Defensive Midfielders

Is it a desirable attribute for them to be able to tackle? I only ask because we have two supposed "defensive" midfielders who don't have a tackle between them. Perkins will chase about a nutcase quite a bit while Fox does absolutely bugger all.

Not sure how that makes them defensive midfielders. Maybe it's because they offer nothing going forward so are seen as defensive by proxy. A more apt term might be completely ineffectual midfielders?

 

Perkins loses the ball and wins it back in nearly every game I`ve seen him so he must have a tackle in him, Fox is a different kettle of fish cant defend him other than say `bugger all' is harsh because he does turn good attacking positions into lets start all over again in our own half.

 

Nathan Doyle used to get slated, but i always rated the lad, used to be in the right place at the right time but he never had a decent ball player with him, and just got into a habit of hacking it clear because he was never at ease on the ball, but he did the ugly work as good as if not better then anybody in the squad now, the thing is as club we don't have the pulling power to go out and get the complete midfielder, and i can understand that with the budget we're working to, but it also seems to me that we're not even trying to develop what we have into better players or bringing in payers with the potential to develop into better more complete players and that's disappointing to say the least

 

Completely agree re Doyle. Never understood why he was allowed to go. Not the best player but solid enough and did the defensive side of things effectively.

 

The race go the bottom continues

 

I don't mind a defensive midfielder two of my favourite players Darren Sheridan and Ray McHale fall into that category and every team needs it's hod carriers. It's just that of the 476 at the club none are particularly sparkling. Perkins the best of them drives new wappy with his tippy tapping to no affect. On the rare occasions he moves forward with purpose he looks good. Fox seemed a reasonably astute signing and has shored us up a little but suffers from not having someone who can play to pass to standing next to him.

 

Dawson tackles.

Dawson drives forward.

Dawson has scored a few from long range.

 

The problem is if you want to give players like Paddy the undoubted freedom they deserve, and you play 4 in midfield, you are going to have to be conservative in the middle of the pitch. When I made this point previously there was a very valid response that we were playing two defensive midfielders but still conceding lots of goals so we might as well ditch one. The thing is though we've stopped conceding goals now. The main problem is now that if you're going to play two wide men and two deep lying midfielders then the wide men have to get in the box to give us an attacking option and they don't do it enough. If Paddy has the ball the opposite winger needs to attack the back post and vice-a-versa. O'Brien did this against Ipswich but we don't do it anywhere near as much. Added to which our strikers aren't in the box either.

Personally I think Fox is a tidy player that keeps the ball moving and ticking over. I don't think Perkins is suited to a 4 man midfield and never has been. He has always played really well for us in a 5 when he has the freedom to chase and hound. In a 4 it is just too easy to pass it past him to another free man and his lack of creativity is exposed. In a 5 he's able to give it to the attacking midfielder who also allow's us to get more players in the box.

That would be may change to turn our solid base in to a winning one, but it would mean dropping Pedersen.