What is our midfield?

[Garawa]

We are scoring goals. We haven't played too badly but are conceding far too often, the most in the division yet I really rate Jackson and Oshilaja, Koncesky has provided a touch of class in some games and Ehmer has been very strong! The issue for me is the midfield. I think it is not holding strong and defenders are being over-run so what is our midfield. I don't know and I'm not sure Jed does either! Players like Emmanuel-Thomas and Wagstaff (along with Martin who is out for the season) were deemed to be wide-men but haven't played in that position. Width (if it can be called that) has been provided by the full-backs who, along with Dack and Emmanuel-Thomas dropping deep, congests the midfield and creates a massive gap to Cody up front. It's no wonder we miss-place passes when players are so close to each other.

So the question is what exactly is our midfield? What is it supposed to look like? I think I am right in saying that only O'Hara came in after the season started so predominantly, including those out for the season, we would have been drawing up our plans of playing with them for the season. These players are:

Scott Wagstaff
Jake Hessenthaler
Billy Knott
Lee Martin (injured)
Aaron Morris (injured)
Emmanuel Osadebe (predicted to have a big season)
Elliott List (came as a striker but played various midfield roles and even right back)
Bradley Dack
Mark Byrne
Josh Wright
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas (played as a striker but listed as a midfielder)

This does not include:
Jamie O'Hara (came in after injuries were known)
Darren Oldaker (youth player that may not have been brought in had the injuries not occurred)

So what was the plan with those original 11 midfielders? Those that came width do not appear to be asked to provide any. There are 5 players that appear to able to play the Dack role but not the Cody one whose only real partner appears to Donnelly after Jet drops deep all the time. For me a 4-2-3-1 is the only sensible option as long as the "wide" forwards in the 3 behind Cody push up constantly as Cody cannot work on his own. In the holding roles Wright and Byrne (would be Aaron Morris is fit) would sit behind a 3 of Wagstaff, Dack and Emmanuel-Thomas. This excludes Osadebe who many believe is going to have a big season and Knott who was one of the big name signings. Perhaps Jed planned for Dack to leave and it was messed up when he stayed?! I really don't know how to play this lot, even when I make it a 5 instead of a 4! Confused.

[gillsfan1066]

I said before the start of the season we had a whole team of midfielders, so the midfield was not going to be the problem, but I was worried about the defence, who else has 11 middys on their books in this division, the navy only has 12 ? I can understand on loan players who can be recalled anytime need cover , but ELEVEN players. ?
I sure do hope Glasgow is the right man for the job, I was never crazy on the hiring in the first place, and the collapse at the end of last season didn't help, I hope he is not one of those guys that gets us "there", and then can not finish the job ( see Arsenal Manager).

[Garawa]

Bizarrely I think it is the midfield that is the problem. There are a few with similar attributes all trying to be accommodated or find their place. At least if you had a left and right winger like McGlashan and Dickenson you would largely find them on the left and right wings! Now players seem to be asked to play a role they wouldn't normally do and drift about finding the best space leaving the defence vulnerable.

[baronnight]

the big problem I have seen this season is who does what when defending, we seem to have a lot of free spirits in midfield but without the discipline required when not in possession. Most teams on losing the ball look to drop back into 2 lines of 4, our midfield seem to freeze and wait to see what's happening before making a decision.

[Garawa]

Is that because they don't really know where they are supposed to be though Baron? Maybe we have to sacrifice formation that gets "the best out of Dack" for the time being, get used to playing together as a new group and then start to tweak formations a bit. If we are out of play offs come Feb then so be it but we aren't going to move forward like this.