Midfield for next season...

[stevie_G_G_G]

Jeesh, i didn't realise me slating Macca would get OBL so riled lol!

The way i look at it is, our midfield looked a lot better without Macca in it (when Sawyer was here). Sawyer looked composed on the ball and could run with the ball at his feet. I would also like to know the opta stats on Macca's passing this season because if he completes more than 65% of his intended balls, i would be surprised. I have always thought that ball retention was one of the key factors in a centrl midfielders role. Btw, the main change for next season should all be about getting the balance right on the wings in both defence and midfield

 

[Mr Belgrave]

"I hope the new poster accepted what I said to him, it was the continuation by others that prolonged the discussions and being told to "bore off" and stuff is guaranteed to get my back up, as it would lots of other people on here."

Blimey, is it always this heated on here?

I do think that you've got a good point about Macca, think you'll struggle to find someone with a better work rate and if left out he probably would be missed.

I guess I was just thinking that a midfield consisting of Macca, Moussa, Grant/JFC + A Nother theoretically doesn't quite add up and definately doesn't leave much room for Sawyer.

However, given the results over the last 3-4 months I'm not one to argue with T & B!

 

[stevie_G_G_G]

Don't worry mate, she's only defending the one she craves lol

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

From the midfielders we have at the moment, the one thing thats missing from all of them is genuine creativity. The sort of player that can see defence splitting passes and then deliver, something maybe Sawyer can offer.

Seriously, watch Moussa.

 

[sadsy]

I've always been a big fan of Macca , indeed I sponsor his away shirt , but let's face it he has his limitations , as do all our players , that's why they're League One !!

We have four good quality centre midfield players for this level. Granty and JFC are both good holding / destructive players who give Macca and Moussa the licence to get forward. I've been impressed with Moussa although I'm not sure he's ready yet for a regular place in centre mid. Sawyer would be an asset as he's a little different from the others with his ability to run at people. A decent winger would also be good.

What worries me more is the need for a commanding centre back and a goalscorer. If we'd had a player scoring 29 like Lambert or Cox we would comfortably have made the play-offs.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I've always been a big fan of Macca , indeed I sponsor his away shirt , but let's face it he has his limitations , as do all our players , that's why they're League One !!

We have four good quality centre midfield players for this level. Granty and JFC are both good holding / destructive players who give Macca and Moussa the licence to get forward. I've been impressed with Moussa although I'm not sure he's ready yet for a regular place in centre mid. Sawyer would be an asset as he's a little different from the others with his ability to run at people. A decent winger would also be good.

What worries me more is the need for a commanding centre back and a goalscorer. If we'd had a player scoring 29 like Lambert or Cox we would comfortably have made the play-offs.

It's hard to imagine a player getting the service to score 29 goals this season. Moussa apart, we've no cutting edge.

 

[Pubey]

It's hard to imagine a player getting the service to score 29 goals this season. Moussa apart, we've no cutting edge.

I think Barney has shown that (when fully fit) he'll score most of those goals that Lambert and Cox have been banging in. I've been impressed by his recent form and he could definitely be a 20-a-season striker if:

1) he gets good service

2) he's fully fit

The only thing that is really in our control is getting more creativity in midfield by signing 1 or 2 creative players and by allowing Moussa to continue to develop

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I think Barney has shown that (when fully fit) he'll score most of those goals that Lambert and Cox have been banging in. I've been impressed by his recent form and he could definitely be a 20-a-season striker if:

1) he gets good service

2) he's fully fit

The only thing that is really in our control is getting more creativity in midfield by signing 1 or 2 creative players and by allowing Moussa to continue to develop

I'm a big Barney fan, he has a little bit of (championship) class that the team is generally lacking, my point was more that I don't think Lambert or Cox would have scored as many goals had they played in our team.

Another player who can pass the ball (with the class of a Maher or a Gower on the ball) would really help Moussa. It would take a bit of the pressure off his shoulders, but also we'd get the ball to him more often.

 

[Rayleigh boy]

Seriously, watch Moussa.

agree - watching him this year and seeing his game develop I have actually ended up feeling quite sad - cos i doubt we will keep him for too much longer -

 

[manor15]

Jeesh, i didn't realise me slating Macca would get OBL so riled lol!

Have you never read anybody slating Macca before? The following posts from OBL are always heated.
On this topic I would like to see Sawyer (if we sign him) replace Macca in the middle for a few games in pre-season to see who has the better partnership with Moussa/Grant/JFC.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

agree - watching him this year and seeing his game develop I have actually ended up feeling quite sad - cos i doubt we will keep him for too much longer -

Yeah, but watching him this second half of the season gave us something to look forward to at a time when the season was threatening to fizzle out. Like watching Nicky Bailey's defensive work last season, it's really nice to have one player who can do something a cut above pretty much everyone else at this level.

 

[TheSouthendUnitedRunner]

I think Tilly will have noticed the lack of quality service to whichever front two is player as a major issue and I reckon that will be address by signing a good quality left winger and Lee Sawyer.

Barnard is our 20 goal a season man, but he needs to be fit for it to happen. He had a decent run towards the end of the season with a run of games back to back. Would be interesting to see what his goalscoring ratio is this season.

 

[fredheim_holm]

I've always been a big fan of Macca , indeed I sponsor his away shirt , but let's face it he has his limitations , as do all our players , that's why they're League One !!

We have four good quality centre midfield players for this level. Granty and JFC are both good holding / destructive players who give Macca and Moussa the licence to get forward. I've been impressed with Moussa although I'm not sure he's ready yet for a regular place in centre mid. Sawyer would be an asset as he's a little different from the others with his ability to run at people. A decent winger would also be good.

What worries me more is the need for a commanding centre back and a goalscorer. If we'd had a player scoring 29 like Lambert or Cox we would comfortably have made the play-offs.

Agreed with the top and middle bit.

As I read Rons blog today, he said the same thing as you, we need a striker to bang in the goals. We do indeed need a striker to bang in the goals, but it's not so much about buying a new one but getting the service to the ones we already have (+theo).

 

[BrettieAngell]

I think Tilly will have noticed the lack of quality service to whichever front two is player as a major issue and I reckon that will be address by signing a good quality left winger and Lee Sawyer.

Barnard is our 20 goal a season man, but he needs to be fit for it to happen. He had a decent run towards the end of the season with a run of games back to back. Would be interesting to see what his goalscoring ratio is this season.

League only -

This season 24 (11) appearances, 11 goals. Not bad for a disrupted season.

Last season 13 (4) appearances, 9 goals

So that's 37 starts 20 goals.

 

[Ayrshire Blue]

League only -

This season 24 (11) appearances, 11 goals. Not bad for a disrupted season.

Last season 13 (4) appearances, 9 goals

So that's 37 starts 20 goals.

Not bad at all. I just wish he could stay fit for a whole season. He could easily get 25+ imo.

 

[TheSouthendUnitedRunner]

League only -

This season 24 (11) appearances, 11 goals. Not bad for a disrupted season.

Last season 13 (4) appearances, 9 goals

So that's 37 starts 20 goals.

Thanks for that fella.

Stats like that and people still aren't convinced by Barney? I'm staggered. He is a goal scorer!

 

[BrettieAngell]

Thanks for that fella.

Stats like that and people still aren't convinced by Barney? I'm staggered. He is a goal scorer!

I know, its just the fitness problems I guess. 20+ man at this level without a doubt in my mind.

 

[OldBlueLady]

Thanks for that fella.

Stats like that and people still aren't convinced by Barney? I'm staggered. He is a goal scorer!

And a scorer of good goals too, not just a poacher - which is why I've been very frustrated by Theo's greediness, when Barney's been better placed. Barney's been more of a support man for Theo, and that's not really his best role. I hope if we can keep him, Laurent, Revell and Dougie fit next season, there will be enough of a challenge between the four of them to give us a really decent strikeforce - all of them can create as well as score.

 

[Rayleigh boy]

Barney is a superb assett ....when fit. Leads the line, creative vision, works his socks off -

I thought he was perhaps a player that was "broken" - forever - at the beginning of the season but by April he was doing great - I wonder if the emergence of Theo as number one scorer and crowd favourite got his focus right ....

 

[Pubey]

And a scorer of good goals too, not just a poacher - which is why I've been very frustrated by Theo's greediness, when Barney's been better placed. Barney's been more of a support man for Theo, and that's not really his best role. I hope if we can keep him, Laurent, Revell and Dougie fit next season, there will be enough of a challenge between the four of them to give us a really decent strikeforce - all of them can create as well as score.

You getting senile in your old age?! Both have commented how they like playing alongside each other, and we've been winning. Strikers are greedy, it's their nature... as long as they're banging them in, like they are at the moment, I couldn't care less. I think you're reading far too much into what you see on the pitch. Our strikers are in form and scoring and so I want them to be taking chances on and being selfish.

Since March, Theo has scored 5 in 13, and Barney has scored 6 in 12. Both their most successful periods in their careers.

If Barney is playing as a support man to Theo (as you suggest) and is scoring as many goals as he is, then perhaps that is his best role?!!