A thought for Sunday lunchtime.. a new role for Ned

Just heard on MotD2 this lunchtime...how brilliant Pochettino is . All last summer Spurs were looking for a Defensive midfielder, and could not buy one for love or money. So he looked inside the club, and got Dier to play there. Dier playing before as CD or back.
Dier has been a huge success.

Henry is (on the whole, except when he is playing on the RW) fulfilling that role for us....but surely with a off-season to prepare...that is the role for our Ned.

He would be good there, he is a natural athlete and he can make telling runs forward....

I think it could work...

Discuss????

(especially Col please ...cause Col knows things I cannot even imagine)

 

I thought a key attribute for a midfielder, even a defensive one, is a range of accurate passing.

 

As Stan says, Ned is not good with the ball at his feet. He panics when he is in possession. That is why he is not a good full back. He is more of a Centre Half. He is good at winning the ball but his distribution is hopeless. He is definitely not a midfielder Beth.

 

Well if you two are right, he has to go....because he is no good as right back, he is no good as a captain....and I am not convinced with him as a CB, because as you two quite rightly say, he panics.

 

He's adequate for a mid Championship team. If the ambition is higher bye bye time.

 

Nice idea, and I like the idea of Ned having more freedom to push forward but the passing would be a problem.

 

I'd be happy to give it a go. His passing isn't the best but Henry has made a career out of being a midfielder who can't pass so don't see why it couldn't work.

We'll probably give Diakite another year anyway.

 

Got it in one Beth...

 

I think he's one of the few left on Premier League wages so doubt we could shift him even if we wanted to.

 

Pmsl....
Ned the carthorse manure...... Terrible player in any position...get rid asap!

 

You need awareness to play defensive midfielder, or central midfield in general, and our Ned has none. Sorry Beth, can't see it working out.

 

I remember when we had Holloway running around tackling and ball winning and passing onto Ray Wilkins. I would imagine that a good passer next to Ned could work?

 

Onuoha, Henry, or Diakite?

Diakite!

 

well the problem ned has he is be reft of a brain,and that does create problems,hes a nice bloke though

 

Maybe the wizard of Oz could sort him.out Ted?

 

I believe that Samba is returning to France - at least this is what he told my son when he was out shopping with his wife (Diakite that is - not my son!)

 

With the money he's made out of QPR for approximately zero contribution since signing permanently he can probably afford a vineyard and maisonette on top of the Eiffel Tower

 

This post is unfortunately spot on Beth.
I said at the start of the season that he would be a poor captain and on this rare occasion I know I'm right.
He's a poor footballer and although athletic, he's too easily pushed off the ball.
Time to go.

 

Sorry Beth, but I have to agree with the majority here. Ned will never be able to play centre mid, as hes is simply not good enough on the ball. People say Henry isn't a good enough passer, but he rarely gives the ball away, albeit whilst playing backwards or sideways. Ned would give the ball away over and over again in midfield.
As Norway says, awareness is a big part of playing centre mid and Ned's awareness/concentration seems to let him down.

I'm a little torn as to whether he's good enough at CB however. He's quick and strong and probably good enough for a mid table Championship side.

Definitely shouldn't be Captain.