Mcphail & Whitts - Could be pivotal under Mackay

Mcphail especially...I think MM would have him in his thoughts as one of his midfield diamonds - technically hes exactly what MM will like, he would view Whitts in the same way as well in this respect.

Although I think you might see the pair of them raise their game to another level under MM's management style and the practices he'll focus on.

We're all going to be in for a treat when we watch us play the MM way

Headlines... "McPhail stars in 3-0 thrashing of West Ham at Upton Park"

Headlines... "McPhail stars in 3-0 thrashing of West Ham at Upton Park"

...in which Earnie grabs a brace and Bellers the final goal

McPhail is Divison one at best. Get Rid for heavens sake!!!!

I disagree, technically the fella is easily Premiership material. When the remainder of the team are coached/ managed properly so our set up is condusive to free flowing attacking football (which is MM's philosophy) then you watch Macca perform - one hell of a pass on the kid

McPhail is pants. Imo.

Headlines... "McPhail stars in 3-0 thrashing of West Ham at Upton Park"

Yeah, McPhail v Nolan. Only one winner there my son.

Headlines... "McPhail stars in 3-0 thrashing of West Ham at Upton Park"

Yeah, McPhail v Nolan. Only one winner there my son.

In fainess you could probably say that about any midfielder in our division

Funny you mentioned this Jon, I thought the same thing, about McPhail at least. Not McPhail's biggest fan but I think Malky likes a passing style and will keep him because of his comfort on the ball. McPhail would be a top player for us if his passing ranged from going sideways, maybe Malky can sort him out.

McPhail struggles against the majority of his opposing Championship midfielders, we constantly get overrun and I shudder to think of the thought of McPhail trying to stop Nolan and Parker in our opening game, assuming Parker will still be there at West Ham of course!

Problem is, if it were up to DJ he's play

------GK
FB-CB-CB-FB
----CB-CB
RW--------LW
----RF-LF

He hated CM's with flair and attacking ability, imo he hated CM's full stop, ergo why he never bought any. when he played Whitts in there he was always behind Oli, same for McPhail. First round with Ramsey he wouldn't play him there, second time he had little choice.

Only time he came close was when it was Drinkwater Oli Whitts but even then DD and Oli were really defensive and whitts was still more or less behind them.

So I think if Mackay wants to play them, we should give them a chance. Tactics will be very different next year.

McPhail is class when hes allowed to express himself.

DJ kept playing him in bloody DM with Oli.

He should be playing CM.

His work rate in a few of the games this season was phenomenal and he was different class against QPR at the CCS. Closing down all the time, hounding Faurlin, Routledge and Taarabt. If it wasn't for Taarabt turning Kev too easy we'd have bagged all 3 points.

His passing ability is still there and he can control the game if hes allowed to.

the problem with DJ's systems was there was no strict CM. It was always defence to attack with no link up players in the middle. Drinkwater was this for a while and played in between Oli and the CAM and it worked a treat. You only have to look back on results to see that. Then Drinkwater got injured and it all went pear shaped. Then when Ramsey came in he was in the same position and we looked completely different again. He was slightly more advanced than Drinkwater and looked at more ease on the ball. Exactly as RFMH has said above. McPhail was always told to sit in deep with Oli.

Its like Capello putting Wilshire in CDM on a smaller scale. You have to give a player the freedom to express themselves and show what they can do. Now, a passer like Charlie Adam who specialises in long balls would be fine in CDM but not someone like McPhail.

McPhail is one of those players in my opinion that Malky will get the best out of.