The 'Modric is the Middle' Debate

[eViL]

Hi All.

We're not allowed to discuss anything in the transfer rumours forum :roll: so in response to an almost-debate (that'll probably be deleted) that was about to begin in there I thought it'd be interesting to see everyone's opinion.

I can't understand why the general opinion seems to be that Modric can't play central midfield to allow the signing of an out and out left midfielder (finally PLEASE 'Arry). Modric's best work comes from central positions anyway when he drifts in.



As far as I'm concerned, Modric

• is strong on the ball
• has great energy and fitness
• has great balance
• is our best short passer
• has a good turn of pace
• has great awareness
• can tackle

Surely all the attributes of a top Premiership CM?

I'd argue that in Palacios he would have a great enforcer next to him for when the going got rough and Modric and the Beast have the potential to be almost Scholes + Keane like. :hump:

I think it'd be interesting to hear everyone's opinion on why a supposedly World Class player can't make it in the centre and back it up with evidence, because from what I have seen so far (in a settling season) it's his strongest position. :bowdown:

And don't forget, it's a squad game these days, Modric gives us options all across the centre.

*Opens the floodgates*

 

[steve]

Can't we have a 'both' button please? Maybe some games but not others? Does it have to be either/or?

 

[zepstar]

Modric I believe is essentially always given a free role of sorts. He tends to orchestrate play in what ever position he's in, which might explain why keane's been off form.

 

[eViL]

Read the poll question again..

*there's always one*

 

[van_Pommel]

Hi All.

We're not allowed to discuss anything in the transfer rumours forum :roll: so in response to an almost-debate (that'll probably be deleted) that was about to begin in there I thought it'd be interesting to see everyone's opinion.

I can't understand why the general opinion seems to be that Modric can't play central midfield to allow the signing of an out and out left midfielder (finally PLEASE 'Arry). Modric's best work comes from central positions anyway when he drifts in.



As far as I'm concerned, Modric

• is strong on the ball
• has great energy and fitness
• has great balance
• is our best short passer
• has a good turn of pace
• has great awareness
• can tackle

Surely all all the attributes of a top Premiership CM?

I'd argue that in Palacios he would have a great enforcer next to him for when the going got rough and Modric and the Beast have the potential to be almost Scholes + Keane like. :hump:

I think it'd be interesting to hear everyone's opinion on why a supposedly World Class player can't make it in the centre and back it up with evidence, because from what I have seen so far (in a settling season) it's his strongest position. :bowdown:

And don't forget, it's a squad game these days, Modric gives us options all across the centre.

*Opens the floodgates*

I'm sure against some teams he would run the show and we'd all cream over him. Against others thoug, he'd get bullied. Especially against teams that play with 3 strong CMs like Chelsea, Portsmouth, Bolton etc.

Not sure about the Keane Scholes comparision. I'm pretty sure if you asked Sir Alex, he'd tell you that the Keane Scholes 442 wouldnt work nowadays. Footballs evolved since Mourinho brought the 451 over. Fergie know that, which is why he now plays 433.

I've always said that I think this would work:

Gomes

Charlie___Woody___King___Benny

Jenas____Palacios____Modric

Lennon______Bent______Keafoe

​

But this is pretty much how we were playing toward the end of the season. With a top quality target man in for Bent, we'd have the foundations of a top side.​

 

[steve]

Still can't say whether he should be 'mainly' played in either. There are so many factors to consider.

Zidane played in a free role but predominately on the left - that's good enough for me - but in certain games, maybe at home more than away Modric could play down the middle, depending on formation and opposition, not to mention who else is available. Remember he played on the right towards the end of the season when Lennon was injured...

 

[scat1620]

Definitely on the left for me, assuming we're playing 4-4-2. If we were playing a 4-3-3/4-5-1 variant then I'd change my vote to the centre, but in a 4-man midfield I'd only ever play him on the left.

Everybody always says that he's deceptively strong etc, and I think that's true for when he's on the ball/we're on the ball. IMO though, when the opposition have the ball Luka doesn't have either of the two qualities that I think a Premiership central midfielder (in a 4) needs at least one of: 1) tenacity/ballwinning ability, a la Palacios, and 2) defensive positioning/interception ability, a la Carrick. I'm not saying Modric is a complete wimp etc, but I don't think he has either of those 2 attributes, and I think that both central midfielders in a Premiership 4-man midfield need at least one of those qualities. I think the opposition would often run right through us if we played Modric in the centre on a regular basis.

 

[don1]

in the middle for me

 

[mil1lion]

I would prefer a holding midfielder in the Carrick mould to partner Palacios. But i can see how it could work with Modric in the middle. So i'm not too fussed. Whatever Harry wants to do is fine by me.

 

[Kendall]

Sometimes, but as a rule I prefer him to have a free role on the left.

Moving him there coincided with his improvement in form and keeping the hardworking JJ and Palacios in the middle doing the donkey work made us strong at the back.

I think it's people getting too excited about us goingforward without giving consideration to the defensive side. Asking Modric to work like Jenas does in midfield will: A, Not work because he is not physical enough and B, Limit his attacking prowess, just like it has Jenas this season.

Fantasy football.

 

[Stoof]

We're not allowed to discuss anything in the transfer rumours forum :roll: so in response to an almost-debate (that'll probably be deleted) that was about to begin in there I thought it'd be interesting to see everyone's opinion.

Sorry. Please forgive the Rumour Rangers, the Mods, the Admins and Rob for moving your quite clearly relevant Transfer Rumour discussion about our own player playing in a different position.

My bad.

:roll: <-- Look I can post them too!

 

[Yiddo1982]

I'd play me in the middle - and keep Modric left.

 

[THOWIG]

I think he can play centrally and is definitely more effective there. I think to fully utilise him we need to play 3 in midfield, which will also get the best out of Huddlestone.
He's only had one season and grew in stature after Christmas. I don't see the need to have another DM alongside Palacios. Get one in as an alternative or replacement, especially as Zokora is leaving, but I don't see the need to stagnate the midfield with loads of Defensive minded players. We need players that can contribute in both ways by breaking up play and scoring and creating goals.

 

[DJS]

On the left for me.

Could be proven wrong if someone like Downing comes in and Modric is a major success on the left but my personal choice at the moment is to have two more physical (and taller) players in the middle and Lennon and Modric on the flanks.

 

[joey55]

I think he can play in the middle of a 442, but as long as it isn't with a holding player. He needs to play with a box to box destroyer as Deco did with Costinha or Scholes did with Keane. I'd have no problem with him playing in the middle with Palacios as he gets around the pitch and will give us that physical presence.

 

[werty]

I prefer him on the left. Against certain teams we could play him in the centre but I think he's more effective on the left.

 

[mil1lion]

I'd play me in the middle - and keep Modric left.

But you're shit, and you know you are :razz:

 

[Yiddo1982]

But you're shit, and you know you are :razz:

If you only knew who I was.......Sigh.

 

[DC_Boy]

on the left, it suits his style

also while WP is an enforcer he's not as mobile as JJ, so LM in mid would see him backtracking quite a bit to cover I assume

more than he does now would be my guess, not good, we want him in the other half as much as possible

 

[Rumbaldo]

If you only knew who I was.......Sigh.

so you were born in 1982 and your location is offside - are you Jermain Defoe?

in regards to the thread though id like to see more modric in the middle its where he was playing for croatia in the euros - the first times i saw him play and i was suitably impressed with him then.