Central midfield

A

Adams Kebab

Well-known member
Badly exposed tonight. Very little showing for the ball or developing attacks centrally.

I know we’ve been unlucky with the injuries to Fiorini and Patino, but it’s pretty criminal that 2 weeks since that, we’ve signed nobody to play there. We’ve had to change formation from the Managers 4-3-3 & tonight caused ourselves numerous issues giving the ball away by our goal with very few options to pass to, particularly in central midfield. Dougall the worst culprit, never on the turn or looking to play forwards.

It’s a poor doo we’ve ended up with him and Connolly central midfield again. With the 2 loan players out for a few weeks yet… we need to sort this out tomorrow. We also need to get a Centre forward… we’ve been trying but getting knocked back and failing medicals but c’mon, we all know we need one.

On the plus side- Poveda looked tricky.

Busy day for Ben and the boys. Let’s see what he’s got up his Matalan sleeves.
 
BFC_BFC_BFC said:
I’d be shopping for an experienced centre back as well as a midfielder. Someone to marshall the defence and shout “what the ** hell are you thinking about you idiot” to Grimshaw now and again.
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We’ll concede soon pissing about like that, but as I said, it’s not helped by the lack of options centrally who want the ball and will then get on the turn and get us playing.

It’s struggle trying to play inside your own box when your two central midfielders on great on the ball and don’t really want it.
 
Dougall is being overworked and isn’t a play maker, he shows for the ball but was overrun and forced to take risky chances with the ball in bad areas tonight. He just hasn’t got the personnel around him that can unlock midfields. Thought Bowler was poor tonight, gave the ball away on the edge of their area and he looked a player that’s had his head turned.
 
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So we need a decent quality striker, midfielder and centre back... how much is all that going to cost?
I agree though, we do need them
 
Our midfield has been none existent for most of the season if we’re being honest and once again after a game I say the same thing I just don’t know what Dougall contributes to it.
That said it’s more and more clear that a combination of Madine Yates & Lavery just doesn’t work they couldn’t worry a sheep.
Every attack Blackburn had they looked like they were going to score (just like Bristol City last week) yet we huffed and puffed for 80 minutes before we had our first shot on target.
I’am worried already after what I’ve seen so far this season I really am things are just not working as they should be.
 
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Bamber said:
The most disappointing aspect for me is that we are essentially playing two defensive midfielders but the defence has no protection and we are completely open through the middle.
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We are basically having to play 4-2-4, with two central midfielders who are comfortable going sidewards and backwards,

We shouldn’t be having to abandon the Managers principles when we’ve had two weeks to alleviate the above problems.
 
Another mention too for our shit set-pieces.

Granted Williams nearly bagged but delivery before that and then Dougall and Theo’s training ground fuck-up 🙈

We’ve not managed to sign someone to sort this.
 
Adams Kebab said:
We are basically having to play 4-2-4, with two central midfielders who are comfortable going sidewards and backwards,

We shouldn’t be having to abandon the Managers principles when we’ve had two weeks to alleviate the above problems.
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To be fair, we've got five midfielders missing for various reasons and all of them would start ahead of Connolly & Dougall.
 
Bamber said:
To be fair, we've got five midfielders missing for various reasons and all of them would start ahead of Connolly & Dougall.
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It’s a fair point, but they are missing for a while, so we need to act. We can’t have that midfield as we’ll lose points.
 
Adams Kebab said:
Badly exposed tonight. Very little showing for the ball or developing attacks centrally.

I know we’ve been unlucky with the injuries to Fiorini and Patino, but it’s pretty criminal that 2 weeks since that, we’ve signed nobody to play there. We’ve had to change formation from the Managers 4-3-3 & tonight caused ourselves numerous issues giving the ball away by our goal with very few options to pass to, particularly in central midfield. Dougall the worst culprit, never on the turn or looking to play forwards.

It’s a poor doo we’ve ended up with him and Connolly central midfield again. With the 2 loan players out for a few weeks yet… we need to sort this out tomorrow. We also need to get a Centre forward… we’ve been trying but getting knocked back and failing medicals but c’mon, we all know we need one.

On the plus side- Poveda looked tricky.

Busy day for Ben and the boys. Let’s see what he’s got up his Matalan sleeves.
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totally get your point but I think Appleton is thinking along the lines that we'll make do until Patino is back which hopefully should be only a couple of weeks. and to be fair it's worked performance wise for the last couple of games. But tonight was a shocker and the system didn't work with basically the four up front and Dougall and Connolly in midfield who were hopelessly over-run. A good opening fifteen minutes playing wwell but not creating anything and a decent last five minutes or so when they sat deep and both Williams and Dougall should have hit the target with their free headers.
 
Dougal and Connelly in midfield, that was it. Bowler is too light weight and has one trick and is easy to sus out. He's fast and they know he's going to cut in on to his left. He is best coming from a deeper position. Our first shot on target was on 80 minutes.
 
Dougall had to work extremely hard tonight and was given a couple of terrible balls by Grimshaw. I thought he delivered quite a few good corners and set pieces, he kept going and was unlucky he didn't score in the last minute. But at the moment he needs someone alongside him who is comfortable on the ball and creative, Conolley is clearly not that player, and in the first half, I cannot remember him doing anything apart from defending and closing down.
 
20togo said:
but I think Appleton is thinking along the lines that we'll make do until Patino is back which hopefully should be only a couple of weeks.
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Yeh I get that, bring someone in and then he’s got a selection issue, but it’s how badly it effects us till CP comes back.

Tonight central midfield was where we lost the game.
 
Adams Kebab said:
It’s a fair point, but they are missing for a while, so we need to act. We can’t have that midfield as we’ll lose points.
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It's a shame for the manager but he needs to find a way to play a more solid 442 - we might have to settle for Critchball for a while until we get some players back. Having said, if we bring a playmaker in tomorrow, we could be back in business straight away.
 
Dougall and Connolly aren’t going to create much, we know that.

But when they’re off it in other areas e.g. winning second balls, winning tackles, positioning as they were tonight, we’re in real trouble.

But as many have said we’re missing our two creative mids, very unfortunate for both to get injured in the same game.
 
Stood out like a sore thumb tonight as much as I love the man Kenny was awful need an enforcer in their but I think we have missed the boat to find one all on Mansford this window shambolic
 
Danny Ocean said:
Dougall had to work extremely hard tonight and was given a couple of terrible balls by Grimshaw. I thought he delivered quite a few good corners and set pieces, he kept going and was unlucky he didn't score in the last minute. But at the moment he needs someone alongside him who is comfortable on the ball and creative, Conolley is clearly not that player, and in the first half, I cannot remember him doing anything apart from defending and closing down.
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For me, Dougall was absent all game (not for the first time this season). He only got on the ball to take set pieces which again caused no real problem. Vastly overrated IMO. Keeping going and working hard is not good enough for this level unfortunately
 
Adams Kebab said:
Yeh I get that, bring someone in and then he’s got a selection issue, but it’s how badly it effects us till CP comes back.

Tonight central midfield was where we lost the game.
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yes, but there was poor performances all over the pitch. Up front Madine and Lavery had poor games. Thought Yates did well first half, Dougall and Connelly were over-run but not only that they weren't showing for the ball either. Sure Grimmy made some good saves but he was putting us under terrible pressure with his passing out. Williams also for me had a shocker.
 
Shiggy said:
Dougall and Connolly aren’t going to create much, we know that.

But when they’re off it in other areas e.g. winning second balls, winning tackles, positioning as they were tonight, we’re in real trouble.

But as many have said we’re missing our two creative mids, very unfortunate for both to get injured in the same game.
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They simply got overrun tonight… we’re playing a centre forward left wing and our right winger doesn’t track back.
 
20togo said:
yes, but there was poor performances all over the pitch. Up front Madine and Lavery had poor games. Thought Yates did well first half, Dougall and Connelly were over-run but not only that they weren't showing for the ball either. Sure Grimmy made some good saves but he was putting us under terrible pressure with his passing out. Williams also for me had a shocker.
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Not sure on Williams still, seems slow as on the turn. Grimshaw and the pissing about at the back seems daft when Madine is standing up there. Again though, I do think Patino and Fiorini go and get those balls off Grimshaw and get us playing forwards more.
 
We aren’t t playing 433 we are playing 442 a formation that is forced upon us because of injuries and it doesn’t work. Dougall is a league 1 midfielder and won’t be anywhere near the starting XI once we have the injured players back and Connolly will be on the bench.

Why haven’t we signed an experienced midfielder? Because we have been ** about playing at bids instead of going in and getting it done.

We should have kept Keogh for the reasons stated in a previous post or at least get someone in. The side is too young and needs some proper leadership. Take the loans away and we’d be fucked, Virtue, Dougall, CJ, Lavery, Garbutt, not god enough, get rid.

If we lose Bowler tomorrow and no one comes in, and we need 3 at least, then questions have to be asked why we haven’t got the players in Appleton wanted.
 
Wharton making his debut was better than anything we had on the pitch. 18 years old and totally dominated the game. Having said that, withe everyone fit our midfield would be Stewart, Fiorini and Patino, none of tonight's midfield starting. Also we'd be playing the manager's preferred formation.
 
Adams Kebab said:
They simply got overrun tonight… we’re playing a centre forward left wing and our right winger doesn’t track back.
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Yep, they had 3 or 4 Rovers players around them when they got the ball it seemed tonight. Completely dominated. I’m not sure what Appleton could do at that point with what was available.
 
Adams Kebab said:
Badly exposed tonight. Very little showing for the ball or developing attacks centrally.

I know we’ve been unlucky with the injuries to Fiorini and Patino, but it’s pretty criminal that 2 weeks since that, we’ve signed nobody to play there. We’ve had to change formation from the Managers 4-3-3 & tonight caused ourselves numerous issues giving the ball away by our goal with very few options to pass to, particularly in central midfield. Dougall the worst culprit, never on the turn or looking to play forwards.

It’s a poor doo we’ve ended up with him and Connolly central midfield again. With the 2 loan players out for a few weeks yet… we need to sort this out tomorrow. We also need to get a Centre forward… we’ve been trying but getting knocked back and failing medicals but c’mon, we all know we need one.

On the plus side- Poveda looked tricky.

Busy day for Ben and the boys. Let’s see what he’s got up his Matalan sleeves.
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Spot on mate. Everything you’ve said I agree with.
 
The bottom line is we're having to still play players out of position with a striker on the left wing, and a defender in midfield. Until we have players available to play in their preferred positions, that have the attributes to play in those positions, we'll struggle. We have Patino, Fiorini, Carey and Keshi all missing and they would all make a significant difference.
If we end tomorrow with a proper left winger and a centre mid with some quality we'll be much better in the coming games I think.
 
BFC_BFC_BFC said:
I’d be shopping for an experienced centre back as well as a midfielder. Someone to marshall the defence and shout “what the ** hell are you thinking about you idiot” to Grimshaw now and again.
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Like keogh ? I like appy and I want to get behind the club and board but we should never have let keogh go.
 
WalwynWasGod said:
Definitely need a centre midfielder who can put a foot on the ball and pick a pass.

For me 4-3-3 does not work for us… certainly not playing Lavery on the wing. He tries very hard but …
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We are currently playing 4 4 2 with a defensive midfielder, a utility player, a misfiring forward at left midfield and an unproductive veteran centre forward.
So 4 4 2 isn't working either, I'd rather we put out the best 4 3 3 we can and get the players used to it, as players are signed and recover from injury we will get better.
 
Adams Kebab said:
Badly exposed tonight. Very little showing for the ball or developing attacks centrally.

I know we’ve been unlucky with the injuries to Fiorini and Patino, but it’s pretty criminal that 2 weeks since that, we’ve signed nobody to play there. We’ve had to change formation from the Managers 4-3-3 & tonight caused ourselves numerous issues giving the ball away by our goal with very few options to pass to, particularly in central midfield. Dougall the worst culprit, never on the turn or looking to play forwards.

It’s a poor doo we’ve ended up with him and Connolly central midfield again. With the 2 loan players out for a few weeks yet… we need to sort this out tomorrow. We also need to get a Centre forward… we’ve been trying but getting knocked back and failing medicals but c’mon, we all know we need one.

On the plus side- Poveda looked tricky.

Busy day for Ben and the boys. Let’s see what he’s got up his Matalan sleeves.
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He doesnt shop at matalan, I saw him leaving primark yesterday Afternoon 👍🏻
 
Bamber said:
It's a shame for the manager but he needs to find a way to play a more solid 442 - we might have to settle for Critchball for a while until we get some players back. Having said, if we bring a playmaker in tomorrow, we could be back in business straight away.
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Exactly. With the players we have available at the moment we aren't good enough to go toe to toe with the opposition. Until our better players are available we should play the boring Critchley system that did work to atchieve 6 points out of 6 at home to Bristol C and Blackburn last season.
 
Adams Kebab said:
Badly exposed tonight. Very little showing for the ball or developing attacks centrally.

I know we’ve been unlucky with the injuries to Fiorini and Patino, but it’s pretty criminal that 2 weeks since that, we’ve signed nobody to play there. We’ve had to change formation from the Managers 4-3-3 & tonight caused ourselves numerous issues giving the ball away by our goal with very few options to pass to, particularly in central midfield. Dougall the worst culprit, never on the turn or looking to play forwards.

It’s a poor doo we’ve ended up with him and Connolly central midfield again. With the 2 loan players out for a few weeks yet… we need to sort this out tomorrow. We also need to get a Centre forward… we’ve been trying but getting knocked back and failing medicals but c’mon, we all know we need one.

On the plus side- Poveda looked tricky.

Busy day for Ben and the boys. Let’s see what he’s got up his Matalan sleeves.
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It’ll be about as busy a day for Ben & co as it will be for me today at work rough. Zilch will be done.
 
Adams Kebab said:
We’ll concede soon pissing about like that, but as I said, it’s not helped by the lack of options centrally who want the ball and will then get on the turn and get us playing.

It’s struggle trying to play inside your own box when your two central midfielders on great on the ball and don’t really want it.
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Watching last night reminded me how Patino makes that position look so simple. Always showing for the ball, great first touch and a trick or two to make space or get away from a marker, simple ball.
 
Dr Hfuhruhurr said:
Watching last night reminded me how Patino makes that position look so simple. Always showing for the ball, great first touch and a trick or two to make space or get away from a marker, simple ball.
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Yep, it’s crucial to have central midfielders wanting the ball and looking to play forwards.

Due to injury we’ve got no options and reverted back to last season.
 
I think we ran out of luck last night, it's a patched up side with virtually all our creative midfielders either injured or suspended, plus balsa wood Stewart who is probably our best holding midfielder "when" fit. When you look at the list of Fiorini, Patino, Anderson, Carey and Stewart all missing it's no wonder we were beaten by a better set up side.

In the end, thanks to Grimmy, we lost to a goal scored by probably the best striker in the division, disappointed yes, the end of the world? Not just yet.
 
ItsGrimUpNorth said:
It’ll be about as busy a day for Ben & co as it will be for me today at work rough. Zilch will be done.
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We’ve not managed to sign a striker the whole window & left woefully short in central midfield due to injury.

We’ve had more knock backs than Tim Henman’s 2nd serve.

It’s pretty obvious that we’ve only got the calibre of loans due to Appleton being well respected.

Today needs to be a busy day or the guy who doesn’t like being called Bullshit is going to have to do one of his sofa chats again…
 
Got to agree with many of the comments on this thread.
We need the solidity of Kenny and Connolly but they both lack creativity. We still need that elusive mid-fielder that can do both and
if he can deliver a decent ball from a set play that would help.
Add to that Williams and Eky are also very poor in their use of the ball. Williams is at a disadvantage as a rightie play on the left and personally I'd like to see Thorniley given a few games.
The consequence of this is we are creating very little from the centre of the pitch. (Of course we have players out injured that hopefully will improve that).
Probably somewhat controversially, as much as I like Thompson, I'd like to see Hubby back. We are missing his experience.
 
Thought last night showed up all our shortcomings. Poor distribution from defence, Grimshaw included, no bite or creativity in midfield. Strikers misfiring when Bowler marked closely nothing in final third. Big day for Mansford today.
 
Northstandsinger said:
Like keogh ? I like appy and I want to get behind the club and board but we should never have let keogh go.
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I’m not sure it would have been fair to keep him. He’d wanted to get closer to home, back to his first club and his mate as manager… But we should have looked to get a replacement for sure.

Both Ekpiteta and Williams lack experience and we need an older head in there just to talk the whole defence (including Grimmy) through the game.
 
Insider said:
Got to agree with many of the comments on this thread.
We need the solidity of Kenny and Connolly but they both lack creativity. We still need that elusive mid-fielder that can do both and
if he can deliver a decent ball from a set play that would help.
Add to that Williams and Eky are also very poor in their use of the ball. Williams is at a disadvantage as a rightie play on the left and personally I'd like to see Thorniley given a few games.
The consequence of this is we are creating very little from the centre of the pitch. (Of course we have players out injured that hopefully will improve that).
Probably somewhat controversially, as much as I like Thompson, I'd like to see Hubby back. We are missing his experience.
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The mad thing was last night, that only Ekipiteta was stepping forward with the ball but he’s not great at it. The ideal scenario is that our midfielders get the ball off our central defenders and keeper, similar to how Fiorini v Reading and Patino did at QPR.

KD and CC are never going to do that, Dougall tries but never turns and takes us forwards and has got caught doing it at Burnley, Saturday and last night.

We’re having to put square pegs in round holes, due to injuries, but the transfer window is OPEN and has been since we knew we were massively short in midfield when we got two injuries and then Carey got sent off.

I know people are saying that we’ve got Patino and Fiorini to come back… but since we’ve signed them we’ve had bids for Sheff Wed guy and Rotherham one… the same has happened with strikers… Simms, Bishop and Hirst… so they know that we need these players, but for whatever reason we can’t get it done.
 
We were outplayed in the midfield by two 18 year old, inexperienced players.
In general, I agree with the Lancs paper performance scores, only Grimmy & Jerry can hold their heads up and the other players were mainly 4/10.
However, we move on & hope to sign today those elusive experienced players that we need.
 
Oh for a David Vaughan...

Hard to disagree with the gist of most comments; it’s been our weakness for a long time.

I accept that Kenny has not been at his best this season so far, but - like Lavery on the left - you have to acknowledge a players strengths and give him to chance to play to them. Getting him on the ball and passing through the midfield is already going to hit and miss because it’s not his game. There’s little point wanting it to be different because it won’t be.

He and/or Connolly are also going to struggle to be destructive in their play of they’re stretched to breaking point by a system that leaves them hopelessly exposed. N’Golo Kante is the only midfielder I’ve seen who can cover the extra space effectively.

Everyone- possibly even the club - needs to forget Kevin Stewart as a potential answer to the issue. The guy is a permanent sick note who will contribute next to nothing this season. Unless we have nothing to lose financially by keeping him, he should have been shown the door ages ago. Potential on paper is as useful as a hot tub in a sewer. Harsh maybe, but this is professional sport.

A Ryan Wintle style player is needed. It would improve us massively.
 
Adams Kebab said:
The mad thing was last night, that only Ekipiteta was stepping forward with the ball but he’s not great at it. The ideal scenario is that our midfielders get the ball off our central defenders and keeper, similar to how Fiorini v Reading and Patino did at QPR.

KD and CC are never going to do that, Dougall tries but never turns and takes us forwards and has got caught doing it at Burnley, Saturday and last night.

We’re having to put square pegs in round holes, due to injuries, but the transfer window is OPEN and has been since we knew we were massively short in midfield when we got two injuries and then Carey got sent off.

I know people are saying that we’ve got Patino and Fiorini to come back… but since we’ve signed them we’ve had bids for Sheff Wed guy and Rotherham one… the same has happened with strikers… Simms, Bishop and Hirst… so they know that we need these players, but for whatever reason we can’t get it done.
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I’ve noticed most teams we’ve played have their midfielders dropping deep into positions where they can take the ball of the central defenders rather than let them run out with the ball, and as you say without Fiorini and Charlie this is almost non existent at the moment. Kevin Stewart is excellent at this and what a miss he is with his injuries. With all 3 of them playing together it will be a joy to watch but sadly not sure or if this will happen for the foreseeable!
 
SirHarryThomson said:
Thought last night showed up all our shortcomings. Poor distribution from defence, Grimshaw included, no bite or creativity in midfield. Strikers misfiring when Bowler marked closely nothing in final third. Big day for Mansford today.
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Agree. Seems a lot of people seem to think Bowler can produce every time he gets the ball despite the close attention he gets. Was very noticeable last night that as soon as he got the ball at least two other Rovers players got over to him quickly to help the man who was marking him. And I keep making this point. None of our players get over near him to help him out and make themselves available to get the ball so he's often nowhere to go and not a pass on either. Of course that isn't helped when we've ho forward thinking midfield player.
 
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