Delph for England

[Ron Manager]

Cahill did have a very good game, as he does occassionaly. But he never strikes me as being 100% reliable in any match at international level.

[tomd2103]

I think Wilshire can become a good defensive midfielder, given time.  The following quote suggests that he is mindful that it is the position at both club and country when he can prosper most.  I just wish one of Lampard or Gerrard had a small enough ego to sacrifice their own glory for the good of the team.

From the evening standard:

The 22-year-old’s best position for club and country has frequently been debated but after a promising outing against Switzerland, he says he will take time out at Arsenal to watch some of defensive midfield specialists in a bid to improve in time for next month’s double header against San Marino and Estonia

“I spoke with the manager and Gary Neville in the week and they told me they wanted me to play that role and I quite enjoyed it,” Wilshere said.

“It was my first time ever playing there so over the next month or so I am going to look at a few videos of this game and of players who play in that position regularly — [Andrea] Pirlo, [Javier] Mascherano and players like that — and I’ll get better.

“I felt it went well last night but next time we meet up I feel it can only go better.”

If I was asked to play DM for England I'd watch tons of pirlo, mascherano and makelele videos

It doesn't mean I'd be any good. I just don't see wilshere there. His instincts are to drive forward, drift with the ball, play a one two, etc. Carrick is the obvious choice once fit. Not sure who is up and coming in that position though.

Totally agree Matt.  I quite liked the diamond formation and think that going forward the options could be:


                            Carrick / Huddlestone


      Henderson / Milner                        Delph / Wilshere


                   Sterling / Ox / Lallana / Barkley

[RussellC]

Huddlestone's far too ineffective without the ball for me. His lack of mobility would be a huge liability in International football. Even a 53 year old Pirlo gets around the pitch with more ease. Carrick could do it though, especially if he had the energy of Delph and Henderson in front of him.   

I just don't see the fuss with Wilshere. He's obviously a technically good footballer, but I don;t think he excels at any particular part of the game. He keeps the ball well enough, but certainly no better than Delph and without Delph's energy and tenacity. It's pretty inexcusable to not have the energy to complete 90 minutes as a holding midfielder in an International game, when you've been pictured smoking more than once. I actually think he's going to struggle for regular games in Arsenal's starting XI when everyone's fit.

[SoccerHQ]

Thought Huddlestone was garbage in the recent game at VP. Yeah he does a couple of nice passes per game but you need a fair bit more than that as Delph showed getting around the pitch.

[paul_e]

I thought Phil Jones did ok considering Fergie did everything he could to turn a promising central defender into a utility player, made a couple of poor passes but generally defended well and could easily have scored with the header in the first half, not brilliant but more than decent for me.

I agree he did ok. A McGrath incarnate he was not

The jury is still out on Jones and he needs to be playing CB week in week out at club level if he's going to improve.  I thought Gary Cahill was very good though and really should be captaining the side.     

I agree completely that playing as a centre back week in week out is essential for him, I said that in my initial comment, he's done the same with Cleverley, Welbeck and Smalling as well.  All of them looked very promising as kids but have stalled badly after he's tried to turn them into something they're not.

[Boz]

I think Wilshire can become a good defensive midfielder, given time.  The following quote suggests that he is mindful that it is the position at both club and country when he can prosper most.  I just wish one of Lampard or Gerrard had a small enough ego to sacrifice their own glory for the good of the team.

From the evening standard:

The 22-year-old’s best position for club and country has frequently been debated but after a promising outing against Switzerland, he says he will take time out at Arsenal to watch some of defensive midfield specialists in a bid to improve in time for next month’s double header against San Marino and Estonia

“I spoke with the manager and Gary Neville in the week and they told me they wanted me to play that role and I quite enjoyed it,” Wilshere said.

“It was my first time ever playing there so over the next month or so I am going to look at a few videos of this game and of players who play in that position regularly — [Andrea] Pirlo, [Javier] Mascherano and players like that — and I’ll get better.

“I felt it went well last night but next time we meet up I feel it can only go better.”

Wilshere isn't physically big enough or strong enough to be a defensive midfielder IMO.

[tomd2103]

Thought Huddlestone was garbage in the recent game at VP. Yeah he does a couple of nice passes per game but you need a fair bit more than that as Delph showed getting around the pitch.

Not so much in the diamond formation, as the defensive midfielder has three players in front of them to do that.  The job of the defensive midfielder in that formation is to sit in front of the back four and provide protection rather than be all over the pitch.  I don't think mobility and athleticism is as key in that particular position, and feel that is why it would be a good role for Ashley Westwood in Villa's midfield.       

[RussellC]

"Sit" is probably the most misleading word in football. I keep hearing it bandied about like the defensive midfielder only has a 2 square-metre area of pitch to cover. Even 'holding' midfielder is a bit misleading. Yes - they play very much in front of the back 4 and aren't expected to get forwards, but they do have to be able to get from touch-line to touchline quickly and occupy space, close-down angels, etc. when the opposition are in possession. You can ger away with an immobile quarter-back style midfielder (like Huddlestone) if you're a team that dominates possession, but if you're not you really need to sacrifice some of that ability on the ball to add a bit of mobility and defence mindedness. Look at the performances of Mascherano and Nigel De Jong in the World Cup. They're the type of player that England really need.

Hopefully in the coming months this is a job that Carlos Sanchez will be doing for us.

[RussellC]

Thought Huddlestone was garbage in the recent game at VP. Yeah he does a couple of nice passes per game but you need a fair bit more than that as Delph showed getting around the pitch.

There was a Hull fan on TalkSport yesterday claiming that the only reason Huddlestone and Curtis Davies aren't in the England squad is because they play for an unfashionable club. I can only assume he didn't see their game against us.

[paul_e]

I can't believe people are talking about Huddlestone as a potential England player, even ignoring the mobility issues he's no better than average, he does play the odd hollywood pass but that's about all he offers, I genuniely think Westwood has more chance of getting in the England squad as the defensive midfielder.

[LeeB]

I can't believe people are talking about Huddlestone as a potential England player, even ignoring the mobility issues he's no better than average, he does play the odd hollywood pass but that's about all he offers, I genuniely think Westwood has more chance of getting in the England squad as the defensive midfielder.

It's because in this country we confuse the role defensive midfielder with the British idea of a gifted but lazy bastard who can smack the ball really far with more accuracy than his teammates.

[Dave]

Wilshere isn't physically big enough or strong enough to be a defensive midfielder IMO.

Makelele was 5ft 7 and weighed about 10 stone.

[enigma]

Wilshere isn't physically big enough or strong enough to be a defensive midfielder IMO.

Makelele was 5ft 7 and weighed about 10 stone.

And Mascherano is only 5' 8".

[PaulWinch again]

As Makelele and Mascherano have shown big build isn't required for a defensive midfielder. However fitness and work rate are absolutely vital.

[Toronto Villa]

As Makelele and Mascherano have shown big build isn't required for a defensive midfielder. However fitness and work rate are absolutely vital.

I'd say that and their overall level of awareness and understanding of the game helps set them apart. You don't need to have Tackling and Aggression 20 on Football Manager to be a great DM. Anticipation and an ability read the game are critical components.