17 Jun 2022 00:58:05
We don't need a midfielder this summer. There, said it.
Fabinho
Henderson
Thiago
Milner
Keita
Jones
Elliot
Morton
Carvalho can play midfield as well

that is more than strong enough to start the season and provide flexibility to cover gaps throughout the season.

1.) 17 Jun 2022
17 Jun 2022 02:32:29
I think a new midfielder is a want rather than a need. Personally I think it’s time to sell Keita and replace him but that doesn’t look like it’s going to happen so what we have should be strong enough to have another successful season.

2.) 17 Jun 2022
17 Jun 2022 05:43:55
Not a single name bar Fabinho is positional disciplined to play the holding role.
Are you seriously counting Keita and OX ???.

3.) 17 Jun 2022
17 Jun 2022 06:24:23
Ox ?, no one mentioned Ox, embarrassing as usual.

4.) 17 Jun 2022
17 Jun 2022 07:04:41
Not many goals coming from the midfielders we have lads. Teams who had success against us last season did so by stopping the front 3 and denying Tiago time to run the show. Someone like Otavio from Porto would be my pick, playing on the right of Fab would be ideal.

5.) 17 Jun 2022
17 Jun 2022 07:07:22
Champions league semi final coming up, Thiago is injured and so is Hendo, are you still just as confident with our midfield options? Taking into account Elliot, Fabio, Curtis and Morton still play at the U21 level or younger, and that our senior options with the exception of Fabinho tend to get injured pretty regularly I would say we are a little short.

6.) 17 Jun 2022
17 Jun 2022 07:33:13
There is enough depth and flexibility in that group to not make a panic buy this summer.

7.) 17 Jun 2022
17 Jun 2022 07:33:57
Jones, Elliott and Carvalho do not play u21's at club level. They've all been playing senior football for 2-3 seasons. Weird statement.

8.) 17 Jun 2022
17 Jun 2022 08:19:38
Faithworks who’s panic buying mate. The window has literally just opened and if we do buy a midfielder then it definitely won’t be because we are panicking!

9.) 17 Jun 2022
17 Jun 2022 03:31:16
Where is OX. still on our books. Ed any idea if any one seriously looking to buy him and we are not asking too much.
just for sake of his career I hope he gets a move this summer and w get some $.

{Ed002's Note - Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (CM/RW) AOC is uncomfortable with his lack of game time and options are being sought by his agent. May look to run his contract down which will open up options. WHU and Aston Villa may provide options. Newcastle may provide another as they struggle to attract players.}

10.) 17 Jun 2022
17 Jun 2022 09:12:40
Longthing - people talking like we have no midfielders and we need to just go get someone in now. I disagree. Plenty of cover and we can afford to wait to get the player we want. If they become available now then cool, but doesn’t seem to be the case. Anyways, will roll with whatever the transfer team do, but not worried about the midfield at all.

11.) 17 Jun 2022
17 Jun 2022 09:56:11
My concern about Morton is he was used to cover Fab in 2020/ 21 but rarely, if at all, in 2021/ 22.

He is the only tailor-made DMF alternative in the current squad. However, he has taken a backwards step, instead of pushing on. Maybe this is his breakthrough season?

Henderson can do a job there, so can Milly but I am not confident any of the 3 can do a job week in, week out at the business end of the season.

{Ed001's Note - no mate, it was not that he took a backwards step, it is that the desperate need for him to play there no longer existed last season. It is not actually his position, it was just an attempt to shoehorn a talent into the team where there was a gap and hope it pays off ala Trent at right-back.}

12.) 17 Jun 2022
17 Jun 2022 11:56:02
OP, I disagree. We need cover for Fab.

13.) 17 Jun 2022
17 Jun 2022 11:57:12
Everyone moaning about a lack of goals from midfield, it is by design. Our midfielders play a more disciplined and controlling role allowing freedom for full backs max wide forwards. I wonder with the introduction of Elliott and carvalho whether there will be a change to allow for more flair and forward runners from midlfield.

I think if everyone stays fit our midfield is fine, but there is an over reliance on Fabinho and Henderson for those defensive duties. We do not need to panic though. I wonder whether Jones might be tired deeper and coached into a more rounded cm?

Eds what are your thoughts on Morton…. do you think he is good enough and also able to play the DM role?

14.) 17 Jun 2022
17 Jun 2022 12:23:43
StEtienne Looking at Morton’s stats he didn’t make a single first team appearance in 20/ 21. He made 11 appearances for us in 21/ 22 mate.

15.) 17 Jun 2022
17 Jun 2022 13:52:36
If the guy we want for the midfield isn't available now, are people saying that we are so desperate to find cover for Fabinho that we should commit 10s of millions to a player we don't really want? I know it isn't as simple as that, but this is essentially the dilemma.

I suppose the other alternative is that Ward finds a way to commit funds to bring in the midfielder we want now but we all know there is less chance of that happening.

I just don't think we need to bring someone in, imo it isn't a critical gap in the squad right now.

16.) 17 Jun 2022
17 Jun 2022 14:55:10
Faith, I'm not for that either, bro. I hope we get cover for Fab and if that is not possible then, we move on and go with what we've got.

17.) 17 Jun 2022
17 Jun 2022 15:11:25
Don’t forget we’ve got Bobby, Trent and Matip that should all play In midfield ?.