Terrific read – I logged in just so I could say that. Well written, cogent and backed up well with facts and figures.
Keep it going!

Hey, thanks for the support. It’s an interesting one really, it could be classed as a 4-4-1-1 or a 4-2-3-1 because in a 4-4-1-1 you have two wide-men who sit next to the CF who is situated just behind the striker. In a 4-4-1-1 you also have two central midfield players who are considered box-to-box. In a 4-2-3-1 it’s largely the same, except, your two central midfielders are deemed as defensive midfielders, while your front 3 are considered AM-L, CF/AM and AM-R. Assuming David Silva is considered an AM-L, it misrepresents Toure and Barry, who yes, are defensively very reliable, but do get forward and don’t simply anchor. So it’s almost like a cross between the two formations. I agree with your point about the interchangeability of the formation, it’s very rigid and fluid and that’s where the confusion about what it’s technically classified is, comes to fruition.
What I’m suggesting in this article is that in a 4-4-1-1 Silva is basically an interchangeable AM-L, which would be considered different because wide players in the 4-4-1-1 are more often than not simply wide players. Dempsey for Fulham is maybe an older example. He’s not quite as good, but they play a 4-4-1-1 and he’s on the left, but he’s more of an AM-L because he doesn’t simply run at defenders, he cuts into central areas and links mid with attack.
In addition, City have also used an interchangeable 4-3-3 this season where they play De Jong, Barry and Toure in the mid, while Silva plays Wide-left and does his fluid creative role, and Nasri sticks more to the flanks on the other side, with Balotelli or Dzeko as the striker. That’s how they played last night against Swansea and they’ve played like that a few times this season.

Thanks Calippo. Yeah, one of the points I was trying to make in the article is that he’s not a generic wide-player because he cuts into central areas and has created a completely new function for the wide player, an almost winger/am prototype. However, I would still technically consider him a wide-left because Aguero operates the central position behind the striker, and is almost like a play-maker/second-striker, while Silva regularly cuts in and out that wide position.

Haha, beats me.

All the players you’ve mentioned there were well passed it, Mike. Yes Dwight went back to the EPL when his tenure in the A-league finished, but he was merely there to add depth to a below-par squad. Juninho and Fowler did quite well in the A-league, but again, they’re careers were effectively over in their home countries and it made more sense to come to a country with a nice lifestyle and decent enough pay-check.

Michael Owen isn’t on the same boat. He’s 31 years-old, and bar the lack of starts for United this season, he has scored crucial goals and is considered an important part of the squad. He earns a load more money at United, than he would in the A-league. Sure, if he got an offer from Qatar, Dubai or UAE he’d earn more money there, but he’d prefer the English lifestyle and he’s far too good to be playing in a league of that nature.

I don’t think there’s a strong possibility of this happening until he’s 33/34 and not playing and out of favor in England.

The speculation is that Newcastle will make a bid for Owen. I’m not denying they will, I’m saying he won’t arrive any time soon.

If you want to dream about it happening that’s up to you, I’m not trying to be nasty, I’m just putting it all into perspective.

I live in Melbourne, it’s a great place, but no. It’s more about quality and what sort of guy he is. Fowler was finished when he came to the A-League. He was getting offers from league 2 teams and being offered crap money.

Owen is on a pay-as-you-play deal, but he’ll still be pocketing money from merchandise, sponsorships, and the amount of money he’ll get when he does play will equate to well over what he’d get in Melbourne. He’s far too good to be playing in the A-league. He’s United’s 4th choice striker this season and as bad as that may sound, it means that with an injury or two he suddenly becomes the 3rd or 2nd choice striker. Not that I think he’ll leave, but if he did it would be for another premier league club or a championship club at the lowest. I rate him very highly.

What a ridiculous idea. You and anyone else are having a laugh if you think this is going to transpire any time soon. Owen may not be playing regularly for United but he is highly rated by Sir Alex and is considered an important part of the squad. He’s not lost a lot of pace, he’s still a greater poacher in the box, he makes intelligent runs in-behind the defense and he’s committed to United. He’s said that he would rather be at a big club and play a bit-part role and win things as opposed to being with minnows and battling for survival. He’ll get chances this season. Just last weekend Sir Alex said that he’d been unfair to Owen and that he deserved to be playing.

To add weight to that argument, Gerard Houllier has showed great intent in bringing him to Villa Park and don’t think that just because Darren Bent has signed he won’t move for him again. Owen would be their 3rd choice striker.

Owen could be playing week-in, week-out for a Premier League club, he’d be among the top scorers in the Championship and he’d eat League 1 up for breakfast, so why would he come to the Newcastle Jets? He’s English, he has young children and he’s absolutely leaps and bounds better than Fowler was when he departed for the A-league. Oh, and not to mention, he’ll get rubbish money compared to wages he could get in England and Newcastle is a crap place.

Yeah the Guardian is brilliant. One of the best newspapers in the world and some brilliant football journalists on there too.

Torres in a wide position? It’s a waste of his talents. He’s a finisher who runs onto balls and finishes them. If you play him in that sort of position he’s expected to hold the ball for longer periods, constantly run at defenders, cut into the box and be prepared to deliver the ball from wide areas. Oh, and not to mention, he’s got awful work-rate and this position requires a load of running. Not his ability at all. It’s naturally going to drop his conversion rate and it means that Kalou and Sturridge will be further deprived of game time.
It’s not impossible, but it’s changing Torres’ natural style of play. 10 years playing the way he’s played and then he’s expected to play an entirely different role. It’s going to be hard for any player.

Mintox, I’m aware that Carroll can be played in a number of ways, and that Liverpool have penetrating wingers, but that’s the point. For Carroll to be effective he has to play a holding role in 4-4-2 diamond and Suarez will need to play off him, or Liverpool will need to cross him the ball and give him space. Because of his size and his aerial qualities he’s not going to be nearly as effective with Kuyt and Suarez cutting inside. Liverpool need a balance. They need to give him balls in the air to utilize his aerial ability and they need players cutting inside and making runs to giving him space. As you know, he’s not as fast or agile as Torres and he’s not really a poacher, so he’s not going to be chasing as many through-balls and scoring as many one-touch finishes due to his physique and certain qualities. He’s going to be powerful and direct.

He actually reminds me of Shearer, albeit not quite as quick, but more menacing and powerful. He’s a maverick in the air and you give him any space to shoot he’ll put it away. He also works remarkable hard and a useful passer of the ball. But at his age and taking his inexperience into account 35 mil is just silly.

Thanks for the comments lads. I appreciate the feedback and discussion.

I think they should also go about forming divisions. A B-league so to speak…

Yeah, thanks for the comments gentleman. I’m not saying throw them into the deep-end straight away, but slowly push them through as a group and use them to plug the gaps. As much as Elliott is right about most of the England team being around in 2 years, maybe it’s team to take some risks and replace a number of the players? I rate Lampard for Chelsea, but for England needs to go. Replace him with someone like Rodwell or Cleverley. Fabio should go about replacing a number of senior players with young players over this 2-4 year period. Players like: Cleverley, Rodwell, Wilshere and Smalling should all be in that England team by 2012 and by 2014 just about all the players in the under-21 team should all be in there. I’ll reiterate, it’s a risk playing a young side in a major tournament and it may not reap rewards straight away like with Germany, but if you keep predominantly the same side over 3 major tournaments they learn to play as a unit. If Fabio decides to throw 4-5 younger players into the senior line-up they’ll have good chemistry, regardless of the level of competition they’ve been playing. The argument that says that England lack quality is rubbish, they just lack chemistry and an appreciation for their team-mates abilities. The under-21’s have quality, chemistry and appreciation for their team-mates. Sure they’re not ready just yet, but soon they will be, and when they are, they mustn’t be denied an opportunity.
PS: Elliot, i’ve deactivated it until my exams are done (17th of November)

Dave, it’s not the best team since 1966′ but one of them. We’ve got two of the best attacking midfielders we’ve ever had in, Lampard and Gerrard, the best striker since in Shearer in Rooney, who’s probably going to be better, one of the best left-backs in Ashley Cole (although he’s an ass), and the best central defensive pairing in Terry and Ferdinand

What have you seen? Have a look at some of the Reserve videos and his game against Scunthorpe. Sir Alex has been impressed by his technical abilities and has been praised for it by a number of players, he was just lacking in terms of fitness. He’s fixed that now and to be honest, I was surprised to see him called up to the squad so early after playing so few games.

I guess we’ll wait and see, but there’s definitely some talent there. I’d also like to see more of Obertan.

Boy’s

Nah, I feel the same about Chelsea fans. You and I seem similar, bias, but more than ready to reason.

Bebe’s got a load of potential, you can’t deny that. He’s just raw and he’s going to need some nurturing. He’s a bit like a cross between Ronaldo and Nani; big, powerful and imposing, lighting quick, but an excellent crosser like Nani. Not saying he’s going to be as good, but that boys got the potential of a world-beater he just needs some nurturing.

When Kakota finally breaks into your team you’re going to need to change your system. He looks exciting; quick, skillful and technically gifted but more suited to a true wingers role. Malouda is almost like a mix between a cm and a left-winger. He plays centrally then cuts wide.

You got Facebook or something dude? If you want to keep your identity that’s cool, though.

Woops, excuse the typo repeat.

Look, I don’t want an argument on here. I respect your passion for your side, but you’re showing enormous disrespect for your rivals. also think it’s wrong for you to attack the depth in our squad and our second string which won the Reserves cup last year. Kalou is also 25 and Di Santo signed for Wigan on a permanent Transfer last window.
With the current squads and current home formations this is what the side are going to look like in 2014.
I
If you want to look at the two sides in 2014 that’s fine:
Cech
Ivanovic – Terry (will be pushing 34 and probably won’t play) – Bruma – Zhirkov (Cole will be pushing 34 and won’t play)
Essien Ramires
Mc Eachran

Sturridge (You need another winger)
(You’ll need to buy a PF)

Now United:
Kuszczak

Rafael – Smalling – Evans – Fabio

Fletcher Cleverley

Nani Bebe’

Rooney Macheda

To choose from on the bench:
Valencia
Anderson
Obertan
Berbatov
Hernandez
Pogba
Amos
Ajose
Brady
Petrucci
King
Cofie
Reece Brown

I’ll leave it up to you who you think is better.

Hi Elliott, Chelsea certainly looked good against Arsenal, but don’t they always? Arsenal seem to have a real issue playing top-sides and tend to under perform. John Terry is extremely effective when he reads the game well, but he often gets caught out for pace. As much as a number of Chelsea’s players are performing well, they have a real issue in terms of the age of their squad. Those players you’ve mentioned albeit Essien are aging fast. You have to say, with Drogba and Lampard at 32, it’s not going to last long. Soon you’ll need to spend a large sum of money and need to rebuild. Although, to give Chelsea credit, they’re certainly in a commanding position and playing decent football.

As for United, you’ve probably counted out a number of key players. Berbatov and Nani have been irresistible together this season and although Nani has on a few occasions had ordinary games he tends to pop out of nowhere with a shot or a cross that changes the game. Even as a Chelsea supporter you’d be mighty scared if Rooney started performing. If he plays anything like he did last season we’ll have 2 of the best strikers operating and a dangerous wing combination of Nani and Giggs. To see Bebe on the pitch last week instead of Obertan also suggests that Ferguson is willing to push him through. Scholes and Fletcher are both performing and with Hargreaves pushing for selection we’re looking forward to an exciting period. Providing the holes are stitched up in defense we’ll start hitting form before the new year like we always do.

Thanks for the comment!

Brian your point is fair, but with all due respect I feel like you’re dismissing the depth in the squad. Yes most of the same lads player every week, but there’s a whole lot of depth in the squad that Real and Chelsea don’t have and as a result are forced to buy.
I think we have 6 really great, effective strikers: Rooney, Berbatov, Owen, Hernandez, Macheda and Welbeck. Chelsea really only have Drogba, Anelka and Kalou. Drogba and Anelka are getting old and will need to be replaced soon. Chelsea just don’t have the depth within their squad to replace them. With no great surprise, they’ll buy to fill the gaps. Same goes for Real, why have a youth policy when you can just buy? Well, Barcelona are a great example of why it’s extremely effective to raise talent. More than half of their starting 11 are academy players and you can tell by the way they play their football. Total-football (as it’s known) has been taught to those Barca lads since they were 12 or 13 and their chemistry is undeniable.

United don’t have the same sort of talent in the academy as Barca, but there’s a number of positions already covered for the future. When Scholes and Giggs retire we may need to invest in suitable replacements, but with so much talent coming through the ranks, we’ll establish the same sort of chemistry that Barca have and that Real and Chelsea can’t buy. You also save a crap-load in the process!

As David V has also mentioned, when you raise talent they become folklore at the club and highly respected all round. Giggsy and Scholesy have incomparable personalities, but so are one-club men of the future. Looking at the reserves, academy and the first team now. Expect: Jonny Evans, Chris Smalling, the Da Silva twins, Bebe’, Welbeck, Hernandez, Pogba, Cofie and Gibson to stick around for a while! Macheda seems like a Ronaldo-type player that may depart to Italy in some time.

But yes, appreciate the comments gentleman. Much appreciated!

You’ve done a good job here. Excellent that you’ve been able to explain and demonstrate how the many troubles that South Africa faced were overshadowed by the biggest sporting event in the world.

I’ve been to South Africa, it really isn’t as bad as people say it is (not where I went anyway). There are security guards on every street corner till 6, and consequently you know very well not to go out alone!

Thank you so much for that mate! I really, really, appreciate it. I just have a real passion for ‘United and for the game itself and any quality that’s in my writing stems from there.

I’ll take a look at your articles and try and give you some useful feedback too.

I don’t really know how you contact each other on here apart from these comment boxes, but if you’ve got Facebook or something, email it through!