(Almost) Everyone can see we need 3 in midfield

[UltraVires]

Indeed, though my comment of 'Also pretty rare we have three, what I'd class premier league quality, centre midfielders fit' perhaps explains it.

I mean, you're pinning a lot on Gomes, Allan and Doucoure - how many games have they all been available for Benitez?

Gomes missed 10 games between - Sept-Dec.

When Gomes, Allan or Doucoure aren't available what then? If the answer is Gbamin, Delph or Davies - try something else.

No idea if/what we have to spend, but it could explain why there's a £1m getting thrown at a midfielder who could give some legs because we're very light.

I've no doubt centre mid is a priority for the club.

Spot on mate.

It’s clear that we have a lot of midfielders who we cannot count on because of fitness or just a lack of quality.

We need to find a third midfielder who can consistently play and do the job we can all see we are crying our for.

 

[Cow kecks]

Not sure Gordon is a central player. He does his best work when he opens up and runs at players I reckon

He's played centrally a lot since he was a young kid, someone who runs at player's through the middle is exactly what I think we need.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

Spot on mate.

It’s clear that we have a lot of midfielders who we cannot count on because of fitness or just a lack of quality.

We need to find a third midfielder who can consistently play and do the job we can all see we are crying our for.

I think most agreed we needed a right back first.

Then Digne's situation has dictated a left back.

They're now trying to sign legs in the middle of the park with whatever money they're allowed to spend.

I don't think they're missing it, it's very obvious - I think it's more a case of having the players capable of playing it.

I think the main thing here is we don't sign Ross Barkley.

 

[UltraVires]

He's played centrally a lot since he was a young kid, someone who runs at player's through the middle is exactly what I think we need.

If that’s the case then fair enough, I haven’t seen him for the academy teams but in the senior side, he only played out wide.

If he can play centrally then I’d give him a try there when Richy and gray are fit

 

[Zatara]

I think Allan can do the DM role so in my eyes, we need a midfielder that can pick up the ball and drive it forwards while still having the legs to get back to help out.

In his whole career, Allan has only ever been a DM under Ancelotti...and was far worse there at Napoli then as a CM.

We need a DM.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

He's played centrally a lot since he was a young kid, someone who runs at player's through the middle is exactly what I think we need.

Then you'd need a winger. We didn't really have any - Townsend isn't fully fit and Gordon admitted himself he struggles to finish a game fitness wise.

 

[Cow kecks]

Then you'd need a winger. We didn't really have any - Townsend isn't fully fit and Gordon admitted himself he struggles to finish a game fitness wise.

Richarleson?

 

[Kurt.]

Welcome Jonjo shelvey

 

[GrandOldTeam]

Richarleson?

He's injured mate.

And even when he has been fit - he's had to lead the line a few times because no Calvert-Lewin.

Richarlison, Townsend, Gordon, Iwobi, Gray.

You need 2 wingers.

Put Gordon central yesterday, who do you put wide?

Townsend recovering from injury/not fully fit.
Iwobi AFCON
Richarlison injured.

It's easy to say we should be playing 4-3-3, but if you look at the players available, it's pretty rare we're able to.

 

[Lapeno77]

Theoretically, when yoy play 5 at the back, one if your CBs moves up into midfield to bolster the numbers.

Obviously its reliant on having a cb with a footballing brain that knows when to go. Koeman as a player did it for Barca.

 

[Cow kecks]

He's injured mate.

And even when he has been fit - he's had to lead the line a few times because no Calvert-Lewin.

Richarlison, Townsend, Gordon, Iwobi, Gray.

You need 2 wingers.

Put Gordon central yesterday, who do you put wide?

Townsend recovering from injury/not fully fit.
Iwobi AFCON
Richarlison injured.

It's easy to say we should be playing 4-3-3, but if you look at the players available, it's pretty rare we're able to.

I'm talking in general about the whole picture mate, Dave has mentioned a lot of times that Patterson is good going attacking wise but is really a winger not a full back, maybe the kid could do a decent job on the wing for now until we have most of the squad available. I personally would like to see something like this tried than watching a two man midfield struggling for a stranglehold on the game every week.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

I'm talking in general about the whole picture mate, Dave has mentioned a lot of times that Patterson is good going attacking wise but is really a winger not a full back, maybe the kid could do a decent job on the wing for now until we have most of the squad available. I personally would like to see something like this tried than watching a two man midfield struggling for a stranglehold on the game every week.

Yeah my whole point though mate is we can only do it when we have the players available to do so.

Pretty much all season we've not had 3 decent centre midfielders fit.

 

[Cow kecks]

Yeah my whole point though mate is we can only do it when we have the players available to do so.

Pretty much all season we've not had 3 decent centre midfielders fit.

 

[Cow kecks]

Yeah my whole point though mate is we can only do it when we have the players available to do so.

Pretty much all season we've not had 3 decent centre midfielders fit.

That's why I think we should consider Gordon in there mate, it might not work but at least it's something to try, I can't see any other way unless we get a new midfielder. It can't be any worse than what we've seen so far.

 

[billyblue80]

Because Benitez is stubborn and wedded to two in midfield and will never change with him as manager, so we have huge holes in our midfield where teams will exploit us and get goals and a inability to keep the ball