TOPIC: Starting midfield

What do we think? We are starting to look as if we have a glut of half decent midfield players. From what I've heard from some Rochdale lads, Hery is a good player, we all know how good Kennedy looked at the end of last season and Dempsey is a definite starter in there. Will Joyce be a starting player or not? I still (not having seen the Rochdale Frenchman, of course), believe we're a little bit short of pace in the wide areas though, but that area looks stronger than the same time a year ago.

I think Joyce will be a starter. Dempsey, Kennedy and Hery seem to be attack minded players. There's also Dicker as well if he stays, but he'll probably be competing for the same position as Joyce.

If Dempsey stays, we'll have the strongest midfield I can remember in a long time.

4-4-2 with all those you mention? Assuming Dempsey is still here of course

Really depends on the formation. If we play with three centre-backs and wing-backs then it's three from Dempsey, Joyce, Hery and Kennedy. Also I could see Dempsey, Hery and a new winger playing in a three behind Ibhre with Kennedy and Joyce holding.

Either way, if we get a winger or two in we've got various options across midfield, both in personnel and formation.

Yeah, I think I'd be planning on playing those 4, I think that is the makings of a very good midfield at this level. I do think there may be a few teams in the league who will still make them look like plodders though, we still lack genuine pace out wide (although Hery is an unknown quantity for me.

I do think when you look at Curle's recruitment of players this season altogether, you can see what he has been aiming for. This might actually may be the best summer recruitment by a Carlisle United manager in a decade.

" This might actually may be the best summer recruitment by a Carlisle United manager in a decade. "

Mind you, that wouldn't be hard, but yes it is starting to look solid

Moorlad wrote: We need pace and width... if we go into the season without addressing those issues then it will have been poor player recruitment. If we have Hery on one wing and Dempsey on the other we will be playing way too narrow again this season. Personally I think Dempsey will be gone and Hery is his replacement. Get a couple of wingers in and we will be in a much better position.

Moorlad wrote:
Stop being so fecking positive.

Though I share the optimism for once

Northumbrian wrote:
Agreed, it is the pace on the outside where we are lacking a bit. I've also wondered whether we might be looking at playing 3 centre backs and using wing backs. But we at least have those options now. I expect Dempsey to be staying, I don't think anybody will want to pay a large fee for him yet, perhaps next season if he goes well again. He was interviewed on the BBC news last night and there was no hint of anything not being right.

Playing Kennedy as a holding player would be a waste imo. He has a lot going forward, great at finding good positions in the opponents box. He could grab us quite a few goals this season.

To me, it looks like:

GK Gillespie
RB Miller
LB Grainger
CB Raynes
CB Buddle
CB Atkinson
CM Joyce
CM Dempsey
CM Kennedy
CF Ibehre
CF Wyke

Bench: Hanford, Brough, Rigg, Asamoah, Hery, whoever else we haven't shifted

deeksme wrote:
I reckon it'll probably be that, other than Grainger in CB for Buddle and Brough into LB/LWB.

bluestblue wrote:

I reckon if Troy is still here he'll play.

Yeah by all means try and get rid of him if possible. Big wage, can't play every game, offload if possible. But if it turns out he's staying, I reckon he'll play.

crunchblue wrote:
Good shout, hadn't even thought of that! Atkinson, Troy and Raynes at CB then?

For the wide players we have a couple of youngsters . One looked a bit out of his depth but the one on the left vs Hartlepool looked half decent

cyberslob wrote: Neither looked anywhere near ready for L2. We need to sign at least one decent winger... unless we play wing backs of course.

According to other thread Buddle may not be here.

I still think we are short at CB this Raynes I know nothing about and Troy if still here can only be a bit part player

Kearns is the only one of the players available to go I would think there is a place for
depending on how many we manage to offload I think a CB needed perhaps cover at FB at least one first choice winger and another option up front

like others on paper a strong midfield unit Kennedy as good a loan signing we made for years catalyst in us staying up and Joyce a very shrewd signing imo

nobody got Griffith in team I see......

I'm expecting Dempsey to be gone by the end of August at the latest. Wave a few notes in front of Nixon and they'll be snatched out their hand.

Troy&Dicker; would be the first names on the teamsheet for me. Dicker proved he can run the game at this level and not one of the CB's in the aforementioned posts are as good as Troy, dodgy knees or not.

I'd go with Cantler sitting because we all know he's like Alonso there and abbott has just been playing him out of position, with Noble and Berrett ahead of him aslong as its not Thirlwell!

McGovern Noble Chantler Berrett Welsh

Looking at the squad as a whole we need Gillespie to stay fit in goal.
Defence: At least we finally seem to have signed a right back so some progress there, if Buddle is not going to make the grade good he has gone. In terms of numbers we probably have enough but we need Atkinson to step up to the plate. Grainger was crap last season so Brough needs to become first choice, if Curle persists with Grainger God only knows what happens. Raynes was first out the door at Mansfield so he has something to prove as well. My fear is that CMW and Troy leave and we don't replace them
Midfield:We have a Chelsea style embarrassment of riches in defensive midfielders, Joyce, the French lad, Kennedy, Sweeney, Griffiths, Dicker. Going forward looks better with Dempsey and Rigg pus Kennedy can play up there.
Attack: The front line seems to have some options with Ibhere, Rigg, Wyke, Dempsey, Beck. Just need some pace down the flanks and to bring more in I guess he needs to move some on. Would imagine Sweeney has been on the phone to Hartlepool, Dicker might be a good signing for someone like Barnet so they could be high earners of the wage bill

In the words of Mike Bassett four four f*cking two for me!

Gillespie
Miller Raynes Troy Brough

New Winger Dempsey Kennedy New winger

Ibehre Wyke

Don't really think you can play 4-4-2 with two out and out wingers, the midfield will be swamped and our defence put under huge pressure.

Wingers in a 4-5-1 fair enough.

Also I see you have no room for our two midfield signings, Joyce and Hery, where do you see them fitting in now ?

Sorry to be the negative one but all I see is a bunch of journey men coming in. Raynes and Joyce are average league 2 men, iberhe looks like he's here for a last pay day before retirement, the full back is completely untested in league football similar to Atkinson whose performances dramatically varied in his opportunities he was given.

Kennedy is a good player.

As much as I like local lads playing I can't ever see us being a challenging side in this division with Grainger or Brough playing.

At best he's hopefully signed good professionals who can change the culture in the dressing room and instill some heart into the team, I find it very hard to believe at this point though we're no more than a lower half league 2 team and we should expect of all these players coming in, that half of them won't be speaking to Curle by Christmas anyhow.

Shinjo wrote:



Try one of the negative horde!