Assists first. I understand fully what you are saying and I agree, for instance our 96th minute winner v Charlton at home, everybody remembers the ball from Palmer if memory serves for Brownhill to volley home, but in the build up most people forget that Rhodri held the ball up really strongly, despite a physical challenge on him and still managed to lay the ball off to Palmer. My point is not so much about crosses but more about threaded passes, from central positions, that is where we fail in my view and where we need to find an answer. As for weak, I would say that 11 games at home where we have failed to win and failed to get a foothold in midfield probably says it all or should do. But to be specific Paterson is weak, Odowda is weak, Massengo is weak (because he is young and not fully developed), Nagy has his moments but is inconsistent, Rowe for some reason has not been given fair run in a misfiring midfield even though he has a goal in him and can thread passes, Palmer is frustrating, not frightened to put his foot in, but his showboating in dangerous areas is a bad trait, but given his limited game time he is actually our most productive midfielder (after Eliasson) Eliasson his defensive weaknesses have improved but is prone to lapses, however when we are chasing games taking him off for say Odowda makes no sense to me. As for Smith I love the guy but I think maybe his fitness is going to prove an obstacle to his consistency and he is not an organiser. I would like to see Palmer given a more forward midfield role and if his showboating fails, as long as we have a disciplined/organised midfield then the cover that has been lacking when we attack should be there to mop up any danger. I have said it in other posts but I will repeat, too often when we attack our midfield lose concentration and with wing backs also attacking, we get caught out with too many players ahead of the ball, leaving 2 central defenders prone quick breakouts, with no midfield cover, yet strangely for corners etc. we double up at the back far to often 3 against 1.
Dunno cant remember to the question. What happened quite a lot was teams didn't give the ball away as much as City. City make plenty of tackles but give it away cheaply. Patterson makes quite a lot of tackles!! Elliason doesn't track back and reliably gives the opposition the freedom of the park!! When Palmers in the team he is all over the place in a bad way when defending. Not sure what a lot of these players futures (Smith??) are who LJ's centre midfield would be. Seems to be too many ideas and players to be consistent there.
I am sorry mate Paterson makes quite a lot of tackles?, come on. Your observation reference Eliasson could describe, Paterson and Odowda, I would hate to think where we would be without the contribution of Eliasson and Palmer this season, 15 assists between them, of course as I said before a good coach would build his midfield around the more talented players.
Patterson makes the third highest in the squad after Wright and Dasilva which doesn't mean hes great its just a point about tackles. Palmer makes slide tackles which doesn't mean hes great at tackling either!! City are low possession and don't pass the ball well and Eliason and Palmer are both amongst the worst there. Neither are good defensively. So to play both regularly would see City still dominated in midfield??
so how would you play them? Palmer as a ten? the playmaker? Massengo and Nagy behind him and Eliasson wide and another wide player? one up front?
Its not what a good coach would do as a good coach has not done it. Also build a midfield around them? Both of these players play in midfield how many midfielders do you want in the side to build around them?
I think I would have a sort of five to get both in with one forward. two wide midfielders one attacking cm and two cdm's.
LJ has had 4 years to sort out a misfiring midfield and has failed every step of the way. One thing I would have done is brought back Walsh and or Morrell from their loans instead of an injured Vyner, that was madness. With the players at his disposal and only for the rest of this season, I would play Perierra at right back and play Hunt right midfield, Smith and Nagy both holding, with strict instructions only one can go forward at any time (so they would need to communicate and keep an eye the full backs becoming to gung ho as well). I would play Eliasson on the left because he is our best outlet, I would play Palmer as a number 10 and Wells upfront and keep Diedhiou for impact purposes. That would mean our 3 most productive players are at least playing. Next season I would decide whether Walsh and or Morrell are going to be the real deal or I would overhaul the midfield with exactly what we are lacking, quality and leadership.
Better than what we have presently. The irony is of the players being criticised Eliasson will be another profit maker and Palmer will still fetch 6 figures. Paterson and Odowda?
so not about assists then? Loathsneyd said: ↑ how many midfielders do you want in the side to build around them? ??? 0 1 2 3 4 ? It is sometimes good practice to bring home on loan players that are injured... he wasn't brought back to play ...he was injured no definition of weak?
What about a 4-2-3-1 formation? This allows 2 CDM's to sit and provide the cover being mentioned, and would allow Palmer, Elliason and Weiman as 3 Attacking Midfielders, and Wells up top?
I have a laugh at this formation and that formation. It's bubble gum. Try signing good players and playing round pegs in round holes. Isn't it the problem that Junior's had 60 plus transfer dealings, in and out, and we have a midfield in his own image, weak.
Yet, we've had the best run in the 2nd tier of English football with LJ in charge since the late 70s...
And the closest we have gotten to getting back to the top division was when he was in our midfield - maybe that is all Bubble Gum as well..
My definition of weak is the midfield that has failed to win 11 games at home, how many more ways do you want me to say that? I know that there exists the cult of LJ, there also existed the cult of SOD, where all criticisms were heresy, this is my opinion and it's an opinion widely held.
