Eidur's position and its impact

[blackjack]

It's been fairly apparent in recent weeks that Mourinho's been playing the Iceman in a far deeper role than he was accustomed to earlier this season, and it's clear that Eidur's adjusted quite nicely. He's winning balls, tackling, and distributing like a CM should. I don't think any of us know if the manager has any long-term designs on turning him into a bona-fide midfielder, but if he does, it could mean the transfer business over the summer could be different than what we thought it would be a month ago. Some possible effects:

- Between Joe Cole's renaissance and Eidur's re-positioning, Gerrard ceases to be a target (if he ever was one).

- The removal of Gudjohnsen from the strike force means we could be keeping Forssell and adding another striker, not either-or as has seemed likely before.

- This could really spell the end for fringe players like Jurassic, Smertin, Parker, and Geremi. In fact, if Guddy were to become a full-time CM and we still bought Gerrard, Tiago could even feel the need to search work elsewhere.

Thoughts?

[Walter3000]

It's been fairly apparent in recent weeks that Mourinho's been playing the Iceman in a far deeper role than he was accustomed to earlier this season, and it's clear that Eidur's adjusted quite nicely. He's winning balls, tackling, and distributing like a CM should. I don't think any of us know if the manager has any long-term designs on turning him into a bona-fide midfielder, but if he does, it could mean the transfer business over the summer could be different than what we thought it would be a month ago. Some possible effects:

- Between Joe Cole's renaissance and Eidur's re-positioning, Gerrard ceases to become a target (if he ever was one).

- The removal of Gudjohnsen from the strike force means we could be keeping Forssell and adding another striker, not either-or as has seemed likely before.

- This could really spell the end for fringe players like Jurassic, Smertin, Parker, and Geremi. In fact, if Guddy were to become a full-time CM and we still bought Gerrard, Tiago could even feel the need to search work elsewhere.

Thoughts?


I think for Parker it is different, hes the only player of those you mentioned I'd feel at all comfortable with playing in Makelele's role if he was out.

[Eddie26]

It's been fairly apparent in recent weeks that Mourinho's been playing the Iceman in a far deeper role than he was accustomed to earlier this season, and it's clear that Eidur's adjusted quite nicely. He's winning balls, tackling, and distributing like a CM should. I don't think any of us know if the manager has any long-term designs on turning him into a bona-fide midfielder, but if he does, it could mean the transfer business over the summer could be different than what we thought it would be a month ago. Some possible effects:

- Between Joe Cole's renaissance and Eidur's re-positioning, Gerrard ceases to be a target (if he ever was one).

- The removal of Gudjohnsen from the strike force means we could be keeping Forssell and adding another striker, not either-or as has seemed likely before.

- This could really spell the end for fringe players like Jurassic, Smertin, Parker, and Geremi. In fact, if Guddy were to become a full-time CM and we still bought Gerrard, Tiago could even feel the need to search work elsewhere.

Thoughts?

It's been more than a couple weeks. I started noticing the change around the Barca game. He's playing deeper, getting back on defense. I remember him making one or two good tackles in the Bayern game and being impressed that he's able to do it. Honestly, the position better suits him. He's not a great striker. He isn't a great finisher but he links the attackers with the midfield well. I don't know if we'll see an all-out change of position but he playing more of a CF or AM role now.

[afterhours]

The 3 central midfielders suit Eidur, as he then has the support of two very solid, and now very experienced, CM's alongside him, allowing him to break and create the attacks.

My only worry is that if, in time, Eidur does make this position his own, he could become the attacking CM, leaving Lamps as the "other" role, limiting his attacking. However I can't see it coming to that, but Jose has utilised Eidur's talents well

[schafer]

Eidur also looks more comfortable running at defenders from deep. There have been a couple of times in the last several games where he has jinked past several players and it is a side of his game he doesn't utilise when playing up front.

Besides, guessing where JM will play someone is almost impossible. Duff at left back, for example.

Wouldn't be surprised to see Kezza start in goal against Liverpool:D

[When Hell Unfreezes]

Eddie hit the nail on the head, when he said Eidur isn't a good finisher, Christ only knows how many chances he's missed - but I noticed his deeper role, quite some time back, he's playing the Scholes position, in the slot behind Drogba and in front of Ukelele - his distribution has been excellent and his goal on Saturday was the result of Drogba and Robben, pulling the defenders wider and making a hole for him to run at!

[Walter3000]

Eddie hit the nail on the head, when he said Eidur isn't a good finisher, Christ only knows how many chances he's missed - but I noticed his deeper role, quite some time back, he's playing the Scholes position, in the slot behind Drogba and in front of Ukelele - his distribution has been excellent and his goal on Saturday was the result of Drogba and Robben, pulling the defenders wider and making a hole for him to run at!


Just a nitpick, drogba was already subbed off i do believe when Eidur scored. The goal was thwe result of a quick turnover at the half line and a great pass from tiago to perfectly link up with Eidur's run.

[momocfc]

Just a nitpick, drogba was already subbed off i do believe when Eidur scored. The goal was thwe result of a quick turnover at the half line and a great pass from tiago to perfectly link up with Eidur's run.
i wonder how many posters on big soccer remember when sextonmoved osgood from cf to#4,ossie shone in that role.

[the101er]

What I think has helped Chelsea to dominance this season is the team's ability through the quality of their players to play a new type of "total football". In fact, let's just say that I invented a new type of total football. Let's call it total tactical football, for lack of a better term.

Chelsea has used players in very different positions, not in one single game, but through out an entire season, mostly as injuries and occasionally opponents or situations have dictated, and have been succesful with almost everything.

From the beginning of the season, grinding out the 1-0 wins. Into the first Arjen Robben era, when we were the indominable Lions, through Robben's second injury when Cole and Duff became more critical, etc.

As key players have been injured, Mourinho has used various styles of attack and defense and had the quality and intelligent players to adapt to every type of tactical system (even long ball to Drogba against Bayern, not because of typical English playing style, but because there was a mismatch to be taken advantage of).

I will try to flush out this idea in book form "Total Tactical Football: The Mourinho Revolution at Chelsea". It's like the rotation system taken to a higher power as it forces players to adapt and challenges them even when they are not regulars, as they must adapt to new ideas constantly when coming off the bench or preparing for matches.