Midfield today

If you play Clifton, green and Andrew’s in midfield you deserve to be sacked end of

Quoted from MNH1972

If you play Clifton, green and Andrew’s in midfield you deserve to be sacked end of

I cannot with confidence say that Thompson is good because the only time I’ve seen him was last week against Stockport, and he was abysmal, but I would assume our best midfield is Thompson, Hunt and whoever.

I know Hunt has his enemies, but how could having him in the side possibly be negative, considering what we’ve seen in the last 2 home games?

If he’s fit, I’d play Hunt every game. He’s hit and miss, but right now we have nothing.

Thompson dropped from squad after bust up with Artell post Stockport

Quoted from male private Nale

Thompson dropped from squad after bust up with Artell post Stockport

Where did you hear that?

Quoted from male private Nale

Thompson dropped from squad after bust up with Artell post Stockport

I mean this sounds ridiculous, but at the moment you just never know, where did this come from?

Well something has gone on with the players they have downed tools

When I saw the team, I thought that the midfield looked terrible on paper, and it was even worse on grass.

Looks like he decided to go more battling and pragmatic, and binned off Arthur, who is the only one who looks technically good enough for us, but ultimately doesn't really do much in term of goals or assists.

The midfield we have is simply not good enough, whichever combination you decide to pick. there are just too many weaknesses in there, and I'm still baffled as to how we have ended up with not one, not two, but three inexperienced loan players in and around the team. It's extremely poor recruitment and asking for trouble.

Other teams don't arrive at BP with those inexperienced players anywhere near the starting eleven.

Thompson is a walking injury I’m told by an acquaintance who supports one of his former clubs. Even when he does play, he’s a banker to be subbed as he can’t last more than 70 minutes.

Let’s be honest. The only reason Harry Clifton is anywhere near this squad is because he’s a Grimsby lad. So what? So are thousands of us!
You can’t try to play a passing style of football with Harry Clifton playing 90 minutes in centre midfield.
He has zero ZERO qualities to be a professional centre midfielder, poor touch, poor passing, poor technique, poor decision making.
Oh yeah but he runs around a lot and has a great engine, so? So does most other league 2 midfielders but they also don’t give the ball away constantly.
He wouldn’t get a game for Town reserve teams of years gone past let alone the first team!
Sooner he leaves the club the better so we can get past this ‘oh but he’s a Grimsby lad’ balderdash.

Quoted from Alan Buckley

Let’s be honest. The only reason Harry Clifton is anywhere near this squad is because he’s a Grimsby lad. So what? So are thousands of us!
You can’t try to play a passing style of football with Harry Clifton playing 90 minutes in centre midfield.
He has zero ZERO qualities to be a professional centre midfielder, poor touch, poor passing, poor technique, poor decision making.
Oh yeah but he runs around a lot and has a great engine, so? So does most other league 2 midfielders but they also don’t give the ball away constantly.
He wouldn’t get a game for Town reserve teams of years gone past let alone the first team!
Sooner he leaves the club the better so we can get past this ‘oh but he’s a Grimsby lad’ balderdash.

absolutely agree ,ive said the very same over and over again,been shocking all season

Quoted from newarkmariner

absolutely agree ,ive said the very same over and over again,been shocking all season

Me too, being saying the same for three seasons but normally I just got red crosses and posts questioning my sanity in response. Wish HC had proved me wrong and we had at least one decent midfield player but alas he appears to be getting worse.

Still we have been told Sheffield Wed and Barnsley were desperate to sign him but if only he had gone to Forest Green we might have a better chance of staying up.

Quoted from Swansea_Mariner

I mean this sounds ridiculous, but at the moment you just never know, where did this come from?

Was told during the game by someone whose lad is a youth player , it supposedly happened and I’m inclined to believe it as he has no reason to make it up.

Quoted from Alan Buckley

Let’s be honest. The only reason Harry Clifton is anywhere near this squad is because he’s a Grimsby lad. So what? So are thousands of us!
You can’t try to play a passing style of football with Harry Clifton playing 90 minutes in centre midfield.
He has zero ZERO qualities to be a professional centre midfielder, poor touch, poor passing, poor technique, poor decision making.
Oh yeah but he runs around a lot and has a great engine, so? So does most other league 2 midfielders but they also don’t give the ball away constantly.
He wouldn’t get a game for Town reserve teams of years gone past let alone the first team!
Sooner he leaves the club the better so we can get past this ‘oh but he’s a Grimsby lad’ balderdash.

Clifton isn’t good enough for league football he’s a top end non league player , he just doesn’t read the game quickly enough we all know his commitment but I’m afraid he lacks quality and he should have gone in the summer.  In  my opinion the whole club is stale from woods who produces a great under 18 team who never transition a player to the mens game to Shaun Pearson who appears to have been made no 2 on the basis of he’s a good chap.
Regarding the current squad I don’t think anyone of them are league footballer except the one obvious one and playing a young boy between the sticks is suicidal.  Sack artel asap and give it to woodhouse what we got to lose ? Cos we’re down if he stays

Quoted from dapperz fun pub

Clifton isn’t good enough for league football he’s a top end non league player , he just doesn’t read the game quickly enough we all know his commitment but I’m afraid he lacks quality and he should have gone in the summer.  In  my opinion the whole club is stale from woods who produces a great under 18 team who never transition a player to the mens game to Shaun Pearson who appears to have been made no 2 on the basis of he’s a good chap.
Regarding the current squad I don’t think anyone of them are league footballer except the one obvious one and playing a young boy between the sticks is suicidal.  Sack artel asap and give it to woodhouse what we got to lose ? Cos we’re down if he stays

His career will be in the league with or without us.
If he leaves in the summer it won't be for non league.

Quoted from male private Nale

Was told during the game by someone whose lad is a youth player , it supposedly happened and I’m inclined to believe it as he has no reason to make it up.

You’ve heard it at least 3rd hand and yet you post it on here as fact in the first place. You ignore that he was out warming up and originally in the team yesterday because you want to go on another of your excrement stirring missions.

Quoted from Theimperialcoroner

You’ve heard it at least 3rd hand and yet you post it on here as fact in the first place. You ignore that he was out warming up and originally in the team yesterday because you want to go on another of your excrement stirring missions.

Was he? He wasn’t on the team sheet at 2pm and didn’t appear in the warm up.

Quoted from headingly_mariner

His career will be in the league with or without us.
If he leaves in the summer it won't be for non league.

I hope so but all pro players in league football need some technical ability.. I just don’t see it with Harry.  

Quoted from dapperz fun pub

Clifton isn’t good enough for league football he’s a top end non league player , he just doesn’t read the game quickly enough we all know his commitment but I’m afraid he lacks quality and he should have gone in the summer.  In  my opinion the whole club is stale from woods who produces a great under 18 team who never transition a player to the mens game to Shaun Pearson who appears to have been made no 2 on the basis of he’s a good chap.
Regarding the current squad I don’t think anyone of them are league footballer except the one obvious one and playing a young boy between the sticks is suicidal.  Sack artel asap and give it to woodhouse what we got to lose ? Cos we’re down if he stays

I was on board with your post until you said give it to Woodhouse 😂 a guy who had a rolls Royce budget in the north east counties league and couldn’t win the league and who has gone on to fail at every club he’s been at and left each club in a absolute shocking state once he’s played with it for a few months then got bored 😂

Quoted from Alan Buckley

I was on board with your post until you said give it to Woodhouse 😂 a guy who had a rolls Royce budget in the north east counties league and couldn’t win the league and who has gone on to fail at every club he’s been at and left each club in a absolute shocking state once he’s played with it for a few months then got bored 😂

Probably a bit extreme lol but would it be any worse than it is now ?

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Was he? He wasn’t on the team sheet at 2pm and didn’t appear in the warm up.

According to JT on the radio he was.

Quoted from Theimperialcoroner

According to JT on the radio he was.

That's the 2pm tweet

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Tweet 1758853825979425221 will appear here...

That's the 2pm tweet

JT said that when he arrived Thompson was out on the pitch and loosening up and in the team. Something changed between then and 2pm. I have no idea what, just repeating what he said. Perhaps an early fitness test?

Quoted from dapperz fun pub

Probably a bit extreme lol but would it be any worse than it is now ?

I mean his last club marske have just failed to complete their league fixtures so although that might be a blessing for us with how we are performing, I would say yes, it could be much worse.

Quoted from Lincoln Mariner 56

Me too, being saying the same for three seasons but normally I just got red crosses and posts questioning my sanity in response. Wish HC had proved me wrong and we had at least one decent midfield player but alas he appears to be getting worse.

Still we have been told Sheffield Wed and Barnsley were desperate to sign him but if only he had gone to Forest Green we might have a better chance of staying up.

Two of those 3 seasons he was player of the year FFS!

JT said Thompson was supposed to be on the bench.

This is a big problem. Our centre backs are hopeless every game but we’ve no options to change really, unless we bring Mullarkey into the role (or one of the 2 new full backs) and perhaps Glennon back. Using Branwell would seem foolhardy. Similar with our centre midfielders. For me, you can’t play Clifton and Green as they both have similar weaknesses. Yesterdays three were all awful in every way so I’d reinstate Hunt and Holohan as they must surely be able to do better and have better technical ability. Don’t know about Thompson - haven’t seen him. I’d go Clifton, Holohan and Hunt for a game or two.

Quoted from chaos33

This is a big problem. Our centre backs are hopeless every game but we’ve no options to change really, unless we bring Mullarkey into the role (or one of the 2 new full backs) and perhaps Glennon back. Using Branwell would seem foolhardy. Similar with our centre midfielders. For me, you can’t play Clifton and Green as they both have similar weaknesses. Yesterdays three were all awful in every way so I’d reinstate Hunt and Holohan as they must surely be able to do better and have better technical ability. Don’t know about Thompson - haven’t seen him. I’d go Clifton, Holohan and Hunt for a game or two.

If Artell stays, you won't see Hunt.

Clifton's best performances for us have always been out wide and, given that Eisa isn't scoring and has been hopeless defensively, I'd put Clifton in his place.

You know he's going to bust a gut, get up and down the line and help out in defence and he does have a goal in him when playing in wide positions. I know it is theoretically taking an attacking threat away, but I think he can still do enough in that regard and the extra help for the defence is much needed.

He's really not a central midfielder, however, at least not in the squad we currently have.

Quoted from Maringer

Clifton's best performances for us have always been out wide and, given that Eisa isn't scoring and has been hopeless defensively, I'd put Clifton in his place.

You know he's going to bust a gut, get up and down the line and help out in defence and he does have a goal in him when playing in wide positions. I know it is theoretically taking an attacking threat away, but I think he can still do enough in that regard and the extra help for the defence is much needed.

He's really not a central midfielder, however, at least not in the squad we currently have.

This is what really infuriates me. Both Pearson and Davies will know that Clifton's best games have been out wide on the left, and to be fair to him he did do very well there. His energy to get up and down, and his attacking threat was great and he scored some goals. It suits his abilities as he doesn't need to see the wider picture like in central midfield, he just needs to own that left-hand side and help shore us up out there.

He looks like a poor player in central midfield by comparison.

Eisa has done nothing for weeks; surely to God the management team can see Clifton should take Eisa's place and Hunt or Holohan should be in central midfield?

I can't believe Andrews is not taking some stick on this thread, he's the worst of the lot for my money.

Agreed. Andrew’s is one paced, careless in possession and seldom involved. Just don’t see what he brings. Plus he’s a loan player. Surely we’ve got enough dodgy players of our own without using somebody else’s.

I’ve been enjoying the irony since Hurst left of people moaning about our wingers – Eisa in particular – not tracking back, and the calls for Harry to be played out wide because he’s better defensively. If we’re playing a four in midfield I totally agree that Harry should be LM. But the most infuriating thing about Harry, imo, is that because he is such a good runner, and so mobile, he often pops up in really dangerous positions. However his finishing is so spectacularly poor that it costs us in key moments (see the chance he put wide yesterday from the middle of the box).

Andrews Is spectacularly anonymous, if there is such a thing

Khouri was good enough to come on in Southampton game

Quoted from toontown

Andrews Is spectacularly anonymous, if there is such a thing

I don’t know about that. He was noticeably crap yesterday.

Quoted from kafunanapar140909

I’ve been enjoying the irony since Hurst left of people moaning about our wingers – Eisa in particular – not tracking back, and the calls for Harry to be played out wide because he’s better defensively. If we’re playing a four in midfield I totally agree that Harry should be LM. But the most infuriating thing about Harry, imo, is that because he is such a good runner, and so mobile, he often pops up in really dangerous positions. However his finishing is so spectacularly poor that it costs us in key moments (see the chance he put wide yesterday from the middle of the box).

Harry constantly gives the ball away that’s the most infuriating thing for me , I know we’re not allowed to criticise him on here ( he’s one of our own ) but for me bang him at right back or left back if he’s to carry on in the starting 11    

Quoted from MuddyWaters

If Artell stays, you won't see Hunt.

I tend to agree

He's been injured , out of squad ,injured , out of the squad for selection reasons even though Davies,Pearson and Artell have all said 'he's a great trainer '

Weird

Quoted from toontown

Two of those 3 seasons he was player of the year FFS!

Because he was from Grimsby as he certainly has not been the best player in any season.

Andrews is so far inferior to hunt it's almost comical this fool cant see it

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Was he? He wasn’t on the team sheet at 2pm and didn’t appear in the warm up.

He was training with the first team on Bradley on Friday

Some midfield Free Agents out there include Dan Gosling, Matty Longstaff and Connor Wickham. Of course I know nothing of their fitness or availability, but there are actually loads of players from higher up the leagues without a club who could surely help our wet bogroll of a midfield.

We could still provide a midfield that would be competitive and able to grind out results .

Clifton tucked in off the left with Green and Thompson just sitting in the middle of the park (not emptying it out at will , which seems our favourite self destruct tactic)  with Vernam or Arthur providing a bit of width on the right .

Just go back to basic league 2 style and gain the points .

I don't think Artell is either capable or his ego is too big to be able to revert to any sort of regular play though . He said we were 'meh' and recently frowned upon Hurst's style of football .

That's probably the main reason I want him gone , I can't see anything changing at all , with us just receiving more pumpings at home .

Quoted from Mappers

We could still provide a midfield that would be competitive and able to grind out results .

Clifton tucked in off the left with Green and Thompson just sitting in the middle of the park (not emptying it out at will , which seems our favourite self destruct tactic)  with Vernam or Arthur providing a bit of width on the right .

Just go back to basic league 2 style and gain the points .

I don't think Artell is either capable or his ego is too big to be able to revert to any sort of regular play though . He said we were 'meh' and recently frowned upon Hurst's style of football .

That's probably the main reason I want him gone , I can't see anything changing at all , with us just receiving more pumpings at home .

After Saturday, I don't know how anyone would put Green anywhere near the starting XI.

Quoted from Theimperialcoroner

Some midfield Free Agents out there include Dan Gosling, Matty Longstaff and Connor Wickham. Of course I know nothing of their fitness or availability, but there are actually loads of players from higher up the leagues without a club who could surely help our wet bogroll of a midfield.

I always thought Wickham was a striker? Regardless, he's not kicked a ball since the end of last season so not even worth considering. Same goes for Longstaff, though he's a bit younger so might have retained a bit more fitness. Gosling has at least had a club this season so ought to be fitter.

I think we're clutching at straws trying to find an out of contract player to improve things. It's obvious why the straw-clutching is taking place, however.

Let's just hope that Thompson can get himself fit for most of the season as he's the only midfielder we have (other than Ainley) who has anything like the experience we desperately need.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

After Saturday, I don't know how anyone would put Green anywhere near the starting XI.

I think he is being woefully exposed tbh - the manager is asking about 6 players to do a job they are not capable of .

Clifton can't play CM, again woefully exposed

Green,Clifton , Holahan and Glennon were all adequate last season in a team that finished 11th , I don't think they are as bad as they are being made to look in big D's system.

Where the hell is Glennon , Completely binned ?

Quoted from Mappers

I think he is being woefully exposed tbh - the manager is asking about 6 players to do a job they are not capable of .

Clifton can't play CM, again woefully exposed

Where the hell is Glennon , Completely binned ?

Glennon is one of the many who shouldn’t play for the club again.  The problem is, there’s so many of them in that situation now, that you have to continue to play some of them to put out a team and fill the bench.

Quoted from Knut Anders Fosters Voles

Glennon is one of the many who shouldn’t play for the club again.  The problem is, there’s so many of them in that situation now, that you have to continue to play some of them to put out a team and fill the bench.

Hume is suffering the same situation as Glennon did - playing behind Eisa who is possibly the laziest footballer I've ever seen. Vernam's tracking back isn't much better either.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Hume is suffering the same situation as Glennon did - playing behind Eisa who is possibly the laziest footballer I've ever seen. Vernam's tracking back isn't much better either.

That's why I think shove Clifton there he was an effective foil for Glennon last season - I do think he's a much better player out on the left rather than CM .

Quoted from Maringer

I always thought Wickham was a striker? Regardless, he's not kicked a ball since the end of last season so not even worth considering. Same goes for Longstaff, though he's a bit younger so might have retained a bit more fitness. Gosling has at least had a club this season so ought to be fitter.

I think we're clutching at straws trying to find an out of contract player to improve things. It's obvious why the straw-clutching is taking place, however.

Let's just hope that Thompson can get himself fit for most of the season as he's the only midfielder we have (other than Ainley) who has anything like the experience we desperately need.

Wasn’t making a case for any of them individually, merely that there are players out there. As it is I think our season is reliant on Thompsons glass knees.

Quoted from Mappers

That's why I think shove Clifton there he was an effective foil for Glennon last season - I do think he's a much better player out on the left rather than CM .

That’s what I’d do too.

2 in front of the defence in the form of Holohan and Thompson if his legs work. Clifton wide left to give Hume more help, Vernam on the right and Hunt behind Rose. You’ve then got Gnahoua and Pyke to bring on out wide if you need. You could also potentially put Gnahoua behind Rose, he’s played there before. I’d drop Eisa completely, all season he’s pulled out of tackles and shown little appetite for the unglamorous side of the game but I thought his lack of efforts and balls on Saturday was an absolute disgrace.

Quoted from Theimperialcoroner

Some midfield Free Agents out there include Dan Gosling, Matty Longstaff and Connor Wickham. Of course I know nothing of their fitness or availability, but there are actually loads of players from higher up the leagues without a club who could surely help our wet bogroll of a midfield.

Dale Vince will spend on these types of free agents to escape relegation

Eisa provided the only slightly comical moment on Sat.  He was trying to run with the ball along the goal line to save a corner.

He mis-kicked it at pace right out for a corner.  

I agree he flatters to deceive.  He is a liability and not a team-player.

We're now left with Thompson, Andrews, Green, Holohan & Clifton (& Khouri who's injured again apparently?) till the end of the season?

Have any of them got any redeeming features albeit Gav's a top pro (just not very good!)

Quoted from MuddyWaters

We're now left with Thompson, Andrews, Green, Holohan & Clifton (& Khouri who's injured again apparently?) till the end of the season?

Have any of them got any redeeming features albeit Gav's a top pro (just not very good!)

No

Quoted from mariner91

That’s what I’d do too.

2 in front of the defence in the form of Holohan and Thompson if his legs work. Clifton wide left to give Hume more help, Vernam on the right and Hunt behind Rose. You’ve then got Gnahoua and Pyke to bring on out wide if you need. You could also potentially put Gnahoua behind Rose, he’s played there before. I’d drop Eisa completely, all season he’s pulled out of tackles and shown little appetite for the unglamorous side of the game but I thought his lack of efforts and balls on Saturday was an absolute disgrace.

Back to the drawing board then.

Quoted from mariner91

Back to the drawing board then.

We've sent the drawing board on loan to York along with "the basics"

If it’s a magazine then Artell should subscribe

Quoted from Mappers

That's why I think shove Clifton there he was an effective foil for Glennon last season - I do think he's a much better player out on the left rather than CM .

This would definitely make us harder to beat. Clifton needs to shuffle back out wide to provide more protection down the left hand side.

Quoted from Swansea_Mariner

This would definitely make us harder to beat. Clifton needs to shuffle back out wide to provide more protection down the left hand side.

A lightbulb moment for our manager as he reads this post from Swansea Mariner !!

Quoted from louth_in_the_south

A lightbulb moment for our manager as he reads this post from Swansea Mariner !!

Been saying it for weeks. It’s not Glennon that’s got worse, it’s the lack of cover in front of him.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Been saying it for weeks. It’s not Glennon that’s got worse, it’s the lack of cover in front of him.

But we got roasted down that side last season too, even with Clifton in front of him. It wasn't as bad as with Eisa, but Glennon is not a good defender and we're not good enough to carry him in that way to make use of his good assets.

Glennon is just a little bit slow to be successful against any winger with a bit of pace. If we're on the front foot, he can generally get away with it, but we've not been on the front foot very often of late, and he has been caught out way too often.