Central midfield

[Rjk]

Re: Central midfield

I doubt that. To use Newport County as an example, they’ve got twenty one players out of contract this summer - that’s an extreme case, but I think there’ll be plenty of clubs scouring the free transfer market while trying to cash in on their most sellable assets.

Is that Sheehan amongst them? he didn't look terrible for Wales

[tforturton]

Re: Central midfield

I think the OP is a little harsh. Id say that Vaulks, Bacuna and Ralls are all perfectly good Championship midfielders, the problem is that they are all more or less of a type (grafters) so playing them together is a recipe for a lack of creativity and inability to keep possession..... etc....

This hits the nail on the head. They aren't poor midfielders - they are both pretty good at what they do. The problem is what's going on around them. The last few games, we have had two stand-in full-backs, plus one stand-in centre back. Against Wednesday, we also had two stand-in forwards. What did we expect?

But again, both Williams and Bacuna were out of position - if it had been those two in place of Vaulks and Pack, with Wilson and Murphy alongside Moore, we might have seen a different game.

McCarthy has his injury issues at the moment, but he's been guilty of taking his foot off the throttle, when playing two 'lesser' sides. The full back issues couldn't be helped, but he rested his best forward line, and we paid the price.

[the other bob wilson]

Re: Central midfield

Is that Sheehan amongst them? he didn't look terrible for Wales

Yes he is, seems like he’ll be looking to move unless County go up.

[Dave Blue]

Re: Central midfield

If Ralls was 3 stone overweight and barely got himself fit, he’d be idolised on here.

[Rjk]

Re: Central midfield

Ralls is a good player at this level.

speaking of Central midfielders who can pass Alex mowett and emiliano marcondes are both out of contract in the summer too

[LeningradCowboy]

Re: Central midfield

Ralls is a good player at this level.

speaking of Central midfielders who can pass Alex mowett and emiliano marcondes are both out of contract in the summer too

He hasn't been this season. Even if you disregard the games when he has played out of position, a lot of his performances have been mediocre. Vaulks has done a better job in pretty much the same role.

[Pedro de la Rosa]

Re: Central midfield

He hasn't been this season. Even if you disregard the games when he has played out of position, a lot of his performances have been mediocre. Vaulks has done a better job in pretty much the same role.

Bar 4 games under Harris, and the early spell of MM none of our midfielders have played well consistently. Vaulks has been absolutely horrendous recently. Ralls has had seasons where he's played well, at his best he has drive and energy. I'd say he's the best we've got but they're all really similar bar Pack, who is glacially slow. Ralls has had his worst season during his time at the club, however. Doesn't help he's picked up some injuries. In his best season (17/18), he was our best CM by a distance and we really, really missed him when he didn't play.

[LeningradCowboy]

Re: Central midfield

Bar 4 games under Harris, and the early spell of MM none of our midfielders have played well consistently. Vaulks has been absolutely horrendous recently. Ralls has had seasons where he's played well, at his best he has drive and energy. I'd say he's the best we've got but they're all really similar bar Pack, who is glacially slow. Ralls has had his worst season during his time at the club, however. Doesn't help he's picked up some injuries. In his best season (17/18), he was our best CM by a distance and we really, really missed him when he didn't play.

I'm usually the one defending Ralls on here, but I was trying to think of games this season in which he's made a difference for us and I could hardly think of any. Vaulks has been poor for the last few games, but I still think that he's contributed more than Ralls overall this season. It's also strange that Bacuna has rarely featured in central midfield - Harris had to use him as a right-back and McCarthy has decided that he's an attacking midfielder.