http://www.eplindex.com/29962/epls-underrated-midfields-tactical-stats-comparison-europes-elite.html Really interesting read, often feel that Cork goes un-noticed. We're really quite fortunate to have those two, and they didn't cost as much as others have spent in search of a quality pair of central midfielders! DTLW
DTLW is like our own little sniffer dog. Interesting article...especially to someone like me with little knowledge of tactics.
One of the interesting things is that Schneiderlin has run further than any midfielder in Europe. Its funny because when you compare him with Cork, Cork always seems to be on the move whereas Morgan just seems to be in the right place at the right time. Both of them must be difficult to play against with that kind of energy.
It's also because Morgan gets forward a lot more than Cork. Remember the run he made from inside our half to get on the end of the ball from Rodriguez to score against Liverpool? He is starting to do that sort of thing more and more, which gives us yet another attacking option. But it depends on Cork being there as the first line of defence, so both are equally important.
It's obvious Schneiderlin covers more ground. He's all over the place up and down the pitch and side line to side line. Cork usually sit back in front of the centre backs. It's like you've got the two confused. As for being at the right place at the right time..Schneiderlin busts a gut to make a tackle or interception. Cork plays differently, pressing less often and plays a cover role. None of them just happen to be in the right place at the right time. An example of that would be an opposition player pinging the ball at Lambert when he was walking around regaining some energy.
One of the best things about Cork is that he can keep the ball and take around players, whilst using very little skill and strength!
DTLW, are you a mole for one of the big clubs? Why have you made this public? We all know how good these two are! Seriously, an interesting post and a thought provoking one. I'd love to see Morgan in a French shirt, and Cork playing for England. The two of them are superb footballers, but I also want to continue to watch them in a Saints team for years to come. These are exactly the kind of players that Nicola needs to keep if his ambitions for the club are to realised. As the L'Equipe article showed, Morgan is starting to get recognition. But much though I admire Morgan, for me Jack Cork is one of the star buys of all time. A great piece of business by Nigel to bring him to the club. I firmly believe that these two will be key for us next season going on to build a platform for success beyond our wildest dreams. So please, let's keep these two secret!
That was fine until the 4th line... Within football circles all four players have impressed and we could well be seeing any one of these four make a transfer to a big club this summer. Do we have to read this stuff EVERY time somebody impresses..?
No, I haven't got them confused. I am just saying that Cork is always on the move, hustle and bustle, short bursts etc, whereas Morgan (whilst obviously covering the ground) just seems to be there. That goal against Liverpool is a classic example. Its easy to spot his run on MotD but could you honestly say you saw him make that run at the time? All I saw was that he was in the right place at the right time. Obviously, the Liverpool players didn't spot it.
Schneiderlin seeems to have found another level (or been allowed to show it) since MP arrived. 3 months ago, I was laughing at the Saints fans who thought he should be picked fir France. No longer laughing. Still don't think he is the best DM in PL... but he's not far off and he might get there next season.
I wonder when someone is going to declare that a team plays in a 1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1 formation in one of their "insightful" tactical commentaries. It really is so much arbitrary pish, entirely dependent upon where you draw your diagonal lines in order to demonstrate your point. I mean, state 3 for WBA could just as easily be called 1-2-1-2-1-1-3 as anything else! Oh, and why do you need to include the 'keeper in any formational numeric? Of course it's a 1-the other 10! What I conclude from this article is that the Cork, Schneiderlin partnership is very, very good indeed. I simply managed to say it in one sentence. Crikey, that was almost a rant wasn't it? Anyone would think my life was slowly being sucked out of me by endless phone calls to IT helpdesks today....
Is it a bit of a masterstroke by Pochettino that, along with pressing higher, he's basically got the two players playing their opposite roles now..? When Adkins was at Saints, I think it was fair to say that the more forward player was probably Cork. Now he plays deeper and Schneiderlin bombs forward more. Jack has already said as such in interviews and we can see the evidence of our own eyes with Morgan.
