Rant: Centre backs playing as DM

[The Great Jacko]

I'm getting pissed off with people either asking or suggesting that our centre backs play as the defensive midfielder if required. The answer is and will probably always be no. It's very very rare, maybe a DM has gone off injured and we don't have a replacement on the bench with 5mins to go - that sort of thing.

 

Name me a couple of centre halves who have played more than a handful of games at DM? Yet as soon we we have a defender who is half decent with the ball at his feet we think he can play at DM - absolute complete and utter bollocks and I'll tell you why in one word. Ready?

 

Mobility.

 

Centre backs are the least mobile players on the fucking pitch after a keeper and even then in some cases.... Even Didi was 10 times more mobile than a centre half and he was unique in his chain smoking/fortune teller mix.Plus being good with the ball at CB vs being decent with the ball in midfield is a world apart because in midfield you're given very little space and are constantly harassed. Unless you're very mobile. Even when a defender is being harried by a striker he nearly always has his partner or the keeper to pass to. A DM has to contribute to a pattern of play unless you have someone who can dribble the ball out of midfield that they can pass to which we don't (and was our priority this summer).

 

So please don't keep asking/suggesting whether Agger/Sakho/Ilori/Toure can cover at DM cause they can't *except for 5 mins or so in an emergency.

[Bjornebye]

Tommy Smith

 

Emlyn Hughes

 

David Luiz.

[redinthehead]

Phil Jones.

 

Or is he a fullback who can play centerback or defensive mf?

[fowler9]

Kolo Toure

 

Pepe

 

Carlos Marchena

 

Ivan Helguera

 

its all down to the player in question surely?

[Megadrive Man]

Vincent Kompany started off his Man City career in midfield.

 

I mentioned this in the Sakho thread. I think it actually makes sense to give start centre backs as holding midfielders in order for them to adjust to the Premiership.

 

Most young centre backs will play as a holding midfielder at some point in their youth, in order to improve their distribution. Andre Wisdom was doing it a few years back.

[Bjornebye]

Jagielka

[Strontium]

You can't blame anyone for asking the question. Agger, Skrtel, Toure, Ilori, Sakho. Five into two doesn't go, and I'd like to know how the club is going to square that circle.

[TheHowieLama]

Carragher - club and country.

[Bjornebye]

purple aki

[Batigol]

Until we sign a back up dm, people will talk about who can play there. I agree that I wouldn't want to see any of defenders there ideally, but when the alternative is Joe Allen, then just maybe someone like Toure wouldn't be all that bad.

[Guest Numero Veinticinco]

Five into two doesn't go

 

Not watched much internet porn, Stronts?

[Tyler Durden]

Can't really say Ilori isn't mobile, didn't he break Ronaldo's speed record at Lisbon? Fat, slow cunt

[Red Phoenix]

Not trying to be a twat, but could Sakho possibly play that position if needed? Do any of you think he has the skill and speed to pull it off? I've never seen him play before that's why I'm asking.

 

(I did suggest Agger as DM a few years back and admit that was probably not a good idea, even though he's one of my favourite players.)

[Phoenix]

Fernando Hierro

[TheHowieLama]

Ivan Campo.

[Strontium]

Not watched much internet porn, Stronts?

 

 

Not much that involves five men and a football :whistle:

[Guest Numero Veinticinco]

Not much that involves five men and a football :whistle:

 

You're missing out.

[kalasoma]

Skrtel started off as a striker. Not sure when he switched to the back or why. But he would have had to have been pretty mobile to have started in the front line.

 

I see more defenders now, especially with the speed of English football today, who are pretty mobile. I see nothing wrong with CBs who can cover the middle - and it has been done.

[therevivalist]

Can't really say Ilori isn't mobile, didn't he break Ronaldo's speed record at Lisbon? Fat, slow !@#$%^&*

 

If mobility is the perceived problem, you would then accept Agger for a DM role. But I was also thinking of Ilori for that position.

[old skool tom]

roy keane

 

we do lack pace and/or power in CM/DM and if a CB can do it for us? give him the gig

 

 

do love way BR has thought "well ive missed out on me attacking players.....fuck it,i'll sure up me defence until the right players come along in January or next summer"

 

Brendan Rodgers,He knows want he wants!

[The Acolyte]

Not trying to be a twat, but could Sakho possibly play that position if needed? Do any of you think he has the skill and speed to pull it off? I've never seen him play before that's why I'm asking.

 

(I did suggest Agger as DM a few years back and admit that was probably not a good idea, even though he's one of my favourite players.)

 

So Sakho has just stepped off a plane. New country, new language, new league, new team, new system. Probably still needs a map to get out of Anfield and you want to stick him in midfield in the most combative and fast paced league ON THE PLANET. If you don't want him her just fucking say because doing that is the quickest way to force him out the door!

[Pidge]

Emlyn Hughes

 

/thread (apart from negging the tit who thinks Phil Jones can adequately play football at all).

[Red Phoenix]

So Sakho has just stepped off a plane. New country, new language, new league, new team, new system. Probably still needs a map to get out of Anfield and you want to stick him in midfield in the most combative and fast paced league ON THE PLANET. If you don't want him her just fucking say because doing that is the quickest way to force him out the door!

 

I didn't mean anything like that (just sticking him there from the off), was just wondering if anyone here thought he had the ability to play in that position, because I have no clue about him as a footballer yet.

 

Am looking forward to the idea of him playing alongside Agger hopefully, not playing in DM.

[piscinin]

Rodgers doesn't player with a DM, per se, does he. He has a controller. It's the delta between DM and controller where those others will struggle. If lucas is injured, Allen will step in because of this.

[Pureblood]

I agree with Piscinin - Allen to cover. It's more about decision making than anything else. A sound all round passing game and faultless decision making are required.