

by Steve Candy

Ever since I became an addict of football management simulations on the computer I have always taken great pleasure in assigning the appropriate numbers to the players of my inherited team. This unhealthy obsession has unsurprisingly transferred itself over to real life. I find myself getting worked up when a defender is given a number that should be allocated to a forward player or when a player is given a squad number in the high eighties when there are only twenty or so professionals on the wage bill. Perhaps the real reason I am devoting this column space to such a subject is to try and find out if I am alone in the football supporting world or not.

If you noticed in my previously column, I allocated each of my chosen England World Cup Squad members a number. These, I hasten to add, were not randomly selected. I spent time selecting each number in relation to the player’s position. Hopefully most of you agreed that the squad was well balanced in terms of positions and if you correspond to my opinion you will think it was. My way of thinking is; if a squad is balanced and not too threadbare then the allocation of numbers should not be a problem. Perhaps there is a method in the madness.

Jose Mourinho stated midway through his tenure at Chelsea that a first team squad capable of competing at the highest level should have twenty five players. We know that some squads have more than 25 players to be consistent over the course of a sixty game season in every competition. This is down to investment in youth (Stand up Mr. Wenger in the League Cup especially) or sheer financial scale (Mr. Hughes, though Manchester City’s squad doesn’t seem to be too overblown in my opinion).

While we are at this juncture it may be appropriate to point out that Liverpool’s squad for whatever reason does not seem to be able to have the sufficient quality in every position to have the strength in depth. Senor Benitez is guilty of giving a right back the No. 3 shirt so there may be some correlation in this.

If we are to go along with the twenty five man squad then I am of the belief that this should consist of three goalkeepers and twenty two outfield players allowing for two in every position. Of course some of these players should have the ability to fulfil a variety of positional roles but each player has their number.

Here then is my breakdown of squad numbers and the positions that should fill them:

1. First choice goalkeeper

Why Pepe Reina wears the number twenty five shirt I will never know.

2. Right back

Ideally this would be for an out and out right sided defender though allowances can be made for a player capable at this position, centre back or right midfield.

3. Left back

See above but substitute right for left. Why Bacary Sagna (whose name makes him sound like an exotic bird) wears this number for Arsenal I have no idea. A.C. Milan’s has been retired and justly so because the legend Maldini wore it. On the left or in the middle of the back line.

4. Defensive Midfielder or Right sided Centre Back

I’m happy to see this number on either position. Think Owen Hargreaves as a defensive midfielder wearing the number four or Kolo Toure as the defender option.

5. Centre back

Fans of Argentinian football will know that this number is reserved for more attack minded players. However, giving it to David Bentley is just pure squad number sacrilege.

6. Ball playing Centre Back or Defensive Midfielder

Again I am happy for some versatility here. I see Rio Ferdinand (well at least the one we want to see in South Africa) being worthy of this number.

7. Right sided midfielder/ Right wing/ Right sided forward

A famous number for the red half of Manchester but never consistent with position. Michael Owen is better suited to the eighteen shirt for the role he fulfils. Nor for my liking was Bryan Robson (see number six or eight). Antonio Valencia should have it.

8. Central midfielder

Steven Gerrard wears this shirt for his club; Frank Lampard does so for his. In these cases all is right and proper in the world. The number eight shirt is for your goal scoring, match winning, box to box midfielder.

9. Striker

The number nine shirt is synonymous with idol worshipped Newcastle players. They were all powerful forward players. For once, Newcastle has got something right. The No. 9 should be worn by a strong, line leading attacker.

10. Forward

I was very happy when Wayne Rooney was given the number ten shirt after a few years wearing the eight. It made absolute sense. Rooney, for all his efforts to make contact with every blade of grass on the pitch, is a classic No. 10. The number ten shirt is held in such high regard in Italy that it is a position as opposed to just a number. The prominent South American nations also reserve this shirt for special talents. Thankfully Capello sees Rooney as his No. 10 for England. This number, however, is not for William Gallas. He is a defender.

11. Left sided Midfielder/ Left Wing/ Left sided forward

For some reason the idea of seeing a right winger, central midfielder or forward in this shirt does not harm me mentally. However, the number eleven should be on the left wing. Ryan Giggs is the ideal example of a player at home in this shirt.

It is quite obvious that the first eleven shirts should go to those that would ideally be your starting eleven. Because of that the remaining fourteen allow for a little more positional versatility:

12. Versatile defender or Utility man

John O’ Shea for example

13. Second choice Goalkeeper

14. Left midfielder, Central midfielder

15. Centre back.

Not a forward, Tottenham. Peter Crouch now looks odd because of his shirt number as well.

16. Defensive Midfielder, Centre Back

17. Right Winger

18. Striker

More suited to a Jermain Defoe than a big target man.

19. Right back

20. Striker/ Forward

21. Left Back

22. Attacking Midfielder/ Forward

23. Central Midfielder

24. Third Choice Goalkeeper

25. Centre Back

Please don’t ask me why (though of course reader, you may) but I feel better knowing that these numbers are filled by these positions. I think you can agree that a squad like this shows balance, perhaps this is why I need it to be this way.

In regard to positional roles, what has happened to the ‘utility man’? If anyone can respond to this column with any existing ‘utility men’ in world football today I would be grateful. The only one I can think of is John O’ Shea and he hasn’t played upfront for Manchester United, yet.

Please feel free to comment with questions, criticisms, advice or anything else and I shall endeavour to respond accordingly.

(photo credit: Rod Monkey on Flickr, in the Just Football photo pool).