Do we need another CM?

[Morisons Prozac 0]

With Tettey out, tonight has exposed a major hole in the team that Johnson Tettey and Fox are the only midfielders we have that can play in a 4 man midfield. Don''t get me wrong Howson is a great player for us but tonight proved he can''t defend he either sits too deep and allows players to come forward and loses the ball way too easily. Personally I think Howson should only play behind the striker.

Do people agree or are there other positions we should focus on more?

[Tangible Fixed Assets anyone? 0]

[quote user="Morison''s Prozac"] Don''t get me wrong Howson is a great player for us but tonight proved he can''t defend  /quote]

I agree.

 

[Phillip J Fry 0]

Howson can play central midfield. He''s essentially played his entire career in that role and the Leeds fan I''ve spoken to not blinded by an irrational hatred of him (few and far between) still say it it by far his best position. Seeing as he made 185 appearances for Leeds, the majority as a central midfielder, I think it fair to say that many managers consider him a central midfielder.

As for the fact he can''t defend I have two points to make:

Firstly, against Swansea he was one of the most defensively able players on the field making 2 tackles, 2 interceptions and 2 clearances (according to whoscored?.com) making him the joint-fourth most effective player (along with Johnson).

Secondly, Lambert certainly seemed to think he could defend, considering most of his appearances under him were either as a box-to-box centre midfielder or playing in the holding role at the base of a diamond.  

[Tangible Fixed Assets anyone? 0]

[quote user="Phillip J Fry"] Seeing as he made 185 appearances for Leeds, the majority as a central midfielder, I think it fair to say that many managers consider him a central midfielder.

[/quote]

But what did you think of his defensive abilities tonight against a Premiership team?

 

[Phillip J Fry 0]

Tangible Fixed Assets anyone?:

But what did you think of his defensive abilities tonight against a Premiership team?

I wasn''t there tonight. Illness and all that. 

I''m just saying it''s a little harsh to claim that Howson can''t play central midfield when:

A) Almost every manager he''s played under reckons it is his best position and

B) Against Swansea (who are also a Premier League side and are quite a bit better offensively than Villa) he was one of the most effective defensive players on the pitch.

[Chunky Norwich 0]

It appears Hughton doesn''t really rate Fox

[York Canary 29]

Wasn''t Howson a striker when he was younger? He''s a good attacking mid

[nutty nigel 7,902]

[quote user="Chunky Norwich"]It appears Hughton doesn''t really rate Fox
[/quote]

 

Yet he gave him a new contract in the summer....

 

If he''s fit he probably should have played in a five man midfield releasing Howson to attack more. I didn''t think Howson looked comfortable all night. But we don''t have a striker to be effective on his own without Wes.

 

Having said all that if Morison had took either of those chances early secong half we could well have gone on to win the game.

 

 

[York Canary 29]

[quote user="nutty nigel"]

[quote user="Chunky Norwich"]It appears Hughton doesn''t really rate Fox
[/quote]

 

Yet he gave him a new contract in the summer....

 

If he''s fit he probably should have played in a five man midfield releasing Howson to attack more. I didn''t think Howson looked comfortable all night. But we don''t have a striker to be effective on his own without Wes.

 

Having said all that if Morison had took either of those chances early secong half we could well have gone on to win the game.

 

 

[/quote]

Exactly. Had plenty of chances to win

[Baldyboy 1]

or if Holt had scored with his header!!!!!

[nutty nigel 7,902]

[quote user="baldyboy"]or if Holt had scored with his header!!!!!
[/quote]

 

He didn''t miss[:|]