HLTCO presenter Dan Cook has claimed that Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen could be played as a deep-lying midfielder in the future.
What’s the word?
In recent weeks, the centre-back has been missing after he suffered a calf injury picked up back in January.
Consequently, Chris Richards has come into the backline to play alongside Marc Guehi. Seeing as the defender has done pretty well in this period, Patrick Vieira might not be desperate to disrupt that partnership when Andersen returns.
With that in mind, while speaking on the HLTCO podcast prior to the Eagles’ weekend draw against Brighton, Cook insisted that the Danish centre-back could have the quality to move up into the Palace midfield.
He explained: “There is part of me that wonders whether or not Joachim Andersen could be deployed in sort of a deep-lying midfield/quarterback role.
“Given his passing range and his technically higher ceiling as a footballer, let alone a defender, it just sort of struck me that that sort of combative defensive midfielder can put his foot in, whilst also being able to pick passes, having Joachim Andersen, say, 20 yards higher up the pitch may be a real weapon – a silver bullet, if you will – for us.
“We’ve seen him spray balls out to the flanks from the centre-back position time and time again throughout his stay with us, but if he was to be deployed in the midfield, the chances of him getting balls in behind for the likes of Ebere Eze, Michael Olise, Odsonne Edouard – you name them – there is, for me, a potential experiment to be made there with the defensive solidity that Chris Richards offers behind him with Mark Guehi.
“I’m not sure it’s something we will ever see, but it’s something that did strike me as a potential avenue to go down. And maybe people will call me mad and say that it’s a ridiculous idea, but he undeniably has the sort of frame that could work from a defensive midfield perspective.
“And having that array of passes within your arsenal is something that not many in the midfield do offer – and that’s not just with us, that’s with any club.”
Good plan?
Andersen’s ability to play with the ball at his feet certainly has earned him plenty of plaudits in the press. Indeed, he really caught the eye last season with a “beautiful through-ball” to Jordan Ayew who scored against Arsenal.
An article for The Athletic also extolled his virtues, noting that it gave Crystal Palace an “extra dimension” when it came to turning build-up play into attack.
With that in mind, it’s not hard to see why Cook feels as though the defender could do a job in the middle of the park. And with Richards now performing, his presence isn’t so desperately needed in the backline.
However, this is all theory and seeing as Anderson is 26 but has played just seven times in midfield across his whole career, it remains to be seen if Vieira would put faith in this possible experiment.
