plus Shearer, Cort, Ameobi, Lua Lua and Bellamy. I know we have bad luck with injury and I know we are always moaning about our paucity of resources at the front, but shouldn't we be spending some of our money on our WOEFUL midfield?

-- Anonymous, July 10, 2001

Answers

Robert sounds like a midfielder cum striker........oh shit

-- Anonymous, July 10, 2001

Agree totally Dougal. As I've maintained for a long time now we need to overhaul our midfield completly, Speed should go, lee is too old, Acuna and Bastards won't settle in time, nobby plays one of five games and dyer, we all know about dyer. I just don't see the point of spending all this money on forwards when our midfield is going to be overrun by any decent side. It's gonna get to the point where our forwards have to play so deep that they will render themselves inafectual.

-- Anonymous, July 10, 2001

I'd keep Clarence - his work rate is awesome - but you're right: our midfield is at the root of all our problems in defence and in attack.

-- Anonymous, July 10, 2001

yes and no, i've seen countless times Bassedas or whoever get the ball attempt a pass and there's nothing there. Don't count him out just yet, against Leeds at home i saw glimpses of some acute passing from him, with a pacy forward or two to 'slip' the ball to his natural game might just come to the fore. ALSO Robert can easily play on the wing leftside (going a bit Ciara here) which has been our problem slot. Nobby is a fine right sider... And i fully expect Dyer to fit in behind the forwards (whoever they will be) The big question for me is ...where does Bellamy fit in?

-- Anonymous, July 10, 2001

...at kingston park

-- Anonymous, July 10, 2001

Tend to agree Swift. Midfield tended to look sh@te last season because players weren't making themselves available - a combination of lack of movement and lack of understanding, not just an inherently weak midfield. The ball winning in midfield is my main concern, and a lot will rest on Speed's shoulders this season, in a more defensive position if someone else can play on the left. Without Speed we're too short in midfield - as in lack of height.

-- Anonymous, July 10, 2001

pete, don't you think speed is a little lightweight to be a dominant midfielder?? Who would you choose to win a 50/50 ball against 1/Viera 2/Keane 3/Gerrard 4/Batty/ Bowyer. I am afraid speed would come second every time, jsut about. I certainly hope alot doesn't rest on his shoulders since last year he had plenty of opportunity to step up to the plate as it were and he didn't.

-- Anonymous, July 10, 2001

Perhaps Syme. It's an attitude thing I suppose. Physically I would say he's up to it, but mentally perhaps not aggresive enough. Now that he's slowing down though, I can't see him in the attacking midfielder role so much - time to reinvent himself. He been getting verbally aggressive..perhaps that just the first step ;-)

-- Anonymous, July 10, 2001

I agree with Swift on this one, with foreigners you need to give them time to settle.

Acuna is needed solely for his work rate as Swift says, and Bassedas is about to come good in my opinion. He has the ability to pick out passes and actually looks for the ball but more often than not there is no movement, something that was too frequently a problem last season.

The problem with Bassedas for me was that many haven't given him a chance full stop. I remember against Leicester (I think) he tried a little chip over the top of one of their players and it was a little bit too high. About half of the people around me applauded him for seeing the opportunity and trying and the other half got angry and started swearing at him.

We do however need a PROPER battler for midfield. Someone in the Veiera / Keane mould. Although these are hard to find in this day and age, Veiera was an unknown when Wenger signed him and developed, although his attitude stinks.

Dyer for me is a winger, as is Solano, Zenden, Gavilan and apparently Bellamy. So we seem sorted there, but centre midfield could become a problem. Rob Lee is our best when he is fully fit but sadly this is rarely the case. Speed has the ability but failed to show it all too often.

I can honestly think of worse midfields though. Carrick would be nice however :)

-- Anonymous, July 10, 2001