Renaissance in positional play - Wilshere, Rooney, Schurrle and more

Jack Wilshere

A recent tactical trend is to field midfielders at centre-back and vice versa. Rafa tried David Luiz as a defensive midfielder and everyone noticed his skill and ball control. Although it was a transient experiment, Luiz took to the role like a fish to water. It did provide him with a safety blanket and his semi show boating nature didn’t cause as much damage in a more advanced position. He was able to see the diagonal runs and showed a creative bone or two which he rarely gets a chance to do.

A similar such experiment was undertaken by Guardiola during his Barcelona days. He refused to buy a “traditional” central defender despite needing back-up for Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique. Instead, he converted Javier Mascherano, Alex Song and Sergio Busquets into defenders, with varying levels of regularity and success.

There’s been a convergence of position ns as football has become more technical, and more focused upon ball retention. Centre-backs are now required to quicker and more mobile across the ground. Using a high defensive line off side trap requires outright pace. Central midfielders have become more defensive minded and now play a much deeper role. The strategy ensures a cover to the back four. The 4-2-3-1 is gaining popularity, using two ‘shielding’ players.

Although these experiments seem to work sometimes, seldom examples in the current season suggest a lot of players are played out of position. The question to be asked is if most is being extracted out of the player at the current playing position.

Jack Wilshere:

Jack, deemed as an English prodigy, has been tipped by many as a future England captain. Wenger did play Wilshere in an attacking, creative role prior to this season, and it did seem to work. Wilshere has been assigned a more defensive role this season and he doesn’t seem to like it. The injury to Arteta may have prompted this move and Arsenal fans will be hoping for a return to normality, now that the club captain is returning from injury. Wilshere lacks the physicality of a defensive midfielder and his skills and ball control are not utilized. Wilshere was handed a more advanced role against West Brom last week and he repaid with a point saving goal, furthermore reason to restore Jack back to his beanstalk.

Wayne Rooney:

The arrival of a certain Robin Van Persie did cast a huge shadow on Rooney’s future at Old Trafford. Sir Alex assured him of an important, although a revised role in the squad. Rooney did sign a new 250 K per week deal; however England’s numero uno striker did not play as a striker anymore. Rooney was no doubt effective as a central midfielder but his contribution to the goals tally was significantly lower. He did not particularly cherish this role and made it quite clear in his previous interview.

“I considered my future at Manchester United last summer because I was played out of position by Sir Alex. I got told to play in midfield and I didn’t want to. I just think there had to come a point when, for my own career, I had to be a bit selfish really. Everyone at the club knew where I wanted to play and I think that’s why I was disappointed. I actually felt when I played in midfield I did OK, but I didn’t want to play there. I’ve had no problem in the past playing out of position. But I felt I deserved the right to play in my position and that wasn’t happening. I think, naturally, I was a bit disappointed and maybe that affected some of the games I played. I know myself that last year wasn’t my best season but there were times when I was playing in different positions. I didn’t feel I got a consistent run of games up front. Sometimes when you’re not playing in one position all the time it’s difficult to adapt.”

The change did make sense when Persie was going all guns blazing, however Wayne’s position needs a shuffle if United need to keep pace with runaway Merseyside and London clubs.

Phil Jones:

Another red devil to feature in the list is the young defender Phil Jones. Jones made his way to Manchester after a stellar season with the Blackburn rovers. His defensive abilities, strength, interceptions and tackling were the key attributes that forced a 17 million pound move to the theatre of dreams. United’s defensive woes have forced Moyes to play Jones as a defensive midfielder and even a right back. Jones looks out of place as a RB and has been guilty of surging forward and not tracking back on occasions. His strength and ball control do make him a good candidate for a defensive midfielder, however Ferdinand’s lackluster display may provide a counter argument. United need defensive solidity and Jones is a perfect piece to fit in the Jigsaw.

David Luiz:

David Luiz

Chelsea’s 40 million rated Brazilian defender did win a lot of accolades for his defensive display against Spain in the final of the Confederations cup, however he has been guilty of showboating on multiple occasions. If there is one thing Mourinho hates, it has got to be defensive lapses. Luiz was assigned bench duty due to some sloppy defensive displays during preseason and on his premier league adventures. Luiz may have turned over a new leaf in the recent past with a string of above average defensive displays but Chelsea haven’t managed to get back the defensive solidity. The Terry – Cahill partnership seems to have a more coordination as compared to a Terry – Luiz or a Cahill – Luiz partnership.

Such a situation presents a case for trying Luiz out as defensive midfielder in Mourinho’s 4-2-3-1 formation. The injury to Van Ginkel, a defensively clumsy Mikel and an aging Lampard tend to accentuate the appeal. Luiz did feature in a ‘XABI’ adjacent role under the Rafa regime and showed a great knack for the role. Chelsea can gamble with this strategy in a Carling or FA cup tie and implement it on a grander scale as and when it is necessary.

Andre Schurrle:

Goals and Chelsea strikers haven’t been synonyms ever since Didier Drogba decided to part ways with Chelsea. Torres has shown glimpses of his glorious past; however he has flattered to deceive on most occasions. Mourinho did seem quite impressed with Torres’s work rate against spurs. The subsequent red card and injury may have hindered the momentum. Fact at hand is that Torres is out for a month and Ba/ Eto’o will have to step up. Eto’o hasn’t yet got accustomed to the premier league and the goal tally tends to support that hypothesis. The Cameroon striker is yet to net after his move from Russia. Demba Ba might be Chelsea’s option to the crisis. But is there a plan B?

Andre Schurrle might pop and say yes! Schurrle is no stranger to the number 9 role and his Leverkusen experience might come in handy. Schurrle has been used in a wide position. He has often shown erratic and inconsistent form. These might be further hints, suggesting he enjoys the number 9 role more. Mourinho might benefit from trying Andre as an out and out striker in the absence of El Nino.

When players are deemed ‘too attacking’ for their regular position and moved up the pitch accordingly, it’s often a disappointment. On paper, Daniel Alves would appear perfect for a right-sided midfield position, but when used there by Guardiola, or former Brazil coach Dunga, he fared very poorly. Such experiments often end in a disaster. That however shouldn’t stop managers from trying out players in different positions. Thus Luiz as a defensive midfielder may be an answer to Mourinho’s search of defensive solidity and Rooney can be Moyes’s Knight in shining armor up front.