Even if Matty James only plays half the games....

...just think how much the likes of Styles, Halme and even Mowatt are going to learn from him. I think that this is going to be at least as important as what he actually does directly on the pitch.

 

He's a cracking player. Hope he gets match fit very soon, but if he doesn't, if this doesn't work out, it was a gamble worth taking.

My biggest concern is if he is fit, who is he going to pass to? He breaks up play or receives the ball from the defence then slips it through to a number 10 or plays it to a winger, but we haven't got any. Who can he play it to who will create a goal for our strikers?

If we're honest, if we look at his assists, his goals, his final ball, Thomas has totally failed. Simoes is still miles off, he might always be. Then who? Odour who has only played as a wing back? That's it.

The only systems we have the players to play in is a diamond in midfield or 3-5-2, both of which rely on a skilful number 10, which we haven't got which is why our goals for this season reads 1, a penalty. Matty James, as good as he is, isn't the answer to that problem and we've made no attempt to address it.

 

Herbie Kane perhaps?

 

Mike Steven Bahre?

 

I saw a quote from Brendan Rogers to the effect that, playing or not, Matty James is a great bloke to have around a dressing room.
Im sure our youngsters will learn a lot from just having him around.

 

Or move Mowatt further up the field like he played at Leeds? The way we have progressed with Mowatt we'll be playing him in the goals soon

 

352, James and Mowatt in a centre 2 with Kane just in front of them linking the play to Woodrow and Chaplin.

tough on styles initially but there will be plenty of opportunities due to injuries and suspension

im off to play footy manager!

 

James is quality and very pleased we've got him back. I hope that he can stay injury free and also that we can keep him for the season.

James in the side means we can move Mowatt further up the field to influence things in the final third. The only question is who out of Kane and Styles would you play with them?

 

You can play all four in a diamond with Oduor and Jordan Williams playing as full backs. It means dropping Helik or Andersen though.

 

I did think of that option (honest!) but discounted it as a) who would play at the top of the diamond i.e. the No. 10 position and b) we've been playing 3 5 2 for a while now and will take some training to get back to 4 4 2

 

At this stage of his career, it would be unfair and possibly even damaging to expect Styles to carry the team. He plays in a position where there's a huge amount of responsibility on his shoulders. He needs to develop without that pressure on him, and that should involve dipping him in and out of the side. Yesterday's signings allow us to do that.

 

W3 D7 L8 our results while Matty James was here last time, good thing is he and Mowatt were playing and training together in that spell he had at the club.

 

There were extenuating circumstances though. Like losing our top scorer, right back, and arguably the best midfielder in the country outside the Premier League in the same week.

 

Was just adding a bit of balance to what seems to me as some going a bit OTT.

 

Fair play mate, and it might not work out. But as others have said, it's definitely a gamble worth taking.

 

Aye here`s hoping, liked him first time round and if it gets Mowatt further forward then that has to be a plus.

 

That's my thinking. His presence may well also give Styles more freedom, if they're on the pitch at the same time.

 

Great post & the last 2 lines of it especially are absolutely bang on.
Signing who we have yesterday gives us opportunities to get the ball forward, what we have been greatly missing, we still need to get it in the net.