tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25555967.post116495676557907617..comments2024-02-09T08:07:26.090-08:00Comments on Dodgy At Best: 3rd Place and The CupsKanuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02959256951835399304noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25555967.post-1165266010680435662006-12-04T13:00:00.000-08:002006-12-04T13:00:00.000-08:00i am a big proponent of the sturdy and marginally ...i am a big proponent of the sturdy and marginally violent holding midfielder. it is something that has been lost in the english game as the focus (in terms of domestic products) has turned to "all-rounders" (to borrow from cricket) when not everyone can be bryan robson. gerrard and lampard, good though they are, are poor man's versions of this ideal. too many teams have placed too great a responsibility on kids developing to emulate that, that the good old defensive holding midfielder is now rarely produced in britain and ireland. roy keane and david batty, imo, were two of the last great domestically produced guys.<BR/><BR/>their absence creates a weak midfield, and losing the ball in the middle of the park in the british game is disater against lower teams playing route 1.<BR/><BR/>my point - english teams have been importing creative enforcers for a number of years now. arsenal was one team who did very well in their choice of patrick viera. since he has been gone, their game has suffered immeasurabley.<BR/><BR/>triangle wing play is much easier to achieve with mettle in the middle of the park. arsenal just don't have it right now and their place on the league table adequatley reflects that.<BR/><BR/>in other words, they need a complete bastard. once they get that, they will get back to winning.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25555967.post-1164993227871969332006-12-01T09:13:00.000-08:002006-12-01T09:13:00.000-08:00Yup, fixed. Meant to actually type 97 (96-97 seas...Yup, fixed. Meant to actually type 97 (96-97 season) and fat-fingered it. Thanks.<BR/><BR/>It sure will be exciting to see an elimination game so early in the competition.Kanuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02959256951835399304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25555967.post-1164974903026493032006-12-01T04:08:00.000-08:002006-12-01T04:08:00.000-08:00Wenger took over in 96 dude.And here's my toast to...Wenger took over in 96 dude.<BR/><BR/>And here's my toast to a Werder victory.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com