Physicality problem, especially midfield

Yet another night where we've been totally bullied, harassed and lost pretty much every 50/50.

We are so, so weak against good quality, hard working opposition - not only physically but mentally as we are clearly scared to make tackles and fouls, other than petty ones like Maeda.

There was a wee spell tonight at start of 2nd half where we were tactically fouling and getting stuck in - but that lasted roughly 5 minutes.
Outside of CCV and AJ it's a huge issue for the team.

I know we are first and foremost a passing footballing team, but you need to be braver and win your battles, put the foot in now and again. Especially the midfield.

You don't need to be a Wanyama, just a Lambert.
Brendan, get it feckin sorted.

 

Midfield is far too slow and lightweight for that level of football.

 

I think the thing is, technically capable players who are quick and physical are so hard to obtain at our level. Everyone is looking for it.

 

It's not just in Europe. We look a bit lightweight domestically as well

 

Stop starting McGregor as a number 6 and bring in a physical DM like any decent European side.

Watch the results.

 

That being the only change? Results would be * awful in comparison to CL this year by far. Put Wanyama at his best for us there, he’s still there just him. And we don’t have Calmac on the ball to play us out it either.

When * goes wrong, it is always Calmac pretty much in midfield himself. I’d like that type of midfielder as an option but most important thing is we need to * wrap abandoning midfield when * goes wrong.

* he’d do a much better job but stick 2001 Paddy Vieira there, it changes little if the others do the same

 

Defensive midfielder? Wouldn't make much of a difference. 2 goals could have been fully avoided by old fashioned punt it away.

 

Sometimes feel Cal is firefighting alone. Just feels the wrong balance, Reo and Engles too similar and rarely get stuck in.
A proper DM, Cal and one of Engles or Reo would give better bite.

 

Last night made me so * off we never stumped up for McGinn back when Villa signed him. What he did for their 3rd showed that he's exactly what we need at this level

 

Made an * of it for our goals as well

 

For me in games like last night if we are to improve we need one of the midfield 3 sitting beside Callum and someone with a defensive mindset.

I know it’s tough as we don’t need them often domestically but the volume of games we play and some of the away games we play it would be handy.

You could also give them plenty of minutes by rotating McGregor at times or allowing him the freedom to play further forward domestically for games. Where the more defensively minded player can cover to give him a rest or play as a single pivot when he is pushed on domestically.

 

Its the formation and its the reason why weve been dogmeat against rangers the last two games. Mcgregor as a 6 on his own against a team who play a 10 just completely exposes up and we end up out numbered. Last night was a perfect chance to try something different, play mcgregor with bernardo sitting and then let hatate play in a free role infront of them. This wont leave mcgregor out numbered and wont leave our defensive exposed. You can see it clear as day in the two games against rangers and last night game.

 

We can maybe afford one lightweight (ie. O'Reilly, Calmac), non tackler in midfield - but not all 3.

It's not hammer throwers or even necessarily defensive players we need, just very good players that don't bottle and/or lose every 50/50 like our current midfield 3 and subs.
Brugge a prime example.
Bernardo, Calmac and Hattate are borderline embarrassing to watch when it gets heated - Engels tries to get more physical but is still a little raw with that side of the game.
As mentioned, there was a wee 5 minute spell when it got heated and we started sticking the foot in, fouling etc - but alas only for 5-10mins.

Agree also on lack of flexibility in formation, to play and not adjust exactly the same midfield formation that clearly didn't work against rangers twice, was poor.

 

Other than a fleeting mention of Endo, there have been no rumors linking us with any defensive midfielders this window.

 

I know this is worth hee-haw, and this is real life and no Football Manager, but if I were handed the reins tomorrow, the first thing I’d be doing (well, second after signing a left-back), is bringing in two midfielders:

• One a physically imposing DM with good ball retention and at least a bit of an eye for a pass. (Backup at DM in Europe would be either Engels or the below player; not Callum.)
• And the other a genuine box-to-box mid, who can harry and harass in the press, and will go after second balls, etc, while also being positionally alive enough to track back and cover when needed, as well as arriving late in the opposition box for the extra option, etc.

We also need to be honest enough and brave enough to move Callum permanently back to LCM, and admit that using him as a 6 in Europe doesn’t work. Can still make appearances there in some domestic games, but we’ll see the best of him back at LCM, imo.

Holm out on loan, that makes 7 CMs, all of whom would see sufficient game time over a 50+ game season.

Would add significant athleticism and aggression to our set-up.

 

What you wouldn't give for a couple of players like kayal and wanymama

 

We are definitely very lightweight when it comes to the physical side of the game...look at the team Martin O'Neill put together..they knew how to handle the physical side of the game...just a couple similar to that team in midfield would make a massive difference bcoz there's plenty of flair in the team.

 

Don’t think we’ve had a physically strong team since Martin O’Neills days

 

We lose 60/40s that are in our favour mate. It's a massive problem.