Why Arteta as DM and 4-5-1 is a good combination.

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stinger

Player Valuation: £8m
It was only one game, but after some dull performances over last weeks (even if we collect plenty of points) it was nice to see Everton playing decent football for majority of the game.

I had a few posts about it before, and there were some much more experienced posters here, who were posting about it on more regular basis. Moving Mikel Arteta to DM (on defense)/deep lying playmaker (on offense) totally changed our game...at least today. I hoped before that playing Osman at this position can have a similar impact, but it's clear now that Arteta will fits better, much better.

Mikel is a product of Barcelona's school. For years in their 4-3-3 system they were using Josep Guardiola in similar position. Not tall, not quick, not really strong, but with good positioning, good leadership and fantastic passing skills. I am not comparing Arteta to Guardiola (current coach of Barcelona), because Guardiola was a World Class player at his position. But success that Barcelona had with Guardiola playing as "false" DM opened a new doors for many other players out of La Masia (Barca's youth teams school), which includes players like Ivan De La Pena, Albert Celades, Cesc Fabregas, Xavi Hernandez (who was pushed forward after a few years) and Mikel Arteta. Mikel was playing centre for PSG and Glasgow Rangers, and it was Moyes who pushed him to the touchline. It was a right idea at that moment and it allowed Arteta to grow up as a player, but it's also a right idea to move him back right now.

All this players mentioned will always struggle in physical 1 on 1 confrontation or they can get easily overrun. But that's where 4-5-1 comes in - having Fellaini and Cahill in front of him, proved to be enough shield for Arteta, and also opens enough opportunities for both of them (mostly Fellaini today) to make a forward runs. Everything clicked well today and hopefully it will stay this way.

Personallly I believe that midfield is most important formation at current football, that's why so many teams is putting 5 players there, making sure that they will win a battle in centre of the pitch. As all of us I am worrying with Saha and Yakubu injuries, but if we will be able to put similar effort and get similar results out of our midfield like today, we'll be able to find a ways to score.

That's all I think, have a good evening.
Everton supporter from Poland.
 

Dom1878 said:
Not a defensive mid position...more the Fernandes type position...:P
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On defense he was our DM, closest to the defensive line and doing plenty of double-teaming when the ball was in our box. This is position which Fernandes could easily play, but he always had Carsley behind him, so he was playing much more forward and was allowed to make runs with the ball quite more aften.
 

He played as a deep lying play maker but also won tackles and worked really hard. His positioning is better than Fernandes's to be honest. Being the more experienced player obviously.

He doesn't quite have Manny's vision but he's got the technique, composure and skill. He keeps things moving and can control if he sees enough of the ball.

Obviously I had a word with Moyes. It was the way to go and I'm glad he used him there.
 
stinger said:
It was only one game, but after some dull performances over last weeks (even if we collect plenty of points) it was nice to see Everton playing decent football for majority of the game.

I had a few posts about it before, and there were some much more experienced posters here, who were posting about it on more regular basis. Moving Mikel Arteta to DM (on defense)/deep lying playmaker (on offense) totally changed our game...at least today. I hoped before that playing Osman at this position can have a similar impact, but it's clear now that Arteta will fits better, much better.

Mikel is a product of Barcelona's school. For years in their 4-3-3 system they were using Josep Guardiola in similar position. Not tall, not quick, not really strong, but with good positioning, good leadership and fantastic passing skills. I am not comparing Arteta to Guardiola (current coach of Barcelona), because Guardiola was a World Class player at his position. But success that Barcelona had with Guardiola playing as "false" DM opened a new doors for many other players out of La Masia (Barca's youth teams school), which includes players like Ivan De La Pena, Albert Celades, Cesc Fabregas, Xavi Hernandez (who was pushed forward after a few years) and Mikel Arteta. Mikel was playing centre for PSG and Glasgow Rangers, and it was Moyes who pushed him to the touchline. It was a right idea at that moment and it allowed Arteta to grow up as a player, but it's also a right idea to move him back right now.

All this players mentioned will always struggle in physical 1 on 1 confrontation or they can get easily overrun. But that's where 4-5-1 comes in - having Fellaini and Cahill in front of him, proved to be enough shield for Arteta, and also opens enough opportunities for both of them (mostly Fellaini today) to make a forward runs. Everything clicked well today and hopefully it will stay this way.

Personallly I believe that midfield is most important formation at current football, that's why so many teams is putting 5 players there, making sure that they will win a battle in centre of the pitch. As all of us I am worrying with Saha and Yakubu injuries, but if we will be able to put similar effort and get similar results out of our midfield like today, we'll be able to find a ways to score.

That's all I think, have a good evening.
Everton supporter from Poland.
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great post. I think we have finally found this years system and will start paying rewards for it.

expect alot of 1-0 wins though.
 
He was signed to replace Graveson and he can certainly do that job. Whether he plays there regularly probably depends on the opposition. Against footballing teams he can certainly do the job as positioning is the main requirement. Against some rougher teams I'm not sure but giving him more responsibility can only help his game.
 
I would like to see him play a little bit higher up the pitch at times. He was great today as a deep lying play maker but his best position is definatly in the middle in a more attacking role.

Obviously it depends on the game. He'll probably have to play deeper with Cahill and Fellaini playing alongside him.
 
ToxtethBlue said:
I would like to see him play a little bit higher up the pitch at times. He was great today as a deep lying play maker but his best position is definatly in the middle in a more attacking role.

Obviously it depends on the game. He'll probably have to play deeper with Cahill and Fellaini playing alongside him.
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I agree. Probably there will be games (or moments of games) when Rodwell or Castillo will play in the middle, so Arteta will have a chance to play higher, in mentioned Manuel Fernandes role.
 

Our midfield looked dangerous today, especially in the 2nd half. Mikel played very well in the defensive midfielder position and kept thing's ticking. He started the attacks and with Fellaini and Cahill bombing forward infront of him we looked dangerous. Well in Mikel, much much better!

I think that will be a midfield from now on and play 1 up top with Cahill behind.
 
Today our midfield was like this:

------------------Arteta---------------

Osman-----Fellaini-----Cahill-----Pienaar

Usually it's more of a midfield four with Cahill floating, 4-4-1-1 so to speak. We kept possession better today because we did actually have that extra man in midfield.

It was nice to see, some good movement and interchaning for once. The passing was good aswell, short pass and move football which is what we where good at last season.
 
ToxtethBlue said:
Today our midfield was like this:

------------------Arteta---------------

Osman-----Fellaini-----Cahill-----Pienaar

Usually it's more of a midfield four with Cahill floating, 4-4-1-1 so to speak. We kept possession better today because we did actually have that extra man in midfield.

It was nice to see, some good movement and interchaning for once. The passing was good aswell, short pass and move football which is what we where good at last season.
Click to expand...

Only thing is it ends up being more like;

------------------Arteta---------------

---------Osman--Fellaini-----Cahill-----Pienaar

Ossie just isn't a wide player at all. It works tho, we just pick and choose full backs to get forward and Ossie makes sure he tracks back at the key moments.
Our first team is still really good, pity it's [Poor language removed] for the whole season now.
 
Brownie said:
Only thing is it ends up being more like;

------------------Arteta---------------

---------Osman--Fellaini-----Cahill-----Pienaar

Ossie just isn't a wide player at all. It works tho, we just pick and choose full backs to get forward and Ossie makes sure he tracks back at the key moments.
Our first team is still really good, pity it's [Poor language removed] for the whole season now.
Click to expand...



That true, to be fair to him he played well today. Suprising as he doesn't usually on the wing. He only really plays well out there if we are playing well and keeping the ball.

Some games Arteta will have to play wide though, they'll have to swap positions during games to get the right balance.
 
Good post Stinger. I remember years back we were linked with Paul McStay of Celtic. Before one world cup (86 I think) yoy had your usual write up on all the teams, and he was mentioned as a possible revelation. With the condition he was protected. I think the exact words were ''somewhat in the way of a quarterback in American football''.
If we can do the same thing for Arteta, it could be very interesting
 

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