The midfield - keep or get shot?

It's our midfield that carries most of the blame for this season as far as I am concerned. They haven't provided enough cover for the defence and have, by and large, sat too deep, probably because they haven't often been good enough to impose themselves on the opposition. There's be a paucity of through balls and the wide men have been hugely disappointing.


If you exclude Stavrinou, Harriott and Davisson on account of them not having featured yet and consider that Parrett and Stewart are new (and on loan), there aren't that many to blame and it's a wonder we have not been more settled in midfield.


Jose Semedo - Central midfielder 26 - Keep
Jose is one of those players who flourishes in a winning team but looks much less effective otherwise. He is our "defensive" midfielder and is particularly good at breaking up opposition attacks through the middle. He is one of a few that would be prized by bigger clubs although he would be very hard to replace on our likely budget.




Therry Racon - Central midfielder, soon to be 27 - Sorry Tel
When Racon first arrived  I had high hopes for him. He was an exciting player and with a bit of improvement that could have been expected given his youth, I thought he could play at the highest level. I even sponsored his home shirt for a season. He has regressed during the last couple of seasons and has deteriorated to the point where I believe we have to have a much more consistent player. We need a performance similar to his against Orient on Saturday every week, not just once a season. He's stopped threading killer passes and his goal at Brentford looks like a once-in-a-lifetime effort whereas it should be once a month. People closer to Mr Racon than me say he has a deal lined up at the end of the season elsewhere. It's goodbye from me.


Alan McCormack - Central midfielder 27 - Out
After an initial couple of appearances when he looked a breath of fresh air, he has settled very quickly into a routine where he hides on the pitch. He tries to look busy but rarely actually delivers anything on the ball. Has has typically come on from the bench when we have been in desperate need of a driving midfielder, some urgency and a lift of tempo. He has invariably give us more caution, sideways play and short passes. He doesn't do much defending and he doesn't appear to have a shot. Might be much happier in League Two.


Johnnie Jackson - Central midfielder 28 - Keep
The obvious hit of the season and only injury looks like robbing him of Player of the Year. ironically, he made his biggest contribution from left-back this season where he excelled across the half-way line (as you might expect) and suddenly started scoring goals. Our fall down the table coincided largely with his injury. His return will be like a very good new signing.


Scott Wagstaff - Right winger 21 - Keep
Scott burst into the side at the start of the season by scoring goals and playing with a joie de vivre. Somewhere along the way he began to contribute far less, disappear (like the rest of the side) for one half or the other in games and, ultimately, not contribute anything like what's needed to command his place. He is only 21 but he needs proper competition and a rocket up his jacksy.


Kyel Reid - Left whinger 24 - Shooting Star
I'm surprised he's only 24 as I view him as one of the more experienced pros in the camp. Probably because he has come from the Championship. I think he's been found out this season and I can now understand why Sheffield United let him go. He really a sprinter who has turned to football. Electrifying pace when he wants to know but running back and forwards on the left wing doesn't win you games. He hasn't helped his cause by making it known he considers himself too good for League One. We can't afford another season of fighting with no left arm. He won't play if Jackson is fit and I've seen enough - out him.


Dean Parrett - Central midfield 19 - Passing trade
He's done ok for a young loanee but hasn't set the heath on fire yet. Can't be easy in a dressing room like ours since he's arrived. You hope for a few performances like his Spurs team-mate Andros Townsend's against us in the cup, but maybe that's unrealistic. I suspect he will return to Spurs quickly and I would rather we focused on acquiring a team of players of our own and not to be reliant on mercenaries.


Michael Stewart - Central midfield 30 - Acquire
Possibly too early to be sure, but Stewart looks like a journeyman player from a league standard above ours. He has a winners' streak about him and much of the urgency, determination to hurt defences and guile that's missing from Racon and McCormack. Strikes me as possible Captain material and should be first choice until the end of the season he continues to play well enough.


In summary then, we should move half of our midfield on and we need much better replacements. This will be the yardstick by how I judge our summer spending and our chances of challenging once again to leave this wretched division.