My view is that midfield is what really matters

A great midfield makes average strikers look incredible, as they create high quality chances and pose their own goal threat, which making average defenders look good by offering great protection to them and using the ball well, relieving pressure etc.

If I compare our squad today with our squad under Farke, it's midfield that screams out as being s**te now in comparison. Maybe the defenders were a little better, and Pukki maybe a bit better than Sarge, but the real standout difference is the quality of Buendia, Leitner, Vrancic, Stiepermann and even Trybull, and in the next championship season, Skipp and Cantwell. McLean seems to be the best CM we have at receiving the ball from the defence, yet he was more or less the worst at that back then.

That midfield is miles and miles ahead of what we have now. And it isn't even as if we seem to have added solidity - not sure I'd say our current midfield is more robust than the technically brilliant one Farke gave us (in fact I'm sure that I wouldn't say it is)

Posted By: SimonOTBC on September 22nd 2025 at 13:36:19

Message Thread

The defending for their goals (NCFC) - Jim, Sep 22, 10:17:31
- Medic in midfield? That would be hilarious (NCFC) - delia_s, Sep 22, 15:53:23
- there wasn't any defending...especially 2nd half. (n/m) (NCFC) - Goosebumps, Sep 22, 10:57:39
- Point on Medic is odd ? He’s only played midfield a handful… (NCFC) - loz, Sep 22, 10:43:04
  - I thought I read he was originally a defensive midfielder? Well if he’s always been a CB (NCFC) - Jim, Sep 22, 11:04:08
  - I think if he had been in midfield, Jim would have said he is clearly a (NCFC) - Legacy Fan, Sep 22, 10:49:09
    - Defenders being asked to link the play but nothing happening ahead of them… (NCFC) - loz, Sep 22, 10:54:45
      - I thought Matteson got better as the game went on but an clear problem we've had in (NCFC) - Jim, Sep 22, 11:23:58
        
        Yep nail on head … (NCFC) - loz, Sep 22, 11:30:03
        
        I don't think Manning is stubborn (NCFC) - 51eve, Sep 22, 11:34:29
        
        Ha! (NCFC) - Ken Dodds Dads Dog, Sep 22, 11:39:12
- 23rd worst team in the league defensively based on chances conceded … (NCFC) - loz, Sep 22, 10:42:06
  - The issue is in midfield (NCFC) - SimonOTBC, Sep 22, 11:17:01
    - The issue is in defense, midfield and attack.....oh wait ,that's everything. (n/m) (NCFC) - MORDENCANARY, Sep 22, 11:41:30
      - My view is that midfield is what really matters (NCFC) - SimonOTBC, Sep 22, 13:36:19
        
        Skipp and Kenny were superb at shielding the defence (NCFC) - jamesward, Sep 22, 13:40:43
        
        Most well-drilled season I can remember. Always knew where each player would be. (NCFC) - JD3, Sep 22, 14:18:30
        
        Yes, and that's THE problem IMO (NCFC) - SimonOTBC, Sep 22, 13:51:24
        
        Part of the problem is that Emi, Stiepi/Vrancic and Cantwell (NCFC) - jamesward, Sep 22, 14:02:43
        
        Yes, I'm sure there are issues with how we set up from a tactical perspective... (NCFC) - SimonOTBC, Sep 22, 14:09:17
        
        So in summary (NCFC) - jamesward, Sep 22, 14:11:23
        
        Maybe....I'm not sure we know just yet! (NCFC) - SimonOTBC, Sep 22, 14:12:40
    - And Duffy and McConville are no quicker than Medic (NCFC) - jamesward, Sep 22, 11:24:50
    - Agreed (mostlY) - there is too much last ditch defending as we can't control games (n/m) (NCFC) - Jim, Sep 22, 11:24:44
  - The keeper and Darling have papered over some major cracks (n/m) (NCFC) - Jim, Sep 22, 11:04:47

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