Midfield

I think we all need to take our green tinted glasses off and realise that we aren't that far ahead of them. Yes I believe we have better quality but not by the chasm as some make it out to be. We definitely need to strengthen in the summer starting with a no nonsense midfielder.

 

All it takes is a couple of shrewd transfer windows by either team. Ange being a case in point.

 

The last 3 games have shown they have found away to play against us. We are too slow and passing it around the back with players who can’t do that. They love that us they put any pressure on us we will * it which we do constantly.

Our midfield is fine but gets bypassed when they attack with long balls.

 

Well said that man.

 

Midfield again the issue in recent games, powderpuff, negative and cannot shoot to save their lives.
Remains the biggest issue in our team.

 

So weak..

They had guys id never heard of getting on it and going by a man/playing through a press with consummate ease..

Ours is frighteningly one paced, weak and same same..

 

When you play McGregor, Hatate and Engels in the one midfield, what more can you expect ?.
They are stuck on nearly every game. Even on this forum.
Weak, weak, weak.
Three games lost in the last seven matches. Unacceptable.
You can see where the problem is.

 

We badly lack pace in midfield.

It was fine in previous years as McGregor was always fairly quick, but he's starting to slow down and both Hatate and Engels aren't that quick either. McCowan and Bernardo are no slouches but again, not players I'd describe as quick.

We really need a bit more pace and power in there. If Hatate does leave this summer, I think it'd be a mistake to replace him with someone like for like, we'll be much better replacing him with a player that's a bit quicker and stronger.

We do sorely lack goals from midfield this year, so finding the above who can also score is asking for a lot, but what a difference it would make.

 

The midfield combo of McGregor, Hatate and Engels is imo the best we currently have at our disposal. There will be some revisionism of Bernardo but the reality is he's had a pretty average season before the injury which is a part of why he's been unable to cement his position into the starting eleven. I do like McCowan, eye for a pass and shot and but he's clearly a squad player.

Midfield needs some careful surgery in the Summer.

 

Weak, slow and not creative.

 

Not good enough, time to move players on in the summer and get players in who will improve the current team.

 

We need a midfield that works for each other harder, at hard hitting attack minded addition who's first instinct isn't to return the ball directly player that just passed it to them every time, occasionally yes but every bleeding time! Pass and move not pass and receive in the exact same place you started from and then sideways and back again every time. It's more Strictly Come Dancing that football, slow, slow, quick-quick, slow. Too predictable, too slow, no movement options, don't move on to the ball but wait for it to finally arrive every time. No variation, void of idea's, no change of direction with pace, no pace even. Pretty mundane. You could watch reruns of matches and the only change would be the opposition. Tolerated to a degree when winning but when we're not it's got to change up some. Give us a spark! At least look as if you're trying something else.

 

What we needed today was either a Rogic-like guy to come off the bench and start creating chances, or a more direct attacking-midfielder with pace, power and a shot in him. None of our subs really have those qualities. McCowan, in my humble opinion, is a runner and a worker but not much else. Bernardo isn’t the answer either.

Engels has been phoning it in a lot this season tbh, and Hatate blows hot n’ cold. The board need to get the cheque book out, clearly, but either way we shouldn’t be losing that game today.

 

pace and power is what we have needed for years. Never gets addressed though. Strange

 

Said it numerous times but there is not an out and out number 10 or an out and out holding mid and it's absolutely killing us. All of the midfielders we have individually are decent but they all want to be doing the same thing

 

Just said in Engels thread but no enough ball carriers in the middle..

Far too one paced. Far too safe..

No enough players willing to turn a man and drive in to space, committing the opposition..

McGregor is getting on and tries now and then
Hatate has it here and there but looks slower than when he first arrived and takes way too many touches now
Bernardo is one paced but has the odd turn by using his body well
Engels isn't the best in tight situations and on the turn
McCowan is one paced and also weak but has the odd pockets of space and passes..

We're way too samey same. We need an injection of pace, power and guile in the engine room..

Games like yesterday I'd even be tempted to stick Jota in a 10 type position with McGregor and Hatate behind and Maeda left, Yang right and Idah up top. Think Jota could definitely bring a bit of magic in that role against teams camped in..

Might be time to try Schlupp in there as someone willing to get on it, carry it and go beyond. Frame at left back for a few games..

Also get Bonnar in the side to freshen up a stale 11..

 

Spot on, a Stan Petrov type player to take the game by the scruff of the neck and * run at them.

 

The midfield is rubbish. Hatate has one good game every 5 weeks.

McGregor is a declining force who plays it safe far too often.

Engels has been up and down all season and doesn’t dominate matches.

That’s our first choice midfield and not one of them you’d feel confident in absolutely running matches on a consistent basis.

Very little pace, no strength whatsoever, no ball winners or ball carriers. Barely a bit of creativity. And between them, a * load of loose passes.

Our recruitment has been shocking in that area of the pitch for a while now.

 

hatate is the only player we have who wants to take the ball in midfield and get turned to play a foward pass ,he is having that stamped out of his game . i think as it stands we need to get mcgregor in the more advanced role and encourage him to do that more engels or bernardo to play in that deeper role

 

I would be all for changing it up.
Lets try something different.
All can see that Cal is not doing it as a DM.
Try Jeffery with Cal and Reo more advanced.