Despite a poor first half display and another defeat, Mike Dodds may have found the answer to our midfield woes.
For weeks I feel I have sat after a match and complained about the lack of urgency in our midfield and found myself writing about it, but I feel we might have finally resolved it. The first half showed how far we are off the pace when compared to the top teams. Leicester were like lightning in the middle with quick passing undoing us multiple times in the first half.
Compare that to ours, with Neil, Ekwah and Bellingham needing about 20 touches before releasing the ball it was there for all to see that yet again, they do not work as a midfield three. Our complete lack of urgency kills us and nothing summed it up more than when Dan Neil was in possession early in the second half, with two players making good runs on either side, instead of playing the pass he practically stood still allowing the Leicester player to catch up and dispossess him from behind.
Chris Rigg was the only one of the four midfielders who started the game that was showing any sort of urgency to get forward and create anything, yet I am still seeing more question marks over Hemir’s performance, who was completely isolated all game, than I am over the complete lack of creativity from the other three midfielders. Many have said it’s no coincidence we looked better when Hemir went off, but not the person who came off at the same time, which was of course Pierre Ekwah.
We immediately looked so much quicker going forward, with Neil and Bellingham looking better in the holding role, with Rigg and Adil Aouchiche in a more advanced role. The latter two players especially were key in our improved second half performance, constantly going forward with intent to cause problems for the Foxes.
I have been one of the many wanting to see Jobe rested, but the second half performance was a lot better from him when he was pushed deeper. With Rigg also impressing and Dan Neil highly unlikely to be dropped despite the poor display against the league leaders, you feel Dodds has a decision to make on weather he goes with Ekwah or Aouchiche at Southampton on Saturday.
For me it is simply a no brainer to set up pretty much as we finished, with Aouchiche replacing Ekwah and slotting Jobe alongside Neil. It is for me the best the midfield has looked for months, even if it was just for 45 minutes, it is something Dodds has to build on and with nothing to play for, it is certainly worth a go.
