Where will Howson come in?

[Suffolk Canary]

We all know Howson is one of, if not the best player at the club.  And Adams says he'll be playing for the U21s on Friday, so he's probably only a week or two away from full fitness.

But Johnson and Tettey have both been excellent this season and, except for injury, i can't see him fitting in to the team.  Or do you have to be brave and drop someone, knowing how good Howson can be?

(I love this season...It's been a long time since we've had too many good players!) 

 

[splutcho]

Of the three, Johnson is the weakest, so were someone to make way, you'd have to go with him. However I doubt Adams thinks that way considering he gave Johnson the armband on Tuesday.

 

[Agent Dale Cooper]

It just goes to show the amazing strength of this squad. Our 'second' XI would comfortably coexist in this division! Consider these two start XIs:

Ruddy

Martin Turner Hooiveld Olsson

Howson Tettey

Redmond Odjidja Lafferty

Grabban

Rudd

Whittaker R Bennett Cuellar Garrido

Johnson O'Neil

E Bennett Hoolahan Jerome

Hooper

And that doesn't include Bunn, Bassong, Miquel, the Murphy twins, McGrandles, Loza, or any of our other youth players! Rotation will clearly be the order of the day, and you're going to have to be awesomely consistent to keep your place for the whole season.

 

[Din]

I have to say, I love Howson. As far as I'm concerned he's our best outfield player. At the moment there's no real need to put him in the team. Johnson and Tettey are playing well, and it's not right to change that just because a player comes back from injury. I would say though that recently Johnson's performances haven't been quite as good as they were in the first few games. If his form continues to decline a little then I would be inclined to put Howson in. Howson and Tettey in the middle would be a fantastic combination, probably the best central midfield partnership in the league. 

 

[Yellow Fever]

Howson will get his fair share of playing time, I'm sure, but Adams does have a lot of options to choose from. It will be interesting how he handles it and hopefully keeps everybody happy.

 

[eatonparkboy]

Any player is only as good as his current form or value to the team. Howson, because of circumstances, doesn't have any form. Johnson does. I don't know if his form is dipping or not but know he created the first goal Tuesday so his value to the team is still high.

 

[KeiranShikari]

I think Howson will be straight up competition for Wes this season. Important season for him.

 

[GJP]

I think Howson will be straight up competition for Wes this season. Important season for him.

Well he'll play where he's needed and playing in central midfield will be no problem for him in this league.

I don't think Johnson has done quite as well as what others seem to think but he's clearly not done too much wrong either. Tettey has generally been awesome. So, with no drastic need to change, Howson might have to wait for his turn.

But he is quality and it'll show.

 

[mustard gas]

Tetty, Ofoe,

Redmond, Howson, Lafferty/Grabban,

Jerome/Hooper.

That is an awesome front six. That would leave the two either ors, Hoolahan, O'Neill, Murphy and Johnson on the bench. In fact a couple would not make the bench as we need a couple of defenders there.

 

[wcorkcanary]

I'd say NA must be loving the fact that he doesnt have to hurry jonny howson back or hoops for that matter, we're winning games without them and with a modicum of luck, they'll both be fit by the time the team needs freshening up. Options, one of the most important assets a manager can have, and NA seems the kind of guy who is not afraid to use them. happy days, bring on the Brummies.

 

[morty]

I think Howson will be straight up competition for Wes this season. Important season for him.

Agree with this, I would love to see him played just behind Jerome and Grabban.

 

[wcorkcanary]

Yep, this season could be real big one for JH, he'll add even more potency to an already strong attack and with the choice of players around him being so impressive compared to most if not all the teams in this div, he should shine. Dont want to get too carried away but the 'second' team we have is very strong as well.

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

What is Howson's main strenth though? You need to have the right tool for the job. Wes provides creativity, a focus for passing and works well at moving the ball round intricately. There are some games where you think, 'this is the game for Wes'

Alternatively, Odija, if he is going to be considered for an attacking midfield role as well as centre mid, looks to have some pretty awesome power.

So what do you get from Howson? In which games would you think, this one's for Jonny?

Howson brings the direct goal threat that Wes lacks, but he is not the same type of attacking midfielder. Leeds fans always said he was a great AM but poor CM. I dont think we saw the best of him pllaying CM so it would seem they are right. When we're playing 3 forwards though, do you really need a Howson?

Jonny may struggle to sell where he is needed. BJ and Tettey bossing the midfield and offering goals in this division. Wes creating the spark. I agree, its hard to see where Jonny fits in

 

[Safri15]

The way Tetty/BJ have been given more freedom to go forward this year I'd much rather see Howson in place of BJ. Ok he is more light weight in the challenge off the ball, but for what he brings on the ball I think it would make us a much bigger threat. Would mean Tetty sitting back a lot more, but with the strength of the teams we are up against some of the time I don't think we need 2 defensive minded CM's.

I'm thinking more of a team like this: -

        GK

RB CB CB LB

        DM 

     CM CM

   AM      AM

         ST

With the CM's being Howson and VOO/Hoolahan

Very narrow, but deadly! Then in games against the bigger teams in the division switch back to the 2 DM's with licence to roam...

 

[morty]

He just set up a goal for Hooper in the U21's game.

 

[Jimmy smith]

Well if Wes is injured, Ideally we'd have him tomorrow. We have Vadis who can slot seamlessly in tomorrow and then maybe Howson can push for the place while Wes recovers.

 

[Yellow Fever]

I wonder whether Howson might be best in a 4-3-3 similar to that used so successfully last year with Tettey and Fer (in this case Fer replaced by Odjidja-Ofoe), with lots of movement behind the 3 up front. That could cause serious nightmares for opposing Championship teams, but with plenty of pace to track back when the ball is lost.

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

Would Howson be better as one of the front three in a 433?

 

[Yellow Fever]

Would Howson be better as one of the front three in a 433?

Possibly, but which of Jerome, Hooper and Grabban (or Lafferty) would you drop GMD?

 

[Din]

I personally think Howson is better as a holding midfielder, with licence to go forward rather, than an attacking midfielder. He gets much more of the ball as a sitting midfielder, and unlike Hoolahan, doesn't need to have his back to goal when he collects it, because he doesn't have to come from deep to collect it. I have no doubt that he can be effective in behind the striker, especially at this level, but I personally think he's looked his best as a Norwich player when playing deeper.