There was Meyler, Corry Evans and a bit part Paul McKenna. Alex Bruce played in midfield for a while I remember too
I mean, Corry Evans did that role in 12/13. It isn't that we never replaced Ashbee (we did), it's that we haven't really replaced Smallwood with someone better.
none of those teams went up though? i do get your point about needing a nasty bastard in midfield though, were a bit too nice of a team
He had Harrison Reed next to him who is an aggressive, ball-winning midfielder. Which is entirely my point
Okay, Luton have Nakamba and Campbell, Sheff Utd are a team full of bullies and Burnley had Cullen and Cork
Not saying you're wrong but only 2 of those teams were playoff teams and I would argue the only good teams out of the ones you mentioned. We do need a ball winner or a marshall in the midfield. I think people may be getting obsessed with the Ashbee architype of a big nasty ****er when players like you've mentioned in Nakamba exist who isn't necessarily in the same physical mould
Is simons not a potential “ashbee”, all this fuss over more midfielders. He’ll be redundant at this rate
Yeah, exactly. Ben Pearson and Harrison Reed aren't the biggest but they're aggressive and great at winning the ball back.
Tufan is literally the midfielder you’re all looking for Played his whole career as a defensive midfielder, even started his career at Right Back Maybe we seen him in that role this season now his fitness has improved
I like Simons a lot and see him being that type of player for us long-term but it's whether Rosenior trusts him enough.
When we signed him, I thought we would use him as a defensive midfielder tbh. I think he played a couple of games there under Shota and did well and was never used there again. Since then he's played as a #10, right-wing and up front.
Why do people keep saying this when we signed him to a long term deal half way through his loan despite not making many appearances? Rosenior clearly rates him.
With that in mind if the Max Bird rumours are true I can only imagine LR sees him as the long term successor to Seri. In reality we probably have Seri for this year and maybe next. Would not surprise me if we shift Doc and Woods out and bring in Bird and someone like what you mention
Because he's still very young and it's a great move for the club long term. Completely different question to ask whether he's ready to play a central role in a top 6 side (which is what we're aspiring for this year)
Rates him and trusts him to be our starting defensive midfielder for most of the season are entirely different. As you say, he's barely played for us during his short loan spell so I don't see why Rosenior will throw him in at the deep end all of a sudden. He'll play more this season coming but I would imagine he'll be eased into the side. You could say he rates Callum Jones since he was offered a new three-year deal recently despite hardly playing. Doesn't mean he's going to be a crucial player for us.
Here's hoping. Bird as a long-term replacement for Seri makes sense. Seri's not getting any younger and as good as he is, we need to prepare for a future without him.
Its probably the case. I want to say it was Bristol away were they ran Simons in the Seri role and while he did a decent job and I thought he played well there was a lack of a killer ball that Seri was providing in prior weeks
