I think too many are getting hung up on this "we need a bastard in midfield".  We didn't go up last season not because we didn't have a hard man in midfield, but because there were too many games where the opposition manager set up to nullify us and Evatt and/or the players couldn't come up with a way to counter it.

Having a Karl Henry type in there won't change that.

Even Ipswich signed Morsi for that role.

Just now, DazBob said:

I think too many are getting hung up on this "we need a bastard in midfield".  We didn't go up last season not because we didn't have a hard man in midfield, but because there were too many games where the opposition manager set up to nullify us and Evatt and/or the players couldn't come up with a way to counter it.

Having a Karl Henry type in there won't change that.

It’s depressing anyone yearns for a Karl Henry. I liked him, did a job etc but can’t say it goes beyond that.

1 hour ago, Casino said:

we did not fail to beat oxford cos we lacked a tackler ffs

we lost cos we had no idea how to create owt

Correct and with Maghoma being crocked and ineffective the whole game, it added massively to our lack of creativity. 

I’d love to see him back. 

14 minutes ago, tomski said:

It’s depressing anyone yearns for a Karl Henry. I liked him, did a job etc but can’t say it goes beyond that.

That type is in every successful team, our failure is partly due to not having someone who when the going gets tough shakes a fist, puts in a tackle and pumps up the players... and it also intimidates the opposition psychologically. Don't get one we are going to fail again.  (Unless Dempsey can get back to his full potential and fills that void)    

Edited July 4, 20242 yr by Mounts Kipper

14 minutes ago, DazBob said:

I think too many are getting hung up on this "we need a bastard in midfield".  We didn't go up last season not because we didn't have a hard man in midfield, but because there were too many games where the opposition manager set up to nullify us and Evatt and/or the players couldn't come up with a way to counter it.

Having a Karl Henry type in there won't change that.

Sheehan and Magohma could do more with better protection, despite runing around with fireworks up his arse being busy and picking up all his yellow cards GT was not offering this 

it's like when we coudln't muster a result without Muamba, our midfield is crying out for that type of player

1 minute ago, Zico said:

Sheehan and Magohma could do more with better protection, despite runing around with fireworks up his arse being busy and picking up all his yellow cards GT was not offering this 

GT gets dropped if we find a proper one or Dempsey steps up. 

42 minutes ago, radcliffe white said:

Don’t exist anymore apparently 

Nowt wrong with Liam Trotter.

2 minutes ago, Zico said:

it's like when we coudln't muster a result without Muamba, our midfield is crying out for that type of player

Precisely.... Same when Karl Henry came in we couldn't buy a win before.  He really galvanised the whole team... that's what we need now.  

Edited July 4, 20242 yr by Mounts Kipper

16 minutes ago, DazBob said:

I think too many are getting hung up on this "we need a bastard in midfield".  We didn't go up last season not because we didn't have a hard man in midfield, but because there were too many games where the opposition manager set up to nullify us and Evatt and/or the players couldn't come up with a way to counter it.

Having a Karl Henry type in there won't change that.

I agree

This idea of signing a hardman to solve our problems is far more complex than some seem to be suggesting.

For me this is where we get into the realm of we are just fans at the end of the day. Most of us very experienced fans! Some with a bit of coaching (mostly low level) and tactical nous, but not even remotely close to the likes of Evatt and other professional managers.

Yet it never ceases to amaze me that some post/discuss their tactical thoughts in the actual belief that that is what Evatt should be doing to get results and get very  animated that he’s not doing what they believe to be right. 

There are 100/1000s of variables that need to be considered in recruitment. 

Yes we need something different, but identifying that need, finding the right player to fill that need, while considering a host of elements; experience, age, qualities, skills, mindset, character, positions, tactics, cost, wages etc etc, while maintaining a philosophy and progression is so much harder than what some will have you believe. 

4 minutes ago, Mounts Kipper said:

That type is in every successful team, our failure is partly due to not having someone who when the going gets tough shakes a fist, puts in a tackle and pumps up the players... and it also intimidates the opposition physiologically. Don't get one we are going to fail again.     

Spot on,

someone who can cleverly break play up without giving stupid yellows away or knowing when to concede fouls

folk are taking this hard man/bastard role out of context 

Edited July 4, 20242 yr by radcliffe white

Seeing as though most on here agree that we need a defensive type of midfielder that can get stuck in, just noticed the Charlton captain is up for grabs, George Dobson, decent age, might not be good enough for us mind.https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/former-charlton-midfielder-george-dobson-pulls-out-of-pre-agreed-summer-transfer/

Edited July 4, 20242 yr by Blondi

4 minutes ago, radcliffe white said:

 

folk are taking this hard man/bastard role out of context 

maybe folk shouldnt say hard man/bastard, if they don't mean hard man/bastard

no wonder it gets taken out of context, is it?

3 minutes ago, Casino said:

maybe folk shouldnt say hard man/bastard, if they don't mean hard man/bastard

no wonder it gets taken out of context, is it?

I don’t know where it’s come from tbh 

23 minutes ago, Mounts Kipper said:

That type is in every successful team, our failure is partly due to not having someone who when the going gets tough shakes a fist, puts in a tackle and pumps up the players... and it also intimidates the opposition psychologically. Don't get one we are going to fail again.  (Unless Dempsey can get back to his full potential and fills that void)    

The tackle on Maghoma in the 1st minute at Wembley set the tone for the rest of the game, we bottled it. Thats what we are missing, amongst other things!

Combative or competitive might be better terms - someone who can win possession and then do something useful with it.

20 minutes ago, radcliffe white said:

I don’t know where it’s come from tbh 

I like to use it as a term for someone who is, as @Wanderlust just said, combative or competitive, up for it, not soft, doesn't dissappear after a rough tackle etc

GT might be up for it, but he's not that good at it

12 hours ago, Wanderlust said:

Pet peeve of mine - drove me bonkers last season. Eventually I gave up hoping for a player on the edge of the box to pick up the pieces - at either end.

Me too.  And not just BWFC by any stretch. I'll be watching a Prem match, corner cleared to a £40mil international on the edge of the box who just hammers it in back of net.  The commentators etc fawning over it like they've done something amazing, but they never ever comment on the fact that the defending team just left an international player unmarked and said "there you go, have a shot".  I'll never understand the not marking tactic, when I played Sunday football it was impossible to get any space near the box for a free shot or header at a set piece, I didn't realise it would be so easy to come by at the top of the game 😃

55 minutes ago, Mounts Kipper said:

GT gets dropped if we find a proper one or Dempsey steps up. 

GT is also a fine passer. Maybe a "ratter" would also free him up a bit more.

Have i just seen a pic of maghoma in a portugeuse taxi

8 hours ago, desperado said:

Correct and with Maghoma being crocked and ineffective the whole game, it added massively to our lack of creativity. 

I’d love to see him back. 

Crocked, quite deliberately, minute 1, by the very type of player we, apparently, don't need.

Put it this way, If WE'D had Brannigan do you reckon we'd have gone up ?

I do. 

Edited July 4, 20242 yr by Dr. Feelgood

3 minutes ago, Casino said:

he dresses worse than you

2 minutes ago, Dr. Feelgood said:

Crocked, quite deliberately, minute 1, by the very type of player wer, apparently, don't need.

Pur it thia way, If WE'D had Brannigan do you reckon we'd have gone up ?

I do. 

Lets get mbappe too

Cant afford either of em