Whitts Role? Attack?

Im just wondering what people think whitts best role is in this 433 system? And do people think he will be better for the team and capable of being an attacking midfielder rather than a defensive midfielder?

For me he isnt a defensive midfielder as he lacks the energy defensive and battling qualities required for that position and he is wasted playing so far back, i would like to see him play further up the field where he can affect the game and create the chances we are lacking. If he was further up the pitch he could thread clever balls through with his passing ability to help fashion out chances, he could cross balls into the box for lambert to get on the end of and also he could shoot from in and around the box and chip in with goals hes got a good shot as we know so hes capable of that. My only concern though for whitts playing in a more advanced midfield role though is that he is a bit too slow and dosent seem to like to dribble with the ball??

Opinions?

I think Whitts at the tip of the 3 with O Keefe and Gunnar or Huws sitting behind him giving him freedom.

It's an interesting question posed as Whitts has played 3 notable positions in his career, DM, AMC + LW

Perhaps I could make the case for Whitts to play up top left in a 433 He's prob the best crosser of a ball, Becks wasn't quick but could whip in great balls into the box. We need to start giving Lambert a chance!

Im just wondering what people think whitts best role is in this 433 system? And do people think he will be better for the team and capable of being an attacking midfielder rather than a defensive midfielder?

For me he isnt a defensive midfielder as he lacks the energy defensive and battling qualities required for that position and he is wasted playing so far back, i would like to see him play further up the field where he can affect the game and create the chances we are lacking. If he was further up the pitch he could thread clever balls through with his passing ability to help fashion out chances, he could cross balls into the box for lambert to get on the end of and also he could shoot from in and around the box and chip in with goals hes got a good shot as we know so hes capable of that. My only concern though for whitts playing in a more advanced midfield role though is that he is a bit too slow and dosent seem to like to dribble with the ball??

Opinions?

I agree with this; I've long thought that a succession of managers haven't got the best from him by playing him so deep. He is the best passer of a ball and should be play further up to give us that creativity on tight spaces, or to deliver the ball into the box which we do far too infrequently. The couple of seasons where he was finding Chopra etc for fun, showed his ability and his goal scoring season showed he is more than just a set piece scorer - i would love to see him in the opposition penalty area much more as given chances, he can score.

I have always assumed that they likes of Gunner and Ralls are playing further forward as they are ball winners and therefore the aim being to win the ball higher up the pitch; but we just don't press high or quickly enough and so nothing is functioing.

It's an interesting question posed as Whitts has played 3 notable positions in his career, DM, AMC + LW

Perhaps I could make the case for Whitts to play up top left in a 433 He's prob the best crosser of a ball, Becks wasn't quick but could whip in great balls into the box. We need to start giving Lambert a chance!

No way can whitts play on the left up top in a 3. I see your point of delivering quality crosses but thats all, he would be shocking in other aspects in that position, no pace dosent like to dribble with the ball and would offer no support in linking up with lambert

It's an interesting question posed as Whitts has played 3 notable positions in his career, DM, AMC + LW

Perhaps I could make the case for Whitts to play up top left in a 433 He's prob the best crosser of a ball, Becks wasn't quick but could whip in great balls into the box. We need to start giving Lambert a chance!

No way can whitts play on the left up top in a 3. I see your point of delivering quality crosses but thats all, he would be shocking in other aspects in that position, no pace dosent like to dribble with the ball and would offer no support in linking up with lambert

I have to agree, I couldn't possibly try to counter that as it's all true. He has played LW in 442 in his younger years but that's about it. just leaves the choices of the midfield 3

It's an interesting question posed as Whitts has played 3 notable positions in his career, DM, AMC + LW

Perhaps I could make the case for Whitts to play up top left in a 433 He's prob the best crosser of a ball, Becks wasn't quick but could whip in great balls into the box. We need to start giving Lambert a chance!

No way can whitts play on the left up top in a 3. I see your point of delivering quality crosses but thats all, he would be shocking in other aspects in that position, no pace dosent like to dribble with the ball and would offer no support in linking up with lambert

I have to agree, I couldn't possibly try to counter that as it's all true. He has played LW in 442 in his younger years but that's about it. just leaves the choices of the midfield 3

If he was further upfield in a more attacking midfield role he could deliver them crosses and play in good balls for lambert as you said but when hes sat deep for 90 minutes its just a waste imo

It's an interesting question posed as Whitts has played 3 notable positions in his career, DM, AMC + LW

Perhaps I could make the case for Whitts to play up top left in a 433 He's prob the best crosser of a ball, Becks wasn't quick but could whip in great balls into the box. We need to start giving Lambert a chance!

No way can whitts play on the left up top in a 3. I see your point of delivering quality crosses but thats all, he would be shocking in other aspects in that position, no pace dosent like to dribble with the ball and would offer no support in linking up with lambert

I have to agree, I couldn't possibly try to counter that as it's all true. He has played LW in 442 in his younger years but that's about it. just leaves the choices of the midfield 3

If he was further upfield in a more attacking midfield role he could deliver them crosses and play in good balls for lambert as you said but when hes sat deep for 90 minutes its just a waste imo

I have to be totally honest, I was disappointed with the way he played in our Premiership season. I didn't think he took control of any game and didn't pass the ball anywhere near his capability. If anything, I thought he relied heavily on Medel to do his job for him as a deep lying playmaker. I thought Medel was criminally overworked by being asked to win the ball and dictate play.

Anyway, what's all this got to do with the question? Well, I still don't think Whitts is taking control of games as a DMC, although against Leeds he did play some forward balls and looked one of our better players. I wonder what Whitts would say if you asked him where he plays best?

To end this on a positive note, he is still one of the best players at the club, his set-piece deliveries last season got loads of points for the team

When Malky played with Whitts in the deeper role in his first season I always remember he had a freer role and would roam a lot more. It was as the second season wore on that he started to get sea sick when he left the safety of the "D" to the center circle, soon after teams put a marker on him and killed our supply.

The problem for me is the anchor that weighs him to that position since malkys early days.

In relation to the premier league season we needed that real DM because we were always going to be on the back foot and lets face Medel was the closest thing we have ever had to a world class player (rambo turned into one at Arsenal) so it was never going to be Whitts to take over the game.

I would tell him to roam a lot more and try to get ahead of the CM's if needed.

Agree, I'd like to see him further forward closer to Lambert with a bit of freedom.

Agree, I'd like to see him further forward closer to Lambert with a bit of freedom.

Yes tell gunnars to sit and let whitts roam and create further up the field, id also like immers as the other centre midfield bursting up field getting up to support lambert and gettin some goals for us

Not as a fkin sweeper like he has been pretty much for 4 years.

He needs an electric tag on him that if he sits by Connolly we can press a buzzer to shock him. Get up behind strikers in attacking midfield so he can get close enough to shoot! Hes a waste of space holding midfield

No he's too slow now to play further up the pitch, his best days are 4-5 years behind him.

Im just wondering what people think whitts best role is in this 433 system? And do people think he will be better for the team and capable of being an attacking midfielder rather than a defensive midfielder?

For me he isnt a defensive midfielder as he lacks the energy defensive and battling qualities required for that position and he is wasted playing so far back, i would like to see him play further up the field where he can affect the game and create the chances we are lacking. If he was further up the pitch he could thread clever balls through with his passing ability to help fashion out chances, he could cross balls into the box for lambert to get on the end of and also he could shoot from in and around the box and chip in with goals hes got a good shot as we know so hes capable of that. My only concern though for whitts playing in a more advanced midfield role though is that he is a bit too slow and dosent seem to like to dribble with the ball??

Opinions?

I think he's over the hill, far too slow! As soon as he gets the ball he passes it like a hot potato without ever taking a chance on goal.

I'd like to see him tried as the attacking midfielder. With confidence he's the one midfielder who could be a regular goal scorer. He could also unlock defences with clever passing and free our pacy wide men should Trollope play both Noone and Harris on the correct sides (unlike last week). He also wouldn't be the defensive liability he sometime is if he's not asked to track back.

I'd have him on the left of a diamond or midfield 3. I would have him as a CAM as he has no pace and trickery. His strengths lie in his passing and crossing.

I'd have him on the left of a diamond or midfield 3. I would have him as a CAM as he has no pace and trickery. His strengths lie in his passing and crossing.

If we play 433 i agree thats his best role. But he must be told and make sure he plays like an AMC get himself forward and play in the same role david silva does for man city, whitts obviously not as good as silva but hes like a championship version. On the same note playing whitts deep then is the same as pep playing silva as a defenesive midfielder just sitting deep he would never do that because its a pointless excersise, sort it out today now trollope.