Marvin said:
Ireland has a better all round game - I don't think there are many better midfielders in the Premiership
I agree Elano started the game very brightly against Everton, and his best position is in the hole behind the front man, but 20 mins a game is not good enough.
Compare and contrast his performance with Arteta in that game.
elano seems to have improved his fitness this season, and he isn't rolling around on the ground like he did for much of last season, but I don't think he can complain about being on the bench this season - mind you I don't expect him to be happy about that either.
Of more immediate importance is what to do about our lack of defensive midfield options, and the striker "crisis" that will probably lead us into playing a very young and inexperienced striker in pressure games.
Elano is a side-isse which has been jumped on by Hughes detractors, but it does not explain our problems
If Ireland has a better all round game which i agree with when taking into account defensive attributes then why isn't he playing in a deeper role and therefore using his better ability to tackle, work hard etc to greater effect than Elano does in the role alongside Kompany? Elano IMO is a better player than Ireland in an attacking sense and therefore should have been given more of a chance in the role behind the striker
You're right about 20 minutes not being good enough but it's difficult for Elano when the defenders are missing our the midfield and instead playing the long ball as they did after the first 20 minutes on Saturday. Players like Elano, Robinho and SWP are best when the balls at the feet hence why Saturday annoyed me so much because we were creating chances when we got it down and passed it about but that tactic soon disappeared
