Ashley Westwood

[StefanAVFC]

He's a good player with technique and a football brain, certainly one of our best players and certainly a starter for next season.

Exactly this. Don't understand why he isn't rated by his own fans. I like good footballers with a good footballing brain. It's also why I like Vlaar.

[P3te]

I think him and Delph would make a very effective midfield if they just had that creative spark Merson-type player in there with them

This. A million times this. We won't see the best of either of them without a proper creative type to sit ahead of them

[lexicon]

Do you think either of them are defensively solid enough to cope with that though?

[P3te]

Do you think either of them are defensively solid enough to cope with that though?

Potentially, yes. However right now there's no way of knowing. That player would completely change the dynamic of the team, and arguably would take a huge amount of pressure off the other two. Without that guy, though, we won't find out. It's like in defence, I think one player would make all the difference there, too. Another Vlaar, or even better, a Laursen, could have the potential to completely settle the other 3 and make them into a reliable unit. Despite what some people think, I don't think we're a million miles off. We just look like we are because the few players we're missing are the most important ones. A full strength squad with just those 2 players added (and fit for the whole season), would have us 15 points better off a season, but it'd have a glass ceiling that we wouldn't get past without eventually replacing most of what we've got with better players.

[Dodgyknees]

The better we get, the better Westwood will get. Having players with movement around him will benefit his game.

[Big_John_10]

Do you think either of them are defensively solid enough to cope with that though?

No and I think that's the major issue.

Look at the amount of goals we've let in over tbe last two years. Its not all down to baker and Clark.

[kurtsimonw]

I do rate him, but who do you put alongside him? Although he was very good in a 2 CM system against Hull, I generally think he's better in a 3. If Delph is a given, do you put a more solid DM type player in there as neither of them are exactly monstrous defensively or do you go for a more forward thinking #10 type player? Which could leave us a bit more exposed. 

[shaggy]

You sell Westwood or keep him as a squad player and reconstruct our midfield with a strong defensive midfielder, Delph as the box to box player and purchase that attacking midfielder we all want.

Westwood is not good enough to be defined as any of those.

[blandy]

 

Do you think either of them are defensively solid enough to cope with that though?

No and I think that's the major issue.

Look at the amount of goals we've let in over tbe last two years. Its not all down to baker and Clark.

 

That's a fair observation. Personally I think a fair chunk of our goals conceded are due to an inability to retain possession, leading to extended pressure on the defenders and midfield when defending. But Ashley Westwood keeps the ball more often than not. IN other words part of the solution to leting in too many goals is to keep hold of the ball better, both up front and in midfield and defence. The goals conceded is a symptom of the problem of lackof ball retention. Better to treat the cause, than the symptoms, perhaps?

[Big_John_10]

Do you think either of them are defensively solid enough to cope with that though?

No and I think that's the major issue.

Look at the amount of goals we've let in over tbe last two years. Its not all down to baker and Clark.

That's a fair observation. Personally I think a fair chunk of our goals conceded are due to an inability to retain possession, leading to extended pressure on the defenders and midfield when defending. But Ashley Westwood keeps the ball more often than not. IN other words part of the solution to leting in too many goals is to keep hold of the ball better, both up front and in midfield and defence. The goals conceded is a symptom of the problem of lackof ball retention. Better to treat the cause, than the symptoms, perhaps?

I think you need a balance. You need to be able to keep the ball but also I think the midfield needs to have the ability to win the ball back.

I think we need a strong DM and a good AM. I guess Westwood could play with those 2 but I'd rather delph.

I think Westwood has a role as a squad player.

[Kwan]

Ultimately, I think Westwood would thrive in a team that keeps possession. His ability to keep the ball moving would be more useful if we weren't constantly trying to punt it up the field. Better distribution from our defenders would be key. Baker or Clark both struggle to pass it back to to him unless he's demonstrably unmarked. It leads to passages where he doesn't get to influence the game when our defenders get panicky.

Notice, Baker will 9/10 try to pass it to the left back, even if it puts the LB under pressure and the LB has few options. The game passes by Westwood imo, not from his own voluntary disappearing act, but from others inability to think ahead in possession.

I think in a 3 man midfield or a 2 man midfield without Delph and a strong DM, he would thrive. I don't think he's a pencil in for every game, but he's a good option.

And as much as Delph gets noticed, there are crucial moments where he misses a pass or picks the wrong option in attack. I feel Westwood would be more involved in the attack if he wasn't deployed as THE defensive midfielder. Whatever he says, that's not his best position.

If only Delph and Westwood could be combined into one player.

[AndyM3000]

This is one of the reason I am so annoyed at Lambert's signings and don't believe he really knows what he is trying to do. I have said it before we have 3 midfielders who all are just okay at everything, we need to play as a 2 man midfield to free up a more attacking players but with these 3 players they can't play as a 2.

 

I like all three of them but you would have to pick Delph and then we need someone who is strong/defensive player next to him. Delph has such a high work rate he can be box to box. I said in the Okore thread he could be a good DM, wouldn't mind seeing Delph/Okore CM partnership at all.

[Con]

Westwood has improved so much this year, if he continues to improve at the same rate next year he will be POTS no contest.

[HanoiVillan]

As usual, Kwan is on the money. Westwood is a player with a huge upside, his passing and ability to keep possession. But he and Delph just don't work together in the centre of midfield. We can observe the dynamic, week in and week out, where Delph is dribbling into nowhere and Westwood is forced into sitting back, protecting the back four. This doesn't work - he can't really tackle, and isn't imposing physically. If he were playing further up the field, he'd be so much more effective. 

 

It's a controversial view I know, but I feel that Delph unbalances our midfield as it's currently constituted. Westwood is ultimately more vital for me. 

[Big_John_10]

I couldn't disagree more. Delph is a must in my opinion.

I think we'll be a stronger team with quality players around delph than around Westwood.

[Kwan]

I like Delph but what annoys me is that he's the flashier one and gets the applause when he skins a defender and dribbles down the pitch, but ultimately he halts in the attacking third. Westwood will set up a first time pass that gets it to an attacker in a dangerous position but that simple pass doesn't draw the ooohs like a mazy dribble.

I don't think either one should be built around because they're both lacking.

[mikeyp102]

I'd say all our midfielders are only ok, but each isn't without faults. Midfield is by far the weakest area of our team and if we are given investment it would be the first area I would improve.

[KHV]

I think him and Delph would make a very effective midfield if they just had that creative spark Merson-type player in there with them

This. A million times this. We won't see the best of either of them without a proper creative type to sit ahead of them

I'd get rid of both of them to be honest.

[StefanAVFC]

 

 

I think him and Delph would make a very effective midfield if they just had that creative spark Merson-type player in there with them

This. A million times this. We won't see the best of either of them without a proper creative type to sit ahead of them

I'd get rid of both of them to be honest.

 

 

[villan_007]

I think him and Delph would make a very effective midfield if they just had that creative spark Merson-type player in there with them

This. A million times this. We won't see the best of either of them without a proper creative type to sit ahead of them

I'd get rid of both of them to be honest.

There's always one I suppose. Makes the world go round.