In Italy, they refer to him as the trequartista. In Argentina, he's the
enganche. In England … we don't really have a name for him.
English football terminology has never quite come up with a definitive word for the player who occupies space between the opposition lines of defence and midfield – not quite a forward, not quite a midfielder. He's "the man in the hole," perhaps, but it's not an appropriately glamorous term for the side's star creator. Sometimes he's even referred to as playing "the Teddy Sheringham role" -- so unaccustomed we were to players who looked for space rather than basing their game around an individual battle with an opponent.
England isn't a specialist at producing top-quality players in this mould. Wayne Rooney might be the closest we've had in recent years, but even his best position is up for question. He was often fielded on the flank during Manchester United's successful European Cup run in 2008, then his best individual season was probably in 2009-10 as an out-and-out striker. Joe Cole became a winger, while attacking midfielders like Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and even Jack Wilshere were just that – attacking midfielders, number eights rather than number tens.
In formation terms, too, English football hasn't suited this kind of player. England was largely a 4-4-2 nation until recently, and this gave way to 4-3-3, inspired by Jose Mourinho's success with Chelsea. Neither formation suited a number ten. There's never been a 4-3-1-2 craze in English football, unlike in Italy or South America, never a romantic fixation with the archetypal playmaker.
All of which makes this summer's new arrivals particularly intriguing. Four top clubs – Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham – all splashed out on new number tens – even if none actually wear that shirt number. Santi Cazorla, Shinji Kagawa, Oscar and Gylfi Sigurdsson all represent a significant change in footballing philosophy. Arsenal didn't have a central creator like Cazorla last season, Manchester United have arguably never had a player in the Kagawa mould. Oscar wouldn't have suited Andre Villas-Boas' 4-3-3, while Gylfi Sigurdsson isn't quite the same as Rafael van der Vaart. Some have adapted quicker than others.
English football terminology has never quite come up with a definitive word for the player who occupies space between the opposition lines of defence and midfield – not quite a forward, not quite a midfielder. He's "the man in the hole," perhaps, but it's not an appropriately glamorous term for the side's star creator. Sometimes he's even referred to as playing "the Teddy Sheringham role" -- so unaccustomed we were to players who looked for space rather than basing their game around an individual battle with an opponent.
England isn't a specialist at producing top-quality players in this mould. Wayne Rooney might be the closest we've had in recent years, but even his best position is up for question. He was often fielded on the flank during Manchester United's successful European Cup run in 2008, then his best individual season was probably in 2009-10 as an out-and-out striker. Joe Cole became a winger, while attacking midfielders like Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and even Jack Wilshere were just that – attacking midfielders, number eights rather than number tens.
In formation terms, too, English football hasn't suited this kind of player. England was largely a 4-4-2 nation until recently, and this gave way to 4-3-3, inspired by Jose Mourinho's success with Chelsea. Neither formation suited a number ten. There's never been a 4-3-1-2 craze in English football, unlike in Italy or South America, never a romantic fixation with the archetypal playmaker.
All of which makes this summer's new arrivals particularly intriguing. Four top clubs – Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham – all splashed out on new number tens – even if none actually wear that shirt number. Santi Cazorla, Shinji Kagawa, Oscar and Gylfi Sigurdsson all represent a significant change in footballing philosophy. Arsenal didn't have a central creator like Cazorla last season, Manchester United have arguably never had a player in the Kagawa mould. Oscar wouldn't have suited Andre Villas-Boas' 4-3-3, while Gylfi Sigurdsson isn't quite the same as Rafael van der Vaart. Some have adapted quicker than others.
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