Team of the Year 2012: Defensive Midfielder

The defensive is now agree and it's looking pretty darn tasty if I do say so myself (and better than the one FIFA did!)


Now we're onto the midfield positions and first up is to pick the guy who protects the back four, the enforcer, the rock in the middle of the pitch that breaks up the flow of the opposition etc. So please pick yout top three defensive midfielders from the below list!

Ettiene Capoue
Javi Martinez
John Obi Mikel
Sergio Busquets
Sami Khedira
Chiek Tiote
Daniele De Rossi
Alex Song
Igor Denisov
Fernando
Jeremy Toulalan
Luiz Gustavo
Lars Bender
Thiago Motta
Sven Bender
Esteban Cambiasso
Gary Medel
Blaise Matuidi
Fernandinho

This could be interesting as there's no one obvious name to choose. I actually struggled to pick my three.

Pretty slim pickings there. For me, none of the big names have really performed in 2012 and those who have shone brightest are the more unknowns - Medel, Lars Bender, Capoue and Fernandinho.

Tiote would have been on my list if he had carried last seasons form into this.

I went Martinez, Khedira, Tiote but it was tough. Tiote was immense last year but really needs to get his bumbum back into gear.

In terms of ability and form in 2012, Martinez is probably the right pick really.

I went for Martinez, Mikel and De Rossi.

Martinez explains itself I think.

De Rossi had an excellent Euro 2012 in an unfamiliar role for the first few games as well and I still don't understand why neither of the Manchester clubs have tried to snap him up, he's just the type of player both need.

Mikel is my surprise one, but I've actually been very impressed with him recently, I've always not rated him, but I think when Chelsea play that attacking quartet, Mikel's role is crucial and I've actually been pretty impressed with his play. He's not ever going to be an explosive player, throwing himself into tackles, but his simple passes and covering of the defence has been good.

I didn't think it was too tough, De Rossi, Martinez and Khedira in that order.

I don't agree on De Rossi at all.

Has had a poor 18 months to 2 years based on his standards before that.

Hey Hero, hows about some more polls to round out the team of the year

No Lucas!

Soldier_Of_Fortune wrote:No Lucas!

How many times did he actually play in 2012? About 10 would be my guess.

Maybe we'll get this finished in time for starting the 2013 team of the year ..

monty junior wrote:Maybe we'll get this finished in time for starting the 2013 team of the year ..

As this has stagnated quite a bit i'm happy to do the rest of the team. Was just wondering what formation is needed? two strikers a CAM, and two central midfielders sound ok?

Hero's taking a leave of absence at the moment so I don't see why you shouldn't take over the finishing of the team.

I think it was going to be:

GK
LB
RB
CB
CB
Holding midfielder
Playmaker
Attacking midfielder
Winger / wide mid
Winger / wide mid
Striker

But others may remember better then me?

Looks fine to me, i have a day off so will get to it