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Malbranque-Tanio for CM

rickspur

New Member
Mar 1, 2005
192
0
Steed Malbranque - should be tried in the Centre of Midfield. Could not do worse than any of the others. + its actually his position.
 

Krafty

Well-Known Member
May 26, 2004
4,768
2,099
I cant see why this cant be tried. If anything they will at least play twenty yards further up the pitch than Jenas and Zokora did against Newcastle. Then the strikers might get some support and service rather than having to take on the entire oppositions defence single handedly.

They may need be the most physcial of players but I'd hardly say any of the other central midfielders have done that job.

I think Malbranque definately needs to play more centrally, probably in the whole behind the strikers is his best position. He can play some superb through balls at times and looks to score as well.

I would go with a 4-3-1-2, look to get the full backs really roaming forward, Huddlestone playing the beckenbauer type role, bringing the ball out of defence and moving into midfield when we have possession. I dont think we have any pairing of central midfielders that is good enough for the Premiership so we might as well crowd that area and make up for quality with quantity.
 

gibbs131

Banned
May 20, 2005
8,870
11
I think it is time for DEFINED roles. Make JJ a defensive midfielder. And put Malbs in the middle doing what he does best: A PAUL SCHOLES ROLE. On the left we have Baley who can cover for Malbs attacking role (Bale ex defender). On the right of JJ we have Lennon who can also go ahead more often as he has a defensive midfielder next to him.

Our tactics are farsical. We are putting a start shaped pegs in round holes.
 

batigol

Active Member
Dec 6, 2006
851
178
I think it is time for DEFINED roles. Make JJ a defensive midfielder. And put Malbs in the middle doing what he does best: A PAUL SCHOLES ROLE. On the left we have Baley who can cover for Malbs attacking role (Bale ex defender). On the right of JJ we have Lennon who can also go ahead more often as he has a defensive midfielder next to him.

Our tactics are farsical. We are putting a start shaped pegs in round holes.

JJ a defensive midfielder? Seriously that is a square peg in round hole if I ever knew 1. JJ's best asset is his runs through the middle and stamina to become the OPTA stats greatest distance covering midfielder (which doesn't say anything to me frankly) rather than his tackling or distribution ability as required by someone in the defensive midfielder role. I've seen him dropping back to pick up the ball but losing it again because he can't pick a pass or turn a player in that situation. Even Zok is better than him in that area.

So, please no. I can see a TT and Malbranque midfielder indeed. More fight than we would see from JJ and Zok anyway. People say that having fight is not enough but we are losing anyway so why not try other permutations.
 

Rocksuperstar

Isn't this fun? Isn't fun the best thing to have?
Jun 6, 2005
53,288
66,756
At the moment, i'd be tempted to play Rocha alongside Dawson and push Kaboul forward into the defensive midfield position behind Steeed.

We need someone energetic and more than willing to dive into a tackle. Kaboul is a big lad who uses his strength well in the tackle, but likes getting forward and is often caught out. With Rocha in there he won't have to worry about getting back so often and can move with the play and will offer us a bit of animal in the middle that we lack with the unquestionably talented Huddlestone, but he's such a gentleman.

Teemu would do well in that position as he's a tenacious little bugger who will go in for three or four tackles if the situation requires it, but as pointed out, he's tough but he's small - he'll never challenge in the air against anyone over six feet so until Ledley gets back and shores up our back line it's not worth playing him in there.
 
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