the need for a decent midfielder

[jordan12rhodes]

He was a special talent but better than the master?not so sure saxo but will agree it was close

I did say 'for me'..

I always considered tugay a defensive liability, Cowan's wasn't. That's my reasoning.

[Despair]

He was a special talent but better than the master?not so sure saxo but will agree it was close

I did say 'for me'..

I always considered tugay a defensive liability, Cowan's wasn't. That's my reasoning.[/quote]

Can see where the reasoning is with this. Gordon's inclusion into our ranks was a real bonus, him being a 'old fashioned' dedicated pro. He was a joy to watch, and as said he commanded the centre of the park in distribution terms and his share of closing down/ball winning.
Tugay was probably more naturally gifted, but not so much so in his 'defensive' qualities unlike Gordon.
These kind of guys only come around once in a while so when they pitch up at our club they should be (and are) savoured.
We can only dream of PL unearthing another GC at this point in time, and that is what it will probably stay.

[robinrover]

Maybe with a reliable performance centrally we might move away from the long ball tactics
let's be honest
Evans goes missing regularly
Williamson is just not quick enough anymore or accurate
Guthrie is injured or not at the races
Lowe,lenihan and akpan all do similar jobs and it isn't a supply for our forwards that's for sure.

[jordan12rhodes]

A bit off the point maybe but interesting to note that the football under Sam was deemed all long ball, yet David dunn probably displayed his best form in a rovers shirt during that time in an attacking midfield role.

[AucklandRover]

I'm with Despair on this. I simply don't know how we will find another Cowans/Tugay/Dunn - or come to that, a Flitcroft/JJ type. Paul Lambert has brought in a couple of players he has had in his teams before, hoping they can recapture their old form. I can understand this, because he probably still doesn't have much money at his disposal. And, presumably, none of the youngsters are so good that they can't be ignored.
Perhaps we are going to have to look at the lower Divisions - either in the UK or abroad - and try to spot someone who is beneath the radar.
Hard to see how that is likely, though. The alternative is another Danny Murphy - but one that clicks!!!
Bit gloomy, really.

[needle]

Lenihan has to be given his chance . Looks good on he ball , a good athlete and has he has proved when playing CB a strong physical presence .

[robinrover]

The burning question is needle would he be the creative influence in the centre?
We have too many defensive midfielders but not enough who can create
lenihan
akpan
Williamson
Lowe
to some degree Guthrie
that leaves only Evans who can drive forward however as discussed earlier he is far too inconsistent.

[AucklandRover]

The burning question is needle would he be the creative influence in the centre?
We have too many defensive midfielders but not enough who can create
lenihan
akpan
Williamson
Lowe
to some degree Guthrie
that leaves only Evans who can drive forward however as discussed earlier he is far too inconsistent.

Of course, the other ATTACKING midfielder we have is John O'Sullivan, but he is constantly out on loan, and it is beginning to look as if the Club doesn't think he is going to make it at Championship level.

[robinrover]

Wow forgot about him aucks
I really rate him however I think you are right his chances are becoming less and less we have also forgotten Tomlinson who also is being talked about highly.

[AucklandRover]

I think it's really odd that all our recent managers have valued experience above talent.
Obviously, you don't want to field half a dozen teenagers, but lots of the players signed to play BECAUSE OF their experience have been mediocre.
You'd think the occasional risk could be taken with one of the youngsters, and, in actual fact, O'Sullivan has probably had more first-team experience in the last than year than some of our signings, anyway - just not with US!!!