The Great Midfield Debate

[Evil-C]

Regarding our rather iffy start to the season, there seems to be a tacit consensus that the midfield combinations have failed to deliver, whether in terms of creativity or providing protection for the defence.

As a result, I'm intrigued to know what particular combination you lot (yes you, reading this, now) think would deliver the goods.

As Mr Jol likes to keep his four across the middle, I suggest you do the same, and again, I humbly suggest no 'if we bring in Gerrard/Ronaldo/Carlos Kickaball they'll solve our probs' ideas, as no-one's coming. Not till January anyway........

Just to kick-off then,

Tainio Hudd Jenas Bale

With Lennon on the bench. We always seem to play better with the tigerish combative style of Tainio in the side. Hudd providing the creativity, Jenas the energy and Bale to bring balance. Lennon and Bale would i feel put too much emphasis on attack and leave the defence exposed. Lennon seems to be lacking match fitness and some confidence as well at the moment.

 

[Yid-ol]

would probably go for something liek this

Bale--Tainio/Hudd--Jeanas--Lennon

Depening on how who we were playing depends on who would get the nod for tainio and Hudd, if we need alot a player to harras and put him self into challanges i would go for tainio, Hudd would come in for games that the opponance midfield wouldnt put up so much of a battle and would have the add'd etra creativity of some of Hudd's pass's

dont think it is the midfield to solve our problems, but it is the best that we currently have IMO

 

[DJS]

Think

 

[tony0379]

Lennon----Jenas----Huddlestone----Bale
----------------Boateng---------------


Pretty tasty i think

 

[finch101]

Fuckin hell Teemu, he adds sorry 'tigerish combative style' he cant pass cant score cant run and wins a few fifty fiftys i cant believe soo many like this guy, in MY OPINION hes another in the long line of average midfielders weve had in the last ten years ex Acimovic Poyet Neilson

 

[finch101]

BTW at home...

Zokora
Lennon Jenas Bale

and away Steed for Lennon

 

[diegooners]

we are not good enough central midfield wise. Look at our centre mids. Would any of them get in any of the top fours teams? no.

 

[BoringOldFan]

I think it's time to drop the enigmatic Jenas and put Malbranque in a CM position. He can tackle as well so we'd have defensive cover. Bale on the left in front of Lee for sure. I suppose Hudd beside Steed by default with an in-form Lennon on the right.

 

[davros]

I think it's time to drop the enigmatic Jenas and put Malbranque in a CM position. He can tackle as well so we'd have defensive cover. Bale on the left in front of Lee for sure. I suppose Hudd beside Steed by default with an in-form Lennon on the right.

I'd like to see Steed get a few games there. Don't see MJ dropping Jenas, though. Maybe both of them together would work, with Lennon and Bale left and right respectively. I know it looks like we have no DM but I am sure all these blokes (except Lennon) can be disciplined enough to take on some defensive duties. If not then i suppose we could squeeze Kaboul in front of Gardner and Dawson and play Berbs up in his own, with Lennon zipping up with him when needed.

 

[900triumph]

Steed is defo worth a shout for centre mid - I know he's not everyone's cup of tea, but there have been games this season when he's seemed to be our only effective midfield player. Jenas just gives the ball away too much. Zoko is not convincing this season so far either. At home I'd pick Bale Malbranque Hudd and Lennon, but away???? Bale's the only cert. sadly.

 

[PT]

Home

RM - Lennon LM - Bale CM - Huddlestone CM - Jenas

Away
RM - Malbranque LM - Bale CM - Zokora CM - Tainio

 

[jimbo]

Bale--Kaboul--Malbranque--Lennon

But given that we need Younes at the back without Ledley, I suppose maybe

Bale--Tainio--Malbranque--Lennon

I'd be tempted to swap Lennon for Jenas until one of them shows the kind of cutting edge they have in previous seasons but so far failed to find in this.

 

[idlepete]

Bale Hudd Jenas Lennon

 

[Gin+Tonic14]

agree with the bloke above

 

[yiddo81]

Steed and Jenas in the middle, Bale on the left, Lennon on the right.

 

[sloth]

:roll:

:duh:

:shrug:

 

[arthurgrimsdell]

Regarding our rather iffy start to the season, there seems to be a tacit consensus that the midfield combinations have failed to deliver, whether in terms of creativity or providing protection for the defence.

As a result, I'm intrigued to know what particular combination you lot (yes you, reading this, now) think would deliver the goods.

As Mr Jol likes to keep his four across the middle, I suggest you do the same, and again, I humbly suggest no 'if we bring in Gerrard/Ronaldo/Carlos Kickaball they'll solve our probs' ideas, as no-one's coming. Not till January anyway........

Just to kick-off then,

Tainio Hudd Jenas Bale

With Lennon on the bench. We always seem to play better with the tigerish combative style of Tainio in the side. Hudd providing the creativity, Jenas the energy and Bale to bring balance. Lennon and Bale would i feel put too much emphasis on attack and leave the defence exposed. Lennon seems to be lacking match fitness and some confidence as well at the moment.

Tacit: understood or implied without being stated (OED).

The number of threads, on the supposed failings of our midfield and/or individual midfielders, the best formation, or who to get in to improve matters, on this and other forums must surely have reached the four figure mark by now. Hence "The great midfield debate" in the title.


How exactly is that a tacit consensus?

 

[Stoof]

I like the Steed in the middle idea. It was his most influential position for Fulham, and surely is our most creative midfielder aside from the mammoth Hudd.

Jenas has gone off the boil again, as he does now-and-again, so why not put Steedo in his place? (He's probably been the best performer - if not, the most consistent - this season and I believe Lee and Bale has potential on the left; despite them both being left backs.

Despite Zokora's 1%-hill improvement wink: - that one's just for you slothy) I still favour a Hudd sitting and a Jenas/Malbranque pusher-on-er. If not Hudd then Tainio can offer the blocker position, but his passing lets him down on occasion even if he does go back for the second, third and fourth challenge.

So with Bale and Lennon a foregone conclusion (it would seem) it has to be the choice between Hudd/Tainio and Jenas/Malbranque. Of course caveated by 'opinion'.

 

[Stoof]

How exactly is that a tacit consensus?

Not one to be pernickity (overly so, anyway) - but the tacit consensus was that our midfield has failed us. I'd agree with that. It's certainly the weakest part of our team right now.

 

[ChubbSpur]

I like the idea behind playing Steed in the middle but with him and Hudd i do worry about us having the slowest CM pairing around. Jenas adds some pace to our midfield, but isnt offering too much else so far this season.

I genuinely worry for us in this area, our options seem solimited and so full of mediocrity.