Playmaker/Possession-Keeper Role - Your Thoughts
That would be a central midfielder who is the primary playmaker in the team. This player should be a gifted passer of the ball who also reads the game better than others and sees attacking opportunities. He should also be a key outlet for players under pressure from the press who aren't centrally positioned and need someone to take the ball off them.
I have commented before that I think Tommy Doyle plays this role well. As well as reading the game to see the big picture (EG which area of the pitch to exploit next to create attacking moves) he is also very aware of the players around him. This means that when he receives the ball he is often able to do a sidestep or a drop of the shoulder to avoid an incoming challenge which in turn gives him some space and time to get his head up and slow things down a little in order to relieve the pressure on the team as a whole.
Obviously, Doyle has some weaknesses too. I know some on here who don't rate him who claim that 'he can't run' and call him 'Sausage dog Tommy.' In my experience, it's quite common that this type of player isn't the tallest or the fastest or most robust, but they tend to cover for this somewhat by being able to make time for themselves with their skill and low centre of gravity. Typically you would have other players with better physical attributes to protect this type of player and cover for some of their weaknesses.
I think that there has been something missing and dysfunctional about our build-up play and our attacking moves this season and if it was down to me I would prioritise this role as a key position within the team and have two players who train to operate in this role (for rotation). To some extent I would build the team around that position and give them the responsibility of being the fulcrum of our attacking build-up play and I would tell them to try and make themselves available to receive the ball as much as possible, as the main outlet for other players under pressure.
It's clear that Chris Davies doesn't see things the same and doesn't see this as a key role in the team in the same way that I do. I guess Doyle will go back in the summer. I have thought that we have needed this type of player for quite some time and I remember when Liam Walsh came in 2017, he played in this manner and I wondered if he could turn out to do this job for us, but that didn't transpire.
I'm interested in whether anyone agrees with me or doesn't agree with me and in both cases I'm interested in what your reasoning is. Thanks.