In Search of the Perfect 10

[Styles 9,790]

Very interesting, I recommend it.

Zidane, Baggio, Maradona, Messi. All great number 10's, all from abroad. So why has British football struggled to produce players of a similar creative calibre? And on the rare occasions that a home-grown flair player does come along, how come their talent is stifled rather than encouraged to blossom? In a 5 live sport special, Pat Nevin investigates why the 'Perfect 10' is missing from British football.

You can listen to it here - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b014l41y

This a more detailed read - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14708094.stm

Who have been the best, the most exciting and the most creative football players in the world over the past 25 years?

Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi and Zinedine Zidane perhaps? How about Ruud Gullit, Marco Van Basten and Michel Platini?

Do they have anything in common? Well, they could all be loosely described as number 10s.

They are players who control games from a forward area using their vision, skill, intelligence and, above all, creativity.

Going back through history, the truly great teams have almost always had one of them. Right now, Barcelona have four - Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and now Cesc Fabregas. That is proof of just how highly Barca - the best in the business - rate this type of player.

The number 10 - because of squad numbers he doesn't actually have to actually wear that magical number these days - creates and scores goals for his club and country week-in, week-out...

[zolayes 14,489]

It is striking the fact that none of the "no 10s" are British ...

Having watched since 1945 ,,I would say there have been very few English players who filled the criteria ...Going far back

perhaps Raich Carter or Len Shackleton would classify. Later perhaps Johny Haynes from Fulham or Trevor Brooking of West Ham

Both were superb readers and passers but not I think creative in the manner of those named.

In recent times Robson ,,,Gerard ,,Lampard are box to box sccorers but not especially creative. some would say Scholes was a world class

"no 10" perhaps its my bias that fails to see this.

The emphasis in the English game has always been on the "No 9"..

the typical English centre forward,,, The line goes back to Tommy Lawton ... typified by Alan Shearer .. and in our case Didier Drogba.

The No 9 suits the English style of physicality ...perhaps not pretty but loved by the fans ...

[OReillyD36 311]

When I saw the topic title I thought it was about women but then realised it was in football banter

I think it all comes back to English youth training focussing on strength and fitness, where it's more work with the ball in continental Europe. Not surprised that most of the best number 10's are somehow related to Ajax, Cruyff and Dutch football.

[Spike 12,049]

I'd say Wayne Rooney is the closest thing England have to a 'Number 10' right now.

Joe Cole could have been a perfect 'Number 10' but as it goes many accuse Mourinho of ruining him.

[DYC. 7,542]

Kick and Rush, frentic pace of the game.. all things which don't support the use of a 10. But like Spike said, England has Rooney and in his current form he's brililant. He plays the same role as Messi but he's focused on linking midfield and attack more than him so he deserves a mention.

[Styles 9,790]

They started speaking about McEachran towards the end and said he is the perfect 10 in the making!!!

If you go to about 1hr and 18 mins you can hear them speak about him for about 3-4 minutes.

[DYC. 7,542]

They started speaking about McEachran towards the end and said he is the perfect 10 in the making!!!

If you go to about 1hr and 18 mins you can hear them speak about him for about 3-4 minutes.

It's gonna be pretty hard for him to make it as a 10 since he's played the DM role more than the 10 role at the highest level..

[Styles 9,790]

It's gonna be pretty hard for him to make it as a 10 since he's played the DM role more at than the 10 role at the highest level..

That's exactly what they spoke about because they said Ancelotti wanted to turn him into a Pirlo but they said he can do a lot more further up the field.

[DYC. 7,542]

That's exactly what they spoke about because they said Ancelotti wanted to turn him into a Pirlo but they said he can do a lot more further up the field.

That's what I always believed at first but our system and the English game doesn't supoort it. He'll probably end up as a CM, I hope an attacking one like Lampard (of course not playing the same way).

[Styles 9,790]

That's what I always believed at first but our system and the English game doesn't supoort it. He'll probably end up as a CM, I hope an attacking one like Lampard (of course not playing the same way).

This is why getting AVB is so imprtant for his development. Boas is very much influenced by Barcelona's style so I'm sure he will encourage him further forward up the field as opposed to Carlo who wanted him as a quarter-back. And we have to be very happy that Mata has arrived and we might get Modric, these players will encourage McEachran's playmaking abilities a lot.

[DYC. 7,542]

This is why getting AVB is so imprtant for his development. Boas is very much influenced by Barcelona's style so I'm sure he will encourage him further forward up the field as opposed to Carlo who wanted him as a quarter-back. And we have to be very happy that Mata has arrived and we might get Modric, these players will encourage McEachran's playmaking abilities a lot.

True, his philosophy is perfect for a player like Josh and for us fans. Let's hope he gets the time to make it happen as it's gonna take a while.

I really am starting to think the Modric deal won't happen though..

[eldo 868]

It's gonna be pretty hard for him to make it as a 10 since he's played the DM role more than the 10 role at the highest level..

Weren't Xavi and Iniesta playing there too.

[Styles 9,790]

Weren't Xavi and Iniesta playing there too.

Yeah but their style is so fluid and players are encouraged to move and find space. I think playig in DM at least gave McEachran minutes on the field so that is a massive plus even if he wasn't given as much freedom as we all would want.

[DYC. 7,542]

Weren't Xavi and Iniesta playing there too.

Xavi's not a 10 though, he was seen as Guardiola's successor wasn't he? Don't know about Iniesta but Iniesta's not a 10 too if you ask me, more of a attacking CM. He starts from the centre of the pitch a lot and then moves into advanced positions most of the time.

I still think Ancelotti was trying to convert Josh into a deep-lying playmaker.

[Styles 9,790]

Xavi's not a 10 though, he was seen as Guardiola's successor wasn't he? Don't know about Iniesta but Iniesta's not a 10 too if you ask me, more of a attacking CM. He starts from the centre of the pitch a lot and then moves into advanced positions most of the time.

I still think Ancelotti was trying to convert Josh into a deep-lying playmaker.

Xavi would be a 10 for any other team in the world except Barca. He has the vision and the playmaking ability to play the role it's just Barca have Messi and Iniesta as well.

[DYC. 7,542]

Xavi would be a 10 for any other team in the world except Barca. He has the vision and the playmaking ability to play the role it's just Barca have Messi and Iniesta as well.

Nahh don't think so, not complete enoguh. A 10 is also expected to score goals, have the ability to dribble, move into dangerous attacking positions constantly and support the striker. Xavi doesn't possess those qualities and we don't know how Xavi would do in a advanced position where he doesn't have the same amount space and time on the ball to play his game. He was supposed to be Spain's most advanced central midfielder during the World Cup but kept moving into deep positions and didn't offer a lot/enough offensively.

Pure CM for me.

[zolayes 14,489]

I'd say Wayne Rooney is the closest thing England have to a 'Number 10' right now.

Joe Cole could have been a perfect 'Number 10' but as it goes many accuse Mourinho of ruining him.

lack of a brain was Cole's failing ...he believed the hype about himself

[Fulham Broadway 16,846]

Geoff Hurst. Chelsea Manager and World Cup Final Hatrick Scorer for starters

Secondly. Chelseas perfect No 10 -ian Hutchinson