Freedman - an answer to our creative midfield problem?

[seany t]

I've still not properly witnessed a fully fit Dougie playing, but the couple of times I have seen him he looks like he can deliver a quality pass and find some space. Given that he is going to struggle getting up to speed as he gets older and that we have strikersleft who'd prefer the ball played to feet, is there any logic to playing him behind one or both of them with Moussa, Grant or Christophe doing the leg work behind him?

Not a long term solution I know, but a way to start linking our front two into the action until Maccas back, or we sign someone...

 

[shrimperjon]

I made this point a few weeks ago. Very intelligent and can see a pass as well as being able to hold the ball up. if fit that would be his best position. hopefully we will sign a few players this week and not have to worry about the problem.

 

[Jedi Shrimper]

It is a good call, strikers of his age often drop back into a more creative midfield role later in their career.

 

[steveo]

If this would be his best position, why has he never played there before?

If we want a creative midfield player, we should sign a creative midfield player. If anything we need some decent wide midfield players.

 

[shrimperjon]

it might be his best position now. when he was younger with more pace he played as a striker and a successful one at that.

 

[pringlejon]

dwight yorke did a similar thing for sunderland the year they got promo to the prem.

 

[seany t]

If this would be his best position, why has he never played there before?

If we want a creative midfield player, we should sign a creative midfield player. If anything we need some decent wide midfield players.

I do agree that in an ideal world this is obviously the way forward, but if we are struggling to find someone to fill the role and are essentially fielding two strikers who are proving useless (despite being pretty decent) due to not being able to ever get a ball passed to their feet, I just thought it could be an option.

I think that when fit, the line up of Revell, Barnard, Laurent, Freedman and Walker is the strongest and most versatile we've had at Southend for years. So I don't see how losing one or two of them has changed that. For me therefore, the problem lies in giving them decent service...

 

[Rootshalle]

I think this could be worth a go when Dougie is fit, play him just behind a front two, Walker on left, Barney on right. Yes we should still look to sign a creative midfielder but they aren't ten a penny in my view. Other than that we need a Macca fully firing and running past the front line bursting through. Forwards need service and passes on Sat were overhit or not hit at all - as for peoples first touch it was shocking at times.

 

[steveo]

I think this could be worth a go when Dougie is fit, play him just behind a front two, Walker on left, Barney on right. Yes we should still look to sign a creative midfielder but they aren't ten a penny in my view. Other than that we need a Macca fully firing and running past the front line bursting through.

Will we be defending at all with this line up?

 

[BoyWonder2]

dwight yorke did a similar thing for sunderland the year they got promo to the prem.

Not correct, he became a defensive midfielder for Club and Country.

 

[turkishm]

Midfield, if your getting back behind the ball when others attack us, is hard work, not sure at his age he has the legs for it.

 

[Rayleigh Weir]

If this would be his best position, why has he never played there before?

Palace fan I know says a spot behind the front two was Dougie's best position - I guess he must have played there more than once for folk to come to that conclusion...

 

[shrimperton]

Getting dougie fit is the real problem, he seems to be the new bryan robson!

 

[seany t]

Will we be defending at all with this line up?

Who with? I thought our new tactic could be 2-3-5 to accommodate all our new signings...

In all seriousness though, we looked best set up wise on Saturday when we went to a 4-3-3. If we don't have any decent wingers, maybe its time to stop playing a formation that relies on them...

 

[shrimperton]

Who with? I thought our new tactic could be 2-3-5 to accommodate all our new signings...

In all seriousness though, we looked best set up wise on Saturday when we went to a 4-3-3. If we don't have any decent wingers, maybe its time to stop playing a formation that relies on them...[/quote]

Give scannell 5 games he cant do any worse, what was the point in signing him if he dont play.

 

[fbm]

I'd love to see Dougie playing in the hole behind Barnard and Robinson. That way we could accomodate JFC, Moussa and Grant.

I think Macca will be a few weeks away from fitness and sadly feel Dougie will too. In fact it wouldn't surprise me if we didn't see him again this season.

 

[shrimperton]

I'd love to see Dougie playing in the hole behind Barnard and Robinson. That way we could accomodate JFC, Moussa and Grant.

I think Macca will be a few weeks away from fitness and sadly feel Dougie will too. In fact it wouldn't surprise me if we didn't see him again this season.

Keep it clean this is a family board ;)

 

[seany t]

Who with? I thought our new tactic could be 2-3-5 to accommodate all our new signings...

In all seriousness though, we looked best set up wise on Saturday when we went to a 4-3-3. If we don't have any decent wingers, maybe its time to stop playing a formation that relies on them...[/quote]

Give scannell 5 games he cant do any worse, what was the point in signing him if he dont play.

I'd like to know the answer to that myself. But I guess sometimes players work out, and sometimes they don't. And in this case I guess Scannell's place on the bench last week was merely down to there literally being no other option.

Maybe it's the break he needed and he'll get some games. Or maybe the answer right now isn't an out of form and low on confidence Betsy down one flank and the obviously ill-favoured Scannell down the other.

Having said that, maybe the answer right now isn't to try mucking about with new formations either, but I think we have to start linking up with our front two or else we might as well just have 9 men out there on the pitch.

 

[steveo]

but I think we have to start linking up with our front two or else we might as well just have 9 men out there on the pitch.

Dunno about linking, we should try passing.
As long as we have Barrett and Clarke bringing the ball out of defence its going to be hoof hoof hoof.

The only difference was Sawyer, who would run it out but since Maher and Bailey left we dont seem to try and pass like we used to.

 

[Rootshalle]

Will we be defending at all with this line up?

Yes of course, Christophe, Grant, Moussa......Macca to come back for one of them as well, plenty of people who can run around around and defend from midfield....