Nick wrote:shortagain wrote:This season our defence has looked anything but solid. Many reasons have been put forward for this, most of which have focused on our defensive midfielder situation. Since we let NDJ go, we have not had a true DM with his qualities, those which Matic has brought to the Chelsea team this season.
This lack of protection has coincided with the loss of form of 2 our our best players from last seaon, Vinny & Zabba, meaning extra pressure for any 2 from 4 of MDM, Manga, Clichy & Kolarov, with the loss of points in certain games we should have won.
Fernandinho, doesn't seem to be a genuine DM, Yaya is to lazy to be one & Fernando doesn't appear good enough.
So here's the point, what are others opinions of moving Vinnie into the role, playing in front of MDM & Manga, with an assortment of full backs to choose from.
He's very much in the Matic mold, he's tall, he's brave, he's quick, he can read the game & he has in the past been disciplined in his play. Most important, he can organise others. He came from Hamburg as a DM, so until we can upgrade Fernando or get Yaya tracking back, why not give it a try
Opinions please
Its a fair point; but I will raise you one and suggest a recharged Zaba.
Vinnie could and has done the job before; but as has been suggested above; is he attacking enough, or is he similar to Fernando?
Zaba has played a handful of games for us as a 'box to boxer' and has scored goals (I remember a great goal and MOTM performance against Wigan). He has the fight and engine to play box to box.
Milner was the other player we all hoped would do this. He bangs on about how he is a central midfielder but he hasn't produced the goods in the middle in the little time he's had there.
I don't think we want a box to box player, in fact that could be the problem as when teams break fast against us, our DM's whoever they are are often up with the forwards. We need someone to stay with the central defenders as the full backs are often up field as well. Maybe 3 at the back is the answer, but they have to be very quick for that to work. It usually fails if they are not