Central Midfield - our fulcrum

[shemnel]

I think this might be obvious to some, but central midfield has become the absolute pivot on which our team, performances and seemingly seasons rely on.

Everything radiates from there; the defence seems nervy and over-exposed if the protection goes wandering, the strikers get frustrated and the tempo is dictated. When Ya Ya plays bad, the team seems to visibly crumple. When Lampard played well last night, there was a sense of togetherness and organisation (crucially).

So, are we, as a system, putting way too much pressure on central midfield? Ya Ya does what he does, floats and produces magic, or floats like an unflushable turd. We have 5 central midfielders (Jimmy a possible 6th) for this very reason but for some reason most aren't stepping up. I genuinely think Lampard, if he can take it, deserves a run until the others get back into form.

 

[blue wang]

I agree, yaya needs two learn 2 things from lampard. 1 lampard doesn't come too deep to pick up the ball. He let's the defenders find him in their own half, from there he can effective and get us going quickly, 2 first time pass , its a ball you don't see too much from yaya and one can argue its merits however I hate seeing us get a counter attacking oppurtunity only to allow the defendind team to organise in 2 banks of 4. -i love the tempo set by lampard and we need a midfield general that plays at that tempo. That being sAid I won't mind seeing yaya coming from the bench in champs league

 

[adrianr]

Buy Koke and stick him next to Fernandinho. Solved. Next!

 

[bluechampion7891]

tonight was the perfect game IMO for not having Yaya. We needed to press intelligently and counter attack at pace, and its not one of his strengths (maybe as #10, but he doesnt press as effectively as say lampard did last night).

Yaya is needed for thegame we expect to control or dominate or where we need to break down the opposition.

I am undecided as to whether I'd want him v Roma or not, but am glad that Fernandinho is back. hopefully silva makes it too

 

[shemnel]

Perhaps when we're looking a bit flat, we need energy + intelligence in the centre. Lampard has both, Fernando has both but i think Ya Ya is becoming a luxury for when we're on flying form? i dunno, i like Ya Ya, but you see the dynamic change when he doesnt play.

 

[kunaguero10]

The solution in the short term is to play a 3-man midfield that plays to the players' strengths (i.e. Fernando solely doing the holding role, less defensive responsibility for Yaya, and free reign for Fernandinho to do what he wants).

In the long term I would say a couple of signings who can beat a player or do something out of nothing with a bit of individual brilliance (Reus?) would help the team.

 

[aguero93:20]

Central midfield is the fulcrum and the most important area for any team, not just us, that's why we've such a good recent record against the rags. Not entirely against dropping our '10' deeper in some tougher games as we did on Tuesday though as long as Silva or Nasri is one of the 3 up front to link up with the midfield.

Doesn't necessarily have to be Fernando/Dinho/Yaya though, Dinho/Yaya + a deep sitting Silva or Nasri would work just as well.

 

[adrianr]

Central midfield is the fulcrum and the most important area for any team, not just us, that's why we've such a good recent record against the rags. Not entirely against dropping our '10' deeper in some tougher games as we did on Tuesday though as long as Silva or Nasri is one of the 3 up front to link up with the midfield.

Doesn't necessarily have to be Fernando/Dinho/Yaya though, Dinho/Yaya + a deep sitting Silva or Nasri would work just as well.

I've always liked the idea of trying Nasri there with Yaya - I think those two have a fantastic understanding. We often see that developing in many games they play together, but it would be interesting to see any difference if there was a dedicated intention to remain central.

 

[richards30]

Buy Koke and stick him next to Fernandinho. Solved. Next!

Koke should definitely be a top priority of ours.

 

[OB1]

Yaya is the fulcrum of the side, that's why he has more touches on the ball than any other player in the league. It's a myth that he can't do quick one and two touch passing and, like all the best players in that role, you see him looking for the pass before he receives the ball.

Yaya has has a fine line in long passes: witness equaliser at QPR.

I do agree that Nasri is a good candidate to sub for Yaya in a three man midfield. He took responsibility to drop deep in second half and receive ball from the defence and then work it forwards.

 

[chris85mcfc]

Yaya is the fulcrum of the side, that's why he has more touches on the ball than any other player in the league. It's a myth that he can't do quick one and two touch passing and, like all the best players in that role, you see him looking for the pass before he receives the ball.

Yaya has has a fine line in long passes: witness equaliser at QPR.

I do agree that Nasri is a good candidate to sub for Yaya in a three man midfield. He took responsibility to drop deep in second half and receive ball from the defence and then work it forwards.

I didn't even realise that was something that was being said

Personally i think thats one of his strengths, his ability to play a one-two and open up big spaces in front of the opposition defence

It's a big reason why the 2 of him and Fernandinho worked last season, and a big reason why him and Fernando in a 2 hasn't worked, in that Fernandinho can play the one-two game, and Fernando can't

 

[NanaToure42]

A central midfield being the fulcrum of a squad...what a concept.

I agree.

 

[Bluep*ss]

Yaya is the fulcrum of the side, that's why he has more touches on the ball than any other player in the league. It's a myth that he can't do quick one and two touch passing and, like all the best players in that role, you see him looking for the pass before he receives the ball.

Yaya has has a fine line in long passes: witness equaliser at QPR.

I do agree that Nasri is a good candidate to sub for Yaya in a three man midfield. He took responsibility to drop deep in second half and receive ball from the defence and then work it forwards.

Big question here - Is Yaya suspended for the Roma game?. - one yellow card and straight red against CSKA !!

 

[chris85mcfc]

Yaya is the fulcrum of the side, that's why he has more touches on the ball than any other player in the league. It's a myth that he can't do quick one and two touch passing and, like all the best players in that role, you see him looking for the pass before he receives the ball.

Yaya has has a fine line in long passes: witness equaliser at QPR.

I do agree that Nasri is a good candidate to sub for Yaya in a three man midfield. He took responsibility to drop deep in second half and receive ball from the defence and then work it forwards.

Big question here - Is Yaya suspended for the Roma game?. - one yellow card and straight red against CSKA !!

Yes he is

 

[OB1]

Yaya is the fulcrum of the side, that's why he has more touches on the ball than any other player in the league. It's a myth that he can't do quick one and two touch passing and, like all the best players in that role, you see him looking for the pass before he receives the ball.

Yaya has has a fine line in long passes: witness equaliser at QPR.

I do agree that Nasri is a good candidate to sub for Yaya in a three man midfield. He took responsibility to drop deep in second half and receive ball from the defence and then work it forwards.

I didn't even realise that was something that was being said

Personally i think thats one of his strengths, his ability to play a one-two and open up big spaces in front of the opposition defence

It's a big reason why the 2 of him and Fernandinho worked last season, and a big reason why him and Fernando in a 2 hasn't worked, in that Fernandinho can play the one-two game, and Fernando can't

Look at the Blue Wang post earlier in thread. I am pretty sure there are other implied or explicit examples but I am not going digging :)

 

[TheRealCitizen]

For the big PL games and CL games we need to prioritise work rate in the middle of the park. Yaya simply doesn't work hard enough for him to be a success for us in these games. Having Fernando, Milner and Lampard as a three against Bayern gave us the work rate and passing ability that we needed to negate Bayern in the final third and to initiate counters.

I reckon Koke and Pogba would brilliant replacements for Lampard and Yaya when they go - both are defensively disciplined when needed and can offer a lot in attack. We still need a pacy left winger that brings an unpredictable element to our attack on the left side if we are to take the elite teams on though. Reus would be perfect but I suspect we'll have a battle to sign him this summer.

---------------------Hart-----------------------------

Zaba-----Komps-----Mangala-----Kurzawa


Navas------Koke------------Pogba-------Reus

-----------------------Silva----------------------------

----------------------Aguero-------------------------

Not sure if Navas is defensively disciplined enough, but Jimmy can't run like Jesus can and doesn't carry the same sort of threat

 

[shemnel]

thought i'd bring this back after two years as i feel it might be relevant still

 

[Deleted member 77198]

Signed Yaya in 2010, allowed de Jong and Barry to leave in 2013, signed Fernandinho in 2013...signed Garcia Rodwell Fernando Delph who are poor signings and now signed Gündoğan who obviously needs more time.

The two good signings we've made (Gündoğan might end up being one too) are both over 30.

 

[Kompany is King]

Gundogan is quality.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

Gundogan is quality.

He has two kinds of game does Ilkay - he is either in stormer mood or stinker mood. It was twenty minutes into the CFC game before I realised he was on the pitch! He doesn't dictate any part of the play unless the rest of the team are purring and then his qualities come to the fore. I want our players to take games by the scruff of the neck and dominate teams, hopefully with our strikers seizing on the opportunities that are provided. Gundogan blows too hot 'n cold at the moment. He'll have a cracking game one match and follow it with something rather mediocre! He should be steaming. It might be that he'll need a full half season under his belt in order to show his full repertoire!