Yeah I wasn’t sure when I wrote it hence the ? I also like to see him causing mayhem in the middle but yes a tad crowded in that area these days.
He’s also 33 and only still, really, just coming back from a major knee injury.
His days of charging around and tackling may be, or soon to be, behind him. He has such a good reader of the game, and I’m sure only in his latter times was he pushed a bit further forward.
I would have no fear in him being able to do the role if the manager were to use him that way with a Morley/henderson/CBM/Mullins in the other midfield role and a 10.
I think Josh would absolutely add the steal to just in front of the back line that we were missing hugely last season precisely because of his ability to charge around patrolling the half space and tackling. And release Morley to do damage at the other end of the field.
I feel we may be starting with …
Hazard
Parkin
Cook
Hagelskjaer
Harvie
Morley
Scowen
CBM
Thomas
Woodrow
Fred
I really needed to be able to pick 12 players to start, it’s such a bu**er I can’t.
I’d also feel quite happy to be starting Grimmer, Casey, Mullins, Henderson, Tezgel/Fink depending on formation and Junior & Allen have done nothing wrong so far either and young Micah could be a revelation too.
I think we really look to have viable options for starters depending on opposition/tactic and who gels with who (particularly in defense).
Butter?
Bunker ?
Really hope not. Far too defensive. I suspect either Woodrow or Mullins will be in the 10 and Tezgel in the 9 as things stand. Although I still think we might do some business in these two areas.
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Its impossible to get all 4 good players in midfield. Josh, Morley, Hendo and CBM. I dont mind Josh as a holder allowing Morley and CbM or Hendo to be more box to box. Though does mean Woodrow is CF which many wont like.
I was thinking of two, maybe three (if we went with more midfielder and one less forward) of those listed would all be excellent options with Josh as an anchor infront of defence
The potential of our midfield may* be the best I have seen as a WWFC supporter.
*I’m going to look sillier than I normally do now, aren’t I?
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I see our midfield broadly divided into three groups and we’ll pick one of Morley/Hendo + one of Scowen/Boyd-Munce + one of Mullins/Woodrow
(Morley/Scowen/Mullins if you’re asking, but they’re all very good footballers)
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Mildly agree with the thinking there with current players but the way Morley and Henderson played together last week there is no reason why they can play together regularly.
For me Morley, Boyd-Munce and Mullins out of the current team. I reckon Woodrow will be in the No 10 though.
I think its technically the best midfield with had. In terms of footballing ability.
I do think Henderson is the best of them all, as a player. Doesn’t nean he fits in, and its a shame that Duff went one or other with Morley. He is great to see on the ball though.
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The thing is, we’ll need them all over the course of a 46 game season and they are all so good that we shouldn’t see a drop off in quality when players are rested/rotated/injured or if we make substitutions during games
I’ve been around a long time and I don’t remember having such strength in depth in midfield
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Absolutely. The midfield is the reason we should be excited. I just hope we can get a little bit more quality in attack and I’ll be very confident.
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I’ve got it - Butler!! , no Buster ?
Burger?
Bummer ?
Bullfighter??
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I would certainly agree he has the potential to be.
He seemed to be very unlucky with injury last season that held him back. I hope that doesn’t become a regular story and he can really cement a place in the side.
The quiet optimism of a real go at promotion is creeping up on me. I don’t think we have the front line to challenge for the title, but playoffs certainly
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I think the starting XI for tomorrow’s Ipswich game will be close to, if not actually, what Duff considers to be his best eleven.
No idea what kind of team Ipswich will bring, given that they also have a game at Oxford at lunchtime, and a manager only three weeks into the job.
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We had the same midfield last season and finished mid table. Sure, Scowen was injured but there’s going to be injuries every season (first of probably many already announced today).
Key questions for me are whether Hazard proves a significant upgrade in goal or similar to Norris but with a better attitude.
And will Tegzel be good enough against League One defences.
Both seem to be unanswerable at the moment so I’m going to be pessimistic and expect a mid table finish again.