Andrea Pirlo

[Spursh]

Sounds way too defensive unless you have a world class forward line

'Too defensive'?

Pirlo is one of the greatest playmakers of his generation, and is at his most effective in front of the back four with a work-horse alongside him.

 

[idontgetit]

'Too defensive'?

Pirlo is one of the greatest playmakers of his generation, and is at his most effective in front of the back four with a work-horse alongside him.

Sandro and Capoue are defensive midfielders. They'll get in the way of Pirlo and he'll have no one to pass at. You need a box to box player next to him, not a DM. With our forwards anyway.

 

[Shadydan]

Sandro and Capoue are defensive midfielders. They'll get in the way of Pirlo and he'll have no one to pass at. You need a box to box player next to him, not a DM. With our forwards anyway.

Not entirely true, he would work in a double pivot with a player next to him to win the ball back...bit like the mascherano/Alonso combo Liverpool had a few years ago.

 

[Spursh]

Sandro and Capoue are defensive midfielders. They'll get in the way of Pirlo and he'll have no one to pass at. You need a box to box player next to him, not a DM. With our forwards anyway.

Juventus play two box-to-box players alongside him (because they play 3 at the back, so can afford one more midfielder), so at any one time, there is a workhorse-like midfielder alongside him doing the leg-work.

At Milan, Gattuso was basically his guard dog. You cannot afford to leave Pirlo isolated, and having a defensive midfielder alongside him gives him that protection and also a short out-ball if he's under too much pressure.

 

[idontgetit]

Juventus play two box-to-box players alongside him (because they play 3 at the back, so can afford one more midfielder), so at any one time, there is a workhorse-like midfielder alongside him doing the leg-work.

At Milan, Gattuso was basically his guard dog. You cannot afford to leave Pirlo isolated, and having a defensive midfielder alongside him gives him that protection and also a short out-ball if he's under too much pressure.

I don't see us playing three at the back. If we play two DM's we lose a runner. Our movement was stagnant enough as it was last year.

 

[RButch]

Sounds way too defensive unless you have a world class forward line

What a midfield two of Sando/Capoue and Pirlo is too defensive?

 

[idontgetit]

What a midfield two of Sando/Capoue and Pirlo is too defensive?

Yes. Both stay too deep. It works if your forwards are fucking quality and you can just give them the ball and let them get on with it, but not if they're the kind of players that rely on team attacking football. Would probably be ok for when we want to play on the counter as well but that's not going to be many games this season

 

[rabbikeane]

Sounds way too defensive unless you have a world class forward line