16 Jul 2026 19:38:38
The club need a proper 6. I'm not particularly interesting in the attackers we'll sign.
You need a midfield to supply them. This means having the ball, not being overran and outwitted. Anderson would have been perfect in another timeline.
Iriola can't transform that midfield with what's available. I hope we buy an engine with bite. Has to be done.
16 Jul 2026 20:28:26
This team is in trouble next season.
So many holes -.
16 Jul 2026 20:31:08
I think midfield gets neglected again, regrettably, and it will be costly again.
16 Jul 2026 21:00:34
The midfield was all at sea last season because of poor tactics. Yes, there will be players who could have stood up and shown more fight, and they are not the most defensively minded; however, that midfield won the league the season before. I think under AI we will attack and defend as a team.
I do think we missed a trick not signing Gomes, but I do believe Grav can be an effective 6 with the right coaching. I also have high hopes for MacConnell. The midfield is unbalanced but not the biggest weakness of our squad in my eyes.
16 Jul 2026 21:22:42
Personally, don't think Gravenberch has the minerals to be a proper number 6 and McConnell is nowhere near the quality needed. No amount of coaching is going to turn either of them into a top class defensive midfielder. You can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear. We have a weak, soft, tackle shy group of midfielders who lack the heart or muscle for a fight. The fact that we won the league 14 months ago is completely irrelevant. It's no more relevant than the argument that we didn't need to bring in a midfielder before the 22/23 season because "that midfield nearly won the quadruple", it was a crap argument then and a crap argument now.
Football doesn't stand still, and teams who stand still fall behind. Any one of Curtis Jones, Mac Allister or Endo are easily replaceable and improved on. Fact remains we've never adequately replaced Fabinho, we won't do it this summer either.
17 Jul 2026 07:48:30
VV, I think it is relevant, it shows that they can get the balance right and be an effective midfield. Yes, elite sport is always moving forward. AI is a coach known for getting the most out of his players, with the exception of Szob, every single player has regressed under Slot. Let's have faith in the new coach and players.
I loved Fabinho and you talk about football moving forwards, well part of that has seen a shift away from out and out 6s and having focus more on ball playing midfielders.
It is ok for us to have a different opinion, but you speak in such a matter of fact and dismissive tone, like no other opinion is valid.
17 Jul 2026 09:59:41
Spot on, @Man. It is all about balance. When Grav was in the 6 in the No. 20 season, the way he played it alongside Szobo gave the team balance and was very effective, if not flashy.
Everyone struggled under the system deployed last season, so like you say, we have a manager who will play to the players' strengths and, hopefully, the buy-in will be there from all parties and then, we can judge these players correctly.
As for No. 6's, Fab was a true world class baller who could break up play and create. He could provide assists and score goals. They don't make them like him anymore in his pomp. The 6 position has evolved so we have to evolve with it.
17 Jul 2026 10:38:00
Rodri?