16 Jan 2022 15:58:26
Big result that for West Ham and not in a good way. Spurs current favourites for top 4 as they 4 points behind the hammers with 4 games in hand ( 2 in hand on us and arsenal) I'd love us to go on a run and at least secure top 4, with our current form though we are more likely to finish 10th than 4th. It's there for us though if we can get it together (big if) .

1.) 16 Jan 2022
16 Jan 2022 17:33:10
without a decent DM -at the very least -coming in this month we won't finish above 6th.

2.) 16 Jan 2022
16 Jan 2022 18:48:40
6th? Are you for real?

{Ed014's Note - what you thinking Jonesy, 8th?

3.) 17 Jan 2022
17 Jan 2022 09:06:22
whats the big obsession with a DM.

if we had midfielders with legs and who could pass a ball we would be fine.

we don't need a kante or a rice, what we need is someone better than fred and matic and mctominay.

all 3 are nowhere near good enough for a team wanting to be in the UCL.

4.) 17 Jan 2022
17 Jan 2022 10:01:18
Bolger - we need a cdm desperately. We can't play outbfrom the back as we don't have a cdm good enough on the ball. One of the biggest problems we have is the pressure we invite onto ourselves through terrible build up play out from the back. We need another Carrick.

5.) 17 Jan 2022
17 Jan 2022 10:24:38
Bolger, say that again but slowly.

You say you don't understand why we need a CDM, then go on to say that none of the players we have currently playing that role are good enough.

Which surely explains why we need a CDM ?‍♂️.

6.) 17 Jan 2022
17 Jan 2022 11:24:03
did you read what i put shappy?

where in that did i say the current midfielders are not good enough in that role?

i said we need better players than the 3 that play in midfield now a midfield that can pass a ball, not once did i say we need better cdms,

but for your reply other than matic neither of them are a natural CDM

we are not playing players in there natural roles hense why the cms playing in CDM are rubbish

mctominay is not a cdm he is naturally a box to box, although in the younger day he's was a CF. he is not a cdm he doesn't have the footballing brain to play that role he isn't a clever player, he gets stuck in and runs about but he is miles better further up.

can someone explain to me what fred is? shappy?

matic has no legs he shouldn't be in the team but has to becuase we have no one else.

7.) 17 Jan 2022
17 Jan 2022 13:29:12
Cant agree Bolger. a top DM shielding our back 4 would be a huge improvement- a kante / ndidi winning the ball or going to the ball 15 yards further up the pitch and laying it off simply for us to start an attack . its what we are crying out for. Rice and Soucek at WHU have got it down to a fine art this season.

8.) 17 Jan 2022
17 Jan 2022 13:37:24
Bolger, in both the 4231 under Ole and the 4222 under RR Matic, Fred and McTominay have played in the CDM roles.

You then clearly say "all 3 are nowhere near good enough for a team wanting to be in the UCL".

Which is pretty categorical from you that you don't think we have any players capable of playing in the CDM role that is good enough.

You then rightly go on to say that Matic is the only natural CDM we have, and that McTominay and Fred better suit a box to box role.

Further highlighting the need for a new CDM who is an expert in such a role and who has the legs to take over from Matic.

Fred is a box to box player, his positioning is terrible, but his speed and defensive work is great. You don't want him on the ball too often. His best role is being given the freedom to charge around and win the ball back all over midfield then to play a short pass quickly once he had one it.

For me we look at our best for the first 45-60 minutes when Matic plays. But he doesn't have the stamina anymore to last longer than that. Yet while he is on the pitch and not exhausted we look far more balanced and in control, with less of a threat of being countered.

That for me is why we need a new CDM.