I understand what you're saying about mowatt in that you believe in a key position we need someone even better than him and I agree to an extent. But I believe that in order to improve you don't swap one of your better players with an even better one because whilst that's a small net increase there is a much much bigger increase to be made in replacing someone as bad as Ritzmaier instead. Remember a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link.
Of course we could look at each player. But my point here is that the role Mowatt occupies is pivotal to how all the players around him play. Get a player like Redfearn or Molby in that role and every player around him will play better and improve. Our young players making runs Into space would be found quicker. The whole pace of us going forward would speed up. I’ve nothing against Mowatt - he’s been a good servant to Barnsley. But football moves on.
I personally believe that in order to fit his mates into the squad Struber has been underutilising Mowatt. Ritzmaier should be replaced by a proper deep midfielder allowing mowatt to go forward where he is more dangerous. As it is we have Ritzmaier taking up a space meaning mowatt has to play out of position to make way for him. The problem in my opinion is that square pegs in round holes makes the pegs look poor quality, in actual fact they're good pegs but need to be put into the right holes. Mowatt and Brown are two such pegs.
I like his attitude and his work rate but we need better if we are to improve in the championship. The midfield needs to be built around styles not mowatt.
I, for one, completely agree with you regarding Mowatt. He's a good lad, no question and he's committed to the cause. That's great. He's also a decent player. However, overall he's not quite good enough for the reasons you posted if the team is to progress. I think too many people just look at his commitment and think that's good enough. If so, it's not. To put things in perspective we should be thinking of other pivotal midfielders we have had in the past e.g. Glavin, Redfearn and be looking to get someone of similar drive and class in that midfield role. Mowatt is not in the same league as players like that (figuratively speaking), decent though he is .
The thing is, we don't play like that any more. The Barnsley of 2020 play as a team more than any side I can remember us fielding. We press high, and we play out from the back. Everybody is expected to do everything. It might not always be successful, but it's early days all things considered. I'm not sure the style we play now has a huge need for a Redfearn or a Glavin. Bring on a Hignett or a Redfearn who can slot into that really well, and provide moments of individual brilliance whilst also doing all their other jobs - that's pretty much what we all want. But then you're after the likes of Ronaldo or Messi, and those kinds of players are probably a few years off! Our style doesn't rely on feeding it to one person and expecting them to create something - it doesn't need, and will never support, a 'star player'. Every single member of the team needs to be a threat. And the way they threaten is by playing nice with everybody else, and essentially doing what they're told.
Fair do's regarding your opinion. I mentioned Glavin and Redfearn because they provided dynamism from midfield. Mowatt, decent though he is doesnt do that well enough. Things break down with him too much a) because he's not quick/quick thinking enough b) because his passing is not consistently good enough. As for wanting Messi/Ronaldo type players it would be nice but we can still get someone more pivotal than Mowatt without temting the likes of Barcelona to release their top blokes to us. My opinion of course and I think most people on here disagree with me.
I think this is right. If Dane knows who he might be bringing in, we have to assume that he knows who is likely to leave. If no-one is leaving, then 4 new signings is OK. If 4 are leaving then they need replacing, plus we need additions if we are to have sufficient cover for injuries...
I'd get in a proper DM so that mowatt could move further forward. A perfect fit for me and on a free would be Kevin Stewart. He grew up at spurs and Liverpool but has plenty of games under his belt, over 70 of which have been in the championship. He's 26 so not Zimmer frame age and could sell for a decent profit if he gets back to the type of form that got him a 4 million pound move to Hull. There must be a player in there.
criticises mowatt's speed then chooses Molby to replace him, comedy gold nudge mate! as super tyke said, its not wrong to want to replace payers with better ones, we get that.but to constantly choose probably our best player to replace and berate isnt going to go down well.
In fairness a lack of any sort of meaningful pace holds Mowatt back. He’s a good player with a good engine and an eye for a pass. He’s awful on set pieces and struggles against pacy opponents. Given the pond we fish in it would be hard to get better but we could do with someone at DM with pace to complement him.
I agree with that - and its probably why he's playing for us. But to constantly hound him out is bizarre.
Agreed there. The OP just likes a wind up. Not especially reflective of the fan base. I’d like to see a midfield featuring Styles / Mowatt a decent defensive midfielder with some pace. Would be very competitive at Championship level.
Not doing that. And repeatedly saying so. I’m talking about 4 positions that need strengthening. However - to answer the comments relating to Mowatts lack of speed and my suggestions of someone like Molby replacing him. Yes - Molby didn’t have any speed and neither did players like Pirlo - that’s why their managers played them deeper. But what they did have is reading of the game and the ability to pass the ball 50 yard and drop it on a sixpence. They could kill the opposition with their ability to pass the ball. Mowatt is looked at as the only player in midfield capable of passing long balls - but when that fails the team fails. Unfortunately Mowatt hasn’t got the ability to control games and accuracy pass the ball forward. Plus (as some have suggested) he’s not quick enough to move him further up the field. It’s blatantly clear after watching the games that if this position was upgraded it would release the potential of other players. And as I’ve said - it’s the most important position to improve on - but it’s not the only one. New centre back. New winger/striker. New target man.