Has Stephen's role in midfield changed since he has returned from injury? I was talking to my next door neighbour yesterday telling him about my FLU! and we got discussing the Addicks (he's also a season ticket holder) and his view is that Stephen's has not been playing poorly after his return, it is just his role seems to have changed since the start of the season from 'advanced playmaker' with Hollands holding to a deeper 'Quarterback' role sitting next to Hollands trying to spray long passes around. Has his role changed? If so does this new role not hang well on him? My view.... our midfield has gone missing for the last ten games and we miss a player like Semedo who will chase all game and pass it short to one of our own! I also feel that Morrow was more of a playmaker at the start of the season coming out of defence with the ball a spraying passes left and right. What has happened to that part of his game? AllHell
I think it's fair to say he has been more disciplined. I'm not sure whether that's his instruction, or whether the opposition are simply getting on top in midfield, but it needs to change.. And soon.
My view.... our midfield has gone missing for the last ten games and we miss a player like Semedo who will chase all game and pass it short to one of our own! We've got one! He's called Andy Hughes.
Andy Hughes is **** - it was a total coincidence that we played brilliantly with a passenger in the side. Agree Chrissy, I think his natural game is being hindered because our midfield/team are being outplayed.
I think Morrison has been less effective as a playmaker simply because he's got less time to think about things - the protection the midfield were giving the defence has evaporated and he's had to cut out more through balls and gets closed down quicker. The game against Tranmere was a perfect example.
Against Rochdale Stephens did stay more or less just in front of the back 4 while Hollands played further up. This role doesn't seem to suit him not just because of his lack of tackling ability but because his passing is too unreliable, at least it was on tuesday.
Away at ColU and Notts Co, Stephens' tackling was immense. He really bossed the midfield areas in those games. I haven't seen it since. If we have a good defensive midfielder, Hollands' marauding is effective. Without that player, he is too pedestrian. I say Hughes has to be brought back in. I would rather him than Semedo.
I'm quite confused by a lot of comments regarding Stephens, he had a poor game on Tuesday (as did most of the team), but as soon as he came back from injury, I felt he showed us the skill, ability and creativity that our midfield has sorely missed whilst he was out. He is also more than capable in the tackle in my opinion. Against Bury he harassed their midfield, and he has that attitude which I love, whereby if he ever loses the ball in midfield, he will chase the tackler down until he has retrieved it again. That said, his job is as a creative spark, I see it as Hollands job to do the tackling and defensive work when he's on the pitch.
If we could get Stephens to go forward more we'd have the best midfielder in the league. Unfortunately he seems to want to sit back, and as a result there is a considerable gap between midfield and attack.
Spot on Captain. I was making this point earlier in the season. Even when we were playing relatively well I always thought there was too big a gap between the midfield and the front two. That seems to be remedied when Hughes came in and allowed Hollands to get forward. I'm not arguing that Hughes is a better player than Stephens or Hollands - he clearly isn't. But he does seem to fit into our team better. I wonder if it's time to try him with Stephens and give Hollands a rest. I have a feeling that we will see Russell back on Saturday. I'd like to see Hayes too but it would be a bit rough to drop kermit after his performance the other night
Brings us back to the question of what is our most effective midfield combination. This is a different question from who are our 2 best players who we'd probably agree are Stephens and Hollands. Picking a balanced team is a different task from picking your 11 best available players, as we saw on tuesday. If I remember rightly, earlier in the season Hollands played deeper, while Stephens played further up and linked really well with our no. 5 striker, Hayes. And it's always possible that Hayes could play with Kermit if given the chance.
For those who went today, how did he play? Did he get forward more? I'm guessing he had a lot to do with the mountain of chances we created. An on-form Stephens is a gem, and I would be delighted if he did show his early-season form once again
He played the deeper of the two CM's again, that seems to be the role they've been given. Good 2nd half.
I thought he was poor first half, very good in the second. Plays passes without looking and will get caught out at some point. Got stuck in today in a physical game which was good to see.
Stephens and Hollands had their work cut out against a five man midfield in the first half. But Stevenage chased the game second half and this allowed our class to shine through with good passing and movement. Hollands impressed me slightly more than young Dale, but it was still a good performance.
