When the great Johan Cruyff holds forth on football matters it takes a bold person to contradict him - but QPR boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has stuck his head over the parapet.
One of history's finest and the architect of total football that formed a glorious Dutch heritage believes using number 10s in football is a waste of a good midfielder.
The Rangers coach signed Tjaronn Chery and to an extent Nasser El Khayati for exactly that reason - to be the creative force between midfield and attack.
Hasselbaink believes the number 10 can play a part in reviving Rangers fortunes even if the boss does have other irons in the fire.
“I like players between the lines, not just number 10s, but also wide players coming in,” Hasselbaink said.
“I like number 10s, I think they can create and at this moment we’re playing more with three midfielders and two strikers.”
Cruyff was referring to his old clubs Ajax and Feyenoord specifically, but thinks a fluid midfield in general has more to offer.
Holland’s hero, recovering from cancer said: “The way a 'number 10' player is used as a target man has consequences for your midfield.
“When a team tries to dominate play, a playing with this target man idea, gives you many problems in your build up," Cruyff said.
"Rarely a ball is played around in midfield, because there are too few players. Teams like Barcelona and Bayern Munich can speed up play because they always have four or five players positioned in midfield. That way they can easily beat teams that are less good.”
Hasselbaink also has the problem of rebuilding QPR morale after a 3-1 home thumping at the hands of Fulham – not helped by home booing and loads of fans walking out at half time when the score was 3-0.
He said: “It is what it is, and I need to have a long look at the video. It's two steps back, but the supporters can be our 12th man."
