Our Midfield

Dazzler21

Mendonca In Asdas said:

How gutted would people be if Alfie left now MM has joined us?

How much do we sell him for in your example?

£10m - How could you turn that down?
£7.5m - Okay I guess. I definitely get it
£5m - I'm disappointed but understanding.
£2.5m - It happens, but FFS he'll be worth more triple that in 2 years. 
£1m - Fuck Off. 

AndyG

ricky_otto said:

Dazzler21 said:

Vfrf said:

Amos
Gunter - Oshilaja - Pearce - Purrington
Gilbey - Watson - Levitt

Maddison - Schwartz - Doughty

Schwartz - Washington
Maddison
*Levitt - - - - - Doughty
**Watson
Koiki - Pearce - ***Famewo - Gunter
Amos

* Levitt / Gilbey depending on fitness. 
**Still not sure on Watson over Pratley yet
***Assumes he can play RCB

Like the look of that team. Always Gilbey over Levitt for me though. I’d much rather Phillips than Amos as well. 

I think we have seen the last of Phillip's unfortunately. Never know though he maybe having seconds thoughts now. But LB might have also made his mind up, 

MattF

AndyG said:

ricky_otto said:

Dazzler21 said:

Vfrf said:

Amos
Gunter - Oshilaja - Pearce - Purrington
Gilbey - Watson - Levitt

Maddison - Schwartz - Doughty

Schwartz - Washington
Maddison
*Levitt - - - - - Doughty
**Watson
Koiki - Pearce - ***Famewo - Gunter
Amos

* Levitt / Gilbey depending on fitness. 
**Still not sure on Watson over Pratley yet
***Assumes he can play RCB

Like the look of that team. Always Gilbey over Levitt for me though. I’d much rather Phillips than Amos as well. 

I think we have seen the last of Phillip's unfortunately. Never know though he maybe having seconds thoughts now. But LB might have also made his mind up, 

On the assumption that Amos extending his contract because of the chance to get first team football, I doubt Bowyer would entertain him now changing his mind. Need a good price for him

Henry Irving

Covered End said:

Diamond.
Maddison at the tip, Gilbey right, Doughty left, Watson back.

That's how I see it but with Prattley coming in as needed, especially away.

Also think Doughty will be rotated.

Washington and Killer up top

sinceiwasyoung

I can't see Phillips playing for us again  , a shame as he has been immense the last two seasons . I would like  to see Maynard- Brewer given a chance as still not convinced by Amos .

BigRedEvil

All gone a bit quiet with Philips, hope he stays 

AndyG

BigRedEvil said:

All gone a bit quiet with Philips, hope he stays 

I suspect he is preying for a club to come in for him. But it is weird times at the moment. It would be a shame if his stance meant he gets no games for a while

Scoham

Covered End said:

Diamond.
Maddison at the tip, Gilbey right, Doughty left, Watson back.

Would be a big change for Doughty to play as what is really a central midfield role - has he ever played centrally for us?

Dazzler21

Scoham said:

Covered End said:

Diamond.
Maddison at the tip, Gilbey right, Doughty left, Watson back.

Would be a big change for Doughty to play as what is really a central midfield role - has he ever played centrally for us?

 Not professionally but didn't he play there before moving wide in the last year or so?

@dickplumb may know more.

Redrobo

Scoham said:

Covered End said:

Diamond.
Maddison at the tip, Gilbey right, Doughty left, Watson back.

Would be a big change for Doughty to play as what is really a central midfield role - has he ever played centrally for us?

I would like to see Doughty playing left wing back in a 3-5-2. I think the diamond takes a lot out of the midfielders and we have a lot of games to play. Five in midfield should mean that we dominate that area and therefore the game.

MuttleyCAFC

Doughty hasn't signed a new deal along with Phillips. He has clubs interested in him along with Phillips. The difference may be that Bowyer believes Phillips is more unsettled. When the window closes, if Phillips isn't sold, there is a possibility they will sort it out I would imagine.

It is quite interesting picking what we think our midfield should be because it is difficult. Difficult because you have to leave good players out. That is great. We also know that it is rare you can play your best players every week and we seem to have the quality cover required for that area.  

Scoham

Dazzler21 said:

Scoham said:

Covered End said:

Diamond.
Maddison at the tip, Gilbey right, Doughty left, Watson back.

Would be a big change for Doughty to play as what is really a central midfield role - has he ever played centrally for us?

 Not professionally but didn't he play there before moving wide in the last year or so?

@dickplumb may know more.

I think he may have done at youth level, but not sure it would suit him at first team level.

Cafc43v3r

It's quite intresting in the regard that, with the exception of Pratley and Lapslie, they are all proper footballers.

There is no natural formation that jumps out.  And you would suspect that Watson, Gilbey, Levitt and Maddison would all expect to start regularly for different reasons.

If we don't sign a striker that can play on his own we have to play 2 up top.  Neither Bonne or Washington can. 

Maybe Doughty could be converted to a foward in the same way Leko was?

Well its a better problem than "who is the least shit" isn't it. 

Dazzler21

Cafc43v3r said:

It's quite intresting in the regard that, with the exception of Pratley and Lapslie, they are all proper footballers.

There is no natural formation that jumps out.  And you would suspect that Watson, Gilbey, Levitt and Maddison would all expect to start regularly for different reasons.

If we don't sign a striker that can play on his own we have to play 2 up top.  Washington can't. 

Maybe Doughty could be converted to a foward in the same way Leko was?

Well its a better problem than "who is the least shit" isn't it. 

 I like the idea of converting Doughty, but I'm not sure it'd work in practice. He thinks too much when getting a shot off. 

LenGlover

Cafc43v3r said:

It's quite intresting in the regard that, with the exception of Pratley and Lapslie, they are all proper footballers.

There is no natural formation that jumps out.  And you would suspect that Watson, Gilbey, Levitt and Maddison would all expect to start regularly for different reasons.

If we don't sign a striker that can play on his own we have to play 2 up top.  Neither Bonne or Washington can. 

Maybe Doughty could be converted to a foward in the same way Leko was?

Well its a better problem than "who is the least shit" isn't it. 

Given their ages I reckon Bowyer views Pratley and Watson as effectively one player to be rotated once we are up to strength. Whilst they still have plenty to offer I think, understandably, they are showing the first signs of not being able to play the number of matches they have previously.

Maddison, having had no pre season according to Bowyer, will be an impact sub for a while or start and play an hour only.

thewolfboy

Now that we have moved into the new season a bit, imagine that all eleven of our midfielders are fit. Who gets a game? What formation is best for the team? LB likes a diamond - it seems to be his favourite formation but he does admit to changing format as the game progresses.
LB loves Pratley so i guess he is the favoured defensive bod. Shinnie seems to be making waves at the moment and Doughty is our boy wonder (I'm pretending that he is fit). Does Gilbey get in above a fit Maddison? Tricky inn't! not forgetting that Morgan has blown us away recently.
                          Maddison                                
                    Doughty Shinnie                   
                           Pratley (C)
I can't see Levitt starting and Williams is inconsistent. I'm not a fan of JFC but I gather he has played quite well so far. Vennings might need a loan to get games. Not sure if Watson is going to play much either. Overall a nice problem for LB to solve. But will non-playing midfielders get stroppy?

Athletico Charlton

Watson about first choice on the midfield team sheet for me, Shinnie second.  The rest are fungible.

ForeverAddickted

Gilbey - Pratley OR Watson - Shinnie
Maddison OR Williams OR Morgan

Is the diamond formation that Id go with 

Exiled_Addick

ForeverAddickted said:

Gilbey - Pratley OR Watson - Shinnie
Maddison OR Williams OR Morgan

Is the diamond formation that Id go with 

I think Bowyer sees Morgan playing in one of the two “wide” spots in the diamond. That’s why he’s been pushing him so hard to work harder defensively and break into the oppositions box more. I think he’s in direct competition with Shinnie (who he’s most similar too and played well with the other week), Gilbey, and JFC. Probably third in the pecking order right now, but improving but it’s a fairly lose field as personally I think JFC has been decent too and getting better as he gets fitter. It’s a strong looking 4. Not to mention Levitt who would possibly be an option there too, albeit he hasn’t really shone yet. 

Not the hardest fought game in the world but thought Maddison looked good with a kind of free role through the middle last night. 

wmcf123

I see this as our best side, without Doughty:

Amos

Gunter, Innis, Fanewo, Maatsen

Pratley

Gilbey/Morgan, Shinnie,

Williams,

Bogle/Aneke, Washington 

blackpool72

wmcf123 said:

I see this as our best side, without Doughty:

Amos

Gunter, Innis, Fanewo, Maatsen

Pratley

Gilbey/Morgan, Shinnie,

Williams,

Bogle/Aneke, Washington 

I'd swap Williams for Maddison. 
Apart from that I would pick the same team as you.

ricky_otto

ForeverAddickted said:

Gilbey - Pratley OR Watson - Shinnie
Maddison OR Williams OR Morgan

Is the diamond formation that Id go with 

Went to put my midfield together and totally forgot Gilbey. 

I’d go with a diamond of:

Pratley  - Shinnie - Watson - Maddison 

Redrobo

             Watson
Maddison Shinnie Gilbey 

If more subs are allowed, we could really benefit.

Bexleyheath_Addick

            Watson
Gilbey                 Shinnie/JFC

            Maddison


Should be illegal to have this good a midfield in League 1.

Cafc43v3r

I am sure that Gilbey gets better everyday he is injured, which is surprising when we keep winning.  If he is out any longer he will be back as Bryan Robson, although with his injury record he would have fitted right in

mendonca

We do have a very good L1 team on paper! 

LonelyNorthernAddick

Even with Doughty out I'd say we've got two full midfields that are more than capable for this level.

Watson/Pratley

Gilbey/Morgan                        Shinnie/JFC    

Williams/Maddison

I think you could play any combination of those 4 and have one of the best midfields in this division.

SantaClaus

It wasn't that long ago that our midfield was Foley, Crofts, Ulvestad and a past his prime Jackson. Looking back I'm surprised we didn't end up in League Two.

killerandflash

What we have now is massive quality AND quantity. While Bowyer may have his favourite 4, chances are they won't play together that often as Bowyer will regularly rotate them

Cafc43v3r

SantaClaus said:

It wasn't that long ago that our midfield was Foley, Crofts, Ulvestad and a past his prime Jackson. Looking back I'm surprised we didn't end up in League Two.

It also shows how shit league 1 is.  Remember in front of that we had Novak, Josh and Ajose.  No wonder Ricky Holmes is so fondly remembered.