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Thread: Central midfield

  1. #26

    Re: Central midfield

    We’ll probably offer him a 5 year deal...

  2. #27

    Re: Central midfield

    Quote Originally Posted by Cardiff Ultra View Post
    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.

    Theoretically that's where Pack should come. He should be the one playing the Joe Allen / Stephen McPhail role, the play should flow through him and he should be the be the link between defence and attack. In truth though weve seen precious little of that from him.

    Personally I hate the 3-4-3 formation. It neutralises the wingers because they have to tuck in to accommodate the wing backs and doesn't give you the option of playing a number ten. I can see why McCarthys gone with it because the only creative midfielder we have thats worth anything is Tomlin who's had a dreadful run with injuries but playing Bacuna as one of the from three? **** right off.

    That though had been a glaring problem at the club for literally years. Weve barely signed any creative midfielders, probably due to the types of manager that weve had and the fact that we dont have a director football. Perhaps the systemic problems at the club need addressing before the endless hiring and firing of managers.
    This is exactly how I see it too. These players didn't get slated in the same way at other clubs as they do here because the blend of players around them and the job they were asked to do differed. We lack someone who can create time for themselves, dictate tempo, always be available for the ball and pick a pass.

  3. #28

    Re: Central midfield

    Quote Originally Posted by blue lewj View Post
    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?
    At last,,a man talking sense. Totally agree. We haven't had a decent midfield for years

  4. #29

    Re: Central midfield

    Quote Originally Posted by olderblue View Post
    His use of the open space 50 yards ahead of him was brilliant
    Shame really as I'd heard good things about him from pals north of the border, I was hoping he was going to come back and really grab his chance.
    From what I've seen I can't see how he's likely to be here for next season
    Given the financial situation of many clubs, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him here next season. I think it'll be a very quiet transfer window for almost everyone.

  5. #30

    Re: Central midfield

    Quote Originally Posted by Rjk View Post
    Given the financial situation of many clubs, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him here next season. I think it'll be a very quiet transfer window for almost everyone.
    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.

  6. #31

    Re: Central midfield

    Quote Originally Posted by the other bob wilson View Post
    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

  7. #32

    Re: Central midfield

    Quote Originally Posted by Cardiff Ultra View Post
    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.

  8. #33

    Re: Central midfield

    Quote Originally Posted by Rjk View Post
    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.

  9. #34

    Re: Central midfield

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

  10. #35

    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

  11. #36

    Re: Central midfield

    Quote Originally Posted by Rjk View Post
    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.

  12. #37

    Re: Central midfield

    Quote Originally Posted by LeningradCowboy View Post
    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.

  13. #38

    Re: Central midfield

    Quote Originally Posted by Pedro de la Rosa View Post
    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.

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