Playing Dowell instead of Sorenson was suicidal

[GJL Mid-Norfolk Canary 2,035]

...sacrificing a defensive midfielder (the only one we have) for a No.10 against an inform Arsenal , was not the day to try that.

...just madness.

A midfield of Gilmour and McLean are are sitting ducks

[Petriix 3,220]

Dowell wasn't the problem. Gilmour and McLean are, by some distance, the worst midfield pairing I've seen in the Premier League. 

[Jim Smith 2,610]

I agree with the basic point. We are back to being wide open on the counter again. It’s hard on Smith because he’s been handed a squad with no DM but I just think we need to play Sorensen there for now to make us more solid. 

[Jambomo 215]

If he wanted to play Sorensen there then he would have. Two managers now have not, there is most likely a reason. It’s not as though he was especially good in the position first half against Villa, it was one of the poorest games this season. 

[GJL Mid-Norfolk Canary 2,035]

5 minutes ago, Petriix said:

Dowell wasn't the problem. Gilmour and McLean are, by some distance, the worst midfield pairing I've seen in the Premier League. 

Hence why we needed an extra man there

[Ulfotto 800]

Isn’t his the issue though we can’t really set a team up to basically play for a 0-0 and try to nick games one nil. The Sorensen option as per the OP.
 

likewise if we try to setup to play attractive attacking football we get thrashed.

[Dr Greenthumb 794]

15 minutes ago, Petriix said:

Dowell wasn't the problem. Gilmour and McLean are, by some distance, the worst midfield pairing I've seen in the Premier League. 

McLean wasn’t that bad today, after the first half hour of literally just standing and pointing around, he was one of our better players, which says everything!

[Capt. Pants 5,014]

Dowell was **** but then so was Gilmour, yet again. Why Webber isn't returning him I just don't understand.

[Branston Pickle 4,150]

Good that everyone has fantastic hindsight, isn’t it.

[keelansgrandad 6,680]

Dowell, Gilmour and McLean wouldn't put fear into many teams. We are demonstrably weaker in midfield then we have been for a while. And the recruitment in those positions hasn't improved what we had. Surely that is the whole point of recruiting. To improve.

[Bovril 264]

A Premier League central midfield needs aggression, athleticism, and the ability to play on the half-turn. We have Dowell, Mclean, and Gilmour. 

[canarybubbles 2,199]

1 hour ago, Jambomo said:

If he wanted to play Sorensen there then he would have. Two managers now have not, there is most likely a reason. It’s not as though he was especially good in the position first half against Villa, it was one of the poorest games this season. 

I'm not sure Sorensen would have been the solution, but I am pretty sure that Gilmour/McLean was the problem.

EDIT: Also it's not really fair to judge Sorensen in the Villa game given that he has had so few opportunities to start games, and none in that position. Especially compared with Gilmour and McLean, who have had opportunities galore.

Edited December 26, 2021 by canarybubbles

[Yellow Fever 4,415]

I find it hard not to agree the midified today was awol. McLean and Gilmour alone are not the answer.

Sorensen back for CP.

[Jambomo 215]

1 hour ago, canarybubbles said:

I'm not sure Sorensen would have been the solution, but I am pretty sure that Gilmour/McLean was the problem.

EDIT: Also it's not really fair to judge Sorensen in the Villa game given that he has had so few opportunities to start games, and none in that position. Especially compared with Gilmour and McLean, who have had opportunities galore.

All I am saying is that Sorensen was on the bench. If Smith wanted to play him there he could have either started him or subbed him on at half time and taken off either McLean or Gilmour.

Sorensen has only played that one half in that position. I agree it’s harsh to judge him on that but equally, it’s kind of baffling that the forum judge him to be the answer in that position, and talk as though they are leaving out a superstar by judging him on the same amount of game time. 

I just think that it’s two managers not playing him there now, there’s probably a reason for that. 

Edited December 26, 2021 by Jambomo

[kingsway 101]

3 hours ago, Petriix said:

Dowell wasn't the problem. Gilmour and McLean are, by some distance, the worst midfield pairing I've seen in the Premier League. 

Dowells a lightweight stroller nowhere near good enough for the top flight.

 

Gilmour in the main only passes sideways and backwards, is too easily outmuscled and doesn't provide much forward impetus.

 

Mclean cannot be faulted for effort but like the side as a whole isn't good enough for this level!

[The Real Buh 3,765]

Anonymous

[canarybubbles 2,199]

1 minute ago, Jambomo said:

All I am saying is that Sorensen was on the bench. If Smith wanted to play him there he could have either started him or subbed him on at half time and taken off either McLean or Gilmour.

Sorensen has only played that one half in that position. I agree it’s harsh to judge him on that but equally, it’s kind of baffling that the forum judge him to be the answer in that position, and talk as though they are leaving out a superstar by judging on the same amount of game time. 

I just think that it’s two managers not playing him there now, there’s probably a reason for that. 

Probably subbing him on at half-time wouldn't have made sense when we were 0-2 down and needed goals. Starting him in order to try to keep a clean sheet until half-time might have made sense, though. But I accept two good managers haven't played him there and they must have their reasons. But when we see how porous our midfield was in today's game - the proverbial knife through butter - I hope they had very good reasons.

For me, though, the problem goes back to last season and how good Skipp was. This meant we never tested any other player in that role, so when Skipp didn't return we had no idea if Sorensen (or anyone else) could do it. And then walk-on-water Webber compounded the problem by not recruiting a specialist DM.

[Mason 47 1,926]

When the team came out I took one look at our midfield and knew we would get a battering as we would be too open.

As I said on another thread, this game felt overly Farke-like in that Arsenal were constantly baring down on our 4 defenders with 5 or 6 attackers. If you let that happen at this level, you'll concede a shedload, simple as.

Gilmour is a massive short-circuit in our team at the moment. If he had signed on a free from the championship he would currently be in the u23s 

[Ray 111]

According to my team sheet and the Beeb and Sky, Sorensen wasn't on the bench, or am I missing something?

[Ken Hairy 4,272]

3 hours ago, Branston Pickle said:

Good that everyone has fantastic hindsight, isn’t it.

I think you'll find most of us have been calling for Sorensen to start and Gilmour to **** off long since full time today 🙄

[Jambomo 215]

14 minutes ago, Ray said:

According to my team sheet and the Beeb and Sky, Sorensen wasn't on the bench, or am I missing something?

He was on the official team tweet as a sub and the Pink Un mentioned him as being a sub. Not sure why the BBC or Sky wouldn’t.

Edited December 26, 2021 by Jambomo

[Ray 111]

32 minutes ago, Jambomo said:

He was on the official team tweet as a sub and the Pink Un mentioned him as being a sub. Not sure why the BBC or Sky wouldn’t.

Beeb and Sky only had 8 subs listed, teamsheet had 9, so was he a late withdrawal? Interestinger and interestinger.

[Bovril 264]

He was warming up at half-time with the rest of the subs so was definitely on the bench.

[Ray 111]

Maybe not fully fit and didn't want to risk him??

[Tetteys Jig 851]

Gilmour needs binning. Was really excited when we signed him but clearly not up to the job we need from him. Sucks that Normann is the one injured for the while; about our only midfielder up to the job.

Vrancic died for this.

[mannings bandy legs 439]

3 hours ago, kingsway said:

Dowells a lightweight stroller nowhere near good enough for the top flight.

 

Gilmour in the main only passes sideways and backwards, is too easily outmuscled and doesn't provide much forward impetus.

 

Mclean cannot be faulted for effort but like the side as a whole isn't good enough for this level!

I have seriously played with better players in the Sunday league than McClean. The most negative,weak,unimaginative midfielder i have seen! Conning us out of money.The moment when he passed to Placheta and then just stood still,giving Placheta no options,was SO poor!! You are taught at 8yrs old,pass and move!!!! 

[kingsway 101]

McCleans not good enough for the Premier League but being weak isn't ones of his negative points, in fact his strong point is being more mobile then other players at his level, able to compete in the air and getting stuck in!

[AJ 1,359]

The most amazing thing I've taken from away from this thread is the fact Kenny has been with us for over 3 years and people still can't spell McLean correctly!

[kingsway 101]

Is it Mclean or McClean then? - However its spelt hes still below par for this level! 

[Branston Pickle 4,150]

11 hours ago, Ray said:

Maybe not fully fit and didn't want to risk him??

How dare you come up with a legitimate suggestion!!!   We have to all be ‘woe is me’ and ‘why is that xxxx (insert one of any) playing?’

 I think you need to take a long hard look at yourself..