He’s been a great pro for the club and on his day he’s the metronome that makes the midfield tick. However, probably due to his age and having to play more than his legs need, I don’t think he’s always reached his high standards this season. Personally, I think we need a ‘Leadbitter’ type figure in midfield. Someone who will motivate team mates and not stand for anyone giving less than 100% Someone who will really get stuck in when the going gets tough and drive the team. I think this is important when you’ve got ball players like Barlaser and a youngster like Hackney in midfield, as talented as he is. As a captain, Johnny is a little too quiet for me. Just my opinion and I’m sure plenty will disagree.
About how I see him too. It irks me somewhat (and did again on Saturday) that when our heads are dropping or we look disorganised it was predominantly RvdB talking, organising, shouting instructions etc.
I 'like' Howson, he's been a solid signing and we've had great service from him. He's a model pro, covered a number of positions for us well, and his frame and fitness (whilst seeing him out muscled and out powered too often) allows him to be effective in games when others are flagging. But I'll never 'love' him as a player as I did with Boating, Leadbitter, Mustoe and a few others.
But...overall he's been a bit 'meh' in my opinion. He's always been decent without ever being 'great', he isn't what I thought we were getting for the fee when we signed him. He isn't a much of a leader, he doesn't seem to organise, gee up his team mates or younger players, he has never been quick, a tackler, a take one for the team type, he hasn't regularly scored or assisted at much of a level either. I think that he has been seen as our main man in midfield for so long is probably a bit of a negative ultimately.
I think it makes total sense to move on from him, but wouldn't begrudge him another year in a much reduced role, but not as first team captain on the pitch.
The big trouble with moving on from him is that we have absolutely nothing midfield wise to replace him.
O'Brien isn't ours, hasn't had a run in midfield to see if he could be as good for us as he was for Huddersfield, and I've seen various bits and bobs about Forest rating him at the £8 million to £10 million level.
Barlaser maybe effective with the right partner, he passes well and is good in possession, but doesn't seem solid enough to be the deeper 'sitter' in our two man midfield, he could maybe operate effectively a bit further forward with a Clayton type behind him?
Hackney is obviously nailed on as our more forward thinking CM and although he seems to have dropped off a bit the last few weeks (brought back too early?) he is still our star player, which obviously attracts interest from PL teams, I'll be over the moon if he's still here late next August, but wouldn't be surprised if he isn't.
So realistically we may only have one centre mid on the books by July, Barlaser, who is a bit up and down in the boards perceptions. From nailed on starter to league one at best. Is he good enough to push us on into the top 6? I think probably not, so we may well need a squad CM to complement Barlaser to rest / rotate with the starting pair.
For that new starting pair, we need a 'better than Howson' option who can sit in, sniff out danger, be athletic and powerful enough to influence games, ideally with a touch of shīthousėry and the dark arts thrown in as well. And probably the more difficult a 'as good as Hackney' to replace his drive, ball carrying and inter-passing / goal threat. Both would have to be very comfortable receiving the ball, short passing and carrying it how Carrick has us playing too.
That's a Hell of recruitment job in one window, and unless we're very lucky / crafty it will be expensive too.
Like a few have said the recruitment team have known this would be coming for 12 months, so hopefully we have irons in fires. That said, they knew we needed another striker in August, then we had none fit in January and also lost Rogers and Jones and we did nothing to strengthen the forward areas after getting Azaz in early doors. So who knows!
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