Not Andy Naylor
Well-known member
If your available personnel don't fit your system then it makes no sense to persevere with the system IMHO.
For example, both Chelsea and England forced Joe Cole to play as a wide player because that was the only place in their rigid systems where they could fit him in. So a potentially great number 10 was forced to become a decent but not great number 11.
At West Ham, Rio Ferdinand looked as if he might become England's Franz Beckenbauer, bringing the ball forward to become a playmaker from deep, and his move to Leeds, where he was eventually coached by Terry Venables, promised the same. Then he went to Manchester United, and became a conventional back-four player because that was Ferguson's system. Decent move for him as he won lots of medals and earned loads of dosh, but a loss for England.
For example, both Chelsea and England forced Joe Cole to play as a wide player because that was the only place in their rigid systems where they could fit him in. So a potentially great number 10 was forced to become a decent but not great number 11.
At West Ham, Rio Ferdinand looked as if he might become England's Franz Beckenbauer, bringing the ball forward to become a playmaker from deep, and his move to Leeds, where he was eventually coached by Terry Venables, promised the same. Then he went to Manchester United, and became a conventional back-four player because that was Ferguson's system. Decent move for him as he won lots of medals and earned loads of dosh, but a loss for England.