CM debate - who should start alongside JJ if all fit?

[Bobishism]

This is technically off-topic, but...

I thought we were very solid until Cerny unfortunately dropped the ball. Then we seemed to get unnecessarily panicky.

However, I suspect your argument is that Chimbo is a better defender at LB than RB. On the face of it, this is entirely counter-intuitive - Chimbo is a right-footed player who's played at RB for his entire career.

The only two reasons I can think of why we might be weaker defensively with Chimbo at RB rather than LB are:

i) he's less comfortable at LB so he concentrates more;
ii) he doesn't bother trying to join in attacks from LB, whilst he does from RB.

With regard to i), my opinion has always been that Chimbo is a very good defender when he's concentrating. And it's the job of our coaching staff to ensure that he is paying attention - regardless of whether he's playing at RB or LB.

With regard to ii), that is basically an argument about whether the coach wants his FBs to attack, or alternately to do a Santini and not cross the halfway line. I would argue from watching a lot of Sevilla, and from the signings of Hutton and Gilberto, that Ramos likes his FBs to attack.

Now, if your FBs are constantly pushing forward, there will always be defensive gaps. At Sevilla, it is the primary job of Poulsen to cover those gaps. When Dani Alves bombs foward, Navas (the RMer) is usually overlapping or switching inside. It's Poulsen who drops in to cover from his C/DM position. At Spurs, I think we've been most effective when Tainio has been in CM precisely because Teemu has the tactical team intelligence to recognize where and when we're exposed and cover. If nobody's covering for Chimbo's forward forays, as in Prague, we will get exposed - inevitably.

That's the long answer. The short answer is that I think Chimbo is an outstanding FB when he concentrates, and if he's going to get forward, then someone in the team has to be assigned to cover the inevitable holes that will result.

I agree.

You forgot to include the role Malbranque in your equations.

 

[yanno]

I agree.

You forgot to include the role Malbranque in your equations.

Yup. :rofl:

Do I win the Nostradamus award for fucked-up prophecies for posting that last week?

In fairness to young Jamie, the video analysis showed that he had run 80 yards to cover the LB position. He then held the (offside) line, rocked back onto his heels, and then wasn't able to cover the Slavia cross for the goal. It was a quality cross - the best ball of the night, which took Woodgate and Robinson out of the equation.

 

[bubble07]

zokora definatly staked a claim after tonights game. Thought he was our best player

 

[Kendall]

when did zokora learn to tackle & play the holding role? he seems to actually look like the player we were supposed to have signed..

 

[SpurSince57]

Yup. :rofl:

Do I win the Nostradamus award for fucked-up prophecies for posting that last week?

In fairness to young Jamie, the video analysis showed that he had run 80 yards to cover the LB position. He then held the (offside) line, rocked back onto his heels, and then wasn't able to cover the Slavia cross for the goal. It was a quality cross - the best ball of the night, which took Woodgate and Robinson out of the equation.

Meanwhile, Chimbonda had gone into some kind of time-warp and was on the wrong side of the pitch. :roll:

 

[TheChosenOne]

Meanwhile, Chimbonda had gone into some kind of time-warp and was on the wrong side of the pitch. :roll:

and fudged a pass which let Prague on the rampage

 

[Kendall]

Still haven't seen Chimbonda cross with his left foot.

 

[Gin+Tonic14]

when did zokora learn to tackle & play the holding role? he seems to actually look like the player we were supposed to have signed..

100% Agree. He looked the player he was in WC06. Can he do it against the top players i.e Lampard, Ballack who make clever runs, remains to be seen?

 

[Teemu]

Zokora played well, only problem was that he went backwards too much. Though I suppose if he's going to be playing DM that's not too much of a problem. Great tackle in the LB position in the first half.

 

[guy]

Still haven't seen Chimbonda cross with his left foot.

you mean he has a left peg? Cant say Ive ever seen him use it. He would rather run around in a little circle to get the ball on his right side than kick it with his left.

 

[Pedro]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/default.stm

looks like it will be O'hara. About half way through gus mentions him playing in the final (and about putting money on him scoring on sunday!?). Although gus is hard to understand, so who knows. Unless chimbo is out.

seems strange to let that slip, mind games? bit harsh on the lad if it is. I expect him to be on the bench though.

Personally I would go for TT. If not Hudd, Zoko, Ohara in that order.

 

[milkman]

Huddlestone really impressed me last night. i said before that TT should start, but now its too hard to decide between TT and huddlestone. let Ramos decide! :up:

 

[madroosta]

big bad hudd!