We either need some legs, power dynamism and aggression in the centre to boss the opposition, break up play and start counters, or some top quality box-to-box number 8 types who are a cut above the opposition and can dictate the game with their quality.
I can't see us affording or atractting the latter, so I would go all out for the former.
We are slow, weak, timid and lacking in any sort of aggression or fight at centre mid and have been for some time. We are far too nice and far too easy to play against. Howson is a big part of the problem for me. He isn't fast, strong, a tackler, a talker or a leader. He rarely gets up in support and rarely boIIocks those not doing their jobs.
He has a terrific engine, is super fit, rarely injured and reads the game well in most situations though.
I think he normally looks better later in games as his fitness and athleticism allows him to keep going longer than more powerful players. He's also a great pro, has been a decent servant to us, gives 100% and offers adequate cover in a number of positions.
But, until we have some sort of foothold and control in the centre of the park we will always be open and struggle if we're not scoring two or three early doors every game.
The decision to let both Tav and Payero go and not replace them is looking more and more baffling. We needed an extra box-to-box player or a 1st choice starting DCM anyway IMO, to allow Crooks and Howson to be rested and rotated, since then we have lost Tav and Payero and loaned in Mowatt.
We need two centre mids who can compete and keep the starters on their toes and offer a more mobile, dynamic and aggressive threat than Howson/McGree/Crooks and seemingly Mowatt can offer.
I still have faith, we are 75%-80% a good team, add Muniz and a strong forward who can cause more problems for the opposition and a couple of centre mids and we'll be almost there.
I would happily stick Paddy back at LCB if it meant we could get a couple of midfielders in.