The world’s most misused player

[aloisius]

I give this award to Lilian Thuram. The guy is a natural central defender. Juve bought him as such from Parma for massive money. What do they do? Play him at right back. He has the size the skill and the personality to dominate in the middle. He has always said that he plays RB only because the coaches tell him to. Remember theCL QF 2.leg? After Davids was sent of Lippi was forced into his luck and played him in the center of defense. He was awesome! But even that didn’t help Lippi see the light.
Playing Thuram at RB is like buying a Ferrari only to drive your kids to kindergarten. You’ll get the job done, but you didn’t have to spend all that money.

[InterSoccr6]

i couldnt agree more with this post, but im sure lippi feels that he needs speed on both sides, you dont always need the fastest player in the center, just someone to win 50/50's and someone who can control the defense well.

But i do feel Thuram needs to be in the center, his heighth and speed set him apart from any other center back in the game, believe it or not, i'd like to see him in the midfield in more of an attacking position, his ball handling, passing and speed would make him deadly on attack.

[aloisius]

That's his problem. He is so good he could play everything. But the full-back is the least important and easiest position to play. Even Gary Newille can play that. LT should't be wasted on that.

[Mobile]

Originally posted by aloisius
But the full-back is the least important and easiest position to play.

Absolute horseshit.

[aloisius]

OK, which is it then? And don’t tell me “they are all just as important and just as hard to play”

[Blueberry]

Originally posted by aloisius

Playing Thuram at RB is like buying a Ferrari only to drive your kids to kindergarten. You’ll get the job done, but you didn’t have to spend all that money.

And yet Thuram was the best defender of WC98
-and even the best player of the tournament if you ask me- playing at RB !!

[aloisius]

Yes, he is an excellent right back. But he is an even better CD. I am sure Zidane would make a decent centerforward. But nobody gets the idea to play him there.

[Mobile]

Originally posted by aloisius
OK, which is it then? And don’t tell me “they are all just as important and just as hard to play”

Why not? Of course there isn't a position that is easier to play in than any other.

Why do you think there are different positions on a team? If one of them is blatantly much easier to play than another one then why not just do away with that position and change the formation so that you don't have any full-backs? Honestly, this is your lamest effort since you came up with the idea of banning the FA Cup.

These days full-backs need to be quick, with exceptional reading of the game. They need to be able to attack and defend with equal competence and may cover the most ground of any player on the pitch.

To suggest that it is somehow an easy position that doesn't require much talent is ********ing stupid, to put it kindly.

[Samarkand]

The world’s most misused player?
Alex Ferguson bought and played Massimo Taibbi as a goalkeeper.

[usscouse]

Maradona

[Doctor Stamen]

I suggest Emile Heskey, as he is used on the pitch as a player. A groundsman, toilet cleaner or low-cost mobile catering facility operator (i.e. guy in a burger van) outside the stadium would be more suitable.

[SoccerApe]

Juan Roman Riquelme

[aloisius]

Originally posted by Mobile
Why not? Of course there isn't a position that is easier to play in than any other.

Why do you think there are different positions on a team? If one of them is blatantly much easier to play than another one then why not just do away with that position and change the formation so that you don't have any full-backs? Honestly, this is your lamest effort since you came up with the idea of banning the FA Cup.

These days full-backs need to be quick, with exceptional reading of the game. They need to be able to attack and defend with equal competence and may cover the most ground of any player on the pitch.

To suggest that it is somehow an easy position that doesn't require much talent is ********ing stupid, to put it kindly.
Why is it then that they are not all paid the same? Ever heard of full-backs breaking salary or transfer fee records? Of course teams need them but there are simply more people who can play that position then, say an attacking midfield spot. Coaches and managers know very well that all positions aren’t equally important. That’s why they won’t spend the same money on Cafu as on Zidane, both best in their position. If you read the cup thread to the end you will see that I conceded that the FA cup still means a lot to lot of people and it should go on as long as that is the case.

[comme]

Rivaldo being used as a bench warmer or Rebrov being used as an ambassador to Turkey.

[AShotByBalboa]

Thurman is used on the side because of his ability to get up and also defend. I think Lippi's goal is to use him in the same mold as Roberto Carlos. Playing central back, he wouldn't be able to roam forward as much. There are few players in the world who can neutralize a forward on defense, and then pressure the opposing team's defense on offense.

His attacking play gives the midfielder in front of him more freedom to roam around. I'd leave Thuram where he is. Granted, right back isn't the most glamorous of positions - usually. But the way Thuram plays it, and how Juventus uses him, he has a major role.

[aloisius]

He could come forward from the center even more effectively. In the game I already mentioned in Barcelona he often won the ball at his box and then took it unstoppably to Barca’s box. He is simply not Roberto Carlos. His size doesn’t help him when he is playing on the touch line and it’s perfect for a central defender.

[Blueberry]

Originally posted by AShotByBalboa
Thurman is used on the side because of his ability to get up and also defend. I think Lippi's goal is to use him in the same mold as Roberto Carlos. Playing central back, he wouldn't be able to roam forward as much. There are few players in the world who can neutralize a forward on defense, and then pressure the opposing team's defense on offense.

His attacking play gives the midfielder in front of him more freedom to roam around. I'd leave Thuram where he is. Granted, right back isn't the most glamorous of positions - usually. But the way Thuram plays it, and how Juventus uses him, he has a major role.


I agree. When Thuram played at CB for France he was most of the time disappointing. He's of course excellent in defense -as Desailly is- but offensively he's not as good as Laurent Blanc was for instance. On the contrary at RB he can use his pace. He's more useful on offense at this position.

[aloisius]

He only played a couple of times in the CD for France. He played 4 or 5 seasons at Parma, allways in the centre. He was voted best or at least 2-best CD in Italy in every of those seasons.

[billyireland]

Probably Damien Duff for Ireland. You have to see him in both positions (left-wing for Blackburn, centre-forwrd for Ireland) to truly believe the stpudity of playing him there. He is one of the best young wingers in the entire world, and was just as important as Friedel in the last 10 or so games for Blackburn (when he wasn't injured). He has pace, skill, tricks (that work well), passing, shooting and performs well under pressure. Up front, however, he can only utilise his speed and shooting. add ot the fact that when he plays on the wing Clinton Morrisson (decent player) goes up front with Robbie Keane and when he goes up front, Kevin Kilbane (utterly crap) goes on the wing, and you have a joke of a decision by BOTH Mick McCarthy & Brian Kerr

[AShotByBalboa]

Landon and DMB in the MLS