Centocampista creativo. È troppo da chiedere un midfielder creativo? New poll.

[Parky]

We've only failed to score in 4 games this season, out of 20.

 

We've scored more goals than Man City and Chelsea in the league, amazingly. (Can't believe that myself.)

 

I do see what you're saying, but if the defence was sorted first and foremost then we'd be right up there in the mix. A creative player in the mould of an Elano/Diego/VDV is a luxury player, in my eyes, especially in a team managed by Sam Allardyce. I would love it if we played through a playmaker, I really would, but I can't help but feel it's your classic "wishful thinking" coming into play.

 

Stop conceding daft goals (both of them today were from appalling defending, again) and the need for a playmaker becomes less and less.

 

Wishful thinking indeed Richie baby. 

[Rich]

We've only failed to score in 4 games this season, out of 20.

 

We've scored more goals than Man City and Chelsea in the league, amazingly. (Can't believe that myself.)

 

I do see what you're saying, but if the defence was sorted first and foremost then we'd be right up there in the mix. A creative player in the mould of an Elano/Diego/VDV is a luxury player, in my eyes, especially in a team managed by Sam Allardyce. I would love it if we played through a playmaker, I really would, but I can't help but feel it's your classic "wishful thinking" coming into play.

 

Stop conceding daft goals (both of them today were from appalling defending, again) and the need for a playmaker becomes less and less.

 

Wishful thinking indeed Richie baby. 

 

Dear me.

[Parky]

We've only failed to score in 4 games this season, out of 20.

 

We've scored more goals than Man City and Chelsea in the league, amazingly. (Can't believe that myself.)

 

I do see what you're saying, but if the defence was sorted first and foremost then we'd be right up there in the mix. A creative player in the mould of an Elano/Diego/VDV is a luxury player, in my eyes, especially in a team managed by Sam Allardyce. I would love it if we played through a playmaker, I really would, but I can't help but feel it's your classic "wishful thinking" coming into play.

 

Stop conceding daft goals (both of them today were from appalling defending, again) and the need for a playmaker becomes less and less.

 

Wishful thinking indeed Richie baby. 

 

Dear me.

 

Thought you'd be happy mate.

[James]

Get a room you two!

[Guest alex]

If we're bumping Parky's threads....

[Rich]

We've only failed to score in 4 games this season, out of 20.

 

We've scored more goals than Man City and Chelsea in the league, amazingly. (Can't believe that myself.)

 

I do see what you're saying, but if the defence was sorted first and foremost then we'd be right up there in the mix. A creative player in the mould of an Elano/Diego/VDV is a luxury player, in my eyes, especially in a team managed by Sam Allardyce. I would love it if we played through a playmaker, I really would, but I can't help but feel it's your classic "wishful thinking" coming into play.

 

Stop conceding daft goals (both of them today were from appalling defending, again) and the need for a playmaker becomes less and less.

 

Wishful thinking indeed Richie baby. 

 

Dear me.

 

Thought you'd be happy mate.

 

I'm trying not to get wound up by your incredibly mongy first post, it's killed my vibe.

[Dave]

This would have definitely won the most poncey thread title of the year award.

 

 

[Parky]

If we're bumping Parky's threads....

 

Did they win summat this year must have missed it.

[Guest alex]

Get a room you two!

Gets funnier with every airing that one like James

[James]

Get a room you two!

Gets funnier with every airing that one like James

 

[Rich]

Giving Parky an unjustified serious answer for a minute, as I cannot let that disgraceful "told you so" attempt slide from him of all people:

 

Has Modric signed? Have I missed something?

 

Is Allardyce still the manager?

 

And haven't we went on a smashing upturn in form by playing a settled defence/'keeper, not conceding daft goals, and without the need for a playmaker in the mould of a Modric? We've stopped conceding goals and, as I thought initially, we have the players to score them at the other end - now we're sitting atop the form table!

 

A "playmaker" remains a namby pamby position, in my eyes, and an unnecessary one at that. It's fashionable, though, so I understand why people like Parky pander for us to have one.

 

 

It's good to bite.

[Parky]

This would have definitely won the most poncey thread title of the year award.

 

 

 

An award I'd be proud to accept. 

[James]

Should I mess this poll up by adding Modric, not resetting the poll, and then voting for him so that I can be right all along?

[Guest alex]

Get a room you two!

Gets funnier with every airing that one like James

 

More comedy gold.

[midds]

Should I mess this poll up by adding Modric, not resetting the poll, and then voting for him so that I can be right all along?

 

No. Leave it alone.

[Tooj]

I hate all of this talk of specialist playmakers and specialist defensive midfielders, give me two players like Rob Lee and Gary Speed who can box to box it any day.

 

Look at Arsenal when they went unbeaten, Gilberto and Vieira in the centre of the park, Man Utd dominated with Scholes and Keane for years, neither being playmakers or an out and out defensive midfielder. As long as you've got goals spread about over the team, these luxury players can be done without.

[Parky]

Giving Parky an unjustified serious answer for a minute, as I cannot let that disgraceful "told you so" attempt slide from him of all people:

 

Has Modric signed? Have I missed something?

 

Is Allardyce still the manager?

 

And haven't we went on a smashing upturn in form by playing a settled defence/'keeper, not conceding daft goals, and without the need for a playmaker in the mould of a Modric? We've stopped conceding goals and, as I thought initially, we have the players to score them at the other end - now we're sitting atop the form table!

 

A "playmaker" remains a namby pamby position, in my eyes, and an unnecessary one at that. It's fashionable, though, so I understand why people like Parky pander for us to have one.

 

 

It's good to bite.

 

 

On the first part...Yes it seems so. (This is not an ITk moment).

 

On the second part I think what you're saying is that we now have a system the players can understand and a good platform and in football terms we have found a our 'cruising speed'.

 

But although you are in semi-denial you and I both know that this kind of player will make us dangerous against the bigger sides, a gear I don't really believe we currently posses.

 

If this happens I will admit I really underestimated (respect is a given) KK.

 

Roll on the summer of love.

[Rich]

"Semi-denial" because I don't believe we need a playmaker

 

On the second part, I was saying it because my original comment was all to do with us not utilising a playmaker while Sam Allardyce was manager, that's where the "wishful thinking" bit you picked up on originally came from. You got your wires crossed with your response today, which is why I began with "dear me."

 

To get this moving on from tit-for-tat though, if Modric does come, I'd be extremely interested to see what it would mean for the current formation. I do not believe that he is a classic "number 10" from what I've been reading about him since these stories reared their heads again.

 

If you ask me, the top three is working very well, and could be even better if Viduka was replaced by someone like Kenwyne Jones (who I just noticed while browsing has 10 assists this season to go with his 4 goals - not bad for a Mackem player) or someone better - Berbatov would do nicely (wink).

 

Does Modric come in and play where Barton is for us now, but with more of Geremi's role, with Joey switching to the right (provided he's not in clink)?

[Rich]

Just realised I've asked that same question in the Modric thread and people have started answering.

 

Is that him spread over 3 threads now?

 

[Rich]

I hate all of this talk of specialist playmakers and specialist defensive midfielders, give me two players like Rob Lee and Gary Speed who can box to box it any day.

 

Look at Arsenal when they went unbeaten, Gilberto and Vieira in the centre of the park, Man Utd dominated with Scholes and Keane for years, neither being playmakers or an out and out defensive midfielder. As long as you've got goals spread about over the team, these luxury players can be done without.

 

 

Surprised to read this from you, if I'm honest, but I wholeheartedly agree with it. Parky is a romanticist though, I suppose, so I can't be too hard on him for wanting a maestro in our team. It's a nice thought, but I'm not sure if Modric is the man for the job, or if there's any role for such a player in the Premiership anyway, especially for us at the current time. A playmaker is more somebody you build the team around, I don't see why Keegan would do that so soon after finding a winning formula.

[Guest Jawesome]

This German lass I'm chatting to loves Diego like.  Reckons he's a canny footballer too.

[Tooj]

I hate all of this talk of specialist playmakers and specialist defensive midfielders, give me two players like Rob Lee and Gary Speed who can box to box it any day.

 

Look at Arsenal when they went unbeaten, Gilberto and Vieira in the centre of the park, Man Utd dominated with Scholes and Keane for years, neither being playmakers or an out and out defensive midfielder. As long as you've got goals spread about over the team, these luxury players can be done without.

 

 

Surprised to read this from you, if I'm honest, but I wholeheartedly agree with it. Parky is a romanticist though, I suppose, so I can't be too hard on him for wanting a maestro in our team. It's a nice thought, but I'm not sure if Modric is the man for the job, or if there's any role for such a player in the Premiership anyway, especially for us at the current time. A playmaker is more somebody you build the team around, I don't see why Keegan would do that so soon after finding a winning formula.

 

[Parky]

"Semi-denial" because I don't believe we need a playmaker

 

On the second part, I was saying it because my original comment was all to do with us not utilising a playmaker while Sam Allardyce was manager, that's where the "wishful thinking" bit you picked up on originally came from. You got your wires crossed with your response today, which is why I began with "dear me."

 

To get this moving on from tit-for-tat though, if Modric does come, I'd be extremely interested to see what it would mean for the current formation. I do not believe that he is a classic "number 10" from what I've been reading about him since these stories reared their heads again.

 

If you ask me, the top three is working very well, and could be even better if Viduka was replaced by someone like Kenwyne Jones (who I just noticed while browsing has 10 assists this season to go with his 4 goals - not bad for a Mackem player) or someone better - Berbatov would do nicely (wink).

 

Does Modric come in and play where Barton is for us now, but with more of Geremi's role, with Joey switching to the right (provided he's not in clink)?

 

The thing with Modric is that the possibilities are as mind-boggling as they are exciting. I would say you're guess is right and he will drift in from JB's starting positon on the left, taking up more central positions the further forward we have posession and falling into formation center-left when we don't have the ball or have posession deep. I imagine JB will slot into a center-right ( of the 3 man). Geremi will downgrade into a backup/squad player.

 

Of course what he gives us is the ability to deliver those passes and vision that currently by default is falling to Butt and Geremi niether of whom really have that in their locker and also as a by product perhaps spells the end of Duff (if Zoggy stays). All the signs from the side recently is that they are happier to move the ball around patiently with Owen and Martins rotating (coming deep) to make the extra man in midfield when called for. The advantage of the 433 is that it really always puts an opposition flat back 4 at a disadvantage as they really don't want to follow wandering forward around the park and at some point will lose them off the radar (owen has been profiting form this coming late and unmarked).

 

On the other hand if we do go 442 Modric will slot into the middle with a minder.

[TRon]

"Semi-denial" because I don't believe we need a playmaker

 

On the second part, I was saying it because my original comment was all to do with us not utilising a playmaker while Sam Allardyce was manager, that's where the "wishful thinking" bit you picked up on originally came from. You got your wires crossed with your response today, which is why I began with "dear me."

 

To get this moving on from tit-for-tat though, if Modric does come, I'd be extremely interested to see what it would mean for the current formation. I do not believe that he is a classic "number 10" from what I've been reading about him since these stories reared their heads again.

 

If you ask me, the top three is working very well, and could be even better if Viduka was replaced by someone like Kenwyne Jones (who I just noticed while browsing has 10 assists this season to go with his 4 goals - not bad for a Mackem player) or someone better - Berbatov would do nicely (wink).

 

Does Modric come in and play where Barton is for us now, but with more of Geremi's role, with Joey switching to the right (provided he's not in clink)?

 

The thing with Modric is that the possibilities are as mind-boggling as they are exciting. I would say you're guess is right and he will drift in from JB's starting positon on the left, taking up more central positions the further forward we have posession and falling into formation center-left when we don't have the ball or have posession deep. I imagine JB will slot into a center-right ( of the 3 man). Geremi will downgrade into a backup/squad player.

 

Of course what he gives us is the ability to deliver those passes and vision that currently by default is falling to Butt and Geremi niether of whom really have that in their locker and also as a by product perhaps spells the end of Duff (if Zoggy stays). All the signs from the side recently is that they are happier to move the ball around patiently with Owen and Martins rotating (coming deep) to make the extra man in midfield when called for. The advantage of the 433 is that it really always puts an opposition flat back 4 at a disadvantage as they really don't want to follow wandering forward around the park and at some point will lose them off the radar (owen has been profiting form this coming late and unmarked).

 

On the other hand if we do go 442 Modric will slot into the middle with a minder.

 

I haven't seen enough of Modric to pass a definitive judgement, but from reports it seems that he can put his foot in when needed, so maybe he won't need a minder as such. Might be ok in a 4-4-2 bearing that in mind.

[Rich]

I hate all of this talk of specialist playmakers and specialist defensive midfielders, give me two players like Rob Lee and Gary Speed who can box to box it any day.

 

Look at Arsenal when they went unbeaten, Gilberto and Vieira in the centre of the park, Man Utd dominated with Scholes and Keane for years, neither being playmakers or an out and out defensive midfielder. As long as you've got goals spread about over the team, these luxury players can be done without.

 

 

Surprised to read this from you, if I'm honest, but I wholeheartedly agree with it. Parky is a romanticist though, I suppose, so I can't be too hard on him for wanting a maestro in our team. It's a nice thought, but I'm not sure if Modric is the man for the job, or if there's any role for such a player in the Premiership anyway, especially for us at the current time. A playmaker is more somebody you build the team around, I don't see why Keegan would do that so soon after finding a winning formula.

 

 

With your love of the beautiful game and your enthusiasm for a lot of individual players, I thought you'd love the idea of a "number 10" at the Toon. Wasn't a dig at all.