A trequartista is a term coined for that mythical ’second striker’ role, someone who plays in the hole, creates and scores, and is usually supremely gifted.

The Trequartista is not a new advent:

The Austrian ‘Wunderteam’ of the early 1930s had great success with Mathias Sindelar, a centre-forward who constantly dropped deep, and Vsevolod Bobrov did similarly for the Dynamo Moscow tourists who so delighted British crowds in 1945.

It was then Nandor Hidegkuti’s role as a deep-lying centre-forward that so perplexed England when Hungary won 6-3 at Wembley in 1953. If Johnston followed Hidegkuti, he left a hole in the centre of England’s rearguard; if he stayed put, Hidegkuti roamed free.

And is still very much active today – think Baggio and Raul through to currently Aguero and Rooney. Players who are undoubtedly forwards, but drop off into ‘the hole’ to dictate and link play. Think Cantona, think Bergkamp. Think Totti. Think Del Piero.

That is basically a list of my favourite players.

Players who are so good, can be so influential, that a position is carved out for them.They score, they create, they beat players, they link play. They are skilful and difficult to mark.

They are also often difficult to describe, as ‘Trequartista’ has yet to infiltrate its way into the vocabulary of the common football fan.

Hopefully we can begin that process…

‘Trequartista’ – a special type of second striker who plays in ‘the hole’ offering creativity and a goal threat.

I love Trequartistas.

Glen Johnson is the man firmly in possession of the right back berth in Capello’s England side. And there are doubts about him – he has been injured for several weeks, and Liverpool are in horrible form. If they drag down the toilet seat thief, or if he gets injured, or if it proves that he is as bad positionally as many suspect, who do we turn to?

The list… erm….

Wes Brown

He is probably next in line. But he is a centre-back who would be playing out of position, is always liable to make an error, and inevitably is injured. He offers little going forward and does very much look out of position when he plays at full back. Against a genuine left winger I certainly wouldn’t have confidence in him.

Who next? Erm….

Micah Richards

Ability and gift wise he should be challenging Johnson. He is big, quick, and strong, and gets forward well. But again his positional sense is in doubt and he has undoubtedly not progressed in the manner everyone hoped after he burst onto the scene with Man City a couple of years ago.

Gary Neville

Is he knocking on the door? Alex Ferguson, no mean judge of a player, trusted him to track Ronaldinho against Milan and he performed solidly, including a less-than-trademark-but-still-occasional excellent cross for Rooney’s first goal. He has the experience, has been there, done that etc, and probably wouldn’t let anyone down. But he has hardly played for an entire season, and there is a definite feeling that, to employ an old, lazy cliche, his ‘legs have gone’.

Phil Jagielka

A great defender, no question. But again he has been out injured for ages, and again he is a centre back who would be playing out of position. Probably too late to play himself into the side in any case.

Owen Hargreaves

If he is ever fit again, he is arguably England’s best right back. However he is also our best defensive midfielder, and if he is fit he will almost certainly play there.

Luke Young

Has retired from international football. Never thought I would lament that…

James Milner

On great form, and probably wouldn’t let anyone down if shoehorned in at right back. Probably. But he would be out of position as well, and that always raises doubts.

Ummm…. I think that’s it. Have I forgotten anyone?

At left back, after Cole, we have Wayne Bridge (if he hadn’t stepped out), Leighton Baines, and Stephen Warnock. Any of those would probably be better options than all the above (were they right backs) save Hargreaves, who won’t play there.

I never thought I would say this, but Glen Johnson is invaluable to England. Fingers double crossed nothing happens to his form or fitness before South Africa. No doubt Capello echoes those sentiments manifold.

The right back issue is more worrisome than the left back one.

I nearly wrote a review of this before I had finished it – it was so good. I’m glad I didn’t though. Read on for an explanation for that somewhat weird comment…

OK – the good bit. This is one of the best football books I have read. High praise indeed. It is excellently researched, well written, engaging and above all really interesting. It is essentially ‘Freakonomics for Football’ (hence the initial release as ‘Soocernomics’) – that is, a book that ties real-world micro and macro-economic factors into football. I appreciate that sounds a bit (very) dry; but in reality it’s not dry at all.

Take some of the topics they examine – of course the eponymous ‘Why England Lose’ (which is actually a little misleading and I suspect chosen as the title to shift copies) but also why a London club has never won the European Cup, why Lyon are freakishly successul (relatively), which country is most successful relative to GDP, which country has the most loyal fans, why major tournaments aren’t actually economic boons, what are the best transfer strategies, how upbringing affects ability, etc. The way it is linked back and forth with real footballing events and stats makes compelling reading.

However – and this is why I am glad I didn’t write a eulogy half way through – the book does trail off somewhat. The first 200 or so pages are an absolute pleasure, but then it does begin to drag – whether it’s boredom with the novel (as in new) approach to writing about football, whether it’s that the points become less and less interesting (i.e. they used up the good ones at the start) whether the repeated veneration of Arsene Wenger and Billy Beane becomes tiresome, I’m not sure – but I definitely enjoyed the first half of this more than the second.

That said, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to any (slightly obsessive/geeky) football fan, as there is a lot of interesting material and intriguing analysis.

Certainly a good book, perhaps a great one – all I can say is read it and make your own judgement. 8/10

]]> http://footballsup.com/2010/03/review-why-england-lose-and-other-curious-phenomena-explained/feed/ 0 http://footballsup.com/2010/03/owen-injury-hampers-englands-world-cup-chances/ http://footballsup.com/2010/03/owen-injury-hampers-englands-world-cup-chances/#comments Fri, 05 Mar 2010 13:33:10 +0000 Matt http://footballsup.com/?p=2652

The above pic (but in reverse) would have been a welcome sight for England fans as the World Cup draws ever closer. Wayne Rooney, the single most important factor in England’s challenge (despite what that dickhead Tony Cascarino says) has made it through another game, with Michael Owen seeing it out.

Or even better, as with the League Cup final, Rooney is rested and starts on the bench.

No more. Michael Owen has been ruled out until the end of the season, increasing the already intense burden on Wayne’s fat shoulders. Ferguson is now down to Rooney and Berbatov as genuine first team players.

He has some back up – Macheda is due to return imminently from injury, Mame Diouf is (apparently) promising, and Fergie could easily recall Danny Welbeck from Preston (although still unconvinced about him).

But without Owen, Ferguson’s options are undoubtedly reduced, proportionally increasing Rooney’s game time – and risk factor. If he gets injured, even the pipe dream can be extinguished.

Owen’s injury has, indirectly, affected our World Cup chances – though probably not as England’s fourth all time goalscorer would have wished.

Take me, Take me!

Shaun Wright-Phillips – although Walcott’s ineptitude made him look a world beater, SWP did cause havoc down the right once he came on. And he scored. Much as I hate him, he did make a difference. The worry is that he is SO inconsistent – next time out he’s liable to have a shocker.

James Milner – England’s most in-form player continued his rich vein. He looked bright and dangerous and may yet find his way into the starting eleven.

Peter Crouch – Two goals took him to 20 in 37 internationals, a good record by pretty much anyones’ standards. He should go; he’s a handful for defenders, both in the air and on the ground, and is a natural big man foil for Rooney. Will he displace Heskey? By scoring more in 90 mins than Heskey has managed in his whole career, he can have done himself no harm.

Rob Green - The man in possession did little wrong and re-inforced his position as first choice with Joe Hart and David James on the bench.

Michael Carrick – England looked far better when Carrick slotted into centre-midfield. He used the ball well and is positionally excellent. A great article from the superb Zonal Marking goes into Carrick’s performance in more detail.

Leighton Baines - Nothing amazing, but he looked solid and will be unlucky to be dropped for Warnock on this evidence. Especially considering the latter’s abject performance in the League Cup final.

Not me, Not me!

Theo Walcott – The biggest disappointment, Walcott was, as fully expected, useless. He came into the game in bad form and did nothing to suggest he will break out of it. After SWP’s performance he is now 4th in line behind him, Becks, and Aaron Lennon. A dramatic fall from Croatian grace.

Wes Brown – Disappointing, he offered little at right back to suggest he can be employed as a utility defender.

Jermaine Defoe – Proved that he and Rooney are incompatible, and with Rooney 150% sure to start that is a concern. He will still go as the goal-getting substitute, but hopes of a starting berth have been dashed.

Matthew Upson – Slip not really his fault but it’s concerning that he is first reserve behind injury-prone Rio and Captain Spastic John Terry. Actually it’s terrifying. Offered a reminder of the gulf in class to our deputies. Oh for Woodgate and/or King.

Meh! Meh!

Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard - Neither really shone, but both will definitely go and almost definitely start.

Wayne Rooney – By a mile, England’s most important player. We must pray he does not get injured.

Carlton Cole - Not enough game time to impress, and running out of opportunities. Which is a shame, as he has the potential to be a goalscoring Emile Heskey.

John Terry - A worrying tendency to commit errors has crept into his game since his philandering was revealed. England need him to be 100% focussed during the World Cup. (Potentially the most obvious statement ever)

Gareth Barry – The only man who has started England’s last three games. He will probably continue to start too. He is solid and reliable if unspectacular.

Predicted starting eleven, predicted starting eleven!

Currently, this is how we think England will line up (though not necessarily how they should…)

Is that the team that will win the World Cup? I think not…

We wrote about this before, but now it’s even worse. A quick run through…

Goalkeeper

David James has spent most of the season injured, and even when fit is a concern. He is always liable to make a calamitous error. And the back-ups inspire no confidence – West Ham fans hate Rob Green he’s that bad, Joe Hart is young and inexperienced (and when a Premier League club loans out your international goalkeeper as he’s not as good as Shay Given, you know you have a problem). And then we have Paul Robinson. ‘Nuff said.

Defenders

We don’t have a left back anymore. We don’t have a right back. One of our centre-backs has just been stripped of the captaincy and the other is never fit. Their back ups are Matthew Upson and Joleon Lescott. That is literally terrifying.

Midfielders

We don’t have a left midfielder. Our best right midfielder (Lennon) has succumbed to the injury curse leaving the archaic David Beckham next in line. Our best defensive centre midfielder (Hargreaves) is on the verge of being put down. Gareth Barry and Michael Carrick are not world class midfielders. Gerrard has not played well all season and never really for England. Joe Cole has been out for a year. Only Lampard can we be content with. And the form of Milner, who may not even play.

Forwards

There is an unhealthily total burden on Wayne Rooney. Good as he is and has been, if he gets injured we are in a world of trouble. Crouch hasn’t scored for seven games. Heskey never scores. Defoe can only come off the bench. Carlton Cole is just shit. Owen looks good for 20 minutes every couple of weeks then gets injured.

So…

The outlook is bleak. There are problems all over the park. It’s not out of the question that our right side consists of Gary Neville and David Beckham, one or both of our Centre Backs are Upson/Lescott, our left back is Stephen Warnock, our left mid is an out of form Gerrard, our holding midfielder is an out of depth Carrick, and – God forbid – Rooney gets injured leaving Defoe and Heskey upfront. Christ.

Bear in mind that he could recover in time and Capello could break from his mantra and select him despite lack of game time (I think that’s what will actually happen) but in case it doesn’t, the contenders…

Wayne Bridge

Bridge was the favourite to replace Cashley – although a far less accomplished defender, he is solid and has 30 odd caps. However he removed himself from the running citing his ‘untenable and potentially divisive’ position (clearly a quote from the PR men, that…). Which throws the door wide open…

Stephen Warnock

Probably next in line, just. Warnock has impressed for Villa this season, is reasonably reliable, and gets forward well. He played centre midfield for Blackburn on several occasions showing both versatility and all round ability. Lack of experience is a concern, as is lack of game time against any world class opponents.

Leighton Baines

Coming into form just as Everton are, Baines has a gorgeous left foot. However, he lacks pace and if you took away his admittedly excellent dead ball delivery there is a distinct suspicion that he is actually a fairly average footballer.

Joleon Lescott

Worf should make the squad largely because of his ability to play centre back or left back – but surely Capello cannot go with an out of position out of form centre back as first choice left back?

James Milner

Again, not his natural position, and it’s extremely unlikely Capello will bodge someone into the starting eleven. Plus Milner has been playing CM for Villa this year, further distancing himself from his experience at full back. Would be very risky.

Matthew Upson and Wes Brown

Two centre backs who could be shoe-horned in at left back if we were absolutely desperate. A terrifying proposition.

Nicky Shorey

As wonky_knee points out: ‘Since signing for Fulham they have kept 4 clean sheets in 5 games. No coincidence…’ – fair point. But until recently Shorey was plying his trade in the Championship, and his defending has always been suspect, hence Villa releasing him. Would you be confident with him lining up against… well, anyone?

And that’s it.

SkyBet have Ashley Cole at 1/3 to start against the USA (see here) and the bookies are rarely far wrong; there’s a strong possibility that this is all pointless conjecture and surmise, and Cheryl’s erstwhile husband will be fit to take to the pitch in England’s first game.

Let’s hope he is.

Click here to view the slideshow (halfway down) – you can maximise it using the button in the right hand corner.

I think Ashley Young and Marlow Stanfield is the best one (above). Also would have been better if it was all Premier League. But who am I to complain…

1. Carlton Cole

Usually in a side with about a million strikers you’d be worried about rotation, but Cole will play if he is fit – and having fully recovered from injury, he finally is. And none too soon for struggling West Ham. What’s more, his return coincides with a double gameweek for the Hammers, and though it’s unlikely (though not impossible) that he will get points in their second game against Man United, he could well fill his boots in the home game against Hull. At £6.4m, for this week and beyond, he is a snip. Bye bye Darren Bent (finally, and probably a month too late).

2. Wayne Rooney

Not exactly a controversial choice. In fact probably the most obvious one you’ll ever make. Just make sure you make it. It’ll make your week. Don’t make the mistake of not making the transfer that makes Rooney part of your starting eleven. And make him captain. This season has been the making of him. And he will make hay in a double gameweek against Everton and West Ham. I can’t think of any other uses for ‘make’. So make your way to http://fantasy.premierleague.com and get him in now.

Here it is in full:

1 Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid, £11.3million)
2 Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Barcelona, £10.4million)
3 Lionel Messi (Barcelona, £9.1million)
4 Samuel Eto’o (Internazionale, £9.1million)
5 Kaka (Real Madrid, £8.7million)
6 Emmanuel Adebayor (Manchester City, £7.4million)
7 Karim Benzema (Real Madrid, £7.4million)
8 Carlos Tevez (Manchester City, £7million)
9 John Terry (Chelsea, £6.5million)
10 Frank Lampard (Chelsea, £6.5million)

11 Thierry Henry (Barcelona, £6.5million)
12 Xavi (Barcelona, £6.5million)
13 Ronaldinho (AC Milan, £6.5million)
14 Steven Gerrard (Liverpool, £6.5million)
15 Daniel Alves (Barcelona, £6.1million)
16 Michael Ballack (Chelsea, £5.6million)
17 Raul (Real Madrid, £5.6million)
18 Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United, £5.6million)
19 Kolo Toure (Manchester City, £5.6million)
20 Wayne Rooney (Manchester United, £5.2million)

21 Robinho (Manchester City, £5.2million)
22 Iker Casillas (Real Madrid, £5.2million)
23 Victor Valdez (Barcelona, £5.2million)
24 Frederic Kanoute (Sevilla, £5.2million)
25 Deco (Chelsea, £5.2million)
26 Didier Drogba (Chelsea, £4.8million)
27 Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus, £4.8million)
28 Francesco Totti (Roma, £4.8million)
29 Luca Toni (Roma, £4.8million)
30 David Villa (Valencia, £4.8million)

31 Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich, £4.8million)
32 Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich, £4.8million)
33 Ashley Cole (Chelsea, £4.8million)
34 Fernando Torres (Liverpool, £4.8million)
35 Gareth Barry (Manchester City, £4.8million)
36 Patrick Vieira (Internazionale, £4.8million)
37 Charles Puyol (Barcelona, £4.3million)
38 Andres Iniesta (Barcelona, £4.3million)
39 Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid, £4.3million)
40 Andreas Pirlo (AC Milan, £4.3million)

41 Phillipe Lahm (Bayern Munich, £4.3million)
42 Frank Ribery (Bayern Munich, £4.3million)
43 David Beckham (AC Milan, £4.3million)
44 Wayne Bridge (Manchester City, £4.3million)
45 Lassana Diarra (Real Madrid, £4.3million)
46 Dimitar Berbatov (Manchester United £4.1million)
47 Andrei Arshavin (Arsenal, £4.1million)
48 Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea, £4.1million)
49 Ryan Giggs (Manchester United £4.1million)
50 Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus, £4.1million)

Ummm…. where to start? The very inclusion of Wayne Bridge? The fact Gareth Barry is higher than Iniesta? The fact Cesc Fabregas doesn’t appear on the list? The fact Del Piero and Giggs are 49th and 50th, with such dross above them? The fact Ronaldo earns more than twice as much as Rooney? I could go on. But I’ll let you find/draw your own fantastic conclusions…

Notes:

(1) The figures are the result of research carried out in more than 30 publications worldwide that specialize in football. Of which, the major newspapers and magazines of the top leagues in the world.

(2) The figures are unofficial and approximate, and depend on new hires, or renewals of each contract.

(3) Figures refer to gross wages of the players (before tax), which of course does not include advertising contracts, gaming awards, signing bonuses, or other extra pay.

(4) There may from time to time differences with the figures, due to exchange rate in relation to players do not receive their salaries in euros. You can read the original article in full here.