Cassidy, when you have 2 midfield sitters who screen the back 4 they have to cover an awful lot of ground and be able to get constantly up and down the pitch to bridge the gap to the midfield 3 who are naturally a lot further up.
Whitehouse can’t get around the pitch like Pugh and Shrimpton, he simply doesn’t have the athleticism and running power of either of those two.
Does Pugh have deficiencies?, yes but he’s definitely improved, in fact I think he’s improved a lot. Shooting is crap mind and is passing is a little off at times but he brings a lot to this team and him and Shrimpton compliment each other incredibly well in there.
I was wrong about Shrimpton not being able to play that role as I didn’t think he’d be disciplined enough but he’s proved me wrong.
Whitehouse is a good solid player but he’s no world beater either. Whitehouse in a midfield 3 yes but not screening the back 4, he hasn’t got the legs/mobility.
Guarantee we took Pugh out and played Whitehouse in his place, we’d get played through a lot more easily. Maybe you see Whitehouse as a lower league Patrick Viera, cassidy ?
