Midfield solution ?

[Foxy]

There is a general consensus that we still lack a defensive midfield anchor. The position requires these attributes:
- dynamic energy
- strength
- tackling ability
- preferably height
- ability to move the ball quickly and accurately

It strikes me that there is one player who has all these, and who has already shown flexibility at centre half, right back and attacking wing back - Tyler French. Now we have signed Hosannah, if I were Parkinson I would take a look at him in a different role in training.

[DenbighRed]

Put in a great shift on Monday but I really don't think he's good enough on the ball to play in midfield. His sloppy cross-field pass put Notts on the counter attack which ended in their goal.

Leave him where he is. For me he'd start at RWB in games where we're expecting to have to do more defending.

[Percy Sugden]

I think your list of attributes isn’t totally what is required in that role. I’d remove dynamic energy, height and strength and replace it with ability to read the game and be extremely disciplined.

We don’t want someone like Sam wedgebury bombing around leaving a massive hole in the midfield. I’d quite like to see one of the 3 centrebacks push out into midfield and add some physicality in there when conditions allow it.

[Dai83]

He impressed me the other night. His energy levels were off the scale, I hope he can get a few more games under his belt. He could be a real good player.

[Foxy]

Originally Posted by DenbighRed

Put in a great shift on Monday but I really don't think he's good enough on the ball to play in midfield. His sloppy cross-field pass put Notts on the counter attack which ended in their goal.

Leave him where he is. For me he'd start at RWB in games where we're expecting to have to do more defending.

Yes that was sloppy, but it was also unusual. Watching him last season I felt that he was one of our most accurate passers.

[Alan Attack]

Originally Posted by Percy Sugden

I think your list of attributes isn’t totally what is required in that role. I’d remove dynamic energy, height and strength and replace it with ability to read the game and be extremely disciplined.

We don’t want someone like Sam wedgebury bombing around leaving a massive hole in the midfield. I’d quite like to see one of the 3 centrebacks push out into midfield and add some physicality in there when conditions allow it.

Particularly when we’re playing against a 4-5-1 which will be very common when playing at home.

[-luke]

Originally Posted by Foxy

Yes that was sloppy, but it was also unusual. Watching him last season I felt that he was one of our most accurate passers.

Yep. Harsh calling out one sloppy pass at any level... Show me a midfielder with a 100% pass accuracy and I'll change my mind. Conference players make mistakes, if they didn't they'd be playing up the leagues...

[Back of the Kop]

Originally Posted by Foxy

There is a general consensus that we still lack a defensive midfield anchor. The position requires these attributes:
- dynamic energy
- strength
- tackling ability
- preferably height
- ability to move the ball quickly and accurately

It strikes me that there is one player who has all these, and who has already shown flexibility at centre half, right back and attacking wing back - Tyler French. Now we have signed Hosannah, if I were Parkinson I would take a look at him in a different role in training.

I don't think dynamic energy is necessary as it's a holding role which allows our other midfielders to get forward safe in the knowledge we have cover in front of the back 3.

Dave Jones is the man for sure but at 36 he's not playing 40+ games this season. He was brought in as cover for the man we should have got in but ultimately failed (Clarke/Guy etc...)

The problem we have is that all our midfielders are too similar and all want to bomb forward leaving huge gaps for the opposition to run at us when our moves break down

This is going to be a theme unless PP addresses it by converting someone or sticking DJ in a time machine

[simon4012]

If anyone is going to step into holding mid it could be tozer? Not that I'm a fan of players out of position but he has played midfield before. He passed well,.looked to have a bit of pace, could do a job as a very deep holding player?