Midfield Battle

Midfield Battle

As I see it, with two out and out strikers, RH is going to want to play 4-4-2 this season. This sort of makes me think - who is going to get a chance and where will they play.  We have:

Bertos
Brown
Christie
Daniel
Diego
Ferrante
Hearfield
Lia
McKain
Mulligan (Possibilty)
AND probably Rojas

Thats 11 players to fit into 4 spots. Mulligan and Lia perhaps fill defensive duties. As could McKain and Christie, but I think Ricki is going to have a hard time solidifying a quality midfield.

I would assume that McKain and Bertos are going to be there each week, with Diego probably aimed to be our new star. So if I'm correct, thats one spot for Brown, Christie, Daniel, Ferrante, Hearfield, Lia and Rojas to fight for.

I don't think Christie will re-sign so thats still 5/ 6 (if you count Lia) Quality players fighting for one spot - and bench places. Who will it be?
Brown has been solid and does have an eye for goal
Daniel does have the ability, and could link well on wing with Lochhead and Diego
Ferrante had a poor year, but still has ability and people think he could step up
Hearfield was just growing and growing last season
Rojas has amazing ability for someone his age and I would prefrably want him getting game time to nurture him, but with this, I don'ty know if he can beat out Hearfield, Brown or Daniel?

Preferences/ Ideas?

Woops got confuzed and thought this was Phoenix Forum. Could it be moved?

Bertos McKain Brown Diego

I changed my mind 3 or 4 times when writing that.

It's a good problem to have for RH.

Christie should not be re-signed, he is 26 and not going to get any/much better and at best is a backup to a backup. Spot and $ should go to young players who have potential, they could end up not developing any further but better than not taking risks and settling on average

 ---McKain---
                    Bertos
     Diego

I would play a diamond shaped 4-4-2 as I think that suits Diego better but not sure who fits on the other side. Ferrante, perhaps, even though i'm not a fan.
valeo2009-06-19 13:20:32

I think 4-4-2 for home games, but RH is typically conservative and will play 4-5-1

We then have need for an extra body in midfield, this is where Diego will come in as the most advanced of the centre three (Brown and McKain)

The alternative is that McKain has said to RH, he wants to play in defence this year. He did say last season that DM was not his preferred choice, but was doing it for the team.

If that is the case, then I expect it will be Brown/Diego in a 442

I doubt he will play 4-5-1 when we've been going on and on about the need for a targetman and you would think that Greenacre is a certain starter.

With his conservatism, I expect he will, he might call it a 4-3-3 with Targetman flanked by Greenacre and Leo

It worked well against Sydney last year, especially when the effort of closing down was high.

I agree with you on the diamond formation in midfield and actually fancy Lia on the right hand side. He is athletic, not a bad distributor, adds a bit of bite to the midfield and has a decent shot on him.

Please no Christie. 

Agree - don't want Christie re-signed. No need. There's need for defence to be bulked up though. I really hope Rojas is signed but at the same time I've always thought a youngster could fill one of our CB/LB spots as an undedrstudy because I like to see s team built from a strong Defence but one injury to Lochhead  could be tricky

go with the diamond formation, we only need one defensive mid, which in my mind would be McKain by a country mile.

What attacking mids to use is tricky htough.. i would choose bertos,diego, and probably Daniel personally

Manny to the left, Vinnie on the right.Ian Hogg looked pretty good training with them the other week as well. 

Also remember that they could well have the reserve side yoof as options as well.

I'm not a fan either. I know a few people think he could step up again- but what about Hearfield? He was really pushing last season and I think he could almost control that right wing? He did have a few shockers, but overall he did quite well.

I thought Hogg looked pretty ordinary against Wests, he is a youngster but from what I've seen of him he is a long way short of a-league standard.

What midfielders do people think could be converted into defenders? excluding Mckain..

                   Mckain
           Daniel          Bertos
                   Diegoserepisos4nix2009-06-19 16:07:24

My lineup would probably be:

                         Moss
Muscat     Sigmund    Durante     Lochhead
                        McKain
Rojas              Brown               Bertos
            Greenacre      Astroklaus


Despite being rubbish for the All Whites recently Brown has been solid for the Phoenix and bagged a few important goals.  Daniel, I feel, will get very little time this season unless he really steps up.  Ferrante, though officially our coolest player, will have to work harder to make the team as far as I'm concerned.

Except Astroklaus has gone home.

"Except Astroklaus has gone home."

For good?  Denied a contract?

Oh really? I thought he sounded alright. Must be pretty confident with the dutch fella then

I didnt know bout that!
When did he go?

I don't know if Daniel is worth starting. He can come on with 30 to go, b ut don't know tbh. he would have to prove himself. I used to be a massive fan, but we will see.
He could link with Diego though because he always lacked someone with Creativity to pair with this season where as season 1 he looked much more confident

He didnt impress? Or are they taking time to think?

Good point, although I wasn't a huge fan of Hearfield either. He did start to improve near the end of last season until he stupidly got sent off against Sydney I think and I believe he has bucketloads of potential. Need someone who works harder in defence if Diego is starting though so Lia will probably get the nod. (though, again, not a big fan) Having Daniel there wouldn't work either because he can't defend to save himself.
valeo2009-06-19 17:40:10

Yeah good point, Paston then.

That means dropping Siggy or Dura, would be a no-brainer but not a good look leaving club captain on the bench. Oska2009-06-19 22:56:05

McKain played much, much better as a DM compared to when he was CB though. It might not be his preferred choice but I think it's his best position.

Very true.

Rojas.

Is he taking over Costa's mantle? Whenever we start losing, we can blame it on Ricki for not playing him.

We'll have Costa as well.  Twice the fun.

Rojas on the right, Costa on the left. Max Factor in the middle.

Yoof, and talent to burn.

We're going to win the league, we're going to win the league...

Marco, Marco, man

Marco!...... Polo!