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  • January 10, 2008 12:03 PM ET

Top 5 Midfielders (Attacking or Holding) in the EPL....make picks first then argue.

Little Evil (GUNNER) (2-3-0) vs Keeper (17-10-1)
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Let's just say that I'm a manager for an EPL club, and I'm in the market for an entire midfield. These are the 5 guys I go after first.

5. Elano (Man City)
4. Joe Cole (Chelsea)
3. Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Man U.)
1. Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal)

I did my best not going with the entire Arsenal Midfield. I chose each of them from a different team.


OK, most of mine were the same as yours, but I have a different order.

5. Michael Essien (Chelsea)
4. Elano (Man. City)
3. Cesc Fabreags (Arsenal)
2. Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Man. U)


Alright in a 4-5-1 I'd have Elano, Gerrard, and Cesc holding the midfield down like a fortress. On the right I'd have Ronaldo making life he** for the left back, and lastly Joe Cole on the right completing the Pentavaret. Now, I see that you have the flashy goal scoring attacker as your #1. Gotta disagree. Cesc is a far better mid than he is. He's the creative force in the middle that makes his team better. Ronaldo, while a phenomenal talent, is more of a "create for myself" kind of player. He'll get you goals yes, but his total this season is a bit fluffy because of PK's. Cesc involves the whole team in his play. It was clear that he is the heart of that team when he went down for a couple of weeks. Arsenal's level of play dropped significantly.

Joe Cole is class personfied. He had by far one of the best goals of the 06 WCup. His volley from a chest trap was second only to Maxi Rodriguez' goal. Chelsea need him more on the pitch than Essien. While, I wouldn't turn Essien away if I had the chance to sign him, he's just not the goal scorer or creative force in the middle that Cole is.


OK, I'll say that I'll play 5 in the midfield. I would have it something like this. I have Essien playing in the holding spot, because he is the best defensive mid in the game.

Then I would place Elano, Cesc, and Gerrad in the midfield in a flat line. Then up to the right of all of them would be Ronaldo who can push up in order to score a few more goals.

I have to disagree with your theory of Cesc being the best mid. Ronaldo is simply because of his unbeleivable dribbling and scoring talent. Yes, he may be a little bit of a me-first player, but that still doesn't make him a worse mid than Fabregas. He is the best creator in the game today, and it's easy to see why it is so. On the right team, I beleive that Ronaldo could do the same, but he doesn't need to. He can just concentrate on what he does best, and that is dribbling and creating for himself. I'll discuss other differences later in the match.


I guess that all depends on what qualities you want in your mid. For my money, I want a creative mid that wants to look for that final pass. It takes the focus off of him and keeps defenses honest which in turn creates more space for said mid to work his magic. Without Rooney and Tevez up top, Ronaldo doesn't get more than 10 goals this year. Defenses can't focus on shutting him down. Put Ronaldo on Newcastle and see if he has 13 goals by this point in the season. Doubtful. Cesc would be able to get the midfield to work as a group and take over a game, allowing the strikers to do their job.
And I seriously have to disagree with your statement about Essien. Quality, yes he is. But the best Def mid in the game? No. Not even in the EPL. Look no further than Gerrard. He's one of the few mids out there that can dominate box to box. There's a reason he's been nominated for the FIFA POY three years in a row and won UEFA's Champs League MVP. The man slices defenses in half and can score from almost anywhere on the pitch. Gerrard dominates Essien in every aspect of the midfield game.


I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with you when you say that Gerrard is a Defensive mid. He is very much an attacker, and yes, he is better than Essien, but not at Essien's place.

Essien may not be the perfect scorer, but he can hold down a defence and shut down a whole team. And when called upon he can get you a goal. I just don't consider Gerrard as a D-mid, because they have that guy named Mascherano.

I also think that Ronaldo would have over 10 goals no matter who he played for in the EPL. I believe he is that good, and can create by himself. As long as he can continue to grow as a player (and hopefully a better person), he could be one of the best. Ronaldo when asked, can set up his strikers.

The last thing is that while I believe Joe Cole is very good, I don't believe that he is better than Essien. I even think that Ballack and even Lampard are better when on their games. Essien could shut down Cole and I think he could also create a lot of scoring opportunities agianst Joe. So that is why Michael is on my list.

Good luck Little Evil.

Comments (15) Add A Comment

January 10, 2008  04:02 PM ET
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Good luck, sir.

January 10, 2008  04:03 PM ET
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You too Little Evil. This should be good.

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January 10, 2008  04:12 PM ET
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Good ol' Soccer TD, maybe it'll get more love than most of the NHL TD's that fall into oblivion on this site. Good luck to both of you.

January 10, 2008  04:12 PM ET
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I'd put Steven gerrard first, but Keeper's at least got him over Cesc.

January 10, 2008  04:53 PM ET
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I voted for myself, is that fair. lol

January 10, 2008  06:18 PM ET
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I'll be back tomorrow.

January 11, 2008  08:30 PM ET
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WOW, I have no idea what you guys are talking about but it was a good TD.

January 11, 2008  08:45 PM ET
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5. Elano
4. Essian
3. Fabregas
2. Gerrard
1. Ronaldo

January 11, 2008  08:45 PM ET
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tried to be fair by only taking 1 midfielder off each of the big 4

January 12, 2008  02:54 PM ET
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Ronaldo is the worlds best player, how can he not be #1. He just scored a hat trick and is leading the EPL in scoring from the midfield!!!!

I would dive gerrard the edge over fabregas because of experience and he should captain england, and he probably has the best long range shot in the world. Actually, Fabregas probabaly is only better at short passing and maybe ball control compared to Gerrard.

I would put Elano at five because it seems as if he lost a step in the month and has even been benched. Essien is and incredible midfielder who can do anything and is an incredible tackler. he would make a good defender. He is better than Lamps and joe cole

But cmon guys, if u don't put Ronaldo #1 you must be smokin something

January 12, 2008  02:54 PM ET
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of course, he is a gunner fan

January 12, 2008  03:05 PM ET
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jevs, you don't know how bad I wanted to put Gerrard in 1st. I'm a Liverpool fan through and through, but I ain't stupid. I had to go with Ronaldo, even though he gets on my effin nerves.

January 12, 2008  04:10 PM ET
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thats what im talkin bout

 
January 14, 2008  09:55 AM ET
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good job keeps. great TD.

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