.........The 29-year-old Frenchman joined Leeds from Brentford a year ago, but has only played once this season, in a 3-0 defeat by QPR in August..... ....Say's it all really!
He sounds like a decent player, and the type that we need (ie a strong tackling midfield "enforcer"), but it does make you wonder why he's only played the once in 5 months. I've got no issue with him if he doesn't score/assist - as long as he does his job of breaking up the play and protecting our back five, which lets face it, need all the protection they can get.
We don't need someone to come in and break up the play we need someone who can put their foot on the ball and pass to other players!
We have Ward, we have Lawrence and we have McGoldrick and Bishop (once fit) - these all have the ability to do just that - which hopefully they can do moreso if they are freed of any defensive duties
I think from what I've read, he's a powerful midfielder who will add bite to midfield. Skuse reads the game quite well, however we haven't had pure power in our midfield for quite some time. N'Daw perhaps the last power house, maybe Hyam when fit but he doesn't read the game well enough. Apparently this player was key in Brentford making the play offs - allowing others to play. IF we can get a firmer base it will free up other players to do more and Mick allow them to so I'm quite for this signing. Agree the main concern being a total lack of game time but Monk likes players who play total footy so perhaps he doesn't fit in. Seems low risk and potentially quite a good signing so welcome aboard. At least it should mean the end for Douglas.
For me we actually have a lot of creative players in the team what we haven't got is a midfield playmaker who can dominate a game and show some courage demanding the ball. We currently seem to have 11 cowards who turn their back on wanting the ball, that's down to tactics and coaching as well as personnel
The issue is the other players who look like bambi on ice when they control (or not..) the ball. I'm not sure I've ever seen an Ipswich side with so little confidence or appetite to get contol of it and try and pick out a pass. The ball has become a hot potato for probably 75% of our starting line up..
So, we sign a defensive midfielder on loan. Does anyone think MM will play him along with Skuse & Douglas as a midfield 3 just to p!ss the fans off a bit more and get closer to the pay off he clearly wants
Good news. He's back in the squad today. So if we're 1 down at 1/2 time, MM can bring on the game changer