19 hours ago, Valerie said:

"Blind with hatred", over the top much? Don't be silly. I just don't like his hard man act.

what is life without drama 

On 09/07/2020 at 06:19, ducavis said:

Mount for me is a big question mark but that is a conversation for another day. 

Mount is going nowhere. Lampard clearly rates him. I see a midfield 3 of kova, mount and havertz, with Jorginho, Ruben and Barkley as bench / back up. Kante will be sold, Gilmour loaned.

A lot of energy levels and pressing here. Havertz bringing in the creativity and another goal threat.

Mount is so much better in that midfield position. He is very valuable to us. No chance he would leave and zero reasons to let him go. 

On 09/07/2020 at 06:19, ducavis said:

Mount for me is a big question mark but that is a conversation for another day. 

He's been one of the most consistent performers and one of the positives from this season and we lack urgency when he's not on the pitch.

Think Lamps is molding him into the next......................Lamps. 

2 hours ago, Nibs said:

He's been one of the most consistent performers and one of the positives from this season and we lack urgency when he's not on the pitch.

Think Lamps is molding him into the next......................Lamps. 

He's slowly getting to that, during the first half of the season he was mostly pressing and working with Tammy in the final third, now he's all over the pitch.

For a 21 year old his work rate is really amazing, he played all games this season which I wouldn't have expected and he's looking much better with the ball as time passes by.

Mount is going to be one of our best players soon, if not already. I can’t believe someone said he’s a big question mark, f*ck me!

He is slowly beefing up as well, or he seems a bit bigger, which will only help him, he is a fine fine player

Yeap, Mount belongs to the mid, Ross belongs to trio up front. 

This is the only part of the pitch I have absolutely no problem with if we don't touch it this summer. I mean Jorginho - Gilmour, Mount - Kante, RLC - Kovacic and Barkley also as an option to fill in some games... i mean this is very good. 

Which is important because we still have to buy 4 defenders and 1 goalie. 

57 minutes ago, Droopy said:

Yeap, Mount belongs to the mid, Ross belongs to trio up front. 

This is the only part of the pitch I have absolutely no problem with if we don't touch it this summer. I mean Jorginho - Gilmour, Mount - Kante, RLC - Kovacic and Barkley also as an option to fill in some games... i mean this is very good. 

Which is important because we still have to buy 4 defenders and 1 goalie. 

Funny, bad sadly pretty true!

 

5 hours ago, Nibs said:

He's been one of the most consistent performers and one of the positives from this season and we lack urgency when he's not on the pitch.

Think Lamps is molding him into the next......................Lamps. 

He has a big impact on how we play, his energy and impetus is all round getting the ball and getting forward, not just keeping possession for the sake of keeping it. His runs are now very similar to those Frank used to make, he hits the spaces in the box rather than runs where defenders are, and his timing is very good for one so young. I think its obvious that Frank has been working with him, and who could ask for a better mentor.

since this discussion is about the midfield, checkout the partnership that made everyone all crazy at the beginning of the season - it was great to see Jorginho & Kovacic link up the way they did

 

So what's our likely first choice midfield once everyone is bedded in ? We've seen the trio of Kovacic/Kante/Jorginho on enough occasions to know that it doesn't quite work, particularly in respect of a lack of creativity.

I think we'll see a new DM to sit in front of the defence, and then Havertz and Kante in front of the new guy.

Harking back to the halcyon days of 2004/5, the new DM = "Makelele" ; Havertz = "Lampard" ; Kante = "Tiago" ... I think this is what Frank will try and re-create as the midfield trio in a 4-3-3.

Then Mount and Kovacic probably on the bench. Jorginho, RLC and Barkley all trying to catch Lampard's eye in training but ultimately all bit part players on the sidelines ... assuming they are all still here of course ! Gilmour probably loaned out when his knee is ready.

8 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

So what's our likely first choice midfield once everyone is bedded in ? We've seen the trio of Kovacic/Kante/Jorginho on enough occasions to know that it doesn't quite work, particularly in respect of a lack of creativity.

I think we'll see a new DM to sit in front of the defence, and then Havertz and Kante in front of the new guy.

Harking back to the halcyon days of 2004/5, the new DM = "Makelele" ; Havertz = "Lampard" ; Kante = "Tiago" ... I think this is what Frank will try and re-create as the midfield trio in a 4-3-3.

Then Mount and Kovacic probably on the bench. Jorginho, RLC and Barkley all trying to catch Lampard's eye in training but ultimately all bit part players on the sidelines ... assuming they are all still here of course ! Gilmour probably loaned out when his knee is ready.

New DM + Kovacic + Havertz. Kante and Mount to rotate whenever required.

24 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

So what's our likely first choice midfield once everyone is bedded in ? We've seen the trio of Kovacic/Kante/Jorginho on enough occasions to know that it doesn't quite work, particularly in respect of a lack of creativity.

I think we'll see a new DM to sit in front of the defence, and then Havertz and Kante in front of the new guy.

Harking back to the halcyon days of 2004/5, the new DM = "Makelele" ; Havertz = "Lampard" ; Kante = "Tiago" ... I think this is what Frank will try and re-create as the midfield trio in a 4-3-3.

Then Mount and Kovacic probably on the bench. Jorginho, RLC and Barkley all trying to catch Lampard's eye in training but ultimately all bit part players on the sidelines ... assuming they are all still here of course ! Gilmour probably loaned out when his knee is ready.

For me its

         Kante

Kovacic    Havertz

With Gilmour backup to Kante, or Kovacic can play there now and again. In games with more possession we could put Kova on the bench and start Mount or Loftus Cheek or Barkley. Although for me Barkley and Jorginho should leave.

Midfield lacks any sort of creativity, in that first half against Liverpool our front 3 (Especially Werner) made so many runs in behind without anyone even attempting a ball over the top. What is even more annoying is a few times the midfield did get there head up and over hit a simple pass, something which Henderson perfectly weighted for Mane.

We could play Havertz in midfield but I am not sure if Lampard will play him deep, early evidence shows that he is being molded into a number 10 or 2nd striker. Obviously the club is looking at Defensive midfielders and with Rice on the radar of the board that will only reduce the level of creativity we have in midfield.

In my opinion our Midfield is crying out for some height and Presence, and Declan Rice ticks all the boxes. He might not be everyones cup of tea but we need someone who can mix it up, i feel in the past when you have to work and grind results out at against the more Robust teams we've been often found wanting.

I hate the fact that he was our player and AGAIN we will have to fork out big money for a player we let go for nothing, but surely we could interest West ham in a Player Cash deal with someone who is surplus to requirements with us.

He can also cover at centre back if need be, Giorginho is'nt good enough and im starting to have my reservations about Kante long term, he seems suseptable t a lot more injuries now and maybe its time to cash in.

Anyone any thoughts?

About the creativity in midfield, I feel this is something that can be worked on. Once Kovacic Jorginho etc understand Werner better, we will start seeing balls over the top.

I mean, Henderson wasn’t known as a magician like Fabregas but he still did that beautiful pass to Mane when Christensen got sent off. Fabregas would have been proud of that pass.

I think we just need time, I’m hopeful by end of October the whole team will start clicking.

48 minutes ago, Osgoodwasgood said:

In my opinion our Midfield is crying out for some height and Presence, and Declan Rice ticks all the boxes. He might not be everyones cup of tea but we need someone who can mix it up, i feel in the past when you have to work and grind results out at against the more Robust teams we've been often found wanting.

I hate the fact that he was our player and AGAIN we will have to fork out big money for a player we let go for nothing, but surely we could interest West ham in a Player Cash deal with someone who is surplus to requirements with us.

He can also cover at centre back if need be, Giorginho is'nt good enough and im starting to have my reservations about Kante long term, he seems suseptable t a lot more injuries now and maybe its time to cash in.

Anyone any thoughts?

Sandro Tonali is your new Gattuso+Pirlo hybrid. He's only 20 but looks better than our midfield.

52 minutes ago, Osgoodwasgood said:

I hate the fact that he was our player and AGAIN we will have to fork out big money for a player we let go for nothing, but surely we could interest West ham in a Player Cash deal with someone who is surplus to requirements with us.

I must be getting senile in my old age, but who did we let go and had to bring back for big money?

53 minutes ago, abramovich said:

I must be getting senile in my old age, but who did we let go and had to bring back for big money?

Le Saux, Matic, David Luiz

 

1 hour ago, Gol15 said:

Sandro Tonali is your new Gattuso+Pirlo hybrid. He's only 20 but looks better than our midfield.

Saul, Niguez is another i like, but i feel Rice would be better suited to the Premiership, and another important factor is he bleeds blue

7 minutes ago, Osgoodwasgood said:

Le Saux, Matic, David Luiz

 

Well done. Forgot about all three.

6 minutes ago, abramovich said:

Well done. Forgot about all three.

We actually made money on Luiz didnt we?

I still believe Kovacic - Kanté could be a really productive pairing in a 4-2-3-1 with Havertz in front of them. Robust and aggressive against the ball, yet with great transitioning abilities by Kovacic.

However I believe for this lineup to really shine would require a few months of patience, until Pulisic and Ziyech are fit for the wings, Thiago Silva partners Zouma with his ability to play out from the back, Havertz shows performances that warrant a start over Mason and everyone has gotten to know each other.

The players we have in the mid are just fine considering the rest of the squad. We either need Kovacic and Kante to terrorize the opponents with press or we need Jorginho to secure the ball and reduce the opponents attacks with huge possession. 

We just need our 4 players up front to perform. And yeah, 4 players, no more bullsh*t with trios, no more Mount there unless there are 3 more around him.