Rant: Centre backs playing as DM

[Neil G]

So apart from Tommy Smith, Emlyn Hughes, David Luiz, Phil Jones, Kolo Toure, Pepe, Carlos Marchena, Ivan Helguera, Vincent Kompany, Phil Jagielka, Jamie Carragher, Fernando Hierro and Ivan Campo, can anybody name any centre halves who've played more than a handful of games at DM?

[piscinin]

So apart from Tommy Smith, Emlyn Hughes, David Luiz, Phil Jones, Kolo Toure, Pepe, Carlos Marchena, Ivan Helguera, Vincent Kompany, Phil Jagielka, Jamie Carragher, Fernando Hierro and Ivan Campo, can anybody name any centre halves who've played more than a handful of games at DM?

 

El Jefecito!

[Pureblood]

Jamie Redknapp as sweeper. Worked a treat.

[Section_31]

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[The Great Jacko]

So apart from Tommy Smith, Emlyn Hughes, David Luiz, Phil Jones, Kolo Toure, Pepe, Carlos Marchena, Ivan Helguera, Vincent Kompany, Phil Jagielka, Jamie Carragher, Fernando Hierro and Ivan Campo, can anybody name any centre halves who've played more than a handful of games at DM?

 

Touche although there's a lot there I couldn't comment on I would say Toure, Carragher & Kompany all fit my comment ie they haven't played more than a handful of games there - and that's part of the point, as soon as someone's seen that a defender might have played a couple of games at DM early in in their career we have people suggesting they can cover at DM!!

 

In all seriousness it's obviously Allen that's cover and after that I reckon we'd change the system to a back 3 before deploying a CB in midfield - it would literally be the last resort. Priorities over the next 12 months central AM, DM, wide AM and striker. Get those over the next 2 windows and you never know.

[md1892]

So apart from Tommy Smith, Emlyn Hughes, David Luiz, Phil Jones, Kolo Toure, Pepe, Carlos Marchena, Ivan Helguera, Vincent Kompany, Phil Jagielka, Jamie Carragher, Fernando Hierro and Ivan Campo, can anybody name any centre halves who've played more than a handful of games at DM?

 

Matthais Sammer , and Mascherano qualifies also ?

[stringvest]

Jan Molby

[m0e]

Lothar Matthaus and Ruud Gullit, although both started more advanced and gradually went back as they got older.

 

Martinez from Munich. Sergio Busquets.

 

Wanayama. Papdopolous.

 

I'm sure there are loads more.

[Saintslfc13]

Not watched much internet porn, Stronts?

 

To be fair it's usually five in three in that case.

[Red House]

Desailly played quite a few times in midfield when he was at AC Milan. He was brilliant at it too.

 

I don't mind the idea of moving one of our centre-backs into midfield personally. I think Agger would probably the one best suited to the role. Never seen Sakho play there and I'm not sure whether he would be any good at it. He's not that great technically, and plays with his head constantly down on the ball like Baros used to do, so doubt he would have they for a pass.

[G Richards]

I think the bigger issue is the defenders playing a higher line. With the added pace they can, if we so choose, and then Lucas and Stevie can push forward and the gap to the strikers is condensed too. The amount of central defenders we have also gives us the option for three at the back, as our fullbacks are pretty good at bombing forward.

[Bjornebye]

So apart from Tommy Smith, Emlyn Hughes, David Luiz, Phil Jones, Kolo Toure, Pepe, Carlos Marchena, Ivan Helguera, Vincent Kompany, Phil Jagielka, Jamie Carragher, Fernando Hierro and Ivan Campo, can anybody name any centre halves who've played more than a handful of games at DM?

 

The aqueduct ?

 

Oh and ...

 

Beckenbauer.

[Tony Moanero]

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.

 

Mobility?

 

 

Plenty of players have played as a centre-back and as a striker.

[Bjornebye]

Mobility?

 

 

Plenty of players have played as a centre-back and as a striker.

 

Dion Dublin and Chris Sutton

[Tony Moanero]

Dion Dublin and Chris Sutton

 

Sutton played midfield for Celtic as well, didn't he?

 

Remember this fella?

 

 

[RedinSweden]

Phil Jones.

 

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

 

He's a full back who can't play full back, centre back or defensive midfield.

 

*please notice the spelling and non-compounding of centre back*

[setreal]

Luiz Gustavo who has sadly not joined us but Wolfsburg - and luckily not the Arse - did very well in both positions for Bayern.

[Josef Svejk]

Mark Lawrenson for Ireland.

 

Paul McGrath too, if memory serves...

[Neil G]

Touche although there's a lot there I couldn't comment on I would say Toure, Carragher & Kompany all fit my comment ie they haven't played more than a handful of games there - and that's part of the point, as soon as someone's seen that a defender might have played a couple of games at DM early in in their career we have people suggesting they can cover at DM!!

 

In all seriousness it's obviously Allen that's cover and after that I reckon we'd change the system to a back 3 before deploying a CB in midfield - it would literally be the last resort. Priorities over the next 12 months central AM, DM, wide AM and striker. Get those over the next 2 windows and you never know.

 

 

Toure played more than a handful of games in midfield at the start of his Arsenal career. I'd be happy for him to deputise at DM in an emergency, I'd rather that than change the entire system to a back three.

 

Nothing wrong with his mobility either.

 

 

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[Bjornebye]

where is the great jacko?