Ryan Yates

[Strawberry Avenger]

SA, how do you include many replies into one post?

Now, regarding the best DCM pairing. I haven't seen enough yet to comment on that and it's still very early days. I would however have to go for Watson as I believe he's the best one to read the game and fill in where needed. AK does play with wing backs that have a clear responsibility to contribute in attack. For that to work you do need to have somebody to cover in defense if we lose the ball and the opposition is counter attacking. In these situations it really bugs me when supporters get on the back of Osborn (and Darikwa) for not understanding the FB role well enough when it's clearly the responsibility of the DCMs to cover (this is also the case when we play with a narrow defensive set up) - but let's not get into that here.

I agree with most of the comments regarding how our DCMs have played in pre-season. Watson has not played well, I think Bridcutt has played well as have Geddy and Yates. Colback I haven't seen yet but I fully expect him to be one of the preferred DCMs together with Watson. But it would have been great if AK played Yates instead. Yates can have a huge season if he's given the chance.

But still hoping for Vukcevic (even though I know it won't happen).

GaribadliRED,

It seems to do it automatically.  Eg.  If you reply to several people's comments at once, it stacks them up!  ie.  Try replying to a couple of different posters.  Eg.  Reply.  Post.  Reply to another comment.  Post.  It will stack both of the comments into one post.  (If there's a series of good posts or good comments I try to give each one a reply.  If someone else posts in the mean time...then, of course, that poster will 'break' in between the other replies you are doing.)  Which is easier than some of the other forums where it posts each one as a separate reply, I guess.

Interesting comments with how narrow Aitor plays with the team, more compact than under Warburton?  ...and...the fullbacks operate in a wingback counter attack way (being more expansive and progressive up and down the pitch with the DCMs supposedly covering and taking on greater defensive responsibilities than just the 'centre' of the pitch.  If so.  That's interesting.  Because you have the two DCMs...that would make sense for their being two...because Watson would cover Dar' and Colback would cover Os' when/if they lose the ball from attack.  (Are you saying it's almost a pseudo-3-5-2 idea, i.e. the benefits of that...but played as a 4-2-3-1?)  In that context, Dar' and Os' could do quite well because Dar' has pace, he has the physical attributes and he seems decent going forwards (seems to make things happen, he's had shots cleared off the line etc.) and Os' is decent going forwards.  He's under-rated.  I think he'll do well in a better team.  (A rising tide lifts all boats...)  

Aye.  The DCM role seems one of the most unsung and I can see how it is misunderstood as it relates to 'wing backs'.  It may sound negative if there is two.  But as you explain it, it gives the wingbacks (fullbacks playing in this way...) to attack more while keeping fullback positions covered and the central core of the team covered.  Sounds like a win-win if you have the quality players in DCM and Fullback to pull it off.  

(Hope my understanding of what you're saying is correct...?)

As for how the DCMs have played so far and who Karanka goes with.  He seems fairly fair.  If someone plays well.  He plays them.  If they have an off day, he doesn't hold it agains them.  But if they don't 'listen' then they can find themselves frozen out.  He seems to see the bigger picture.  Watson hasn't been at his best.  However, I fully expect Watson and Colback to resume battle duties against Bournemouth.  Watson has bags of experience.  Vocal.  A leader.  Never stops talking to players and ref' alike.  His game management is 1st rate in that regard.  He 'plays the game.'   However, let's say Watson's legs are a bit tired at 75 mins.  I would love to see Yates come on for Watson off the last 15 minutes.  He'd learn far more from a training field of Watson, Colback, Geddy (who he seems to work well with...) and Bricdutt then being with Rotherham?)  AND, we haven't tried Yates with Colback, yet.  We could try Bridcutt at ACM to shore up games, later on.

As for Vuk'.  I have a dark fantasy that Forest have set aside £15 million for a deep lying DCM/CM playmaker...  :angel:

SA.