James Garner

[dazfrancis]

Garner to RB, KDH to CM

Alcaraz starts at 10.

Maybe the midfield will be a bit lightweight, but the balance should be better

[bigmanbob]

The ball he put in for Barry's horrendous miss was absolutely glorious

[Free Agent]

In the first half yesterday, seemed like JG & IGG had never played together ever!
When we had possession they took turns to go missing. And when out of possession there was a massive hole in the middle of the park.

[StirlingBlue]

Gana is by far the bigger issue for me - and I suspect it's on purpose from Moyes.

We've not yet found a way to consistently create chances when in possession so the only time we threaten is when we turnover possession high up the pitch on a press so Gana is being told to press high as much as possible. Great when it works and suddenly we're 3vs3 but it means Garner is completely exposed.

[Escalator]

The ball he put in for Barry's horrendous miss was absolutely glorious

As was the one for Keanes goal against West Ham.

[brap2]

Sideways merchant.

Undroppable because of the options we have but I look forward to watching a proper midfield.

Wharton an extreme but what a joy to watch he was there.

[Jimmywhack]

Play him right back until we get one

I hope Rohl can be fit in two weeks and get games at CM

[Blueomar]

Wasn't it a couple of weeks ago that people were moaning about the midfield when he was shifted to left back?

[UnsyisaRhino]

Wasn't it a couple of weeks ago that people were moaning about the midfield when he was shifted to left back?

Everyone is desperate for someone in midfield to get on the ball, turn and play a forward pass to someone other than a fullback, but nobody wants to drop the disruption machine that's gueye, so garner get's pushed over to continue being OK at left back or right back. We then pray that Tim, or Rohl or KDH can give us that.

Unfortunately, the moment garner isn't in there to cover the oceans of space left when our press doesn't work, we look vulnerable and miss him.

So he comes back in and we look more solid, but boring and predictable going forward....and so the cycle begins again.

[AjaxAndy]

Wasn't it a couple of weeks ago that people were moaning about the midfield when he was shifted to left back?

Yeah but also it's clearly not really working with the current set up and personnel so we do need to change something.

For now I'd at least try KDH and Gana in the double pivot even if I think it's a bit of a weak pairing, or Rohl and Gana if Merlin can be fit in time.

We also play Man City next so tbh I'd keep Garner in CM for that and maybe put KDH right mid for that one, then look to switch it up after that.

[Kerryblueboy]

Like I said yesterday in the match thread we need Rohl to be good would make such a difference

[Toddacelli]

Both Alcaraz and Iroegbunam will take the ball off a holder and take responsibility for moving it up the pitch. They just leave different kinds of holes in our midfield.

Oh what we would give for a couple of complete(ish) midfielders.

[Cods]

Yeah but also it's clearly not really working with the current set up and personnel so we do need to change something.

Like I said yesterday in the match thread we need Rohl to be good would make such a difference

There's a point at which we could fire off all the options in the barrel, not noticably improve, and have no more barrel to scrape. We could play Pickford up front in a two with Keane, but seriously there will be a point at which all available/sensible options have been tried and still we're not as good as (some of) the opposition. There's not a whole lot we can do about it right now.

It's 80% cattle, 20% herder.

Consistency and fine tuning with those who are our best 15 or so is where it's at. Too much change and more square pegs in round holes.

I hope Röhl becomes the next Rodri, theres nothing about him I dont yet like, but it's not likely in the next year or two, unfair to laden him with 'our only hope' vibes I think.

Mixed performances (Alcaraz, Beto, Barry) are to be expected. The only difference with Röhl is that he's not been on the pitch long enough for us to judge his deficiencies yet.

[StirlingBlue]

Gana needs dropping before Garner, at this point he’s basically a pressing CAM and we can’t afford to just have one midfielder in there

[brap2]

Womp womp