Midfielder Quotes

Ben's got a lot of qualities, but this is a very big match and we've got a lot of confidence that he's a big-time player. He's got a lot of experience from back home. The progress he has made since coming here last season has been pretty impressive, and he is probably the best defensive midfielder in the country, which will be really important this weekend. - Frank Hadden

Ben is also considered one of the best soccer players in the state of Ohio. He is a central midfielder that plays box to box with his excellent stamina. - Dennis Currier

At halftime, we changed our scheme and added another midfielder. That was the total difference. Once we made that change, they weren't able to move up the field nearly as much. - Larry Slason

Any good team has got to have good [midfielders]. [Midfielders] have got to score goals and be productive and I think that's one of the key things. - Bobby Clark

[There was also support for Rooney from his team-mate, the Scotland midfielder Darren Fletcher.] You don't want to rein in Wayne's hunger because it sometimes spurs him on and makes him play better when things are not going his way, ... He has something inside him you do not want to take away because that is when he is at his best. - Darren Fletcher

[McClaren will be without the ineligible Rochemback against Xanthi who feature former Boro favourite Emerson.] He's my kind of midfielder... He's a terrific tackler, strong, he can take the ball and create. He's 33 but is still a great all-rounder. Xanthi have three or four Brazilians, so they've got flair. Anyone expecting an easy game will be in for a surprise. - Steve McClaren

[It was the pre-season CAA-favored Rams' first conference victory (1-1-1). O'Sullivan has made a number of lineup alterations, among them moving senior left back Stephen Shirley to holding central midfielder.] In the last two weeks, he has been one of the bright spots... He has become an on-field leader we did not have. - Tim O'Sullivan