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I know this sounds crazy
Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2019 4:59 pm
by Bergen
but, is there any chance that Marvin Ekpiteta can play as holding midfielder?
I was thinking in a 4-1-3-2 formation as a defensive midfielder in front of the back four. He is a good tackler, strong in the air, a decent passer of the ball and has a good engine as well. It will also give us some much needed physical presence in midfield.
Don`t dismiss it straight away! Take some time to think about it. It might work.
Re: I know this sounds crazy
Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2019 5:09 pm
by jamespevans
Nah
Re: I know this sounds crazy
Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2019 5:15 pm
by kmcken
Maybe years ago Peter Bennet a midfielder played as a stricker and done well.
Re: I know this sounds crazy
Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2019 5:42 pm
by Fellowo
Been thinking the exact same thing, Marv has decent pace, reads the game fairly well, will put a foot in (even if he gets it wrong) and doesn't mind bringing the ball out from defence.
Would love to see him given a few games to see how he gets on, though the trouble is that Marv is probably the quickest out of the 4 centre backs so might be a problem when teams play through balls.
Re: I know this sounds crazy
Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2019 5:44 pm
by redintheface
kmcken wrote: ↑Thu Sep 19, 2019 5:15 pm
Maybe years ago Peter Bennet a midfielder played as a stricker and done well.
Peter Bennett did indeed play midfield and as an occasional striker but originally came to the O’s as the replacement for Tommy Taylor and started off as a centre back alongside Terry Mancini ( and later Paul Harris). Very rare for players to have that degree of versatility! As for Ekpiteta, personally I think we will get the best out of him in his current role.
Re: I know this sounds crazy
Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2019 6:48 pm
by Howling Mad Murdock
kmcken wrote: ↑Thu Sep 19, 2019 5:15 pm
Maybe years ago Peter Bennet a midfielder played as a stricker and done well.
Don't think he'd want to come back now but we could always ask.
Re: I know this sounds crazy
Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2019 6:57 pm
by Clive Evans
Peter Bonetti could play as a striker and indeed filled this role in an England Exhibition team
Re: I know this sounds crazy
Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2019 10:39 pm
by Disoriented
Bergen wrote: ↑Thu Sep 19, 2019 4:59 pm
but, is there any chance that Marvin Ekpiteta can play as holding midfielder?
I was thinking in a 4-1-3-2 formation as a defensive midfielder in front of the back four. He is a good tackler, strong in the air, a decent passer of the ball and has a good engine as well. It will also give us some much needed physical presence in midfield.
Don`t dismiss it straight away! Take some time to think about it. It might work.
No
Re: I know this sounds crazy
Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2019 11:05 pm
by Smendrick Feaselberg
His poor distribution, particularly under pressure, will be exposed even more in midfield.
Re: I know this sounds crazy
Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2019 10:04 am
by bobo66
This sounds crazy.
Re: I know this sounds crazy
Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2019 10:11 am
by Fisch
When I saw how the Crewe players, all of them, were so quick to control, keep and distribute the ball with either foot, it occurred to me that they have it about right. Marvin wouldn't be so good doing that in my view. Trouble is - who would be?
Re: I know this sounds crazy
Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2019 10:13 am
by Ronnie Hotdogs
Bergen wrote: ↑Thu Sep 19, 2019 4:59 pm
but, is there any chance that Marvin Ekpiteta can play as holding midfielder?
I was thinking in a 4-1-3-2 formation as a defensive midfielder in front of the back four. He is a good tackler, strong in the air, a decent passer of the ball and has a good engine as well. It will also give us some much needed physical presence in midfield.
Don`t dismiss it straight away! Take some time to think about it. It might work.
Not sure why someone hasn't suggested this idea before.
What about Turley? Maybe we could play him out of position in there as well?
Re: I know this sounds crazy
Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2019 10:46 am
by Rich Tea Wellin
I get where you're coming from but this sort of argument comes around every 2-3 years, whenever we get a defender who looks half decent on the ball. Same was said, and tried, with Leacock and Baudry and both were f*cking awful there.
I think he could do it in an emergency but i think its underestimated how hard it is to learn a new position, and as others have said, be good on the ball when you have less time and more pressure on you.
Re: I know this sounds crazy
Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2019 10:46 am
by Rich Tea Wellin
Think Mkandarire did it a few times and was ok but cant remember many others doing it well.
Re: I know this sounds crazy
Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2019 11:01 am
by Ronnie Hotdogs
Apple Wumble wrote: ↑Fri Sep 20, 2019 10:46 am
I get where you're coming from but this sort of argument comes around every 2-3 years, whenever we get a defender who looks half decent on the ball. Same was said, and tried, with Leacock and Baudry and both were f*cking awful there.
I think he could do it in an emergency but i think its underestimated how hard it is to learn a new position, and as others have said, be good on the ball when you have less time and more pressure on you.
Exactly.
There's no comparison between receiving the ball as a defender, knowing the whole field of play is visible in front of you and playing in the middle and having to know what's around you the full 360 degrees. It's not even just your touch, which obviously has to be better, it's that constant positional awareness.
Re: I know this sounds crazy
Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2019 11:14 am
by Red_Army
He did play in midfield a couple of times last season later on in a couple of games when we were trying to see out a result.
Re: I know this sounds crazy
Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2019 12:06 pm
by Real Al
If we wanted a defender in midfield, I'd make it Happe.