First choice midfield...

[Maxiedge]

There are potential midfields in this discussion.

Isn't that the whole point buddy?

[Armchairkopite]

First off thank God we are now in a position where we are arguing over who should start, after all the crap we have been through this season its just nice to have options.

The competition for places is going to get lads to raise their games and that's great news for us.

Lucas has done tremendously well this season and continues to improve all the time, ignorant people who say he cant pass need to get over themselves because guess what they got it wrong.

Lucas is top of the player of the season table and there can be no arguments about that, I think with all the pressure on him at the young age of 23 he has been tremendously effective for us and his game will continue to mature into one of the finest midfielders in Europe.

Aquiliani on the other hand has shown glimpses of brilliance and will be a cracking player for us, hes obviously more direct and experienced then Lucas in the final third but he has shown a willingness to get stuck in which I like.

[red g]

Lucas is top because he probably played mote outfield games than anyone this year.

Lucas being top of the chart shows how poor everyone else has been. Lucas has hardly been standout IMO , he has done ok , but everyone giving him all the plaudits can't remember how painful that centre mid partnership has been specially at start of season.

Not his fault but rafa clearly believes he is better than he actually is!!!
Lucas is a good squad player but should not be 1st team he is simply to limited if people want him to play, do u want to drop masher? Or do we really believe that partnership works ?

[Mattshark]

Lucas is top because he probably played mote outfield games than anyone this year.

Lucas being top of the chart shows how poor everyone else has been. Lucas has hardly been standout IMO , he has done ok , but everyone giving him all the plaudits can't remember how painful that centre mid partnership has been specially at start of season.

Not his fault but rafa clearly believes he is better than he actually is!!!
Lucas is a good squad player but should not be 1st team he is simply to limited if people want him to play, do u want to drop masher? Or do we really believe that partnership works ?

Or he is simply far better than you give him credit for.

[badpiggy]

xavi and iniesta for barca are the modern template of great midfielders. mobile, aggressive, fast,(well maybe not xavi) intelligent, skillfull. it pains me to see our first choices by comparison.

[Shaggy]

They're obviously wonderful players and a joy to watch, but neither are CM material in a 4231. Xavi always plays in front of a sitting midfielder (Senna, Toure, whoever) and Iniesta plays an even more advanced role.

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

They're obviously wonderful players and a joy to watch, but neither are CM material in a 4231. Xavi always plays in front of a sitting midfielder (Senna, Toure, whoever) and Iniesta plays an even more advanced role.

Exactly, imagine them with Mascherano to do the dirty work

[Shaggy]

Exactly, imagine them with Mascherano to do the dirty work

Frightening.

[Zapater]

They're obviously wonderful players and a joy to watch, but neither are CM material in a 4231. Xavi always plays in front of a sitting midfielder (Senna, Toure, whoever) and Iniesta plays an even more advanced role.

But in Iniesta's breakout season Edmilson and van Bommel were injured/out of form and he played as the deepest position behind Xavi and Deco. He first started getting games when Xavi was injured in his position, but when he returned they slipped both of them into their midfield 3. He was able to play that role very effectively and despite not being physically strong enough, or having the defensive capacity. His ability to read the game, and his amazing skillset actually made him a really good option there.

Although nower days he mainly plays as a winger or advanced midfielder which I think is a bit of a waste of his true qualities. But he'd never fit into a double pivot midfield system which we play, I don't think.

Regarding our midfield, even though he's been poor I wouldn't mind Rafa rolling the dice a little and giving Aquilani some games. Clearly even though Lucas and Mascherano isn't as terrible a pairing as made out to be it isn't working very effectively. Aquilani may not have justified himself to start games, but when I consider all of the persistence Lucas has been given for such a humble return, I can't help but think that other players, Aquilani in this case deserves some of that same persistence. He cost a ****ing ****load and I can't help but cringe at the thought of another big name signing ending up a disaster for us, but unless things change quickly this has all of the ingredients of going that way.

[Craig_H]

Lucas is top because he probably played mote outfield games than anyone this year.

Lucas being top of the chart shows how poor everyone else has been. Lucas has hardly been standout IMO , he has done ok , but everyone giving him all the plaudits can't remember how painful that centre mid partnership has been specially at start of season.

Not his fault but rafa clearly believes he is better than he actually is!!!
Lucas is a good squad player but should not be 1st team he is simply to limited if people want him to play, do u want to drop masher? Or do we really believe that partnership works ?

Spot on that. It'd be more accurate if the table was based on points per games played in (i.e. an average). Seen posted on another forum, that if it was done this way, the top 5 would be:

Johnson
Torres
Mascherano
Lucas
Reina

But methodology aside, anyone who's watched all our games in full, that doesnt think Reina's been our best performer this season, knows diddly squat about football, IMHO.

[Ben_Itez]

But methodology aside, anyone who's watched all our games in full, that doesnt think Reina's been our best performer this season, knows diddly squat about football, IMHO.

I can't think of one mistake tbh, at least not one that's led to a goal.

In terms of MoM i think we should wait until the end of the season before we start talking about players of the year.

[Guest]

HOom. Thought they were a new band.

[Reece]

HOom. Thought they were a new band.

Double FAIL

[Ben_Itez]

Anyway back on track i reckon the midfield for our next game will be:

Maxi-----Lucas------Gerrard----Benayoun

With Kuyt and Torres up front but with Dirk sometimes filling in as part of the 'three' and interchanging.

That's with Mascherano at Right Back.....if Johnson's fit it may well be a totally different team.

[Guest]

Double FAIL

FFS