Pienaar in the centre?

[Neiler]

Moyesy reckons that the Pieman could do a job centrally advanced behind the strikers, i mentioned this a while ago before Arteta did such a good job centrally, makes me think we may have a funky new formation going into the new season, Could he better centrally? What do people think?

“I thought he was very good against Malaga and he is a really big influence for us in the way that he plays.

“We had missed his presence in training for a week or so and it had been difficult without him but when we get him in the side, you can see what he does.

“I think he has improved since he came to Everton from where he was. When he left Germany, he looked as if he might be a player that was heading in the wrong direction.

“But now he looks as if he’s going in the right direction. We are considering giving him a run in the centre, just behind the front man, but we don’t have many options out wide.”

 

[ToxtethBlue]

He could do well there but to play him there we'd have to sign some wide players to replace what he offers outwide. Osman and Gosling aren't enough and Arteta should always play in the middle.

We wouldn't really have to change our formation either, he could just slot in behind the striker, the role Cahill and Fellaini usually play.

 

[Fletch]

He could do well there but to play him there we'd have to sign some wide players to replace what he offers outwide. Osman and Gosling aren't enough and Arteta should always play in the middle.

We wouldn't really have to change our formation either, he could just slot in behind the striker, the role Cahill and Fellaini usually play.

I have always thought I would like to see him play centrally but his link up with Baines is good and Moyes wont want to lose that until we get the right wingers, maybe we could re-sign Van Der Meyde

 

[toffeetower]

He could do well there but to play him there we'd have to sign some wide players to replace what he offers outwide. Osman and Gosling aren't enough and Arteta should always play in the middle.

We wouldn't really have to change our formation either, he could just slot in behind the striker, the role Cahill and Fellaini usually play.

I agree with this. Pienaar was originally employed in this role during his time with Ajax.

The only problem is we already have options in this area like you say, with Fellaini and Cahill.

To see this happening we would have to see a natural wide player brought in (we don't have enough width as it is, nevermind with Pienaar coming inside) and we would have to see either Cahill or Fellaini be able to hold a regular position in the middle.

The more likely is Cahill being employed deeper, but then we have another problem when Arteta returns.

I think it would be in our best interests to keep Pienaar on the left, bring in someone for the right, and keep Fellaini or Cahill up top with Arteta in the middle along side someone to break the play up.

But then we are left with a straight decision between Cahill and Fellaini up top, it's hard enough deciding between them without throwing Pienaar into the equation.

The only thing I could suggest is dropping Neville to right-back and then playing Arteta deeper than usual, in the 'pivote' role, which is his preferred position. Then playing Cahill ahead of him, Pienaar on the left, ________? on the right and Fellaini up top behind Jo, Yak or Saha.

Howard
Neville Jags Joleon Baines

? Arteta Cahill Pienaar

Fellaini

Saha

 

[kenada_blue]

He should be used in the Arteta role while Arteta is out....and so should Ossie....

But we dont have any wingers AT ALL so its not really an option.

 

[Goat]

He should be used in the Arteta role while Arteta is out....and so should Ossie....

But we dont have any wingers AT ALL so its not really an option.

He isnt strong enough to play where Arteta played, as Toccy says, he should play in the hole in which Cahill/Fellaini should be playing, but as you say we have no wingers, so its a pointless discussion.

We spent £15m on a player which we already have Cahill, Pienaar and Arteta who can play in that postion. Great innit.

 

[kenada_blue]

He isnt strong enough to play where Arteta played, as Toccy says, he should play in the hole in which Cahill/Fellaini should be playing, but as you say we have no wingers, so its a pointless discussion.

We spent £15m on a player which we already have Cahill, Pienaar and Arteta who can play in that postion. Great innit.

I dunno, I'm sure he played as a central midfielder for South Africa, and he's probably as strong as Fabregas to pull it off. I think playing just behind the striker would be tougher for him with defensive mids and defenders booting the [Poor language removed] out of him - he's also not that much of a fox-in-the-box to support the lone striker. Same with Ossie really, bit pesh playing off the striker but in just a central role he's pretty good.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

I think he could play in both positions to be honest, off the main striker and in the middle of a 4-5-1.

Players like Modric and Osman can do it, I don't see why Pienaar can't. He may lack strength but his tenacity, workrate and bravery make up for it. He's certainly no Arteta but he could do a job in there.

Pienaar would make it more of a 4-5-1 rather than a 4-4-1-1, he drops deeper more than Cahill and Fellaini and would be looking to get involved on the ball more, that's just his style.

 

[Goat]

I dunno, I'm sure he played as a central midfielder for South Africa, and he's probably as strong as Fabregas to pull it off. I think playing just behind the striker would be tougher for him with defensive mids and defenders booting the [Poor language removed] out of him - he's also not that much of a fox-in-the-box to support the lone striker. Same with Ossie really, bit pesh playing off the striker but in just a central role he's pretty good.

I think he could play in both positions to be honest, off the main striker and in the middle of a 4-5-1.

Players like Modric and Osman can do it, I don't see why Pienaar can't. He may lack strength but his tenacity, workrate and bravery make up for it. He's certainly no Arteta but he could do a job in there.

Pienaar would make it more of a 4-5-1 rather than a 4-4-1-1, he drops deeper more than Cahill and Fellaini and would be looking to get involved on the ball more, that's just his style.

Yes agreed, you both make good points.

But it still goes back to the problem of wingers.

 

[Brownie]

If we had the players to fill the other positions, I would have no problem at all letting Pienaar be the main man in the middle. He could handle it, like kenada says, he does it for SA.

It's the future really, have all our best players centrally and have no one out wide.

 

[Goat]

I think Moyes has been trying that out a lot in pre-season. A lot of the games we played very narrow. And Hibbert and Baines did the overlapping a lot more. I think thats the way Moyes is going to go this season. A flat wall of 5 CMs.

 

[kenada_blue]

Yes agreed, you both make good points.

But it still goes back to the problem of wingers.

Exactly.

It really is strange that we dont have 1 winger in the squad. Cant think of a team in the prem that doesnt have 1 hug-the-touchline winger.

 

[Yard Dog]

This is Pienaar's biggest season. He is the SA Captain and has been playing in the middle for them. He might try and push for a central role to prepare for the world cup where he will want to impress his home crowd.

I say go for a barca formation of:

Arteta Neville Pienaar
Cahill Fellaini
Yakubu


We will probably win everything

 

[Richard Parker]

Cant think of a team in the prem that doesnt have 1 hug-the-touchline winger.

Chelsea seem to manage alright.

Their midfield yesterday was Essien, Lampard, Mikel and Malouda. Unless you count Malouda, but he's hardly a winger.

 

[Goat]

Cole, Malouda, Zhirkov, Kalou. But apart from them, no-one.

Also Chelsea have very attacking full backs in Cole and Boswinga.