MaineRoadMemories wrote:You can't control a game when you tell your midfielders never to be more than spitting distance from your defenders. We are set up tactically to play a game that naturally means we will never control a game from start to finish.
MaineRoadMemories wrote:You can't control a game when you tell your midfielders never to be more than spitting distance from your defenders. We are set up tactically to play a game that naturally means we will never control a game from start to finish.
Crossie wrote:Given
Zab Kompany Lescott Bridge
Vieira
SWP SOMEONE NEW Jinky
Tevez
Garafabaybor
Would have shape, danger all around and be able to control games.
Ted Hughes wrote:Crossie wrote:Given
Zab Kompany Lescott Bridge
Vieira
SWP SOMEONE NEW Jinky
Tevez
Garafabaybor
Would have shape, danger all around and be able to control games.
Vieira's not up to doing that job without help.
edge275 wrote:Ted Hughes wrote:Crossie wrote:Given
Zab Kompany Lescott Bridge
Vieira
SWP SOMEONE NEW Jinky
Tevez
Garafabaybor
Would have shape, danger all around and be able to control games.
Vieira's not up to doing that job without help.
I think he can.
Ted Hughes wrote:edge275 wrote:Ted Hughes wrote:Crossie wrote:Given
Zab Kompany Lescott Bridge
Vieira
SWP SOMEONE NEW Jinky
Tevez
Garafabaybor
Would have shape, danger all around and be able to control games.
Vieira's not up to doing that job without help.
I think he can.
Hughes tried it with DeJong who's much more mobile & we ended up with the back 4 (not being good individually enough) without protection leaking goals. If the 'someone new' was like Vieira aged 25 then it might work but I haven't seen such a player.
edge275 wrote:Ted Hughes wrote:edge275 wrote:Ted Hughes wrote:Crossie wrote:Given
Zab Kompany Lescott Bridge
Vieira
SWP SOMEONE NEW Jinky
Tevez
Garafabaybor
Would have shape, danger all around and be able to control games.
Vieira's not up to doing that job without help.
I think he can.
Hughes tried it with DeJong who's much more mobile & we ended up with the back 4 (not being good individually enough) without protection leaking goals. If the 'someone new' was like Vieira aged 25 then it might work but I haven't seen such a player.
So you're saying that after spending the best part of 60 million on a new defence the last 12 months or so, that we need not one but TWO defensive midfielders? I'm not buying it. Vieira would be enough on his own.
bluej wrote:Why can we not dictate the pace of a game? We can do it in spells, see the last couple of minutes in the first half and in patches in the 2nd.
Mr Miyagi wrote:bluej wrote:Why can we not dictate the pace of a game? We can do it in spells, see the last couple of minutes in the first half and in patches in the 2nd.
It's a good question because it gets to the heart of what makes a team successful. And the answer is the midfield. In the past we used to call them a "midfield general". Whoever dominates midfield will dominate the match.
To be fair to the manager during the transfer window we bought Vieira, and tried to sign Mariga and Gago. Mariga and Vieira are both players who receive the ball deep and turn and drive at the opposition. Gago is the type who sits in front of the back four and initiates attacks. Therefore, Mancini knows this is the problem. The fact he focused transfer activity on central midfield shows this.
M147WN wrote:All good teams have at least 2 combative, mobile midfielders capable of defensive duties but also with the ability to drive forward and initiate attacks and score a fair few too.
They all have good engines!
u****d have Carrick & fletcher, Chelsea have Lampard and Essian, Arsenal have introduced Song alongside fabregas even scouse 1 have Gerrard but they do play the standard deep holding player in Mascherano.
We have an out and out def mid in De Jong and Barry is fast becoming his shadow!
Ireland is way out of sorts (I'm beginning to wonder if he's the player we thought he was?) he certainly doesn't control a game - never has - and gets by because he can pass a ball (or used to).
From as far back as I can remember every good pro or manager has sworn by "the spine" of a team being sound!
We have a gaping hole in the middle of the park, where for me games are won or lost, and until this is filled we will flatter to deceive but ultimately fail unless its addressed!
M147WN wrote:All good teams have at least 2 combative, mobile midfielders capable of defensive duties but also with the ability to drive forward and initiate attacks and score a fair few too.
They all have good engines!
u****d have Carrick & fletcher, Chelsea have Lampard and Essian, Arsenal have introduced Song alongside fabregas even scouse 1 have Gerrard but they do play the standard deep holding player in Mascherano.
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