Yoof
Tony Parks
How can you know that he would fit into either of those roles at this point?
Sorry, I'm not sure what you're asking. We don't know for sure how any player would fit into the team so all we can do at this point is project.
How can you know that he would fit into either of those roles at this point?
Sorry, I'm not sure what you're asking. We don't know for sure how any player would fit into the team so all we can do at this point is project.
I don't know many successful teams that don't have a specialist holding midfielder. I don't like the idea of two jack of all trades types...Personally I'd like a player as close to Bentaleb's skillset in both positions in that double pivot. I'd like both to have a decent defensive read on the game and the ability to play good passes forward to those in space.
I don't know many successful teams that don't have a specialist holding midfielder. I don't like the idea of two jack of all trades types...
Personally I'd like a double pivot where both players are happy to do both roles. Having one defensive midfielder and one offensive midfielder pigeon holes those players and can make the oppositions job easier. A coach could just deploy his midfielders to shut down the creative player whilst focussing less on the defensive player who lacks the imagination and technical ability to open up the opposition. Having two players that can both attack and defend means that if the opposition try to close one down then the other can still do some damage. Let's face it, Bentaleb did very well in that position this season and having two players with his physicallity, passing range and defensive reading on at the same time would be great. Certainly with the links to Schneiderlin and Rabiot we are looking at that type of player.
With all that said, I'd still like to see us switch to something akin to a midfield three (433 or 4321) with Bentaleb as the #8 and Eriksen as the #10. It's also the only formation where I can see us being able to give sufficient game time to players like Carroll, Onomah and Alli.
That would be the happy scenario, but in our case neither of our two CM players have the defensive side of the game right. Bentaleb may turn out to be one but from what I have seen of Mason he lacks the ability/mind to read the defensive part of the game.
I think that a lot of modern coaches are prepared to sacrifice this in order to be more fluid going forward.
I think that a lot of fans would like to see a dynamic ball winner, whereas I think most coaches would prefer a player who closes off space, intercepts passes and recycles play.
Personally I'd like a double pivot where both players are happy to do both roles. Having one defensive midfielder and one offensive midfielder pigeon holes those players and can make the oppositions job easier. A coach could just deploy his midfielders to shut down the creative player whilst focussing less on the defensive player who lacks the imagination and technical ability to open up the opposition. Having two players that can both attack and defend means that if the opposition try to close one down then the other can still do some damage. Let's face it, Bentaleb did very well in that position this season and having two players with his physicallity, passing range and defensive reading on at the same time would be great. Certainly with the links to Schneiderlin and Rabiot we are looking at that type of player.
With all that said, I'd still like to see us switch to something akin to a midfield three (433 or 4321) with Bentaleb as the #8 and Eriksen as the #10. It's also the only formation where I can see us being able to give sufficient game time to players like Carroll, Onomah and Alli.
Oh yes, Barca and Real do it therefore we can replicate it right? Unfortunately its not quite that simple. When we have two or three world class CMs who seldom lose the ball then great, maybe then we can look at not needing a proper DM but until that time which isn't going to be anytime soon we will need someone with a proper defensive side to their game. These players who are great playmakers whilst having great defensive nous don't grow on trees and play for the elite unfortunately.....Real Madrid and barca effectively employ no stopper, just technically strong players who are disciplined and their light years away from any side in this league
Oh yes, Barca and Real do it therefore we can replicate it right? Unfortunately its not quite that simple. When we have two or three world class CMs who seldom lose the ball then great, maybe then we can look at not needing a proper DM but until that time which isn't going to be anytime soon we will need someone with a proper defensive side to their game. These players who are great playmakers whilst having great defensive nous don't grow on trees and play for the elite unfortunately.....
Real Madrid and Barca effectively employ no stopper, just technically strong players who are disciplined and their light years away from any side in this league
His somewhat unreasonable mother is still our best hope of getting him: if she insists on her son leaving, then perhaps there's a chance for us, although PSG could conceivably just tell her to sod off and keep the lad, obviously.
I agree. Baldini was meant to be laying on the charm in January
I do not disagree with most of that, however as I have said we have to have someone who has more defensive awareness then either of our two CM players. We call our defenders for being all over the place but one of the reasons for that is they have no proper cover from the players in front of them.
Bentaleb may get better at that but I see no sign in Mason that he will.
Maybe because Mason is by a nature an offensive player who has been forced by Poch to play in a defensive position