Midfield is the Problem | Trottersforever Forum

davidm
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Posts: 1,915

Midfield is the Problem Feb 12, 2020 15:23:27 GMT

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Post by davidm on Feb 12, 2020 15:23:27 GMT

We may have a slow-thinking and often ponderous defence and an attack that is regularly short-staffed but it is the midfield that is the source of most of our problems.

Take Tuesday night, we had Lowe, Luke Murphy and Hamilton in midfield.

Two of those are vastly experienced.

Lowe:-

- 173 appearances for Blackburn

- 9 appearances for Birmingham

- 35 appearances for us (prior to this season)

Most of those in either Premiership or Championship

Luke Murphy:-

- 161 appearances for Crewe

- 103 appearances for Leeds

- 57 appearances for Burton

- 11 appearances for us (prior to this season)

Over half of those in the Championship

Hamilton is less experienced but comes from a premier team.

Looking at the total experience that these 3 have, we should be controlling games and driving forward through much more inexperienced midfields.

BUT WE DON’T.

Our passing is diabolical. How often do we see either Lowe or Murphy accurately pass the ball forward? Lowe is the master of sideways or backwards passing and Murphy just cannot pass straight.

Added to the passing failures, how do we allow individual players the room to just run through us into the heart of our defence? See Doncaster’s first goal as an example – there was just no challenge whatsoever until their guy was on the edge of our box and then he was still allowed to pass the ball to a colleague.
That has happened many times this season.

We all know that we are going down this year but hopefully none of the "midfield dynamos" that we have will be with us next year. Please Mr Hill, get the midfield sorted now so we are ready for next season.

OohMac
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Posts: 3,390

Midfield is the Problem Feb 12, 2020 15:50:05 GMT via mobile

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Post by OohMac on Feb 12, 2020 15:50:05 GMT

Not to bleat on and on but coincidence that the worst performers this season are signings by and a hangover from Parkinson days. Where side passing was seen as adventurous.

For me Lowe would be right back as Emmanuel cannot defend and Lowe cannot turn defence into anything but more defending.

Shame because obviously Crawford had replaced Murphy and Bridcutt would have tied down that DM role.

whitesince63
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Posts: 5,328

Midfield is the Problem Feb 12, 2020 17:38:01 GMT

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Post by whitesince63 on Feb 12, 2020 17:38:01 GMT

They say that midfield is the engine room of a team but I’m afraid our is shorting badly. No drive, no determination, no linking of front to back and certainly no pace or power. We wonder why we are still hoofing from the back and that’s exactly why, no confidence in our centre. It’s not the only problem though. I appreciate KHs attempt to play more attacking football using Emmanuel and Fleming to attack but primarily they are defenders and that is what they must concentrate on being. Both look good getting forward but Equally both are poor to average defensively. Yet again last night it was Emmanuels total lack of awareness that gifted their player the second goal. As for up front, where do you start? O’Grady runs about a lot but is rarely effective as is Dodoo. Murphy can score a goal but misses more than he does get. I was going to say we are just a poor team but we aren’t a team, just eleven individuals with no pattern or defined system that’s discernible. I don’t know where we go from here but even now I fear for us next season unless something changes.

kenglowhite
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Posts: 635

Midfield is the Problem Feb 12, 2020 20:53:10 GMT

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Post by kenglowhite on Feb 12, 2020 20:53:10 GMT

If he had any faith in those alongside orjust in front of him, do you think Bridcutt would have signed for Lincoln ? I also feel for Daryl Murphy, not a physical like Madine was, but simply left on his own to pick up scaps beacuse of lack of attacking midfield support, or a competent co-striker. If we can ever get the myseriously injured Darcy and Politic sttacking together though midfield what a differnece it would make Marc Iles ihas been brainwashed. He keeps calling our Denis "a winger". Well,he was.

kenglowhite
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Posts: 635

Midfield is the Problem Feb 22, 2020 8:32:37 GMT

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Post by kenglowhite on Feb 22, 2020 8:32:37 GMT

Thus morning motormouth has been at it again saying Politic had an off day against Wycombe. As I said on an earlier thread Politic's play was magical for the opening half hour until his supply of passes dried up. Hill and Iles keep referring to him as a "winger" but I feel certain he is going to emerge as a really good inside forward alongside Darcy and Crawford with possibly Nellis providing the defensive midfield role vacated by Bridcutt. Would like to see something like that tried out at MKD this afternoon

OohMac
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Posts: 3,390

Midfield is the Problem Feb 22, 2020 9:07:05 GMT via mobile

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Post by OohMac on Feb 22, 2020 9:07:05 GMT

I dont mind the 'he gets the carrot and he gets the stick' approach, If i saw any performances actually improve.

Hes dug out Zouma, Weir and what happened? Zouma gone MIA and Weir was publicly shamed and shipped on.

Cant fail to also notice that when hes giving the stick its not aimed at any players hes signed. When they mistakes seems counter productive to point these out. When its a Parky signing(weir) or a kid(Zouma, Politic) its open season for criticism.

My question would be IF FV had thier time again and could go back would they still go with Hill? Not only on the field but it all seems to be going pear shape again.

Last Edit: Feb 22, 2020 10:31:15 GMT by OohMac

whitesince63
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Posts: 5,328

Midfield is the Problem Feb 22, 2020 10:03:51 GMT

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Post by whitesince63 on Feb 22, 2020 10:03:51 GMT

It’s easy to be critical OM and KH certainly leaves himself open to it but you’re absolutely right about the criticism only being of players he didn’t sign. It’s largely Emmanuel and Nsiala who have cost us in recent games yet all I’ve heard from Keith is excuses for them. Hopefully with Crawford back, Politic on form and Darcy back (if he signs his contract) we should see a major uplift in attacking threat. It should at the same time take a little pressure off the defence in which I’d like to see Brockbank returning and I’m sure if all these things come together it should both improve results as well as take pressure off KH and FV?