Holloway purring about Wilder and the team

Its a strange one, at Man Utd he played mainly as a centre back, when he left he said it was because he wanted to play in midfield, At Sunderland he played in defense to start with then midfield. Northern Ireland play him in midfield mostly. With the odd game elsewhere if they have injury issues.
The role he has now has him playing practically as a midfielder when we have the ball and as a defender when we don't. I think that suits him well as it plays to all his strengths.
 
Should only be played in midfield in their is a real lack of options due to suspensions or injuries for me. He’s an ok midfielder but an outstanding centre back. Think he’s quality and huge for us.

Reminds me of Rhys Williams a bit. Because they're both technically so good the temptation is/was to play them in midfield (and with McNair he has a great strike to take into account too) but both tend to end up letting the game pass them by a bit at times in that position. They like more time on the ball than you usually.

Injuries did for Rhys in the end, but his best run was at centre back under Mowbray. This system would've suited him down to the ground.
 
Where does McNair play for NI ? Murray is Northern Irish, and so could well be used to seeing him in midfield for the national team, and unaware that he also dabbles in defence...
He presents the EFL show so I would have thought he'd seen us play enough times to know where he plays for us.
 
Reminds me of Rhys Williams a bit. Because they're both technically so good the temptation is/was to play them in midfield (and with McNair he has a great strike to take into account too) but both tend to end up letting the game pass them by a bit at times in that position. They like more time on the ball than you usually.

Injuries did for Rhys in the end, but his best run was at centre back under Mowbray. This system would've suited him down to the ground.
My memory of Williams under Mowbray was him giving away a silly amount of penalties. I never got the “Rolls Rhys” tag Mogga gave him.
 
McNair was a number 10 all through the Man Utd youth teams.

think he got his chance in the first team when they had an injury crisis at centre back, and people just assumed that’s where he’d always played
McNair was seen as a natural successor to Gary Neville at Man Utd, he played at centre back a few times.. I can’t remember the exact ins and outs of his move to Sunderland but more game time was certainly a factor as was the chance to play in a midfield role. He was utilised more often at right back for Ireland.

He did play most of his games for Sunderland in midfield where they were relegated from the prem and then the championship.

Pulis brought him to boro as a midfielder who could play defence, Woodgate used him as a midfielder.. Warnock immediately switched him to a role that he was suited to at Man Utd and International level.. not the one utilised at a multi relegated side or through Pulis/Woodgate
 
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