The midfield three

[Rita_Poon]

Gueye would be the one I’d consider dropping.

Been unbelievable for us but I’m starting to see a player who’s levels ‘might’ be finally dropping.

He's still the same player, he's just operating in a different blend of midfield. When he was sweeping up after Doucoure (nine times in ten the player covering the most ground in the game) then he could do his thing and just win possession back/get a foot in and move the ball on. We don't have that now, nor do we have the wings working back so much and so often so we are more exposed.
We're expecting him to be the defensive blanket we've known for so many years, it's not possible for one player to do, not the way we set up and leave players forward now.

 

[Nymzee]

Isn’t it just cool we can actually have these discussions though? Before this Summer we had zero flexibility.

 

[Saint Domingo]

KDH and Alcaraz both ahead of one sitting midfielder for me. 4231 isn’t working for us. We only came back into that game because Alcaraz actually started dropping into midfield and winning some balls, before that Ndiaye was nowhere near them and the two were just getting played through.

 

[Willow18]

KDH and Alcaraz both ahead of one sitting midfielder for me. 4231 isn’t working for us. We only came back into that game because Alcaraz actually started dropping into midfield and winning some balls, before that Ndiaye was nowhere near them and the two were just getting played through.

We don’t have a sitting midfielder though. I understand you can’t fix all the problems in one window, but a proper sitting midfielder & a RB would be transformational to this team.

 

[allen]

Isn’t it just cool we can actually have these discussions though? Before this Summer we had zero flexibility.

This team is very much still bedding in, too.

We don’t know our best 11, and our best players don’t know each other’s games well enough yet.

Barring injuries, it only gets better from here.

 

[Evermaarton]

I love Gueye and he has been absolutely terrific for us over the years but his ball distribution is terrible. Look at Wharton today at Palace. He plays in the same position but his ball distribution is eay better which makes it far easier to keep the ball in possession. On the other hand I would be really scared to lose Gueye's defensive qualities. Garner instead of OBrien at RB would mean we would have an extra ball player, which would help us in possession.

 

[matty1878]

Gueye would be the one I’d consider dropping.

Been unbelievable for us but I’m starting to see a player who’s levels ‘might’ be finally dropping.

na he’s needed mate today when he ran
the length of the pitch and made that tackle and got us the ball

 

[matty1878]

I love Gueye and he has been absolutely terrific for us over the years but his ball distribution is terrible. Look at Wharton today at Palace. He plays in the same position but his ball distribution is eay better which makes it far easier to keep the ball in possession. On the other hand I would be really scared to lose Gueye's defensive qualities. Garner instead of OBrien at RB would mean we would have an extra ball player, which would help us in possession.

he’s about a million years younger

 

[Saint Domingo]

We don’t have a sitting midfielder though. I understand you can’t fix all the problems in one window, but a proper sitting midfielder & a RB would be transformational to this team.

The problem we have is the players who have most possession for us are Tarkwoski Gana and Mykolenko who are probably our three worst players on the ball. We’ve got to get Branthwaite back in the team and find a way of getting our better midfielders on the ball more often.

 

[Evermaarton]

Isn’t it just cool we can actually have these discussions though? Before this Summer we had zero flexibility.

This! It's so nice we finally have options. If only we still had Doucoure

 

[Delargeinho]

Charly surely brought himself back into consideration and showed a great reaction to the Wolves game.

Actually it won't be an easy choice for Moyes. Same will be with CB when Branthwaite is back. Since Keane is in a pretty good shape the last half year.

Overall it's great to have options.

 

[Dddddd]

The problem we have is the players who have most possession for us are Tarkwoski Gana and Mykolenko who are probably our three worst players on the ball. We’ve got to get Branthwaite back in the team and find a way of getting our better midfielders on the ball more often.

That could be a deliberate ploy from the opposition to let them have the ball and press the other players

 

[Saint Domingo]

That could be a deliberate ploy from the opposition to let them have the ball and press the other players

I just don’t like the 4231, we’re far too predictable with it and all our 10s except Alcaraz get isolated so easily. When Moyes took us to 4th in 04/05 he played 4141 and that midfield of Carsely sitting behind Gravesen and Cahill who both bombed forward was brilliant. Then it was never seen again as he’s played the same formation every season since.

 

[Sheedy's right knee.]

The problem we have is the players who have most possession for us are Tarkwoski Gana and Mykolenko who are probably our three worst players on the ball. We’ve got to get Branthwaite back in the team and find a way of getting our better midfielders on the ball more often.

The teams allow Mykolenko to have the ball as they know he isn’t effective in possession. It must grate on Grealish.

 

[Sheedy's right knee.]

Charly surely brought himself back into consideration and showed a great reaction to the Wolves game.

Actually it won't be an easy choice for Moyes. Same will be with CB when Branthwaite is back. Since Keane is in a pretty good shape the last half year.

Overall it's great to have options.

I think Branthwaite has to comeback we will play 20 yards further up the pitch du to lack of pace at centre half