Which EPL team has the best midfield?

[Robnya]

The best centre midfielders should make the players around look like superstars. Sometimes the casual fans will overlook this player. And that is why he is not singled out in thread.

[Karl]

Check this for a midfield:

Essien, Obi, Lampard. Ballack, MaKelele, Malouda, Joe Cole.
How much better than that can you get?

Yuh come wid dis 7 midfield ting, tuh?
OK! Yuh ave 4 more players including goalkeeper - Put out yuh full line-up? ...an den tell mi which midfield from BoyU and di mighty GUNNERS yuh 7 midfielders + di 4 a guh outplay?

...an a which team di ola dem ti-ge-da cudda beat...which midfield di ole a dem ti-ge-da cudda beat...cudda prove betta dan?

Maybe di 200 team inaah di worl?! ...suh dem wudda bes a wah?

[Jangle]

Ok this is my take.

Outside of the top three teams in the EPL, no other teams come even close, so we'll forget them. I think it's a very close fight between The Empire and Chel$ki for top honour. Let's match them up player for player in their given roles:

The Empire Chel$ki The Baby Gummers
Left-mid

Nani Joe Cole Helb
Ryan Giggs (need some help here)

Central Mid
Creative
Carrick Ballack Fiberglass
Scholes Lampard Denilson

Defensive Mid
The Steel

Anderson Essien Flamini
Hargreaves Makele Gilberto
Fletcher Licky-licky Obi ?

Right-mid

Ronaldo Wright-Phillips Rosicky
Park ? Sanjay (sp)


I know there are more but my brain is not working well right now. Now you can all revisit your arguments.

[Jangle]

Tilla, the post did not come out in the table format like I typed it. What's up with that?

[Karl]

Ok this is my take.

Outside of the top three teams in the EPL, no other teams come even close, so we'll forget them. I think it's a very close fight between The Empire and Chel$ki for top honour. Let's match them up player for player in their given roles:

The Empire Chel$ki The Baby Gummers
Left-mid

Nani Joe Cole Helb
Ryan Giggs (need some help here)

Central Mid
Creative
Carrick Ballack Fiberglass
Scholes Lampard Denilson

Defensive Mid
The Steel

Anderson Essien Flamini
Hargreaves Makele Gilberto
Fletcher Licky-licky Obi ?

Right-mid

Ronaldo Wright-Phillips Rosicky
Park ? Sanjay (sp)


I know there are more but my brain is not working well right now. Now you can all revisit your arguments.

It would be interesting to see -
i) the 5 players (a mix from all the players) who you would consider the very best on-the-field aggregation? ..i.e. select your dream midfield aggregation?

...and...

ii) the 5 from the TEAM you consider has best on-the-field midfield aggregation?

[Lazie]

Jangle,

You need to switch Anderson and Carrick. Anderson is not a defensive mid. He is Scholes' replacement.

Based on how you put it

Left Mid = Helb.
Creative = Scholes
Defensive = Essien
Right = Goes without saying.

I was of the impression the inital question was about overall midfield.

[Jangle]

Dream mid

Nani, Joe Cole, Ronaldo, Carrick & Essien.

[Jangle]

Jangle,

You need to switch Anderson and Carrick. Anderson is not a defensive mid. He is Scholes' replacement.

Based on how you put it

Left Mid = Helb.
Creative = Scholes
Defensive = Essien
Right = Goes without saying.

I was of the impression the inital question was about overall midfield.

Yes, the question was about overall midfield. Anderson is so good that I see him playing dual roles in the midfield. Against the Gummers, he totally dominated the midfield. He broke up a number of plays too. I am conflicted with our midfield because Carrick is an absolute gem of a passer. H has amazing vision and can drop the ball on a pinhead 40-yards out.

[Lazie]

Yes, the question was about overall midfield. Anderson is so good that I see him playing dual roles in the midfield. Against the Gummers, he totally dominated the midfield. He broke up a number of plays too. I am conflicted with our midfield because Carrick is an absolute gem of a passer. H has amazing vision and can drop the ball on a pinhead 40-yards out.

What some people don't seem to know is that Anderson can turn on the flair factor as good and as effective, if not more that some players some people hyping bout.

My only reason for saying Scholes over Carrick is that Scholes can scores on a regular basis.

[Jangle]

What some people don't seem to know is that Anderson can turn on the flair factor as good and as effective, if not more that some players some people hyping bout.

My only reason for saying Scholes over Carrick is that Scholes can scores on a regular basis.

True, but the beauty of Carrick's play is that he is willing to stay in the middle and spray the passes to our forwards. That's the type of player he is which helps with the chemistry of the team. Scholes is also a great passer too, it's just that I think he needs more match time to work himself back into the team. His weakness is his tackling abilities and his lack of leadership. He is a no-frills blue-collared worker on the field. As one of the longest player for the Empire, I think he should be challenging for the captain's armband over Ferdinand.

[OJ]

There isn't anything Fabregas can do that Flamini can't,if anything it is Flamini with the advantage.It will be Fabregas or Van etc..alongside the consistent Flamini right?




Blessed

how many goals has flamini scored for arsenal. how many passes that leads to goals. Come on now

[Karl]

how many goals has flamini scored for arsenal. how many passes that leads to goals. Come on now

ole im pan pint, Biyah!

[Karl]

Dream mid

Nani, Joe Cole, Ronaldo, Carrick & Essien.

mmmm????
The balance is excellent!
Three very good on the attacking end - with flair always available...and two excellent on the defensive end...with not inconsiderable attacking strengths...and they all can play right across the field...rotate across the field.
Very good picks!
...not mine, but I would not have any sleepless nights if I had these 5 at my command on any TEAM I would manage.

Only possible weakness - How hard does Nani work on the defensive side of the game?

[Mosiah]

Das why dem call him Maestro!

Oh, is not Hue yuh talking bout?!?

[Jangle]

mmmm????
The balance is excellent!
Three very good on the attacking end - with flair always available...and two excellent on the defensive end...with not inconsiderable attacking strengths...and they all can play right across the field...rotate across the field.
Very good picks!
...not mine, but I would not have any sleepless nights if I had these 5 at my command on any TEAM I would manage.

Only possible weakness - How hard does Nani work on the defensive side of the game?

There is one very important factor that makes the Empire a better team than any in the league; our defense actually starts with our forwards. Fergie has every player playing TEAM ball. I have seen Rooney making tackles in the left-back position. All our players work hard to win back the ball if they lose it. The one who I would say tackles the least is Ronaldo, and that is ok with me as we need his legs to be fresh to run at the defense. I think Fergie once made a comment that he had to tell Rooney to ease up on back tracking and playing to deep. Karl the Empire simply have the best TEAM right now. I remember last year when we let go Ruud nuff man seh Fergie mad, but we went on to win the league, and it was probably only Van der Saar neva score a goal. Look at us this year - still leading with most goals. Ruud was a cancer in the dressing room, and that's not taking away from his abilities. At the Empire there is absolutely, positively no confusion as to who is the boss. No one player is bigger than the team and Fergie nuh fraid fe sell him star balla if him getting too big fe him britches. Wegner ah try follow Fergie's example by selling TH1 but another primadonna take his place.