Ashley Young...

Ok this article isnt strictly about him but for those who watched the england game did you think he was really ineffective playing in behind rooney in the 4-4-1-1 type formation instead of the wing?
It got me thinking that when ben arfa comes back into the frame that he might not suit that position at all and he'll be better used out on the wing in a sort of 4-3-3 with marvaeux guti obertan and benny either side of best or ba?

 

They're different players, I think HBA is better at taking his man on, while Young is probably more suited to the wing because he's got a great cross. I would start HBA in the middle behind the striker, partly because I think he's have more of the ball and be more effective there, but also because I'd like to accommodate Obertan and gutierrez on the wings as well!

 

From the very little I saw of Ben Arfa last season (and at Darlo I guess) he looked anything but a winger. He needs to be involved, and the middle of the attacking third occasionally dropping deep to link up moves is exactly where he needs to be. Ashley Young is very much a winger.

 

Ashley Young since joining Man U looks a different player, playing along side Rooney he has upped his game and any forward who love to get on the end of the balls he is putting in.

 

I think HBA will be better in the middle. Lots of players are like Jonas or Obertan or Marveaux who as natural wingers can take people on and deliver a ball, but Ben Arfa has the ability to be much more effective for us playing in the hole. If he gets to full form and fitness we should build the team around him IMO.

 

I hope your right its just i still dont think we've got a proper look at him for an extended period of time just makes me a bit complacement

 

I think he's always been used so much as a winger in the past is because they already had a "star man" to play his best position, it's like Nasri at Arsenal. Really effective in Fabregas's role, but because there was a better player than him for it, he was always playing on the wing.

 

The problem for England is that Capello plays Rooney as an out-and-out striker, not as the second striker which is where he's better.

HBA seems to be the sort of player who needs to be involved in the game, and playing as the central AM in a 4-2-3-1 seems to be his best position.

 

true and like cabluigi said ide quite like to see obertan keep his place and have guti or marveaux on the other side which would be a deadly trio of pace and trickery just worries me our fullbacks wouldnt be strong enough to cope (not santon, simpson)

 

From the current squad England should play
---------------Hart
Smalling---Cahill---Jones---Baines
----------Parker---Lampard
Walcott------Rooney------Young
--------------Bent

Of course that would mean playing players in their proper positions which is something Crapello is incapable of

 

I remember games last season when HBA was supposed to be playing wide, but he kept drifting into the middle, showing where he feels more natural imo.

 

Ben Arfa's natural position is the playmaker behind the striker - although he is also pretty class on the left. Young is a natural winger and should never be played in the role behind the striker