Yep agree. I think we’ve adopted two holding midfielders in pretty much every game bar Huddersfield away when Carey started.
The reliance is on creating from wide, but if Bowler has been doubled up on, or not on song we’ve struggled. If you take Bowler out the team which looks likely as he’ll be a target for many, we are going to struggle to create with the wingers we have left.
I don’t think NC wants to play 4-4-2 but he worked out that’s the best system for our current squad & to be fair, sometime it’s pretty much 4-2-4 which means the two midfielders have to hold. I don’t think we have a striker at the moment who can play upfront on his own effectively but I think the plan will be as it has been recently to play 3 in central midfield in certain games in this League or we get overran. This hasn’t worked lately due to personnel, the link from midfield to attack, the lack of height or mobility in attack depending on who’s started and the tweaking of Bowler’s starting position.
A few positions and things to sort, but I do love the recruitment process and how teams do it, as it is the most important thing at a football Club. 3/4 success rate will do & I’m sure they’ll be on it. I’m not bothered about identity or philosophies, I also don’t buy a line NC has adopted out the Southgate book “he’s a great player but an even better human being”… I’m not asking them to go and pick up Grandma’s shopping I just want them to be good at football.
If we get the Bowler dough, it would be nice to see that transfer record broken on a player who’s going to get better and make us better, that’s not to say we can’t still pick up some proper talent cheap, just like Josh Bowler.