21 Aug 2015 09:30:00
I feel one of the main problems for our break down of attacking play, or pace to get from back to front is the number 10 role, how it's being played and who is playing there.

bayern Munich: Gotze;Muller;Costa
Barcelona: Iniesta;Messi
Real Madrid: Isco;Rodriguez; Bale
Chelsea: Oscar; Fabregas
Manchester City: Sterling;Silva; Nasri
Arsenal: Ozil; cazorla

This is just a few to teams to name. The number 10 role is becoming a fashionable position in football. BAYERN are a very entertaining team to watch, they create many chances over the season and always have a high possession of the ball. Having number 10s like Gotze and Muller allows someone always showing for the ball in the middle of the attacking third and also a massive goal threat on top of their wingers and striker. BARCELONA again great retention of the ball and create many chances. Iniesta, eyes in the back of his head, always an option in the centre and can string a ball through the attackers. Messi, who plays 10 sometimes, drops slightly deeper and runs at defence to create space for 1 2s. REAL MADRID always show incredible counter attack ability, James always shows for the ball and looks to move it forward as quick as possible, bale does the same by attacking defences causing all kinds of trouble. Now, we have CHELSEA who can be very boring sometimes. The reason for this is because Oscar hasn't progressed into the player expected, most of the time leaving them with no number 10. They had no creativity against Man City, no pace in the centre. This is because they were lacking a number 10 who can make something happen. MANCHESTER CITY and ARSENAL again have top number 10s, great variety. Ozil can be lazy and sluggish but when on form
his passing is unplayable and can be very prolific on assists because he's always looking for the ball in there. silva, best number 10 around, quality! Makes everything effortless.

Now your probably thinking where is my point going? All these number 10s from the selected teams play in their position. We lack creativity in the central attacking area, we lack goals in that area. The reason why? We don't play our number 10s there. Madness. JUAN MATA, He is our number 10, proved his class at Chelsea there. Scores goals and his passing is exceptional. Always looking to show for the ball in tight space, very positive player and if played there will certainly speed up our play and increase our possession in the final third for sure. We also have WAYNE ROONEY, who scores goals and is at its best when facing the goal. So we have two world class number 10s and yet none of them are played there, that's why our football can be boring at times. No creativity in the centre.

1.) 21 Aug 2015
21 Aug 2015 11:28:46
Agree with everything except that Rooney is a world class number 10. His touch and short range passing let's him down. I think world class gets thrown around too much and I'd even say Mata isn't world class either, a great number 10 though and proven that he can do it. We have Pereira and Januzaj who could have the potential to turn in to great number 10s too.

2.) 21 Aug 2015
21 Aug 2015 12:08:35
Have yo disagree as barca don't play with a number 10 position they play busquets as pivot and iniesta and rackatic ahead the exact formation we played last year with our good run of results we had carrick pivot and herrra and fellini ahead . bayern also play 4-1-4-1 again no number 10 as gotze warms the bench and plays from the left. Silva yes plays number 10 role to perfection in 4-2-3-1 so i ask what formation do we play ta put mata in there the same as city with januzai and memphis on the sides with sweinstiger and morgan sitting ? I personally prefer how we played last year as 4-3-3 but my mid this year would be morgan pivot sweinstiger and hererra ahead and then memphis rooney and januzai front 3 .control game more and have more counter attack pace in tat formation.i like mata but i prefer 4-3-3 so he has miss out for me .sorry mata

3.) 21 Aug 2015
21 Aug 2015 16:45:35
Iniest and Messi are both number 10s. Meaning you will find them floating around in there. Not sure what your talking about but rackitic and iniesta do not mirror each other. Iniesta is more advanced.