Barcelona, what a dream... a team with NINE midfielders!



I looked at the Barcelona team sheet on Monday night and thought: 'How will they play . . . and where are the defenders?' They played nine midfielders in their team against Villarreal and won 5-0. Nine midfielders!



Some managers like to play through midfield. Others have bypassed it all together.



Jack Charlton, the successful former Republic of Ireland manager, would tell his defenders to knock it long and for the midfielders to join for the second ball, even though he had players such as Liam Brady and Roy Keane to pick. It wasn't pretty, but it was effective.



No defenders? No problem! Barca rolled over Villarreal with nine midfielders

Glenn Hoddle played successfully as a sweeper at the end of his career and even had the idea that I might be able to play there too.



It lasted one game but he wanted players he trusted with the ball in as many areas as possible, which is why he introduced Rio Ferdinand to international football. Rio has always been comfortable with the ball.



But Barcelona have taken that idea to the extreme. Of their nine midfielders, two played in a back three, four in midfield in their usual roles, another three in attack.



I watched the game with amazement and wonder. What must it be like to play at that club?



Pep Guardiola, of course, was a midfielder as a player. And a decent one too. It helps him that he has so many talented players at his disposal. Cesc Fabregas is the latest and, with players such as Lionel Messi (who is an attacking midfielder/forward), they can just play and adapt.



In the first 15 minutes against Villarreal, they had 85 per cent possession. 'It's our ball, come and get it if you can,' is their attitude.

Childsplay: The Catalans ask teams to try and take the ball off of them







Of course, when you go hunting it, they pick you off and pass around you. It can be demoralising and destructive. They are still the team to beat and the team to watch.



Javier Mascherano, a holding midfielder for Liverpool, has suddenly been re-invented as a central defender. Manchester United thought they could get at him and down the side of him in the Champions League final, exposing his lack of height and experience in that position.



But he was well protected and, when the opposition can't get the ball, it makes life a lot easier for the defenders.



Alongside him, Sergio Busquets - another holding midfielder - was his partner in defence in their opening Spanish league game.

When Scotland played without a striker (and lost 1-0 to the Czech Republic) they were criticised for anti-football, but Barcelona have different players, of course.



They went out with the attitude: 'We'll have so much of the ball, they won't score. And if they get the ball, we will get it back off them and score.'



Don't underestimate how hard these exceptionally talented group of players work to win back the ball. The midfield quartet on Monday was Fabregas, Iniesta, Thiago and Keita.



Next generation: Jones is another player confident on the ball, like Ferdinand







The 'attacking' players were Sanchez, Pedro and that man Messi, who could probably do a decent job anywhere he plays. Xavi isn't playing yet!



Fabregas has only been back there a few weeks, but looks as if he's been at Barca for ever. Good players can adapt like that. Could England ever play with such disregard for conventional systems and formations? No is the simple answer.



Our players from a young age lack versatility. Yes, Ferdinand can play in either midfield or defence and so can Phil Jones, the impressive young Manchester United defender.



But when juniors on big pitches, with goals that are too big, are told to stay in their position, it doesn't lend itself to being comfortable in other areas of the field. We have enough trouble finding a midfielder who is prepared to sit and hold!



At Ajax, young players are forced to play in different outfield positions to understand the demands of the game and to help their development.



Barcelona, of course, are a unique bunch of players and when Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol are back from injury, this temporary solution to a selection problem will be disregarded.



They played this way only because of injuries. But they also played this way because they can. As we embark on another season, it's a frightening reminder to the rest of Europe of how good they are.



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