2024/25 Orel Mangala

[PeregrineT]

Playing a slower player in midfield can make sense with the right formation, and players around them. Playing him in a 2 man? Seems criminal. Playing him in a 2 man with Doucoure, with a slow and aging back line behind them? Probably a felony. Sure he has some nice touches at time, but I dont understand how he can be ahead of Tim or any midfielder with pace with the formation we play.

Players like him are a luxury player you can have a couple of when you surround them with quicker players, which we dont have, so I dont get that.

 

[SteveWatsonAbsoluteGent]

I like him. He controls the ball. Always wants to go forward. Dyche won't like that though

 

[witchdoc187]

Steady Eddie. Like

 

[DualityNSNO]

I dont understand how he can be ahead of Tim or any midfielder with pace with the formation we play.

Experience.

 

[BigDuncTributeBand]

Reminds me of Barry Horne, the slowest midfielder I remember us having.

Andre Gomes, Siggi, Allan, Schnederlin, Davies off the top of my head say hello

 

[GrandOldTeam]

Early days, but 4 starts, and 4 games we've not lost (in normal time, anyway).

Seems a bit slow to me though, and it's like the game passes him by. I do wonder if that's an Dyche/Everton thing, our CMs struggle.

 

[MikeH72]

He’s being asked to play in central midfield on his own while Doucoure wanders around into random areas of the pitch daydreaming next to him.

 

[Shibbywiggles]

He’d be good with any combo of:
Garner and Gana
Tim and Garner
Tim and Gana
Gana and McNeil
Garner and McNeil
Tim and McNeil
As the other two of the three

Why are we shoehorning in Doucoure when Tim has been our only consistently good player this season so far?

 

[Eggs]

I like him. He controls the ball. Always wants to go forward. Dyche won't like that though

….funny how Dyche has been selecting him when he has other options available.

 

[billypatrick]

Their midfielders are better footballers...simple really.

I think they were always going to get pulled all over the place today.

Thought the same. Their two Brazilians plus Tonali were just better than Mangala and Doucoure who got ran through and around for large parts of the game. I thought we had a bit more midfield presence when Gana came on and when Doucoure moved further forward.

 

[Exeter_Gently]

Thought the same. Their two Brazilians plus Tonali were just better than Mangala and Doucoure who got ran through and around for large parts of the game. I thought we had a bit more midfield presence when Gana came on and when Doucoure moved further forward.

I think the idea was to let them have the ball in the middle, if we'd have pressed them they'd have been able to get in behind a lot more due to their quality.


That Tonali is a cracking player.

 

[chrismpw]

He’d be good with any combo of:
Garner and Gana
Tim and Garner
Tim and Gana
Gana and McNeil
Garner and McNeil
Tim and McNeil
As the other two of the three

Why are we shoehorning in Doucoure when Tim has been our only consistently good player this season so far?

Garner, Gana, Magala .... sounds like an incantation. Maybe that's what we need.

 

[Harryflashman]

Their midfielders are better footballers...simple really.

I think they were always going to get pulled all over the place today.

Are they though ? Joelinton was I thought their best player and he’s basically a rugby league forward. Bundles and barges his way through with power and some pace but not bags of skill . The other two I’ll give you .

Not looking to bash the manager but they certainly seemed better organised

 

[Cameron Manning]

Their midfielders are better footballers...simple really.

I think they were always going to get pulled all over the place today.

Definitely, especially when they were up against THREE very good Newcastle midfielders, Crystal Palace did the same last week, just two central midfielders will always be outplayed by three in opposition, if we play three with the squad we’ve got it will mean losing a forward and we are bad enough now as it is.The squad is just not good enough and injuries and poor full backs make it worse, add lack of pace very poor keeping possession with not many having the ability to hold onto the ball and find a team mate in a blue shirt. That’s why despite the poor performance yesterday it was good to get a point out of the game.

 

[Saint Domingo]

i think we’d be better going with a three in middles rather than McNeil at 10 but he’s our biggest goal threat so the two in midfield will struggle unless they’re quick which Mangala isn’t.

I’d like to see Garner Mangala Iroegbunam in a three with Mangala sitting deepest.