He certainly could be a Failque I have no idea why we signed the guy on loan unless we're looking to buy him permanently in the long run. I haven't counted him as backup because he's completely unproven. Can't help but think Spurs were expecting Gio to go with him coming onboard. That does represent a no faith gesture unless they genuinely see Gio as a forward & not a winger. Small article here on the guy > http://www.itv.com/sport/football/news/profile-iago-falque-spurs-new-signing-14213/
While this place was down, I had a look over the other side, and there were big calls for Gio...apart from grandspurs!
As I see it, looking into his resume (as provided by notso on another thread) he's always been a bridesmaid and never a bride which doesn't augur well for a career in the PL. AND the fact he's listed in the reserves alongside Coulibaly (sp?) and Ceballos is another worry. We need to give these three playing time before January if we are not to have a repeat of this window next, it is imperative we need to find out what strengths we have in reserve so we can identify early what we need then go out and get it. In other words, the opposite of what we have done for the past few weeks.
I said similar things yesterday while the window was open but that is now closed. While we have him here I'd like Spurs to make use of all the resources they have & that includes him. He has another chance to change my views and those of many around me. He has talent that is clear to see, can he apply himself? That is the question.
I have to agree. He has the ability, of that there is no doubt and he is 22 years old not a 17 year old kid. His time, as the cliche says, is now. I am not saying he is a Fabregas, but he has been through the same system and for Mexico he looks a real player. I think a loan period at Brighton with Gus Poyet or similar is what GDS needed. He needs to be shown what football here is all about by somebody who speaks his language and I don't just mean Spanish. I hope he makes it, but I fear he could go somewhere else and maybe even become one of the top players in Europe.
He hasn't even been placed on the first team squad profiles on the OS, he was in the professionals section last time I looked so doesn't give me the best confidence at the moment that he'll be pushing for a starting place anytime soon, makes you wonder why we've actually loaned him in to be honest.
The difference between good professional footballers with natural ball control and top players can be minute. There are good pros. with limited natural ability who work very hard indeed and succeed in the game at quite a high level. There are others with more ability who fail because they do not have the neccessary determination to work. From what little I have seen of Dos Santos I wonder about his determination. My guess is that if it dosen't go his way he lacks the will to keep pushing. The PL is very unforgiving look at Bale, as the hardened pros sussed him out they have made his life much more difficult. I think Bale has the grit to come through but I have my doubts about Dos Santos.
The other thing with Bale is that he's offered absolutely no protection. We need to start harassing refs about this, unfortunately, as teams hacking the Welsh winger to bits is currently just accepted. Jones' clumsy chop in the Man Utd game was just the tip of the iceberg. Didn't even get a foul for that one.
Exactly, I was in favour of selling him on Wednesday but since he's here he should be given chances in the EL to prove me wrong.
Agreed. I've said a few times now that on Lennon's current form, someone needs to be here to give him a kick up the ar*e and provide a bit of competition. I really don't see any harm in giving Gio a start on the right hand side, if he under performs then a right winger will need be on the shopping list, if he goes out there and has a blinder or just generally plays significantly better than Lennon, then it will make things interesting, as I feel Lennon gave his best performances when under pressure (first when he broke into the team, so he was trying to prove himself back then and then when Bentley joined he stepped it up a gear to keep his place). Anyone agree?
Not sure about this - Lennon is quite a good defender so works well in the 4-4-1-1 we now usually play. I think Dos Santos is more of a support striker, with few defensive qualities. Playing him in Lennon's position could be a disaster. I'd see him more in Van der Vaart's place myself.
Funnily enough, the best moments for Lennon this season and the end of last season seemed to be when he and Bale switched flanks. I think GDS would be suited to playing on the right, with plenty of attacking license and opportunity to cut in side. One of our problems at the moment is that our striker gets too isolated so having a lazier player might work for us. Could be a bit of a disaster defensively if he was paired with Walker down the right, though.
I can't agree with saying Lennon's quite a good defender, yes he may back track at times to help the full back by adding pressure, but he rarely gets stuck in. Look at the City game, made a few runs back but Corluka didn't have any proper help and Nasri got 3 assists (I think), the Utd game too, Walker and then Corluka were being bombarded by Young, Wellbeck and Rooney with no support. Besides with (when fit) Sandro and now Parker, our wingers shouldn't be too focused on the defensive side of things (not that they shouldn't track back, but more of a case of they shouldn't have to with the players we have now), that's for the defence and our DMs to worry about, playing the 4-5-1 is leaving our striker too isolated, therefore the wingers need be more focused on getting the crosses in and playing off the striker. If we're 1 or 2 nil up with 15/ 20 minutes to go then yeah definitely switch to a more defensive strategy where the wingers should be on a counter attack style of play and act as second full back, otherwise we might as well just play long balls to Adebayor if the wingers need be defensively minded and conscientious on when to attack. Players like Bale, Lennon and Rafa need the freedom to attack, that's there strengths. And at the moment Lennon isn't utilizing his strengths, hence my call for Gio or someone else to be given a chance.
All good points Spurs or Sex. I don't really like 4-4-1-1 for exactly those reasons. But if we are playing Sandro and Parker, which I think we should, then we've only got room for four attacking players - I would have Modric, Bale, VdV and Adebayor in a 1-2-1 ahead of the two defensive midfielders. Lennon or GDS could then play in either of the support attacker roles I've assigned to Bale and VdV
Whilst it's obvious GDS has talent, his best performances for Mexico come as a wide forward cutting in - we've never played with this system, sticking him on the wing with either two forwards, or our current system of one forward with VDV playing off him. Lennon plays better in the systems we've used under Redknapp - although I have to wonder why Ramos in his (attempt at a) 4-2-3-1 system didn't utilise him this way. I'd like to see him get a run of games in the Europa and maybe the domestic cups, either as a winger or even in VDV's position, to see what he can do. It's better to have a selection headache choosing between Lennon and GDS than panicking because Lennon got injured and there's no cover.
I get that Lennon probably tracks back better than GDS would, but I think the GDS on the right wing option would work well as long as we have a strong defensive midfielder to cover for him (Sandro or Parker)
