Midfield for next season...

[Welly7]

The midfielders currently at the club have made us far more solid and difficult to play against over the last few months of the season and that has been instrumental in our climb up the table. JFC, Macca, Moussa and Grant all have qualities that they bring to the side, but perhaps the one thing they lack is the creativity of an attacking midfielder, a la Bailey, Guttridge or Sawyer.
Given that the management have alluded to the fact that we are still monitoring Lee Sawyer's situation, do we have room for him should he become available?
He would give us that creativity and allow us to be more expansive, but surely if he arrived in the summer that would be one midfielder too many?! Even if Moussa is now considered a wide player, JFC, Grant, Macca & Sawyer all competing for two places would upset the two who wasn't in the side.
All hypothetical, I know, but should we still be interseted in Sawyer and if so who, if anyone, would have to go to make room?

 

[TheSouthendUnitedRunner]

Personally, I think we will go for Lee Sawyer during the summer months. He offers us something completely different to Macca, Grant and JFC.

I think our midfield next season will look something like this:

LW Macca Grant/JFC Sawyer.

There have been numerous names mentioned on that left wing spot like Matt Ritchie, Bradley Johnson, Andros Townsend and Ishmael Demontagnac and I'd be happy with any of those. Then on the right wing we could have Sawyer in the Petts role on the right hand side, or even Macca out there allowing JFC and Sawyer the chance to rekindle that central midfield partnership that did so well.

 

[Somerset Ex-TTB]

I reckon Moussa will move to the right side of midfield next season, with Tilly bringing in a left sided player.

Sawyer would add something to Macca, Grant and JFC.

 

[palexander]

Dont think Sawyer would work as a wide player. Petteffer was very disciplined, which made that role suit him. He would tuck in and barely move - Sawyer would be running around all over the shop.

Dont get me wrong, I think Sawyer in our midfield next season would be an excellent addition, but as the original poster says, 'who misses out?'

Jeff - Been out of form recently, but i still feel he has that quality others lack, especially in the 'destroyer' role. When he was on form in the middle of the season, he looked awesome.

Macca - We all know Macca's game by now and I dont think this season has been his best. But that said, I still think he is a very good player for this level. Not the best on the ball, but works incredibly hard which is a must for a side without too much quality.

Grant - Shows in spells how good he is, but is a little inconsistant. Think he can become a very good player though.

Moussa - Again as Grant, shows in glimpses the potential. Probably not helping being stuck out wide as he tends to go missing in games and I dont think he is quite good enough yet to be starting in the centre.

Whatever happens, we need an out-and-out winger for at least one side in the summer too. So will be interesting... one thing is Tilly always says he will only get players in that are better than what we have already got. Is Sawyer better than Macca, JFC or Grant....?

I'd say potentially 'yes', but all 4 bring different things to the table. Part of me thinks if we dont get Sawyer, we will regret it in future as I can see him going on to be something special.

Final point, would he be more likely to return to Wycombe? He played in their last game and with them being in Lg1 now, I would think Taylor will be (or should be!) keen to keep him...

 

[TheSouthendUnitedRunner]

Final point, would he be more likely to return to Wycombe? He played in their last game and with them being in Lg1 now, I would think Taylor will be (or should be!) keen to keep him...

From the little bits I've heard from Wycombe and their fans, Sawyer hasn't been too impressive over there, same as with Coventry.

Sawyer is still young enough to learn to play wide. Its something that Granty and Macca have both done in spells this season (Macca's was the season before). It wont be his best position, but I think he can do a job out their. His got a decent enough engine to play out wide, and with a full pre-season behind him that will improve his fitness levels.

Who thought Moussa would work out wide? Tilson does like to play with 3 central midfielders, one of them playing wide right, and an out and out winger playing on the other side. Over the years we have seen Petts, Bentley, Bradbury, Macca, Grant, Moussa, and Bailey all spend spells out on the wing and that isn't a prefered position for any of them.

As an alternative, Granty could play the wide right role, he did a job there. Whether Sawyer and Macca would work though is another thing.

 

[Bromley Blue]

From the little bits I've heard from Wycombe and their fans, Sawyer hasn't been too impressive over there, same as with Coventry.

Sawyer is still young enough to learn to play wide. Its something that Granty and Macca have both done in spells this season (Macca's was the season before). It wont be his best position, but I think he can do a job out their. His got a decent enough engine to play out wide, and with a full pre-season behind him that will improve his fitness levels.

Who thought Moussa would work out wide? Tilson does like to play with 3 central midfielders, one of them playing wide right, and an out and out winger playing on the other side. Over the years we have seen Petts, Bentley, Bradbury, Macca, Grant, Moussa, and Bailey all spend spells out on the wing and that isn't a prefered position for any of them.

As an alternative, Granty could play the wide right role, he did a job there. Whether Sawyer and Macca would work though is another thing.

Yeah I know a couple of Wycombe fans and they havent been raving about him like I was when he was with us. That said apparantly one of their best players plays centre mid and sawyer has been fighting for this guy's position so has either been stuck wide or not played.

I think Moussa deserves a run with Macca if we don't sign Sawyer. I really rate him and think he could go on to become a real star but playing him out of position isn't gonna help his development IMO. That said, Henry started out on the wing under Wenger at Arsenal so maybe it does work sometimes.

 

[palexander]

We had enough this season of 'people doing a job' in positions.

Lets hope we get some balance back to each position, I really feel it will benefit us for next season.

 

[OldBlueLady]

Jeff's performance yesterday would make him hot favourite to partner Macca in the middle for me. Grant can play on the right, Moussa's done ok on the left.

 

[Clinton Baptiste]

We have enough centre mids. Sawyer had 6 or 7 good games for us, but honestly is he better than our own youngster Moussa or even O'Keefe who has shown great potential? Suggesting MAcca or Sawyer could play out wide is silly, they are central midfielders who like to dictate play. I am happy with Mousse on the left wing, think the fact he can cut in and set up and score goals is best from that position. ITs the right wing that is more of a worry. If my memory serves me right we have played 7 players in that position this season.

 

[Pubey]

Next season is the year of the Moose, you heard it here first

 

[Clinton Baptiste]

I agree Pubes, his vision and passing are as good as anyones in this division on his day.

 

[Pubey]

I agree Pubes, his vision and passing are as good as anyones in this division on his day.

definitely, his ability is frightening and he has so much potential... another season where he gets 20-30 starts and he'll be awesome.

 

[manor15]

Jeff's performance yesterday would make him hot favourite to partner Macca in the middle for me. Grant can play on the right, Moussa's done ok on the left.

Grant has been fantastic in centre mid this season but when put on the right he was useless! Everybody seems to think next year it will be Macca and other but wouldn't be surprised if he was forced onto tv bench by Sawyer if he comes

 

[Shrimper2thecore]

definitely, his ability is frightening and he has so much potential... another season where he gets 20-30 starts and he'll be awesome.

Could not agree more, I have said so for years!!

I honestly think he could be one of the greats when we loko back in years to come. He has got so much about him. For me, 1st name on the team sheet in recent months, and my player of the season if I am honest, I can't wait to see his improvement next season!!

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Working out who should be in midfield next season is a question of who should play alongside Moussa and Grant.

 

[Shrimper93]

Moussa has been a much improved player this year, I think that the loan spell did him the world of good which certainly has worked out in our favour and his future potential is there in abundance.

 

[stevie_G_G_G]

Looking at the squad that we have, it really does lack in real quality in the key area - Midfield. This is something that needs to be addressed for next season. In right midfield, we have Betsy and Scannell. Neither of which are good enough nor will be good enough for next season. Left midfield, we have Moussa who i rate highly but there is an argument in itself whether thats his best position. We do need some cover for him as i think he will continue to improve the more games he plays there. Then we have the centre mids. Next season, i see no place in the team or squad for Alan McCormack. Even though he can do a job, he is not the creative force we need in midfield and i feel we have 2 better holding midfielders in JFC and Anthony Grant. On top of that, Macca can't pass water never mind a football! We need Lee Sawyer back and possibly one other imo.

I await OBL's neg rep lol

 

[DTS]

As Sawyer spent the back end of the season at Wycombe and got a promotion medal there he may not wish to come back here. He may not fancy his chances of dispossesing Jeff / Macca / Granty.

I dont think that its a forgon conclusion he would want to come here but I pray to god he does as I think he was superb.

I personally think we need two decent wingers with Betsy as back up. I would be delighted with HRK on loan for a season but expect Reading may want to either start playing him of sell him.

 

[Mr Belgrave]

For me, Moussa's gotta be in the midfield somewhere, he's the only player we've got that can cut through a defence with one pass (that pass to Theo in the first half on Saturday was outstanding)

Gotta say I agree with Stevie about Macca, can't fault his effort, but can't work out what his role is at the moment- he doesn't get forward enough to be an attacking mid and do you really need 2 holding players?

 

[OldBlueLady]

For me, Moussa's gotta be in the midfield somewhere, he's the only player we've got that can cut through a defence with one pass (that pass to Theo in the first half on Saturday was outstanding)

Gotta say I agree with Stevie about Macca, can't fault his effort, but can't work out what his role is at the moment- he doesn't get forward enough to be an attacking mid and do you really need 2 holding players?

Ok, you're new to the site so I'll be kind, I suggest you might try re-assessing that view in light of the fact that Macca has made countless telling cross field forward passes most often to Franno to cross in from the wing. I distinctly remember him also having two long range shots on goal on Saturday and I distinctly remember Moussa failing to score on 4 occasions when he should have done so on at least 2 of them. Moussa also fails to see others in better positions than him, similarly to Theo, not a fault you can lay at Macca's door. Moussa is still a developing player.

Moussa is also ALWAYS up for corners being as he usually is taking them whereas Macca is covering for the defence and Moussa also needs to learn to tackle a bit more effectively - again, not a fault of Macca's.

Whether you like him or not, I tend to feel that the midfield WILL be built around him next season. He's shown greater restraint on the field this year - no sendings off and only just into double figures on the yellow card count. He's given his all for our club and wants to play here and is popular with the players and a lot of the fans. Also, if Clarkey's off then I make that likely Macca will be VC, he's certainly one of our senior players now.

Ok, I'll shut up now. :madman: