Mowatt up for grabs
- Thread starter 55YEARSABOROFAN
- Start date
Howson is solid and reliable but he's not such a good player that he is irreplaceable. If we didn't renew his contract the majority of the division wouldn't sign him. The fact that our other players are such a step down is due to poor recruitment, not Howson being exceptional. We should be able to find a midfielder better than a 35 year old championship midfielder.
I really like Howson but he's not exceptional. Bringing in Mowatt who we know is nowhere near the level of Howson would be a mistake.
MichaelDebeve
Well-known member
I think the point is Howson just fits ours system perfectly - we all know he isnt a world beater, but he is exactly what WE need, regardless of whether the rest of the division want him.
Without him, something goes missing - and we cant quite put our finger on it!
allied_assault
Well-known member
Barlaser is only good when he has all the time in the world - put him under pressure and he can't handle it.
TeessideCleveland
Well-known member
Are you criticising Carrick for playing Mowatt ahead of Barlaser then?
BoroMart
Well-known member
Tempo, experience, assuredness in possession. If only he had the legs of a 25 year old and could shoot, he'd be perfect.
Mowatt has shown more in a Boro shirt than Barlaser has. Barlaser has been pretty gash though.
If Mowatt came in, he would be 3rd choice in front of Barlaser. Exactly the same as he was last season.
I would hope we would be aiming higher than Mowatt, really we want someone who is going to replace Howson and I don't see Mowatt or Barlaser as that player. However if there isn't anyone else who suits I wouldn't be against bringing in Mowatt on a shortish contract to help us this season. 1 or 2 year deal.
If only goal involvements were the only thing that mattered when you are a CM....
Can you also clarify this statement? Is this based on goals/assists? Neither have been prolific scorers or assist providers, but from what I can see, Mowatt has 2 in 1142 mins and Barlaser has 1 in 550 mins. Hardly the basis of a solid argument.
Howson only has 3 in 3835 mins of football in the same period, but we all know he brings a lot more than either of these players to the team.
TeessideCleveland
Well-known member
I agree. I wouldn't be devastated if we signed him, and wouldn't be devastated if we didn't
I do feel that scoring more is something we need to look at - so if we spent most of our money on forwards then if he was cheap enough he could cover us in midfield
As I said above I don't think we'll be going in for him though
MichaelDebeve
Well-known member
I hate using stats to be honest because they only paint part of a picture. Boateng probably would have had horrific stats for Boro but I think most would agree he's the best/most effective midfielder Boro have had this century.
However, I did feel the need to fact check Alvez on that one since I couldn't think of a single goal or assist that Barlaser had made.
What also stuck out during my fact checking exercise was Barlaser has not made a single tackle this season! He's made one "challenge" which he lost. Which backed up my previous statements on Barlaser. He's pretty terrible when we don't have the ball. Headless chicken. GoN mark 2
We can put our finger on it. Poor quality midfielders as back up.
Ironops
Well-known member
Barlaser is gash! utterly woeful player!
newyddion
Well-known member
BoroMart
Well-known member
You shouldn't base your opinion on a single stat, instead on a variety of stats that reflect all elements of a players performance.
Barlaser isn't half the player Howson is and never will be I'm afraid
Expat Smoggie
Well-known member
Personally I think he’s so much better than Barlaser who has imo been absolute bust, but then again he only cost around a million but still it’s money wasted. Problem with Mowatt is that he’s probably looking for a 4 year deal but at 28 that’s not going to happen.
Mowatt doesn’t replace Howson but as we found out last season he can cover for the back four and seemed to have a very good understanding with Lenihan. Ok he doesn’t pull up any trees but he’s certainly got the experience which for me is what we need.
Mowatt doesn’t replace Howson but as we found out last season he can cover for the back four and seemed to have a very good understanding with Lenihan. Ok he doesn’t pull up any trees but he’s certainly got the experience which for me is what we need.