Midfield

[Filo]

It looks like we stumbled on a midfield that actually worked after the injury to Broadbent and dropping Gotts deeper

[Balby Rover]

Completely agree Gotts was fantastic as he was at Stockport he should play every game but we still lack physicality. Think about the team we had at Brentford the back four McCombe - Jones - Quinn - Spurr we were never bullied that season !! 

[drfcsteve]

Weird that we have to stumble on these things. Why doesn’t Grant know his best combination of players from being with them in training every day?

[GazLaz]

One swallow doesn’t make a summer. Styles make fights as well. Bolton play a pretty specific was that’s different a lot of the teams in L1. It looked ok against them, would it work against Mansfield for example?

[Filo]

One swallow doesn’t make a summer. Styles make fights as well. Bolton play a pretty specific was that’s different a lot of the teams in L1. It looked ok against them, would it work against Mansfield for example?

Bolton didn’t play their normal game, they went more direct

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Good players can adapt to most styles if they're technically good and can think quickly. Gotts did that for the most part plus he wasn't left isolated with Bailey and Clifton doing their bits too.

Definitely refreshing to see the midfield gell.

Fingers crossed we can repeat the performance.

[mushRTID]

from what I saw Bolton went long a lot, sometimes quite poorly and sometimes we defended well. It allowed our midfield to pick up scraps and get the ball down.

It may be a different story if it was a genuine midfield scrap, but they were positive signs.

[andyst79]

Weird that we have to stumble on these things. Why doesn’t Grant know his best combination of players from being with them in training every day?

It's a valid point, it's plain for all to see that Gotts isn't a 10 and better suited to a deeper role.

[BillyStubbsTears]

One swallow doesn’t make a summer. Styles make fights as well. Bolton play a pretty specific was that’s different a lot of the teams in L1. It looked ok against them, would it work against Mansfield for example?

Bolton didn’t play their normal game, they went more direct

I don't know how much of that was prior choice, and how much the fact that we were very aggressive in midfield for once, denying them space to play from the back through us. Meanwhile Hanlan was quite intelligently rushing the centre halves into launching 60 yarders that we defended against well.

Certainly they were playing through the levels far more early on before Clifton replaced Broadbent.

[Donnybax]

I think it worked better because there was so much more mobility

[Padge_DRFC]

It worked better because Broadbent isn't that good.

[mpc123]

Broadbent is good, just because 1 game he doesnt play too well and the other play ok, doesnt mean they are all good players, its the issue fans get into all the tine, one minute a players a world beater than they are rubbish 2 mins later.

Broadbent has been one of the most consistent players over the last 2 years.

[sedwardsdrfc]

Would help us to play Gotts alongside Broadbent imo. Have Bailey as a Gerrard type midfielder getting into the box with those two making sure we’re hard to beat and have options on the ball.

[Ian Nimmo]

Broadbent is good, just because 1 game he doesnt play too well and the other play ok, doesnt mean they are all good players, its the issue fans get into all the tine, one minute a players a world beater than they are rubbish 2 mins later.

Broadbent has been one of the most consistent players over the last 2 years.

I agree he has been consistent, unfortunately some don’t always appreciate the amount of work he puts into games.
Yes he’s had some poor games, but nobody is perfect.
My only concern has been when he has made some unnecessary challenges etc. although let’s face it he’s still relatively young and still learning. Also looks like he can cope with this level and potential to improve.

[sf9944]

With Gotts, Bailey and Clifton it looked for the first time as though we had legs in midfield.  As a result we were able to dictate the pace of the game more. In other words we seemed to be more in control.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Broadbent is good, just because 1 game he doesnt play too well and the other play ok, doesnt mean they are all good players, its the issue fans get into all the tine, one minute a players a world beater than they are rubbish 2 mins later.

Broadbent has been one of the most consistent players over the last 2 years.

I agree he has been consistent, unfortunately some don’t always appreciate the amount of work he puts into games.
Yes he’s had some poor games, but nobody is perfect.
My only concern has been when he has made some unnecessary challenges etc. although let’s face it he’s still relatively young and still learning. Also looks like he can cope with this level and potential to improve.

Yes, I think many agreed Broadbent was probably the most improved player last season. I thought he would be able to develop even further by handling Lg1.

For whatever reason, he seems to have stuttered a bit in that progression. Mistakes have crept back in which appear to have affected his confidence. In that role you can't be hesitant and the other night, from the off, he didn't look like he wanted to be on the pitch. He made a couple of long passes to nobody which is most unlike him perhaps fearing making mistakes. Of course, he went off injured so maybe he wasn't right from the off.

He just needs to regroup and come back stronger (hopefully) but in the meantime, we now have some competition for his spot and hopefully better combinations.

[mpc123]

Its very difficult for individuals at the moment to be consistent, something isnt clicking and when Mccann sorts that out again like he always does those good players will come to the fore again.

They just need support to get there quicker rather than slagging off and calling them shit, just because they have had 3 or 4 average games.

Its called growing up really and assessing things as they are not just something has to be shit or amazing.

Its dead simple, juat support them, be positive, without that they have a far less chance of coming good quicker and the individuals doing it look far less idiots all of a sudden.

Just because you shout, swear, constantly call someone rubbish, doesnt mean you know alot about football.
 
Grab hold of tomorrow and if someone makes a mistake, just support them again.

None of these players are rubbish, none of them are world beaters, some will have better careers than others, again, none of these playees are rubbish, we all are because we are stood in the stands.

[Barmby Rover]

Thinking of a midfield four, Gotts and Robinson as defending midfield, with Bailey and Clifton free to attack.