Gary67
Well-known member
For me this is where the main issue is with the team just now. Ange has a specific system he wants to play and, rightly or wrongly, won't waiver or compromise. His system requires a deep lying playmaker, a No.6 in modern parlance, and 2 box to box midfielders, No.8s, who can turn defence into attack quickly by moving forward at pace and supporting the front 3.
The problem is other than McGregor, who is the most suited to play the No.6 role and is the only No.8 we have, none of our other 4 midfielders fit into the system. McGregor cannot play in 2 positions at once, and his injury absence at the moment exacerbates the problem.
Neither McCarthy (at least to date) nor Soro are good enough to play the deep lying role well enough, and cannot play in the more advanced role at all.
Neither Rogic nor Turnbull can play the No.8 role, they don't have the stamina, speed nor defensive instinct to do it. They are traditional No.10s, at their best playing behind a striker and drifting wide and deep to receive the ball, creating chances and scoring goals. We got away with these 2 playing together against lesser opposition at CP when McGregor was behind them dictating play, without him, and their lack of fitness now catching up with them, we are being exposed.
When McGregor returns from injury we have to play him in the more advanced box to box role rather than the deep lying playmaker, play Rogic or Turnbull, not both, and either hope McCarthy gets up to speed and can do a job in the deep lying role, or give Bitton an opportunity to return to play there. Bitton at least can make the forward passed and can act as a third CH when the full backs bomb forward.
We need to sign 2 x midfielders in January, we lost 3 from last season (Brown, Ntcham, Christie) and only signed 1 (McCarthy), these 2 additional midfielders should already be at the club now but our usual negligence in recruitment has left us short in a period of the season we play weekend/midweek for 4 months without a break and with no options in the midfield (and attack).
The problem is other than McGregor, who is the most suited to play the No.6 role and is the only No.8 we have, none of our other 4 midfielders fit into the system. McGregor cannot play in 2 positions at once, and his injury absence at the moment exacerbates the problem.
Neither McCarthy (at least to date) nor Soro are good enough to play the deep lying role well enough, and cannot play in the more advanced role at all.
Neither Rogic nor Turnbull can play the No.8 role, they don't have the stamina, speed nor defensive instinct to do it. They are traditional No.10s, at their best playing behind a striker and drifting wide and deep to receive the ball, creating chances and scoring goals. We got away with these 2 playing together against lesser opposition at CP when McGregor was behind them dictating play, without him, and their lack of fitness now catching up with them, we are being exposed.
When McGregor returns from injury we have to play him in the more advanced box to box role rather than the deep lying playmaker, play Rogic or Turnbull, not both, and either hope McCarthy gets up to speed and can do a job in the deep lying role, or give Bitton an opportunity to return to play there. Bitton at least can make the forward passed and can act as a third CH when the full backs bomb forward.
We need to sign 2 x midfielders in January, we lost 3 from last season (Brown, Ntcham, Christie) and only signed 1 (McCarthy), these 2 additional midfielders should already be at the club now but our usual negligence in recruitment has left us short in a period of the season we play weekend/midweek for 4 months without a break and with no options in the midfield (and attack).