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.