02 Oct 2017 19:27:53
The Intergalactic team move on. The defensive midfield is next - three required. I will offer up Vidal, Casmiro and Pedro Aquino - a bit of a wildcard.


1.) 02 Oct 2017
02 Oct 2017 20:20:33
Radja Naingolan, Arturo Vidal and N'golo Kante for me then. Not really sure the first 2 are classified as defensive midfielders anymore, but they both have played full seasons as cdm earlier in their carrier soo.


2.) 02 Oct 2017
02 Oct 2017 20:25:44
Kante, Vidal and Casemiro.


3.) 02 Oct 2017
02 Oct 2017 20:25:55
Oh Ed, you don't need defensive midfielders, Liverpool have shown us all that!


4.) 02 Oct 2017
02 Oct 2017 20:31:04
You don't happen to be talking about Pedro Aquino who formerly played for Sporting Cristal? When I was travelling around South America I attended a few football games, one of them happened to be a Sporting Cristal game and he was technically head and shoulders about everyone on the pitch and he was only 20 years old! Very composed and was sublime with both feet!

As for the defensive mids;

Casemiro
Matic
Vidal.


5.) 02 Oct 2017
02 Oct 2017 20:34:01
Matic, Kante, Dembele (Spurs)

Was tempted to put Henderson, Wijnaldum and Lallana 😁.

{Ed025's Note - if you did ron i would have gone with...curly larry and mo..


6.) 02 Oct 2017
02 Oct 2017 20:46:44
Vidal, Kante and Casemiro for me

Cheers.


7.) 02 Oct 2017
02 Oct 2017 21:11:45
Javi Martinez of Bayern is a good shout. Usually forgotten as he now plays centre half.


8.) 02 Oct 2017
02 Oct 2017 21:32:09
Makelele (sure he could still do a job), Kante, Lucas Lieva (because he's a good boy! )

Are there many old school Makelele type DMs around? Who just sit deep, win a lot of tackles/ interceptions, and play an easy pass?


9.) 02 Oct 2017
02 Oct 2017 21:35:30
Kante - undoubtedly one of the best CDMs currently
Matic - He's so good that with his sale, Chelsea might have handed United the title
Casemiro - in form midfielder, does the job real well.


10.) 02 Oct 2017
02 Oct 2017 21:40:51
I can't look past N'Golo Kante. Sorry to be obvious, but he'd improve every team in the world bar Chelsea. And that's only because they already have him. As well as his tenacity, energy and tackling ability, he uses the ball intelligently and efficiently which a lot DMs don't.

Next would be Casimeiro and Vidal. I know Vidal isn't really a DM anymore, but he's too good to leave at home.


11.) 02 Oct 2017
02 Oct 2017 22:23:52
Toni Kroos and Arturo Vidal are certainties for me.

I would also go with Andres Iniesta and Kevin De Bruyne but they're more CM than CDM.

If pushed for a third CDM, I'd reluctantly say Nemanja Matic.


12.) 02 Oct 2017
02 Oct 2017 22:40:30
Kante, Just like makelele in the late 90s/ early 00s, this lad epitomises the term CDM. In my opinion he is head and shoulders above any other defensive midfielder in the game today. Athleticism would be the area where he just excels in comparison to my other cdm's.

Busquets, unsung hero for Barça. Has won a lot and might be overlooked because he's not been the most noticible player in any Of The Barça teams of last ten Years. But he's done a vital job in the middle Of The park nonetheless, breaking up play and releasing the attack with neat and effective passing. Just world class.

For the last I'll pick wanyama. Just watched him a lot over the years and admire him greatly. No nonsense, powerhouse of a CDM.


13.) 02 Oct 2017
02 Oct 2017 23:33:54
Kantè, Casemiro, Vidal.

Lucas Tousart, Amadou Diawara, Wilfred Ndidi would be my wildcards.

Kantè is incredible to watch. Casemiro is one of the few players I predicted to turn out great who actually did. Vidal I think would work well alongside either of these. As for the younger three, I hope they keep improving. Would love one of those at Liverpool.


14.) 02 Oct 2017
02 Oct 2017 23:37:51
My three picks would have to be Matic, Dier and N'Zonzi. Matic is one of the best DMs on his day, and frankly, I do not know why he didn't really perform too well for Chelsea in his final seasons. If it was a motivation problem, a one-off match against intergalactic opponents should fire him up and bring the best out of him. My second choice is Dier. This is probably one of the rather more controversial choices, but he is an underrated cog in the Spurs machine, and his ability to also provide cover for the CBs or allow a change to a back three during the match is invaluable. My final pick is N'Zonzi. Definitely the best DM in La Liga last season, he is a monster of a player. Strong, good in the air and technically decent, even if he looks a bit clumsy.

To be honest, it was difficult choosing three DMs because of the dearth of good players in that position. Kante is not a DM so I do not know why people are choosing him. Neither is Vidal. They are both fantastic players that should be considered for the CM position rather than for the DM position. I also saw that someone picked Kroos but he too plays further upfield for both Real Madrid and Germany.

Furthermore, the other options were unsavoury. Casemiro is average and only plays for Real because they don't or didn't have options there. He is rash and the protection he provides for his defence is minimal. Busquets is a decent passer of the ball, but he lacks mobility and strength. Moreover, he playacts all the time and I would really rather not choose someone who conducts himself like that on the field. Javi Martinez used to be a good DM but injuries have decimated him, and his already lack of pace has been exacerbated over the years due to that. Wanyama is poor on the ball and poor in the tackle, and only really provides a bit of strength in the middle and even that is questionable.

The only two other options I can think of is Weigl and Krychowiak. They are both good players, but I did not pick Weigl because the three options I chose have a better range of abilities and would provide better protection. I would have chosen Krychowiak before he left for PSG as he was the best DM in La Liga at that time. He can also provide cover at CB so he would have replaced Dier. However, his season at PSG did not work out, and choosing him would be riskier than picking Dier who has similar attributes as him.


15.) 02 Oct 2017
02 Oct 2017 23:45:13
Kante
Matic
Fernandinho.


16.) 03 Oct 2017
03 Oct 2017 00:29:59
Tough one, ed02 - this is one of the most curious positions in world football, because the requirements for it have been changing for quite a while, and it is getting harder and harder to distinguish between a DM and a CM.
"Speacialist" defensive midfielders are sought for less and less.

Personally, I would go for:

Toni Kroos - still don't understand why Bayern let him go. I think he can qualify for the position, even though he plays a bit forward for Real.
Saul Niguqes - love that one. Haven't seen him for a while, but I know he can cover a variety of positions in midfield.
Kante - this year he seems to play further forward, but I still consider him a primarily defensive player.

Honorable mention to Casemiro, and also to Henderson - he offers a unique skillset for the position in which he plays, it is a shame that his form has dipped after his injury, the previous autumn he was very good at cutting off the opposition in non-obvious ways. His intelligent play and great engine was the reason that we actually had a strong patch of form, by allowing fewer attacks against out defense.


17.) 03 Oct 2017
03 Oct 2017 01:08:33
Kante, Marco Verratti and Vidal!


18.) 03 Oct 2017
03 Oct 2017 01:15:02
Kante, verratti and Vidal for me!


19.) 03 Oct 2017
03 Oct 2017 01:28:47
Modric, Kante and Kroos.


20.) 03 Oct 2017
03 Oct 2017 06:24:57
Kante, Dembele and Modric for me.


21.) 03 Oct 2017
03 Oct 2017 07:01:56
Is there room for Glenn Whelan?


22.) 03 Oct 2017
03 Oct 2017 08:11:38
Just stick Kante in on his own. No need for anyone else.


23.) 03 Oct 2017
03 Oct 2017 09:12:13
Casemiro
Kante
Bender.


24.) 03 Oct 2017
03 Oct 2017 09:15:36
Fernandinho, Matic and Casemiro. Kante is no longer used as a DM at Chelsea as he is now licensed to get forward more often as seen vs Arsenal and City of late.


25.) 03 Oct 2017
03 Oct 2017 09:22:02
Most of the names mentioned ain’t any DM or purest form of DM. And since we have only a CM to partner the position I would rather go with Holding mid.
1. Kroos - Coz he is excellent on the ball first class passing and superb vision
2. Jorginho - Napoli, He plays for team that plays high line and he has been ridiculously good in what he does!
3. Xabi Alonso - He still has another 2 years left and he is the best I have seen all life!


26.) 03 Oct 2017
03 Oct 2017 10:05:52
Kante, Vidal, Kroos. I know they aren't the most defensive minded of holding mids but they aren't going to get into the attacking mid slot, they're all too good not to get into this team. Honourable mentions were casemiro, dembele, matic, veratti.


27.) 03 Oct 2017
03 Oct 2017 13:29:35
Keita
Kante
Lucas lieva.

I really think lucas is one of the most underrated players to ever grace the premier league. About four/ five years ago he really stepped up and became, in my opinion, the best dcm in England. I think it was after mascherano left and it looked like lucas had really learned fron xavier. If anyone doubts that, then take a look at Liverpool win conversion with and without lucas in the team.

If the intergalactic squad played in the "time portal cup" and went back in time ten years then mascherano would be my first choice no doubt.


28.) 03 Oct 2017
03 Oct 2017 13:57:44
Kante cannot be overlooked for this position a serial winner and proven performer.
Casemiro is next, a real unit and big influence on madrids success last year. Offers something different to Kante also.
Lastly id have Daniele De Rossi, a real warrior and someone who has played this position for so long. Would offer a proven link with the Italian cbs we have chosen.


29.) 03 Oct 2017
03 Oct 2017 14:17:05
Kante - Casemiro - Busquets.


30.) 03 Oct 2017
03 Oct 2017 17:15:52
For me there are 2 tyoes of cdm
A) a deep lying playmaker such as veratti
And
B) a destructive player who sits behind everybody and is snuffing out attacks and supports from behind when in possesion
Matic and cassimero

Kante keita atr both box to box
So i would choose matic veratti and casimero.


31.) 03 Oct 2017
03 Oct 2017 18:27:02
I'd go for me, Baine, and The Bat Tumbler. Jokes aside, Casemiro, Nzonzi, Matic.


32.) 03 Oct 2017
03 Oct 2017 18:29:46
Kante, Vidal and medel.


33.) 03 Oct 2017
03 Oct 2017 21:13:59
Kante - because Kante and he will literally cover every blade of grass by also never being out of position. Mans a machine.
Gary Medel- because he's a little pitbull who can play a bit too. Shocked no other PL team went for him after Cardiff went down.
Dembele- Probably not a typical DM but such a strong and clever player he'd do a job there. Fantastic on the ball too.

Special shout out to Wanyama and of course Joe Ledley.


34.) 03 Oct 2017
03 Oct 2017 21:19:53
Hendo, Keita and a long way behind those 2 Veratti.

{Ed025's Note - i think you may have left a sentence out there ings..."im here all week"..


35.) 03 Oct 2017
03 Oct 2017 22:30:57
My picks are: Kante, Casemiro, and Fernandinho.


36.) 04 Oct 2017
04 Oct 2017 08:29:05
Kante, matic, casmero.


37.) 04 Oct 2017
04 Oct 2017 09:42:55
I just couldn't stand all of this talk of Kante, Casemiro et al when we have the number one DM in the world as our captain 😎.


38.) 04 Oct 2017
04 Oct 2017 09:46:05
Casemiro - brought balance to Madrid's team. Won them 2 Champions league (with CR7 and Modric) and is one hell of a big game player.

Kante- Probably the best centre midfielder in the premiership for the past 2 seasons.

Tielemans - I would've gone with Matic, who has removed the shackles from Man. Utd's attackers, but I remember the 1st time I saw Tielemans. Anderlecht vs Arsenal. He was so calm, composed and confident. Picked the right passes most times. Even my brother, an Arsenal fan, was awed. I'll go with him cos of his age.


39.) 05 Oct 2017
05 Oct 2017 04:20:48
Since we are talking defensive midfielders and not CM, I would go Busquets (yes he can be a dog but he is effective), Matic and probably Casemiro (anyone who has to cover for RM's bludging frontline has to be a workhorse) .


40.) 05 Oct 2017
05 Oct 2017 09:25:01
tomsbakery - that is exactly who I was talking about.

So we have our three of Casemiro, Vidal and Kante. Coming in a few minutes, right midfield.