EPL: The Midfield Dilemma for Alex Mcleish Is Experience vs. Youth

With the loan signing of Matt Derbyshire for Birmingham City, the old cliches about giving the manager a "pleasant headache" are in full swing, given that he has a good batch of strikers to choose from. 

Less documented is his difficult decision regarding Barry Ferguson's midfield partner. Lee Bowyer had held this position almost unchallenged for much of last year with little competition, but with the signing of Craig Gardner, this has changed. 

Both are combative attacking midfielders with a penchant for a crunching sliding tackle as well as an eye for the odd goal, but there is only room for one in the middle, and the growing noise with some fans is that Gardener should be the first choice.  

The question we might ask then, is what would Gardner bring to the set-up that Bowyer currently does not?

Bowyer is an assured passer of the ball and it was his attacking input that allowed Birmingham's remarkable unbeaten run last season. More than that, Bowyer is one of the many leaders at Birmingham, his seniority and experience are appreciated and understood by his teammates and as such these traits are key to his value in the midfield. 

Gardner, 23, represents a newer and more youthful approach by Mcleish, and it is likely hoped that he will develop further under Bowyer as a player. Gardner is a good passer, a strong character, and he has what Bowyer's age has largely taken from him—explosive power and acceleration). 

Both are capable of an attacking enforcer role and both can thrive, but it comes down to experience and guile vs. power and youth. 

So far, Mcleish has been a fan of experience. The likes of Bowyer, Ferguson, Phillips, Carsley, and Carr are testament to this, but one cannot help but feel that there is a large-scale change due to take place at Birmingham soon. This is evidenced by the purchases of Michel, Gardner, Valles, the emergence of Mutch on preseason. 

As of today, Bowyer has remained one of the first names on Alex Mcleish's team sheet, but youthful players and obvious alternatives are being acquired and those older players who slip up might find it very difficult to find a way back onto the pitch.