Ledley out tomorrow

Bring mulgrew into defensive midfield and play rogne and maj at the back.

 

id stick juarez in think he would have a point to prove. only thing is hes had lack of matches

 

I heard that Ledley is out for around a month never mind tomorrow.

 

Still think he plays very within himself even recently when he has scored a few. Other than Kayal, I am not blown away by our regular CMs. We have had many CMs in the past who are far bigger personalities and driving forces than either Ledley or Ki. Ledley ticks along but about 90% of his passes are the simplest sideways passes and it doesnt seem to come off regularly when he tries much else. Kayal is a far far better player who makes an impact. For me Ledley is just not influential enough on the game for a CM. We have had many guys who are all action or more multi-facetted than Ledley and he is probably one of the most underwhelming CMs I can remember in a long time. Despite that I do agree that as long as he remains a cog in the machine of a winning side then he deserves his place. However, if he doesnt develop as a personality on the park I would be pretty disappointed if we cant do better than him in coming seasons. Kayal shows just what it is like to have a big driving personality with leadership qualities. In the past in 3 in a row guys like Robson could single handedly drive the team on. I would like to see a 2nd big personality type player in there.

 

Ledley has been our best player in the last 5 or 6 games.

there's just no pleasing some people.

 

Sorry, but if you can't appreciate Ledley's performances you don't know much about football.

 

I understand what you're saying about Ledley being a quiet personality on the park. The bottom line though is, Joe Ledley is a better footballer than guys like Barry Robson and Paul Hartley.

 

Ledley has been quite superb for us. Along with Kayal he has brought a real energy and dynamic to the centre of the park. He has really found his feet in their now. If he is out tomorrow then the side will/ should be exactly the same as the one that started against and destroyed Killie.

No time or place for shirkers and inconsistency.

 

I wonder who that could be

 

Totally agree, quiet man in the middle. I like the way he has improved as the weeks have went on.

Unfussy player.

 

Its all about opinions but I watched him really closely in the last game and he almost always played the most safety first sideways passes possible leaving all the more risky forward passing to Kayal and to a lesser degree Broony. Sorry but that doesnt impress me. I dont mind that if the player is a brilliant DM like Lenny was but Ledley is not a natural DM. I like players who are characters and take a game personally by the scruff. Kayal is simply brilliant but we also got that sort of incredible driving force thing (albeit a lot less technically gifted) from Robson. Other than Kayal (who is incredible) I still would have the 3 in a row Robson in there ahead of anyone we have seen since. Robsons time has passed but I absolutely loved the guy, his drive, his leadership qualities and the sheer joy of playing he showed. I want more of that in our team.

 

You watched him really closely? Thats good, I sometimes try to watch games closely too. His passing in the park is a lot more attack minded than you are making out. In particular his pass to Samaras in the January game against the Orcs to set up the first goal.

His role in the centre of the park is to complement Kayal, which they do very well. He is also more of a goal threat than any of our other Centre Midfielders and his goals are crucial to us.

As you said, we cant have Robson back in the side. I liked him as well, but why are you comparing Ledley to him??

 

He may be but he has not really done more 99% of the time other than playing the easiest sideways short pass. Robson was a big influence on games and a * of a driving force and Hartely was very good at the Lenny role and better at defending that Ledley IMO. Ledley is almost playing a Lenny kind of role IMO but I dont think it really is natural to him. I just think because he has scored a couple recently his very limited impact on games is being overlooked. However, I do acknowledge that somehow our current first choice MF four really works as a blend and Ledley is part of that. There is no question that the four together produce the goods in a way that wasnt happening pre-Xmas.

 

Ledley is better than barry robson.

Ledley has showed the drive and determination, in the last month or so, been absolutely brilliant, and has done next to nothing wrong,

if you watched him closely in the last game, as you say....against aberdeen, and you come to the conclusion that he's not good enough....then you my friend, know nothing about football.

 

I imagine broony in the middle and Forrest out wide to start... I'm not sure I like that either

 

I heard Ledley done a full training session today and there is a chance he may play tomorrow

 

People keep referring to the Orcs game but I have only seen him do that sort of passing a few times. I do believe he can do more than he shows though. I was really more comparing the guys who drive the whole team from the CM like Kayal does and Robson did. Ledley just doesnt have that. I dont want to be too hard on him though because it is quite possible he is under instructions to play the safety first pass because he is often the last man in front of the defense. The deepest CM's cant risk ambitious passes. I think the thing is that our CM is like the Lenny-Lambo one and surprisingly its Ledley doing the Lenny role and Kayal doing the Lambo role which is semi-creative.

 

Its not that he is not good enough, its just that he plays a subdued continuity role. It may be that he is under instructions to do this. I disagree though in terms of Robson. Robson was an unbelievable driving force, hard as nails, good in the air, good long passer, had a * of a dig/deadball in him, scored a few too. He was the perfect SPL CM. Its such a shame we didnt have him on our books longer. But hes in the past now.

 

You say that, but the stats dont back that up. If Ledley is the sitting midfielder then why has he scored more than any of the other CM's? I agree he likes to keep it simple, but the hardest thing to do in football is play a 5 yard pass under pressure. Ledley does this really well, and rarely gives away possession. That is possibly why you are comparing him to Neil Lennon. Kayal is a little buzzbomb in the centre, but he doesnt attack as often as Ledley who is more and more making those late runs in the box.

Ledley's scoring record is pretty similar to Robsons as well. You have already agreed that he and Kayal are a good partnership in the centre and I would like to see them there for quite a few seasons. Unlike Hartley and Robson, who I thought were great for us, but could only give us a spell towards the end of their careers (Though Robson was sold too soon)