This evening I saw a spate of headlines after England coach Fabio Capello shared a meal with some journalists. It seems most of the talk was about England’s future i.e. Jack Wilshere.
Interestingly, Capello wants to play young Jack in front of his back four.
I want to put him in this position in front of the back four. I have to decide because he’s so young, he would stay alone in midfield and that can be dangerous.
It’s not difficult to see where the inspiration comes from. This season Wilshere has been excellent for Arsenal in a deeper midfield role. Capello has been keeping a close eye and has been suitably impressed.
I have monitored him for five months. He’s improved a lot. He’s a really interesting player.
The Italian has also seen Wilshere grow in confidence due to his regular starts at Arsenal.
When he started in some moments [occasions] he played without big confidence. He was timid, shy. Now every game he improves a lot, he plays with confidence, without fear and also the tackles he tries to win.
Capello gave his opinion on how Wilshere stacks up against greats like Makelele and Pirlo.
Wilshere is better technically than Makelele. He’s slower than Makelele but when he receives the ball he is more dangerous than Makelele.
Not like Pirlo. Wilshere’s too young. Probably Wilshere can be better but the styles are different. The style of AC Milan was to play long ball sometimes. The style of Arsenal is a lot of passes.
Then he also gave his observations about Jack’s work on the pitch.
Wilshere wins back the ball, he passes, he turns, dribbles, goes and shoots. I saw everything.
It was a real pleasure reading such insightful comments from a senior football figure. It gives us a lot to think about and will surely make watching future England games a lot more interesting.
Personally speaking, I’m not convinced Capello will play Wilshere strictly in a Makelele role. When I think of the Frenchman the following equation comes to mind
Makelele : Mourinho :: Cesc : Wenger
The former Real Madrid man had unparalleled defensive intelligence, defensive awareness, and defensive vision. He was phenomenal not because of great sliding tackles or a crazy amount of ball chasing, but because of his ability to be in the right position at the right time from a defensive point of view. I don’t think Wilshere will ever be that player. In fact, I’d hate to see him even try that for England as it will clash with his role at Arsenal.
Since Capello has made all the right observations – Wilshere can win the ball, pass, turn, run, dribble, and shoot – I don’t believe he will use the youngster in a Makelele role. The other most obvious role model would be Pirlo but the Italian has ruled that out for the time being.
That too is understandable. Milan, and Italy too for that matter, were primarily defensive teams. Pirlo’s the kind who could, from a deep position, exploit the acres of space in the opposition half really well. More recently we’ve seen Sneijder do that for Mourinho and Holland.
Capello probably won’t play that system and Wilshere doesn’t play the long balls that often at Arsenal. Not that he can’t, we saw a fantastic example against Ipswich, more like he doesn’t have to that often.
I have a feeling Fabio will use Wilshere in a hybrid of these two roles. Wilshere can certainly be a more combative and tenacious tackler than the likes of Pirlo or Sneijder. He can also be a much more effective and creative passer than Makelele.
Arsene is certainly training him well in that role. It will be interesting to see how Capello builds on it. Is this kid the man that England (and some might say Arsenal) have been missing?
Damn.. International friendly is 9th February D: A week BEFORE Barcelona.
I feel Capello should not try to play Wilshere in a position he doesn’t play in.The likes of Lampard and Gerrard are the ones that need to make way.How are you honestly going to see how a player fares in a match if you don’t even play him in his natural position.I feel he should play him in a nr 10 role or as a cm because sooner or later it will be Wilshere and not Gerrard and Lampard, that will run the England midfield in the coming years.
Instead of trying to fit all these players in at the same time is a waste of time and it will not have fluidity in England’s game.He could however use both of these players (Lampard and Gerrard) as power players and Wilshire could be the one making all the passes or puling all the strings.I know that wont happen but this could apply to Gerrard.
I thought to myself maybe there are English players that could play the Arsenal way.This would enable Wilshere to continue his form he showed at arsenal however there is a lack of touch players among these English players.
This brings me to the only realistic conclusion.Whatever formation England decide to use or the players they decide to play alongside him.They should just play him behind the strikers.out of all the players in the england camp his is the one that is most naturally suited to this role but because of the inability of some of these English players to understand basic positioning and passing, i think he will end up playing as a Busquets type of player in the england set up.
Wilshere cannot play that role behind strikers atleast as of now. He is truly one-footed it is very very hard for any one-footed player to play there. Dont drag Messi, RVP into this their right foot is much much much better they just have superior left foot.
Wilshere does not even touch the ball with his right foot, he will use his head instead of his right foot that is what he told
. He is perfect in the current role in Arsenal probably he will end up being there. The role Capello suggests is not very different to what he does in Arsenal. But not sure he can do it in a 2 man midfield.
I feel Wilshere and Ramsey are perfect for a 2 man midfield
both are creative and can do the defensive work too.
For god’s sake he is 19 and already talk of natural position , he played on the wings not so long ago. How do you what is his natural position , i think that is what the coaches are trying to find.
Random Gunner I understand the point your making but the guy used to play in the wings/ behind the strikers in the reserves and even as a schoolboy.Also i don’t believe for one second that because he is dependent on one foot two much will hinder his chances of playing in that role.
In world football who could be classed as a ultimate play-maker who does just that and nothing else….Riquelme. In his peak he was on a whole different level in world football.What would you say he was? two-footed? What would you say about players like Iniesta (although he doesn’t exactly play in the nr 10 role he could play in that position!:)) and VDV? that disproves your theory in my opinion and the key thing with playing in that position is to have the intelligence and the technique to cope with rapid movements and to use it in tricky situations.Wilshere has that.
To be honest there aren’t that many player that are two-footed in world football currently.Do you consider a player to be two footed if he can kick very well with both feet or do you consider him two footed if he can run with the ball with both feet?
Most players in world football are dependent on their stronger foot.I feel this would be no obstacle to Wilshere if he plays as a number 10.
Whereas Maradona used his right foot all the time? I agree with you on Ramsey and Wilshere in midfield…with Frimpong sitting behind. Those three would be pretty unstoppable. I would play him with Rodwell or Scott Parker in the England team behind Gerrard.
@Mohamed
Let me accept my knowledge in football does not go too far behind. Here is my logic for why i think it does not work. At least from what i have seen there is simply not much time for one to work to their favorite foot in the final third.
When RVP tries this we know how much impact it has, he is much better when he takes on with his right foot instead of working to his left. I think it is just not effective inside the box and for you can have a favorite foot but i dont think the player should be able to do minimum things with non favorite one , very similar to RVP. Wilshere may get it but i dont think he can do it yet , it could be the reason for his low assist ratios despite he is most of the time around the box or atleast spends more time there than Song.
I just cannot understand the concept of a winger behind striker , is it like Arshavin who leaves his fullback exposed ?
I dont mean a two footed player in the sense that they have equally good shots with both foots, but should be able to do minimum things with the other foot too, i have not seen Wilshere touch ball with his right foot. And i am talking about the situation where he scored a goal with a header. Closer to the box he will end up in those situations he cannot hide his other foot, He cannot always use his head instead of his right foot. If it is not that important i dont think Arsene would have put Diaby in wings to develop his weak foot.
Nasri , Ramsey do not seem to have a clear favorite one.
” I think it is just not effective
inside the box and for you can have a favorite foot but i dont think the player shouldbe able to do minimum things with non favorite one , very similar to RVP.”must be
I think it is just not effective inside the box and you can have a favorite foot but i think the player should be able to do minimum things with non favorite one too , very similar to RVP.
personally, I don’t care where they play him because I couldn’t care less about the national team. Playing different roles within the midfield is only going to help his development. As much as I want the players to be happy, over the last few years failure with national teams=success/massive improvement with arsenal so… I don’t hope he fails but… I wouldn’t cry if he did… Just saying!
To be honest, I don’t really agree the habits of england managers. They just want to play all of the best players together and then the tactics and formation follow.
Look to what they have done to Gerrard and Lampard. Just because they want to play them together in one team, the team lacks fluency and edge.
Just hoping that Capello doesn’t sacrifice Wilshere just because of his ego.
Is it important if he can play the Makalele ? I had a friend who could play the ukelele but was a hopeless footballer, then again I had a friend who could dance the Macarena and he was a great player.Personally I like to play with my organ, but that’s another story.
hooroo
LoL! Wow
i’ve always said Wilshere is ARsenal’s Xavi, and is a big reason why we have made such good progress this season.
He’s only 19, and will get stronger, and eventually he could overtake Song.
really? i always thought he was going to be more like iniesta, or dare i say it messi.
but then he’s turning out to be quite a tenacious defender. I really think the defensive side of his game is just part of his journey further up the field. Wenger really hasn’t given him the licesne to all out attack, but once that comes i feel we have a goalscorer par excellent on our hands.
whichever way, “Wenger Knows” what he’s doing.
He has a long way to go in scoring goals. I dont think he is going to be prolific. He needs more than one feet to be a decent scorer.
I would say Ramsey if he comes back to his previous levels then he would be a prolific scorer as Lampard or Gerrard.
he reminds me of xavi in the way he sets up play from deep, is so efficient with the ball, rarely loses it or gets himself into trouble, and makes good decisions.
Someone commented:
Playmaking players can play at the base of the midfield in certain systems. For example Pirlo in Milan plays at the base of the midfield, with the terrier or defensive midfielder actually ahead of him. Schweinsteiger and even Kroos for Bayern also play holding positions. It’s a good sign in terms of finally probably deciding to pass for once in the England NT.
It has advantages in terms of being able to direct ball from deep, while those players ahead of him are closer to goal and make shorter passes. In systems like Barcelona, Real and Spain, a holding midfielder whose job is to win back the ball plays near a centre-midfielder whose job is to pass, and that is how play is dictated from deep.
The Milan version is where physical, aggressive midfielders in front of the dictator of play has many advantages. England have many aggressive, physical, offensive-minded players who can make the driving runs and the pressing. Their only very good passers are Huddlestone, Wilshere and Rooney. Which is why I think Huddlestone and/or Wilshere is more valuable at the base of the midfield for England. While Wilshere may be personally better further forward, from all the options, this one is most valuable for England.
I wouldn’t call it the Makelele ROLE. That was to be ‘break up all attacks, win all balls’ in the midfield. It is the same position though ie. base of the midfield. All in all ‘Makelele position’ is more a colloquial term than saying Wilshere would be an all-defensive player.
To me Jackie boy is a slight copy of Steven gerrard cos of his ability to pick out passes and shoot and is not afraid to tackle.. I personally think he would flourish as a box to box mid as he may not have blistering pace to track back but he is tenacious In all he does
Is Jack the kid England have been missing?
LOL… Desi, England have been missing a world class GK, world class striker to partner Rooney, world class left winger, world class right back, world class English coach (just so the press won’t get so hung up about a foreign coach) etc. etc…
I recollect Jack SAYING sometime ago that Wenger plays him in the deep role to build the defensive side of his game. Wenger, you’re the best! See how he has excelled in a role that Diaby couldn’t hold down! What he probably didn’t SAY was that playing in that role is temporary; AW is the best in building a player up gradually. He started Henry on the wings to prepare him for the striker role and see how it turned out!
I think Jack will hold down permanently, one of the two midfield roles now held by Cesc(AM) or Song(B2B) though he looks more likely that it would be the one Song now plays in because of his ability to tackle, win back the ball, pass and defend when needed, while Ramsey will take over the Cesc role. But right now, he still too raw and too young for the B2B role.
Playing him as B2B now may get him burnt out but when he reaches say, 23/24yrs, he’ll certainly be phenomenal in at least 2 (if not the 3)midfield roles due to his versatility, natural abilities to spot the pass and dribble, the discipline of having played the DM role and his fearless nature and experience of playing in the English top flight for so long…Jackieboy will go Xaviesque soon!
Its fearsome to even think of what our midfield will look like in the next four/five yrs with the likes of Cesc(27/28), Nasri(27/28), Song(27/28), Jack(23/24), Ramsey(24/25), Diaby (28/29), Denilson(27/28), Frimpong(23/24)! These guys will literally dominate the EPL and Europe; no doubt about that! But they must stay together and grow together so the can become an UNSTOPPABLE ARMY sweeping aside every and any opposition! COYG!
don’t make Wilshere a player that is not, weird how many people see in wilshere a DM or an offensive player and no one actually see him as a complete midfielder, surely, leaving him alone in front of teh back four will not do good. Capello, why don’t you fuck off some of the lazy idiots who play in your team right now to give wilshere a chance in his real position
Yea Wilshere is a complete midfielder not limited to either an attacking or defensive role just like fabregas although fabregas has recently been moved further upfront, he is still a complete midfielder.
Btw wenger didnt play henry on the wing to prepare him for anything, henry was a winger from the start, wenger just switched him to a striker maybe cause he saw his goal scoring potential. Playing wilshere in a defensive role would waste his great potential as a creative midfielder around the box
I will not take Capello comments any serious as he can’t be around after 2012. England FA and all its dead wood will never accomodate Arsenal playing style, and ask how many England players are technical and tactical intelligent to play in sychronise with Jack Wilshere?
I rest my case and really waste of time to indulge in this
[...] Can Wilshere Play The Makelele Role? This evening I saw a spate of headlines after England coach Fabio Capello shared a meal with some journalists. It seems [...] [...]
Capello seems to be mistaken. I think his low opinion of Wenger is affecting his previous abilites. The English media can distort perception I tell ya.
How can he identify Wilshere’s ‘apprentices’ role’ as Wilshere’s future role?
No disrespect to Capello, but he needs a break from this gig. Some time to think carefully away from the politics of it all. The Makelele role isn’t for someone with little experience of the game.
Cesc isn’t yet the complete midfielder. We still don’t know the kind of player Cesc will be regarded as, so how can Wilshere be defined?
…soap bubbles…
Why do you think he has a low opinion of Wenger? Based on that interview the opposite seemed to be the case.
I agree Wilshere is too young to have a fixed role right now. I don’t think Capello meant that Wilshere’s future was a DM. I think he sees it more like a guy who can pull the strings and control the play.
Thanks Desi,
In this instance Cappello has softened his approach somewhat. But remember Wenger campaigned for Walcott to be included in the World Cup squad?
There was hardly any response at all from Capello.
Remember the treatment meted out to Theo, when we all thought that the youngsters’ confidence would be shattered?
All of which Capello could have resolved with a simple quiet word to Wenger and Theo, rather than the pompous approach through the media?
And taking Lennon rather than Theo? Even out of form, Walcott had scored more goals than Lennon, with more incisive forward play.
Quite frankly, I thought Capello made the cowardly decision to take Lennon because of the campaign in the media for the Tottenham player.
Again, thanks for the earlier reply.
You’re most welcome.
Well, to be honest, I wasn’t surprised that wasn’t surprised that Walcott wasn’t taken to the World Cup because his form was certainly dodgy. And even if unintended I’m thankful to Capello for his part in reviving the youngster.
How much of Theo’s current form is down the World Cup snub? Would an out of form Theo have lost more confidence if he’d been part of the World Cup debacle? These are difficult questions to answer.
@Desi
What is Capello’s regret? Is it that Walcott was injured or that he failed to appreciate Walcott’s ability?
I think it’s that he didn’t gamble on Walcott’s ability to make a difference even though Theo was out of form at that time.