Midfield Conundrum

Do you think he is currently good enough for us mate?

Personally I think he needs a full season a good level on loan. He isn't the answer for a centre midfielder (which is obviously where he is playing the now) and I don't think he is good enough yet for the 3 infront.

 

Alot of those players listed in the OP are still at the sink or swim stage . Some will sink and be moved on loaned out and benched while others will make the positions their own . We need the cream to rise to the top over the coming year so we have a more established feel to the midfield. So much indecision , rotation and split opinions about these players among the support currently. I guess that is what they call a transition/development period? The sooner we find the best combination and the best players prove their potential the better.

 

The team needs gutted. Far too many central players and not enough width. Personally i eouldnt mind seeing forrest, mcgregor, boerrigter, gms, mulgrew all moved on. Next season add armstrong to that list if he doesnt step up.

 

Brown Bitton

McGregor Rogic Allan​

Think McGregor deserves a run in the team, and I like the look of Allan. Commons has his pros and I think he can certainly offer something, whether that be for 60mins or to come on from the bench. I really find this too hard a call, especially with GMS coming onto a game recently too. Like Paul said in the other thread, just whatever three are in form, basically.

 

Allan and McGregor wide does nothing for me, to be honest. Neither of them are very quick or skillful.

With GMS coming into form, well it looks like it, he needs to stay in the team. Same goes for Armstrong. I agree with the other 3 though.

 

They aren't proper wingers but I feel like we need pace somewhere. Rogic isn't blessed with it, Griffiths isn't lightning quick either. So it has to be provided by the wide men really. Particularly in Europe where we will be counter attacking more often.

Elyounoussi really is perfect.

 

Yeah I was thinking that about the wide guys too. It's the full backs that are expected to provide the width and crosses in this set up. I see Allan as finding the positions he does and feeding balls through, like the Stanraer goal for example.

 

Is there really a conundrum? Is the whole point of having all these players not to have competition for places so the players don't rest on their laurels. To me whatever player has the jersey it's theirs until they either don't perform or another performs better and shows more in training. I think that's why we are seeing the development of our young players as is. Mckay Stevens, McGregor, Armstrong and Forrest have all had spells out and when they've came back they've looked like better players.

 

I dont really understand the problem here? Brown and Bitton in the centre, first names on the teamsheet.

Then you have forrest, mcgregor, rogic, GMS and armstrong all rotating, pushing them for their places.

 

Ok clever clogs, so who do you start with?

And you missed out Commons, Allan, Johansen and Christie.

The 'problem' is not a problem as such. Competition for places and who is the best options is what we're discussing really.

 

Bitton Brown

GMS Allan Armstrong

assuming GMS keeps up this form hes on , forrest isn't cutting it for me anymore , 5 or 6 year on and his final ball is still not good enough

 

I would like to see us play with just one holding midfielder, especially domestically. Then have two more attacking minded midfielders with licence to get forward and support the front man, with two out and out wingers on either side providing the width backed up by the over-lapping full backs.
That's why I really think we could do with a proper left sided winger although Armstrong and Commons could fill in that spot.
In terms of the rest of the midfield, I can see Biton and Johanson moving on shortly so I'm quite happy with the numbers we have. Ideally with a 5 man midfield you want about 10-12 midfielders in your squad.

 

Its going to be a sore head for Ronny in the coming months, especially in the summer when we could have Henderson and possibly Ajer joining back from loans.

Brown
Bitton
Ajer
Henderson
Johansen
Armstrong
McGregor
Allan
Rogic
Christie
Commons
Roberts
Forrest
Mackay-Steven

Could be looking at that many midfielders come the summer, plus Mulgrew who usually played there but will probably become a back-up centre-half.

Wonder how we'll deal with that situation.

Scott Allan must be wondering how he's gonny get a game. He's barely had a sniff while GMS seem to have been binned, Brown was injured and McGregor was out of the picture, now GMS has re-appeared, McGregor is holding a starting XI spot, Brown is due back, Christie has joined and Roberts has signed.

 

Aye.How the * do you handle that squad and keep morale up? How do you keep he likes of Allan, Christie motivated when you keep signing midfielders like some sort of hoarding based obsession.

Not to mention the likes of Nesbit he called "one of the best young players in Europe" a few months ago, despite turning 19 next month and has only played 3mins for the club - what chance does he have now. Henderson to as I've said in he other thread.

 

Well Bitton definitely starts, as does Brown more than likely. Johansen/Rogic battling for number 10. Then I think Commons/Armstrong will be going for one side as that wide playmaker and on the other side GMS/Forrest/Roberts to add that bit of trickery or pace. McGregor will purely fill in through injuries or players being out of form.