Whichever one gets injured first. They then have to fight for their shirt back. It's called competition for places. Happens at most clubs.
Clearly we need more players and more depth, I don't think anyone would argue that. The discussion here is whether we "need" to sign a particular sort of midfielder on the basis that our current midfield aren't good enough at certain things. That being the case, I think it's a fair question to ask which of the current three you'd drop in order to bring in a midfielder of a different ilk. Given that we signed all three of them this year to play regularly in our midfield, two of them at great expense, it would seem a bit haphazard to me to be now declaring that they need to be replaced.
Lots of talk regarding midfield enforcers, DM etc, but we are falling down from the back 5, and yes it's a back 5. Neither Coyle or Elder are natural wing backs so struggle to play the role, Allayhar is a bloody front man fgs, so why he is being asked to play back there I don't know. With what we have we could quite easily play a 4-1-4-1 or a 4-2-3-1, thereby bolstering the midfield with one or 2 defensive mids , currently Jones and Slater could both do that role. With bodies in there as opposed to a 3 this would make the difference for me, with Seri and Tufal pulling the strings. Yes it would be nice to get a quality defensive midfielder in but very few see us as a good shout for promotion .. hence they aren't coming. TWT obvs but I can't help thinking this system isn't suiting us.
We don't really have the players to completely suit any formation. If we play a back 4, we don't have the full backs, if we play a back 3 we don't have the wing backs
He got an assist for the Dasilva goal too but I wouldn't have thought it's much of a concern. They're signing Damsgaard next week and have Canoe coming back. So that'll completely knacker up his chances of minutes
I have to disagree tbh, while they aren't going to set the world alight at this level I think Coyle and Elder if told to do a full backs job and not be dancing up and down the touchline which is foreign to them would be more then competent.
No one is saying they need to be relaced. We have 4 senior midfielders for 3.positions. 1 of whom is injured. I'd say we need a 10 and a DM in the mix to give us more options, depending on form and fitness of others and to use in rotation depending on opposition strength and in game tactics. Most squads are rotated, players get injured, form fluctuates, and we always need to rotate when we get into playing 3 games a week anyway. You are over thinking it asking who do you drop. You can guarantee injuries and the need to rest players. Most squads rotate and we are very thin in midfield.
A midfield enforcer would probably provide defensive cover and the option to go to back 4. It seems we are after a. 10, DM and RWB from reports anyway, and those are the positions I'd prioritise strengthening.
You can literally say the same about them as wing backs. The problem is the just aren't really up to this level
Whilst we're on the subject of formations.. I was just checking out todays results and saw the Man-u Brighton result.. 2-1 to Brighton, Obviously they've lost their left wingback to Chelsea a few days ago, which makes it even more impressive. Whats really interesting though is how they lined up.. please log in to view this image How bold is that? a striker, 2 attacking mids in March & Lallana, and then 2 wingers in midfield.. away from home, against United.. I imagine when Sinik is fit and we bring in another right wingback, we might be able to play a bit more attacking football. I fully agree with what others have said about Coyle & Elder, they'd be ok in a back 4 when their main duties are to defent, but as wingbacks I think we need better.
Because they aren’t wingbacks, a wingback is basically a winger who’s asked to defend, Brady & Elmo spring to mind. But actual fullbacks who’ve been successful that we’ve had can be counted on one hand, Robertson & Odubajo off the top of my head, we’re signed as fullbacks & used very well as wingbacks.
