Esteban Cambiasso

[Guest Col city fan]

Have we changed our style to 'accomodate' Cambiasso?

I remember when Nigel appeared to change how we were playing to try to fit Harry Kane into the side, with pretty drastic consequences.

Is trying to field Cambiasso a part of our problem, or not?

Discuss....

[shailen]

he has been our best midfielder, looks composed on the ball and rarely loses it. Don't think the system has changed to play him. He played against Stoke and United in a 4-3-3 and did well. I think the system has changed to stop us conceding goals and make us tight at the back and hard to beat. Obviously we have lost our creative edge and the system offers little counter attack threats.

[Nick]

Is this sniping hate for Cambiasso (which appears to turn up in every thread you contribute to in the LCFC forum) also now mean you are relenting on your two year FT campaign for the need of a defensive midfielder to sit in front of the back four?

[Guest Col city fan]

Is this sniping hate for Cambiasso (which appears to turn up in every thread you contribute to in the LCFC forum) also now mean you are relenting on your two year FT campaign for the need of a defensive midfielder to sit in front of the back four?

I'm simply asking the question. Others have suggested this may be the case, so I've put it out there. If you don't want to constructively contribute, move on...

Personally, I feel Cambi has performed no worse than anyone else, but does he 'fit'?

[Elsie Ephsey]

Completely agree. He's done okay, no more than that (apart from his excellent cameo at Stoke), but it's the fact that his presence is to the detriment of Drinkwater that's the biggest problem as far as I'm concerned. The latter isn't a winger, and looks like he's going through the motions out wide.

I think it's time for NP to ask himself the question "Is DD my main man?", and use that as his starting point. For me, the answer is an unequivocal "Yes".

[Ashley]

he has been our best midfielder, looks composed on the ball and rarely loses it. Don't think the system has changed to play him. He played against Stoke and United in a 4-3-3 and did well. I think the system has changed to stop us conceding goals and make us tight at the back and hard to beat. Obviously we have lost our creative edge and the system offers little counter attack threats.

We played the diamond in both of these games.

[SMX11]

Frankly if he wasn't in the team none our midfield could retain the ball.

[bovril]

Frankly if he wasn't in the team none our midfield could retain the ball.

 

Yes I dread to think what our pass completion stats would be like without him. I don't think the rest of the players are on the same wave length at times, he takes up positions and plays balls that are lost on some of the others. Reminds me a bit of Mancini playing up front with Trevor fvcking Benjamin.

[Ric Flair]

I'd be more inclined to say that Danny Drinkwater's horrific form this season is really hindering us. He was and is our heartbeat and he has been nothing short of abysmal. I don't blame him so much in the last 2 games as he's being asked to play out wide on occasions which really doesn't suit his game but he looks lost thiss eason. I hope he can compete at this level but we are badly misssing his dictation of play that we had week in, week out last season.

 

Simply, there's too many of our players not punching above their weight right now.

 

Cambiasso has been decent for us, nothing exceptional yet bar the odd sublime pass that nobody else could pull off for us.

[Captain...]

We played the diamond in both of these games.

 

With Nugent at the tip, King doesn't work there and that is the biggest difference for me.

[Captain...]

I'd be more inclined to say that Danny Drinkwater's horrific form this season is really hindering us. He was and is our heartbeat and he has been nothing short of abysmal. I don't blame him so much in the last 2 games as he's being asked to play out wide on occasions which really doesn't suit his game but he looks lost thiss eason. I hope he can compete at this level but we are badly misssing his dictation of play that we had week in, week out last season.

 

Simply, there's too many of our players not punching above their weight right now.

 

Cambiasso has been decent for us, nothing exceptional yet bar the odd sublime pass that nobody else could pull off for us.

 

Drinkwater's form has been worrying, and I don't care how well he is doing in training, on the pitch he has gone back to being the Drinkwater of 2 years ago where his confidence was shot and he fell out with the fans.

 

This has nothing to do with the formation, being played wider, or the players round him, his decision making and ability to pass the ball has gone missing, there was one incident against West Brom, where he was in their half bringing the ball forwards and had RDL sprinting down the right flank, Vardy making a run into the channel between full back and centre back, both had got in behind the full back, and under no pressure Drinkwater just lazily passed it straight to the full back, he had 2 simple options to set up an attack and just gave away possession, the full back looked so surprised to have the ball passed to his feet he just hoofed it out of play, fortunately as RDL was well out of position.

[chris_lcfc_85]

I'd be more inclined to say that Danny Drinkwater's horrific form this season is really hindering us. He was and is our heartbeat and he has been nothing short of abysmal. I don't blame him so much in the last 2 games as he's being asked to play out wide on occasions which really doesn't suit his game but he looks lost thiss eason. I hope he can compete at this level but we are badly misssing his dictation of play that we had week in, week out last season.

 

Simply, there's too many of our players not punching above their weight right now.

 

Cambiasso has been decent for us, nothing exceptional yet bar the odd sublime pass that nobody else could pull off for us.

 

He hasnt been his best but he hasnt been abysmal either.

Another player that got player of the season playing centre mid yet this season he's been pushed in all sorts of different roles

[DennisNedry]

Cambiasso can't be blamed for our slump.

 

Next scapegoat please...

[Jimothy]

Cambiasso can't be blamed for our slump.

Next scapegoat please...

Wellens?

[Itsthejoeker]

Nige has always said when bringing new players in that the scout the ones which will fit best into our current system, so I doubt it.

[lgfualol]

Nige has always said when bringing new players in that the scout the ones which will fit best into our current system, so I doubt it.

Albrighton and Ulloa were weird signings then, our current system is to defend.

[Silverdaz]

I think your right Col he seems to slow the game down where as our strength has always been playing with pace

[Itsthejoeker]

Albrighton and Ulloa were weird signings then, our current system is to defend.

 

/it wasn't when we signed them?

[Thracian]

I think we have changed our style and, from what Pearson has said, I imagine Cambiasso has influenced that change. Unfortunately it doesn't play to our strengths and isn't likely to given that Cambiasso doesn't do enough things well in his role - good a player as he might have been at his best.

 

Yes, he can pass the ball quickly and deftly. But he's not much help defending set pieces, he doesn't track the runners naturally, he's not in a physical sense and he's lost his edge in terms of pace and energy.

 

We're now playing much more narrowly and nullifying the things which allowed us to have any chance of consistently scoring more goals than the opposition - something glaringly illustrated by our failure to score in over 400 minutes.

 

Our downturn since Cambiasso's arrival seems now to be denting morale as well, perhaps because he's getting so much money for what has fast become a negative return results wise. 

 

Last season's team will be a proud and close one. They won't be happy to see a different approach and different influences costing them their win bonuses or denting their confidence. 

 

Pearson's always referring to the need to "attend to detail" and trying to portray himself as having a studious approach to management but there's nothing studious about changing an approach that works into one that doesn't or about playing so narrow - and making midfield so crowded - that people receiving passes are short of space and the chance of the pass even being delivered successfully is so greatly diminished.

 

It was there to be seen against West Brom - how rarely we had the opportunity to pass to a player in space.

That wasn't down to West Brom's brilliant defenders.

It was down to a lack of width, pace and mobility.

 

The more width, pace and skill in a side the more often the opposition has to deal with a threat and the greater the resources they have to deploy in doing that.

 

We don't pick a team to pose a serious threat anymore - just to contain the opposition and hope to pinch something even at home.

That's the change since Cambiasso's arrival because it certainly wasn't apparent in our early games for all that we came under considerable and well anticipated pressure.

 

I'm not saying or implying that Cambiasso's no good. But accommodating him has cost us considerably more than it's given us, turning a team of winners into a team of losers.  

 

We've stopped playing to our strengths. 

 

Do fans seriously believe our Championship-winning team have suddenly become bad players in the last six weeks or so?

 

The evidence for what I say is everywhere.

 

Ulloa and Vardy have become impotent because there are no fast breakaways, no good crosses and no balls through or behind the defence.

 

Our accomplished midfielders are looking ordinary because we've no wide players to give them "players-in-space" passing options and what's left to them is so risky and so inconsequential even when the pass does find its target.         

 

Our lack of width and pace means opposing defences are never stretched and that, in turn, means they need fewer people to defend against us and can therefore deploy more bodies to the supporting of attacks.

 

I can't explain it any more simply. Changing back won't make us world beaters at Premiership level but it might mean us scoring some goals and winning some more points before the January window gives us chance to genuinely strengthen our team.

 

We're not equipped to beg games more than occasionally. It's not that our defence is woefully bad. They just can't absorb constant pressure without conceding one or two. We have to offer a threat.  

[Guest Col city fan]

I think we have changed our style and, from what Pearson has said, I imagine Cambiasso has influenced that change. Unfortunately it doesn't play to our strengths and isn't likely to given that Cambiasso doesn't do enough things well in his role - good a player as he might have been at his best.

Yes, he can pass the ball quickly and deftly. But he's not much help defending set pieces, he doesn't track the runners naturally, he's not in a physical sense and he's lost his edge in terms of pace and energy.

We're now playing much more narrowly and nullifying the things which allowed us to have any chance of consistently scoring more goals than the opposition - something glaringly illustrated by our failure to score in over 400 minutes.

Our downturn since Cambiasso's arrival seems now to be denting morale as well, perhaps because he's getting so much money for what has fast become a negative return results wise.

Last season's team will be a proud and close one. They won't be happy to see a different approach and different influences costing them their win bonuses or denting their confidence.

Pearson's always referring to the need to "attend to detail" and trying to portray himself as having a studious approach to management but there's nothing studious about changing an approach that works into one that doesn't or about playing so narrow - and making midfield so crowded - that people receiving passes are short of space and the chance of the pass even being delivered successfully is so greatly diminished.

It was there to be seen against West Brom - how rarely we had the opportunity to pass to a player in space.

That wasn't down to West Brom's brilliant defenders.

It was down to a lack of width, pace and mobility.

The more width, pace and skill in a side the more often the opposition has to deal with a threat and the greater the resources they have to deploy in doing that.

We don't pick a team to pose a serious threat anymore - just to contain the opposition and hope to pinch something even at home.

That's the change since Cambiasso's arrival because it certainly wasn't apparent in our early games for all that we came under considerable and well anticipated pressure.

I'm not saying or implying that Cambiasso's no good. But accommodating him has cost us considerably more than it's given us, turning a team of winners into a team of losers.

We've stopped playing to our strengths.

Do fans seriously believe our Championship-winning team have suddenly become bad players in the last six weeks or so?

The evidence for what I say is everywhere.

Ulloa and Vardy have become impotent because there are no fast breakaways, no good crosses and no balls through or behind the defence.

Our accomplished midfielders are looking ordinary because we've no wide players to give them "players-in-space" passing options and what's left to them is so risky and so inconsequential even when the pass does find its target.

Our lack of width and pace means opposing defences are never stretched and that, in turn, means they need fewer people to defend against us and can therefore deploy more bodies to the supporting of attacks.

I can't explain it any more simply. Changing back won't make us world beaters at Premiership level but it might mean us scoring some goals and winning some more points before the January window gives us chance to genuinely strengthen our team.

We're not equipped to beg games more than occasionally. It's not that our defence is woefully bad. They just can't absorb constant pressure without conceding one or two. We have to offer a threat.

Superb post....

So refreshing to analyse this sensibly, rather than to be hit with a 'hate' comment or 'scapegoating'.

[Bettsj2]

I think your right Col he seems to slow the game down where as our strength has always been playing with pace

There were a couple of occasions on Saturday when James picked the ball up deep and started to move forward with a bit of purpose and Cambiasso seemed to be signalling him to slow down.

I was amazed and delighted to have signed him but in all honesty, I'm starting to thing he may be causing more problems than finding solutions and signing Macarthur may have been a better option.

[Dickov22]

Said at the time id have preferred McArthur on here and twitter and got laughed at.

Cambiasso is without doubt a classy passer of the ball but he's forcing us into a style that doesn't allow width, and hinders Drinkwater and James. He's also way too slow to play in a 442 which was our best formation at home last season.

[dbtcity]

I think we have changed our style and, from what Pearson has said, I imagine Cambiasso has influenced that change. Unfortunately it doesn't play to our strengths and isn't likely to given that Cambiasso doesn't do enough things well in his role - good a player as he might have been at his best.

Yes, he can pass the ball quickly and deftly. But he's not much help defending set pieces, he doesn't track the runners naturally, he's not in a physical sense and he's lost his edge in terms of pace and energy.

We're now playing much more narrowly and nullifying the things which allowed us to have any chance of consistently scoring more goals than the opposition - something glaringly illustrated by our failure to score in over 400 minutes.

Our downturn since Cambiasso's arrival seems now to be denting morale as well, perhaps because he's getting so much money for what has fast become a negative return results wise.

Last season's team will be a proud and close one. They won't be happy to see a different approach and different influences costing them their win bonuses or denting their confidence.

Pearson's always referring to the need to "attend to detail" and trying to portray himself as having a studious approach to management but there's nothing studious about changing an approach that works into one that doesn't or about playing so narrow - and making midfield so crowded - that people receiving passes are short of space and the chance of the pass even being delivered successfully is so greatly diminished.

It was there to be seen against West Brom - how rarely we had the opportunity to pass to a player in space.

That wasn't down to West Brom's brilliant defenders.

It was down to a lack of width, pace and mobility.

The more width, pace and skill in a side the more often the opposition has to deal with a threat and the greater the resources they have to deploy in doing that.

We don't pick a team to pose a serious threat anymore - just to contain the opposition and hope to pinch something even at home.

That's the change since Cambiasso's arrival because it certainly wasn't apparent in our early games for all that we came under considerable and well anticipated pressure.

I'm not saying or implying that Cambiasso's no good. But accommodating him has cost us considerably more than it's given us, turning a team of winners into a team of losers.

We've stopped playing to our strengths.

Do fans seriously believe our Championship-winning team have suddenly become bad players in the last six weeks or so?

The evidence for what I say is everywhere.

Ulloa and Vardy have become impotent because there are no fast breakaways, no good crosses and no balls through or behind the defence.

Our accomplished midfielders are looking ordinary because we've no wide players to give them "players-in-space" passing options and what's left to them is so risky and so inconsequential even when the pass does find its target.

Our lack of width and pace means opposing defences are never stretched and that, in turn, means they need fewer people to defend against us and can therefore deploy more bodies to the supporting of attacks.

I can't explain it any more simply. Changing back won't make us world beaters at Premiership level but it might mean us scoring some goals and winning some more points before the January window gives us chance to genuinely strengthen our team.

We're not equipped to beg games more than occasionally. It's not that our defence is woefully bad. They just can't absorb constant pressure without conceding one or two. We have to offer a threat.

Couldn't have put it better myself, I also think people are being blinkered by the fact he is Esteban Cambiasso if he was just a random guy we snapped up from league 1 he would be getting hammered

[RowlattsFox]

I don't think individually Cambiasso has done too much wrong and clearly Nige wants (or is being told) him to be in there.

However he is unable to play in a two which is causing us a problem.

[dbtcity]

Said at the time id have preferred McArthur on here and twitter and got laughed at.

Cambiasso is without doubt a classy passer of the ball but he's forcing us into a style that doesn't allow width, and hinders Drinkwater and James. He's also way too slow to play in a 442 which was our best formation at home last season.

Said the exact same thing re McArthur he would have been the perfect type of midfielder to slot into our system bringing bags of energy over someone who's legs have gone