- Dec 23, 2004
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Bugger. Second time he's done it, no?Out for the season ACL
My concern now then would be that Carroll will be asked to play a defensive role in Thorne's absence.
Bugger. Second time he's done it, no?Out for the season ACL
Yep I do wonder if the minimum number of domestic players is actually going to harm some of these guys rather than help them.
I suppose the point is though, that for the top teams, any 21-22 year old players they have, particularly in midfield/attack, should already be at the required standard to push for a first team place.
It's harsh, and not good for the game as a whole, but that does seem to be the reality these days.
I would argue that Carroll is at the required standard to be pushing for a place. Maybe not guaranteed one but is Dembele, Paulinho, Sandro, Capoue ?
I genuinely don't believe that Dembele offers a team a whole lot more than Carroll.
My concern with Carroll is defensively where I haven't really seen much to suggest he can hold his own.
It seems as if we'll be operating a sort of 4-2-3-1 (or a 4-3-3 where one of the midfield is the more attacking player). Assuming Carroll isn't going to be an attacking midfielder (and I don't think he has the skills/pace to do that) then he'll have to play more of a holding role and I'm just not sure he's ready for that.
It's the same issue I have with Bentaleb. Whilst they are both tidy users of the ball, they need to offer something else, whether that be defensively or in attack, and at the moment I'm not sure whether they do offer that.
As for Dembele, I think he would be best utilised in a more attacking role, possibly in one of the wide positions. I agree that he isn't what he was as a central midfielder, which is presumably why we're looking at Schneiderlin.
Agree, Carroll does not really suit a CM2. But a 433 he could be very useful. Same could be said for other midfielders we have though.
Would you use him as the most attacking player in the midfield in a 4-3-3?
Or do you think that in that formation he'd get away with holding a bit more because there would be two players around him?
I would argue that Carroll is at the required standard to be pushing for a place. Maybe not guaranteed one but is Dembele, Paulinho, Sandro, Capoue ?
I genuinely don't believe that Dembele offers a team a whole lot more than Carroll.
Agree with all this. And defensively Dembele's stats for interceptions and tackles have always been very good, even up there with more specialist DMs like Sandro.If you watch Carroll nine times out of ten he plays the way he's facing. Just passing the ball back first time to where it's came from for me is not pass and move, or incisive. I've never or very rarely seen him take the ball when pressed and be able to turn and face the opposition to give more options for himself and relieve any pressure. He plays alot of hospital balls because of it. At least Dembele can beat the press and get the opposition turning, he can relieve pressure that way which seems to get overlooked. granted he doesn't always make the right choice but I do think he's a better passer than given credit. It's just the timing of the pass on occasions that is hit and miss. I think by being able to protect the ball when a teams pressing you either with a ball around the side which scholes used to be great at or by menouvering it with ability strength/pace is essential in a fast paced, high pressing league. Dembele Is defensively underrated too.
I'd have Capoue centre and providing the most defensive protection, paulinho right side and Carroll (or Bentaleb) left. In a high line high tempo style it's not like any of them would be "deep" sitting, but Capoue would be the central pivot and most disciplined, with the other two having more license to travel forward with Paulinho getting himself into the box as often as possible and Carroll providing the link play between midfield and attack.
There's a good balance of skills in a midfield 3 like that. A protector who can also pass, a water carrier and bomber. All can do varying degrees of everything, all have their own special forte, which hopefully cover for the weaknesses in the other's game.
I think Carroll makes himself available for the ball more than Nabil, not by loads but just seems that bit more eager to get into the right positions. My only criticism would be his movement was constant and thus a bit easier to predict - I'd like to see him slow his movement down a bit and then sharpen it quickly to buy himself space. Physically and mentally I'm just not sure and can't be without knowing him or seeing a lot more of him on the pitch.
Would like to see him pushed a bit though as intelligence and willingness are at a premium in our squad.
If you watch Carroll nine times out of ten he plays the way he's facing. Just passing the ball back first time to where it's came from for me is not pass and move, or incisive. I've never or very rarely seen him take the ball when pressed and be able to turn and face the opposition to give more options for himself and relieve any pressure. He plays alot of hospital balls because of it. At least Dembele can beat the press and get the opposition turning, he can relieve pressure that way which seems to get overlooked. granted he doesn't always make the right choice but I do think he's a better passer than given credit. It's just the timing of the pass on occasions that is hit and miss. I think by being able to protect the ball when a teams pressing you either with a ball around the side which scholes used to be great at or by menouvering it with ability strength/pace is essential in a fast paced, high pressing league. Dembele Is defensively underrated too.
I think that's more true of all our midfielders except Capoue. Most midfielders will spend most of the time making simple passes, often sideways. At least Carroll keeps moving, giving going, and he does get his head up and try to play more incisive passes when he can get forward.
Dembele sometimes invited pressure on our back four by ambling in possession and getting pressed out of it. It's fine to do that in the final third, and I like a CM that can drop a shoulder and move forward, but Dembele would spend too much time just dawdling around the centre of the pitch with the ball when it needed moving.
I'd have more confidence in Carroll playing a through ball than Dembele.