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Attacking Midfielder


verlaine1979
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On another thread it's mentioned that RK says Juanmi is likely to be our only attacking reinforcement. Maybe he's more versatile than reports from Spain suggested, but most of them seemed to depict him as an out-and-out striker (two assists in three years would seem to back that up). Seems a bit odd when we've been crying out for some creativity in midfield for two seasons now.

 

Only thing I can think (barring a sudden and unexpected reintegration of Ramirez into the squad) is that they're assuming that Schneiderlin will go, and that when he does they won't get a like-for-like replacement, but will look for someone who plays in a more advanced role, leaving VW to handle a greater % of the defensive responsibilities.

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On another thread it's mentioned that RK says Juanmi is likely to be our only attacking reinforcement. Maybe he's more versatile than reports from Spain suggested, but most of them seemed to depict him as an out-and-out striker (two assists in three years would seem to back that up). Seems a bit odd when we've been crying out for some creativity in midfield for two seasons now.

 

Only thing I can think (barring a sudden and unexpected reintegration of Ramirez into the squad) is that they're assuming that Schneiderlin will go, and that when he does they won't get a like-for-like replacement, but will look for someone who plays in a more advanced role, leaving VW to handle a greater % of the defensive responsibilities.

 

I think Juanmi will play off the main striker, and we have Mane who can do that too. However, I think it would be good to have a creative player who plays a little deeper. We tried Tadic in that role (in the three in midfield) a few times last season and it didn't really work.

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Koeman actually described him as a player who can play across the front 3, behind a central striker. He doesn't see him as a striker.

 

Everything I've seen of him suggests he can play off a Pelle-type target. Is pacey and has good movement but that's quite different from an attacking midfielder who can create chances.

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In a move deliberately designed to further inflame Alpine Saints' blood pressure, Gaston was clearly shown in "The March" video.

He's clearly back at Staplewood and clearly involved at this point in the season.

 

Not saying he is the answer but at least he is an option up until 1st September.

 

Although not sure why Mane and Tadic aren't considered as AM's when we will be playing 3 out of Juanmi, Pelle, JRod & Long up front

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On another thread it's mentioned that RK says Juanmi is likely to be our only attacking reinforcement. Maybe he's more versatile than reports from Spain suggested, but most of them seemed to depict him as an out-and-out striker (two assists in three years would seem to back that up). Seems a bit odd when we've been crying out for some creativity in midfield for two seasons now.

 

Only thing I can think (barring a sudden and unexpected reintegration of Ramirez into the squad) is that they're assuming that Schneiderlin will go, and that when he does they won't get a like-for-like replacement, but will look for someone who plays in a more advanced role, leaving VW to handle a greater % of the defensive responsibilities.

 

You know that's happened right?

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You know that's happened right?

 

The same way it happened with Billy Sharp every season before he disappeared out on loan when the real action started? I'm not saying we won't see Gaston in the stripes this season but I would be very surprised if he features regularly in the league!

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I'm quite excited by the attack. Tadic started very well and will hopefully do well after a rest. JWP is improving and looks better further forward IMO, Hesketh is getting better each year, Juanmi looks an exciting player, Mane improves all the time and we have Rodriguez back.

 

Just CB and CM we need to get right if Toby and Morgan are gone. That's where the bigger money needs to be spent.

 

Same. Totally think its an exciting prospect for next season if we manage to replace morgan with someone else combined with the signings / recoveries from injuries that we'll have for 15/16.

 

Trouble is we're banking on the new signings paying off; settling in well, fitting in to koeman's system, working hard and showing some of their abilities. If even one doesn't do that (e.g. soares and steklenburg), we really don't have a viable alternative for those positions.

very willing to stay optimistic, though !

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Hopefully Juanmi and Jrod can add something -and Tadic is more with it as we looked very toothless at times last season. FWIW, supporters from other teams see us predominantly as a defensive team. There's a grain of truth in that. With all the changes at the back and midfield, our attacking line will potentially have to step up alot more.

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Hopefully Juanmi and Jrod can add something -and Tadic is more with it as we looked very toothless at times last season. FWIW, supporters from other teams see us predominantly as a defensive team. There's a grain of truth in that. With all the changes at the back and midfield, our attacking line will have to step up alot more.

 

Hopefully we'll see the Tadic at the start of last year and it would be nice if he can perform for more than 3 months. Apparently he had an injury so if he's over that we should see him playing well.

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Hopefully we'll see the Tadic at the start of last year and it would be nice if he can perform for more than 3 months. Apparently he had an injury so if he's over that we should see him playing well.

 

I know the second half of the season was disrupted by injury but am still tempering my expectations. Most looking forward to seeing Jrod back in action, even though there are probably more question marks over him.

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Hopefully Juanmi and Jrod can add something -and Tadic is more with it as we looked very toothless at times last season. FWIW, supporters from other teams see us predominantly as a defensive team. There's a grain of truth in that. With all the changes at the back and midfield, our attacking line will potentially have to step up alot more.

 

Tadic certainly looks like a player who should be able to play as the most attacking member of our midfield 3, but he did almost all of his best work coming in from wide, where we're already well-stocked with Mane, JRod, Juanmi etc. Of our genuine central attacking midfield options, Davis is a spent force, JWP has yet to impose himself for more than a few minutes at a time, and Gaston is completely out of favour. Without reinforcement here, I can see us enduring plenty of the same toothless football, where the only supply to our forwards is crosses from Cedric and Bertrand.

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The same way it happened with Billy Sharp every season before he disappeared out on loan when the real action started? I'm not saying we won't see Gaston in the stripes this season but I would be very surprised if he features regularly in the league!

 

He's got a couple of weeks to show if he's improved from last season, but he's also got the possibility of playing against European defences in a different style of play to the Prem, and his skillset might flourish with that kind of more tactical game.

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Davis, JWP, Tadic, Juanmi, Ramirez or Hesketh could all play there. Seems fine to me.

 

even with all those names, I'm not overboard with confidence.

 

I've always been a fan of Steven Davis, (but 30 is a dangerous age Cynthia)..and he's around that.

JWP improves all the time but is still " not the real thing".

I'd select Tadic (if he could play like the first half of last season) ...and we missed that at the back end of the season

Juanmi may (hopefully) surprise everyone .

Ramirez showed glimpses of talent -when he got into games, and between injuries. If he comes good in pre-season, worth keeping him, otherwise another loan.

 

Hesketh is an excellent prospect, but we badly need someone with international experience who can get stuck in, win the ball- instead of having to wait to get it.

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