Whitts was played out of position

Under Jones he played LW/LAM/CAM and he scored for fun. He was allowed to impose and create and often did. He was a natural at it and then Malky come in and thought he would turn him into a deep lying playmaker who would create and dictate play from CM/DM. Whittingham has never been a defensive minded player and at least Dave Jones understood this. He was always gifted in the final third. Asking Whittingham to play CM/DM is like asking Mata, Kagawa, Hazard, Coutinho, etc. to play there at their respective clubs. They would be vulnerable as well. These are attack minded players.

Put Whittingham in behind Jones to play off his balls or flirt around the edge of the box and he'll score again and his natural instincts will start to show through. You cant expect an attack minded player to suddenly excel defensively just because Malky thought he was the next coming of Mourinho and could mould an obvious attacking midfielder/winger into a deep lying playmaker. The stats don't lie. Ever since Malky did that Whitts stopped being so prolific. It's all there for people to see.

A technical player like Whittingham doesn't just lose that. Its just been suppressed by Malky's defensively minded approach and he needs it brought to the forefront of his game. Playing him in CM alongside Medel today was ridiculous. He's not a CM and never was. That was something Malky thought he could turn him into. Whittingham would get back to his best if played in his proper position. You cant blame him for that. He still plays out of position and doesn't moan.

Great servant to this club.

well said although too astute for most of our fans

Whittingham has played the vast amount of his career CM, admittedly not as deep but that is his natural position.

LW is certainly not his position in this league with absolutely zero pace. CAM is not his place when Mutch and Kim are both better options.

I personally don't mind him being in a middle three of Medel, Mutch and Whitts but they need 2 good wingers in Zaha/Bellamy and Noone to get the ball in attacking positions as quick as possible.

Whittingham has played the vast amount of his career CM, admittedly not as deep but that is his natural position.

LW is certainly not his position in this league with absolutely zero pace. CAM is not his place when Mutch and Kim are both better options.

I personally don't mind him being in a middle three of Medel, Mutch and Whitts but they need 2 good wingers in Zaha/Bellamy and Noone to get the ball in attacking positions as quick as possible.

No hes a CAM. He's always been attack minded. Look at Whitts under Dave Jones. Watch the season reviews and you will see and analyse them and you'll see the positions he picks up. He's never been a defensive minded player. Malky tried to make him one but that goes against his natural ability and true instincts as a player. As already said, its like asking Mata to play CM when he's better in the final third picking up clever positions and creating and scoring.

Whittingham is a central midfielder.

He never played a truly advanced roll as Jones always played a flat 442.

Today was the worst performance I've seen from him in his career. I've been defending him for the past 2 years but when he can't even do the simple things right like pass a ball 3 yards or dribble 3 yards without losing the ball then I'm sorry but it's just not good enough.

Whittingham is a central midfielder.

He never played a truly advanced roll as Jones always played a flat 442.

Today was the worst performance I've seen from him in his career. I've been defending him for the past 2 years but when he can't even do the simple things right like pass a ball 3 yards or dribble 3 yards without losing the ball then I'm sorry but it's just not good enough.

Who played alongside him in that 4-4-2?

Also, CM in a 4-4-2 is more advance than CM in a 4-2-3-1. Thats a fact.

Last edited by Green Arrow on Sat Feb 01, 2014 7:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Whittingham is a central midfielder.

He never played a truly advanced roll as Jones always played a flat 442.

Today was the worst performance I've seen from him in his career. I've been defending him for the past 2 years but when he can't even do the simple things right like pass a ball 3 yards or dribble 3 yards without losing the ball then I'm sorry but it's just not good enough.

It doesn't help when he can hear groans and boos coming from the home section does it? Put yourself in his shoes, unnecessary from our fans which puts pressure on him every game. Whitts is a confidence player and needs encouragement from us not heckles and abuse. Bellamy said even himself he was surprised at our support today. They need us to get behind them. Ole picks the team and it's up to us to get behind whoever he picks.

Jones always played him on the left.

Ole likes pace out wide so Whitts wont get a look in. Mutch is better IMO in the middle.

he was rightfully subbed as he was awful but he did not deserve the cheering as he came off.

CM in a 4-2-3-1 is the 2 in behind the 3 attacking midfielders. Whitts should be central in the 3 pronged attack with Noone right and Zaha left. We should have signed Ledley to play alongside Medel.

CM in a 4-2-3-1 is the 2 in behind the 3 attacking midfielders. Whitts should be central in the 3 pronged attack with Noone right and Zaha left. We should have signed Ledley to play alongside Medel.

Whitts in a 3 pronged attack over Kim and Mutch?

And Ledley in the middle to play alongside Medel?

You've lost the plot

How dare a guy who gets paid many thousands of pounds a week play a few feet to the right then he's used to.. :')

If you look at Jonsey's last season Olofinjana played alongside Whitts which allowed him to push forward as Olly could stand his ground, Medel is supposed to take that place but in the PL sides push forward faster and Whitts is pushed back to help out Medel but when we do have the ball there is no denying that whitts makes some good runs of and on the ball but the fact that his confidence is shot for what ever reason and his form or the fans aren't helping, imo i would just give him a break and bench him for a couple of games.

Whitts isnt quick enough or mobile enough to play CAM Mutch is a much better player

Whitts isnt quick enough or mobile enough to play CAM Mutch is a much better player

CM in a 4-2-3-1 is the 2 in behind the 3 attacking midfielders. Whitts should be central in the 3 pronged attack with Noone right and Zaha left. We should have signed Ledley to play alongside Medel.

Whitts in a 3 pronged attack over Kim and Mutch?

And Ledley in the middle to play alongside Medel?

You've lost the plot

Ledley is better than Gunnarsson without a doubt. Thats why he was playing in the CL and a regular in CL games and Gunnarsson was playing in the Championship. People slate Ledley because the SPL is mostly rubbish. He can still up his game without issue as proven by his performances in Europe.

Simply not Premiership quality. We've got some good quality midfielders now in Medel Eikrem Mutch Daehli Noone Kim and Zaha. We move on and up!