Defensive Midfielder- Who should we look to?

[double0]

United killed us through the middle at OT and Liverpool overran us at Anfield. They were bad games for Mason and Bentaleb, but examples of where a more defence focused DM would be handy.

Incidentally, it was when Bentaleb was given the task of marking Fellani that the goals stopped.

No ManU did no kill us through the middle.

There CB bypassed our midfield, Fellenini was hit with the long diagonal ball right off centre he was winning the high ball and turning our defence....it wasn't the midfield that let us down it was the CB's not challenging Fellenini.

Don't know what game you were watching at Anfield it was an even sort of game I felt we were gradually getting onto then got hit with a goal from a ball out wide. I grant you at Anfield we made a few missed placed passes in midfield which resulted to Liverpool attacking our defence.

 

[TheHoddleWaddle]

Has anyone seen Toby Ald' play in a DM role? I haven't but am of he understanding he can. So perhaps the answer is there? Giving the existing cb chance to play, ala Fazio, Dier, Wimmer along side verts'.

I'm not saying this is the answer as I've not seen him play there. Just a thought!

 

[NeverRed]

Providing Stambouli goes, then midfield centrals:

Att (centre of 3 behind Kane): Eriksen/Lamela as creators, or Dembele as target and posession holder

CM-Att: Mason/Alli as hustlers/influencers, or Carroll/Winks as threaders

CM-Def: Bentaleb/Veljkovic as semi-defensive play-pendulum (swinging play left/right/forward), or Dier/Toby as harder protection

Which one (the set before or following the hypen) depending on how we need to play

 

[Locotoro]

After watching that talk by Comolli on Prozone scouting my first choice would be Kramer hands down.

Statistically the best European DM in terms of starting attacks whilst under pressure whilst shielding the back line. That is the type of player we need

 

[Mullers]

Has anyone seen Toby Ald' play in a DM role? I haven't but am of he understanding he can. So perhaps the answer is there? Giving the existing cb chance to play, ala Fazio, Dier, Wimmer along side verts'.

I'm not saying this is the answer as I've not seen him play there. Just a thought!

If he isn't better than Stambouli in that position then I don't see the sense in playing him there.

 

[Blake Griffin]

Has anyone seen Toby Ald' play in a DM role? I haven't but am of he understanding he can. So perhaps the answer is there? Giving the existing cb chance to play, ala Fazio, Dier, Wimmer along side verts'.

I'm not saying this is the answer as I've not seen him play there. Just a thought!

he played there against us alongside schneiderlin. bents and mason ran things.

 

[onthetwo]

terry Hurlock.....

 

[Blake Griffin]

to take one out of @Bus-Conductor's playbook.

when alderweireld played dm/cm against us he completed 22/32 passes over 90 minutes, compare that to bentaleb with 76/82 over 86 minutes.

 

[mil1lion]

We've got one in Bentaleb. He's been restricted by having to play with Mason, who was the more attacking of the two, but put a more defensive player alongside him and I think Bentaleb can be a great box to box player for us.

I think so too in regards to Bentaleb and I've been more and more impressed with him getting forward. I just think with the dynamics of the team Pochettino is building there is no place for a specialised defensive midfielder. It's a concept that is a bit outdated now anyway. I kept hearing commentators refer to Stambouli as a defensive midfielder yet he was chasing players down high up the pitch, albeit not particularly effectively. Sandro was like that too. I think they're ballwinners more than defensive midfielders. Defending from the front isn't really defending as such, we're not sitting back but attacking without the ball.

We need a more rounded midfielder than a defensive midfielder. Someone who will defend and track runners, but who can press high up the pitch and join the attack when we're pressing forward. I'd like to see that kind of interchange in midfield so not only 1 presses forward.

 

[dontcallme]

I hope we only sign one if we find somebody of genuine quality.

Schneiderlein would have fit the bill but it wasn't to be.

I like Stambouli and hope he can start to make more of an impact. A choice of Bentaleb, Mason, Stambouli and Dembele is pretty decent imo.

 

[THOWIG]

Wonder if we've watched Kranevitter.

 

[Deleted member 22380]

Jan Vertonghen for DM.


--------------Lloris----------------
Walker-Alderweid-Wimmer-Rose
-----------Vertonghen-------------
Lamela-Ali-Benteleb-Eriksen
------------Kane-----------------

 

[THOWIG]

Jan Vertonghen for DM.


--------------Lloris----------------
Walker-Alderweid-Wimmer-Rose
-----------Vertonghen-------------
Lamela-Ali-Benteleb-Eriksen
------------Kane-----------------

In my opinion, and I've been saying this for a while, this is Vertonghen's best postion. I miss the player from Ajax who used to bomb forward.

 

[tottenmal]

Jan Vertonghen for DM.


--------------Lloris----------------
Walker-Alderweid-Wimmer-Rose
-----------Vertonghen-------------
Lamela-Ali-Benteleb-Eriksen
------------Kane-----------------

He rejected arsenal for us simply because Arsene wanted to play him there.

 

[willy white wonka]

He rejected arsenal for us simply because Arsene wanted to play him there.

He also threw a wobbly when AVB played him at LB, despite the role he plays for Belgium. Strange that.

 

[THOWIG]

I'd play him as a sweeper with two box to box midfielders in front.

 

[TheHoddleWaddle]

he played there against us alongside schneiderlin. bents and mason ran things.

Didn't see that game. The stats you provide only tell of one game so don't give a whole picture but interesting anyway. I guess if he's best at cb, be sensible to keep him there.

Perhaps with the additional players signed for defence, there will be no need to sign anyone. Just iron put the difficulties.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

Wonder if we've watched Kranevitter.

I thought he signed for Atletico Madrid.

 

[yiddo23]

Providing Stambouli goes, then midfield centrals:

Att (centre of 3 behind Kane): Eriksen/Lamela as creators, or Dembele as target and posession holder

CM-Att: Mason/Alli as hustlers/influencers, or Carroll/Winks as threaders

CM-Def: Bentaleb/Veljkovic as semi-defensive play-pendulum (swinging play left/right/forward), or Dier/Toby as harder protection

Which one (the set before or following the hypen) depending on how we need to play

Nabil is SO much better as an attacking cm

 

[fridgemagnet]

Strootman, or is he bolloxed?