MIDFIELD OUR WEAKEST LINK.

We are not dominating the midfield so our control of the game is struggling, wintle I feel was missed today, he is not top notch, but looks far more comfortable than turnbull, who always looks like he is in panic mode and cannot shift the ball away quick enough,

We have Robertson who is been very unprofessional and not even playing any minutes for the first team this season as he seems to not be stepping up in training how unprofessional, and he is payed every week by the club I would try and bring in mafico slowly as an alternative .
Joe colwill was very off colour today in the middle.
I hope we can get to january and make midfield the first place to recruit a ring master and a full blooded gunarrsson or a gary medel.

We are not dominating the midfield so our control of the game is struggling, wintle I feel was missed today, he is not top notch, but looks far more comfortable than turnbull, who always looks like he is in panic mode and cannot shift the ball away quick enough,

We have Robertson who is been very unprofessional and not even playing any minutes for the first team this season as he seems to not be stepping up in training how unprofessional, and he is payed every week by the club I would try and bring in mafico slowly as an alternative .
Joe colwill was very off colour today in the middle.
I hope we can get to january and make midfield the first place to recruit a ring master and a full blooded gunarrsson or a gary medel.

I thought both Colwill were poor today with Joel being pretty much non existent. IMO he’s struggled in the last 2-3 games. We desperately need a quality central midfielder come January.

The whole midfield struggled today, I'd include both Colwills in that.

Turnbull has failed to impress me for the majority of this season so far.

I agree that we missed Wintle, he does the simple stuff well.

The Robertson situation is very frustrating as he would improve our midfield without a doubt I just hope the whole saga gets put to bed soon and we can get a few in through the door during January

The whole midfield struggled today, I'd include both Colwills in that.

Turnbull has failed to impress me for the majority of this season so far.

I agree that we missed Wintle, he does the simple stuff well.

I think Turnbull was no better or worse than Wintle today. The Colwill’s have gone slowly downhill over the last few games.

Should mafico be given some game time perhaps ?, the other academy lads have done well kapakio lawlor.

Turnbull is a competent enough player, i just don't know what he does well.

But I think the systems break down on the flanks; they are so wide, for so little reward. As they are so wide, Salech is isolated so Rubin pushes closer, but he is so slow he can't run onto any ball, so Joel is there as well, leaving a massive hole in the middle of the park.

Very rarely do we get the 2 on 1's on the flanks that i guess we are trying to get, except today both our goals came from the flanks, but quick ball rather than clever double triangles.

I would love to see the wingers who are not really wingers move 10m inside as inside forwards getting closer to Salech. letting Joel and Rubin drop a bit and help the 6

Probably see 4 or 5 changes our next league game anyway

Probably see 4 or 5 changes our next league game anyway

Got us three points today so no harm in making changes.

And we are top of the league so must be doing something right.

We have never quite found a new Aron Gunnarsson have we ?

We have never quite found a new Aron Gunnarsson have we ?

To be fair, we got lucky with Gunnar - he was some player.

We are not dominating the midfield so our control of the game is struggling, wintle I feel was missed today, he is not top notch, but looks far more comfortable than turnbull, who always looks like he is in panic mode and cannot shift the ball away quick enough,

We have Robertson who is been very unprofessional and not even playing any minutes for the first team this season as he seems to not be stepping up in training how unprofessional, and he is payed every week by the club I would try and bring in mafico slowly as an alternative .
Joe colwill was very off colour today in the middle.
I hope we can get to january and make midfield the first place to recruit a ring master and a full blooded gunarrsson or a gary medel.

This sounds a good shout to bring in mafico, he looks quality
I’m disappointed with turnball this season and I have a feeling Robertson will be gone in January
Another great point by llan with the wingers being to wide , I was looking at this today
And maybe the colwills possibly could be burnt out , they’ve put some proper shifts in these last few months

Rubin and Joel have not been consistent at all and they are two of our best players

I just don't see what Turnbull offers? He made no attempt to challenge for Readings goal.

We are not dominating the midfield so our control of the game is struggling, wintle I feel was missed today, he is not top notch, but looks far more comfortable than turnbull, who always looks like he is in panic mode and cannot shift the ball away quick enough,

We have Robertson who is been very unprofessional and not even playing any minutes for the first team this season as he seems to not be stepping up in training how unprofessional, and he is payed every week by the club I would try and bring in mafico slowly as an alternative .
Joe colwill was very off colour today in the middle.
I hope we can get to january and make midfield the first place to recruit a ring master and a full blooded gunarrsson or a gary medel.

Agree with Wintle today me and my mate both said halftime we need him on to mop up. 2nd half changes seemed to bring some better control. But the fluidity off first few games seemed to of disappeared. And we seem to be going back to trying to recycle the ball around back 4 and trott rather than intense pressing and quick passes.

We are not dominating the midfield so our control of the game is struggling, wintle I feel was missed today, he is not top notch, but looks far more comfortable than turnbull, who always looks like he is in panic mode and cannot shift the ball away quick enough,

We have Robertson who is been very unprofessional and not even playing any minutes for the first team this season as he seems to not be stepping up in training how unprofessional, and he is payed every week by the club I would try and bring in mafico slowly as an alternative .
Joe colwill was very off colour today in the middle.
I hope we can get to january and make midfield the first place to recruit a ring master and a full blooded gunarrsson or a gary medel.

Agree with Wintle today me and my mate both said halftime we need him on to mop up. 2nd half changes seemed to bring some better control. But the fluidity off first few games seemed to of disappeared. And we seem to be going back to trying to recycle the ball around back 4 and trott rather than intense pressing and quick passes.

Perhaps when lawlor and fish are partnered back again and possibly push chambers into midfield and like I said earlier start bringing in mafico into the side.

Rubin and Joel have not been consistent at all and they are two of our best players

This is why I suggested mafico needs to be brought into the team slowly on the bench and given 20/30 mins as a a other alternative in midfield as it looks like Robertson has stuck 2 fingers up to us.

Think a lot being said about Robertson is wrong his family say different he wants to play and is 100% fit he has a 4 year contract and wants to play there is more to this story I think he certainly not refusing to play apparently.

Think a lot being said about Robertson is wrong his family say different he wants to play and is 100% fit he has a 4 year contract and wants to play there is more to this story I think he certainly not refusing to play apparently.

No one is saying he is refusing to play he is just not putting in the effort in training, unless your saying murphy is bull sh.tting by saying so.

There’s clearly an issue with Robertson and I won’t be surprised if he is not gone in January.

However, whilst we have not been playing well and have been lucky in picking results, we do need to resolve our centre midfield issues ASAP. We can’t afford to be in a position come January to play catch up.

Could the answer be re sign Joe Ralls on a play as you go contract until the end of January?

There’s clearly an issue with Robertson and I won’t be surprised if he is not gone in January.

However, whilst we have not been playing well and have been lucky in picking results, we do need to resolve our centre midfield issues ASAP. We can’t afford to be in a position come January to play catch up.

Could the answer be re sign Joe Ralls on a play as you go contract until the end of January?

Or like i have said lets give mafico a go, murphy was singing his praises, so let's see what he can do.
What i have seen of him he looked quite confident in the midfield position lawlor and kapakio have been thrown in the deep end, and look at them now.

There’s no general in there, a player who when he’s missing is actually missed.

We have some “creative” players, some box to box players, some defensive players, but none of them boss the role.

Rubin has the gift of a dip of the shoulder or allow the ball to run and suddenly we’re off on a break. There aren’t many who seem to have the time he does and that’s credit to him. Often takes too long on the ball though. Break the line and create the chance, he seems to go back for another attempt to take the same player on.

Wintle seems like he plays defensive or box to box, and he’s ok at both without ever being great. Chambers can do the same with less ability the further forward he goes.

Turnbull is a traditional CM, unfortunately we don’t have that position, so to me he struggles to fit in as he’s never in position.

Joel seems to be box to box, that’s his role, and better in the pockets of space.

Just none really offering that consistent player who always performs and pulls players forward with them. Gunnarson had been mentioned, there’s a few who go unnoticed until they aren’t there and he’s a great example of that.

BBM needs to take responsibility for the first half performance. Most of the half we were playing 4-1-5 with Turnbull coming back to get the ball of the CB's, leaving a huge hole in midfield, with the Colwill bros standing along side Salech and the wingers as a front 5

BBM must have realised it wasn't working as Joel was deeper in the second half before he was subbed, then Reuben stepped back into midfield and started to control things.

Rubin and Joel have not been consistent at all and they are two of our best players

Annis, should maybe read ‘two of our best players on their day’, as both prone to the odd vanishing act!

When they’re ’on it’, they’re both capable of ripping this League apart!

Rubin and Joel have not been consistent at all and they are two of our best players

Annis, should maybe read ‘two of our best players on their day’, as both prone to the odd vanishing act!

When they’re ’on it’, they’re both capable of ripping this League apart!

Maybe rubin needs a rest. Played a lot of 90mins for first time constantly in his career I believe. But then many of us would not be happy with him dropped either

Rubin and Joel have not been consistent at all and they are two of our best players

Annis, should maybe read ‘two of our best players on their day’, as both prone to the odd vanishing act!

When they’re ’on it’, they’re both capable of ripping this League apart!

Maybe rubin needs a rest. Played a lot of 90mins for first time constantly in his career I believe. But then many of us would not be happy with him dropped either

He could miss the rest of the season & still have been more consistent than at any time in the last 3 seasons.

Yesterday we didnt have a midfield in the first half, playe 5 at rhe back and five up top with a massive gap Turnbull tried to fill on his one while Colwill Jnr player inside right… bizarre

Our beat midfield partnership over the past two years was Turnbull and Robertson.

I think we need a old head with experience to help our midfield maybe someone like Oliver norwood at Stockport ??

Yesterday we didnt have a midfield in the first half, playe 5 at rhe back and five up top with a massive gap Turnbull tried to fill on his one while Colwill Jnr player inside right… bizarre

Our beat midfield partnership over the past two years was Turnbull and Robertson.

You’re right mate. There was an enormous gap and that’s where the problem was - not necessarily the defence.
We had to do it again later on in the game after we’d gone in front and gambled with some forwards.

There to be shot at.
The two colwills were annonymous yesterday and apart from the odd glimpses have been in most games.
How anyone sees joel as a box to box player amazes me.
Turnbull was on his own yesterday isolated