99 Problems But The Midfield Isn't One

Last Sunday was laying on the couch dying from self-abuse on the Saturday night. While doing the hungover channel hop I came across “Madrid” a film about the galacticos on ESPN Classic. Now the blurb said a fascinating insight into the world of the worlds biggest club Real Madrid.

All it really showed you was Raul on the treatment table and them joking around in training. One of the games in training was hitting a dead ball from near the corner flag off the far post into the net. In the group doing it were Zizou, Fat Ronnie, Boaby Carlos and our Tommy Gravesen.

Zizou 1st up and missed. Fat Ronnie hit the bar, Boaby Carlos kills a Japanese tourist and our Tommy strolls up pings the ball perfectly off the inside of the post into the back of the net.

So what type of player are we getting? Is it a combative defensive “eat your weans, dug and wife for breakfast” type midfielder or an attacking replacement for the sulky Bulgur? And how will he fit in to what is an already over crowded midfield?

After our dealings this summer we now have 10 midfielders. Jaroisk, Nakamura, Gravesen, Lennon, Sno, Pearson, Thompson, Rioirdon, Maloney and McGeady. If you add other 1st team squad members Ferry and Grant, maybe Quinn, then we have more midfielders than spurs.

So how do we fit them all in? Last Saturday I was dreaming of a combination of Tommy G, Stan and Jaro with a.n. Other in the middle of the park as I was sure MON didn’t have the dimes to purchase him. That midfield for me was a dream.

Have said on this site, no matter how often Lenny states GS told him he has a big role to play, a bit part role and more instances like Tynecastle where Neil will find himself on the bench will be the norm. He will get dusted down for battle games and left out in the wide-open flowing games that happen at CP.

Tommy G according to David Moyes and Evertonians is an attacking midfielder who played for Hamburg, Real Madrid and Denmark as a defensive midfielder. Jaro played as a wide man, defensive midfielder and an attacking midfielder for CSKA and Chelski.

We have paid big money for both of these players so in the most instance they will play and could we see them swapping roles in a dynamic midfield that when one goes the other sits? Both can play, both are comfortable on the ball and have more creativity than Lenny. Both seem more flexible than Lenny so both will play more than Lenny.

Pearo having come back into the managers good books, could be the biggest loser in the signing of Tommy G. Having seen an opportunity with Stan leaving he was probably hoping that the who ha surrounding the supposed failed medical was true and a run in the team was on the cards.

Having impressed over the last few weeks the 21st century Burns could find himself an utility bit part, filling in wide left when Naka doesn’t fancy it or late sub when Tommy G or Jaro fancy a rest.

Our wide midfielders must also be a bit worried about GS plans. I mean he could play 3 centre midfielders and a player in the hole behind the front 2 or more in likely force one of the central midfielders, would be Jaro, to play wide.

Not our favoured option as it unbalances the team, but big names, big money means bigger huffs when they are not playing.

With Aiden the only wide player who ‘s performances so far make him a stick on start, then Naka, Shaun and the missing Rioirdon could find themselves up beside me in the stand more often than not.

The midfield options are suited to what I believe will be our CL 4-5-1 formation. Domestically some are going to be disappointed as it might be horses for courses and they may find themselves left out when they don’t want to be. But if GS does this and rotates the engine room, I fully expect disjointed performances to follow.

GS has given himself a massive dilemma, albeit a good one to have, and also will leave himself open to all sorts of abuse if his team selections fall sort of the now over expectant targets. In the coming months all you will hear is this one should have played, that one should have played etc.

If only at the moment we had those abundance of choices in defence. We have Kennedy and Balde to come back but we only have 3 fullbacks and one of them is Paul Telfer.

Up front Jvoh and Magic are stick on starters, with Miller and The Beats deputies. Even then we can also shove wee Maloney, McGeady and Rioirdon into forward roles if needed.

I said earlier that I believe this is the strongest squad we have had in years, maybe not the strongest 1st team, but the squad is about all of the same quality. GS will need to prove he has the coaching ability and decision-making ability to gel them together.

Big few months ahead………..

Hail Hail

KevinG