How many did SPS attend?
Given how unimaginative we've been with our centre bounce combinations under Teague, we probably shouldn't expect anything too drastic in this space. But equally, there are a lot of players on our list who have been tasked with specific roles who could certainly help shoulder that midfield load should we elect to use them.
I do agree that Gibbons is an unlikely candidate to play as a tagger. I don't think that's his go at all. Part time mid, sure, tagger, nope. At the very least, I think we have better candidates should we need someone to do a job - JSOS seems a good option, Setterfield has the size and smarts to do a defensive job, Newnes is a left field option if we want to run with Walsh/Willo on the wings, Kennedy could salvage his career by adding a defensive focus to his game, Stocker or Philp could be given the job while they're still developing, Cottrell or Owies both seem like disciplined role players who could be trialled. I think Gibbons (and Fogarty) are the types who benefit more from being used as small contested mids who can apply defensive pressure, rather than being used in negating roles specifically.
SPS in Rd5 spent 9% in centre square bounces in his only appearance in there for the year, the discussion was about Gibbons maybe becoming a tagger of sorts so on this particular opinion i don’t really get the relevance...
I do agree with pretty much all of what you have expressed except two some of it bang on with my line of thinking as well...
I’m not really confident/sure that Kennedy can become a tagger at the highest level would need a few things to rapidly improve which i just don’t see happening, love the way he plays strong tough old fashioned footballer hopefully he can show us more of what we’ve been waiting for..
The other is Owies but that’s purely on lack of any trial or experimentation as a midfielder at reserves level as of yet purely understand your opinion is based on discipline, hopefully your eye is onto something...
Gibbons and Fogarty your summary is spot on small contested mids who can apply good contested pressure, also agree with JSos & Setterfield as bigger bodied types, Stocker & particularly Philp on being future candidates, Cottrell could be a tremendous lockdown winger with his endurance if he can improve his game through maturity and experience...
Walsh hopefully roles through the midfield a little more but Willo‘s possible progression onto the wing is exciting and could just add even more depth in a position that we’re been lacking...
Unimanagtive is an understatement, geez we need too start adding some layers if we are going to rise, Williams is a ripper addition, higher amounts of quality rotations with better balanced combinations...
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