I'm asking about Whitts and Gunnar for next season. Although maligned as a pairing in the middle by most of us this year under Slade, each have different qualities that we'll need to get out of this division. Without suitable replacements if the the purse strings are allegedly to be held tight, they both possess something of what it will take. Whitts has the footballing the skills and Gunnar has the grit of a battler, but if you needed to replace one of them in the middle, it could be hard choice just which one would offer more for the task ahead. An option would be for Slade to change the system accomodate both effectively, but I can't see that happening anytime soon if ever under this guy. So what do we need most? Another playmaker with both vision and pace, or another holding midfielder with grunt and pace?
We need to keep both. Get rid of Slade and find a manager who will play Whittingham in a position where he can hurt the opposition. He can't do that playing between the two centre backs.
The problem is the 2 of them just dont work in a 442. Its unbelievable that Ralls and Adeyemi havent had an extended run in the middle of the park. Whitts at his best was class in this division. Gunner is decent at this level. Both more than good enough for a team looking to consolidate in the League while the owner gets as much of his money back. Problem is the man in charge can easily relegate us.
If City have those 2 as first choice in central midfield next season, then City will be bottom ten. City lost so many midfield battles this season when those 2 were just going through the motions that it just cannot be allowed to happen again. I'd be happy for Whittingham to be there so long as he has a ball winning dynamo with him not a particular lethargic and technically inept Icelander. Does than answer your question OS?
Most weeks in the Championship you need to win the war before anything else. It's a high paced, high intensity division in the middle of the pitch. How many more words can I use that don't apply to Whits. Hilts hits the nail on the head, he can't be played in a 4-4-2 unless the other side are very soft in the middle as well. I'm not convinced we shouldn't stick him back out wide left with an attacking left back behind him. The only other option I see in a 'free' role as part of a midfield 3.
Whitts scored the majority of his goals playing in this role behind Chopra and Bothroyd under Jones. Ever since Malky, Ole and Slade have used him as quarterback it has gone downhill. If we want to play Whitts this way we need a battling midfielder similar to Olefinjana (when he was good) cos clearly Gunner is not up to it, in terms of distribution and speed.
At least it's an answer Nin, although I don't think you're being particularly kind to Gunnar. He's as you say lethargic, and is nowhere near top draw in the technical department, but he does bring commitment to the cause if nothing else. In a side sadly lacking any cohesion, his presence for the "guts" factor has been justified. What isn't justified is Slade's insistence on playing such a slow immobile pairing in the middle of a 4 man midfield when he has other options. My point was that if we can't find (or spend the money on) someone new for the playmaker/destroyer pairing, which one would you keep or should we just change the system. You've answered the choice between the two very clearly, but a fifth man dynamo in there would make all the difference. For that to happen, Slade needs to change tack - unfortunately, I don't think the bloke can. Even now he's talking about a Doyle/Mason pairing up front for next season - that means the inevitable 4 man midfield that wont work with what we've got available. He either buys to improve midfield and ditches one of the two present incumbents, or change to plan B if he can't. I don't think he's got a plan B, and after this season there's no reason to think his plan A will hold water in a full Championship season against some very good sides next year.
I'd like to see Ralls in the middle more often, rather than wasted out on the wing, instead of Whitts. Certainly brings more energy to the midfield pairing. Thinking first half against Norwich at home.
We were overwhelmed on a regular basis with Olefinjana in midfield. He was so athletic he could sometimes do the work of 2 men but all too often we vacated the middle of the pitch and let the opposition charge at cb's unopposed. The Championship evolves every year, it gets faster and more competitive. IMO we have no chance of competing with a 2 man midfield which includes Whits.
Facts : 1.Slade is a 4-4-2 merchant. 2. He obviously rates W&G as his midfield pairing. 3. Ralls when picked in the starting line up is played out wide. 4. O'Keefe is 3rd choice for central midfield 5. Adeyami is 4th choice. 6. Cannot offer any comment on Dijkachoi Conclusion: 1. Slade will not pick a 3 man midfield to allow W&G and a dynamo 2. If they are both at the club next season, W&G will start. ergo: 1. City will struggle big time next season against better equipped and different midfield formations. 2 City therefore need to get rid of Slade.
Ninian, you could have saved yourself a lot of typing and just posted your final comment! Saying that, I agree with everything you said. Whitts needs to be further up the pitch sitting behind the strikers to be most effective, he is not a defensive midfielder.
