Would A Fully Fit Drinkwater Have Improved Us Against Saints?

[ElectroClaret]

As well as being match fit, he's got to get used to playing alongside his new teammates, of course,
but I thought our midfield were really good against Southampton, Cork in particular had a brilliant game
Westy maybe not so much. So would DD come in for AW? Can't see our midfield system actually changing
to accommodate him.
But he's gonna come in soon, so what would you do? (More to the point, what should SD do?)

[SalisburyClaret]

Not sure DD will be in the starting line up unless we go for 5 in the middle

[Rick_Muller]

DD will be of greater benefit to us against the top 6 clubs - we'll have the option to pack out the midfield and go 1 up top (Barnes), especially away from home.

[claretspice]

At his fully fit, in form best - yes. If for no other reason than he's a better player than either Westwood or Cork (no disgrace on either, it's just reflecting the fact Drinkwater is better - that's why he's won league titles, gone to Chelsea for £35 million, etc.).

Specifically, he's more than capable of doing all the dirty work that Westwood and Cork did (superbly) on Saturday, but he's better in possession than either of them (and especially Cork), so in theory he'd have helped us retain the ball better than we managed in the first half in particular on Saturday.

Don't see us going with Cork, Westwood and Drinkwater in the same line up incidentally. They're all fundamentally players who play at the heart of midfield, and none of them have the game to play further up the pitch as the "third" midfielder would be required to do. So it's always going to be 2 from 3. Helpfully they're all compatible with each other so it's a simple equation of which 2 are playing best/deserve the shirt most.

[claptrappers_union]

We need a centre midfielder, We need a centre midfielder, We need a centre midfielder!

Would our new centre midfielder have improved us against Saints?

[ClaretFelix]

DD will be of greater benefit to us against the top 6 clubs - we'll have the option to pack out the midfield and go 1 up top (Barnes), especially away from home.

I've been saying this for years!
Makes sense against the better teams, who will have the majority of possession, to flood the midfield. Will allow for them to track late runners whilst also being able to get a foothold when we get the ball back.
Too often against the top sides we are overrun and the ball is zipped about so quick that it doesn't allow the two in the middle time to cover the ground.
With an extra body, a quality one at that, plus Jay being able to play anywhere along the front, it will mean SD can be a little more flexible in his approach to games, depending on the opposition

[theroyaldyche]

Id be happy with him not getting 1 game till he goes back providing the current starters play out of their skin

[ClaretTony]

Id be happy with him not getting 1 game till he goes back providing the current starters play out of their skin

And that's exactly how it should work. He shouldn't walk in to the team and it would be brilliant if we played so well in the first half of the season that there was never a window for him to break into the team.

[Granny WeatherWax]

Dyche confirmed he is fit after being tested, i hope to see him in the next squad, and in answer to the question, yes 100%.

[IanMcL]

Cork and Westwood work very well together.
Debatable answer to question.

[aggi]

Our passing was pretty terrible at times so you'd think that Drinkwater would improve that.

If you look at the pass completion stats for our midfield two they were down in the low 60s. Hopefully that was just a blip, they normally average ~ 80%, but it is certainly something that needs improving.

[ElectroClaret]

DD will be of greater benefit to us against the top 6 clubs - we'll have the option to pack out the midfield and go 1 up top (Barnes), especially away from home.

Think this could be a really good option away from home, as Rick says.
We do seem to be sometimes overrun by the top clubs.

[expoultryboy]

The signing of Drinkwater increases the competition for places in midfield , which can only improve the performance of the players that have the shirt . Last season Cork had to play in almost every game , and at the back-end he looked jaded . We've now got cover in all positions so on onwards and upwards . Utc

[Bordeauxclaret]

Certainly ups the pressure on Cork and Westwood which can only be a good thing.

[Colburn_Claret]

He could have kept Redmond a little quieter.
The conditions made the long ball a good ball, they had very little in midfield, so I think he would have improved us, but not loads

That isnt to say Cork and Westy weren't ok they didn't look great either, again due to the conditions and the way we played, until they have a genuine bad game the shirts are theirs, no matter DD is a better player.

[houseboy]

I've been saying this for years!
Makes sense against the better teams, who will have the majority of possession, to flood the midfield. Will allow for them to track late runners whilst also being able to get a foothold when we get the ball back.
Too often against the top sides we are overrun and the ball is zipped about so quick that it doesn't allow the two in the middle time to cover the ground.
With an extra body, a quality one at that, plus Jay being able to play anywhere along the front, it will mean SD can be a little more flexible in his approach to games, depending on the opposition

Whilst not disagreeing with this my fear would be if we pack the midfield and don't get back quickly enough when not in possession then the better teams, especially City, would get in behind us so quickly we could be outnumbered in defence in the blink of an eye, and the last thing you need against City is to be outnumbered in defence. it's bad enough when you are 2 to 1 against them.

[Quickenthetempo]

He could have kept Redmond a little quieter.
The conditions made the long ball a good ball, they had very little in midfield, so I think he would have improved us, but not loads

That isnt to say Cork and Westy weren't ok they didn't look great either, again due to the conditions and the way we played, until they have a genuine bad game the shirts are theirs, no matter DD is a better player.

Cork played very well.

The pressure put on him and Barnes from the new arrivals seems to have done the trick.

[Right_winger]

No question he should walk into our team for me. He’s much better than Cork or Westwood. He would also improve our threat going forward especially if he can recreate the form in Leicester’s title winning season.

[Marney&Mee]

4-5-1 on Saturday I reckon. Hendrick or DD to replace Wood

[nil_desperandum]

In answer to the OP the answer is yes.
He'd have been the perfect option to bring on from the bench to give Cork or Westwood a bit of a rest once we went 3-0 up ,and to keep things tight. We saw it out it ok, but I think that Cork - in particular - would benefit from giving his all for about 75 mins before taking a well-deserved rest. He seemed very tired in the latter part of last season, but that was after he'd played 90+ minutes in virtually every game. He seemed fitter and fresher on Saturday, but i doubt he can sustain that level for 90 minutes for 38 games.

[bfcmik]

Think this could be a really good option away from home, as Rick says.
We do seem to be sometimes overrun by the top clubs.

Only City 'overran' us last season away from home - and that was when we were absolutely awful anyway. Spurs got an injury time winner, Arsenal struggled and had a couple of dodgy decisions against Barnes go their way, Liverpool were pushed hard throughout, United needed a late 2 goal comeback and Chelsea were anti-footballed so much they almost lost to us.

[Vegas Claret]

if anyone thinks DD won't walk into our team when up to speed they don't remember how good DD was...........he just needs to find that level first and if he does he will be our stand out player

[nil_desperandum]

Only City 'overran' us last season away from home - and that was when we were absolutely awful anyway. Spurs got an injury time winner, Arsenal struggled and had a couple of dodgy decisions against Barnes go their way, Liverpool were pushed hard throughout, United needed a late 2 goal comeback and Chelsea were anti-footballed so much they almost lost to us.

Did you see us at Wolves, Palace, West Ham, and later, (though in different circumstances) Everton ?.
Sorry, we were totally overrun - if that's the term we are going to use.

[fanzone]

I actually thought Cork and Westwood were both poor on Saturday

[FactualFrank]

I very much doubt he'll go straight into the starting 11. Like others he'll have to earn his place with at least one bench appearance.

And I don't SD will break the Wood-Barnes partnership and play 5 across midfield, I think it'll simply be him replacing Westwood or Cork and sticking with two in central midfield.

[Dark Cloud]

Not sure DD will be in the starting line up unless we go for 5 in the middle

Spot on imo. It means we can swap and change our formation much more easily and (in theory) with greater success against certain teams and especially away from home and I definitely think we will.

[EarbyClaret]

The pressure put on him and Barnes from the new arrivals seems to have done the trick.

To be fair to Barnes he's been consistently performing at a high level since the turn of the year. As far as Cork is concerned a proper break and pre-season is just what he needed. No lack of effort and application last season - just think the workload was too much.

I'm sure Drinkwater will start from the bench and we'll stick with 4-4-2 but bearing in mind it seems we'll only name one striker amongst the subs, the introduction of Drinkwater seems more likely to signal 4-5-1 switch. If we've got something to defend, especially away from home, this would be a fantastic option and not something we had in our locker last season.

[dougcollins]

You can always improve on what you have.

[leelad]

Drinkwater has made 12 PL appearances since Sept2017. So I think at the moment, he needs to get 'Dyche fit' and then we take it from there. As far as 4-5-1 is concerned, I would play Hendrick in there at the moment instead of Wood (Arsenal on Saturday?) with Drinkwater on the bench. Gradually build up his Prem fitness from making sub appearances from the bench. He doesn't have the right as of yet to be in the first 11, but I think & hope that he will force himself into contention for a starting place. It's up to him now.

[bfcmik]

Did you see us at Wolves, Palace, West Ham, and later, (though in different circumstances) Everton ?.
Sorry, we were totally overrun - if that's the term we are going to use.

All those were dreadful displays - though the Everton one was when we had already gone on holiday after achieving safety. However, my response was replying to a statement that all the TOP teams had overran us in midfield away from home last season. Hence why I only highlighted the games at the top 6 grounds.

[Tinribs]

Cork and Westwood both below par on Saturday ,Drinkwater will walk into the team when fit

[karatekid]

Genuine competition for places will always improve performances. Both in training and on the pitch. It's then a case of who impresses the most to get their name on the team sheet. So the answer is Yes.

[SGr]

Yes he would have.