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We have a relegation midfield

24

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  • cafcfan1990
    cafcfan1990 Posts: 12,811
    Early days but the signs aren’t good. I like Morgan but he’s a squad player. 

    Dobson looks slow and very limited. Clare just hasn’t offered anything so far and you can see why Oxford were happy to let him go.

    Initially I thought one CM should be signed but there’s a case for two. Fingers crossed Gilbey isn’t too far away from being involved with some under 23 games.


    We could just about get away with one if it was an excellent player and Gilbey is back soon. Having Dobson, Clare and Morgan fighting it out for a spot alongside them two wouldn't be the end of the world. I'd take two but the problem is we gave Watson a new contract and signed Clare and Dobson, can't see us signing another two. 
  • charlton_hero
    charlton_hero Posts: 4,665
    I'll be having nightmares about that midfield three tonight. Who thought that was a good idea?
  • cafcfan1990
    cafcfan1990 Posts: 12,811
    Not sure it's quite relegation but it's very poor. None of them look like they should be starting in a decent League 1 team. If Gallen identified Dobson and Clare as the answer he needs to go. We paid money for Clare.
    We also let him go years ago. Now we are planning the return of our old keeper 'Sick note Henderson '.  It is very much relegation fighting squad. Look at the table and the injuries and the depth.  
    How is that relevant? We've let go of players in the past who have come back and done well. I'd certainly take Ajayi back that's for sure. 
  • MuttleyCAFC
    MuttleyCAFC Posts: 47,728
    Clare looked ok tonight compared to his previous games for us but he isn't the answer. His control is not good enough, He has no creativity and he doesn't score goals. He runs around a lot but that is for the bench at best not our starting midfield.
  • Sage
    Sage Posts: 7,278
    Shambles. None of them would get in to any top 6 midfield.

    Shows how good Forster-Caskey is when he’s not in the team. He’d get us to try and play at least.

    Need at least one more to come in, preferably 2, and have Gilbey back as soon as.

    If this midfield continues much longer we will be waiting quite a while to pick up 3 points.
  • Southbank
    Southbank Posts: 5,252
    Dave Rudd said:
    Dave Rudd said:
    Why have you left out Jaiyesimi?

    He is woeful.
    massively unfair, was our best player. Barely gets the ball and looks dangerous when he does. Good performance tonight although his final ball is still frustrating. 
    He had a reasonable first 10-12 minutes and later played in a good ball for Stockley's attempt on goal.

    That was it. 

    Our best player?  Hmm.  He was woeful.  Ponderous, heavy-legged.  Poor crosses.  It's like he can't kick it.  And the 37 year-old Lewington didn't break sweat.

    What did I miss?
    The bit in the second half  where he beat Lewington and put a dangerous cross into the penalty area and the bit where Lewington got booked after being beaten by him. And numerous bits of good play in the first half.

    You're welcome
  • Dave Rudd
    Dave Rudd Posts: 2,865
    Southbank said:
    Dave Rudd said:
    Dave Rudd said:
    Why have you left out Jaiyesimi?

    He is woeful.
    massively unfair, was our best player. Barely gets the ball and looks dangerous when he does. Good performance tonight although his final ball is still frustrating. 
    He had a reasonable first 10-12 minutes and later played in a good ball for Stockley's attempt on goal.

    That was it. 

    Our best player?  Hmm.  He was woeful.  Ponderous, heavy-legged.  Poor crosses.  It's like he can't kick it.  And the 37 year-old Lewington didn't break sweat.

    What did I miss?
    The bit in the second half  where he beat Lewington and put a dangerous cross into the penalty area and the bit where Lewington got booked after being beaten by him. And numerous bits of good play in the first half.

    You're welcome
    Numerous bits of good play in the first half?  I made that a few bits of good play in the first 10 -12 minutes.

    And we'll disagree about his one-to-one contest with MK Dons coach (yes, that's coach) Dean Lewington.  At best, two bits of skill in 45 mins ... Yaay! 

    And the cross was poor.

    The guy is woeful.

    You're also welcome.
  • Dave Rudd
    Dave Rudd Posts: 2,865
    Dave Rudd said:
    Why have you left out Jaiyesimi?

    He is woeful.
    Bizarre comment
    Explain why?

    He is woeful.
  • BR7_addick
    BR7_addick Posts: 10,210
    Dave Rudd said:
    Dave Rudd said:
    Why have you left out Jaiyesimi?

    He is woeful.
    Bizarre comment
    Explain why?

    He is woeful.
    Cos he was comfortably our biggest threat tonight to the point where they subbed the guy marking him. 
  • Rob7Lee
    Rob7Lee Posts: 9,595
    Jaiyesimi is more of an old fashioned winger, playing him in a 433 is never going to work, that's fairly obvious.

    A 3 never works for someone like Washington either, although that might not be an issue for a while. He makes great runs in a 2 that no one seems to spot.

    As for the midfield 3, Clare, Dobson & Morgan..........  Morgan can't play in a 3 unless he's got a lot of experience beside him as his decision/positioning is still poor, he needs a Pratly shouting at him constantly...... I'm still to be convinced on Clare or Dobson that either are capable in this division in any formation.

    We seem to see it so often at Charlton, a Manager who wants to play a system but doesn't have the players to do so, rather than play a System we potentially have the players for.

    If Washington is out for the next game he may as well try something different. Playing Morgan behind Stockley and 4 across the midfield.

    But at the moment we don't have the players with either the ability or the intelligence to play how Adkins wants us to, we'll be lucky to win one in 4/5 on average with what we have. 4 points minimum needed from Wigan & Crewe
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  • DamoNorthStand
    DamoNorthStand Posts: 10,934
    Clare and Dobson are bottom 6 standard midfielders. There is a reason their two clubs didn’t want them. Morgan is currently an average youngster.

    None are good enough. Forget any thought of either being good enough with better players around them.

    They are cack. End of.
  • Covered End
    Covered End Posts: 51,993
    edited August 2021
    The thread is about the midfield 3.
    If you want to continue discussing DJ our best player on the night start another thread please.

    So, take a look at their first goal.
    Clare loses a header and then Morgan & Dobson both go for the same ball and neither get it.

    (Inniss is then outpaced and the goalie is out of position, absolute shambles, but it started with the midfield 3).
    In fairness Morgan put in a delightful cross for our goal.

    Second goal Clare lost a header once again from the free kick.
  • Stig
    Stig Posts: 29,022
    Think all three are good enough to play a part, but that part is not playing every match and certainly not every match together. 
  • Rob7Lee
    Rob7Lee Posts: 9,595
    The thread is about the midfield 3.
    If you want to continue discussing DJ our best player on the night start another thread please.

    So, take a look at their first goal.
    Clare loses a header and then Morgan & Dobson both go for the same ball and neither get it.

    Second goal Clare lost a header once again from the free kick.

    (Inniss is then outpaced and the goalie is out of position, absolute shambles, but it started with the midfield 3).
    In fairness Morgan put in a delightful cross for our goal.
    No it's not, it's about our midfield and DJ is a midfielder! He should be playing in our midfield as a winger.
  • DamoNorthStand
    DamoNorthStand Posts: 10,934
    Stig said:
    Think all three are good enough to play a part, but that part is not playing every match and certainly not every match together. 
    Sorry - don’t agree.

    They are cack.
  • sam3110
    sam3110 Posts: 21,260
    Dobson is a destroyer that doesn't actually break up play

    Clare is a box to box player that's not good enough in either box

    Morgan is a non scoring, non assisting number 10
  • sam3110
    sam3110 Posts: 21,260
    Rob7Lee said:
    The thread is about the midfield 3.
    If you want to continue discussing DJ our best player on the night start another thread please.

    So, take a look at their first goal.
    Clare loses a header and then Morgan & Dobson both go for the same ball and neither get it.

    Second goal Clare lost a header once again from the free kick.

    (Inniss is then outpaced and the goalie is out of position, absolute shambles, but it started with the midfield 3).
    In fairness Morgan put in a delightful cross for our goal.
    No it's not, it's about our midfield and DJ is a midfielder! He should be playing in our midfield as a winger.
    But he's not, he's part of the front 3 in a 433.

    If he was a midfielder we'd be playing a 451 but that's not how it's described by Adkins or the OS
  • Covered End
    Covered End Posts: 51,993
    edited August 2021
    Rob7Lee said:
    The thread is about the midfield 3.
    If you want to continue discussing DJ our best player on the night start another thread please.

    So, take a look at their first goal.
    Clare loses a header and then Morgan & Dobson both go for the same ball and neither get it.

    Second goal Clare lost a header once again from the free kick.

    (Inniss is then outpaced and the goalie is out of position, absolute shambles, but it started with the midfield 3).
    In fairness Morgan put in a delightful cross for our goal.
    No it's not, it's about our midfield and DJ is a midfielder! He should be playing in our midfield as a winger.
    My thread, my rules ::::::::::smile:
  • cafcsinger
    cafcsinger Posts: 5,548
    Clare is really really poor
  • Leuth
    Leuth Posts: 23,314
    Clare is really really poor
    He wasn't brilliant tonight, but comfortably the least of our midfield problems, which shows how dire the other two were 
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  • Covered End
    Covered End Posts: 51,993
    There is a case for all 3 being the best or worst.
    But realistically they all need to be on the bench and at worst only one of them playing.
    You can't carry players in any league.
  • TEL
    TEL Posts: 10,100
    I have to say Id never heard of Clare before  we signed him. Now I know why.
  • TEL said:
    I have to say Id never heard of Clare before  we signed him. Now I know why.
    I've not heard of 2/3rds of our signings these days, we're in League One, we're not signing anyone in the public eye, so it's basically can I remember them from a game against us.
  • Chris_from_Sidcup
    Chris_from_Sidcup Posts: 36,010
    edited August 2021
    Dobson - not wanted by Sunderland, spent the second half of last season on loan at Wimbledon. 5 goals in 165 games in English football, although he is a holding midfielder.
    Clare - not wanted in a midfield position by Oxford, spent the second half of last season on loan at Burton. 4 goals in 88 games in his English football career.
    Morgan - has always showed promise but ultimately in my opinion has never really kicked on. Would be ok as a squad player but certainly isn't good enough to be our number 10. 2 goals in 76 games for Charlton.

    So a midfield trio with a grand total of 11 goals in 329 games.

    On average, a goal every 30 games. Which means if they continue to play together as a trio we could expect one of them to score a goal every 10 games.

    And that folks is what we're hanging our hopes on.
  • ct_addick
    ct_addick Posts: 4,333
    and for those who said Jonny Williams isn't good enough....how's them apples?
  • Callumcafc
    Callumcafc Posts: 63,764
    edited August 2021
    ct_addick said:
    and for those who said Jonny Williams isn't good enough....how's them apples?
    I mean… he’s not exactly proved anything since moving on either. One start in six months for Cardiff (where they got tonked five nil) and then immediately released. 

    If Jonny Williams is the answer, you’re probably Swindon Town in League Two.
  • Chunes
    Chunes Posts: 17,347
    edited August 2021
    Oxford did want to keep Clare but made it clear he was going to have to fight for his place in the team as a midfielder. Not surprising as they like technical players who can keep possession in the middle, and Clare does not look like that kind of player. Or if he is, he's hiding.
    ct_addick said:
    and for those who said Jonny Williams isn't good enough....how's them apples?
    Yesterday the guy came on as a 77th minute substitute in a league two match. 
  • Cloudworm
    Cloudworm Posts: 973
    Who’d have Shinnie and Pratley back?

    i would.
  • Cloudworm said:
    Who’d have Shinnie and Pratley back?

    i would.
    I wouldn't have Pratley back, there's nothing he would have done that would have made the start of the season any different. 

    Shinnie on the other hand would have given  us someone with the ability to hold onto the ball in the middle of the park, especially in tight situations, and bring other players into play. I feel like players like Clare, who has shown he can make good runs off the ball, would benifit with a player like Shinnie around them. 
  • CL_Phantom
    CL_Phantom Posts: 5,513
    Nige has our starting front 3 and back 4 the same as what ended last season (minus maatsen). Yet so far we can't and don't look like scoring and apparently, defensively fragile.

    So, what's changed... The part in the middle.

    Were Pratley and Watson really that good? JFC who had a stop start season? 

    As we saw last season the pratson midfield was dire, on paper, Dobson, Clare and Morgan should be better - younger, fitter, more energy, some footballing ability, but, it's just not working yet, it's still pretty early but the signs aren't great, Gilbey returning will help but we need at least one more to come in someone who can calmly pass the ball and move it around. 

    It's all well and good having an energetic midfield, but, if they can't play football very well...then, well, yeah....