Central Midfield Balance

[Dusic]

For me this area is key to our attacking issue this season, largely because there is often no balance.

 

Biggest problem is that many of the players are very similar attribute wise. We lack anyone who is either a powerful runner, can beat a man or who naturally makes runs into the box and can occassionally finish.

 

IMO our best performances have been with Romeu behind Davis and Hojbjerg (like WH away) as I think this covers the most attrubutes and gives a little more creative passing and movement in this area. Davis is the most creative of our CMs and links the midfield to the attack neatly even if he is not often a direct goal threat.

 

Clasie and JWP are both decent players but when paired together with Romeu it is a very slow and static midfield when we have the ball as shown yesterday.

 

The one time JWP turned on the ball when receiving a pass he slipped it to Boufal and we scored. His biggest errors yesterday was when lazily playing back when he could have turned. Its about picking the right option.

 

We don't have a naturally attacking player in there like a Fer, Dembele, Cazorla, Lallana who all play in the central midfield three, but we definitely have some combinations that work better than others. Hopefully a reduced need for rotation as the season goes on will help to find the best combination.

[Saint_clark]

It wasn't the "one time" JWP turned on the ball though, watch the highlights again he does it just before the goal before playing it through to Martina to cross for Redmond, who then nods down for Boufal.

 

On the whole I think the best balance is one of Clasie/JWP and one of Davis/Hojberg.

[mrfahaji]

It wasn't the "one time" JWP turned on the ball though, watch the highlights again he does it just before the goal before playing it through to Martina to cross for Redmond, who then nods down for Boufal.

 

On the whole I think the best balance is one of Clasie/JWP and one of Davis/Hojberg.

 

Would probably play Davis & Hojbjerg if playing a 'Best XI', but the problem is that JWP & Clasie don't work well together at all. Therefore if we are in a period of squad rotation I'd be inclined to play as you've suggested.

[Saint_clark]

Would probably play Davis & Hojbjerg if playing a 'Best XI', but the problem is that JWP & Clasie don't work well together at all. Therefore if we are in a period of squad rotation I'd be inclined to play as you've suggested.

 

Nah i'd include Davis and Hojberg as being too similar in all honesty.

My first choice would be Davis and Clasie right now.

[Dusic]

This is definitely a problem area IMO.

 

We have no genuine cover for Romeu and a series of players, JWP, Clasie and Reed who have to be paired in the right way with other players in order to avoid having a very lightweight or small midfield.

 

Romeu and Davis are nailed on starters in our best team and currently JWP fills the other slot. Take Romeu out and we have zero physicality and must be a delight to play against in that area.

 

My no1 summer request would be a box to box central midfielder with an ability to run for 90mins and who can get to loose balls quicker than the likes of Clasie, Hojbjerg and JWP. Would help with our issue of being counter attacked from our own set plays also - we have a very slow centre midfield.

[FriendlySaint]

Dusic, a "told you so" type of person isn't interesting. They are boring. No one wants to be told "I told you so" (even if you have a valid point). Just a heads up.

[SuperSAINT]

This is definitely a problem area IMO.

 

We have no genuine cover for Romeu and a series of players, JWP, Clasie and Reed who have to be paired in the right way with other players in order to avoid having a very lightweight or small midfield.

 

Romeu and Davis are nailed on starters in our best team and currently JWP fills the other slot. Take Romeu out and we have zero physicality and must be a delight to play against in that area.

 

My no1 summer request would be a box to box central midfielder with an ability to run for 90mins and who can get to loose balls quicker than the likes of Clasie, Hojbjerg and JWP. Would help with our issue of being counter attacked from our own set plays also - we have a very slow centre midfield.

 

Can't disagree with any of that.

[FriendlySaint]

Can't disagree with any of that.

 

Agree with you (and Dusic obviously). My other post still stands, but I'll comment. Playing against JWP, Clasie and Davis must be a joy. No physicality at all. As must playing against JWP, Clasie and Reed. The weaker teams will get out played by JWP, Clasie and Davis anyway as their quality on the ball will be too superior. But anyone half decent will be licking their lips. We need a back up for Romeu that's his level. Ideally it's someone that plays central midfield unless Romeu is injured.

[Dusic]

Not a whole lot of midfield target links so far. Feel it should be our no1 focus area.

[jasoneuelllfanclub]

Not a whole lot of midfield target links so far. Feel it should be our no1 focus area.

Need a proper CDM to play alongside Romeu in a 4-2-3-1 system. We are too exposed on counter attack with just him. This way less reliance on boufal and Co to stick to rigid position and track back.

 

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[SuperSAINT]

Not a whole lot of midfield target links so far. Feel it should be our no1 focus area.

 

I wonder if we will keep faith with Hojbjerg - he's still incredibly young.

 

I think we will only see an incoming if we sell Clasie.

[bazza]

Need a proper CDM to play alongside Romeu in a 4-2-3-1 system. We are too exposed on counter attack with just him. This way less reliance on boufal and Co to stick to rigid position and track back.

 

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Absolutely. Asking Davis to fill in there is not the answer.

[SaintBitterne]

As good as he has been for us I would probably like this to be the season when Davis isn't selected every week.During the last half of the season I really struggled to see what he was contributing to the side.Dont get me wrong I've been a big fan of Davis in the side however I'm struggling to see what he adds .

[doddisalegend]

As good as he has been for us I would probably like this to be the season when Davis isn't selected every week.During the last half of the season I really struggled to see what he was contributing to the side.Dont get me wrong I've been a big fan of Davis in the side however I'm struggling to see what he adds .

 

 

He was being played to deep Davis needs to be played further forward were he can link up play with the forward players or travel into space with the ball. Having said that he is 32 now so I'd expect to see him getting less time as younger players come through especially if Mope is going to play a high intensity pressing game.

[derry]

The midfield has been a problem because it consists of Romeu plus four players that very occasionally get a goal. The midfield really should be Romeu plus one. Davis, JWP, Clasie and Hojbjerg are not goal scoring forwards and really only Hojbjerg has the physicality to play there. The three forwards or if you like attacking midfielders must form a goal threat. That means that only one of Tadic, Redmond or although I think he flatters to deceive, Boufal, should play at any one time. We really need a new goal scoring midfielder like Sigurdsson or play two from Gabbiadini, Austin, Long and Gallagher behind the striker.

 

If Pellegrino is going to press from the front then there is no place for the lightweight non physical player and all the outfield players will need to be able to win the ball back and be able counter attack quickly rather than pass the ball around our back four.