david wheater

[hisroyalgingerness]

Was thinking the same. With Holden and Davies to feed once he'd won the ball, think we'd have the makings of a decent midfield. Mandy has at times looked like a striker capable of being a lone striker, by showing a bit more strength and quickness at times. Be an interesting experiment

[Lord Kangana]

I disagree with just about everyone here. (Yay!)

I think Coyle is working on Muamba being a box-to-boxer (or more than a sitter, anyroad). I like this idea, because I think he's got the speed and strength for it. Sure, he's not hit the heights lately, but he's young and a work in progress. Loads of players are only just breaking into the first team squad at his age, he's already nailed 100+ professional games(nearly 100 just for us).

And I think in tandem with Holden's energy and tenacity, it makes our 4 man midfield tick, when on song.

[hisroyalgingerness]

I just worry that by trying to make him into a box to box-er, which is admirable we're having to improve his fitness, his tackling, his awareness, his short passing, his long passing, his shotting and his control.

Whereas, make him a defensive holding-type midfielder then you're just looking at awareness, tackling and short passing.

[Gaz Tomorrow]

I disagree with just about everyone here. (Yay!)

I think Coyle is working on Muamba being a box-to-boxer (or more than a sitter, anyroad). I like this idea, because I think he's got the speed and strength for it. Sure, he's not hit the heights lately, but he's young and a work in progress. Loads of players are only just breaking into the first team squad at his age, he's already nailed 100+ professional games(nearly 100 just for us).

And I think in tandem with Holden's energy and tenacity, it makes our 4 man midfield tick, when on song.

I'm backing you on this one LK.

[Bruce Rioja]

I just worry that by trying to make him into a box to box-er, which is admirable we're having to improve his fitness, his tackling, his awareness, his short passing, his long passing, his shotting and his control.

Whereas, make him a defensive holding-type midfielder then you're just looking at awareness, tackling and short passing.

I'd pin his ears, too!

[hisroyalgingerness]

Other thing is LK, when you're one of two in the middle of a four man mid, you can't really afford to "not hit the heights", such is the important of the role to making the whole team function both in attack and defence

[Lord Kangana]

Noted and accepted. Perhaps we need another Holden or Muamba in the squad, rather than a Mark Davies?

[hisroyalgingerness]

Sadly for Mark I think he's a luxury that you can accommodate in a 5-man mid but doesn't seem to get as stuck in for a 4. He drifts from games too much. But when he drifts back in he does seem to have a habit of being involved in decent attacking moves

[scotty]

This is what a Boro fan I know had to say about Wheater...

The ratings in the loacal paper would have you believe he's been our stand out player this term, not much competition there though sadly!.....

He has all the attributes to be a TOP player BUT a tendency to lose concentration/switch off & lose his man, the vast majority of our goals conceded he's been @ least partially to blame, a change of scenery could be what he needs, BUT for me he was only any good when Woodgate was watching out for him, when he has to be the main man in defence he struggles, if the fee is only £2m you can't really go wrong, BUT don't expect him to fill Cahill's boots seamlessly!......


As for Muamba, the number of times he misplaces a simple 5 or 10 yard pass (or as those who went to Villa would have seen, a 2 yard pass) is frightening. The less said about his shooting the better, BUT as everybody knows, he is superb at breaking up play and when he's on form he is a vital player for us. Much better when he's sitting alongside Stuart Holden who is now a massive player for us.

[Lord Kangana]

The difficulty is that I do like Davies (M) as a player. But he just isn't strong enough for a 4 man midfield. Parking the whys and wherefors of Coyle's adherence to a 4-4-2 to one side, that makes him a bit of a "luxury". However, he's a cracking little player who could fit into a 3 man centyre. Its difficult, but its a nice conundrum to have, rather than JOB or McCann.

[William the White]

This is what a Boro fan I know had to say about Wheater...

The ratings in the loacal paper would have you believe he's been our stand out player this term, not much competition there though sadly!.....

He has all the attributes to be a TOP player BUT a tendency to lose concentration/switch off & lose his man, the vast majority of our goals conceded he's been @ least partially to blame, a change of scenery could be what he needs, BUT for me he was only any good when Woodgate was watching out for him, when he has to be the main man in defence he struggles, if the fee is only £2m you can't really go wrong, BUT don't expect him to fill Cahill's boots seamlessly!......


As for Muamba, the number of times he misplaces a simple 5 or 10 yard pass (or as those who went to Villa would have seen, a 2 yard pass) is frightening. The less said about his shooting the better, BUT as everybody knows, he is superb at breaking up play and when he's on form he is a vital player for us. Much better when he's sitting alongside Stuart Holden who is now a massive player for us.

Spot on. 100% agree.

[tell ben im him]

I'm happy about this. From what I've seen of him, he'll be a threat to Knights place.

well if he is not better than knight he will be total shite me thinks

[hisroyalgingerness]

The difficulty is that I do like Davies (M) as a player. But he just isn't strong enough for a 4 man midfield. Parking the whys and wherefors of Coyle's adherence to a 4-4-2 to one side, that makes him a bit of a "luxury". However, he's a cracking little player who could fit into a 3 man centyre. Its difficult, but its a nice conundrum to have, rather than JOB or McCann.

And that's really why I think we need to bring in midfielders before more strikers. Because it wouldn't be the worse thing in the world to go play with one up top.

Like you say though, it's the gaffer that seems to want to stick to it

[Worthy4England]

The difficulty is that I do like Davies (M) as a player. But he just isn't strong enough for a 4 man midfield. Parking the whys and wherefors of Coyle's adherence to a 4-4-2 to one side, that makes him a bit of a "luxury". However, he's a cracking little player who could fit into a 3 man centyre. Its difficult, but its a nice conundrum to have, rather than JOB or McCann.

And that's really why I think we need to bring in midfielders before more strikers. Because it wouldn't be the worse thing in the world to go play with one up top.

Like you say though, it's the gaffer that seems to want to stick to it

Agree with this, and have done for some time. Mavies is good when we're pressing forwards, but I'm not convinced that's what we're putting him in the middle of a four for, and to me, we seem to be shorter defensively when he plays - but part of that could be because he's not Holden.

In a "one up top", who are you going to leave out? Davo or Elmander? Or play one of them at right mid (think they've both done that job on occasion)? or as an extra centre attacking mid?

[Ianmooreslovechild]

Ironic that Megson used to play 451 when we didn't have players capable of making it work. Might make us tighter and a little less fun but you could see Holden and Mavies getting forward to support the attack pretty quickly and we'd have a few players with pace who can run with the ball if we're drawing teams onto us . can't see the Elmo davies pairing being broken up tho so lets hope Moo finds his touch.

[CAPSLOCK]

Maybe, in a 4, Mark D is best suited to wide right

[malcd1]

Alan Nixon in this mornings Mirror saying the deal to sign Wheater has hit a snag. Boro want £3m for him while we only want to pay £2.25m. The deal may have to wait for the summer when the player is out of contract.

[BWFC_Insane]

Alan Nixon in this mornings Mirror saying the deal to sign Wheater has hit a snag. Boro want £3m for him while we only want to pay £2.25m. The deal may have to wait for the summer when the player is out of contract.

Indeed and Mowbray is quoted in other press saying that "Bolton are not the only club interested".

Classic transfer standoff. We're saying "we'll wait till the summer then and you'll get nowt", they're saying "well someone else might get him now then".

Someone will blink, hopefully them.

Another line from Nixons report.
"Bolton want to keep as much cash as possible for other signings in the window"

Does anyone truly think that if we buy Wheater for 2M plus that we'll spend any other money in this window? Because I don't. We wanted Pratley but wouldn't spend 2M on him as he's free in the summer so we're waiting till then. We want Vela on loan and there will be some kind of fee, but I imagine with the idea that he'll get some game time the fee won't be much.
But I just don't believe that we're saving the pennies on Wheater to buy "more players this window". Think thats a bit of postitive Coyle spin. Surely we're saving the pennies because we're broke?

[Worthy4England]

I'm surprised, we're managing to find anything like £2.xm now. I thought we'd have zip.

[BWFC_Insane]

I'm surprised, we're managing to find anything like £2.xm now. I thought we'd have zip.

Indeed although I imagine its spending based on the summer sale of Cahill and of course AOB going.

So I can sort of see where we've raised a bit of money for a centre back.

Still don't believe the whole, we're trying to save money to buy "as many players as possible in January" line!