THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

[maro]

Sure, Collie. You're wrong on both players, of course, but what can we do?

[AS Collie]

You're wrong on both players. But what can we do?

[RomaShield27]

I thought I'd save this from the SB. Discussion on the term mediano. (reverse order obviously)

maro I didn't realise anyone had thought he'd said DDR couldn't play as a mediano. I thought he was asked where he saw him playing and he said as an interno.

RomaShield27 "There was a big misunderstanding. I didn't say that he couldn't play as a mediano [form of defensive midfielder]. De Rossi isn't a regista in the form of [Andrea] Pirlo, but he can play in any midfield role. "

maro (as you know.)

maro That's what I've long thought is his most natural position.

maro Not in Zeman's thinking, it seems, though clearly he could play there.

RomaShield27 I see. Yes i remember Zeman said that. A mediano and two interni. But would DDR not be the mediano?

maro In a 4-3-3, Roy Keane would have been the mediano.

maro Not according to that definition. It's more of a classic English 'holding midfield' role. I think Zeman's already said that in his midfield three he wants either a 'mediano' flanked by two good ball-players (Pjanic and De Rossi, say), or a 'regista' flanked by two players who can offer more support defensively (De Rossi and ?). That sort of illustrates the distinction.

RomaShield27 Grazie. Yes the Wiki page is the only place i found a description of it. Would u say it differs from a def-mid role, then, as in like a true 'destructive' def-mid? Its more like a combo of a def-mid and regista?

maro I also think I've seen it used more loosely than that.
maro

maro It's not a term that gets used very often these days, or so it seems to me.

maro Il mediano può essere di spinta, di interdizione (detto anche interditore o incontrista) o di appoggio, è il più arretrato e ha il compito di tamponare le azioni degli avversari e ricostruire il gioco.[4] Si dedica specialmente alla marcatura dei centrocampisti offensivi avversari, e controlla la zona centrale del campo tentando di recuperare palloni per poi passarli ai compagni deputati alla costruzione dell'azione offensiva.[4]

maro Can you follow this, threadz? http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centrocampista

RomaShield27 Tom, can u explain the term 'mediano'? Does it differ from a defensive-midfielder?

[maro]

[maro]

[AS Collie]

[RomaShield27]

The more I think about it, I'm increasingly of the opinion that we don't really need much a mercato this season at all. I cant see why we need to spend like we did last summer and bring in a large number of new players.

In fact, I would even go so far as to suggest that we only need one new big signing (on top of say, signing a few promising young kids as per the norm). That may sound a little premature, but I would be happy if we took whatever transfer kitty we have, say €20-30m, and spent it all (or a big fee anyway) on one new centre-back. Who? Well, I'm not sure. Say Hummels (€30m mentioned), Jan Vertonghen (close to Spurs for only around €15m), Ogbonna (although he's not perhaps worth a huge fee), Dede (the highly-rated Brazilian), or Subotic.

[DCGweez]

Give me Gerard any day. (In his prime)

The RM fans call Cesc El Pasajeros for a reason.

He's won nothing as a major player on a team. He scores a goal or two. But he's Robin not Batman. Arsenal botched the transfer window after Cescs exit and did they even suffer for his loss?

Gerrard has won things being one of the protagonists for his club.

[AS Collie]

"Robin not Batman".

Ouch. Good point about Arsenal missing him though. We'll see how the suffer the loss of an influential player this summer. I'd like to say that, for the sake of my gunner-mad mate, they won't sell RVP, but it seems he's on the way out.

[maro]

You two probably also think Gerrard is (has been) a better player than Lampard. I can only hope that one day you manage to break those shackles and find your way out of the cave.

[DavidP]

[DCGweez]

Oh I get it cause I forgot the "R". How clever.

Since you prefer style to substance here's a list of trophies Cesc has played a major role in winning:

[AS Collie]

[maro]

I can't see it in Zeman's 4-3-3, Collie - not enough movement and work-rate from that midfield three. More likely one of the kids alongside Pjanic and DDR, I should think. Fabregas transformed the World Cup final when he came on, no? Because of the ease with which he can play both sides of the ball?

[maro]

Incidentally, Fabregas has been dire today.

[maro]

But, then, that he's being asked to play in this role perhaps tells you something.

[AS Collie]

Well, I personally wouldn't go that far but I know what you mean re: the World Cup. He is a good player, no doubt, but I'd have Xavi, Iniesta, Xabi Alonso ahead of him. And when he was at Arse, it was always more the made-of-glass RVP that I admired on his day.

As for Zeman, I can't really see it either. I mean, Pizza's getting on now. It would be nice to see him getting some game time though. Maybe ZZ'll try him at the back - we've tried everyone else at this stage.

Edzo, I'm with you totally on the one world-class signing. During the Rosella years, it was always the same and always the signing that eluded us. One amazing CB, and maybe a youngster that Saba buys for a pack of smokes over in South America. After that, I'll be excited to see how ZZ works with everyone else.

[maro]

[maro]

Well, that attempt at quoting didnae wok.

[DavidP]

i wonder if we'll see something like this at any point: pigliacelli-crescenzi-antei-burdisso-rosi, viviani-ddr-fabregas, d'alessandro-totti-borini