Joe Ledley

Can't praise Ledley enough. Our best player apart from Charlie last season IMO. Doesn't score a vast amount of goals but gets his share, and a few of them have been important goals at that. Reminds me a bit of Lambert, in the sense that even when you don't really notice his performance, you still don't recognise the player he was up against. Does a lot of things that goes unnoticed, and always gives a solid performance no matter what position he is playing.

 

If I had a standing ovation gif. it would be yours. Sarcasm aside!

 

Hes a great player, I think hes our best CM you miss him when he doesnt play.
I said he could score 15 at cardiff because the freedom he.got. Especially against smaller teams I think if ledley didnt have to worry as much on the defending side.
He could play a similar role to pertovs celtic days.


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I agree with the OP. Ledley should be a better performer and I've always felt that he's been played slightly out of position in this rigid 442 formation or 424 at times.

I'd like to see two holding type midfielders protecting an advancing type such as Ledley. The secret to this formation is of course to play ONE striker. Petrov was fantastic playing in front of Lennon and Lambert and I'm sure we'd get much more out of JL in this position.

 

It's a fair point but if we were to play this way, I feel Commons would have to step into the 'Petrov role', thoughts bhoys?

I think if you when you take Ledley out of the middle we do miss him, although I do like him playing on the left with Izzy behind him overlapping.

It's great that we have such a squad we can debate on who should play where?

 

I would fit Commons into a front 3 with Forrest and Samaras/Hooper.


.............................Brown.......Kayal

...................................Ledley
Forrest..............................................Commons
..................................Samaras

 

joe joe SUPER JOE

 

Sammy Hooper Stokes
Ledley
Wanyam Kayal
Izzaguirre Mulgrew Rogne Matthews
Forster​

 

Hrmm. A starting 11 where Hooper (as our only real goalscorer) does not start automatically.

Not for me, I must say.

 

I don't agree. Hooper looks lost playing up top alone imo. Samaras could handle it better.

 

Now that I don't dispute - however, that being the case, your set-up does not accommodate Hooper; and with Hooper comes goals as a fact.

As such, with him being arguably our most valuable asset, it would seemingly be wise to play to the strengths that have seen him score 20+ league goals per season since his arrival as opposed to a formation that features "I don't score many goals" Samaras with Hooper left out.

 

I reckon Samaras would score 20 + easily playing up front in every match.

 

Mate, he's played up front plenty times for us, and never so much as hinted he'd be that prolific. He did have that burst of 10 goals in no time when he first joined permanently (before injury,) but I just don't see him as being capable of 20+ goals in the SPL alone in a season when I look at his performances other than that streak.

 

Samaras is a lot better in midfield.

As for Joe Ledley, I think we're really lucky to have him. I was surprised there wasn't good offers from Premier League clubs on the table for Joe when his contract ran out at Cardiff.

We're using him in the best way possible in my opinion. He's adapted to both left-midfield and left-back when we've needed him and he's never groaned once. When we do get him in the middle of park, his quality always shines through, he's excellent while attacking, defending and his passing is always tidy. He's regularly in the position to get on the score-sheet and often does so.

Joe is the main man.

 

Have to agree with Daver here metrobhoy. Samaras has been utilised up front numerous times and has failed to deliver the goods. His best position is out wide.

 

Not on his own though mate. Think of Samaras' performances up front playing the lone striker role. Besides, Ledley, Commons and Forrest would also chip in with plenty of goals with the freedom to do so.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/stoke_city/8773680.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/celtic/8714916.stm

 

Aye, I knew about Roma.

As for Stoke, I should have been clearer - I meant big Premier League clubs.

 

I think arguing about Joe's best position is almost irrelevant because his biggest strength is his versatility. No matter where you stick him in he will consistently do a great job. That being said I do reckon CM is his strongest but no matter what line up we put he will find a place and deliver the goods.

We're pretty lucky to have a player like him, give it a few years and I think people will start talking about him in terms of how much of a legend he is in the same way some people talk about some of the lesser players in MoN's team.

 

Samaras is good at holding the ball up when up top on his own but other than against Rangers (2 years ago in January I might add) I can't remember him scoring many.