Midfield the problem

[Steven]

According to CL, midfield is the area with the most problems. From the OS.

Boss Remains Relaxed

Craig Levein says he won't be hitting the panic button despite his side's indifferent start to the campaign.

The Foxes have 12 points to their name following the opening 12 games of the season - and currently lie in 19th position in the Championship table.

But the City boss says he has seen it all before and remains confident in the fact that regardless of recent setbacks his side are very much moving in the right direction.

He said: "I am fairly relaxed during this period when things aren't going as well as they should be for us.

"I need to be relaxed to make good decisions and I can assure everybody that we are doing our utmost on the training ground to try and turn things round. I have been here before and I understand how it works. If we can get a little bit of confidence from a couple of wins then things can change very quickly.

"But I am also frustrated. We have played very well in a lot of matches and I see improvement in a lot of things, but the most important thing is picking up points. We haven't managed to pick up as many of those as we would have liked. We are very much aware of that."

And Levein pinpointed his midfield as the area he is most concerned with at this given time.

He added: "We haven't quite fired on all cylinders as yet this season in that area. There might be a number of different reasons for that, but the first thing is to get everybody fit and available to play.

"I hope then to put of a midfield which I think will have the players to score and to prevent other teams from scoring. That for me is the area that we haven't quite got right just yet."

City have no fixture this weekend due to the international break, but will be back in action on Saturday, October 15 when they take on Watford at Vicarage Road.

The Foxes then face two home games in quick succession against Burnley and Coventry.

 

[drummindefender]

the problem with the midfield is simple-we haven't got a ball winner, and if hughes if shifted out wide no real creative force. Another problem with it is if sylla doesn't turn up we have no real width either-heck theres not alot right with it :icon_eek:

 

[Brauny Blue]

The best thing imo that Leveins done since being here is to give us a young team. That aside i wouldn't object to an older player in the midfield.
There must be someone out there thats in the ' been there, done that got the t-shirt mode'. I feel that a cool head ,and someone to motivate and encourage the younger players when things ain't going so well is badly needed. When we go behind in a game it seems that both the mental and fighting spirit is not strong enough for us to turn things around.

 

[xsubmariner]

Tiatto is a problem when he plays out wide left. coz he don't stay out there. This allows the oppostion free role to run at our left back

 

[Brauny Blue]

Tiatto is a problem when he plays out wide left. coz he don't stay out there. This allows the oppostion free role to run at our left back

xsub do you remember the role Eddie Kelly played for us when Jock Wallace had a team full of youngsters. His career was practically over when he did a vital job for us in the middle. I just wonder if we need someone like that now to help bring the younger players through.

 

[PONTUS KAAMARK]

I think Hughes and Kisnorbo would be our best central pairing. Then play Sylla on the right and then if Smith continues to impress you play him on the left.

If a club came in for Williams I would let him go. He has been here for 15months and never really impressed me, hes certainly not the player that I thought he would be prior to us signing him.

 

[SilverFox]

the problem with the midfield is simple-we haven't got a ball winner, and if hughes if shifted out wide no real creative force. Another problem with it is if sylla doesn't turn up we have no real width either-heck theres not alot right with it :icon_eek:

Tiatto played the ball winner role brilliantly against Inter Milan...Why don't we continue to use him in that specific role, because he is not a winger!!!!

I might also consider dropping Williams to the bench because too easily he goes missing from games. I might consider the following (assuming all eligable)

Smith--------Hughes----Tiatto----------Sylla

With hughes getting forward, and Tiatto providing the ball winner/holding role that allows everyone else to press forward. Smith and Sylla have bags of pace and can both put in a good ball.

 

[PONTUS KAAMARK]

Its a very valid point regards Danny T. I think every fan can see it, but why not the man in charge!?! Its obvious to me and has been for about 12 months, come on CL please stop playing tiatto in the middle!

 

[PONTUS KAAMARK]

sorry that should have been 'start playing tiatto in the middle'!!!

Sorry.

 

[SilverFox]

Its a very valid point regards Danny T. I think every fan can see it, but why not the man in charge!?! Its obvious to me and has been for about 12 months, come on CL please stop playing tiatto in the middle!

You mean the left? :icon_lol:

 

[SilverFox]

sorry that should have been 'start playing tiatto in the middle'!!!

Sorry.

I think now that Levein has an out and out left sided player (of some quality) in Smith, when he is eligable you'll see Tiatto in the middle. Craig won't drop Tiatto, because when played correctly he is an important player!

The only reason IMO that Tiatto has been playing on the left is because we lack anyone else. Wilcox is too slow (although can produce some quality) and can't play full games, and Hammill isn't ready yet.

We will climb the league. Having looked at a substantial backlog of Hume's goals, he possesses the necessary striker qualities we need...pace, tenacity, a good long shot, and good goal poaching too! Elvis's pace also frightens a lot of people...he was very unlucky against the shaggers...

I'm strangely optimistic at the moment!

 

[SilverFox]

How about this for a strong side (feel free to rip it apart)

---------------------Douglas------------------------
--------McCarthy-----Dublin-------Nissa-------------
Sylla-----------------Tiatto--------------------Smith
-----------Hughes-------------Williams--------------
--------------Hume-----------Elvis------------------

Pacey wing backs in our team for a change, and bite in the middle of the park!! Hughes and Williams doing their creative thing (alternating between Joey and Williams)...with some real pace up front!

Its a different system, but lets face it, the other one hasn't set the world on fire

 

[highland fox]

How about this for a strong side (feel free to rip it apart)

---------------------Douglas------------------------
--------McCarthy-----Dublin-------Nissa-------------
Sylla-----------------Tiatto--------------------Smith
-----------Hughes-------------Williams--------------
--------------Hume-----------Elvis------------------

Pacey wing backs in our team for a change, and bite in the middle of the park!! Hughes and Williams doing their creative thing (alternating between Joey and Williams)...with some real pace up front!

Its a different system, but lets face it, the other one hasn't set the world on fire

Hughes and Williams may as well not be in it if Dublin is playing Centre Half,thy will just spend 90 minutes watching the ball sail over their heads,Gerrbrand in his place and you may have a Team but CL will play 4-4-2 whenever he can and I'd play MDV.

 

[Lboro fox]

Hughes and Williams may as well not be in it if Dublin is playing Centre Half,thy will just spend 90 minutes watching the ball sail over their heads,Gerrbrand in his place and you may have a Team but CL will play 4-4-2 whenever he can and I'd play MDV.

Also the system only works if the wingbacks can tackle a bit, those two i suspect, cannot.

 

[PFKAKTF FOX]

Nice idea Silv, but no way on earth do you want Ryan Smith as a wing back, he is an out and out winger, to be honest now we have signed Smithy I see no reason why 4-4-2 wont work my midfield would be as follows :

Sylla Gudjonsson Hughes Smith

Until Weso is fit then it would be :

Sylla Weso Hughes Smith

We have 2 out and out wingers lets use them best form of defence is attack.

 

[SilverFox]

Nice idea Silv, but no way on earth do you want Ryan Smith as a wing back, he is an out and out winger, to be honest now we have signed Smithy I see no reason why 4-4-2 wont work my midfield would be as follows :

Sylla Gudjonsson Hughes Smith

Until Weso is fit then it would be :

Sylla Weso Hughes Smith

We have 2 out and out wingers lets use them best form of defence is attack.

I suppose you are right. The only reason I was thinking 3-5-2 was so we could accomodate both Williams and Hughes in positions they are supposed to play, while getting what I believe to be the best out of tiatto...He is wasted on the left.

Smith does seem like an exciting little player though!!!

 

[Granite Fox]

I would look forward to;

Douglas

Maybury Gerrbrand Johansson Kisnorbo

Sylla Weso Hughes Smith


de Vries Hume


With a bench from:

Henderson, Williams, Stearman, Gudjohnsson, McCarthy, Hammond, Hamill, Gilbert, Sheehan, Wilcox, Dublin, Tiatto

 

[highland fox]

I would look forward to;

Douglas

Maybury Gerrbrand Johansson Kisnorbo

Sylla Weso Hughes Smith


de Vries Hume


With a bench from:

Henderson, Williams, Stearman, Gudjohnsson, McCarthy, Hammond, Hamill, Gilbert, Sheehan, Wilcox, Dublin, Tiatto

I'd run with that,not sure about the left back but I wouldn't automatically discount Kisnorbo

 

[alex]

What are our thoughts on Kisnorbo?

 

[PFKAKTF FOX]

Kisnorbo had a very good game against Derby, he is a stopper, decent tackler and fairly solid, however he certainly isnt the type of full back to bomb on and whip in quality crossess and plus he is right footed and so when he plays on the left, he has to cut inside alot so we tend to lose width and momentum when attacking down that side. Overall IMO he will be a decent squad player who will provide adequate cover in a variety of positions and he will always give 100% and he wont let anybody down.