This 3 defensive midfielder malarkey!

[lythamblue]

I'm getting sick of the media and even people on here commenting that we play this way..... because we actually don't.

Yes, De jong is the classic DM, he sits in front of the defence, breaks up play, wins the ball in midfield and then keeps it simple and rarely gives it away. Whereas Barry now comes late into the box and tries to create in a 'Lampard' type of a way.

Also, there was nothing defensive about Vierra against B'Burn when he tapped in a Tevez cross from 3 yards out or indeed Yaya against wigan when he slotted home from 5 yards out either. I can't remember ever seeing DeJong get into such positions.

They may be big and they may be tough, but they are certainly not deployed as 'Defensive Midfielders'!

[Pretty Boy Lee]

To be fair though, Barry and Yaya are known more for their break up qualities than goal or assists. The pair combined probably wont contribute as much as a Gerrard/Lampard style player in a season.


While it's strictly not true that they are one dimensional defensive players, theyre not the most attacking midfield in the world are they?

[Bingo Lewis]

To be fair though, Barry and Yaya are known more for their break up qualities than goal or assists. The pair combined probably wont contribute as much as a Gerrard/Lampard style player in a season.


While it's strictly not true that they are one dimensional defensive players, theyre not the most attacking midfield in the world are they?

Fuck me. I think thats the first time I've ever agreed with everything you've wrote.

[Fidel Castro]

To be fair though, Barry and Yaya are known more for their break up qualities than goal or assists. The pair combined probably wont contribute as much as a Gerrard/Lampard style player in a season.


While it's strictly not true that they are one dimensional defensive players, theyre not the most attacking midfield in the world are they?

Fuck me. I think thats the first time I've ever agreed with everything you've wrote.

I will not fuck you, but I also agree

[TheGOAT]

They are central midfielders.

The formation we play has 1 defensive midfielder (De Jong), and 2 central midfielders (Barry, Yaya)

We then play 3 Forwards (2 as wingers).

Mourinho introduced this formation to Chelsea and had huge success with it. So much so that his predecessors have predominantly stuck with this formation. Alot of managers across Europe (notably Alex Ferguson) have also implemented the formation to suit their teams. Over the last 5 years I'd say it has rivaled 442 as the most used foramtion in European football!

[Bingo Lewis]

Chelsea had lampard mate. Thats where their success came from, a goal scoring midfielder.


If Silva or Milner were one of our three then we could compare.

[TheGOAT]

Chelsea had lampard mate. Thats where their success came from, a goal scoring midfielder.


If Silva or Milner were one of our three then we could compare.

Lampard plays in the same position as Barry. The fact he scores more goals doesn't change that fact they play the same position!
Drogba scores more goals than Hesky, they are both center forwards!

[CitizenYank]

To be fair though, Barry and Yaya are known more for their break up qualities than goal or assists. The pair combined probably wont contribute as much as a Gerrard/Lampard style player in a season.


While it's strictly not true that they are one dimensional defensive players, theyre not the most attacking midfield in the world are they?

Fuck me. I think thats the first time I've ever agreed with everything you've wrote.

This post would probably underline the club's fascination and hope that Michael Johnson returns to form. Hoping against hope.

[Fidel Castro]

Chelsea had lampard mate. Thats where their success came from, a goal scoring midfielder.


If Silva or Milner were one of our three then we could compare.

I'm hoping Milner will move to central midfield and we start to play Silva and AJ as our wingers

[TheGOAT]

Chelsea had lampard mate. Thats where their success came from, a goal scoring midfielder.


If Silva or Milner were one of our three then we could compare.

I'm hoping Milner will move to central midfield and we start to play Silva and AJ as our wingers

Me too, aslo Balotelli

[Pretty Boy Lee]

The Barry/lampard comparison is daft. Saying we have to settle for an inferior player (in that role) makes no sense when we are the worlds richest club.

If Bobby wanted to replicate a Chelsea jigsaw he should have bought all the pieces.

That said Hughes tried this formation a few times with robinho/ade/tevez up top. Having 3 true attackers would go someway to making up for our defensive midfield. Milner as one of the 3 is the biggest problem for my liking, nowhere near attacking enough, throw a striker up there please bobbo.

[Guy Debord]

They are central midfielders.

The formation we play has 1 defensive midfielder (De Jong), and 2 central midfielders (Barry, Yaya)

We then play 3 Forwards (2 as wingers).

Mourinho introduced this formation to Chelsea and had huge success with it. So much so that his predecessors have predominantly stuck with this formation. Alot of managers across Europe (notably Alex Ferguson) have also implemented the formation to suit their teams. Over the last 5 years I'd say it has rivaled 442 as the most used foramtion in European football!

The 4-3-3 was originally played by Brazil in the 1962 World Cup. It or versions of it are probably the most used in top level football these days. The reason for this is the emergence of technically gifted strikers that could play in the space between the defensive line and midfield. Their success spelled the end of the 'poacher' and to an extent wingers to cross from wide positions, hence the emergence of 'wrong-sided' wingers cutting in to attack directly.
City's midfield three, is there to control the centre which it does admirably.

Unfortunately, most media pundits are clueless about the tactical aspects of the game.

[brite blu sky]

Chelsea had lampard mate. Thats where their success came from, a goal scoring midfielder.


If Silva or Milner were one of our three then we could compare.

I'm hoping Milner will move to central midfield and we start to play Silva and AJ as our wingers

I think we had this debate on buying Milner.. but yes given a bit of time to let everyone settle in a serious option is to have Milner play centrally.
Then you look at our options and think that there is no need to have a set way. You could drop Tevez down to that position and put two wingers and Balotelli in front.. now tell me that wouldn't be tasty!

Anyways i rekon it will be a while until Bobby starts to play around with the midfield set up... when everyone has settled in, shown something of what they can do and key injured players back and up to speed with the group. He is cautious after all.

[Socrates]

spot on Lytham, Barry has rarely played as a defensive midfielder in his career, was mostly deployed as a box to boxer by Villa in recent years and scored 32 goals in his last 5 seasons with them. People are confused by his different role for the England side who were missing a defensive midfielder and Barry was able to adapt to the role when called upon. Similarly, Yaya adapted to defensive duties when called upon by his club but is equally adept as a box to boxer, MVF style.

[Bingo Lewis]

Chelsea had lampard mate. Thats where their success came from, a goal scoring midfielder.


If Silva or Milner were one of our three then we could compare.

Lampard plays in the same position as Barry. The fact he scores more goals doesn't change that fact they play the same position!
Drogba scores more goals than Hesky, they are both center forwards!

Lee answered this point perfectly above.

[TheGOAT]

They are central midfielders.

The formation we play has 1 defensive midfielder (De Jong), and 2 central midfielders (Barry, Yaya)

We then play 3 Forwards (2 as wingers).

Mourinho introduced this formation to Chelsea and had huge success with it. So much so that his predecessors have predominantly stuck with this formation. Alot of managers across Europe (notably Alex Ferguson) have also implemented the formation to suit their teams. Over the last 5 years I'd say it has rivaled 442 as the most used foramtion in European football!

The 4-3-3 was originally played by Brazil in the 1962 World Cup. It or versions of it are probably the most used in top level football these days. The reason for this is the emergence of technically gifted strikers that could play in the space between the defensive line and midfield. Their success spelled the end of the 'poacher' and to an extent wingers to cross from wide positions, hence the emergence of 'wrong-sided' wingers cutting in to attack directly.
City's midfield three, is there to control the centre which it does admirably.

Unfortunately, most media pundits are clueless about the tactical aspects of the game.

Exactly

[LookMumImOnMCF.net]

Loads of good point here.

Just because you stick certain people in certain positions that doesn't mean they'll play a certain way.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

Chelsea had lampard mate. Thats where their success came from, a goal scoring midfielder.


If Silva or Milner were one of our three then we could compare.

when we bought Milner, I thought the plan was to stick him as an attacking player to that midfield trio. I've been surprised to see him play on the wing where we already have about ten full internationals fighting for places.

[Colin the King]

Chelsea had lampard mate. Thats where their success came from, a goal scoring midfielder.


If Silva or Milner were one of our three then we could compare.

when we bought Milner, I thought the plan was to stick him as an attacking player to that midfield trio. I've been surprised to see him play on the wing where we already have about ten full internationals fighting for places.

I'm a little surprised about that too. Think he's better suited to playing centrally. Let someone with a a bit more pace and trickery play wide and he can do the classic centre mid stuff. It'll be interesting to see what the preferred starting XI and formation is when everyone's fit- I know, rotation, but he'll have a 'best' team in mind.

The back five probably picks itself- Hart, Boateng, Touré, Kompany and Kolarov, but after that I haven't got a clue. I'd only class de Jong as a defensive midfielder of the three, but if they're all playing, we have to squeeze 3 of Tevez, Balotelli, Silva, Adebayor, AJ or SWP into the remaining spots at any one time. But who to drop? De Jong has been first class and improved a lot recently with his passing and positional sense, Barry would've probably been favourite to lose a place after last season but has been brilliant so far in this one and Touré, well, it's Touré.

Getting a headache just thinking about it, maybe Mancini isn't overpaid after all.

[Pretty Boy Lee]

I think the idea for milner should be the zabaletta of midfield. When we have injuries play him wide, when the game needs play him central. Basically not an automatic starter anywhere but a reliable squad member who still gets loads of games.