Whilst chewing the fat on the train home with my two boys on Saturday.
General consensus was we lacked something and never looked totally convincing whilst Exeter battled very hard for everything.
I commented that we need to change the Centre Back pairing as they make too many errors.
Then my 11 year old son (a regular) came up with a interesting statement
"for me Semedo should be one of the Centre Backs he is always brilliant when he's played there.
And he never looks overly comfortable in midfield other than tackling and making very short easy passes."
Now I know he likes Racon which might slant this statement but cant help thinking he has something.
Somedo was bought as a Defender. Is limited going forward. Doesn't real score
Is it time for Somedo to take a step backwards in the line-up?
And if he did would our midfield be over run or would it give SCP more options for Centre Midfield pairings?
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Plus Semedo was excellent vs P'Boro and Col U recently when he won everything so seems to be gaining some form again so i wouldn't take him out the midfield.
He could certainly do a job there but he's not that fast and you weaken the middle.
Would rather not move the one outfield player who has played consistently well all season to sure up a problem elsewhere.
It will depend who, if anyone, comes in on loan and just how radical CP is willing to be with his changes.
Reid hasn't been doing that well recently but I would like to see Jackson in the middle. Not sure if Jackson and Racon would work though.
Trouble is that he is our combative midfielder, take him out and who is going to win the tackles and chase lost causes?
He is also our best midfielder in terms of work rate and consistency.
Jackson/Reid left midfield, Racon/Wagstaff on right, Eccelstone (given free role) at the point just behind Anyinsah and BWP.
If we are going to get away from the long ball merchant tactics then we need a couple of centre midfielders that can play.
Jackson & racon could work well in there together i feel, jackson is not only good on the ball but he knows how to defend. Racon has the potential to be a good creative midfielder and must be itching at the chance to show CP what he can do.
Id give it a go. something needs to change at the back thats for sure. Dailly and Semedo could be the answer.
I can understand the thinking but in terms of solving the lack of pace problem Jose isn't the quickest either although quicker than all our present centre backs other, perhaps, than Dailly. It's such a shame Fortune's achilles appears to have taken that bit of pace because in all other respects he could do the job.
1) We'd really miss him in the midfield and
2) I could see him picking up a few reds if played at the back, and we cant afford that
However, if we were to sign a creative midfielder a pairing of Dailly and Jose and Racon and say, Michael Johnson would work well I reckon
Semedo would need the right partner. He needs a first ball winner of the type that Fortune and Llera are. Dailly + Semedo would worry me.
So, if you put Semedo there, you need a fit and younger Jon Fortune as well. Or a more dependable Llera. And then where does Dailly go?
All in all, it ain't gonna happen, unless we find a new 'big man' to play alongside him.
Not really sure I agree he looks uncomfortable in midfield, after Racon he probably has the best first touch at the club and is probably the most reliable passer (spread the ball to the opposite flank beautifully on 3 or 4 occassions on Saturday). Give him a properly expansive midfield partner as a foil or get Racon to come properly out of his shell and play like he did as a sub on Saturday and he'll really shine. Only time he looks remotely uncomfortable imo is when he's asked to control the whole midfield on his own by his AWOL partners as was the case for much of Saturday and for at least half the game vs Peterborough.
Try Fry and if Fry doesn't cut it recruit.
Or
Accept promotion looks beyond us this season (understandbly imo given the state the club was in in August) and keep our powder dry in order to cencentrate on recruiting in the summer for a proper push at promotion.
IMO McCormack should only ever be played right midfield, with an overlapping full back, if we want to play Kyel Reid down the left wing.
I've seen nothing from Fortune to say that he's lost his pace or that he's retained it. In all his games I've seen he's seemed fairly comfortable and never had to get into a footrace with anyone. Partly that is his reading of the game.
Not sure if Fortune is a first ball CH. I would have said classic 2nd ball CH which is maybe one reason JF and CD didn't work v Swindon (plus Austin is good). JF and Doc maybe.
JF and Jose. Now that would be interesting.
No good in the air.
No pace.
Watches the ball too much. (watch him for 5 minutes next game, never tracks runs, always watches the ball)
As someone else said, would see red before a handfull of games.
Stephen Dawson rings a bell - smallish bloke? - think he's the guy that ran the orient midfield when we played there - not sure if this year or last but he is what i call a proper centre midfield player.
There is a spot for him in midfield but he has to be partnered with the right midfielder.
I've seen nothing from Fortune to say that he's lost his pace or that he's retained it. In all his games I've seen he's seemed fairly comfortable and never had to get into a footrace with anyone. Partly that is his reading of the game.
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Agree, he hasn't been shocking by any means, but is obviously carrying some sort of injury still otherwise he would have had more game time.
He struggled against Kevin Gallen at The Valley against Barnet whi is hardly a greyhound although, in fairness, I should add he was later substituted, apparently for being unwell so that may have played a part.
I've always liked Fortune and defended him but, discounting the Gallen example, to me he just doesn't look to be moving with his old fluency. That could be lack of fitness rather than lack of pace but he's had long enough to get fit by now I would have thought!
Not ruling him out however as he has only really played alongside the Doc when Dailly has been injured/suspended, maybe with Dailly they would form a better partnership.
Just wanted to add a couple of comments to what you've stated re Semedo.
Have he and Racon signed new deals yet? That might be more the reason for rumoured Central midfielder if there is one..