Midfield options

[shrimperjon]

Now that Timlin appears back to his old self and Laird also back from injury, including Clifford what is our best midfield/formation. For me although 4-3-3 has worked ok this season I prefer 4-4-2.

on that basis I would play hurst-Timlin-laird-Atkinson in a 4-4-2.

in a 4-3-3 then would be Timlin-Leonard-laird, with hurst and Atkinson up front with Freddy or Corr.

thoughts?

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Timlin Laird Leonard Hurst

Hurst pushing further forward in a 4-3-2-1 with Woodrow on the left.

 

[southend-mad.94]

The options we have for midfield does make me incredibly moist! Our defence seems to be able to do a great job. But our only problem is a consistent striker, hopefully that can change. When you actually think about it, our full strength squad if we can keep everyone fit and suspension free can actually have a right go this year!

 

[Rick Parsnip]

Leonard in mid-field is a must. His vision, passing and defending is priceless. Mind you I would even try him up front with Corr cos' the lad seems to be able to put in a performance in any position. (Well, maybe not in goal, on the other hand...............!)

 

[leeblue]

Timlin looked very good last night then laird comes on......joygasm. what competition once clifford has served his ban.....

 

[bazzashrimper]

The first 2 years under Sturrock we always looked at our best playing 4-5-1 / 4-3-3. Last season we couldn't do that as central midfield options were mainly terrible (other than a short winning spell pre Christmas). Again this season 4-5-1 is suiting us well.

So Leonard, Laird and Timlin for me.

 

[turkishm]

Maybe Laird will need easing back to 1st team football, coming of the bench a few times, thoughts.

 

[onceknownasrab]

The midfield looks good. That is broadly accepted but it is only a part of the story. Looking at the stats and certain things become clear. A lot of people think of many of our players as young or inexperienced but the 5 which started in the midfield against Mansfield have the following stats.

Player: GamesStarted..............Goals.........Assists

Hurst .....258 ...........................28................46
Atkinson 115.............................11................ 9
Straker ...178............................. 8................ 8
Timlin ......165............................11............... 18
Clifford ......25..............................2..................2

Total ........741............................60................83

Clifford was clearly the novice but a midfield boasting 741 starts between them is by anyones verdict experienced. If you take Hurst out of the equation and the assists begin to look quite miserable. Equally the amount of goals scored in their entire career is less than inspiring.

We have players that can take control of the midfield but the question is do we have the players that turn possession into the killer ball and do we have the players that are capable of chipping in with enough goals to aid the attack?

In terms of the killer ball there has to be a capable striker on the end of it and currently I feel thats the missing link. I am not bashing the crowd favourite BBBC but for the way our team is set up I think what he brings to the game isn't what we need most. Pace for me is the answer.

If, when we played Mansfield the likes of Assombalonga had been up front, how many of us think we would have had a striker getting a bag full? Me for one.

I know people point out the work ethic of BBBC and his defending attributes but we only need him to defend because on many occasions we struggle to outscore the opposition.

Personally if we put out the same line up in future games I would like to see Woodrow given the striker role and let his pace and mobility get onto things. Of course in an ideal world I would like to see a loan come in that has pace and some history of scoring but not all dreams come true.

 

[OldBlueLady]

You include Straker in those stats because he started in midfield, yet most of those appearances will have been defensive, what about Leonard who - I think - has played more games for us in midfield yet started that game in defence?

I agree with your comments about needing a pacy striker, I think had Freddy been fit then we'd have had a striker scoring as I felt he could have done more damage to Mansfield's defence. It's why I felt Woodrow might have been a better choice in the 2nd half as Corr was clearly knackered from continually covering the whole pitch from end to end. Or Payne even, we needed an injection of pace, it showed clearly the couple of times Timlin ran at them that they weren't keen.

You can easily feel Britt or Tomlin would have had a hat full on Friday.

 

[onceknownasrab]

You include Straker in those stats because he started in midfield, yet most of those appearances will have been defensive, what about Leonard who - I think - has played more games for us in midfield yet started that game in defence?

I agree with your comments about needing a pacy striker, I think had Freddy been fit then we'd have had a striker scoring as I felt he could have done more damage to Mansfield's defence. It's why I felt Woodrow might have been a better choice in the 2nd half as Corr was clearly knackered from continually covering the whole pitch from end to end. Or Payne even, we needed an injection of pace, it showed clearly the couple of times Timlin ran at them that they weren't keen.

You can easily feel Britt or Tomlin would have had a hat full on Friday.

You are of course quite right about Straker started many games from defence but what is interesting about him is that he has started more league games than Timlin and yet we would never consider him to be more experienced. I hope Straker is flourishing but a lot of his failings I would associate with a player with less games. Maybe he will be a late bloomer, lets hope so.

As for Leonard I did not include him as I referred to the midfield that started the game against Mansfield and on that occasion Lenny was a defender. I would also doubt that his games started, goals or assists would make much better reading.

 

[Barry.C]

With rougher pitches coming I would prefer the strength and experience of Laird and Timlin, teemed with Hurst and our best performer Leonard. Cliffords fiery enthusiasm along with Atkinson saved to come on an run the ar.e off opponents in last 20 mins or so?

 

[Bolton Shrimper]

I would play a 5 man midfield of Hurst, Timlin, Laird, Leonard and Atkinson right now with laird or Leonard taking turns to drop back into a holding role. Hurst and Atkinson would attack from out wide. Freddy or Woodrow as lone striker with BBBC on the bench in case it's not working and we need to go more route one.................................Slightly Dutch,total football excepting the lack of technical skills in central defence.

 

[onceknownasrab]

The midfield looks good. That is broadly accepted but it is only a part of the story. Looking at the stats and certain things become clear. A lot of people think of many of our players as young or inexperienced but the 5 which started in the midfield against Mansfield have the following stats.

Player: GamesStarted..............Goals.........Assists

Hurst .....258 ...........................28................46
Atkinson 115.............................11................ 9
Straker ...178............................. 8................ 8
Timlin ......165............................11............... 18
Clifford ......25..............................2..................2

Total ........741............................60................83

Clifford was clearly the novice but a midfield boasting 741 starts between them is by anyones verdict experienced. If you take Hurst out of the equation and the assists begin to look quite miserable. Equally the amount of goals scored in their entire career is less than inspiring.

We have players that can take control of the midfield but the question is do we have the players that turn possession into the killer ball and do we have the players that are capable of chipping in with enough goals to aid the attack?

In terms of the killer ball there has to be a capable striker on the end of it and currently I feel thats the missing link. I am not bashing the crowd favourite BBBC but for the way our team is set up I think what he brings to the game isn't what we need most. Pace for me is the answer.

If, when we played Mansfield the likes of Assombalonga had been up front, how many of us think we would have had a striker getting a bag full? Me for one.

I know people point out the work ethic of BBBC and his defending attributes but we only need him to defend because on many occasions we struggle to outscore the opposition.

Personally if we put out the same line up in future games I would like to see Woodrow given the striker role and let his pace and mobility get onto things. Of course in an ideal world I would like to see a loan come in that has pace and some history of scoring but not all dreams come true.

Well for me it was the right decision to play Woodrow whether Corr was fit or not. I notice that we kept a clean sheet away from home, scored two goals of which one was from a striker for a change and BBBC was a late on bit-part player. The team defended without him and the attack scored without him. Strange the BBBC is a legend thread seems to have gone quiet today.

 

[silentshrimper]

I think the 4-3-3/ 4-5-1 suits a lot of our players, Hurst/ Straker look like they can play anywhere down their respective wings which is a nice option to have. Atkinson as well is intelligent enough to fit in anywhere. Clifford looks to be a very good back up to have.

At the moment Leonard right in the middle with Timlin and Laird either side.

I would possibly go for Hurst/ Straker on the wings/up top for away games... but maybe go for Woodrow/Hurst/Eastwood (when fit) on the wings/up front for a more attacking 4 3 3 at home games. Then between Corr and Woodrow for the upfront position, both can do well there, but both need to get scoring more!

 

[silentshrimper]

The midfield looks good. That is broadly accepted but it is only a part of the story. Looking at the stats and certain things become clear. A lot of people think of many of our players as young or inexperienced but the 5 which started in the midfield against Mansfield have the following stats.

Player: GamesStarted..............Goals.........Assists

Straker ...178............................. 8................ 8

To be fair Strakes is quite new to his position in the midfield. But you raise good points, I don't expect Leonard and Lairds stats add much to the overall score as well.
Luckily in recent games the goals have been coming from midfield so hopefully they are all starting to realise that they need to try and influence the game more in terms of goal scoring!

Always thought Timlin should be getting more goals, he has a fairly decent strike on him and does get around the pitch. Glad he is back in the team though!

 

[Jam_Man]

Well for me it was the right decision to play Woodrow whether Corr was fit or not. I notice that we kept a clean sheet away from home, scored two goals of which one was from a striker for a change and BBBC was a late on bit-part player. The team defended without him and the attack scored without him. Strange the BBBC is a legend thread seems to have gone quiet today.

Not overly strange seeing as he didnt play the whole game.

 

[Harry Bullocks]

Anyone noticed how defence of set-pieces has improved astronomically over the last month...so often our Achilles heel

 

[kentblues]

I would not pay to much attention to the midfielders past scoring ratios
Playing on the wing in a 4-2-2 provides way fewer scoring opportunities than in a 4-3-3

playing 4-3-3 I think Hurst has 4 in about 15 and Straker 4 in about 12

TBh I think both would certainly get10+ a season playing there regularly

 

[OldBlueLady]

Anyone noticed how defence of set-pieces has improved astronomically over the last month...so often our Achilles heel

Kiernan makes a big difference, season long loan please!

 

[Jam_Man]

Kiernan makes a big difference, season long loan please!

Was signed as an emergency loanso dont think he can be.