Joined: Mar 07 2007 Posts: 7121 Location: Warrington
Andy Gilder wrote:Part of the issue with English midfielders is that they are judged more on their workrate than their ability.
Do you reckon Spanish fans sit down and watch Xavi then turn to each other and complain about how he's not constantly going from box to box and isn't the quickest over 10 yards?
The thing with Xavi is he's clever enough to make up for his limitations, although he does work better with a Toure or a Senna next to him. He reads the game well defensively, he doesn't get stuck in as much but he closes down well, without looking like a headless chicken.
Robbie Rotten wrote:Was that the game when England played with a fast, tenacious defensive midfield player? Do you see that player in the squad now? Do you see any midfielder of ours who is defensively outstanding? The defensive midfield player is becoming more and more key to sides wanting to win titles. Do you think Spain would have won it without Senna in 2008? Many felt he was one of the players who made the difference for Spain. Italy wouldn't have won it in 2006 without Gattuso, etc. I've heard many say England need to start playing like England and not trying to play like Spain or Argentina, but I don't understand what Capello is trying to achieve with that midfield, it is so pedestrian and the main reason our centre halves look average when in an England strip is because the midfield forever leaves them exposed 1v1.
Senna is not a Gattuso/Mascherano type "tenacious" defesive midfielder. He's a deep-lying midfielder who can read the game and break up play when required and then distribute the ball effectively. In fact, he's exactly the same sort of player as Xabi Alonso, Busquets and Javi Martinez, so Spain, with their system, are hardly missing out in not taking him.
The fact is that Spain don't need a terrier DM because they hardly ever lose the ball. England, on the other hand...
The North Koreans will run around like idiots and make it hard for the opponents if they are anything like the South Koreans.
Villa could get a hatful against Honduras with the midfield pulling the strings behind him, not to mention possible goals against the Swiss and Chileans.
Joined: Mar 07 2007 Posts: 7121 Location: Warrington
craigizzard wrote:Senna is not a Gattuso/Mascherano type "tenacious" defesive midfielder. He's a deep-lying midfielder who can read the game and break up play when required and then distribute the ball effectively. In fact, he's exactly the same sort of player as Xabi Alonso, Busquets and Javi Martinez, so Spain, with their system, are hardly missing out in not taking him.
The fact is that Spain don't need a terrier DM because they hardly ever lose the ball. England, on the other hand...
Javi Martinez isn't like Alonso. If he's like anybody, he's like a lesser Ballack. A strong, box-to-box player with a good engine. Senna isn't as quick as Mascherano, but he was certainly tenacious. Whenever the opposition went into Spain's half, he was at their heels winning the ball back. For Spain, he didn't play the Alonso type role, for Villarreal he does, though.
Alonso and Buesquets are capable of doing this defensive role, Alonso probably less so because he isn't quick over any distance, but he reads the game well and is a terrific man marker.
England don't really have any kind of defensive midfielder, if it was to be anyone, it would be Barry or Huddlestone. I don't think THudd is quick or mobile enough in a two man midfield, whilst I think Barry is only average at anchoring the midfield, and will be shown to be average by any half decent side.
Joined: May 23 2005 Posts: 31335 Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
LFCRhino wrote::HIGHFIVE: USA.....USA.....USA
I can't wait. I'm going to meet a lot of my girlfriends friends for the first time on Saturday, wearing my Maradonna Argentina shirt, and singing the Yanky national anthem cheering on the good old U S of A.
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