liking.

 

JWP's set pieces are excellent but I haven't seen much from in terms of him taking the ball forward and linking up with the attackers. Davis gets into more dangerous positions than JWP and at this stage in their careers is more versatile. The game was set on plate for JWP tonight as he had plenty of time to pick a pass - yet he chose the high percentage ball. I liked MP's sub - we didn't need another midfielder out there to slow down play and he was decisive rather than scratching his balls till the middle of the second half.

Edited 5 December, 2013 by shurlock

[Bearsy]

Eversobad

 

works for me!

[melmacian_saint]

I've just realized my awful mistake. Meant to be "La Liga-signed" Ramirez.

 

Sorry guys, bad evening for all I guess!

[CanadaSaint]

I see what you're saying but I think we're being so pulled about by all the injuries occurring almost at once, that there's a certain amount of thinking on your feet/fire fighting going on at the moment.

 

Fair comment, but in the absence of any information to the contrary, the Ward-Prowse withdrawal tonight - before half time - was tactical and not forced.

 

MP pulled him out of midfield and moved him to RB against Arsenal, so impacting (adversely IMO) two area of the pitch.

 

I'm not saying that JWP is ready to take on the fulcrum role yet - he has so much to learn - but that we don't have anyone doing it when MP makes changes like that, and Davis sure as hell won't do it effectively even if he does bring other good things to the table.

[Sour Mash]

We do need the addition of a creative midfielder who can unlock a defence and quickly change up the pace of a game. However, equally MP needs to look at his instructions to the team - it is clear to me we're playing almost at a "possession at all costs" policy, that's fine for chunks of the game, to be patient and control the match, but at times we should be encouraged to play the quicker ball, take a risk, do something different, even if it might, shock horror, result in us losing it once in a while.

[70's Mike]

77% and we rarely if ever got in behind, pretty poor if you ask me. We desperately need someone who can find that killer pass. If you watch Osvaldo and JRod they are always looking to get in behind but the right ball never comes.

 

Ever Banega in January anyone?

 

Most needed signing for us.

 

not the way we play, creative players give the ball away to much. Tactic is to retain the ball which, in theory, should reduce the chances of conceding, Problem is the unexpected like last night where we concede 3 when they only had 23%.

[Wiggles31]

not the way we play' date=' creative players give the ball away to much. Tactic is to retain the ball which, in theory, should reduce the chances of conceding, Problem is the unexpected like last night where we concede 3 when they only had 23%.[/quote']

 

Watch Banega play for Valencia he never gives it away cheaply but is very creative. AL is our only really creative player but he needs to be on the end of a Banega ball inside the full backs or through the centre.....

[dubai_phil]

Honestly?

 

Watching last night, one of the biggest failures was Luke Shaw.

 

Not for his effort defensive work, but that when we went to 3-4-3 his final ball into the box was poor. There must be a stat somewhere but I cannot recall any of his crosses reaching one of our strikers.

 

Close up work, short balls away from the box no problem.

 

Great defender, insanely great prospect. Long way to go to develop his attacking / creative skills yet though.

 

Sort those out and we will be fine creatively

[Batman]

if banega came and did not start tearing up the league like cazorla, hazard etc he will be slated as a massive flop and another failed signing

[jasonb]

if banega came and did not start tearing up the league like cazorla, hazard etc he will be slated as a massive flop and another failed signing

 

It does make you wonder doesn't it. The little technical players you mentioned have flourished in this high-speed and combative league. The same league that Gaston cannot seem to get to grips with. I say it's got bugger all to do with adaptation and more to do with lack of ability. Look at Coutinho at Liverpool, tenacious, great feet and basically hit the ground running in his first few games. We've bought lemons and there is no getting away from that fact. There is a reason we signed these players instead of Liverpool, Spurs et al.

[melmacian_saint]

It does make you wonder doesn't it. The little technical players you mentioned have flourished in this high-speed and combative league. The same league that Gaston cannot seem to get to grips with. I say it's got bugger all to do with adaptation and more to do with lack of ability. Look at Coutinho at Liverpool, tenacious, great feet and basically hit the ground running in his first few games. We've bought lemons and there is no getting away from that fact. There is a reason we signed these players instead of Liverpool, Spurs et al.

 

Key in all that: Pace. Crucial for little technical players. The Spanish league outside the big 2 can be a frantic affair, with teams often favoring an attacking, perhaps overexposed playing style. The French league, while technically inferior, is more physical, which again is great preparation.

Also Cazorla came from a team in the CL and Hazard from a team that had won the league the year before. Bologna are only a bit better than your usual elevator team.

[Sour Mash]

if banega came and did not start tearing up the league like cazorla, hazard etc he will be slated as a massive flop and another failed signing

More importantly, would MP give him enough free reign to be creative and risk losing the ball without being subbed/dropped.

[shurlock]

More importantly, would MP give him enough free reign to be creative and risk losing the ball without being subbed/dropped.

 

From what I've seen, Banega is very hardworking - probably been raised on the pressing game.

[Roger]

I'm not actually worried at mo but if we were 15th in jan same as when Adkins was sacked would that be seen as progress?

[Sour Mash]

From what I've seen, Banega is very hardworking - probably been raised on the pressing game.

Yes, but my point isn't necessarily about working hard, it's whether MP will tolerate a player taking risks, losing the ball a few times etc. I think that has been more his problem with Ramirez than work rate issues. Banega does sounds like a good fit though. A front 4 of Lallana, Rodriguez, Banega and Osvaldo would be potentially very impressive.

[Barry Sanchez]

Yes, but my point isn't necessarily about working hard, it's whether MP will tolerate a player taking risks, losing the ball a few times etc. I think that has been more his problem with Ramirez than work rate issues. Banega does sounds like a good fit though. A front 4 of Lallana, Rodriguez, Banega and Osvaldo would be potentially very impressive.

 

Why would Benega come here?