Not sure Lampard ever really wanted Woolfy, he only came in at the end of the window, probably because that’s all that was on offer. Lampard was after a Charlie Hughes type: same size and aggression as Thomas and Kitching, but quicker, someone who could really boss the spine. At Ipswich, Burgess was the aerial/ball-playing presence, winning headers, organising the backline, and dominating physically. Woolfy was more mobile and reactive, focused on closing spaces, covering runners, and keeping things tidy. He and Lati looked decent against Southampton, but that was against a small, mobile striker. Woolfy isn’t a liability, but he’s not the combative, imposing type Lampard usually prefers.
Thomas and Kitchen can defend, but that’s about it. They can’t dictate play, carry the ball under pressure, or organise the spine. Pairing them together makes the team predictable and easy to press. Pairing Woolfy with Kitch or Thomas wouldn’t fix it either, Woolfy is tidy, mobile, and reactive, but he doesn’t drive play forward or break a press, while Thomas/Kitch can tackle and hold shape but can’t progress the ball either or organise.
What we desperately need this window is a dominant, ball-carrying centre-back, someone who can organise the backline, take the ball out of defence. That type of player would pair perfectly with Woolfy, giving Coventry a spine that can finally function under pressure.
( brilliant signing ) Yang ( not sure yet) and the lad whos not ready yet, that’s piss poor
Kitchen and Thomas: defenders… in the most basic sense of the word. Main thing I was trying to get at is they can't do anything else.
talksport.com
