Target Practice #2

There were a number of different variables that Town were lacking last campaign. Decent full-backs, dynamic wingers, a prolific striker and, arguably the biggest void, a central midfielder with some grit. It’s been a fair few years since Town last had a dominating, vocal midfielder who would command the play from the centre of the park. Cole Skuse was arguably the last player to perform this role, but he hadn’t been at his best for at least two years before his departure from Portman Road this summer.

Flynn Downes has the capabilities to grow into a gritty midfielder, and whilst Andre Dozzell would never shy away from a tough tackle, it’s clear that Town needed to bolster their midfield in order to generate success both offensively and defensively.

When spoken about in relation to a Paul Cook team, the two midfielders are truly the engine room. Whilst Cook wants his midfielders to play slightly deeper, they still need to control the game with swift passing movements and commanding interceptions. Breaking up play and providing attacking license to the four attacking players is the name of the game for Cook’s midfield duo, and in this edition of ‘Target Practice’, we’re going to take a look at three players who could fit this role perfectly. Enjoy!

Lee Evans

This rumour has been floating around for a few weeks, which makes it a good place to start. Lee Evans is a defensive midfielder with style; his range of passing is matched by his finishing ability and he never turns his back from an important tackle. One of the few players remaining from the summer of devastation at Wigan, it would be fair to say that Evans has struggled with injury problems this campaign. Whilst he may have spent some time on the side-lines, Evans has still been one of Wigan’s top performers this season, turning out 24 times in all competitions, scoring and assisting twice, averaging a 7.16 across those appearances (stats according to WhoScored).

Lee Evans is also a familiar face to Paul Cook, with the Newport-born midfielder being signed by Town’s boss both on a loan and permanent basis during his time at Wigan. During the 2019/20 season, arguably Cook’s most impressive season with The Latics (before disaster struck), Evans was an ever-present, appearing 32 times for a side that were close to the play-offs before a heavy points-deduction took them down.

Evans isn’t a goal-scoring midfielder, but that isn’t the main role of Paul Cooks’ holders. Instead, Evans would provide a much-needed backbone to a Town side that lack a controlled spine. Whilst his recent injury issues may act as a slight concern, he has proven on plenty of occasions that he can remain fit for a full campaign.

With Paul Cook surrounding himself with familiar faces and Lee Evans’ contract set to expire, the 26-year-old could make the switch to Suffolk and become a key part of Town’s promotion push.,

Liam Walsh

Liam Walsh won’t be short of suitors this summer after being released by Bristol City, and it will soon become clear as to why. A dynamic midfielder with a wonderful range of passing, Walsh was arguably the best midfielder in League One during his successful loan spell at Coventry City in 2019. Walsh hasn’t had much luck with injuries this season so in order to fairly reflect his ability, we will analyse his time in the Midlands as opposed to a torrid time in the South West.

Whilst Walsh may not be a tough tackling defensive midfielder, it’s his reading of the game that is most impressive. A more rounded version of Andre Dozzell, Liam Walsh is a commanding presence due to his sensational array of passing and his distinct ability to drift past his opponent. Despite only appearing three times for Bristol City last season, their fans were disappointed to see him go, which should say a lot about his promise.

During his promotion season with Coventry, Walsh was the Sky Blue’s best performer in terms of rating, amassing a 7.30 across 25 appearances in which he scored three times and provided five assists. You only have to take one glance at his highlight reel to witness the class that Walsh dictates on a football pitch.

At 23, Walsh has plenty of room to grow and it might be time for him to find a settled home. Where better than Ipswich? Having been signed during Mark Ashton’s term at Ashton Gate, Walsh could be settled by some familiar faces, as well as being given license to star in another promotion charge.

There is no doubt that Paul Cook will be on the lookout for top quality midfielders this summer and with a price tag of £0, there are no stronger candidates that Liam Walsh.

Hakeem Odoffin

I’m not going to pretend that I knew a lot about Hakeem Odoffin, but it’s hard not to be impressed when you delve further into his statistics. Whilst I know stats don’t tell the full story, it’s hard to argue with Hamilton Academical’s midfield ace being named in the SPL team of the season, despite competing against some classy midfielders.

Odoffin isn’t just a bruising central midfielder, he’s a versatile player with the capabilities to occupy multiple positions through the spine of a team. Mostly playing as a holding midfielder for Hamilton this term, Odoffin has also played as a centre-half and a right-back. Having come through the youth ranks at Tottenham, Odoffin has moved around quite a lot before settling in Scotland.

Operating in the conventional number 6 role, it would be wrong to say that Odoffin is a wonderful passer of the ball. However, his interception and tackling statistics show an awful amount of promise, with Odoffin making more interceptions than any player in the Scottish Premier League. In fact, half way through this campaign, Odoffin had made more interceptions than any other U23’s player in Europe. His immense reading of the game may not be matched with ball playing quality, but I dare say he could continue to develop and become a dominant figure in England’s lower leagues.

The Scottish market is difficult to read, with some players more than capable of playing in the Premier League and others not fit for the fight in League Two. Whilst Odoffin has a relegation to his name this season, he was a standout performer for a poor side and I wouldn’t be surprised if some savvy clubs are willing to take a punt on a player who shows a real knowledge of the game and a willingness to progress.

And those are my picks! Feel free to let me know your thoughts and get in touch if you have any recommendations for players that you’d like to see become part of Town’s new look side for next season! Thank you for taking the time to read this piece; I’ll see you again soon!