| Midfield - A HUGE issue currently. 04:39 - Aug 9 with 782 views | Westcountryblue |
Firstly, i'll start with the one major positive from last night which was the defense. I thought Greaves and O'Shea were imperious. They had a lot of work to do last night (possibly more than they'll normally have to do week in, week out at this level) but did a magnificent job keeping it to 1, having been totally overrun in midfield. Davis wasn't able to go forward as much, but defended very well and Johnson, who i've seen some people criticise, again did well, but i think people have to understand just how much work he had to do with Birmingham coming down the right side with Anderson again and again. Young didn't give the ball away once and brought a level of calmness to the side. For me, we have the best backline in the Championship and full credit to them for keeping it at 1 last night.
The midfield on the other hand was nothing short of atrocious. Outmuscled, bullied, lacked any form of intensity, leaderless, lost a huge amount number of aerial battles, slow, ponderess and i could keep on going...Taylor sat too deep, Azor, while he made some good interceptions, was physically outmuscled and bullied off the ball a number of times, Clarke a total passenger and pushed off the ball in a child-like manner and Ogbene running through treacle post achilles OP. To be brutally honest, neither Taylor or Ogbene are nowhere near good enough to be starting in a top 2 aspiring Championship side. Azor will need time to adapt to the speed and physicality of English football, but his relationship playing alongside Cajuste should help him in coming weeks. AHH playing on the right wing summed up where we are in terms of our midfield options right now.
For me, we need to seek to replace Broady (unfortunately), Hutchinson, Ogbene and Taylor. We really lack muscle, leadership and physicality (particularly in wide areas of the pitch- similar to what Burns offered us). The composition just isn't right, with too many diminutive ball carrier types. Think we'll need 4 more midfielders through the door, excluding Cajuste, so a huge amount of work to be done here. With Broady and Hutchinson gone, luckily we should have the best part of 30m, perhaps even more, to do this business.
[Post edited 9 Aug 4:43]
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| Midfield - A HUGE issue currently. on 06:29 - Aug 9 with 543 views | stiff_talking |
The defense played very well except for the goal. There was a number of players who were ball watching. The goal was preventable. Generally, we looked very solid defensively and comfortable. I really enjoyed Davis performance, Greaves got better as the game
Played out. Palmer looked head and shoulders better than Brum keeper who distribution looked lower league one (sorry I’ve said it). Johnson has to realize that his continuous fouling led Ipswich to lose fluidity.
The midfield pairing tonight was disjointed. McKenna played what was available. Ipswich missed Morsy box to box ball carrying skills and this is why we struggled as McKenna “cog” system is so reliant on possession via two central pillars. Azor sat very deep and typically distributes from deeper positions. Taylor a forward thinking midfielder huffed and puffed but couldn’t blow down the house. I wouldn’t call this an huge issue with two weeks of the window still open but more an acknowledgment that we need reinforcements in this area that can play McKenna system. Perhaps Cajuste is the essential ingredient needed. But like Hirst, we need a supporting cast that can perform on broadway when the lights come up !
I would sleep easy as McKenna knew the above before we kicked the first ball. And I think he will be happy with the point ! | | | |
| Midfield - A HUGE issue currently. on 06:37 - Aug 9 with 484 views | stiff_talking |
| Midfield - A HUGE issue currently. on 06:29 - Aug 9 by stiff_talking |
The defense played very well except for the goal. There was a number of players who were ball watching. The goal was preventable. Generally, we looked very solid defensively and comfortable. I really enjoyed Davis performance, Greaves got better as the game
Played out. Palmer looked head and shoulders better than Brum keeper who distribution looked lower league one (sorry I’ve said it). Johnson has to realize that his continuous fouling led Ipswich to lose fluidity.
The midfield pairing tonight was disjointed. McKenna played what was available. Ipswich missed Morsy box to box ball carrying skills and this is why we struggled as McKenna “cog” system is so reliant on possession via two central pillars. Azor sat very deep and typically distributes from deeper positions. Taylor a forward thinking midfielder huffed and puffed but couldn’t blow down the house. I wouldn’t call this an huge issue with two weeks of the window still open but more an acknowledgment that we need reinforcements in this area that can play McKenna system. Perhaps Cajuste is the essential ingredient needed. But like Hirst, we need a supporting cast that can perform on broadway when the lights come up !
I would sleep easy as McKenna knew the above before we kicked the first ball. And I think he will be happy with the point ! |
The forwards struggled to get in the game as midfield central pivot didn’t operate. So I wouldn’t over analyze the forwards output. Obgene played with heart but wasn’t fit. I bet Broadhead couldn’t believe he was even on the field!! Clarke had looked so good preseason had a rough night, Sammy got in great positions and couldn’t convert, Hirst got zero protection from ref but was magnificent and Humphreys must be encourage to play what he sees and not just maintain possession ! Things to work on. | | | |
| Midfield - A HUGE issue currently. on 08:29 - Aug 9 with 135 views | ArnieM |
OP the very good points you make re our midfield have been there for a number of seasons in my view, and we seem no nearer rectifying ih. Personally, I'd sell J Clarke, as yiu say he's a total passenger, but we do appear to gave finally sorted out a suspect defensive backline, last night being probably the biggest test they will get this season. |  |
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| Midfield - A HUGE issue currently. on 08:45 - Aug 9 with 31 views | WeWereZombies |
If the centre backs were imperious then we wouldn't have let a ball rebound off the post only to be met by a choice between three Birmingham players and Greaves (and Palmer) looking backwards and wondering what to do next. There is still work to do in our defence and I hope Woolfenden gets a chance to bring his calmness and vision to the team.
In midfield I have to wonder that when a pairing of Matusiwa and Taylor is not physical enough how a pairing of Matusiwa and Cajuste will improve that aspect. Taylor may lack finesse but he fights. Jack Clarke is more of the link up man between midfield and attack, he is the safebreaker but if the combination is a tricky one he seems to take forever to pick that lock. Still, once the code is cracked and the door swings open Hirst and Smozdics can grab the loot in handfulls. I think we should persist with cracker Jack. And what would it do to our squad limit in numbers if we signed another four midfielders ?
Al-Hamadi was good when he came on, better than we could have expected given the general opinion that he is a third choice striker who should go out on loan to a third tier club, another one to persist with. |  |
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