Which is why the Mac Allister links make sense.
We need a bunch of proper hard grafters in our midfield next season. Lads who will cover every blade of grass and punish the opposition physically. Sounds like a Sam Allardyce wet dream that but a bit of backbone in the middle will give the space for the flair players (similar to Ferguson's best Utd teams, or Wenger's Arsenal, mixing British brute strength with technical flair).
Too pretty and tame at the moment (aside from Hendo and Milner, but they're getting on). Let's get back to hard as nails midfield generals.