Central midfield

[blue lewj]

Can anybody confirm what they do or if any of them do anything well?

It is ridiculous how we have let it get to this stage.

They can't pass, can't create anything and as it showed earlier are not that great at stopping attacks coming at them. What do they do?

Would you keep any of them if their contract was up this summer?

[City123]

Re: Central midfield

Will Vaulks is only in there because of the throw ins

[blue lewj]

Re: Central midfield

Will Vaulks is only in there because of the throw ins

And the others?

[City123]

Re: Central midfield

And the others?

We don't really have any other options. The midfield desperately needs work done to it in the summer and has done for a while, it really is the glaring weakness in our squad

[198bore]

Re: Central midfield

It's truly astonishing how poor they all are in possession. Same for all our centre backs aside from Morrison.

[Eric the Half a Bee]

Re: Central midfield

It doesn't help that we have no width.

[blue lewj]

Re: Central midfield

It doesn't help that we have no width.

That happens if you pick no wide midfielders or wingers.

[Eric the Half a Bee]

Re: Central midfield

That happens if you pick no wide midfielders or wingers.

Absolutely.

In a way we were playing some 3-4-2-1 formation where the only width was Ralls and Sang. What's happened to Ojo? Why is Hoilett out of favour? He's arguably our best choice for a left wing back. Where's Murphy? Wilson? Instead we went narrow with two centre midfielders in behind Moore. Awful formation.

[J R Hartley]

Re: Central midfield

You got what you wished for.

[surge]

Re: Central midfield

They really struggle when playing against individuals/a group who can move the ball quickly, intelligently, effectively (especially if on a large pitch) but are able to bully most of the midfields in the championship. Most of them are strong personalities in the dressing room, Pack is one of our more intelligent footballers and Vaulks has a good shot in him and a useful long throw.

Having two of the four (Bacuna still seen as a CM) with two players with greater capability on the ball would be fine, but Warnock rejected need for a balanced squad and decided expensive and super-Warnock was the way to go.

Problem is more whether we can move any of them on rather than whether we'd keep if they were out of contract.

[Nobody's Rep]

Re: Central midfield

If he needs any reason not to be in the Welsh squad then tonight was it regardless of how much MM bulls him up

[rich munn]

Re: Central midfield

We don't really have any other options. The midfield desperately needs work done to it in the summer and has done for a while, it really is the glaring weakness in our squad

Oh for a Barry Bannon, or even an Aidan McGeady. Johnny Williams is a show pony and always has been, Ralls is by far the best of the rest but only if doing a workhorse job not requiring any real skill, Bacuna runs about, Vaulks' ball skills are non-existent. Pack turns away from anyone near to him and passes back or risks losing the ball, which is why he is so negative.

None of our defenders can pass, to an extent that is embarrassing.

Ojo has proved he is not up to it on any regular basis, Wilson undoubtedly has skill but like Jason Bowen of old is only any good when we are on top. Moore could be excellent but has been overworked beyond sense.

I am firmly of the view that this being a results game McCarthy deserved a contract, since we were on the verge of being sucked into a relegation struggle, and you can see why. Sheffield Wednesday have a squad that is far more talented than ours, apart from Patterson who just happened to hit an unbelievable volley (for him) and played a very good pass today, which it took him about a dozen games to achieve when he was with us.

I am encouraged by the use of younger players, but disconcerted by McCarthy's overall approach especially to substitutions and shape.

I am glad it is the end of the season and will be hoping for the best.

:ayatollah:

[The Lone Gunman]

Re: Central midfield

None of our defenders can pass, to an extent that is embarrassing.

Ciaron Brown is taking this aspect of City's play to new levels. He is so poor with the ball at his feet that it's genuinely incredible he's playing at Championship level.

[the other bob wilson]

Re: Central midfield

Ciaron Brown is taking this aspect of City's play to new levels. He is so poor with the ball at his feet that it's genuinely incredible he's playing at Championship level.

Glen Williams of Wales Online always singles Brown out for criticism on that front, but I don’t get it, he’s no worse than two or three of his team mates (eg Flint and Nelson, while Vaulks, Ralls and Bacuna’s first touch has been way below what you’d expect from a Championship midfield player this season.

[The Lone Gunman]

Re: Central midfield

Glen Williams of Wales Online always singles Brown out for criticism on that front, but I don’t get it.

It’s simple. He’s consistently awful in terms of controlling and passing the football. It’s no more complicated than that.

Others are also poor in those respects but, to me at least, Brown looks comfortably the worst of the current crop. He appears outclassed at this level.