He is not as good as Wessi. Look at it differently. Recent games have shown that Lambo

wants to have Wes in the diamond or as supporting striker for all or part of just about every game lately.

But he is NOT the biggest or strongest, and he is the only one up to doing that job to the standard where using the formation(s) is actually effective, especially with quick effect if it is for the last half an hour or so.

Bringing in Howson would 1) as Jackson's Twelfth argues give Crofts some competition on the right in the diamond (assuming Benno would be there in a flat 4-4-2) and also allow him to play the way he wants with Wes more often and be less f**ked should Wes ever get injured. He can then also start with one of them and bring the other on if the other is flagging or not having a great game without being forced to change formation.

Think it is a good move BUT I also think we need a really solid holding midfielder, a backup keeper

Striker wise I'd go with what we have unless there was a Demba Ba out there for less than 5m and wages under 30k, or unless we have a punt at Jordan Rhodes just to get him in ahead of other clubs. Which is unlikely. We've got the workhorse Morison, we've got the bruiser Holt, we've got the pacier poacher Jackson and, hopefully, before long also the technique and pace of Vaughan coming in. And they seem to be doing OK so far.

We just need to retain possession more often in midfield and as has often been said, if we don't have Fox or Wes on the pitch, we have had trouble doing that. So at the moment if say Lambo wanted to run a counter attacking formation with Crofts and Johnson in front of the defence instead of Fox, then we'd be f**ked if Wes was injured.

I think that is the key. Not that Wes needs to be replaced but that Lambo is making sure he has all the pieces of the jigsaw to be able to choose the tactic he wants when he feels we need it without being restricted by the squad. I know from experience as a sports coach how frustrating it is when you know precisely how to defeat a really good team but one individual who can provide one key ingredient is not available and the alternatives are simply the wrong kind of player for it, so you have to use a different tactic.

Posted By: Steve in Holland, Jan 18, 10:35:53