Fabio Quagliarella (127 Viewers)

[JuveJay]

They are comparable as CMs, who aren't DMs. In Juve's 4-4-2 those two would fight for one spot in the team. That means that they are comparable.

Modric is probably more comparable to Aquilani than Marchisio, but Modric's work rate and movement puts him somewhere between the two Juventini and you can compare him to both of them.

Marchisio is more of a rounded player, Modric is far better at one side of his game than the other, some teams can go with that sort of player in a 4-4-2 but I don't think we can. He is energetic and hard working, but have you seen Modric make many tackles? In fact when he joined Spurs in 2008 he was played in a role which required defensive abilities and he was very poor, he only proved himself in the PL when he was given a free offensive role. So then it goes back to this question whether you play with two two-way central midfielder or the 'one defensive, one attacking' idea. I could only see Sissoko being able to play with him, Melo has been shown up plenty of times when isolated and Marchisio is not really a defensive midfielder either. I also don't agree that Modric is between Marchisio and Aquilani, as that suggests Aquilani is more attacking than Modric which isn't true.

 

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[Alen]

Marchisio is more of a rounded player, Modric is far better at one side of his game than the other, some teams can go with that sort of player in a 4-4-2 but I don't think we can. He is energetic and hard working, but have you seen Modric make many tackles? In fact when he joined Spurs in 2008 he was played in a role which required defensive abilities and he was very poor, he only proved himself in the PL when he was given a free offensive role. So then it goes back to this question whether you play with two two-way central midfielder or the 'one defensive, one attacking' idea. I could only see Sissoko being able to play with him, Melo has been shown up plenty of times when isolated and Marchisio is not really a defensive midfielder either.

So I guess you think Aquilani should be paired only with Sissoko?

 

[Nenz]

Marchisio is more of a rounded player, Modric is far better at one side of his game than the other, some teams can go with that sort of player in a 4-4-2 but I don't think we can. He is energetic and hard working, but have you seen Modric make many tackles? In fact when he joined Spurs in 2008 he was played in a role which required defensive abilities and he was very poor, he only proved himself in the PL when he was given a free offensive role. So then it goes back to this question whether you play with two two-way central midfielder or the 'one defensive, one attacking' idea. I could only see Sissoko being able to play with him, Melo has been shown up plenty of times when isolated and Marchisio is not really a defensive midfielder either. I also don't agree that Modric is between Marchisio and Aquilani, as that suggests Aquilani is more attacking than Modric which isn't true.

I don't see why we absolutely must have a DM. Having a midfield that can keep the ball away from their opponent should make up for lack of tackling ability at least to some extent. Defensive midfielders are useful but I don't think they're essential.

 

[Alen]

as that suggests Aquilani is more attacking than Modric which isn't true.

Aquillani might not be more attacking that Modric, but defensively he's not even 1% better than Modric.

 

[JBF]

There's no doubt Modric is a level or two up Marchisio ATM. The Croatian performances last season alone in the CM position when he single handily carried Spurs on his shoulders to their first CL qualification for about 20 years says it all.

 

[JuveJay]

So I guess you think Aquilani should be paired only with Sissoko?

Personally no, because Aquilani is stronger physically than Modric, but I know Redknapp often plays him there with Huddlestone and they have done well, especially in the home games. That's in the PL though, and Redknapp is a very attacking manager.

Aquillani might not be more attacking that Modric, but defensively he's not even 1% better than Modric.

Aquilani is competent defensively, I don't think Modric is.

 

[JuveJay]

I don't see why we absolutely must have a DM. Having a midfield that can keep the ball away from their opponent should make up for lack of tackling ability at least to some extent. Defensive midfielders are useful but I don't think they're essential.

It's not about having X player in a position on paper, but players whose attributes compliment each other. Which is why Melo and Marchisio can work, and neither is a DM.

 

[Alen]

Aquilani is competent defensively, I don't think Modric is.

I've seen them both numerous times. I fail to see how is Aquilani more competent defensively. And he's not even stronger than Modric. He's just taller.

 

[Fred]

I completely disagree with you there Jay. If anyone failed in a CM role, it was Aquilani, after a while Rafa stopped playing him as a CM and always played him in a more attacking midfield role. Modric is more of a hard worker, some of the games in the second half of last season, especially against us and Chelsea, and in particular against Chelsea, he made a lot of interceptions and was quite decent for his standards defensively, while i agree with you that he isn't a top tackler, but he's a very good reader of the game, and he's got high work rate. All in all, i'd say Modric is a much better option for the central midfield position than Aquilani. And while Marchisio might be a more rounded player than Modric, he isn't exactly special in anything in particular but he's more of someone that has a little of everything, Modric is a hard working midfielder and a playmaker too. He is the superior player without a doubt. I believe he will get the credit he deserves once he moves to a bigger team than Tottenham.

 

[JuveJay]

I completely disagree with you there Jay. If anyone failed in a CM role, it was Aquilani, after a while Rafa stopped playing him as a CM and always played him in a more attacking midfield role.

I'm not going to judge Aquilani based on the little time he played at Liverpool under a pragmatic coach who would often play Mascherano and Lucas in the midfield together :rolleyes2

Modric is more of a hard worker, some of the games in the second half of last season, especially against us and Chelsea, and in particular against Chelsea, he made a lot of interceptions and was quite decent for his standards defensively, while i agree with you that he isn't a top tackler, but he's a very good reader of the game, and he's got high work rate.

OK. So it goes to whether you think we can afford to play Modric in CM with someone else.

All in all, i'd say Modric is a much better option for the central midfield position than Aquilani.

This I don't understand, as Aquilani is a CM, plain and simple. Modric has excelled for Spurs further forward and even from the left wing, although as you point out, he is a player who likes to contribute across the midfield.

And while Marchisio might be a more rounded player than Modric, he isn't exactly special in anything in particular but he's more of someone that has a little of everything, Modric is a hard working midfielder and a playmaker too

I already said that, so you don't completely disagree

He is the superior player without a doubt. I believe he will get the credit he deserves once he moves to a bigger team than Tottenham.

I didn't disagree, although time will tell on the latter part. For me he is a player who can contribute a little defensively but needs a physically strong player behind him. Spurs just happen to have a tank behind him when he plays.

 

[JuveJay]

I've seen them both numerous times. I fail to see how is Aquilani more competent defensively. And he's not even stronger than Modric. He's just taller.

Ok.

 

[Alen]

I didn't disagree, although time will tell on the latter part. For me he is a player who can contribute a little defensively but needs a physically strong player behind him. Spurs just happen to have a tank behind him when he plays.

Which Croatia doesn't and yet he's doing a great job.

 

[Dostoevsky]

What's up with that avatar Alen?

 

[Hust]

I don't understand your new setup dusan?

:nerd:

 

[JuveJay]

Doesn't Ognjen Vukojevic play then?

 

[Hust]

Who?

 

[Alen]

he made a lot of interceptions and was quite decent for his standards defensively, while i agree with you that he isn't a top tackler, but he's a very good reader of the game, and he's got high work rate.

That alone puts him above Aquilani in the defensive department. Modric has much bigger radius of movement and covers more ground. All that + being a very good reader of the game leads to making lots of interceptions and for a CM, intercepting passes IS a defensive quality.
I don't know if EPL has those stats about intercepted passes as serie A has (virgilio sport). It will be interested to compare Modric and Aquilani there (interceptions to minutes played ratio).
Tackling is not Modric's forte, but lets face it, neither Aquilani is known for being a tackler. Just like Xavi isn't known for being a good tackler.

 

[Alen]

Doesn't Ognjen Vukojevic play then?

He does, but he's not exactly the tank Palacios is, or Melo for that matter.

What's up with that avatar Alen?

Celebrating the great result we achieved yesterday.

 

[Dostoevsky]

I don't understand your new setup dusan?

:nerd:

It was a fast decision, no idea really why though

I guess it's because I'm horny and it's fitting. Plus, that bunny looks badass.

 

[Hust]

It was a fast decision, no idea really why though

I guess it's because I'm horny and it's fitting. Plus, that bunny looks badass.

I thought it was because you reproduce like a rabbit.