*Official* English Football Season 2015-16

[Nate]

Rodgers just doesn't value a DM at the end of the day. Maybe Can will slot in there, slowly working his way up the positions.

 

[sledger]

Haha that's exactly what Lucas is. Fouls about 9 times in every match, all in deep central areas where the free kick is useless and each foul not quite bad enough to get him booked. Invaluable in big games.

Haha, I remember they had that Sissoko bloke years ago, and all he did was kick people. You got the impression this wasn't necessarily a tactical aspect of his game though, just that he was literally incapable of doing anything else (i.e. actually playing football). I wonder what happened to him.

 

[King Pietersen]

He's had a pretty good career TBF. Is at Levante now, but before then went Valencia > Liverpool > Juve > PSG > Fiorentina!

 

[Uppercut]

Haha, I remember they had that Sissoko bloke years ago, and all he did was kick people. You got the impression this wasn't necessarily a tactical aspect of his game though, just that he was literally incapable of doing anything else (i.e. actually playing football). I wonder what happened to him.

Haha yeah he was central to that endless parade of excruciating 0-0 draws that Benitez and Mourinho had. Him and Essien seemed to be competing to see who could get away with the most brutal challenge.

 

[Cabinet96]

Should get Xabi Alonso back and kill 2 birds with 1 stone.

Remember when they had Mascherano as well.

 

[Cabinet96]

So what do we make of Schneiderlin saying he's going to leave in a few days and Real wanting Kos?

Koscielny rumour is bull**** IMO. I've read that they want to unite him with Varane, but their partnership in the national team has been a disaster, so I doubt that's something they'd really want to do.

I'm kind of going off Schneiderlin. Is he a passing DM or fouling DM?

 

[Uppercut]

Definitely a fouling DM imo.

I'd set the bar quite high for a passing DM. Passing should unarguably be the thing they're best at. Like, Pirlo/Alonso/Carrick/late-career Scholes. Arteta would count too.

I think the only player who combines both roles is Busquets? Also maybe Javi Martinez, but I haven't seen that much of him, and he's definitely weighted more towards the fouling.

 

[Cabinet96]

Then I'd look elsewhere.

 

[Cabinet96]

Of course ideally you want someone capable of performing both roles. Pretty rare though.

 

[sledger]

Alex Song

 

[Uppercut]

Alex Song

That's actually a really good example, although only really for a short time towards the end of his Arsenal days.

 

[sledger]

Yeha, indeed. Just a shame he's apparently such a colossal douchebag.

 

[Uppercut]

Then I'd look elsewhere.

Yeah I think Coquelin is a fine fouling DM. You really don't need anyone spectacular for it, just someone with energy and discipline that doesn't expect to play every week. In his last season Ferguson used Phil Jones and he did a perfectly good job of it.

But I think there's a risk Wenger would end up leaving the fouling DM out against Chelsea because the passing DM had a great game against Crystal Palace the previous week. Brings me back to my earlier point, that I think Arsenal's squad is now basically complete but they'll still struggle to win the title because Wenger's management of big games is so much worse than Mourinho's.

 

[cpr]

Of course ideally you want someone capable of performing both roles. Pretty rare though.

You once had the best at it in Vieira IMO.


Though we all know his best pass was to Giggs

 

[Dan]

Idiot question time, why would you want a fouling DM?

 

[sledger]

Breaks up the play of the other team, stops them from playing. Spoilering, basically. Not exactly in the spirit of the game, but effective.

 

[King Pietersen]

Deulofeu is back

 

[duffer]

Breaks up the play of the other team, stops them from playing. Spoilering, basically. Not exactly in the spirit of the game, but effective.

The best can do it without being booked. It's an art form.

 

[Dan]

Breaks up the play of the other team, stops them from playing. Spoilering, basically. Not exactly in the spirit of the game, but effective.

Isn't there some sort of advantage rule for those types of infringements? If it's cynical and intentional, shouldn't they be getting carded?

 

[flibbertyjibber]

So Tom and Jerry in for Everton.

Who next Road Runner and the coyote?