Quote Originally Posted by Borini Is Boss View Post
Well everything we did last season has to be allied with our dire [away] defence, and the midfield plays a part in that. He was phenomenally disciplined after he picked up his ninth yellow. I was astounded that he'd make it through that many games without putting in some stupid tackle or being forced to make the foul.
I think playing in a 3 (or even a diamond) would have worked infinitely better than playing with two in the middle as we did. It was always going to make it harder.

I don't think he plays for himself when things go wrong, but rather that he trusts no one else. I think saying "plays for himself" gives an impression of selfishness which I don't think is true. Same with the whole "Hollywood Ball" thing. He just doesn't do it to any great extent anymore, unless he feels he has to force something.

Either way I'd be surprised if he didn't retire after this tournament. Unless he feels like he has to make up for his header
I think it's the case in terms of how he played after the error against Chelsea, it seemed to me that he decided to rain shots down from everywhere trying to make up for his error when that is not what he was doing earlier in the game. To me, he killed any chance of you getting back in to that by wasting any chances by going for goal at the earliest possible opportunity. I don't think a player like that is compatible with what is needed in midfield to do anything significant in international football and I would say we saw that in the Uruguay game too (but it was later in the game so not quite so many instances).

Of course, it may seem a bit churlish to pick out that one example of when it happened but I think when the situation was - at such a massive point of the season, it's worth highlighting.