[quote author=Ryan link=topic=32437.msg1064536#msg1064536 date=1267794739]
[quote author=Avmenon link=topic=32437.msg1064305#msg1064305 date=1267757861]
Indeed, why is it so hard to buy players who are just very good in one position as oppsed to being 'meh' in three.
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Reina, Mascherano, Agger, Skrtel, Torres, Crouch, Fowler, etc etc. He's bought plenty of players that were clearly capable of playing one position alone.
As KopKing (in his rather aggressive way) has put it; modern football's changed. Ferguson spent 30M on Rooney and stuck him on the left-wing for a year. Hargreaves, O'Shea, Anderson, Nani, Carrick, Neville, Fletcher, Scholes, Smith - they've all played in various positions.
Mourinho converted Geremi into a right back, Gudjohnsen into a midfielder, played Essien at centre back & right back, has played Ballack and Lampard everywhere across the midfield 5. And don't get me started on Wenger and his side's make-up because I'd genuinely be here all day. Do you think Moyes paid 5M for Phil Neville cos he was a half-decent full-back?
More and mroe often Managers buy players that can play a varoety of positions, because it gives them options, cover and importantly - security. You can spend 7M on an out and out right-winger like Pennant, and if he's no good in that position - you're fucked, cos he's not going to offer anything elsewhere on the pitch. At the same time you can get Aurelio on a free, and without beaing a worldbeater he can (and has) played in 3 positions.
Look at the qquality, options, balance and cover having the likes of him, Arbeloa and Kuyt have brought to us over the last 2/3 years. Managers want that. I'm not advocating it as a primary strategy, or even as a full=proof one, but it's still massively important in today's games and does sway a manager's choice when it comes to scouting and signing players.
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It's worth pointing out, particularly in recent years, that Fergie has played players in a variety of roles alot and rarely receives flack for it (probably because the results speak for themselves). He's also been reluctant to buy an out and out striker and gone for an attacking three or four players versatile enough to play a number of roles, which I guess also makes it harder for the opposition to mark. Like Rooney, Ronaldo, Nani, Giggs (who's played centrally enough in recent times). Even the likes of O'Shea and Fletcher have played different positions for the cause.
