Potential Midfield Evolution

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 – The Perfect Defensive Midfielder

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://m.worldsoccertalk.com/worldsoccertalk/#!/entry/henry-jones-a-swansea-city-star-in-the-making,51eb0cebda27f5d9d0fbc72f

http://www.swanseacity.net/team/player-profile/index.aspx?playerid=389519&tcmuri=181107

Leon Britton – The Perfect Defensive Midfielder

I’m not going to fire a load of statistics at you, but trust me this is true, Leon Britton has one of the highest pass completion rates in the Premiership. If you don’t believe me look it up, it is true. When Leon is playing we seem to control the tempo of the game better because we are controlling the tempo of the game better.

Leon is a great defensive midfielder, not by being a crunching tackler but rather with his positional awareness. He never ventures forward, unless someone else is covering, or the attacking risks are minimal, which in itself gives the defenders the confidence to play more expansive passes themselves.

I am not saying Canas should not play for us, because I rate him highly too, and this doesn’t mean I think we should rotate them every other game as we seem to be at the moment either, as I think both can play allowing the rest of the midfield to express themselves more fully.

Infact I think England (not that I’m a fan, being Welsh) should bring him into their midfield, because with Leon in there doing the unglamorous stuff the likes of Wiltshire and Ravel Morrison would be free to attack a little more. Leon Britton is the sort of unappreciated midfielder England have missed since Owen Hargreaves played for them….at least Swansea haven’t missed such skills, and to think we brought him to the club as a winger!!

Another day another player rummour

As we eneter July we have still only signed two players – the excellent aquisitions of Canas and Amat – but the rummour mill continues to turn. The latest player to be linked to us (and not for the first time) is Liverpool’s Jonjo Shelvey.

Attacking midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has not really had the chances at Liverpool that a young lad requires, but he undoubtedly has talent. He’s strong, has decent control and has an excellent shot on him. If we can get him reasonably cheaply we should certainly go for him. Hopefully though this is an outright purchase, as getting him on loan could be a mistake – tunring his career around for no long-term benefit.

So yes sign Jonjo Shelvey, he could be a real player for us. I would say, however, we are starting to look a little top heavy in midfield.

Back on the paucity of talent up-front, however, the latest name that has entered my consciousness in Jo. The former Manchester City striker, at just 26, 6-2, with great strength and pace would be an excellent “cheap” possibility. Yes Jo’s career did not take off at Manchester City, but the club was a revolving door at the time, and Brazilian international strikers cannot be discounted. He’s currently back in Brazil, at Atletico Mineiro, and he has found his scoring boots again, netting 10 goals in 29 appearances. Wouldn’t cost much either.