[Archived] Ideal Midfielder for Rovers

[RovertheHill]

Over the years some of my favourite players for Rovers have been central midfielders, for different reasons

Sherwood, Flitcroft, Bohinen, Dunn (first time round), McKinlay and my absolute favourite Tugay

We've needed a great central midfielder for years now. If you were in charge, who, realistically, would you choose?

[Tom]

Krancaar for me, I would have said Stephen Ireland in the summer though.

[bazza]

I've wanted Rovers to sign Scott Parker for years: ever since he was at Charlton.

[Kelbo]

I agree with much here,for me for sheer creativity, Berkavic operating behind the striker, he would thread balls through and create something from nothing, I am hoping the two new lads can do something like this, however, my biggest fear, after watching Barca the other night, Rochinas speed of thought, passing and movement may be too quick for some of our players, yet again, he may be wonderful with Kalinic!

Yes, I do know Rochina is a striker, but so is Messi.

[47er]

I agree with much here,for me for sheer creativity, Berkavic operating behind the striker, he would thread balls through and create something from nothing, I am hoping the two new lads can do something like this, however, my biggest fear, after watching Barca the other night, Rochinas speed of thought, passing and movement may be too quick for some of our players, yet again, he may be wonderful with Kalinic!

Yes, I do know Rochina is a striker, but so is Messi.

Bentley.

[bazza]

I agree, having watched the moving triangles of Barca players. I think Rochina will find there is no-one fast enough in thought or movement for him.

It will be interesting to see if he and Formica can raise the standard of play of the others.

I suspect that the two will be dragged down to the lower level by the rest.

[chaddyrovers]

The best misfield player we had at the club is Tugay during my lifetime of supporting rovers. I wanted us to sign Bentley or Ireland in the summer to add to the team some creativity to the side but Big Sam wasn't allow to.

Hopefully we got a good midfield player in Formica. Hopefully he can become the new Tugay but they are big shoes to fill.

[BPF]

I'm loving the belief that Formica will be up to Barcelona's standard of play and forward thinking.

Let's see him in the Premiership first...

[chaddyrovers]

I'm loving the belief that Formica will be up to Barcelona's standard of play and forward thinking.

Let's see him in the Premiership first...

I would agree with this. Think Formica was the back up option for us not getting Charlie Adam.

I wouldn't us putting a bid in for Dorrans of WBA. Always played well when I see him.

We need Steve Kean to settle on a way he wants to play and a formation thats suits the players we've got.

[Kelbo]

I would agree with this. Think Formica was the back up option for us not getting Charlie Adam.

I wouldn't us putting a bid in for Dorrans of WBA. Always played well when I see him.

We need Steve Kean to settle on a way he wants to play and a formation thats suits the players we've got.

And he must istill discipline so we retain our shape, at the moment we have no shape, thats why we are conceding so many goals and the defence are so exposed.

[bennyboyt11]

I'd rather see the deadwood removed first, Grella especially.

[Kelbo]

I would agree with this. Think Formica was the back up option for us not getting Charlie Adam.

I wouldn't us putting a bid in for Dorrans of WBA. Always played well when I see him.

We need Steve Kean to settle on a way he wants to play and a formation thats suits the players we've got.

And he must instill discipline so we retain our shape, at the moment we have no shape, thats why we are conceding so many goals and the defence are so exposed.

[LeChuck]

And he must instill discipline so we retain our shape, at the moment we have no shape, thats why we are conceding so many goals and the defence are so exposed.

The worst thing is that it doesn't even help us attack, since we have no width we really struggle to keep possession and trouble defences from open play.

[tonyoz]

Just been reading "The Ultimate Blackburn Rovers Player" in the LT:

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/blackburnrovers/news/8854627.The_ultimate_Blackburn_Rovers_player/?ref=rss

I swear that the final mannequin, put together from all Rovers heroes in the past, looks just like Keith. Check it out!

[Guest linganzi]

Matteau couradeaur who is now at,Monaco could without a doubt at a prem club become the best midfielder in Europe

My favourite rovers mids I've seen are lars boheinen and Robbie slater.

[dingles staying down 4ever]

We have the complete midfielder already.......................

Keith Andrews

End of discussion

[Kelbo]

I'm loving the belief that Formica will be up to Barcelona's standard of play and forward thinking.

Let's see him in the Premiership first...

I watched Berbatov last year at Man U and many of his team mates couldnt read his game, his thinking was too quick for them at times and didnt look really top player, he does now though, I have played with players who were decent on the ball but simply hadnt the speed of thought to anticipate the where the ball was going to be played.

[Lathund]

When considering this I think it's worth looking at who he'll play alongside. For instance, you wouldn't want a 3-man midfield with, say, Mascherano, Makelele and Diarra. As good as those players are, and as solid you'd be defensively, it wouldn't be a good midfield.

So looking at 2-man midfields there are various combos that, IMO, work; defensive/attacking, defensive x2 (With very attacking wide players), box-to-box x2 etc. But the one I'd like to see is the return of a Tugay/Savage partnership. One creative deep-lying playmaker with great passing ability; a Tugay, Pirlo, Alonso, Carrick type of player. And one who is primarily defensive, but not a holiding player or anchor man. Someone with a great engine who closes down players and does a lot of running. A Savage or Gattuso.

It's a bit unorthodox; a defensive midfielder positionally with an attacking mentality, and a central midfielder positionally with a defensive mentality, but I like the synergy it gives. The deep-lying playmaker is in a position where he sees a lot of the ball, which results in keeping possession better. And even if his job isn't primarily defensive, he's in a position where he protects the back four regardless. In defense he sits back and denies space in front of the defense, while the other guy attacks the ball.

It's also a partnership that works with a 3-man midfield. You can add a box-to-box midfielder or an attacking midfielder to that no problem. Although if both full backs are going to be very attacking, you'd want two sitting midfielders. But in most situations it works.

J. Jones looks like he could do the Savage type role, but sadly we don't have a Tugay. Don't really know who we could get for that... been talk about Huddlestone in every window since Tugay retired, but he seems like another Luca Toni. Seems like we were looking at someone similar in that Romeu kid from Barca tho, although I believe that was going to be a loan. But I'm convinced it's what we should be looking for. The style Kean wants to use requires us to have more possession than we do, and central midfield is vital to that.

[thenodrog]

Can I be greedy and have two? From this seasons evidence Jack Wilshire and Scott Parker.

[Kelbo]

When considering this I think it's worth looking at who he'll play alongside. For instance, you wouldn't want a 3-man midfield with, say, Mascherano, Makelele and Diarra. As good as those players are, and as solid you'd be defensively, it wouldn't be a good midfield.

So looking at 2-man midfields there are various combos that, IMO, work; defensive/attacking, defensive x2 (With very attacking wide players), box-to-box x2 etc. But the one I'd like to see is the return of a Tugay/Savage partnership. One creative deep-lying playmaker with great passing ability; a Tugay, Pirlo, Alonso, Carrick type of player. And one who is primarily defensive, but not a holiding player or anchor man. Someone with a great engine who closes down players and does a lot of running. A Savage or Gattuso.

It's a bit unorthodox; a defensive midfielder positionally with an attacking mentality, and a central midfielder positionally with a defensive mentality, but I like the synergy it gives. The deep-lying playmaker is in a position where he sees a lot of the ball, which results in keeping possession better. And even if his job isn't primarily defensive, he's in a position where he protects the back four regardless. In defense he sits back and denies space in front of the defense, while the other guy attacks the ball.

It's also a partnership that works with a 3-man midfield. You can add a box-to-box midfielder or an attacking midfielder to that no problem. Although if both full backs are going to be very attacking, you'd want two sitting midfielders. But in most situations it works.

J. Jones looks like he could do the Savage type role, but sadly we don't have a Tugay. Don't really know who we could get for that... been talk about Huddlestone in every window since Tugay retired, but he seems like another Luca Toni. Seems like we were looking at someone similar in that Romeu kid from Barca tho, although I believe that was going to be a loan. But I'm convinced it's what we should be looking for. The style Kean wants to use requires us to have more possession than we do, and central midfield is vital to that.

I think you are correct here Lathund, we have got to have the correct balance, without that it would be difficult to say just who would be the ideal midfielder, personally, a real box to box player who can drive a game would be my choice, not many around though.

[RibbleValleyRover]

Bentley would be great, but we all know that. He who must not be named (Barton) would fit in well in terms of his skills on the pitch. O'Hara looked a decent player but that was before back injuries and I'm not sure he would venture this far up north. Another one perhaps not mentioned much is David Vaughan at Blackpool, very underrated and looks a real all round midfielder.

[AJW]

Darron Gibson , young , british ,international, good footballer , reallistcally in rovers price bracket and not a guaranteed starter for uutd

[Stuart]

With our flanks all but sorted, we need a permanent holding midfielder and an attacking midfielder to improve our team. I would say Scott Parker and Tim Cahill would be great additions although likely to be beyond our budget (and the scope of Venky's marketing strategy). Here's hoping Formica and Rochina come good!

I was surprised by who was the 6th best PL midfielder though (and 15th best player overall), according to the EA sports rankings.

http://www.premierleague.com/page/Top10Midfielders/0,,12306,00.html

[Amo]

Yup, Scotty Parker, for me. Wholehearted, box-to-box midfielder. Out of our league, one would think.

[chocky]

Make a bid for Scott Parker if West Ham go down..