Telford-Feb-85
Player Valuation: £5m
First thread, here goes...
I know, I'm a hopelessly excited 45 year old who really should know better. However for the first time in a very very long time i saw a midfield yesterday that in a matter of minutes demonstrated a control of the game I haven't seen since Sheedy, Steven, Reid and Bracewell. I didn't know the 'holy trinity' unfortunately and other than that i can't ever think of a time where we have had all the ingredients together. Parkinson and Horne were great but limited and on occasions so were Gravesen and Carsley and Barry, McCarthy and Barkley were superb at times too. We have had good individuals like Gana but i can't think of another time where we might dominate the middle of a football match.
As I have said elsewhere, watching the four of them yesterday who barely know each other and have barely trained together was like watching the perfect example of a midfield combination. Gushing and over reacting on the strength of one game, maybe, but i know what I saw as did most on here. I really don't need another 20 games to prove to me its the best I've seen since Howards four, when you look at our squads since.
I instantly thought of France's mid 80's 'carre magique' as i said in the match thread. Not for a minute am I saying they are that good but they could be, who knows. But what i did see on display was virtually all the same pieces of the jigsaw. Power, grace, determination and vision underpinned in all four corners with ability. The only thing possibly missing was the ingenuity of Giresse. James has the vision and skill of Platini if not the scoring record. Allan is our Fernandez, Gomes ties it together similar to Giresse and Doucoure has a touch of Tigana about him. There have obviously been countless superb midfields since the one i mention round the world but our new one just stands out as having similar ingredients to 'carre magique'.
I think we now have our own magic square, and i can't wait to see more.
I know, I'm a hopelessly excited 45 year old who really should know better. However for the first time in a very very long time i saw a midfield yesterday that in a matter of minutes demonstrated a control of the game I haven't seen since Sheedy, Steven, Reid and Bracewell. I didn't know the 'holy trinity' unfortunately and other than that i can't ever think of a time where we have had all the ingredients together. Parkinson and Horne were great but limited and on occasions so were Gravesen and Carsley and Barry, McCarthy and Barkley were superb at times too. We have had good individuals like Gana but i can't think of another time where we might dominate the middle of a football match.
As I have said elsewhere, watching the four of them yesterday who barely know each other and have barely trained together was like watching the perfect example of a midfield combination. Gushing and over reacting on the strength of one game, maybe, but i know what I saw as did most on here. I really don't need another 20 games to prove to me its the best I've seen since Howards four, when you look at our squads since.
I instantly thought of France's mid 80's 'carre magique' as i said in the match thread. Not for a minute am I saying they are that good but they could be, who knows. But what i did see on display was virtually all the same pieces of the jigsaw. Power, grace, determination and vision underpinned in all four corners with ability. The only thing possibly missing was the ingenuity of Giresse. James has the vision and skill of Platini if not the scoring record. Allan is our Fernandez, Gomes ties it together similar to Giresse and Doucoure has a touch of Tigana about him. There have obviously been countless superb midfields since the one i mention round the world but our new one just stands out as having similar ingredients to 'carre magique'.
I think we now have our own magic square, and i can't wait to see more.
