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2024/25 Tim Iroegbunam

Damo_1878 said:
tbf @Neiler he most definitely was missed the first half

The midfield in the centre hasn't looked like that this season. We made them look like Brazil at times, that first half

I like Iroegbunam
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I agree with all that mate.

He’s a good player, he’s had high, highs here and lows of not impacting games to - that’s fine he’s developing young player. His job of work is to find consistency and bring the impact he can in every game. That will require him to be in and out of the team at times. It’s good that he has to compete.

Overall I think with the options we are struggling to find the right balance in central midfield. We have competition in there, but also we are transitioning from a three into a two, we are hitting and missing with that at times. Today we struggled in the first half with Palace press, they also dropped an extra man in there in a hybrid role.

We countered that in the second half, with Ndiaye absolutely going flat out and dropping back there at times to flood the line.

The transition is a work in progress. I think places are up for grabs there and should be competed for.

One critique I have is we look very open in that opposition 10 position, no body is sweeping in front of the back four.
 

Neiler said:
I agree with all that mate.

He’s a good player, he’s had high, highs here and lows of not impacting games to - that’s fine he’s developing young player. His job of work is to find consistency and bring the impact he can in every game. That will require him to be in and out of the team at times. It’s good that he has to compete.

Overall I think with the options we are struggling to find the right balance in central midfield. We have competition in there, but also we are transitioning from a three into a two, we are hitting and missing with that at times. Today we struggled in the first half with Palace press, they also dropped an extra man in there in a hybrid role.

We countered that in the second half, with Ndiaye absolutely going flat out and dropping back there at times to flood the line.

The transition is a work in progress. I think places are up for grabs there and should be competed for.

One critique I have is we look very open in that opposition 10 position, no body is sweeping in front of the back four.
Click to expand...

I was hoping Mangala would sit there more. Maybe Garner can do it?
 
I don’t think he suits a two at all and that’s what’s hurting him here - he would be my first one off then bench if we’re winning late game and move back into a 4-3-3. Give him more licence with a bit more cover.

We have looked a lot more solid without him in the team it has to be said.
 
catcherintherye said:
I was hoping Mangala would sit there more. Maybe Garner can do it?
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Mangala isn’t a defensive midfielder in my opinion mate, it’s not his natural game. Hes great at showing and taking the ball under pressure and progressing and transitioning the play, but without the ball, I don’t think hes great - to be fair he put in a shift second half today, but it’s not his natural game and won’t impact it.

Doucoure is a collundrum, his brain works faster then his feet sometimes in possession, but he gives you so much engine, leading on pressing and battling. We just don’t win games when he’s not in the team.

Garner might just be that balance, gets through a lot of work, not sure if he’s ready for that primary sweeping role, without another like Idrissa or Doucoure.

Idrissa you know what you get, hel have a crack at it all.

Tim, no, he’s a no 8.

I don’t really know if I’m being honest, I think both we and the manger are still waiting for a combo to put their hands up.

For the moment I can’t see us moving away from Mangala and Doucoure seeing as they brought home 4 points from 2 games together.

Maybe we will go with a system were we ask the midfield two to do both a general attacking and defensive role without - a designated defensive sweeping 6. Maybe being open is the price we pay for the extra man up front and we just deal with it.

We do look vulnerable down the central channel, but maybe we need to get the centre backs to step up more and play less low block.
 
Neiler said:
Mangala isn’t a defensive midfielder in my opinion mate, it’s not his natural game. Hes great at showing and taking the ball under pressure and progressing and transitioning the play, but without the ball, I don’t think hes great - to be fair he put in a shift second half today, but it’s not his natural game and won’t impact it.

Doucoure is a collundrum, his brain works faster then his feet sometimes in possession, but he gives you so much engine, leading on pressing and battling. We just don’t win games when he’s not in the team.

Garner might just be that balance, gets through a lot of work, not sure if he’s ready for that primary sweeping role, without another like Idrissa or Doucoure.

Idrissa you know what you get, hel have a crack at it all.

Tim, no, he’s a no 8.

I don’t really know if I’m being honest, I think both we and the manger are still waiting for a combo to put their hands up.

For the moment I can’t see us moving away from Mangala and Doucoure seeing as they brought home 4 points from 2 games together.

Maybe we will go with a system were we ask the midfield two to do both a general attacking and defensive role without - a designated defensive sweeping 6. Maybe being open is the price we pay for the extra man up front and we just deal with it.

We do look vulnerable down the central channel, but maybe we need to get the centre backs to step up more and play less low block.
Click to expand...

I think it's all true. None of them are classic 6s, and probably why it makes sense to play with 2 of them.

Doucoure/Mangala have done ok in relative terms, and it's probably their shirt to lose at the moment.
 

Neiler said:
Mangala isn’t a defensive midfielder in my opinion mate, it’s not his natural game. Hes great at showing and taking the ball under pressure and progressing and transitioning the play, but without the ball, I don’t think hes great - to be fair he put in a shift second half today, but it’s not his natural game and won’t impact it.

Doucoure is a collundrum, his brain works faster then his feet sometimes in possession, but he gives you so much engine, leading on pressing and battling. We just don’t win games when he’s not in the team.

Garner might just be that balance, gets through a lot of work, not sure if he’s ready for that primary sweeping role, without another like Idrissa or Doucoure.

Idrissa you know what you get, hel have a crack at it all.

Tim, no, he’s a no 8.

I don’t really know if I’m being honest, I think both we and the manger are still waiting for a combo to put their hands up.

For the moment I can’t see us moving away from Mangala and Doucoure seeing as they brought home 4 points from 2 games together.

Maybe we will go with a system were we ask the midfield two to do both a general attacking and defensive role without - a designated defensive sweeping 6. Maybe being open is the price we pay for the extra man up front and we just deal with it.

We do look vulnerable down the central channel, but maybe we need to get the centre backs to step up more and play less low block.
Click to expand...
I agree, but we are going to bleed out quickly against a solid opponent. Palace had every opportunity to gut us repeatedly because of poor positioning and slow recovery.
 

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