I don't think Grabban or Hooper are at all suited to those roles. Grabban cannot pass and has ropey control at times (even for a winger) and plays as the furthest forward, Hooper has not shown an eye for a pass either, he plays to score like Grabban just from different positions. Attacking midfielders have a lot more responsibility.
I don't disagree with you (though I think Hooper has more of an eye for a pass than you give him credit). I was just meaning that managers have played them in those positions.
Although, I don't know why we have released him, Transfermarkt has him valued at 700,000 and its never wrong.
sarcasm doesn't allow you to get round the ban on naming the website. What a waste of time signing Miquel was. That might indicate space for a new CB?
Yes, but that doesn't make him an attacking midfielder. If he's played as one before, it still doesn't make him one. Its a bit of a bugbear of mine when I hear things like this. Just because a player has attribute A, it miraculously means he can play a position that requires A,B and C to be any good. He'd just be a forward playing as an attacking midfielder.
I think you're splitting hairs. I agree it's annoying seeing a player play out of position when it's clear they don't have the right qualities. But the table was a list of where other players "cover". There are quite a few others I don't like being "cover" for certain positions for the same reason. However, the manager has played them there and clearly views them as cover, so for the purposes of the table, Hooper can be listed in attacking midfield. Doesn't make him an attacking midfielder though.
We certainly need it, nowhere near enough depth should we get injuries, I remain happy with Bennet in the middle but I think Turner is finished and needs to move on. I'd like somebody to be a first teamer in the centre who is perhaps more agile to partner Bassong or Bennett so we have two of each type. Any centreback we do sign now is unlikely to make the starting 11 against Palace.
Agreed, particularly on Turner unfortunately, who did a great job for a while. I fear the van dijk deal might have been a bit of a pipe dream, and he's more of a big old lump anyway I believe? I don't think we've really been linked to anyone who fits the more agile bill, unless Andre Wisdom is in fact more of a CB as loads of people are sayi (even though most of his senior appearances are RB).
I think he could do the job well in the Championship, as he did a couple of times against pretty poor opposition last season when he had plenty of time on the ball. Agree that he wouldn't be able to perform the role in the top flight though, and I don't ever expect to see him start there. I didn't see any of the game last night but from what I've heard Andreu doesn't sound the answer either.
I'll confidently predict Andreu won't be playing much league football (if at all) this season. There are just too many better players in an already packed midfield, he's just not got enough strings to his bow to warrant playing.
I was a bit disappointed with Ofoe as well. I know its very early to judge him but he looked very much a Championship player.
It's a depth chart. Its not simply a list of players and where they NATURALLY CAN play, but also includes where they COULD POTENTIALLY play if required. The idea is to identify areas that 'shallow'.
Neither Grabban or Lafferty play as wingers, nor did Huckerby. They are there to cut in and cause problems for the opposing defence. They may play there occasionally under AN, but probably not all that often. Still, that option is there. AN tried Andreu there last night, but it didn't really work. He got the minutes, but I don't think we'll see him there much this season. He's an AM, and played well there behind Hooper in an earlier match when he got his hat-trick and that is more likely to be his role this season. I'd say similarly with Odjidja-Ofoe, who plays much better in a 4-2-3-1, where he can link up with an AM and provide another option going forward. These are pre-season games where compromises are made to get everybody the minutes. Things will change when the season begins in earnest.
That's my point. Elliot Bennet could feasibly play attacking central midfield or forward, Tettey could play right back (indeed he has I believe). But like Hooper and Grabban I don't think they are valid options. You actually have to be able to play as an attacking midfielder or winger to really be classified as a position you can play, not just last resorts that could pretty much apply to anyone. The real obvious one missed is Ollson as a left midfielder, he does have enough of the required attributes to play there because of how he plays as a left back.
