By ’Tayo Amosu
September 12, 2014
Reactions have been trailing Jack Wilshere’s performance in the 2-0 Euro 2016 qualification victory of the English national side over Switzerland.
The Arsenal midfielder has been heavily criticised for his under-performance in recent times and divergent views have been expressed.
While some believe that his off the pitch antics have marred his development, others believe that giving him defensive responsibilities at both Arsenal and the English national team has hindered his development as an attacking midfielder.
Wilshere in the match against was made to play at the base of a diamond formation in the middle of the park sitting in front of the back four, a position thought to be somewhat alien to the 22-year-old.
On tweeter, the popular social media platform, Arsenal and English fans have poured out their impression of Wilshere’s performance on the night and most of them were more of negative than the positives.
Here below are some of them:
‘‘Never seen a holding midfield player give the ball as much as Wilshere.’’ – Billy Gray (@Billgray4)
‘‘Jack Wilshere doesn’t have the passing range required to play holding midfield in a diamond formation, or the tactical discipline.’’- Billy Shepherd (BillShepz95)
‘‘If this team was on form Wilshere would be nowhere near the starting.’’- James Bridge (@jbridge93)
‘‘This is better but on what planet is Jack Wilshere a holding midfielder?’’- Daniel Shiels (@danielshiels)
‘‘Wilshere has to learn to use the ball quicker. Always wants to take a player on. Played pretty well overall.’’- MichaelNoone4 (@MichaelNoone4)
‘‘Wilshere keeps thinking he’s playing with Arsenal. England players don’t want the ball in tight spaces like the Arsenal ones do.’’- @JamzLdn
Recently, speaking on the performance of Jack Wilshere in the match, Paul Scholes, the former Manchester United and England midfielder, expressed some worry over the position the 22-year-old was deployed in the Three Lions squad.
He said: ‘‘Wilshere is an attacking midfielder, as I was for most of my career. He is not a defensive midfielder and I feel at the moment, he is stuck between the two sides. He is being asked to control the play from a deep position, which does not play to his strengths.’’
He went on to suggest that this development is a result of the current lack of defensive-minded midfielders, a situation that wasn’t seen in his time with Manchester United and the English squad.
‘‘I was lucky to play alongside some of the best defensively-minded midfielders in the game: Nikky Butt, Roy Keane and Michael Carrick. What they gave me was the confidence to get forward, to take risks and score goals safe in the knowledge that they would provide the cover…For much his career at Chelsea, Frank Lampard was given the same protection by the likes of Claude Makelele.’’
Jack Wilshere is no doubt a fine footballer but his deployment and role in a manager’s formation would really aid his development.
Sometimes Jack Wilshere is saddled with some defensive responsibilities.
While Wilshere has been found guilty of holding onto the ball for more than required periods in the heart of the Arsenal midfield trying to make dribbling attempts, the ball would be properly fought for and regained whenever he fails if a defensively-minded midfielder is present.
Arsenal is blessed with a number of both old and young attack minded midfielders yet the chance of Wilshere’s improvement is very high because of Arsene Wenger’s belief and confidence in the English player.
