How the game has changed! When i started playing years ago there was no such thing as a defensive midfielder, then players like Makelele became household names and everyone suddenly needed one. Brazil introduced 2 defensive midfielders in the world cup a few years ago to accommodate their style and people tried to emulate it. I am only stating my opinion here but if we need 2 defensive midfielders does that mean the opposition have 2 attacking midfielders to mark??!!. What ever happened to a midfielder being exactly that and playing his role in attack and defence. That's how i try to coach the kids. Don't give the ball away so cheaply and you don't have to rely on defending as much!! Ya ya toure at City is a perfect example, Paul scholes at utd another, Steve g at Liverpool. Brilliant midfielders whether defending or attacking. Now i hear people saying we need Derry behind diakite, sweet Jesus of nazareth but we don't need derry he is not a very good footballer and that highlights our problem, we are always looking at how to stop other teams rather than focusing on how we play!
This! That's what I was hoping for from this new midfield line up. More possession, slick distribution and support to both front and defensive lines. Hope! Hope! Hope! Always comes with being an Rs fan.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but Dyer and Routledge played quite narrow yesterday on the counter which meant with Michu they often outnumbered us down the middle. Look at the first four goals, none came from wingplay, it was diagonal passes through the middle that carved us wide open. Taarabt, Hoilett and Mackie were often nowhere to be seen leaving us totally vulnerable, particularly after Hill was subbed...
When we have a back 5 like we have we need 2 or 3 central defensive midfielders. Yesterday we didn't play one CDM, and lost 0 - 5 home to Swansea! Scholes and Toure play usually in teams that have a decent back 5, and these players and Gerrard are so good that they to a large extent cover both attacking and defensive midfield needs - real good box to box midfielders. We don't have players of this calibre. We had Barton who while not of this class, did cover a lot of ground box to box, but.... We have Diakite who perhaps one day will be there but was away off yesterday! So for me we need at least 1 more quality player of this new breed now - Derry's been great but as we all know he's on borrowed time, Ale will need more time.
