Midfield Concerns...

[Caledonian Craig]

With the World Cup just five months away it is concerning that three midfielders always in contention for a starting spot are long term injured. Ben Gannon-Doak and Billy Gilmour have gone under the surgeon's knife and Ryan Christie is also missing games. That is a concern. Christie I feel will be back soon perhaps followed by Gilmour maybe around late Feb early March but Gannon-Doak could be touch and go for the World Cup. Fingers crossed for them all.

The reasons for hope (maybe straw clutching in some cases) is that Lennon Miller seems to be getting a bit of fame time now for Udinese (started tonight away to Torino). Connor Barron seems to be impressing for an improving Rangers side. Josh Mulligan at Hibs is being spoken highly of with EPL clubs interested and is being tipped for a full call-up. Another you could throw in there is a highly controversial one on the TAMB is Harvey Barnes being mentioned for a call-up.

At present our midfield has had a very settled look to it over the last year but fate could force changes. What are your thoughts?

[Ally Bongo]

31 minutes ago, Caledonian Craig said:

 Another you could throw in there is a highly controversial one on the TAMB is Harvey Barnes being mentioned for a call-up.

At present our midfield has had a very settled look to it over the last year but fate could force changes. What are your thoughts?

We will be abysmal just like the Euros if we have a major injury like McTominay, Doak, Gilmour etc

Look how bad we became after we lost Tierney with a hamstring during the Switzerland game - and he is a defender albeit potent attacking force on the left

Not to mention Doak going off against Denmark

In short our squad lacks major depth for any starter to get injured and some folk are willing to fork out $500 to watch us !

Barnes is a no brainer if he is willing to commit  

Edited January 8 by Ally Bongo

[Caledonian Craig]

3 minutes ago, Ally Bongo said:

 

Barnes is a no brainer if he is willing to commit  

If it is to happen then the sooner the better. Get it over and done with tomorrow morning with a presser. Don't hang it out until the next set of squads are named.

[er yir macaroon]

Of the players you mention, only Doak is a concern. The others should be fit and fresh for the World Cup. If Doak can get back playing consistently by April - May then that will have to do. Hopefully Gilmour will get a good run of games when back from injury. I’m sure that won’t be a problem for Christie.
Probably more of a concern for me is the amount of games that McGinn and McTominay are playing. If they both continue to play with the same regularity, they could be seriously jaded by June -  as appeared to be the case at the last Euros. At least McGinn tends to be taken off around the hour mark which probably avoids fatigue injury. 

[Burj_Alba]

Interesting thread title. The one area I dont have concerns with is in midfield, as the original poster pointed out the options

Now, the ones before are probably more profound

Goalkeeper concerns

Central defence concerns

Striker concerns

[syecosse]

Central midfielders i think is one of the strongest on the fringes you have Barron and Mulligan doing well in the SPL, Lennon Miller starting to get in the Udinese side, Jordan Holsgrove one of the standouts in the Portugese top league, Gauld in the US, Cairney has been doing well with Fulham, maybe Hackney and Gray could be persuaded, potentially younger players doing well Watson at Killie, Bragg Southampton, Montgomery Blackburn, some wanted the Fletchers called up. Its probably the least area to worry about other than LB. 

[bigfingers]

Tom Cairney playing a lot for Fulham just now. I would call him up.

[Caledonian Craig]

I concentrated on the midfield as it is the one area where we have a number of first team regulars out injured and am concentrating on injuries. The defence I don't see changing much as there is no one really making a big push for a place as is the case for the goalkeepers and strikers.

[bdgsct]

4 hours ago, bigfingers said:

Tom Cairney playing a lot for Fulham just now. I would call him up.

In place of who?

[ceudmilefailte]

10 minutes ago, bdgsct said:

In place of who?

Anyone who isn’t fit

[Squirrelhumper]

12 hours ago, Ally Bongo said:

and some folk are willing to fork out $500 to watch us !

 

It's called supporting your team. 

[Squirrelhumper]

6 hours ago, syecosse said:

Central midfielders i think is one of the strongest on the fringes you have Barron and Mulligan doing well in the SPL, Lennon Miller starting to get in the Udinese side, Jordan Holsgrove one of the standouts in the Portugese top league, Gauld in the US, Cairney has been doing well with Fulham, maybe Hackney and Gray could be persuaded, potentially younger players doing well Watson at Killie, Bragg Southampton, Montgomery Blackburn, some wanted the Fletchers called up. Its probably the least area to worry about other than LB. 

Watson is miles off it. 

[csinclair]

6 minutes ago, Squirrelhumper said:

Watson is miles off it. 

Do you think his contract situation might be affecting him this season?

[bdgsct]

18 minutes ago, ceudmilefailte said:

Anyone who isn’t fit

Think we would need a few injuries, we have the following who I think are certain to go if fit. Mcginn, Christie, Gilmour, Mclean, McT, Ferguson. After that you have Miller and Barron who are more likely to go.  Appreciate a couple can play wide but that's a lot of central players.

[Ally Bongo]

49 minutes ago, Squirrelhumper said:

It's called supporting your team. 

Is it aye ?

It's something more than that 

[Burj_Alba]

After his recent upturn in form looks like Barron will be out for a couple of months.

[Caledonian Craig]

2 hours ago, Burj_Alba said:

After his recent upturn in form looks like Barron will be out for a couple of months.

Yes just read that - a knee injury. Really unfortunate just as he was beginning to show real development.

[Caledonian Craig]

Better news with regards to Billy Gilmour though:-

https://football-italia.net/gilmour-return-near-lukaku-de-bruyne-uncertain/

[bdgsct]

2 hours ago, Caledonian Craig said:

Yes just read that - a knee injury. Really unfortunate just as he was beginning to show real development.

Yeah, sore one. Can't see him breaking into the squad after missing the March frendlies And then having to get back Into the rangers side at the business end of the season.

[Guest]

I think if Miller retains his place in the Udinese team he'll almost certainly be in the squad. I still think the midfield lacks a bit of balance. It would be good to see Clarke experimenting with partnerships like Ferguson/Gilmour, Barron/Gilmour, Miller/Gilmour etc. I think Barron will still have a chance of making it after coming back from injury. 

It's the lack of pace and creativity (without Doak) that worries me.

[bdgsct]

Agree, even Christie and Mcginn who can be used wide are better centrally imo. If playing 4-5-1, you probably need at least 5 players who can play in the wide positions. This obviously limits places for central midfield.

[Hertsscot]

17 minutes ago, BryanBlessed said:

It's the lack of pace and creativity (without Doak) that worries me.

Injury free Gauld and Morgan might be considered. There's no doubt that Harvey Barnes opting for us would help in that respect. Different type of player but Josh Mulligan always seems to be looking fo make things happen. 

Hopefully at least a couple of those might be in the squad.

[scotlad]

9 minutes ago, Hertsscot said:

Injury free Gauld and Morgan might be considered. There's no doubt that Harvey Barnes opting for us would help in that respect. Different type of player but Josh Mulligan always seems to be looking fo make things happen. 

Hopefully at least a couple of those might be in the squad.

Mulligan looks a class act. Based on his form this season alone I think he deserves a chance.

Bad news about Barron though, he seemed to have really clicked into gear.