- Jan 6, 2008
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Interesting. It seems like our team next season may be quite close to Jol's team when we still had Carrick, and the LM (Tainio or Davids) often drifted inside to form 3 CMs, and an overlapping LB (Lee) providing the width on the left flank.
From an attacking and creative perspective though, Bale/Gilberto and Modric are an upgrade on Lee and Davids/Tainio. However, Lee and Davids or Tainio are probably stronger defensively.
However, if it's correct that we're also trying to buy two MORE CMs - one defensive, one more creative (eg Diarra/Veloso/Kompany, and Lucho Gonzalez), then I'd have to imagine JJ will go. He wouldn't stay as a back-up squad player. So, maybe we'll be getting some Thai filthy lucre - courtesy of Sven & Man City - to help finance these big money signings.
Indeed. Although the lack of defensivity (that's not a word I'm sure) would hopefully be made up having better centre halves (well, Woodgate over Dawson partnering King), GK and DCM (in a purely defensive sense, not ingnoring Carrick's other attributes).
I'm sure in that situation we'd love to keep JJ on as back-up and would try our best to pursuade him to do so for at least a season - sell what he could learn from Gonzalez or A N Other etc. It would look very defeatist for any ambitious footballer to leave just because another player is brought in in his position (remember Chimbo's agent moaning). 6-12 months of not playing then maybe it's a fairer cop.