Given my previously stated admiration for Leon Britton (see link, below), and Michael Laudrup’s obvious preference for narrow wingers, I really think its time we thought about our best midfield and how we might be able to better be able to cram in our perfect 5 players.
Leon Britton every time has to be one of the first players on the team sheet (along with Michu, Ashley williams, chico and Bony in my humble opinion), as he controls the tempo of the game so effortlessly, while providing a great shield for the defense. I would then couple him with Jose Canas in the engine room for tougher games, and JDG for those that we should win more easily (or alternatively Canas in away games, JDG at home).
Michu would be the attacking pinacle of the midfield, with Alejandro Pozuelo proving a potential impact substitute from the bench.
Then out wide, and this is where the real “evolution” would come, I think we need to find a place for Jonjo Shelvey. The ex-Liverpool midfielder has already shown some undoubted attacking talent in a number of games but he is too much of a liability defensively to be paired in the centre of the midfield, at least at this point in his development. For now I’d look to add Jonjo’s attacking threat out wide, where his guile and nouse would look a lot more threatening than the restricted pair of Routledge and Dyer (who both look like they want to be beating their full backs but have been told to stay narrow).
On the other flank, when fit, it has to be Hernandez, his trickery and goalscoring threat are exactly what Laudrup wants from his wide midfielders, and he always look like he can unlock a defence. JDG can also provide back up here, as I always want his creative threat in the team and again think in Laudrup’s narrower midfield he can do a job.
I’d also like to see Laudrup try and give some of the younger talents, like Lee Lucas and Henry Jones a game, but for now lets focus on the ‘Perfect 5’.
http://www.swanseacity.net/team/player-profile/index.aspx?playerid=389519&tcmuri=181107
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