We've got plenty of guys in the squad to fire them, but there's a problem with making them. Kenwyne as a target man is an obvious out for the long ball, but with the likes of Le Fondre, Maynard and Guerra, a ball through the channels is their food and drink. Whitts should still be the visionary for them like McPhail was for Chopra, but he's just not active enough across the pitch. We know he can pick a pass with the best of them and he's had no shortage of runners in front him to have played someone in so far. I honestly can't remember Le Fondre, Maynard and Guerra (the little we've seen of him) commit glaring misses - the fact is they haven't been provided with the opportunities they should have. Is Daehli the answer? Maybe a bit young, inexperienced and lightweight at the moment, but we are certainly lacking in the creative stakes with Whitts rarely performing in that role. Then again there's a pretty loud shout going around for Rallsy to be given a shot - I'd have no objection to that. We are missing a Hoolihan/Bryson type of player who buzzes around behind their front guys like men on a mission. Time to try Daehli or Ralls in that role or invest in someone else - neither Adeyemi nor Eikrem have those skills for me. Whitts' lack of pace over the ground has been compensated for by his speed of thought on the ball in the past, but that seems to have dwindled this season. When you combine that with his ambling approach (again compared with the Hoolihan/Bryson type), we are seriously lacking in a bullet maker. Our quick fire guys are being starved of ammo.
The return of Noonie will provide some solace - provided we can get the ball to him. Apart from him though, agreed, we need someone with silky passing skills in the centre of the park.
It would help if they could break into a trot now and again as well. Passing the ball forward first touch could be an option instead of waiting for written permission.
Our current midfielders are too slow and with the window about to shut I dont see that changing. Saying that Don Cowie isnt much quicker than Gunnerson but the difference between the 2 in competition on ground covered and movement was noticeable. A big problem is also bringing in so many strikers. It seems he wants 2 up front so then the midfield has to come up against most sides with a 3 man midfield. Very difficult to play against. A midfield of say Noone , Adeyemi Daehli , Pilkington could run riot if the opposition were say managed by Dave Jones who would predictably play a regular 442 against us. Its not that simple though. If hes going to attempt to play 2 strikers all the time and 4 midfielders than I really dont know the answer myself. However Brayford and Fabio need to be the first choice full backs and sadly Gunners time after a terrible last season should be up. Im sure Whitts could do a great job in a 5 man midfield but im not convinced he should be starting either. Maybe Ralls should come in to play on the left side of a narrow midfield to help out Fabio and have Digacoi and Adeyemi in the middle with Pilkington on the wing.
