Diarra and Maka ?

[just]

After Diarra's run out today against Rottenham, I think he has a long way to go before he can step into Maka's shoes.

Postionally, all over the shop.

[loz]

Agreed and I made a similar comment in the main match thread. I know you put blame on Carvalho for the first goal but for me Diarra was the most at fault, he went ball chasing and lost his man totally - Lennon was in acres of space as a result

[just]

Agreed and I made a similar comment in the main match thread. I know you put blame on Carvalho for the first goal but for me Diarra was the most at fault, he went ball chasing and lost his man totally - Lennon was in acres of space as a result

He did Loz, but Carvy went chasing right after him. And he should know better. Watch how he chases the ball.

Carvalho had a nightmare today.

[loz]

Fair point - it certainly wasn't Carvalho's finest hour. He was partially to blame for goals 1 and 3, in fact Carvalho, Essien and Diarra were partially to blame for goals 1 and 3.

The fault for goals 2 depends very much on whether Cech gave Essien a shout. If he did then Essien is to blame, if he didn't then Cech is to blame.

My guess is Carvalho panicked a little today - he seemed to be over compensating for the fact that Essien is not a natural centre half and the fact that Diarra was on the wander. It struck me that Carvalho was trying to fill in for the pair of them and as a result found himself way out of position.

[just]

Partially Loz,?

Carvalho played his natural game today.

Mostly in midfield or at right back.

The man is a liability.

He couldn't hold a position if you nailed his feet to the floor!

[loz]

Carvalho played his natural game today. Mostly in midfield or at right back.

I have, along with you, been very critical of Carvalho in the past and I totally agree he had a bad game today however I actually think he has improved vastly this season and think it a tad unfair to single him out today. As I said in the other thread, the entire defence was poor today and Carvalho was just one member of that defence.

[g3.7]

well. this wasn't really much of a surprise from diarra, I've been talking about his defensive positioning in midfield, and straight away, before spurs scored there was a good example of his lacking in that area. young though, but maka is still number one by a long long shot. imagine diarra playing like that in the nou camp.

[The Moos]

Diarra has played better as RB than defensive midfielder so far this season.

[yogic]

Diarra has been playing RB for a long time - you can suddenly stick him in the middle and expect a SUPER game - he's still a kid and its difficult to adapt to a new position ... look at the field from that prespective and then go back to the old position and have a brilliant game. If memory serves correct he was SUPER in the middle before he went to RB

Everyone had a poor game. its not fair to blame a young player.

[loz]

Everyone had a poor game. its not fair to blame a young player.

It is if he made the mistakes - who else should you blame? What you are looking for is for him to learn from them.

[VG]

After Diarra's run out today against Rottenham, I think he has a long way to go before he can step into Maka's shoes.

Postionally, all over the shop.

I think the Maka role requires more experience. I'm surprised Diarra was given the role in a relatively big game against an attacking team and with a makeshift CB pairing. As such, I'm assuming it was because Jose's hand was forced.

Diarra does have a long way to go, but he will have learned today, at least. But that doesn't make it any easier. Let's hope the post-Maka transition next year is a little smoother.

[yogic]

Everyone had a poor game. its not fair to blame a young player.

It is if he made the mistakes - who else should you blame? What you are looking for is for him to learn from them.

sure thing.

but you cannot really expect him to play a number of games as RB (all of which he was super at) and then suddenly be as good in the center of the park - he is learning and is not a vetran of the game.

Established players like Sheva and Ballack have found it difficult to come and adjust to a new leage - a kid like Diarra must find it almost frightening to be amongst established world players and be expected to adapt to new positions in important games.

he was poor no doubt - but given the season he has had, one poor game where he has been played in a different position, in a knockout game, where the entire team was poor - really doesnt do justice to starting a thread comparing him to maka.

where were the threads comparing him to Ferreria - saying what a marvelous job he has done in that position.

[loz]

The thread doesn't cmopare him to Maka - nobody is daft enough to expect a kid of his age to be on a par with a player of Maka's experience and ability.

It is more saying that he isn't ready yet to make the step up to play the role on a regular basis and is a reaction to some recent posts which have been saying that Maka's time may be up on the grounds of 'loss of form'.

[yogic]

He might be ready to make that step.

no one thought he would be ready to play RB - but he trained in the position and did exceptionally well..

.. im sure if he starts training back in the center of the park he will do a good job.

obviously he isnt anywhere near Maka ability .. then agian i dont think anyone is, Essien apart, perhaps.

no one is ready to start playing on a regular basis - untill he starts playing on a regular basis.

[ethicalstrategy]

I'm pretty confident that Mikel would have played in that position if he had been available. I also think he would have done a better job.

For me, Diarra has won the right back role for this season, but he couldn't cope with Defoe and Lennons pace and movement.

But Frank and Ballack didn't help him. They seemd to think that it's his job let him get on with it. Mabye right to do so at the begining but once he was obviously in trouble we still let the Spurs midfield just keep waltzing in to our last third unchallenged.

One bonus of the replay is that Mikel's ban will finish quicker. I think he will be key to whether we win the league or CL.

[sergeyMS]

I'm pretty confident that Mikel would have played in that position if he had been available. I also think he would have done a better job.

For me, Diarra has won the right back role for this season, but he couldn't cope with Defoe and Lennons pace and movement.

But Frank and Ballack didn't help him. They seemd to think that it's his job let him get on with it. Mabye right to do so at the begining but once he was obviously in trouble we still let the Spurs midfield just keep waltzing in to our last third unchallenged.

One bonus of the replay is that Mikel's ban will finish quicker. I think he will be key to whether we win the league or CL.

At the replay his ban will be already finished

[ethicalstrategy]

I'm pretty confident that Mikel would have played in that position if he had been available. I also think he would have done a better job.

For me, Diarra has won the right back role for this season, but he couldn't cope with Defoe and Lennons pace and movement.

But Frank and Ballack didn't help him. They seemd to think that it's his job let him get on with it. Mabye right to do so at the begining but once he was obviously in trouble we still let the Spurs midfield just keep waltzing in to our last third unchallenged.

One bonus of the replay is that Mikel's ban will finish quicker. I think he will be key to whether we win the league or CL.

At the replay his ban will be already finished

Oops! Quite right. I hadn't realised that we already played 2 games! Doesn't time fly when you are enjoying yourself

[Tim]

It's been said before and I will say it again.

Why do some people think Mikel is a holding midfielder????

Deep lying playmaker, maybe, at a stretch, but in the 'Maka' role, seriously, where has this idea come from?

[ethicalstrategy]

Maybe not doing the same job as Maka but playing at the base of the diamond.

I refer you to the Carling Cup Final and the CL match against Porto where he was instrumental in changing the game playing in that position after replacing Maka.

He was able to give us some control of midfield which had been lacking previously and which we saw again yesterday.

Maka breaks up the play but if the opposition put someone on him it prevents him from getting play moving and that disrupts our whole rhythm. Mikel can retain the ball well and distribute it better.

Two different ways of skinning the same cat!

[yogic]

mikels long legs and movement remind me of viera

his casual approach reminds me of zindane

[dkw]

diarra struggled, but one game doesnt make a player. i wish people would stop with the kneejerk reactions. although ive been more impressed with mikel tthan diarra of late. i think it woulda been a different game if he wasnt suspended.

[barak81]

He has actually played a couple of games at DM this seaosn as well as last and looked good in almost all of them so i dont know why people are getting on his back about one game..

cirtainly far from finished product, yes exciting prospect, deffinatly

[Sofa Manager]

Agree with the Diarra defenders.

He did request a first team oportunity not so long ago, one wich almost caused an incident with Mourinho.

He had his chance, though not as DM - wich I felt was a bit unfair to him, honestly - playing as a makeshift rightback, where he was decent.

Next step Is/was obviously steping out as DM. His favorite and "natural" position.

So did he, even though he had a stinker of a match.

I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt however, and as loz said, what happened is just a step on a natural learning process, no more no less.

On his defense would also like to add he was "only" agains Lennon who has been a nightmare to all opposing defenders this season. That was also a smart move by Jol (getting him to play behind the strikers on Diarra's land).

On Mikel; IMO it would be a waste to make him a DM. He is an attacking midfielder, or at the best a box-to-box, and one that looks to be very composed on the ball and an excelent passer.

This may be regarded as a sacrilege for quite few, (a compliment for me) but he apears to be a Ballack on the making.

On the near future I can see a midfield 4 made off Diarra/Essien/Lampard/Mikel or Essien/Lampard/Ballack/Mikel...or what I'd enjoy seeing: Essien/Lampard/Mikel(Or Ballack)/Joe Cole.

[Guest]

Diarra has played better as RB than defensive midfielder so far this season.

Is anyone suprised?

Things are simpler when your a wing-back. You don't need the football smarts and tactical know how you do when your playing in midfield. Just ask Geremi, I have little doubt he wouldn't still be at Chelsea had he not been moved to right back.

[mad_mac]

It's been said before and I will say it again.

Why do some people think Mikel is a holding midfielder????

Deep lying playmaker, maybe, at a stretch, but in the 'Maka' role, seriously, where has this idea come from?

Don't know, but I don't advocate him playing in that position!

I think that Diarra in other games has shown great compusure whilst under pressure with teh ball at his feet. I also think that his long range passing is almost as good as, if not already better than that of makas.

However, I really think we should keep maka and Diarra need a complete season together, tape their heads together and hope for ozmosis (sp?)

Anyway, I also think that it is ahrsh to criticize Diarra for one bad game, especially when he has played RB for most of the games this season. however, he was way out of position for their 3rd goal.

Carvs scares me sometimes, but tactically he has been far more solid this season than in seasons past. I can't really remember him diving in rashly while an opposing player was in the area; while he did this almost every game last season

One thing I can't get over....Paulos inclusion in the game if he were to only be played half an hour, and then be replaced by Sweepy????