It's nothing against El Mizouni, he's done very well since coming into the side, but let's not forget, by his own admission, he's a more defensive minded midfielder, who Des is trying to turn into a more forward thinking midfielder, which is great, and he's doing well, but I feel we're missing a bit of the creativity from central midfield that Tyler gives us when he plays there.
I've said it ever since he broke into the first team, that although he's a good option out wide, I genuinely believe Tyler's future lies more as an attacking central midfielder, a bit like Paul Scholes was in his prime, he's a clever little passer of the ball from central positions, and can run with the ball, score from distance, ghost into the box, play through balls, and make runs to get on the end of through balls himself. And he's a clever little finisher.
Tyler's also very good at operating in the space between the lines, and in pockets of space, where he's not afraid to hold onto the ball until a forward pass becomes available, or dribble through the centre of the pitch, which helps us keep the ball in the middle of the pitch, and on the edge of opposition box, and create from central positions as well, either with through balls, one two's, or Tyler himself breaking through.
Mizouni is also very good at holding onto the ball, but it's more for maintaining possession, whereas I just feel we'd get a bit more forward thinking creativity from Tyler, as he's a naturally more attack minded player.
Playing away from home, we'll also need the industrious work rate and defensive support that Dale offers out wide, and I feel starting with Dale out wide, with Tyler in the middle, might enable us to get control of the midfield in such a way that we can get a goal or two, then bring on the likes of Mizouni and Vaulks, in place of players like Rodrigues and Tyler, to allow us to continue to then control the midfield, in a different way and see the game out.
It's not about dropping anyone, but more about utilising the options we have, because at this level, each game will require different approaches and game plans, and with the options we have available in the squad, we're in a fantastic position to take advantage of the players at our disposal, to play different ways, whilst also not becoming predictable with how we'll set up.
Horses for course and that ennit...
