The Rundown on Jenas

April 11th, 2006 | by: Shawn |

The BBC’s analyses of players on the verge of making Sven’s squad continues with another fine write-up, this time on Jermaine Jenas. I think he’s a shoo-in for a spot, particularly with the front line unsteady with injury. Whether he’ll play or not is a second question. He could be a nice late-match sub up front or even to add pace to the middle or — has he ever played there? I don’t watch Spurs much — the wing, perhaps opposite Wright-Phillips.

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steve

Have you confused Jermaine Jenas with Jermaine Defoe? Jenas has never, ever played up front. He’s a centre or right mid.
http://england.worldcupblog.org Shawn

No (despite my earlier confession that I don’t watch Spurs much).

I’m thinking more of a distributor behind a point man — sort of the way Chelsea use Duff and/or Robben when only Drogba is playing a proper forward position.

Think a 4-3-2-1 and you’ll see what I mean.
steve

Jenas isn’t a Duff/Robben/SWP style player. If we played 4-3-2-1 then Jenas would be one of the 3 (for Chelsea he’d be Lampard or Essien, but not Makelele)

I know he’s been playing wide right for Spurs, but he doesn’t play wide right in the style of a winger. He’s really only out there because Spurs have hundreds of central midfielders.
http://england.worldcupblog.org Shawn

Roger that.

I just get worried about the lack of pace up front. So anyone with young, fast legs looks promising to me.
http://footiegirl.blogspot.com Jen

I have to agree with Steve — I think Jenas is pretty useless, and I figure the only reason he gets considered for the squad is because he’s playing for Spurs this year. But I’m resigned to him going to Germany — as long as it keeps Owen Hargreaves out of the squad.

As for pace up front, Rooney and Owen have plenty of speed, and so does Jermain Defoe if he gets the 4th strikers’ spot. The piece I think they’re missing is a big strong forward like Alan Shearer was in his prime, but I can’t think of anyone who fits the bill right now.
satori

to Jen:

I have no doubts that SGE will choose Owen, Rooney, Crouch and D.Bent for his WC squad…