Tettey & Mulumbu and or Howson

[Killiecanary]

Ok, I appreciate that I may be accused of watching a different game to others yesterday, but I don't agree with much of the praise that seems to keep coming Tettey's way, and feel Jonny Howson gets a fair proportion of harsh criticism that Tettey avoids?

I get Tettey's role as a defensive midfielder is to break up and disrupt the oppositions creativity and to an extent I see that he does that, but I was getting so frustrated with him yesterday making frequent bad decisions on the ball and gifting hard-won possession back far too often.  Mulumbu looks the part alongside him for my money but I think Tettey has to up his game a bit.  In a midfield that now could contain any 5 of Redmond, Brady, Jarvis, Mulumbu, Howson, Dorrans, Wes or Tettey I think he needs to improve on the ball quite a chunk.  

Just wondering if if I am alone in thinking this?

 

[Watling the Gnome]

It will be interesting to see Mulumbu and Dorrans in the centre of midfield; Dorrans can play a pass from deep and can also tackle.  I would look at these two as the deep midfield pair.

 

[Watling the Gnome]

To answer your point better - Tettey is our best "destroyer" but doesn't offer a lot in terms of creativity.  Didier Deschamps made a career out of a similar role - win the ball, pass it to someone who can play - but we don't have a Zidane in our side.  So I would agree that Tettey may be the one to make way as possession is everything in the PL.

 

[Canaryboy]

Very impressed with Mulumbu, he just oozes composure, hope we can keep him fit as he'll be important for us this season.

 

[Killiecanary]

To answer your point better - Tettey is our best "destroyer" but doesn't offer a lot in terms of creativity.  Didier Deschamps made a career out of a similar role - win the ball, pass it to someone who can play - but we don't have a Zidane in our side.  So I would agree that Tettey may be the one to make way as possession is everything in the PL.

absolutely agree with all of this Watling...the bit I think Tettey isn't doing is the 'pass it to someone who can play' bit - yesterday he passed to Man City far too often!  I wonder if we may see Mulumbu At home and Tettey used more away from home.

it also makes clear why BJ was considered surplus to requir,nets doesn't it?  I see no way he plays ahead of most of the 8 midfielders named above.

 

[GJP]

I like them all.

But Howson tends to be a target. He gets called out for stuff others don't.

 

[Dubai Mark]

Agree with the OP, Tettey currently receives a little over the top praise and does mess up the out ball a bit, and Howson is certainly heading to be the next scapegoat once those who like a groan and moan have tired of Whittaker and Ruddy, despite being pretty decent all season. Both are good solid pros who do a decent job for us, and who could/will both compliment Mulumbu nicely depending on the fitness situation and tactical requirements. We have good options in the middle no doubt and the Manager has one of those difficult selection challenges that all Managers need in this league.. 

 

[Canaryboy]

I like them all.

But Howson tends to be a target. He gets called out for stuff others don't.

I'm a big fan of Howson, just don't think he has reached his top form this season and shouldn't be considered undroppable (so far started every league game). 

I think a major plus of Mulumbu coming back is that it perhaps allows us to accommodate Redmond and Hoolahan in the same team, if we play two ball winners (Tettey and Mulumbu), and I'd personally like to see that given a go at some stage, possibly at home to Swansea.

VOO is another I'd like to see in that attacking midfield spot. 

 

[Beauseant]

Howson hasn't been helped by being the midfield odd job man who is constantly moved around, but I agree that his form has dropped, although there were signs on Saturday that he might be turning it around. Mulumbu is infinitely more rounded than Tettey as he can tackle, pass and make good late runs into the box. There will be times when they will play together, but I suspect that when we are looking to be positive Mulumbu will get the nod. I too would love to see VOO and was disappointed that he wasn't on the bench on Saturday.

 

[Killiecanary]

D'you know I absolutely forgot about VOO in my list of midfield possibilities!  Doh!

 

[morty]

D'you know I absolutely forgot about VOO in my list of midfield possibilities!  Doh!

I was at Everton away, he played pretty well. Odd that he didn't even make the bench for Man City.

 

[ZLF]

Mulumbu seems to be a step up in terms of quality on anything we have at the club already in terms of cm.       

Right now I would have Tettey sitting deep to do the dirty disruptive job he does well (he is not a creative, in the same way that jonny is not disrupter, the two simply do different jobs and not comparable) mainly because the back line remains so porous  - and why we probably need to play both when my instincts are we should only play one. 

Mulumbu is the box to box man;   able to break up play and pass too;  which leaves 3 addition midfield berths.   I think that allows wide right to be either Howson or Redmond,   CM partner for Mulumbu to be either Dorrans or Wes and the left to be either Jarvis or Brady depending on circumstances.

That the weak back 4 is dictating we have to drop both redmond and wes,  our most creative players,  does continue to frustrate me;  in the same way that we need to be more negative in midfield by having both tettey and mulumbu. 

 

[GJP]

So what is going on with Mulumbu?

 

[pike_catcher]

I just have this feeling that there are a lot of players who can do what Tettey does, and that it should be possible to replace him with a similar (but more technical) player. He's done a good job for us, don't get me wrong, but i think its like those 6.89 players you have to replace eventually in football manager if you have ambitions of progressing. YES, everything that goes on FM, goes in real life  

 

[GJP]

Mulumbu has certainly lived up to hopes and expectations.