Our Midfield

lancashire lad

With ZZ not being transferred we now have the possibility of a decent midfield.

On the right we have Sam or Ambrose, in the middle Bailey or Semedo in a defensive position with ZZ, Holland or Shelvey as their attacking partner and on the left Bouazza or Basey. The problem with ZZ last season was that he tired easily but now he has a reliable defensive partner and Holland or Shelvey as subs. We also have Racon to return by December. At Preston our midfield was lightweight and overrun which caused the defence to lump the ball up to Gray rather than give it to the midfield to loose. With a fit ZZ at the heart of the midfield we can now have players in their correct positions who can play the ball on the ground and create chances for our forwards.

OK we missed out on £2m in fees but if by the end of the year we are in the top four and playing attractive footbal will it matter?

Kap10

I think ZZ could be a major positive for the team. He ands Ambrose on the right side of midfield with them swapping right wing and right centre midfield during matches could be decisive.

Oggy Red

ZZ brings a lot of energy to the team, good movement and closing down, good touch, neat passing - and if we play him a little further advanced, goals - 9 from midfield in a very inconsistant side last season.

If he really is staying, once he's had a bit of a break to recharge his batteries, ZZ could prove invaluable.
Some club in the Prem missed a bargain at just £2mill.

StubleyAddick

I think we needed another wide player who can play on the left or the right someone like ambrose

Henry Irving

[cite]Posted By: STUBERNAITOR[/cite]I think we needed another wide player who can play on the left or the right someone like ambrose

Don't like Ambrose out wide. Don't think he is as effective as when he plays off another striker in the middle and he can't defend

mart77

[cite]Posted By: Henry Irving[/cite]

[cite]Posted By: STUBERNAITOR[/cite]I think we needed another wide player who can play on the left or the right someone like ambrose

Don't like Ambrose out wide. Don't think he is as effective as when he plays off another striker in the middle and he can't defend

I

I agree Henry. Will be interesting to see if Varney is bought back into the midfield to accomodate a central midfield trio of Bailey, Zheng and Ambrose. You wouldn't think we've had a supposed fire sale with the wealth of talent we still have available!

Valley11

I would've preferred it if ZZ had been sold as this just gives Pardew more opportunity to chop and change.

What would your midfield be now then?:

Bouazza, Bailey, ZZ, Sam

Leaves:
Holland, Shelvey, Basey, Racon and Ambrose.

Henry Irving

[cite]Posted By: Valley11[/cite]I would've preferred it if ZZ had been sold as this just gives Pardew more opportunity to chop and change.

.

That is the best reason i've ever heard for not keeping a class player

Miserableoldgit

Ambrose for Sam

Kap10

[cite]Posted By: Oggy Red[/cite]If he really is staying, once he's had a bit of a break to recharge his batteries

ZZ last played 13th August, so hopefully with treatment for his back he should be re charged and ready to go by the Wolves match

[cite]Posted By: Valley11[/cite]What would your midfield be now then?:

Bouazza, Bailey, ZZ, Ambrose - with Ambrose adn ZZ interchanging.

Valley11

"That is the best reason i've ever heard for not keeping a class player"

I know that sounds idiotic but you know where I'm coming from.

It's good that the board weren't bullied into selling him for peanuts and suggests we might be on a stronger financial footing.

But I just wonder how 9 (midfielders) goes into 4.

ISawLeaburnScore

Racon is injured for a good while - probably by his return one or two others will be, Basey is primarily a LB and despite what me and others think that he could "do a Barry" he has only played outside the back four once

that leaves 7 into 4 realistically

Henry Irving

[cite]Posted By: Valley11[/cite]"That is the best reason i've ever heard for not keeping a class player"

I know that sounds idiotic but you know where I'm coming from.

It's good that the board weren't bullied into selling him for peanuts and suggests we might be on a stronger financial footing.

But I just wonder how 9 (midfielders) goes into 4.

With Racon out it's 8 so effectively 2 for each slot and Shelvey is still 16 and not, IMHO, ready to play every week.

That is actually quite tight in terms of numbers IMHO for when/if we start to get other injuries and suspensions but 2 for each postion is what Derek Chappell said some time ago on the OS.

Bailey and ZZ in the middle gives us two hardworking, goal scoring players with Semdo or Holland as cover or coming off the bench.

Away from home I'd like to see more of Basey out wide and Semedo either at FB or on the bench as he can also play CH. Sam has shown that he does a lot of work defensively. At home we may need to attack more so Moo2 is more likely to play.

At the moment I think we are OK other than upfront where Fleetwood and Dickson have potential but are unproven.

razil

does 2 for each position mean that centre back is one position.....? altho i spose these two loans fill that..

Henry Irving

[cite]Posted By: razil[/cite]does 2 for each position mean that centre back is one position.....?

Only on days with a "y" in them

Oggy Red

Patience, boy.

Primus is scheduled to come to us after 8 September, when the Football League loan window re-opens.

Hopefully, he'll be nearer fitness by then too.

LenGlover

[cite]Posted By: Valley11[/cite]"That is the best reason i've ever heard for not keeping a class player"

I know that sounds idiotic but you know where I'm coming from.

It's good that the board weren't bullied into selling him for peanuts and suggests we might be on a stronger financial footing.

But I just wonder how 9 (midfielders) goes into 4.

Racon is longterm injured and although Jonjo is undoubtedly talented I don't think we should be looking at him as a full squad player yet but rather as a surprise package to be used when conditions are right.

That leaves 7 or 8 if you include Josh Wright who wasn't on your original list and is Basey a midfielder or full back?

If he is regarded as a full back then we are back to 7.

A squad of 22 (plus kids) 1 reserve for each position so 7/8 midfielders is ok in my view.

Oggy Red

Also Semedo and Varney can each play midfield, if we should be unlucky with injuries.

mart77

[cite]Posted By: Henry Irving[/cite]

At the moment I think we are OK other than upfront where Fleetwood and Dickson have potential but are unproven.

How about a cheeky loan bid for Robinho to help him get used to English football????

Henry Irving

He's rubbish!

I'd guess they'll be a lot of players available from City come January.

Chris_from_Sidcup

If we can keep everyone fit then we've got as good a team as any in this division. I just pray that Weaver, Hudson and Varney don't get injured.

Chris_from_Sidcup

[cite]Posted By: Henry Irving[/cite] He's rubbish!

I'd guess they'll be a lot of players available from City come January.

Would be happy if we could get Sturridge or Ched Evans in.

ISawLeaburnScore

what a player Ched Evans is... though the bottom half of the Prem will be queuing up for the likes of: Sturridge, Evans, Benjani, Gelson, Michael Ball, Vassell, Hamman, Ireland etc.

Scoham

[cite]Posted By: ISawLeaburnScore[/cite]what a player Ched Evans is... though the bottom half of the Prem will be queuing up for the likes of: Sturridge, Evans, Benjani, Gelson, Michael Ball, Vassell, Hamman, Ireland etc.

Maybe in January, don't think they can get emergency loans like the football league clubs can?

Scoham

As for the midfield we have plenty of options now, with Semedo and Wright missing from that list, and Arter, Yussuff and Jensen in the reserves.

Thats without considering Varney or Moutaouakil playing on the right wing.

Can Pardew keep them all happy? If we go on a bad run having that many options could see him going back to what he did last season, rotating and swapping players around every match.

[cite]Posted By: Valley11[/cite]I would've preferred it if ZZ had been sold as this just gives Pardew more opportunity to chop and change.

What would your midfield be now then?:

Bouazza, Bailey, ZZ, Sam

Leaves:
Holland, Shelvey, Basey, Racon and Ambrose.

ISawLeaburnScore

no they can't, i meant come January

LenGlover

I'm looking forward to Bailey andd ZZ playing together

WSS

I'm looking forward to Ambrose playing with Bailey

LenGlover

I wonder whether Bailey is looking forward to Ambrose playing with him.....

or would he prefer ZZ?

bingaddick

[cite]Posted By: LenGlover[/cite]I'm looking forward to Bailey andd ZZ playing together

Agreed Len, should be a good pairing with plenty of energy.

Covered End

[cite]Posted By: Chris_from_Sidcup[/cite]If we can keep everyone fit then we've got as good a team as any in this division. I just pray that Weaver, Hudson and Varney don't get injured.

I don't think so. Birmingham have a much stronger team, Phillips, McFadden, Quincy etc.
Reading also look stronger on paper and perhaps so do Wolves.
Then there's Sheff U, QPR, Bristol C, I think I'll stop now ........ :-)

Hope you're right though.